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
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