Apart from information searches, email has long been the centre of ones online activities. However Nielson Online suggest this long established trend is now changing. The top 5 sectors online, in 2008, illustrate this, general interest communities now rank second, with social networking sites fourth and email trailing in fifth. This is evidence of the increased development of Web 2.0. If this wasnt enough, the time people are spending on blogs and social networking sites is increasing at three times the rate of overall internet growth.
The information above stresses the untapped potential of blogs, forums and social networking. However during this period of economic recession it is likely a marketing director will stick to what they know and understand, instead of risking moving into new spheres with potentially higher margins.
Link; http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1006953
YouTube; the new international power force
comScore have released information showing that YouTube's visitor rate in January this year was in excess of 100 million, thus making it the most widely viewed video site in the US and most probably the world. Their parent company Google topped the list, trailed by Fox, Yahoo and Microsoft respectively. Unlike its competitors though YouTube attributes these high figures to user driven content, using only their brand and the power it wields to attract said users, along with functional pluses such as quick and easy uploading.
eMarketer suggests that 9.1% of internet users, 18.1 million people, will upload a video to YouTube this year. Its a very impressive set of stats, especially for a market which is so dynamic, fast moving and entirely dependent on trends. However the senior analyst at eMarketer says that YouTube is not capitalising on its astronomical visitor rate so despite their huge visitor numbers their revenues dont quite match up to the competition. Maybe its time to start taking a more revenue centred approach, or just maybe its nice to feel that a company is not constantly capitalising on its customers.
Link; http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1006981
eMarketer suggests that 9.1% of internet users, 18.1 million people, will upload a video to YouTube this year. Its a very impressive set of stats, especially for a market which is so dynamic, fast moving and entirely dependent on trends. However the senior analyst at eMarketer says that YouTube is not capitalising on its astronomical visitor rate so despite their huge visitor numbers their revenues dont quite match up to the competition. Maybe its time to start taking a more revenue centred approach, or just maybe its nice to feel that a company is not constantly capitalising on its customers.
Link; http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1006981
How to write a book on something that moves with the present
Two books are being published this year, documenting the two revolutionary social networking sites which have turned online communication into a far wider reaching web than every before. MySpace and Facebook are so well recognised the next thing we know they will be entering the Oxford English Dictionary, however back to our topic of conversation how does one write a book on something that is constantly evolving.
Angwings book on MySpace was started in 2007, many critics have already deemed the book out of date, before it is even published. They have not been quite so harsh with Kirkpatricks book on facebook, although it has been described as a 'love affair'. His strategy to prevent any air of out-datedness seems to be working, he has started a fanpage, on facebook, and is using a blog as a way to communicate with his audience his progress with the book. He also has been given access to executives, unlike Angwing, which may provide an air of authenticity.
It is a difficult thing to write a novel which is effectively in a timewarp once it has been published, on a topic which is constantly evolving at a considerable pace. Maybe Kirkpatricks strategy will combat this is some way but it would be advisable to write quickly before his original ideas are already documented in a shorted form.
Link; http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/15/myspace-and-facebook-in-2009-battle-of-the-books/
Angwings book on MySpace was started in 2007, many critics have already deemed the book out of date, before it is even published. They have not been quite so harsh with Kirkpatricks book on facebook, although it has been described as a 'love affair'. His strategy to prevent any air of out-datedness seems to be working, he has started a fanpage, on facebook, and is using a blog as a way to communicate with his audience his progress with the book. He also has been given access to executives, unlike Angwing, which may provide an air of authenticity.
It is a difficult thing to write a novel which is effectively in a timewarp once it has been published, on a topic which is constantly evolving at a considerable pace. Maybe Kirkpatricks strategy will combat this is some way but it would be advisable to write quickly before his original ideas are already documented in a shorted form.
Link; http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/15/myspace-and-facebook-in-2009-battle-of-the-books/
Apple becomes e-politically correct
Apple has caused controversy by refusing to validate Twitter as an application, due to apparent 'foul language'. This seems slightly ridiculous as the a key feature of the iphone and other apple products is the total freedom to adapt and personalise, by banning an application by such a popular social networking site, they are effectively shooting themselves in the foot! I would highly recommend Apple reconsider this decision as the foul language is not a product of Twitter, but their users, and should they seek to stop this it would put a huge constraint on the site as a whole. Political correctness is already a joke to the majority of the population, lets hope Apple dont join the club of insitutions and individuals who make us say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.
