Updates: Google's Aggressiveness and MySpace's Last Hope

How would you feel if you were able to go to the grocery store, and purchase bread and milk by simply waving your mobile phone at the register? Cool, right? Well it may no longer be just an idea now that Google has joined in on the mobile payment service industry. After seeing the success that Starbucks has had with their system, Google has to decided to join in on the fun, and who's to blame them? With the amount of resources and exposure within their grasp, anything is possible with them. With the advances in technology in the recent years, it's no surprise that such ideas are being invented, and what better corporation than Google to join in on the fun?

Many merchants and consumers already use much of Google's technology, putting them in a good position to make a difference in the payment industry. Android's are one of the most popular phones used today, and if this new system is implemented, it would grow even larger and more lucrative to Google and their associates. Consumers would also be able to receive targeted ads, discount offers, and manage credit-card accounts all through their phone. The technology is also so advanced that there shouldn't be any concern over fraud and security

I wrote on my blog several weeks ago that MySpace's key to staying alive is to rely on the music industry. It seems someone was listening, and listen well they did. Their decision to stream live from the SXSW Music Fest was a brilliant thought out strategy. This is the path that they must take to be successful. Why stop at SXSW fest tho? Why not broadcast live from artists and bands from all over the world? Just think about all the people who would log on to listen to their favorite artist or DJ that resides halfway across the globe. The group Thursday views MySpace as an opportunity for their fans all around the world to listen to them live as they perform songs from their new upcoming album. If MySpace were able to get more major artists to do the same, they should have no problem receiving more traffic.


http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2010/tc20101231_087039.htm

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2011-03/28/c_13801313.htm

http://www.clickz.com/clickz/news/2034298/myspace-player-woos-gen-sxsw-music-fest

http://www.pluginmusic.com/news/article/thursday-invite-fans-to-stream-no-devoluci-243-n

Groupon : The Future of Online Discounting Is Here!

In today's economy, everybody is looking to get the most out of their money. Whether it's comparing alternative sources , using sales and/or discounts, people try to get the maximum value out of their dollar. Don't expect that to change any time soon, and it's because of that reason, that Groupon has soared in value over the last two years, and is looking at a very bright and profitable future. Even when the economy is booming, smart consumers are always looking for ways to get the best deals possible, and that's one major reason why Groupon should have no problems being successful in the future.

In the past couple of months alone, Groupon has expanded into new markets and has more than doubled their previous amount of subscribers. (As reported here by Bloomberg) Since Groupon's decision last November to decline Google's $6 Billion dollar offer, the company has obtained over 70 million users and has added over 200 new markets. Also consider that in December 2008, Groupon had a mere 400 subscribers. The image above displays the revenues per month since January 2010. In January 2011, Groupon reported an estimated income of $88.9 million, that's eight times their profit just a year earlier. Talk about serious progress, and considering that the company is just a couple of years old, the sky could be the limit.

The fact that Groupon has grown incredibly large over such a short period of time would lead you to believe that today's social media network frenzy has played a huge role in it's success. It's never been easier for friends or family to share discounts with one another. The company has grown so large, that it was reported by the New York Times, that seven out of eight suggested possible deals by merchants have been turned down by Groupon. The fact that over 87% of suggested deals are declined shows how much demand their is to be listed on the website. As more people learn about Groupon, and actually use some of the discounts, the company will only grow larger and become more of a success. 

http://techcrunch.com/2011/03/23/groupon-u-s-revenues/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704828104576021481410635432-lMyQjAxMTAwMDEwODExNDgyWj.html

Privacy Be Gone!

Let's face it, one could argue that privacy no longer exists these days.. We live in an age of communication and social networking, and that has dramatically reduced one's privacy. Many people don't seem to mind, considering they share every detail of their life on Facebook or other networking sites, but many other's are unaware of just how easy it is to get information on somebody. These days when information are so easily leaked or obtained through illegal methods, it's more important than ever for everyone to know the danger they are facing.

For a cheap price, internet detective can obtain some or your most private information, such as your social security number, as well as your credit card numbers. Just imagine the damage that can be done if those two piece of information fell into the wrong hands. Almost any past record or incident that has occurred can be considered fair game once the information is leaked.. Internet marketers are relentless when it comes to their job, and they will reveal any if not all of your information to those seeking it. Identity theft has grown dramatically over the last several years do to the incline of private information being leaked

Privacy invasion is far from limited to the internet. At the work place, it can be said that you have no privacy. Your boss has the right to monitor all your activity, such as sites visited, and e-mails read. Cell phone can be monitored or literally tracked in some cases wherever you are. As technology increases, the way we live our lives will change.

The new age of technology has brought us facial recognition, which allows a computer to identify or verify a person from picture or video. It can be said that there are many useful ways to utilize facial recognition, and they are right. For example, if the President is giving a speech somewhere, facial recognition can be used to scan the crowd for anyone that may be a potential threat. Or even at larger events such as the Super Bowl. There it can scan over 100,000 people to spot anyone that might be of concern. However with such technology, there is little room left for privacy.

