In recent months, we’ve started to hear the term used more frequently. We recommended the use of mashups in our recent article – Top Tips to Promote Your Business Online free – and it’s likely that you are are seeing or using a mashup a few times a week at least, probably without even realising it!
So, what is a mashup?
A mashup is the result of taking data from one or a number of sources and doing something to it to add value – altering it from its original format. This could be as simple as news aggregation - identifying all content on a certain subject matter, compiling it and then showing it on your own website. We did this using Yahoo! Pipes for Hi-Tec on their ion-mask campaign website, creating an ‘ion-mask in the news’ section for the website – providing the latest news from across the web on ion-mask and making Hi-Tec the authority on all things ion-mask.
Mashups do however take a variety of forms, with news aggregation being one of the more common applications. We’ve listed a few examples of mashups below to give you an idea on the scope and uses for them:
- Rightmove – Rightmove uses About My Place to show the location of properties on a map and to provide details of nearest stations.
- iGuide – iGuide uses Google Maps, WikiTravel, Geonames, Wikipedia, YouTube, Google Video and Placeopedia along with user generated content, to provide, what it claims to be, the most powerful travel guide ever.
- Flickrvision – makes use of Google Maps and Flickr to show images as they’re uploaded, pinpointed on a map of the world.
- Website Outlook – this site provides a valuation of your website based upon information taken from a number of sources including Alexa.
Why use a mashup?
We’re not suggesting that you go ahead and create a whole new website around a mashup, not unless you already have a great idea for one. What we are suggesting however, is that you consider the use of a mashup to enhance your website. You could start with something as simple as showing your visitors your shop locations using Google Maps, publishing your industry-related news on your website using Yahoo! Pipes or you could opt for something far more complex, such as an estate agent providing an automated valuation for a property based upon a selection of online data combined with their own formula.
Whatever your choice of mashup, make it relevant, useful and ensure it works as it should; and it will help to keep your website at the forefront of your industry. Your digital agency should be able to give you some suggestions for mashups that are relevant to your target audience – if not, get in touch with Bluhalo!
Jocelyn
Marketing & Business Development Manager
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