14 DAY TRIAL // The Google Apps Marketplace launched a few weeks ago to showcase and sell web applications designed to integrate with the Google suite. There are quite a few interesting apps in there and Google is hoping to reiterate the success others (Apple) have had with app stores. In an effort to bring more exposure to the apps and the Marketplace itself, Google is now launching a dedicated YouTube channel for app vendors to strut their stuff.
"Hot on the heels of our Google Apps Marketplace release, we're pleased to announce today a new YouTube channel, youtube.com/appsmarketplace," Chris Kelly from the Google Apps Marketplace team announced.
"The Apps Marketplace YouTube channel showcases videos from Marketplace vendors. Ranging from funny to informative, from cartoons to screencasts, these videos are meant to convey the benefits of extending Google Apps with integrated apps that work seamlessly with Gmail, Calendar, Docs and more," he added.
"We're happy to already have more than a dozen videos in the channel and over 60 integrated app vendors in the Marketplace, and look forward to more great things as the Marketplace grows," Kelly said.
Of the 60 app vendors present in the Google Apps Marketplace now, 16 have created videos for the newly launched YouTube channel. Of course, some of the videos had already been created, like the cute but informative one from Aviary. It has been available ever since the Marketplace launched and is still probably the best video in the channel. Being a creative company, Aviary offers a set of graphic design tools, probably helped.
Other videos are hit and miss but there's definitely an opportunity for vendors to highlight their product's features. As the number of app vendors grows, competition will become fiercer and every little advantage should be exploited. Of course, the videos can be embedded elsewhere, for example on a tutorial page or in a blog post, so vendors should have plenty of incentive to create videos for their apps.