Digital Marketing Blog

Ritsa- Foxwoods

2009-04-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, my friends and I decided to take a trip to Foxwoods for the night. Walking around, I noticed a kiosk-type device close to the wall that allowed you to enter to win contests just by typing in your phone number. After that you receive a confirmation text to your phone. Little did I know that I would keep receiving "promotional" texts about events going on Foxwoods for months in advance. I occassionally receive texts promoting events such as concerts, celebrity appearances, and bar specials.

Denis - iPhone OS 3.0 Software

2009-04-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

On March 17, Apple presented the blueprint for iPhone OS 3.0, the next version of the world’s most advanced mobile platform. In addition to previewing its innovative features, Apple gave members of the iPhone Developer Program immediate access to the iPhone OS 3.0 software beta and an updated Software Development Kit (SDK) with over 1,000 completely new APIs.

With the new SDK, members of the iPhone Developer Program can build applications that do even more. Developers will have the tools to enable in-app purchases — like subscriptions, additional game levels, and new content. They can also create apps that connect peer to peer via Bluetooth, communicate with hardware accessories, and use the Apple Push Notification service to provide alerts.

Maps

You can now embed maps within your applications using the new Map Kit framework. Map Kit works with the Google Mobile Maps Service and features panning and zooming, custom annotations, current location and geocoding.

If there's one thing the iPhone OS 3.0 preview has emphasized, it's just exactly how big the iPhone platform is, and how much room there is still left for growth and expansion.

This thing is just huge! Unlike the two years previous when it was non-existent, Apple's iPhone platform is now the hottest mobile platform in the world with over 30 million iPhone and iPod touch devices out in the wild. That figure has brought over 50,000 paying developers (with over 800,000 free iPhone SDK downloads) to Apple's door. So far, they've written more programs in just eight months than the Windows Mobile platform and its third-party developers have seen to date in over nine years. At the same time, Apple's software bazaar is nearing the one billion download mark, enabling even a small guy to become rich overnight with only a moderately successful iPhone app.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41758/141/

David- How Marketers Plan To Invade Your Phone

2009-04-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

I haven't put much thought into the rapid growth of the mobile industry but it's growing and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. There are people out there that want a fair share of this Mobile market and according to a cnnmoney.com "Big marketers certainly seem interested in the opportunity: Car makers, movie studios and other deep-pocketed companies have started testing the waters of mobile marketing, and research firms estimate mobile advertising could be a $1 billion-a-year market in just a few years". That's a lot of money that I sure wouldn't mind being a part of.

Cell phones are here to stay especially with the new features that are being added to phones, IPHONE alone has thousands of things you can download to the phone, a book being one of them. You can go on the Internet, write emails, check facebook, myspace, whereas before these things all had to be done in front of a PC, now its right in the palm of your hands.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/14/magazines/fortune/mehta_pluggedin_mobilemarketing.fortune/index.htm

Kristen - Mobile Marketing on my Blackberry

2009-04-02T13:10:00.001-07:00

It seems like everyday there's a new application that I can add to my Blackberry. Tons of different websites have mobile applications so that people who use Smartphones can tap into their favorite websites and get the latest news updates, scores and much more. Currently I've been on an application downloading spree and recently put Google, Facebook, ESPN, SoccerNet and the Red Sox applications on my phone. I may not completely need these all the time, but Google does come in handy when you're in the middle of Brooklyn and have no idea where you are--you can access Google Maps and find your location and get directions with the click of a button. I think in the future mobile marketing is going to easily become a huge trend, as it already has. People love things that make their life easier, faster and more "on-the-go" friendly--this is just one of the many ways to make that possible.

Shane - Mobile Marketing

2009-04-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

Mobile Marketing has increased dramatically over the recent years. With the creation of the iPhone and other smart phone devices that display the Internet as it would on any computer, it has only become easier to invade cell phone space with paid advertisements. I used "Free 411" last year. Trying to avoid charges to my cell phone I thought I would take a few extra minutes, listen to the advertisements while I wait, and get the same thing I would from dialing 411 directly. That didn't exactly go as planned. Instead, my phone would constantly receive text message advertisements from this so-called "Free 411" which cost me money to receive since they are sent out of network. Never again will I be calling that number.
It is becoming a reality, however, that we are easily reachable via cellular devices. Since cell phones increasingly evolve into hand-held computers they are now being treated as such by advertisers. The biggest marketing ploy thus far is the iPhone Apps. Granted, most of the apps are pretty cool and, if I had an iPhone, I would have many of them. But many of the apps, just as computers do, have advertisements in the corners of the screen. The yellow pages, for example, or Google Maps, all have advertisements along with your search results. After all, if it looks and act like a computer, why wouldn't it be treated like one?

http://www.straightupsearch.com/archives/2009/03/mobile_apps_mar.html

Kristin- Stop & Shop jumpstarts mobile marketing

2009-04-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you've noticed lately, but if you've been to your local Stop & Shop you may have seen a display like the one below when you walked in.

So you may be asking yourself what it is, or are just too scared to try the new technology. Stop & Shop has launched these new mobile "scan it" devices in many of their stores. It's really quite simple and easy to use. When you walk in, you scan your Stop & Shop card and one of the scanners will light up for you to take and use.

As you shop, you simply scan the barcode of the item you want with the device and it will appear on the screen. There is then a button you can press to add this item to your cart. Once you scan the item you place it in your shopping bag. If you decide you no longer want the item you can easily remove it from the list as well. I really enjoyed using the device because you get to bag your groceries as you shop. When you're done shopping, you simply proceed to the checkout and scan a barcode at the register, swipe your credit card or pay cash, and you are on your way. So you may be wondering how you purchase bakery items or fruits and vegetables...worry not. Stop and Shop has placed barcodes near these items as well that you scan or weigh your vegetables and the scale prints out a barcode for you. Below is an example of the barcode found in the bakery area.

Also, as you walk up and down the aisles, your hand held scanner will beep and alert you of special discounts in that aisle. Since you scan your Stop & Shop card at the beginning, the device is aware of your previous shopping habits and as you shop you may notice many coupons appear for items you frequently buy. For example, when I was shopping my scanner kept alerting me of a discount on bottled water since I usually buy a case whenever I'm there. The whole system is really quite amazing to think about how marketers are really individually targeting each consumer.

Sue H--G-20 activists and Twitter

2009-04-02T06:42:00.000-07:00

Political activists have long been early adopters of the newest technology---and the latest must have gadgets for the group include Facebook & Twitter. Since the dawn of the printing press--where activists used print to quickly spread their message and unite en masse--to the recent Obama campaign, technology has always played a key role in social activism. Clay Shirky, author of "Here Comes Everybody" and an expert on the social and ecomomic effects of Internet technologies, states that the groundbreaking event for online campaigning was the 1999 WTO protest in Seattle, where tens of thousands of activists descended on the city. Internet advances ---particularly mobile technologies--have made it dramatically easier to organize large groups of people in protest. These types of technology allow instant, on-the-ground, mass communication. This was blatantly apparent @ the G-8 protests in 2007, in Germany, where large groups of people identified a security breach in the police blockade and relayed the information within seconds to protesters, enabling them to outmanuever police. Far more people today are digitally connected, making it easier for groups to assemble and dissipate quickly. For the most part large-scale protests organized online have been peaceful--but the WTO, and G-20 protests do have a history of turing violent--something that worries some activists as the week unfolds.

Krista - iPhones in India flop

2009-04-02T06:10:00.000-07:00

According to a BusinessWeek article yesterday, iPhones are not selling well in India which can be an indicator that they won't do well in China either.

Apple's iPhones have been sold in India since last August but sales have been very low given the 20 million new customers that Indian cell-phone providers add each month. The price may be a consideration as the iPhone is 1/3 the amount as the new Indian-made car, Nana costs. At $700 each (price is determine by local partners, not Apple) it is expensive compared to $199/mo with a 2 year contract in the U.S.

The article also mentions the slowing global economny as a factor and that the iPhones can be unlocked and used on competing networks.

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2009/gb2009041_266236.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_global+business

Kerry- Mobile Marketing

2009-04-01T16:13:00.001-07:00

Verizon, AT & T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile have agreed to to improve mobile marketing by working with the Mobile Marketing Association to lower costs for marketing and lead to a more consistent user experience. While working with the MMA to streamline the the process of getting marketing content out to the users.

The rule has 5 objectives:
- Promote a consistent consumer experience
- enhance efficiencies for marketing campaigns using short codes
- cut the time to market for campaigns
- ensure consistent monitoring and auditing
- cut operational costs

This all came about when users had been tricked to subscribing to services from text messages and jokes. They were charged on their bill for these services. They are looking to get subscribers approval or an opt in/opt out procecuders in place.

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/162224/us_carriers_join_to_improve_mobile_marketing.html

Liz - China

2009-04-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

Regarding Google and China - Google is fighting hard to dominate in China and surpass its #1 rival, Baidu. The downside to Google's new music offer is that the music may not be the latest release considering most record companies will wait before sharing music & profit w/Google. Baidu currently has a music sharing feature, mostly illegal since Baidu is being sued by a number of record companies. To stay ahead of Google, I imagine Baidu will approach most record companies about a new music sharing deal. And most will partner w/Baidu - they have more to gain with a partnership and by sharing profits.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/31/google-baidu-music-markets-equity-china.html

On another note, I thought it was interesting that the Chinese web portal and social network operator Tencent financially relies more on the selling of virtual goods rather than advertising . It sells about $750million in virtual good a year - instant messaging upgrades, wallpaper, etc. Online advertising is a very small portion if its overall revenue (10%). This is a little outdated but 88% of Yahoo's total revenue in 2006 came from marketing.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/19/china-social-media-tencent-technology-paidcontent.html

Mark - Did Conficker start in China?

