There are a ton of potential uses for Google Plus Hangouts, and Google is doing something relatively big to help highlight them--they're putting out another TV commercial. I think I can count on one hand (maybe just a couple fingers) the number of times Google has bothered to advertise on television, so it's something to pay attention to anytime they do. This time they're promoting Google Plus by way of highlighting the benefits of Hangouts, the group video chat service within Google Plus.

Plenty of news in the world of online video this past week, though many of us probably found ourselves distracted by things like family interaction, football games, and turkey. Because we were all a little more distracted than normal, it's an even better idea to catch up on the latest news, opinions, articles, and tips from the online video universe. Reel Stories You Might Have Missed Netflix will take a loss in 2012...

Greetings, and Happy Day After Thanksgiving--AKA Black Friday. While many of you might be out standing in line for new video gadgets on sale or being trampled at Wal-Mart by the masses, some of you are back to work, fighting the turkey hangover. You didn't think I would make you endure a Friday without a long list of the week's best viral videos, did you

I interviewed Google’s spokesperson Andrea Faville to learn more about the video features available on Google Plus Pages for business; along with a number of examples from businesses across the small-to-large range, and the great new “Hangouts with Extras” they’re previewing for everyone! If you haven’t already done so, I recommend also checking out Jeremy Scott’s earlier coverage here at ReelSEO on Google Plus Pages for Business & Brands . Video Examples on Google Plus Pages for Business “We've already seen a number of businesses do great things with video on their Google+ Pages.” says Andrea.

The single most-talked-about online video topic all week long was the capture and death of Libyan leader

If the new Muppets movie, opening Thanksgiving, is anywhere close to the viral marketing campaign that Disney has been putting out for the movie, we’re in for a fantastic holiday.

I’ve written many times about my love for The Muppets. I’m right in the perfect generation to be a fan–I remember watching and loving both the TV show and the three earliest films as I grew up. And over the past year or two, the new owner, Disney, has somehow found a way to breathe new life into the franchise, scoring numerous viral hits and rejuvenating the property.

Brands continue to lead the charge in creativity with online video. They have more money and resources than you and I do, which makes it easier for them to experiment. This week saw several entertaining branded videos, but I wanted to pull out a couple in particular to talk about to help illustrate some trends I’m seeing

Another week is in the books (well, almost), so it’s time to sit back, enjoy that morning coffee, and watch some of the most popular viral videos of the week. As usual, we have entries from savvy brands as well as clueless amateurs, which is sort of why I like online video so much: the big boys have to play in the same sandbox as the little guys. Ultimately, great content wins out