Link; http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/10/apple-stupidly-rejects-tweetie-1-3-for-foul-language-in-twitter/
Link; http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/10/apple-stupidly-rejects-tweetie-1-3-for-foul-language-in-twitter/
Facebook users under attack
Is this the new 2.0 war. Facebook; the epitomy of online social communication, along with perhaps MySpace, has been targeted by hackers. In the week leading up to March there were 5 separate attempts to hack the site, all trying to access private information about users. The attached article describes their attacks as 'capitalising on the trust and social links that drive the network'. This phrase sums up our continually increasing confidence in the safety of our information whilst online. The increasing use of different modes of online communication reaching more people inherently means a lack of control over private information. The sites structure seems to be the main issue here, the fact that applications can be created by anyone and are not vetted prior to launch means it is difficult to spot rogue ones. This maintains their selling point as a site for the members constructed to their members likes and dislikes, the incresing self personalisation seems to boost confidence and people can become almost careless when it comes to security issues. Maybe the lesson is that although these networking sites are now almost integral to society, it is still advisable to maintain awareness, as distant as the threat may seem.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7918839.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7918839.stm
The Environmental Impact of Googling
E-marketing; the modern, speedy and efficient form of communication between marketers and consumers? Right? One would think that in an increasingly environmentally aware world, this would be a preferable form. However some do not agree; with global warming becoming increasingly apparent, just look at the snowfall in Vancouver over the christmas period, individuals are on a quest to place a carbon footprint on almost every percievable action. In some ways this is very helpful, yes, but sometimes it does go a bit far. The most common activity when online if trying to find information or do research, is to 'google', a search engine that has become such an institution its name has been entered into the English Dictionary.
According to Harvard academic and physicist; Alex Wissner-Gross, two search requests on google can produce as much carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle. It comes as quite a surprising figure, how can entering two words or phrases into an online format equal a physical output of such quantity. The academic puts this down to the electricity usage of the computer terminal doing the search and the data banks which hold all of the information and conduct the actual search. He claims that the fast accurate results do actually come at a cost, this cost being 7g of CO2.
However his figures have been disputed by Google, who say his claims are 'many times too high', and the actual figure is closer to 0.2g of CO2. This is far less that is for sure but it does bring a sense of reality to the situation. The majority of people use the internet, thinking it as the more environmentally friendly option when finding information, but apparently this has negative effects as well. However, this physicist does not in his report compare googling to other forms of searching such as using the Yellow Pages, looking information up in directories or using telephone directories. I am sure these would comprise of reasonable emissions as well, especially when you consider the paper needed to make directories, or the electricity needed to get through lengthy phone calls and slow automated options at the end of the line.
Despite this rather surprising figure when we consider the alternative, albeit without doing in depth research, we can see that every way of finding information incurs an environmental effect. A negative article that does not cover all posts shows us that statistics can be used in any way we like if reworded effectively. Maybe instead of stopping our google searches, we should fully turn off out computers at night, Im sure that would more than compensate!
Link to BBC News article; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7823387.stm
According to Harvard academic and physicist; Alex Wissner-Gross, two search requests on google can produce as much carbon dioxide as boiling a kettle. It comes as quite a surprising figure, how can entering two words or phrases into an online format equal a physical output of such quantity. The academic puts this down to the electricity usage of the computer terminal doing the search and the data banks which hold all of the information and conduct the actual search. He claims that the fast accurate results do actually come at a cost, this cost being 7g of CO2.
However his figures have been disputed by Google, who say his claims are 'many times too high', and the actual figure is closer to 0.2g of CO2. This is far less that is for sure but it does bring a sense of reality to the situation. The majority of people use the internet, thinking it as the more environmentally friendly option when finding information, but apparently this has negative effects as well. However, this physicist does not in his report compare googling to other forms of searching such as using the Yellow Pages, looking information up in directories or using telephone directories. I am sure these would comprise of reasonable emissions as well, especially when you consider the paper needed to make directories, or the electricity needed to get through lengthy phone calls and slow automated options at the end of the line.
Despite this rather surprising figure when we consider the alternative, albeit without doing in depth research, we can see that every way of finding information incurs an environmental effect. A negative article that does not cover all posts shows us that statistics can be used in any way we like if reworded effectively. Maybe instead of stopping our google searches, we should fully turn off out computers at night, Im sure that would more than compensate!
Link to BBC News article; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7823387.stm
A quick introduction
The internet has completely revolutionised society, it has evolved into a medium which is dynamic, fresh, easy to use and fast. The internet gives consumers far more choice and freedom than before, whilst also allowing access to information which informs their decision making process. It provides a platform where people can interact, regardless of geographical situation, and has led to high speed communication around the globe.
So what is e-marketing and how is it relevant to you?
The internet is, in theory, limitless. Therefore it provides a platform for marketers which did not exist before, allowing for two way interaction, targeted segmentation, lower costs and higher specificity. If carried out in an efficient manner marketing on the net can come at a far lesser monetary cost whilst dealing out a far higher return than traditional methods.
This blog will seek to document developments in e-marketing; their effects on consumers and marketers, and how to market effectively online.
So what is e-marketing and how is it relevant to you?
The internet is, in theory, limitless. Therefore it provides a platform for marketers which did not exist before, allowing for two way interaction, targeted segmentation, lower costs and higher specificity. If carried out in an efficient manner marketing on the net can come at a far lesser monetary cost whilst dealing out a far higher return than traditional methods.
This blog will seek to document developments in e-marketing; their effects on consumers and marketers, and how to market effectively online.
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