The Shira Lazar-fronted Web show What's Trending finished the year averaging 84,000 viewers per weekly episode, more than double its viewership than when it counted CBSNews.com as a distribution partner earlier this year.

That show's success underscores one of the lessons learned in new media in 2011 – you don't always need a network partner to deliver a successful Web video show. For more lessons learned this year in new media, social media, and connected TV ads, check out this week's New Media Minute.

– Daisy Whitney

Editor's Note:  Daisy's New Media Minute is produced and sponosored separately from Beet.TV We are pleased to publish it regularly on the purple network.