2009-03-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many of you have heard about the virus going around called "Conficker". It was believed that this virus had originated from either Europe or Russia, but there is now a new rumor that the virus code is very similar to the Nimda virus that occurred in 2001. The Nimda virus had supposedly been developed in China, so now there is now reason to believe that their might be some connection between the two viruses because of the similar code that was used. Even with this rumor, officials have still not been able to locate the creator of this virus, but at least now they have some assistance in narrowing down where to block the return of the virus. Make sure you all delete your cookies and don't open any strange emails!

More on this article

Connie - Google to offer free music downloads in China

2009-03-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

I found an interesting news item today about Google and Chinda. Apparently, Google and the major music labels have found an alternative way to monetise digital music: advertising.

Google has announced that Chinese users of its search engine will be able to download around 350,000 songs from partners EMI, Sony, Warner and Universal - all free, licensed and legal.
Revenue will be generated for the service from advertising, which Google will in turn share with the four major record labels.

According to the article, the deal will not be replicated in other countries. One wonders if this will eventually be offered in other countires.

To read the rest of the article, click on this link:

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/google-offer-free-music-downloads-china-96591

Shane - Google in China

2009-03-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

Through a previous class I had learned about Google's entry into China and the many troubles they were having after doing so. Google, as most people know, promote themselves as being the most complete search of the information you are looking for on the web. China, however, has the most control over information that its occupants receive than any other country. The trouble they had was that if they didn't enter the Chinese market they were missing out on a huge piece of the worlds population. However if they were to enter the Chinese market the Chinese government was only going to allow them to display certain content that they deemed appropriate. In doing so they would be going against their mission statement and what they stand for. Read more through the link...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4645596.stm

Denis - Legal and Ethical Aspects of the Internet

2009-03-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

The Internet allows consumers, businesses, and industry to do many new things in unique and efficient ways. The technology around which it is built is also changing and advancing rapidly. A source of concern is that the legal and ethical developments regarding the Internet are not able to keep up with the fast pace of technological change.

http://www.tekxam.com/StudyGuide/concepts/Ethics-and-Legal/TekXam_Legal_and_Ethical_Study_Guide.html

This website is a tutorial that touches on the main areas of legal and ethical concern that have emerged so far, the ways in which they are being dealt with, and the implications for providers of technology related services and products.

Drew-Foreign markets tough for YouTube

2009-03-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

I checked out the article Mark posted and found some more about the block of YouTube in China. The heavy internet regulation isn't only in China. It seems like the moment that the government finds something in a website offensive there isn't much evaluation and the entire site is banned. The article went on to talk about the control countries want but don't have over websites like YouTube because they are foreign. In China a big competitor of YouTube is tuduo.com, which the government doesn't mind because they can regulate it. This makes it hard for Internet sites and companies to break into that huge market. I can't say I feel too bad for these huge companies but more so for the citizens. This isn't just in China either. Companies are trying to penetrate markets around the globe that have emergent Internet use but are having difficulty in some places. YouTube isn't only blocked and/or regulated in China but also in Thailand, Pakistan, Turkey, and Germany.

Kerry- Google and Behavioral Advertising

2009-03-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

In this article it talks about how Google has introduced a new type of behavioral ad target with YouTube and their partner site AdSense advertising network. What happens is when a websurfer goes on to YouTube and AdSense websites it shows them pages they pursued in the past. So say someone searched baseball on the YouTube website when they go back an ad would be generated towards your previous search regarding baseball. Google has programs for websurfers to opt out of having ads populate based on their search. But for the time being this function could only be used by certain internet explorers and you would have to opt out on all your computers. The Center for Democracy and Technology wants major websites to create an industry wide opt out of all interest advertising.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/11/google_behavioral_advertising/

Liz - ethical & legal issues

2009-03-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

http://pwebs.net/marketing/ethics/articles/internetethics.htm
In light of how the Internet is a major part of the daily life for all of us, I found this website very interesting. Blogs, photos, email, anything online is forever in cyberspace. Does Facebook own our pictures once we post them? Who actually owns our words when we post online? The internet is free range for anyone looking. From a business perspective, what is posted online about the company, whether it is through a blog or the company's website, is crucial to its reputation. The company site must make sure that it contains correct information so as to avoid any legal issues and misguided (unethical) marketing. We hear of spyware that invades our email accounts or businesses selling our cell phone numbers. I think we will continue to see more legal action against and to prevent these actions. Just last year an Az man violated Washington’s Computer Spyware Act and Consumer Protection Act when he bombarded people's computers with ads and them presented them w/a software that would block the ads, which when downloaded turned their computers into spamming machines. http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=19416

Kristin- New York Times 10 Rules of Blogging

2009-03-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

The success and take off of blogging as a phenomenon may be due largely to the fact that there really are no rules or regulations. People can create a blog and really write whatever they want. It seems odd that there are no restrictions really set into place yet. While I'm sure some companies have experience some troubles with their employees blogging (perhaps unfavorably) about the company, to date you don't really hear about any major troubles or disturbances brought about by blogging. Blogging right now is really a entity for people to express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns openly and freely; both good and bad. I can foresee in the future that either the government or companies will put into place rules and regulations for blogging. There is going to be that one person who pushes the envelope too far and ruins it for everyone. Below is a article that better bullet points the New York Times article discussing the 10 rules for blogging. Even these rules are very vague and many common sense for now.

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-new-york-timess-10-rules-for-blogging-2009-3

Sue H--Revised guidelines for BT

2009-03-26T05:43:00.000-07:00

Behavioral targeting has been around for several years, but has recently been receiving increased attention. One of the biggest worries about BT is privacy issues. The Federal Trade Commission recently revised guidelines for behavioral targeting (February 12th) requiring websites to disclose the data they are collecting to their users and give them a chance to opt out. Behavioral targeting in a nutshell is an advertising practice in which a marketer targets ads to consumers based on their past online activity. Privacy advocates feel the new guidelines do not go far enough to protect the consumer, saying it places too heavy a burden on consumers because hundreds of sites are collecting personal information, and the average online user would be easily overwhelmed. Consumer advocacy groups were also concerned about certain categories of information--such as genetics--being used improperly and asked that these areas be entirely off limits. On the flip side Google and Yahoo praised the new guidelines, which do not require either company to change any of their current practices in regards to information gathering.

Mark - Mobile marketing & China vs. YouTube

2009-03-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

I came across this article about a public mobile campaign sponsored by The Partnership for a Drug-Free America that I thought was real interesting. The campaign targets parents that might have a hard time and not exactly sure how to talk to their kids about drugs. With the everyday use of cell phones in today's society, I thought this was a brilliant idea. Banner ads are displayed across mobile websites on cell phones, linking users to different tools that can be used to educate them and their children, as well as provide advice on communication about this topic.

More on this mobile marketing campaign

Well, China's at it again, taking away many of the freedoms that us Americans might take for granted. The Chinese government announced today that they were going to block access to the popular Internet site YouTube.com, and not with much reason. There are rumors that one of the reasons this was done was because of a video that was displayed on YouTube.com that showed Tibetan prisoners being attacked by Chinese policemen. I understand how this would cause great concern, but to limit all access? That seems a little ridiculous. Why can't they just block and remove this video from the site like they do with other video clips?

More on China and YouTube

Krista- Twitter can get your fired

2009-03-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

I found this story about a guy who was offered a job at Cisco but then bad-mouthed it on Twitter. Cisco found his tweet and now he's out of a job. It says that HR Depts in the near future will have to overlook some of the online faux pas that seem to be occuring more frequently. There were a few other examples of politicians who disclosed (what seems like classified information) but didn't get fired.

But I guess the question is where is the line drawn between your social and professional lives?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29796962/

It also mentioned Twitter is much quicker than Facebook on getting info out so therefore it's quicker to get your fired.

Connie - Blogger's Code of Ethics

2009-03-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

When it comes to blogging, I really did not think that people needed to follow any guidelines. But there are come people who feel that bloggers "should recognize that they are publishing words publicly, and therefore have certain ethical obligations to their readers, the people they write about, and society in general."

CyberJournalist.net went so far as to create a model Bloggers' Code of Ethics, by modifying the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics for the Weblog world. These are just guidelines but not something bloggers need to follow.

CyberJournalist says bloggers should be honest and fair (identify and link to sources), minimize harm (show good taste), and be accountable (admit mistakes).

Personally, I just think bloggers should watch what they say - you never know who is going to be reading your blog.

To read the full post about the Code of Ethics, click on this link:
http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php

I started my own blog page

2009-03-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

And have already blogged it up....

Spent hours trying to figure out blogging -- blogspot was, by far, the most helpful. the "Doing it right" chapter of the book starts out with "...techniques and guidelines that have worked for other successful bloggers." So I followed their advice: I looked for blogs on bloglines (it took me an hour just to figure out how to set up an account and then figure out how to search for what I was interested, hint: my interests were not represented in the top 1000 blogs: I am not particularly interested in more news (is there any good news these days???) And anyway, the ones I was interested in - -one or two design blogs -- I tried to add to my feed but I have no idea if I did it right, or if I'll get the RSS feed -- yes the Really Simple Syndication that I couldn't figure out.

