Posted by admin on February 15th, 2009 — Posted in Assistance, Best Social Resources, Lots Of Web Resources
With the new launch of MySpace the question on our lips is: Is MySpace finally making a comeback? I am not really a MySpace fan because it seems to be the exclusive territory of dark haired 16 year old emos, see this Emo MySpace layouts. No offence intended. But the recent revamp of MySpace has made me rethink. I was reading in the Chameleon Interactive Marketing Blog that 50% of users are now over 35. Yes, you heard that right. 1 in 2 users are over 35 and presumably no longer glamour princesses or emo goths. Stereotyping aside, the article does have a valid point which is that with the changing demographics of MySpace and ingenuous methods of advertising, MySpace is popular with advertisers again. Whilst the article can rightly claim that the new revamp of MySpace can lure back advertisers, I do not think that advertisers are likely to return to MySpace in flocks and droves, as the writer of the blog seems to think. Yes, I have no doubt that MySpace can sell itself to older users, that is, people in the 40+ demographics, but the key question is: how successful are they likely to be? To be quite honest, I do not think that they will be highly successful. This is because the blog-ish nature of MySpace makes it less attractive to many 40+ people who simply do not have time to blog about the joys of raising teenage children amongst working and cleaning up after the mess of these children. The writer of the blog informs us that MySpace is also trying to break into the 60+ user group. Commonsense would tell you that the plan is not likely to succeed simply because internet users amongst the 60+ population is substantially smaller than say internet users amongst those who are 25 to 40 years old. At the moment, I am trying really hard to imagine a granny using MySpace without laughing. I am failing abysmally because I simply cannot imagine a granny wearing horn rimmed glasses staring at the screen attempting to blog about the rheumatism in her back or changing her MySpace wallpaper to a garish shade of pink. One very interesting point which Fiorella makes is that “Last year, MySpace began a music venture with all four major record labels - EMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal and Warner Music to allow users to listen to free streaming audio…and…buy music direct”.This is an excellent feature but ultimately it is simply the icing on the cake. At the end of the day, the simple truth is that the hey-day of MySpace is over, not necessarily because it is not as good as Facebook, but simply because it is yesterday’s thing. Unless NewsCorp makes a substantial overhaul of MySpace, advertisers are unlikely to come back to it in flocks and droves. But it’s nice to see MySpace step up its game in the face of competition from rival, Facebook.
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Posted by admin on July 7th, 2008 — Posted in Best Social Resources
A short and memorable web address will ensure that your new contacts can also locate you and be updated with your company’s developments.
Always use your corporate email address when corresponding with your networks.
Incorporate a blog (an online diary) in your corporate website and invite your networks to contribute to your comments.
Profile your networks and provide free links back to their own websites.
Join Networking online forums like OpenBC, LinkedIn and Ecademy etc.
Join Trade Associations.
Ensure that your namecard has relevant contact information and keywords about what you do.
Provide free content for global portals will also ensure that your website will appear high on search engines’ ranking. However, this may not be sustainable in the long run as your content may be “open-source” and you will find it difficult to incorporate it in your own intellectual capital.
Provide fresh ideas for media companies like television and broadcasting stations.
Share your research and white-papers with public.
Write book reviews and interview business authors to complement your books reviews.
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Posted by admin on April 14th, 2008 — Posted in Best Social Resources
Everyone in business needs information. A business owner only has so much time, so it would be easy to miss industry news that affects them, or even more devastating, they could miss an opportunity to make a profit. You can help.
Make a list of your clients to keep at your desk. Also, keep directories of organizations you belong to. Review these lists frequently so you know what people do. These people are your contacts. They need your help. By helping them you also help yourself.
For yourself, you should already be reading the local papers every day. In addition you should read USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Read headlines on internet news services for breaking news as well. As you find something that affects a contact, copy or print out the information. Then you simply mail the information to your friend or client. You mail this so there is a hard copy that reaches their desk. Add a line like, “I thought you might find this useful.” Be sure to sign it. You find the information to help them. You send the copy to help you.
Okay, now what are you looking for? Nothing in particular, everything in relation. Be selective.
Here are some examples of what I’ve done:
I’ve sent notices of job bids for new school windows to a client that sells and installs commercial glass
I’ve sent notes to real estate developers on property they may have missed
I’ve sent articles about new businesses to insurance agents
I’ve sent comments about community action to clients who sit on various boards of directors
I’ve sent a book review on unions to a friend in HR who works on contracts with several unions
As you can see, what you send out varies by what you find. Now, you are not your own clipping service. Don’t spend a ton of time on this, but as you read be thinking about others.
What you don’t want to do is send a whole bunch of mail to the same people. You’ll look like you’re doing this for a living OR worse, yet; you’ll look like this is advertising yourself. Keep in mind, that all you’re really doing is finding valuable information for people whom you think will benefit and then sending that information to them. You are sharing.
By helping others do better in business and the community, you will be rewarded as well. Individuals appreciate and remember people that look out for them.
Author Don Doman: Don is a published author of books for small business, corporate video producer, and owner of Ideas and Training (http://www.ideasandtraining.com), which provides business training products. Don also owns Human Resources Radio (http://www.humanresourcesradio.com), which provides business training programs and previews 24-hours a day.
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