The world is shrinking with the increase in technology and global communication. The past couple of years since the birth of the internet, have greatly decreased everyone's privacy. How you choose to protect yourself or minimize your risk can have a huge role in your life.




http://www.jrnyquist.com/aug20/privacy.htm

Saving MySpace

It wasn't that long ago that MySpace was considered the next generation of social networking, however that has obviously changed these last several years, and MySpace is suffering to stay afloat. Just recently, before Facebook was released, MySpace was known as the social online networking hub. However now MySpace is struggling to attract new visitors as well as maintain their current ones. If some drastic changes don't occur soon, MySpace may be headed towards a total collapse. Poor management at MySpace has helped play a role in the demise of MySpace, and their lack of vision has allowed other sites such as Twitter and Facebook to come and dominate the market.

If MySpace is to survive, their best bet would be to focus on the music industry. They are unquestionably the most accommodating social networking site around for those in the music business. MySpace should transform itself into a site purely based around the music industry, but still be a platform for new inspiring artists. Make the website more of a destination site, rather than a social networking site. That why when people are specifically looking for anything music related, MySpace would come to mind especially since they already have their foot in the door.

If Marketed correctly, MySpace could be the future of online music. Imagine if major Artists such as Eminem,Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift among others used MySpace as a platform not so much to communicate with their fans, but to promote new releases and any information in general on the artist. The Advertising on the website also needs to be redone. Instead of having random advertisements on artist's page, sell that space to something that might actually interest those that enjoy music.


Resources:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13526_3-10263933-27.html

http://paidcontent.org/article/419-how-to-save-myspace-the-seventh-day-adventist-version/

E-Marketing : The New Way to Market

During the past couple of years internet sales have grown at a dramatic rate, and a lot of it has to do with the new era of Marketing, known as  E-Marketing. The way businesses promote themselves and try to gather attention has changed over the years. Out are the old days of advertising and informing customers through the newspaper or radio, and in with the internet. There are many different reasons why the internet is a superior alternative, as oppose to other methods of communication.

One of the best ways to Market your company is through a professional website. Never before has it been easier to explain your product in detail to new potential customers. These days, most companies will advertise their website on either a television commercial or and ad on the radio. The reason for that is, if you probably went home and checked out the web address, that means you have some interest in the product and/or company, and their website is the best way to obtain information on them.

A great example of a website using E-Marketing to it's maximum potential, is bodybuilding.com. Whether your an experienced weightlifter or a novice, bodybuilding.com is the best place to seek information on anything health related. It also has  a large variety of forums to which people can communicate and help support each other. Bodybuilding.com is now the world's largest supplement website, and that is do their ability to Market themselves as the premier website for Health and Fitness.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-marketing

http://www.quirk.biz/resources/88/What-is-eMarketing-and-how-is-it-better-than-traditional-marketing

Social Networking : Maximizing Potential

Social Networking has had a huge affect on today's society, and in some cases, it has changed the way things are done completely. Never before has an individual been able to reach out and communicate with the masses at such ease. As a society we crave information, and it has never been easier to inform and reach out to followers, or potential followers. With the creation of sites such as Facebook and Twitter, people all across the globe are keeping in contact with their favorite singers or athletes. You can even receive the latest updates from a brand you may like, or learn about updates to a music concert you may be attending. Social networking is still relatively in it's infant years, and because of that, it makes you wonder how much more potential can come from it ?

Using Facebook as an example, never before have we been able to receive up to the second updates about a brand or company that we're interested in. The problem with social networking, is that most of the information is one way. For example, your browsing the blog of a nutrition company that you purchase items from, and you end up clicking the "like" button. Let's say a month later, they release a new supplement to help you've been looking forward to purchasing and trying out. It's been a month after the release and you as well as many other followers have questions and comments that need to be heard, but the company doesn't respond to users comment, then social networking is not being use to it's maximum potential. That company, as well as many others, should include a forum on their blog where they can interact directly with the consumers and be able to answer any question.

Let's say you are going to a music concert in a couple months, and it's already something that you are really looking forward to. While the company throwing the party may release occasional updates, such as new artists performing or the change of venue, that is usually the extent of the conversation. It is totally one way communication. If that company wanted to maximize it's potential from social networking, they should interact more by doing simple things like e-mailing a follower and asking them a simple question like, "Which Artist would you most like to see Perform." That little 10 second e-mail would mean a lot to you, consider you're already looking forward to the event, and someone from the company reached out to you, and asked for your input.

As Social Networking gets older, there will be many new methods introduced aimed at maximizing potential, and those who master it first will become very profitable. 

http://www.quintcareers.com/maximizing_online_networking.html