I guess what I'm saying is that the technical sites the authors of Naked Conversations sent us to are useless to those with a vocab deficit like me. Blospot on the other hand -- its almost as easy as AdWords Starter edition. The page isn't what I want it to eventually look like, but I feel confident enough to try my hand at it on another day. And isn't that what it's all about? When you create a how-to, you want it to be simple enough for people to follow, it builds confidence and interest, and that keeps your audience coming back. Who knows, maybe I'll try a little html tomorrow.

So here's my blogspot -- leave me a note! http://kissutissue.blogspot.com/
And, by the way, how do people find out about your blog other than sending them an invite via e-mail? Is it really just through the links you leave and key words you use in writing your blog? That does seem a bit far fetched...

David- Why Blog

2009-03-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

In reading an article from theatlantic.com the guy stated that "We bloggers have scant opportunity to collect our thoughts, to wait until events have settled and a clear pattern emerges". Bloggers obviously blog to give an option on particular topics and at times many conversations can come out of it. For example when Chris Brown hit Rhianna many people gave there suggestions and commented on what should be done and why. I personally disagree with a man putting his hands on a female just not cool and unacceptable. When endorsements were taken from him I agreed with that. If Michael Phelps got suspended for something he did that came to light a few months later then Chris Brown should of been punished as well. I see blogging as a way to express what you feel and see what others feel on the particular topic as well.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200811/andrew-sullivan-why-i-blog

Shane - A new way of communicating

2009-03-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

Communication has no doubt evolved over the past several years. Telephones, both land and cellular, revolutionized the way people communicate with each other. Blogs have done much of the same thing. What seems to be one of the easiest forms of communication paths, blogging is able to make information available to mass amounts of people worldwide. While blogging has taken off on a personal route, businesses now depend upon blogs for generating traffic to their company. Since direct contact with a person is not required to gain the, often personal, information blogs set forth they are increasingly popular for those who wish to gain information from a company with a "no strings attached" frame of mind. It has widened the information gateway.

Kristen - Blogging and Sacred Heart

2009-03-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

As you all probably know, blogging has become an influential part of business today. We write blogs for classes, companies use blogs to keep customers up to date and even celebrities in the entertainment industry use blogs to keep fans "in the loop" with their current projects. I work in the Undergraduate Admissions office at Sacred Heart and we especially use blogs to keep our prospective students up to date with things that we are doing. We use a bunch of current students, faculty and staff members to keep these blogs running and have had a decent amount of hits to the blogs, especially as we near the beginning of deposit time to gain our incoming class.

Denis - YouTube had been blocked for nearly a year in Turkey

2009-03-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

The row began when a Turkish judge ordered telecom providers to block access to the site because it was carrying videos that insulted Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, which is a criminal offence in the country. Turkish prosecutors then objected to dozens of other videos allegedly attacking Ataturk or "Turkishnesss" or promoting Kurds. Google agreed to block videos that were illegal in Turkey so that they could not be viewed in Turkey. When, last June, a Turkish prosecutor demanded they be blocked worldwide, Google refused and the Government blocked access to the whole site.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/07/news/turkey.php

Sue H--Digital Mom report

2009-03-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a report on the Today show about digital moms that caught my attention(being the mom of an active 11-yr old). The report examines the the role of digital technology in modern moms. Some of the findings were very interesting and got me thinking abou the ways modern technological changes have influenced my parenting. I check my daughter's school website for any up-to-the-minute announcements, also all her sports activities are online. Her school just implemented an automatic emergency response system, which,when activated, dials parents from a computer to alert them of early closings, delays, or if there were an emergency situation in the school. The report did mention moms with children 12 or older are more likely to use social media and text messaging, and instant messaging. The report went on to see what a unique opportunity this was for marketers to utilize these channels to facilitate conversations among moms and influence decision making. A quote from the article states, "Among digital moms, the gap is closing between TV and other channels in creating initial awareness about products. Marketers should consider the relative influence of each channel when determinimg how, when, and where to reach digital moms."

Drew- Will blog for money

2009-03-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

I searched blogging on Google and in the suggestions that came up were, among other things, blogging sites, software, tips, project runway(?). The one that was most interesting to me was blogging jobs. The amount of websites that came up that were dedicated to finding and providing blogging jobs was surprising. Despite it being a tough time to find a job it seemed like there were about a million blog jobs out there. All different kinds of companies are looking for bloggers for a variety things. Some of the job descriptions described things that could be directly related to naked conversations. The other thing that was great was that plenty of the jobs were part/full time from home or even simply on a pay-per-blog basis. With a little extra time and plenty of digital marketing we could make some dough.

Is somebody watching you?

2009-03-19T07:18:00.000-07:00

Many online companies have developed tools that can track every click a person makes, which articles they read, which advertisements they click, the purchases they make, the length of time on a page, and more. This has brought up privacy issues. Should this be self regulated? Or state and/or federally regulated? It is definitely great to see ads on the pages you look through that pertain to your interests. But to have a company know what should purchase? Now, that’s a different story.

I found an article from the FTC, dated back to February 12th, about the issuance of a report describing their ongoing examination of online behavioral advertising. It describes both the advantages and disadvantages of behavioral advertising to consumers.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/02/behavad.shtm

Liz - Google and China

2009-03-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

TIME Magazine has some great articles on China and the Internet. I thought the following was interesting - it was pulled from the article, "A Brief History of Chinese Internet Censorship" dated 3/18/09 (link is below) ...

"A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 80% of Chinese think the Internet should be managed or controlled, and 85% think the government should be responsible for doing it."

The Pew Research Center is based out of Washington DC, but were those results filtered like everything else coming out of and going in to China? Did they alter their numbers to advocate what they do? You run the risk of arrest if you go against the Chinese government. The citizens of China are getting access to a greater amount of worldwide news even with the censorship and the existence of the Great Firewall of China. As Google puts it, "offering a limited set of information in China is better than no information at all." I guess something is better than nothing, but talk about Big Brother - most of the time people have to give up personal information to gain access to the internet.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1885961,00.html

2009-03-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

I found this article "Secreets to Building a popular blog" on www.doshdosh.com

"The success of a blog often depends on its audience size." So the articles #1 advice is to have a core audience of supporters. The circulation of your blog outweighs the content. Blog readership = word of mouth marketing.

3 Strategies for builing a core audience
1. Power networking- make sure your blog offers value to the intented party w/o requesting something in return. Stay on the radar by blogging often and encourage discussions with and amongst readers
2. Content Syndication - include guest bloggings, recommendations and links
3. Use social media websites as a distribution channel like Digg or Reddit

Mark - Engadget and the wimpy guy

2009-03-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

I thought this was an interesting blog. I had never heard of it before, but Engadget is a blog that discusses and talks all about customer electronics. From what I have read, this blog constantly updates itself with the most current information on customer electronics today. This is great for customers who are doing research and maybe thinking about buying a particular electronic product, because chances are, it has been discussed on this blog. Even for those of us who enjoy looking at this stuff, it's a great blog to browse through.

Engadget's blog

I also came across one guy's blog who doesn't like Engadget because they update their information so frequently. I guess this isn't a good thing if your a competitor in the same market, and trying to bring customer electronic product information to viewers faster. For everyone else, it's great!

Check out this guys blog and how upset he is

Kristin- Top 25

2009-03-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

This site features the top 25 blogs for March 2009

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=most+popular+blog+sites&page=1&qsrc=2417&ab=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebizmba.com%2Farticles%2Fblogs

When checking out this list I have heard of many of those mentioned. One that caught my eye was PerezHilton.com. For those of you who don't know...PerezHilton is a blog site created by a man by the name of Mario Armando Lavandeira. On his blog he writes under a pseudonym of Perez Hilton. He has gained an almost celebrity like personality through his blog. He posts gossip items about musicians, actors, and celebrities. For those of you(like me) who are gossip junkies this website is a dream come true. He updates his blog multiple times a day to keep everyone informed on the latest gossip around Hollywood. His blog has garnered both positive and negative attention for its brash attitude, and its role in the increasing coverage of celebrities in all forms of media. It's amazing to me how this man has become a celebrity in his own right just from his blog. Perez and his outlandish styles are often present around Hollywood. Below are just a few of his crazy styles. To check out his site go to...

http://www.perezhilton.com/

Connie - Social networks more popular than email

2009-03-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

I found an interesting article on Usatoday.com about social networking and blogging. According to a Nielsen Company report, they are both more popular than e-mailing.

Nielsen Online examined nine global markets. Among these, penetration for social networks and blogs was highest in Brazil where 80% of the online audience visited such sites. That compares to 75% for runner-up Spain and 67% for the USA. As the most popular social network globally, Facebook is visited monthly by three in 10 people across the markets in the report.

To read the article, click on this link:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/technologylive/2009/03/social-networks.html

Kerry- Blogging your way into a Job

2009-03-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

I came across this article from Forbes on how blogging could help you get a new job. This article gives you tips on how to become a successful blogger in your profession or industry. If you have the ability to blog it could give you the edge in an interview or in even in your current job. You should keep your blog to about 500 words when commenting on industry news or new trends. It gives you tips on how to get your blog recognized in a search. There are 3 websites that are mentioned in the article to help you start your own blog. The article also gives you tips on how often you should update your blog after you found a new job.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/10/blog-jobs-start-leadership-careers-networking.html

Shane - An Apple a day...

