Whenever there is a good idea, there is often someone(s) ready to copy it. The Groupon situation this week is an example of “Big Brother” copycats. Google and Amazon, two giants in the internet world are ready to swallow up Groupon.
Groupon has a wonderful idea to help companies to quickly market themselves by offering a deep discount coupon advertised to a very extensive e-data ban. When they refined to be purchased by the Google-shark, they became fair game as competition. This reminds me of Google vs. AOL a few years ago. We don’t hear much “You’ve got mail” anymore. Now Amazon has joined in the fight. This is survival of the fittest capitalism at its best (worst).
Usually the consumer comes out on top, unless a monopoly rises from the fray. We will need to keep an eye on these guys. This doesn’t exactly look like a fair fight!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Facebook's New Way to Make Money. . .at our Expense
Today, Facebook is launching a new form of advertising. They are going to allow advertisers to take your picture and use your likeness in adds to promote their products to your friends. If you innocently "liked" a product in the last few months, this could happen to you.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME????????
It used to be that companies had to pay models and actors to advertise their products - now they can simply steal your picture.
So after I calmed down from my initial shock, I tried to find how this change would benefit me. Quite frankly, I couldn't think of a thing. Is it anyone's business what products I like? Do I care what products my friends like? Why should I be giving these companies free advertising when I “like” their product and they decide to post my picture next to it for my friends to see?
Then I thought about the ways that it would benefit Facebook. . . the millions of dollars of ways $$$$$.
They do say that they guarantee that only our friends will be able to see these adds. How comforting!
You're the new face of Facebook ads
ARE YOU KIDDING ME????????
It used to be that companies had to pay models and actors to advertise their products - now they can simply steal your picture.
So after I calmed down from my initial shock, I tried to find how this change would benefit me. Quite frankly, I couldn't think of a thing. Is it anyone's business what products I like? Do I care what products my friends like? Why should I be giving these companies free advertising when I “like” their product and they decide to post my picture next to it for my friends to see?
Then I thought about the ways that it would benefit Facebook. . . the millions of dollars of ways $$$$$.
They do say that they guarantee that only our friends will be able to see these adds. How comforting!
You're the new face of Facebook ads
Friday, January 21, 2011
T.M.I.
Facebook, as we all know, has grown to be maybe the biggest social networking website we will ever know. Most of us, if not all of us, taking this course probably have a Facebook account and check it at least once a day. In August 2010, Facebook announced its launch of Facebook Places. Places was created to allow users to "check-in" to their locations so their friends knew where they were. The purpose of this application was to connect with friends even more than we already do. For instance, if I am at a restaurant and check-in using the Places application then any of my friends near by would know where I am and could come see me.
Great idea! But, not so much. Do we really want our friends, family, and coworkers knowing where we are at all times? Taking a more paranoid approach, what if we have "friends" on Facebook that aren't really our friends and want to hurt us. They could rob our homes while were gone, or they could stalk you to all of your locations throughout the day. Also, if you are meeting a friend for dinner, your friend can check you in using Places. What if you don't want to be checked-in to a location because you would rather your Facebook friends not know your exact locations at all times? Yes, there are ways to opt out, but it's just one added thing that you need to keep an eye on.
I believe Facebook is a good way to stay connected with old friends and family, but I think sometimes we are TOO connected. It's nice to be able to run an errand to the grocery store without having to announce it to your friends through Facebook or to put yourself in danger. And, in the same respect, I would rather not know the every move of my friends. I see this app as something that could really get people in trouble.
Facebook Places
Great idea! But, not so much. Do we really want our friends, family, and coworkers knowing where we are at all times? Taking a more paranoid approach, what if we have "friends" on Facebook that aren't really our friends and want to hurt us. They could rob our homes while were gone, or they could stalk you to all of your locations throughout the day. Also, if you are meeting a friend for dinner, your friend can check you in using Places. What if you don't want to be checked-in to a location because you would rather your Facebook friends not know your exact locations at all times? Yes, there are ways to opt out, but it's just one added thing that you need to keep an eye on.
I believe Facebook is a good way to stay connected with old friends and family, but I think sometimes we are TOO connected. It's nice to be able to run an errand to the grocery store without having to announce it to your friends through Facebook or to put yourself in danger. And, in the same respect, I would rather not know the every move of my friends. I see this app as something that could really get people in trouble.
Facebook Places
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Welcome to My Blog!
Social media is a growing industry. When I was in middle school, Myspace and Livejournal.com were two very popular websites for connecting with friends and blogging about subject matters that were important to you. Ten years later, social media is everywhere and used in many different ways. Facebook, founded in 2004, has grown to be one of the largest social networks in the world. Originally created to stay connected with college classmates, it is now being used by people of all ages, at all different stages in their lives.
Facebook is great for networking for business and advertising. I work as a recruiter for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and by having a Facebook for corporate, as well as for our individual offices, we are able to advertise to those people who we may not have connected with if we didn’t have a page. We are also able to use it as a way for our office to connect with one another. On a day-to-day basis we are so caught up in our own lives and making sure that we are being successful, but it’s nice to be able to go to our Facebook page to see group photos and our office family enjoying spending time together, outside of work. As social media continues to grow, the advantages for using it will continue to increase.
Join me on my exploration of social media, the pros, the cons, and how it works in supporting companies and individuals in networking to a new generation of customers.
Facebook is great for networking for business and advertising. I work as a recruiter for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and by having a Facebook for corporate, as well as for our individual offices, we are able to advertise to those people who we may not have connected with if we didn’t have a page. We are also able to use it as a way for our office to connect with one another. On a day-to-day basis we are so caught up in our own lives and making sure that we are being successful, but it’s nice to be able to go to our Facebook page to see group photos and our office family enjoying spending time together, outside of work. As social media continues to grow, the advantages for using it will continue to increase.
Join me on my exploration of social media, the pros, the cons, and how it works in supporting companies and individuals in networking to a new generation of customers.
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