While cleaning out our files the other day, we found this old project - Feed Timeline. Its a utility widget that can show up to four different feeds on a timeline. Neat, huh?
We call it a utility widget because it is not really suited for every day use, however, there are occasions when having a timeline of information is handy. Use this widget for that.
Born from our inability to find anything similar, we present to you Wishlist. Our first Widget/Web App. (Wigapp? Wapget? Anyone?)
Wishlist is a an application with which you can keep a wish list of things you would like, and then show those things on your website with our handy widget. The unique part of this simple project, however, is that it lives entirely on Widgetbox. Besides our description page and a bookmarklet, this application is built for working in the Widgetbox distribution platform. We did this for a couple of reasons, but the most prominent is that we want to test how an application in Widgetbox might perform.
So, without further ado, we officially launch version 1.0 of Wishlist: powered by WidgetNest in to the wild. We realize that it is very simple, but we already have plans for improvements and extra features. So, until then, please enjoy and let us know what you think.
Thanks.
Sprout: The Online WYSIWYG Editor for Flash
This new service call “Sprout” looks awesome. I actually really want to try it, though it does sort of take what we are doing and make it easier… so less people will need our services. But that is good. Now we can focus on the really custom stuff. Right?
Anyway, the widget space just keeps filling! Love it!
My favorite review so far of our RSS Scroller (which, incidentally, just crossed the 10,000 subscription mark on Widgetbox):
“Very cool, I find it? I don’t believe!” - advnery.
Awesome.
Interesting article on TechCrunch about high-traffic widgets/widget providers. Just to compare, we get about 4-5 million views a month, though that is page views and not uniques. Still, for not being a widget platform or distributor, we do pretty well.
There is a lot going on in the widget world, especially ours. We are increasingly busy with projects and client work. I am constantly amazed that something I considered a hobby would turn in to a little self-sustaining business.
WidgetNest is not a widget provider or a distribution service. We let other people tackle that problem. Instead, we create the widgets themselves and it has been incredibly rewarding. In fact, today I was checking out a new podcast over at CNET called The 404. I was amazed to see a little friend of mine - a multimedia player I helped make a while back for Castfire, “an enterprise class platform for podcasting and videocasting.” I spent a lot of time on that player, and it is fun to see it around the internet.
I would like to congratulate MixerCast for their new series of funding. I do not know anyone on the team over there, but I do like their work. Anyway, as I said, there is a lot going on in the widget world.
Keep your eyes open, we have a lot going on.
WidgetNest was contacted recently by a representative from Project White House. With them, we are making some widgets for the participating candidates which can be found on this hosted page.
For now we only have one completed, but as the candidates of Project White House complete their assigned tasks more will be made available.
Gigya Unveils Monetization Strategy: Distribution of Branded Widgets
It is interesting to see the Widget World (so to speak) move in the direction of branded widgets. I could have told you that it is a successful model a long time ago. In fact, I have been making branded widgets for almost two years. When I first made a Digg RSS Ticker it caught on fast. To this day, it is still one of the more visited sites I have ever made.
Branded widgets work for a number or reasons. First, they aren’t advertisements. They may work like an ad, but they aren’t, the are something that users find useful. Take for example the Digg Ticker or more recently the Brides.com widgets we have developed. People are looking for news tickers and countdown widgets already, why not add a brand to it, especially a brand that people already trust.
Second, They are more viral. Sure, you can look up Superbowl ads on YouTube, but you don’t find that same kind of attention given to punching a monkey to get more information about home loans.
Finally, the Internet has opened many doors in the realm of self expression. If I am a fan of the Seahawks (which I am, and I am bitter that they lost to Green Bay) why shouldn’t I show it on my blog, social profile, or other website. If the Seahawks offered a fan widget, I wouldn’t hesitate to put it up and express my interest in the team to others. Branded widgets allow users to show off what they like.
By the way (shameless plug warning), if you need a branded widget made, I know of a company that makes them.
I, like many people, don’t really love Internet advertising. At least not the annoying, ugly kind. There are, however, a few internet ads that are fun, informative, and useful. There are not enough of these ads. That is why we have updated the services page to include a new service - Interactive Advertising. From today forward, if you are in need of an interactive ad, please consider us as your ad developer.
This may come to a surprise to some people, but we already have experience in this field. Before WidgetNest, at least as it is known today, I had the opportunity to work with a couple different people on a unique Internet advertising campaign. The ads integrated data from the site’s RSS feed. Because the site’s major draw was its content, there was no better way to advertise the site than by using the content itself. In essence, the site did its own advertising. Those interested in the stories and articles were drawn to the site. With every site update, the ad updated itself to correspond.
There is a lot that can be done with Interactive advertising, and it can be done is a well designed, tasteful, and useful manner. No dancing people, not bouncing monkeys, just pure genius.