BuzzFeed's Tasty and the Science Behind Modern, Massive Growth
 
Tuesday, March 13, 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
 
Ashley McCollum, General Manager, Tasty, BuzzFeed

What do an investigative news organization, exploding watermelons, “Sliders 4 Ways” and more than 9 billion monthly content views have in common? All are part of BuzzFeed, the global media, entertainment and technology company that covers breaking news, produces original posts and videos, and creates shareable content on everything from politics and business to DIY and those addicting Tasty recipe videos – all while paving the way for the future of digital media. 

With more choice than ever, brands must stop expecting users to be loyal to brands and start being loyal to their users. In this session attendees will learn about the business behind Tasty, BuzzFeed’s global social food network, including how, in just two years, it grew into the biggest franchise on Facebook and one of the largest food channels on YouTube. Tasty, known globally for popularizing the overhead cam recipe video, has entered hundreds of millions of peoples’ home kitchens through their accessible, consumer-oriented point of view. Attendees will: 

  • Hear BuzzFeed’s consumer-first growth strategy and how Tasty grew in the middle of a crowded, competitive environment. 
  • Learn the history and future of this disruptive digital force as it expands beyond the mobile experience and into kitchens and retail stores.
  • Understand Tasty's ability to be a full funnel solution for brands to drive in-store activation.
View the entire agenda here
 
Speaker Bio: 
 
Ashley McCollum, General Manager, Tasty, BuzzFeed
 
Ashley McCollum is the general manager of Tasty, BuzzFeed's global food network, which reaches 500 million people each month. Previously, she served as chief of staff to BuzzFeed CEO and founder Jonah Peretti, where she worked closely with Peretti and the executive team to shape strategy for company-wide initiatives, including running point on new R&D projects to extend the company’s longterm competitive advantage. Since joining BuzzFeed in 2012, McCollum has helped grow the company from a small 75 person startup with 20 million monthly unique visitors to a thriving international media company with over 1,400 employees and 7 billion monthly content views while rolling out dozens of new content verticals, hundreds of new hires, editorial initiatives and business deals.  In June 2016, McCollum was named to Adweek’s “The 30 Most Influential People in Food” list and in January 2017, she was included on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list.  Before joining BuzzFeed, McCollum worked in marketing & communications at NBC News and focused on digital and social initiatives. She studied Economics at Presbyterian College and lives in Los Angeles.