http://www.influxinsights.com/blog/ 2008-11-20T09:21:11Z http://www.influxinsights.com/blog/article/1712/building-the-youtube-brand.html <b>YouTube </b>has often been ridiculed as a media outlet, with analysts pointing to hamster videos and ranting teens<br><br>However, YouTube has a different target in its sights, it's clearly trying to build credibility as a media and is inserting its brand into all kind of interesting places from the 2008 US Election to its latest move to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/davos">partner the World Economic Forum in Davos.</a><br><br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/edcotton/2119801218/" title="You Tube and Davos by ed100, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/2119801218_64eee92e47.jpg" alt="You Tube and Davos" height="240" width="500"></a><br><br>This is all about brand action; offering up the brand to the World Economic Forum to let consumers into a previously closed affair and in the process getting YouTube a seat at the top table of world leaders<br><br>It's all surprisingly simple and easy- no ad campaign, no PR, just a page on the internet.<br><br>Although YouTube may lack the seriousness of established media outlets it's community, scale and connection to the people makes it a media which offers access like no other and for a old-fashioned institution like the World Economic Forum, it gets a contemporary shot in the arm. <br><br>Who will YouTube partner with next?<br><br>The Queen of England?<br>The White House?<br><br>Suggestions in the comments section please.<br><br><br><br>Posted by Ed Cotton Influx Insights 2007-12-18T00:36:11Z