2009-03-05T15:23:00.000-08:00

I learned from my presentation the other week that very few people in our class do not own an iPod or an iPhone. It's amazing to me that one company could have such an influence on society that they made their product a standard. A visit to any gym would reveal an iPod in almost every gym-goers hand. They have turned a laptop into a "green" attraction by making it earth friendly. Who knew a laptop could be earth friendly! By using recyclable products to produce the laptop and adding a battery that lasts twice as long as its previous version with a life cycle of over 1,000 charges they have managed to come out on top of the market yet again, despite the increasing pressure of caring for the earth. Apple seems to consistently come up with "must-have" gadgets that grab my attention almost every day. I've mentioned before that I am an advertisers dream. If it looks really good on a commercial I can't get it out of my head. My roommate has an iPhone and it amazes me the "apps" he has on his phone. There's an app that he can set to "ring" his phone as if someone is calling that he sets for a certain time should he need an excuse to get out of a situation or conversation. The commercial currently running that turns the phone into a level is a perfect example. Turning a phone into an actual tool. Now that's innovation.

Drew-Despite tough times Apple isn't going anywhere

2009-03-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

It would be tough to say that Apple is struggling but with the current economic conditions they aren't doing quite as well as usual. I read a few articles in the WSJ about how they are examining their pricing strategy to stimulate their business. In some respects they do have some good price cuts but for other products it's vastly different experts say. The end of last year for them was not good just like everyone else and it might be a bit tougher because they do charge a premium price and is not so appealing with everyone's wallets hurting. I also read an article that talked about certain speculations of layoffs but is apparently rumors based on a few conclusions drawn. The biggest reason was that according to laws in California they have to report a mass layoff to the state before its done. Both were pretty interesting articles and although they might be hurting a bit, it is evident that Apple isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Check it:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123609470232119461.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/03/03/layoffs-at-apple-unlikely/

PS

2009-03-05T13:17:00.000-08:00

I still use my GPS when I'm in delivery mode. And I know I sound old-fashioned, but it is a really good thing to put down the apps and explore the world at least for some part of everyday. you'll never be where you are right now again. Or now. Or now.

Amy & Apple

2009-03-05T12:57:00.001-08:00

I am proud to say that I had (and still have -- maybe I'll bring it tonight) a mac from the first year it was available; however, after it chewed-up and spit out my 65 page (without end notes) thesis I switched to PCs, and it's been up and down ever since -- but generally not a disaster.

My daughters both use Apple computers and swear by them, but it really wasn't until a friend of mine illuminated the incredible benefits of Apple computers that I started to think about a switch. Wilson built and launched his entire website www.eyedit.tv and he's my age....he composed the animation that serves as my website splash page with his "pretty standard" Apple. www.kissutissue.com

These are all business/professional applications, and for that purpose, I might spend the extra hours trying to learn a new machine; but for regular life applications? Let me explain: I had grown to love my GPS. Then one day, it didn't work and I had to use my faculties to get myself home. At first I was panicked, and then I realized I had become lazy and dependent in a way that allowed -- even built -- distance between me and my environment. So I now view all these apps as enablers. They help make us lazy, we no longer have to explore our world, take chances, and we can have whatever we want when we want it, or so it seems.

All these apps? they just make us lazy. And while iPods seem harmless, ask a person who works with teens if they think iPods are harmless. These kids NEVER have to spend time reflecting, dealing with discomfort, or talking with anyone; they can just plug in their earbuds and they're good to go....

Sue H--Amazon to sell E-books for Apple devices

2009-03-05T06:29:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com will soon begin selling e-books for reading on Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. Owners of these Apple devices can dowload a free application,(Kindle) from Apple's App Store which will give them full access to over 240,000 e-books for sale on Amazon. All this has happened just 1 week after Amazon shipped the updated version of its Kindle reading device--a move that may signal a growing interest in becoming a retailer of e-books. Amazon, however, has said they feel readers will use the mobile app for shorter periods, they will more readily adopt the stand-alone reading devices for reading complete novels. Amazon will also create bookmarks so that a user can stop reading a book on one device and pick it up on another device in the same spot. All these recent developments also suggest that Steve Jobs has little interest in the market for digital books. Jobs was quoted as saying "the whole conception is flawed beacause people don't read anymore." May industry analysts view Apple's skipping the e-book market as a significant sign....

Denis - Apple Inc.

2009-03-04T20:16:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you guys, but I am just in love with apple. If I would have the money, I would buy basically all their products. I don't know if they brainwashed me...but I don't see any argument against their products, except the price sometimes.

Anyways...

There is a really good website to get info about what to expect in the future and current news. A lot is based on rumors, but it is a very serious source. I followed it for a long time now. It is a really good forecast and more.

http://www.macrumors.com/

Kristin-Not In My House!

2009-03-04T19:35:00.000-08:00

I was recently browsing some news articles online and came across this one that I found pretty humorous. The article discusses an interview Microsoft founder, Bill Gates gave to Vogue magazine. The article mentions how Gates' house is top of the line with all the latest technology. Gates then goes on to say he absolutely does not allow Macs, iPhones, or iPods in his house. His wife and 3 children often have a hard time since most of their friends have iPods or iPhones. Gates refuses to allow his family to support his biggest competition...Apple. It seems like almost everyone these days has an iPod...guess not!

To read the article:
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/40926

Krista - Smartphones

2009-03-04T15:56:00.000-08:00

According to NPD Group, a market research firm, 1/4 of all handsets sold in the US during Q4 '08 were smartphones, like the iPhone 3G. This is almost double the amount sold in Q4 '07.

Average prices have dropped for the iPhone- from $216 in 07 to $167 in 08. ($200 seems to be the price consumers are wililng to pay.) iPhone competitors- Blackberry Storm, T-Mobile G1 Nextel are in the same price range. High-speed data services are becoming standard on smartphones, 66% use the 3G wireless network vs 46% last year.

Verizon Wireless is running a buy one get one free special on their smartphone Storm but these deals can cut into carrier's profits. NPD Group suggest selling more accessories to increase profits.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10187024-94.html

Ritsa- iPhone applications

2009-03-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

If anyone has an iPhone, or doesn't, I'm sure you have seen all of the applications that are available for use on the phone. There are millions. Some examples include:

application to find where your car is parked (in case you totally lose it in the mall parking lot)
GoodFood- best places to find eats in your neighborhood
prescription drug search- my friend is a nurse and she has an application on her iPhone that lets her describe the pill (color, shape, size) and figure out what it is
AreYouSafe DC- lets you know how safe you are at any given time based on your current location within the city.
SpeedoCheck- turn your iPhone into your own handheld speedometer. like reallllly?
BudgetCare- control your personal expenses

I guess you get my point. You can do absolutely anything from your iPhone. But unless you really want to know how fast you walk, doesn't your car have a speedometer? duh.

Kerry- Apple iPhone

2009-03-03T19:09:00.000-08:00

The success of Apple continues to grow everyday. Apple not only has laptops and i-pods but they have made their way into the mobile business. Their mobile industry has taken off in a whole light. In the below article it shows how popular their mobile industry has come about. The iPhone has generated more web search to beat out their competitors. The Apple iPhone beat out Google Android and the Blackberry even when these mobile phones have their market shares increasing rapidly. After reading this article it made me put into perspective the growth of Apple with their increase in success. Apple is going to continue to invent new things and will somehow in some way beat their competitors. When Apple comes out with a new product they go all out.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Apple-iPhone-Tops-Mobile-Web-Searches/

Mark - Apple + Mac Mini

2009-03-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

I saw a commercial for the mac mini this morning, and it jut re-emphasized how innovative Apple is and why they continue to gain more market share. Especially with today's "green-goers", the mac mini directly targets these type of customers. Apple claims that this is the company's, as well as the world's most efficient desktop computer on the market today. It uses less than thirteen watts of power when it is sitting in idle mode, which is very beneficial because how many of us just leave our computers on when we're not in the room? I know I do all the time, because it takes so long to boot up after being shut down. These thirteen watts is about ten times less than a conventional personal computer. Again, to attract the "green goers", Apple advertises their computer with the fact that the company uses many recyclable materials, while wasting less materials on shipping, because less is used than normal. This is such a smart business strategy because Apple is doing their part to make the world more environmentally friendly, which will catch the attention of many potential customers. I have never had an Apple computer, but this is definitely a great reason to buy one.

Here's more on an article I found about the Mac Mini

Liz-Apple application

2009-03-02T11:56:00.000-08:00

I thought this was pretty funny - you can buy a card counter application from iTunes for your iPhone or iPod Touch. The application is supposed to assist with learning and playing blackjack on the phone and also teaches you how to count cards in your head so you can "count legally ...and have a lot of fun..." Apple can say the app is for their phone all they want, but let's face it, someone (or many) is bound to try it at a casino. (they already have) Ethical business?

The Nevada Gaming Control Board issued a warning to the casinos about iPhone's card counting application, issed after gamblers in California were caught using the counter at an Indian casino.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/17/iphone_card_counter/
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aCg5OXOia80U

Connie - Why the Japanese Hate the iPhone

2009-02-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

I thought this was an interesting article about how not everyone likes the iPhone:

Apple's iPhone has wowed most of the globe — but not Japan, where the handset is selling so poorly it's being offered for free.

What's wrong with the iPhone, from a Japanese perspective? Almost everything: the high monthly data plans that go with it, its paucity of features, the low-quality camera, the unfashionable design and the fact that it's not Japanese.

In an effort to boost business, Japanese carrier SoftBank this week launched the "iPhone for Everybody" campaign, which gives away the 8-GB model of the iPhone 3G if customers agree to a two-year contract.

