WebProNews

It must disappoint advertisers when, after putting their faith and cash behind a certain video, the thing completely flops.  So a new YouTube product tries to keep them happy and successful by identifying clips already on their way to viral status.

Buzz targeting, as it's called, was launched in a less-than-subtle manner.  To paraphrase the press release's introduction: "You know when Eric Schmidt talked about 'best products'?  Well, this is one of those."

Buzz targeting may deserve the hype, though, as the statement continues, "The algorithm looks at several factors, such as acceleration of views, favorites, and ratings activity, and then allows advertisers to target their ads specifically to these videos on YouTube."

Aside from lower costs, it's hard to imagine anything else that advertisers could want.  Perhaps buzz targeting's test subject wasn't too highly regarded - "The Forbidden Kingdom" received a freshness rating of 61 percent on Rotten Tomatoes - but then again, a better movie might have created questions about carrying its own weight.

Don't look for buzz targeting alone to turn YouTube into a profit center.  Still, the new product's sure to generate some interest, and should bring in more money, too.