To read the rest of the article, click on this link:

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/02/why-the-iphone.html

Amy & Alibaba

2009-02-26T14:56:00.000-08:00

Alibaba is the service I used to find both a factory and a shipper for my product. There were many leads -- in fact I continue to get inquiries -- and I found that the ones who responded to my I follow-through panned out; that is, they were legitimate companies with legitimate facilities to produce my product. I found this to be almost magical.

I was a sole member of a none-company, that is not I wasn't not listed on D&B, with a small product that hadn't even been consumer tested, and yet I could engage legitimate companies to produce my product without getting ripped off. Now this last comment may sound a bit jaded, and perhaps living in NYC for so long has jaded me some, I was completely leery of business as an institution and business people as a group. SHU and alibaba have changed that perception for me. I would recommend its both this institution and alibaba to anyone who was looking for the services they provide.

Ritsa- Booking Buddy

2009-02-26T14:42:00.001-08:00

I recently came across Booking Buddy which is an online vacation comparison website. Instead of going to the direct site of airlines or sites like priceline.com, Booking Buddy lets you fill in the details of the trip you are planning and then allows you to choose from among many online ticket distributors.

For example, after filling in the departure and arrival information such as destination and dates, Booking Buddy allows you to choose whether you want to check prices at expedia.com, or priceline.com, or cheap tickets.com, or a dozen other ticket sites including airline sites such as jetblue.com.

Like the pricegrabber.com, an online comparison site of almost anything, Booking Buddy lets you compare prices of all flights and vacations (i.e. cruises, hotels, car rentals) in order for you to find the cheapest price.

To check it out, go to www.bookingbuddy.com

Shane - Netflix

2009-02-26T13:05:00.000-08:00

Last time I was at Blockbuster it cost me five bucks to rent a movie. If you talked to any one of my friends you would know I'm far from cheap. I usually waste money on stupid stuff that has cool advertisements. i.e. I'm an advertisers dream. The aftermath of me asking myself why I purchased that has yet to prompt a return. Blockbuster just took me away, however, by charging so much money for one movie that I am only allowed to have for 48 hours. I've been a member of Netflix for about two years now and I couldn't be happier. For $12 a month (which equals about two and a quarter movies if I was renting from Blockbuster) I get a movie at a time sent directly to my house with a prepaid envelope for return, and as many rentals as I want in that month. On top of all of that I get unlimited movie streaming directly to my computer or xbox 360. What do I get from Blockbuster again? Oh that's right... late fees.

Ok, so I don't always take advantage of all Netflix has to offer that is included in my plan. In fact, I received a movie in the mail a week ago and have yet to watch it. So, this month I may end up only watching two movies. That still equals the amount that Blockbuster would give me for around the same price. Depending on where the nearest Netflix shipping facility is in relation to my house at the time, it usually takes no more than three days turnaround to send and receive a movie in the mail. It could be the bright red envelopes that are hard to miss that assist the post office in the speedy delivery or maybe a bargain Netflix made with the US Postal Service that all mail workers get Netflix service as long as they move quick to process others. Whatever it is, they do it well. Now that Netflix streaming has become so popular through the use of xbox 360 and LG tv's along with TiVo, Netflix has come up with plans that offer streaming only usage.

To learn more click here for the full article.

Drew-Dell's Identity Crisis

2009-02-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

In the tough times of this unpredictable economy many companies are redifining how some things are done. Shifting trends can also mandate a change in a company's strategy. At the moment Dell is seeing a bit of both contributing to a reevaluation. According to an article I read, much of their sales is attributed to servers and PCs. With the demand for these products going down they need to realign some things. Close competitors such as IBM and HP are more diversified because they're sales can rely heavily on software, services, and printers. On the other side is Apple who has a lock on innovation and is tough to compete with. Dell needs to find a way to keep from falling between the cracks and maybe reinvent themselves a bit. A recent effort for them is a super thin laptop that can be ordered in a number of ways including artists' designs on the outside. They say they want to put some more effort into the design of their products. As they move away from their traditional ways to make money they say the next big market will be mobile.
check it out:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/26/technology/dell.fortune/index.htm?section=money_latest

Liz - online shopping

2009-02-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

EBAY, Pricegrabber, netflix, etc...online shopping has changed our world. I am sure there are additional reasons, but the Trumbull mall has a number of vacant stores. There will always be your mall-goers, but I think retail stores take a hard hit with increased online shopping. Online prices are better, you can get exactly what you want and large or small, it is delivered to your front door. I do most of my work related shopping for equipment online - I can find everything online as opposed to going to 5 different stores and traveling all over the state. And it is cheaper! A dozen of softballs can cost upwards of $60-$70; pricegrabber has them for $49. I found it interesting that Pricegrabber.com has links to competitor sites selling similar products (Eastbay, eSportsonline, Target, Modells). I took a look at Eastbay and a recreational level basketball went for 59.99 while the exact same ball goes for 35.19 on pricegrabber.

Mark - Pricegrabber

2009-02-25T20:13:00.001-08:00

With today's economy, no one wants to spend more money on a product than they have to. Many people turn to online shopping and shopping agents such as pricegrabber to find the cheapest prices on products so then can keep some extra money in their pockets as well as save gas by not having to drive to the store. I was reading an article about pricegrabber for my final paper for this class, and it discussed how pricegrabber's UK site has launched their new site theme of 100% free shipping on all products on the site. The site is http://freedelivery.pricegrabber.co.uk, and customers can use the sites comparison tools to evaluate deals on thousands of products from so many different retailers. Hopefully this free delivery option will spike customer spending and leave them happy by leaving some extra money in their wallet.

To view the article, you'll have to sign in using your SHU id since it was found in the SHU library resources database.

More on this article.

Kerry- Alibaba

2009-02-25T18:34:00.000-08:00

In this article it discusses how Alibaba merged with 8 Chinese banks to help small business owners obtain loan funds. All of the banks that merged with Alibaba were mentioned in this article. Alibaba has entered into the world of e-commerce. Yahoo surprisingly is closing their China site at the end of this month.

http://www.brandrepublic.asia/DigitalMedia/newsarticle/2009_02/Chinese-e-commerce-giants-unveil-recession-initiatives/34242

Here is the website for Alibaba: http://www.alibaba.com/

Kristin-"The Disneyland of Dairy" Stew Leonards

2009-02-25T14:24:00.000-08:00

If you're from the Connecticut area chances are you have been to, or at least heard about Stew Leonards ( I myself go to one their locations almost once a week). Stew Leonards is a famous grocery store that is run on simple principles and has seen great success even as the economy spirals downward. So what makes Stew Leonards so successful? Product, price, and distribution all come into play in the independent dairy stores success.

Stew Leonards offers more than just shopping. Shopping at Stews is more an experience than a chore due in large part to its in store theatrics and fresh, upscale selection of products. Stew Leonards offers more than just food. Parents bring their children, and Stews doesn't disappoint in keeping the kids entertained while the parents shop. There are animatronics adorning the entire store where kids (or adults who act like kids) can press a button and see a show.

Stew Leonards has landed its 8th consecutive year on Fortune Magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" and prides itself on the concept of you can't have a great place to shop without first making it a great place to work. Stew Leonards is the highest grossing grocery store per square foot. While it may seem risky, Stews offers roughly only 1,000 different items opposed to a normal grocery stores 15,000-20,000 items. Stews also doesn't have multiple aisles to walk up and down like a normal grocery store, instead customers walk a single 20 foot wide aisle that is almost like a labyrinth. The approach seems to have worked...by buying only one brand direct from manufacturers in huge quantities Stew Leonards is able to pass savings on to its customers. Also, the labyrinth concept allows customers to come face to face with every item sold. The store also prides itself on free samples and fresh foods. The company strongly believes the customer is always right and is constantly striving for new ways to keep the customers happy and coming back.

To read the full article...
http://www.freeenterpriseland.com/BOOK/STEWLEONARD.html

Denis - priceline.com

2009-02-25T12:08:00.000-08:00

Priceline is one of the biggest online travel agencies. Besides the good deals, they are know for their funny commercial with William Shatner aka the price negotiator.

In this tough recession priceline does outperform its competition. The share price increased by 16% after the 4th quarters earnings result got published.

The key to their sales success is a NO-FEE charge!

http://community.investopedia.com/news/IA/2009/Priceline-Soars-Above-The-Competition-PCLN0225.aspx

Mahaney (Citigroup analyst) says Priceline is one of the most defensive Internet stocks because more than 60% of its bookings/profits are in Europe and counter-cyclical U.S. hedges. He thinks the company has travel segment's best management team.

http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/feb2008/pi20080215_847523.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_investing

The output of US transportation services, which is a driver for travel agencies and services, is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 4 percent between 2008 and 2013. Data Sourced: December 2008

The First Research Industry Growth Rating reflects the expected industry growth relative to other industries, based on INFORUM's forecasted average annual growth for the combined years of 2009 and 2010.

http://www.hoovers.com/priceline.com/--ID__58847--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml

But who is the cheapest travel agent. I ran a price-test of a round trip to germany over this summer.

New York to Hamburg - July 1st / Hamburg to New York - August 10th

Priceline: $ 951

Expedia: $ 989.60

Orbitz: $992

Travelocity: $ 993

Sue H---Future of Netflix

2009-02-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

A great debate is raging about what the future of movie distribution will look like. On one side of the debate are those who claim the physical discs(ie; DVD and Blu-ray) will always be the superior choice. The other side---with a growing support base--claims online access or streaming video is the way to go. Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings, is siding firmly with the latter camp, and it appears Netflix is gearing up to move it's production from mail distribution to online streaming. Hastings indicated that sometime late this year or early next year, Netflix will offer online-streaming-only subscription plans. Hastings goes on to explain that in order for Netflix to be able to add more available online streaming content, it needs to pay for that content with new customers--many who will be signing up with the traditional DVD-by-mail service. Netflix has over 10 million paying customers, with 718,000 signing up in just the 4th quarter of 2008. Of the current 100,000 DVD titles available for rental-by-mail, only about 12,000 are available as streaming video. Hastings was quoted as saying " We've got one singular objective, which is 'Be successful in streaming'..If we do that, that's a homerun. The key to the company's success with the streaming video offer, will be it's ability to offer the service on devices other than computers. Currently Netfli has streaming options on Xbox 360,TiVo HD DVR, and Roku Digital Video Player. Although the service is not yet available on mobile devices--will the iPhone application be far behind?

Krista- edressme for the oscars

2009-02-25T06:03:00.000-08:00

Many people watch the Oscars to see who the celebrities are wearing-including myself. The celebrity dresses (sorry guys) ranged from vintage to over $100,000! Average ladies want to look and dress like movie stars and there is a website that helps them. edressme.com (http://www.edressme.com) sells imitation gowns like those worn by celebrities (I like the red one) so everyone can look redcarpet ready. I find the most interesting part about the site is there is a link to Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Edressme/21882055065 where the customer can write on edressme's wall and recieve responses directly from the company. This is a great marketing idea to support online shopping.

Connie - Newegg, Amazon, Netflix lead e-tail customer satisfaction; eBay hits all-time low

2009-02-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

According to their website, you can buy and sell electronics, cars, clothing, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods, digital cameras, and everything else on eBay. And many people do. But according to a recent American Customer Satisfaction Index, online customer satisfaction for eBay fell 5 percent to 78 in the fourth quarter.

The decline in customer satisfaction appears to be related to complaints about its system, prices, seller defections and the fact that its auction-based business model seems to have lost some of its luster. Revenues fell 7% in the fourth quarter, marking eBay’s first ever negative year-on-year quarter, and stock price declined almost 60% in 2008.

Amazon, Newegg and Netfilx had strong satisfaction scores.

To read the full article, click on this link:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=12974

David- Bank Bail Out

2009-02-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

As we all are aware of the economic crisis the US is going through and how many jobs are being lost, mortgages not being paid, and people getting in debt because they can not live within there means. But did you know it’s also affecting the world as a whole? I did some readings on the bail out for the banks, mainly because I have to build relationships with them through what I do for work and noticed that some big banks have started to let people go because there is no money. Banks are being cautious with loans now more than ever before and they are not making money. It’s kind of crazy how you saw the automotive industry come to Congress for help, and now you see that the banks are hitting rock bottom as well and unpaid mortgages defiantly doesn’t help. I won't bore you with my input on the issue, but check out the link below and see how the governments not only here in the US but governments across the world are helping these financial institution bounce back on their feet.

http://useconomy.about.com/od/criticalssues/a/global_bailout.htm

Shane - Lead Generators

2009-02-19T14:46:00.000-08:00

Why do all the work when you can get leads sent right to you? Ok, Google Analytics may be much more cost effective and more "do it yourself" but if you have the resources you can actually purchase leads of any kind. Working for a health insurance broker we purchase leads from various sources that we turn on and off at our demand. Demanded by our sales people, if any sales representatives would like more calls to make or more activity for them to act upon we open up the virtual doors of health insurance leads and in they come.
Here's one of many websites: http://www.healthleads.com/

Denis - All Brand Advertisers Are Not Created Equal: Attracting and Retaining Brand Advertisers Online

2009-02-19T13:18:00.000-08:00

"Despite the Internet’s huge audience gains and innovations in technology and social media, it still lags far behind traditional media in attracting and retaining high-value brand advertisers. Join Nielsen Online CEO John Burbank and VP of Media Analytics Jon Gibs for an in-depth look at the state of brand advertising online today—and what publishers and marketers can do to maximize their online ROI."

Watch the presentation:

http://nielsen-online.com/emc/0901_wb/reg_preso.jsp

Kristen - Marketing Metrics and Buzzwords

2009-02-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

Marketing metrics are elements that measure marketing efforts within email and the internet. Among the most popular marketing metrics are the Top 10: churn rate, clickthrough, cost per lead, customer acquisition cost, customer life cycle, impression, interstitial, lead generation, opt-in, and RFM. In the link below, each of these is fully explained and interpreted as to their importance in the marketing world.

http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/generic/0,295582,sid11_gci1249444,00.html

Liz - number crunching: Facebook vs. MySpace

2009-02-19T12:36:00.001-08:00

It will be interesting to see what My Space and Facebook will do in the next few years to become (or stay) the # 1 social network in the US. ComScore, TechCrunch and Pingdom are all traffic firms crunching numbers and watching the race between the two social sites. ComScore's numbers show that MySpace is still #1 in the US but Facebook is catching up, while TechCrunch says Facebook will overtake MySpace in 2010. Besides the race, these firms also watch for global ups and downs and the competition with international social networks (Friendster is big in Asia).

http://news.cnet.com/the-social/?keyword=ComScore&tag=mncol;tags

Ritsa- Is Google Analytics Inaccurate?

2009-02-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

I found an article online that describes the inaccuracy of Google Analytics. It describes that even though Google Analytics is probably the most popular analytics tool on the web today, it cannot be 100% accurate.

One of the problems and inaccuracies is counting visits. According to all the web analytics standards, a "visit" only happens when someone reads more than one page on a site. It's considered a "bounce" if a person looks at one page on the site and then leaves, not a "visit." (Read the article for a good analogy). Google counts bounces as visits, but its not really considered a visit is it?

Other problems with the inaccuracy of Google Analytics include visit counts, conversion rates, exit rates, and AdWords.

http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/21144.asp

Amy: Advertising measures

2009-02-19T12:22:00.001-08:00

So much of advertising success depends upon what you are trying to sell. Consider, for example, the different approach you would take if your were selling rare-stone jewelry made by an up-and-coming designer vs. a new version of a wetwipe. Different products breed different approaches and with different approaches come different measures. Digital measures are clearly one of the easiest to track and quantify because of the nature of the beast, and IAB presents the guidelines for quantifying; but digital advertising is not always necessary, as in the case of the new wetwipes.

Success is always calculated by your profits, profits are achieved by getting your product out there, and where out there is depends upon your product.

Mark - Breaking through the clutter

2009-02-18T19:40:00.000-08:00

In the aggressive and cut throat industries that are out there today, companies need to do all they can to make themselves standout and promote their products/services to consumers. With the use and influence of technology in today’s society, it is crucial that companies do all they can to influence and entice users to view their websites and to click on the ads that are provided on the web site. The article I found discusses the impact that the internet has had on marketers, especially in the B2B field. The need to create these leads is a crucial step to break through the clutter in any given industry. The article is outdated by a few years, but it talked about how marketers were going to use such lead generation tools as podcasts, free trials and blogs to get users involved. The tool that made the most significant impact though is web analytic software, because of the information it provides for users. By defining who your targeted demographic is and then seeing who is actually viewing your web site is very useful because if you are not reaching your targeted audience, you can make the necessary changes that are needed thanks to this software. The reason I picked this article is because of how relevant the subject still is, and how powerful of a tool the internet is in the market place.

The article covered many different topics, but here’s the link for more on this article.
Article

Kerry- Metrics

2009-02-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

In this article it gives you four key metrics in order to help a start up entrepreneur grow. The following are the 4 key metrics to follow: leads generated, leads converted, average dollar per transaction, and average number of transactions per customer. The article goes into depth of each key metric in order to gain success in your business.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/small-business-entrepreneurs/2009/02/17/4-metrics-for-managing-success.html

Krista - Research and metrics

2009-02-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

It seems like more than ever metrics, statistics and numbers are being used to emphasize the economic crisis our nation is in - from the number of jobless to those in foreclosure to the amount of goverment bailout. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29157886/ When looking at the data provided "consider the source" because with some research you can find statistics to support any viewpoint. In my job we use statistics in our marketing materials, however we find it does not motivate buying, in fact sometimes it turns customers off. We've recently changed some of our pieces to reflect consequences if something happens rather than the chance of something happening in an effort to appeal to more customers with less number crunching.

Drew-Performance-Driven Ads

2009-02-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

An article in the WSJ earlier this month gave some insight into how companies are moving the direction of their marketing to some of the venues we covered in class. Marketing budgets are being cut back, so more efficient ways to market are becoming increasingly important. As a result, services similar to AdWords are seeing growth. They call it "performance-driven advertising" because not only does it improve how ads perform but also measure that performance. In class we talked about some of the tactics involved such as with bidding on search words. This article went a bit further discussing the use of links in the middle of articles or offering coupons to certain consumers simply based on info gathered by mouse clicks. Choicestream is a good example, comparable to AdSense, that is seeing growth due to companies need for a more efficient means to maintain the same returns from ads. Ultimately, these services can determine a more exact worth of each ad which is far more measurable than other forms of advertising.
heres the article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123379182761749823.html

Kristin- Failing to tap the digital world's full potential

2009-02-16T13:45:00.000-08:00

I recently read an article that opens the reader's eyes to the idea that the digital world seems to have grown and developed faster than the tools needed to measure it. Today it seems that our almost every move online can be tracked and studied ,from sites we visit to objects we search for. The Internet is the most targetable and measurable medium in history so one would think the Internet would be a marketers dream. While online advertising has proven effective for many companies, marketers are left with the complex job of trying to find better ways to measure the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns. While billions of dollars are used each year by companies promoting their products or services online, companies still rely on the most basic tools to measure effectiveness. Many companies simply rely on "click through rates" to judge how many people are seeing their ads. Companies need to find better ways to convert shoppers into buyers. Without better metrics to measure effectiveness companies may continue to promote misallocation of media budgets which will in turn waste billions of dollars and impede the growth of the industry as a whole.

Connie - Economy Calls For Online Lead Generation

2009-02-13T06:39:00.000-08:00

For this week's post, I found an article about the economy and how lead generation might be able to help with marketing.

Right now, budgets are definitely a top priority for marketers. As a result, marketers must make the most of their spend--and they must account for every penny. Any marketing method they choose needs to be extremely targeted, measurable and result in high conversion rates

The ultimate goal for marketers is increasing sales--and it is here where Lead Generation is the fastest and most sustainable of online marketing efforts.

The leads can also be sent immediately after sign-up--which is what many marketers need in a climate where they cannot afford anything less than maximum return on their marketing spend. This flexibility means that OLG is very cost-effective, as marketing managers are only paying for the leads that they use.

To read more of the article, click on this link:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=99943

David - Advertising

2009-02-12T15:09:00.001-08:00

Advertisement as we all know has changed drastically over the years. I have gone from seeing plain boring billboards, to the first digital billboard I saw which was about 2 years ago in Boston . According to dictionary.com advertisement is a paid announcement, as of goods for sale, in newspapers or magazines, on radio or television, etc. The internet has become very popular and everything is right there in people’s finger tips that many people stop buying magazines, and newspapers because they can see it on-line and see the advertisements as well. Also now you see advertisement at sporting events more than ever and it’s an industry consistently growing because the word needs to get out.

Denis - Beckham Armani Ad

2009-02-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

In summer 2008 Armani revealed one of the images from its new underwear campaign with David Beckham. The ad was unveiled overlooking a 6,000-seater amphitheater adjacent to Macy's in San Francisco.

All images from the campaign rolled out online on June 23, and billboards like these will spread to Rome, London, Paris, Tokyo, New York, and more.

In January 2009 Victoria Beckham signed also a campaign with Armani being paid a reported $24.6 million over three years. Her images were also to find on billboards, magazines, blogs...

Shane - Advertising, in your life...

2009-02-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

Advertising is not something you choose to be a part of. Whether you like it or not you ARE a part of it no matter where you turn. The television is an obvious one and, if your like me, do your best to avoid it with the wonderful technology of DVR (TiVo) to pass right by them. You'll see the one commercial I think is hilarious from last years Superbowl that still runs occasionally and still have me on the floor laughing.
I think Google is unique in many ways for which I love each and every one. Simply going to Google.com does not flood you with miscellaneous advertisements that make you want to hold down the power button on your computer. It's a search bar on a blank page, plain and simple. Now, once you search it's a different story. The advertisements on the left side of the window still are not as bad as some on facebook and other websites. I must say that facebook is smart in the way they advertise. I've mistaken advertisements as part of my friends profiles because they do such a good job integrating them and relating them to whatever page I may be on.
Billboards are something else you cannot avoid. I almost got into an accident today because I saw a billboard on the highway that looked interesting but I couldn't see what it said. As I leaned over while driving to get a better look starring intently at it I realized my car was leaning with me into the other lane. With advertisements getting increasingly catchy and technologically flashy it is no longer an option to avoid them.

Hilarious Superbowl Commercial

Kristen - Google + Recession = No More Radio Advertising

2009-02-12T13:44:00.000-08:00

Google has put an end to selling radio advertising space come May of 2009. With the economy the way it is, the recession has made Google reevaluate where they want to place their company. The change could lead to layoffs at the Mountain View, California, headquarters. The motive behind Google's plan to stop selling broadcast radio advertising space came shortly thereafter their decision to stop selling newspaper advertising space, as that venture did not go as well as planned, either. Although Google has ended their broadcast radio and newspaper advertising, they still intend on placing advertisements on television.

Sue--Anheuser's Ad Czar steps down

2009-02-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

Bob Lachky, chief creative officer for Anheuser-Busch, is stepping down--and will not be replaced. Anheuser spends about $500 million annually on ad time and space in the US alone. Some of Mr. Lachky's more memorable ads include Spuds Mackenzie and the Clydesdales, as well as the "Real Men of Genuis" campaign. This move may make some on Madison Ave nervous since changes in marketing departments often result in changes to the agencies a marketer uses. Mr. Lachky is most closely tied to Omnicom Group--the relationship between the two is seen as one of the most successful partenrships in the advertising business. Some industry insiders speculate that Anheuser's in-house media arm could be dismantled, however, a spokesman for the brewer says there are no changes planned at this time. Mr. Lachky will not be leaving empty-handed, he will earn 19.5 million from stock options and 1.4m from a severance package.

Ritsa- SuperBowl advertising

2009-02-12T11:46:00.000-08:00

Advertising is everywhere and most of the time you don't even notice it. But there is a day once a year when commercials are actually looked forward to and that's SuperBowl Sunday! This year was not a very exciting game (not only my opinion) and the commercials were by far the best part. This year they definitely lived up to my expectations and lets hope they were well worth the multi million dollars that each of the companies paid to have their commercial air during the superbowl.
Among the best were:

BudLight budget cuts
Pepsi Forever Young
Doritos Crystal Ball
BudLight Conan O'Brien's swedish commercial
Budweiser Clydesdale (multiple commercials)
Transformers Trailer
NBC LMAO syndrome

To see more of SuperBowl '09 commercials, check out
http://www.spike.com/superbowl?htv=12

-Ritsa

Kristin- Advertising All-Stars

2009-02-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

I was driving from my house in Southington yesterday back to my apartment in Fairfield and along my pretty boring drive couldn't help but notice all the billboards. Advertising is vertually everywhere these days be it a billboard, tv, internet, magazine, or side of a bus. It's hard if not impossible to go anywhere without noticing some type of advertising. My new favorites are the digital billboards along the highways that change every few seconds...what better way to capitalize on space and make the most money! Some research suggest a single person sees up to 5,000 ads a day. Multiply that by 365 days a year and that's a lot of ads! So with people seeing so many ads a day I found it interesting to see which ads stuck in people's minds. I found this very interesting article below which lists the top 100 advertising campaigns of all time. Some of them may suprise you!

http://adage.com/century/campaigns.html

Liz - Google Advertising

2009-02-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

What a relief - if I am out on the town and I want a burger, all I need to do is perform a quick google search from my phone and a listing of local burger joints will come up. Google's new service allows just this, placating people on the go looking for immediate answers - it is Adsense for mobile search. Good for the mobile operator and website owners is the ad revenue kickback from Google. This is great opportuinity for local and small businesses - a chance to draw from outside their usual crowd.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-02-09-google-side_N.htm?csp=34

Here is a link to Google's announcement for the service:
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2009/02/calling-all-carriers-introducing.html

Drew- Interactive TV

2009-02-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

I read an article this week about a TV provider that will bring clickable commercials to Atlanta. The concept behind the service is that during a commercial the viewer can click an icon that will instantly e-mail a link to them that will take them where they need to go. There is a number of reasons why this is vital to television advertising. For one, it helps them compete with Internet advertising but it also eliminates the search for the consumer and also keeps them from forgetting the ad between watching TV and the next time they go online. I had never heard of this but apparently this service is supposed to expand significantly in the next year.
http://www.clickz.com/3632758

Amy: Google Advertising

2009-02-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

Google is ubiquitous: with nearly 70% of the digital advertising market sown-up, and their current forays into more traditional advertising, does anyone else even have a chance? They are present in all forms of advertising, they make everything incredibly simple (even I can figure out most of it), and they serve the professional advertising fields as well by providing them with the most up-to-date technology. It's truly amazing. And the worst part: their motto, culture, and attitude toward their customers makes them "feel" innocuous. I wonder if this is what it felt like if you were a German living in 1935? Scares the living daylights out of me. Why? Because once they gain a true monopoly, what then? How will they wield their power? Okay, so I'm a little paranoid; but at age 48, I'm allowed....!

Mark - Microsoft adCenter

2009-02-10T07:56:00.000-08:00

With the company's development of adCenter, Microsft realized that they needed to offer something different to its users to differentiate themselves from Google. Instead of competing directly with what Google offers, Microsoft decided to take a different approach. Such things as displaying more ads in the same screen space, by requiring providers to use less text in their ads have been done. This benefits the advertisers, because more ads have the potential to be clicked on by viewers.

Another interesting date in history was when Microsoft and Facebook joined forces in August 2006, reaching an agreement on advertising on one of the most popular social networking sites today. Microsoft is the exclusive provider of banner advertising on the site. This created great exposure for Microsoft, because Facebook is constantly viewed everyday by its users.

Here's a link to a guy named Don Dodge, and his take on the Microsoft-Facebook merger

Kerry- Google Mobile Advertising

2009-02-09T19:16:00.001-08:00

In this article it talks about how Google plans to advertise on mobile phones. If you want to order food from a restaurant all you would have to do is click on a number to order food from a restaurant. The way the ad would show up on a mobile phone would be that the user would type in their search in a box that would appear. Then on the side of your cell phone’s screen another box would show up with the search results. Google’s main concern is having the mobile phone react immediately, so it could populate the consumer’s responses quickly.

I find it pretty interesting to see where technology is taking us now and in the future.

Kerry

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-02-09-google-side_N.htm

Krista - advertising

2009-02-09T14:50:00.000-08:00

I found a BusinessWeek article on newspapers objecting to the Yahoo-Google Advertising deal. It says that the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers (WAN) states that the deal between the two internet behemoths "will have a significant and adverse effect on all newspaper publishers worldwide." It goes on to say that the deal would "severly weaken" competition, "resulting in less revenues and higher fees for newspapers" and "Google will have an increasing incentive to favor...its chosen parnter sites and divert users away from competing site."

Bloggers on the site don't seem to agree with the article, siting that newspapers are not green and Google shouldn't be punished for their success.

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/blog/europeinsight/archives/2008/09/newspapers_obje.html

Connie - Google Advertising

2009-02-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

I found this article on Online Media Daily about AdWords. Basically, it brings up the question as to whether or not a company can buy an AdWords advertisement on Google using keywords that are trademarked by a competitor.

Here is some of the article:
A court in France has reportedly ordered Google to pay more than $500,000 for infringing two travel companies' trademarks with the AdWords platform.

The court found that Google infringed the trademarks of Voyageurs du Monde and Terres d'Aventure by displaying ads for rivals when users queried on the travel companies' names, according to Out-Law.com. Google was ordered to pay Voyageurs du Monde approximately $256,000 and Terres d'Aventure around $192,000. Google also was ordered to pay around $78,000 in court costs.

To read the rest of the article, click on this link:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=99831

Krista - Drivers License search

2009-02-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

Apparently it's a joke but here's the e-mail and link I received. Kinda scary because it looks legit.

Subject: Re: Check your Driver's License> > > Very important!> > Now you can see anyone's Driver's License on the> Internet. I just> searched for mine and there it was...picture and all.> (Thanks Homeland> Security!) You can remove it which I did by going to...> > > > www.license.shorturl.com> <http://www.license.shorturl.com> > > > > ...and entering your name, city and state. When your > license comes on > the screen, click the box marked, " a it.<>

Ritsa- Search

2009-02-05T16:59:00.000-08:00

Just like cellphones, a lot of people cant live without the internet today.. including me! Cell phone and internet, thats a great combination. I use my blackberry to google everything. If im out of the house and dont have my computer nearby, I just go on the google on my phone. Especially after reading the assigned book, I realized how important search is to everyone and the logistics behind search.

The book was also helpful for me to understand what I am doing at work. I work with google analytics and webmaster tools to optimize our website and rank higher in search results. To understand how google works behind the scenes, is helpful to me.

Ritsa

Shane - Searching Privacy

2009-02-05T15:18:00.001-08:00

Google has become more than a search engine; it is an empire of information. The biggest of which is the marketing side to it. Google's GMail, a free e-mail program offered to the public, searches a users e-mail and places relevant advertisement links in the reading pane. Much debate has arisen about this topic. Some argue it is an invasion of privacy thinking Google is actually reading through the users e-mail. In fact, it is only a database of AdWords that recognize familiarities between the content in an e-mail and current advertisements. One of Google's many programs simply searches through information passing in and out of an electronic mailbox and displays advertisements that may be relevant to the most amount of words matching that topic. Just another ingenious idea from Google. Big brother? I'd say it's more convenient for the user than anything.

Denis - Google Latitude

2009-02-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

"Google Latitude lets you see your friends on a map on Google Maps for mobile and iGoogle. Use Latitude to plan an impromptu meetup, see that a loved one got home safely, or just stay in touch with ..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Oq-9enE-k

Denis - What would we do without Google

2009-02-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

Whenever i look for something, Google is the first step in my procedure of gathering some information. Why? It has the greatest data collection, it is very simple, quick and I can search whenever I want and wherever I want (as long as I am connected to the internet, but with the iPhone for example is that no problem)
If i want to go on vacation, have do research for a paper, get the latest...name it, I use Google.

In 2003, Internet wonk Jim Ayson observed that the word “Google” (as a verb) had begun creeping its way into common usage, as in, “Why don’t you Google it?”
So instead of looking of searching for something, you "google" it! It is like the Kleenex that over the meaning of the tissue.

Kristen - Google/GMail

2009-02-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

First, I'm in complete agreement with Liz in the thought that Google is taking over the world. I'd say 9 out of 10 people you poll on a day-to-day basis when asked what search engine they use would say Google. Do people even still use Yahoo? I digress...

I use a Gmail account in addition to my Sacred Heart email (which is my work email address) and I love Gmail. It gives me the option to store about 2 gigs worth of email without forcing me to delete, or even worse, without deleting it for me with no notice. Gmail basically makes it possible to do all of the little things you do on your computer in one Internet window. Recently, with many of my friends now living abroad and working, my new thing is video-chatting with them on Gmail chat. With the click of a button (it is very much like Skype) I got a whole video tour of my friend's flat in London. Gmail also gives you options such as linking all of your email addresses to Gmail and it will deliver all of your mail to that address, audio chat, different contact lists, etc. You can also access the Google search engine through being in your Gmail inbox.

Google is definitely taking over the world. If not the world, then definitely the Internet world. I even Googled 'Gmail' to blog about Google. That's got to say something.

http://lifehacker.com/5103016/top-10-things-you-forgot-gmail-can-do

Liz-Google

2009-02-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

I am convinced that Google is taking over the world. It is already the #1 search engine used plus it wants to...
- categorize all the information in the world
- give users access to satellite pictures of anywhere on earth and in the sky
- take every existing book and post it online
- be the lead distributor of online video through YouTube

It has a hand in everything; it is investing in mobile technology, email, spreadsheets and other software programs. This article from the NY Times elaborates on Google's advances.

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/business/companies/google_inc/index.html

Even our terminology is affected by Google. When asked about something I don't know, I don't say "search for it," I say "google it!" So I did just that; I googled Google. I found: Google maps, Google news, Google reader, Google video, Google.org, Doodle for Google, Google groups, Google blog, Google image search, Google Adwords, Google Toolbar, Google Earth...even Google in Francais.

It is really impressive to watch Google's growth and see society's dependence on the online search engine. I don't know how any other company could or will compete.

Sue H. Tracking Friends with Google

2009-02-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

There is a new mobile device from Google called Google Latitude which tracks a user's movements through location-based technology. Once downloaded onto a mobile device the application will display the user's location on a map, allowing friends and family to know your every movement. Latitude is an opt-in only feature--meaning permission is required before your whereabouts are revealed. Along with location, friends can share other info by updating a status line or changing their picture. Google has incorporated several privacy settings--locations can be manually entered or completely hidden from other people. Users can also adjust the level of geographic info they are willing to share--exact street location for a close friend, city-level information for a boss or associate. Latitude users can also allow their location to automatically update every several minutes while they are moving. A Friends list appears with the map-- users can send text messages or call friends directly from the list, or even find local restaurants and theaters by utlizing a search box.

Mark - Search History

2009-02-04T21:22:00.000-08:00

Being able to use a search engine opens up doors to anything imaginable. Almost anything you type into the Google or Yahoo search bar has some result. The internet search tool is something that we did not have 20 years ago, and today, I could not picture my life without it. In John Battelle's book, he discusses how Piper Jaffray estimated that internet users conducted about 550 million searches per day in 2003. That's only per day! Not to mention that Battelle then goes on to say that the search rate is growing at a 30% increase per year! I could not imagine what that total number would be over the course of a few years. There is just so much information available at our finger tips, and the fact that search has become part of our daily lives shows how this tool has given us the ability to find information on almost anything that we can think of, making the internet a main source of knowledge and information for its users.

One great way to track your viewers if you have a site or blog, is to use Google Analytics. This site provides information about where viewers are viewing from, what part of the site they search, any many other things. This can help improve site visability and help the creator see where adjustments need to be made throughout the site.

More on Google Analytics

Kristin- How far will search go?

2009-02-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

While reading John Battelle's book The Search it really got me to thinking about how far search has come in the past ten years and where it will be in say another 25. I really enjoyed reading this book because the author really gets you thinking about how much our world already has changed because of search and how much more it is going to change within our lifetime. The part that really struck me was his vision of being able to walk into a grocery store, scanning an item's UPC on ur cell phone, having your phone pull up information on the item, and having the consumer be able to compare prices and read reviews on the item all within seconds. This made me really start to think about the endless possibility advertisers have and how specific and targeted their marketing is getting to each individual consumer. While the whole idea is quite thrilling to think about it can also be a little scary. When is it simply too much or pushing the line?

Krista - Search / Google

2009-02-04T07:26:00.000-08:00

Google is introducing new software, "Latitude" that can track where users are via Google maps. It has the ability to pinpoint where the user is within a mile or city. Google promised not to keep any information about its user's whereabouts, only the last location tracked. A version is being created for PC's. The article seems to position this feature as something parents might use to monitor where their kids are. "Analysts believe knowing a person's location eventually will unleash new marketing opportunities."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29012946/

Kerry- Google

2009-02-03T19:09:00.000-08:00

When looking at Google as a search I came to the conclusion that it has a lot to offer someone who is in need of a search engine. It seems as though Google is keeping up with the change in technology these days.

One of the interesting things that Google has is a site that lets you explore the earth. You get a 3-D image of the Earth and you could also get a close up on your house! They added a new feature to Google Earth where you could now view the oceans. Google also implemented a teaching tools so it could be used in the classroom. Google really knows how to pick their target market for this website. Check it out!

http://earth.google.com/