The bright future of Internet

With the COM 125 Introduction to the Internet class wrapping up this week, I wanna do a short recap on the Internet. But before that, here’s a video on the future of Internet – Web 3.0 supported by STI International: http://www.sti2.org. With Web 2.0 created and the rise of Social media, the future for the Internet is indeed bright. Estimating to bloom from 2010-2020, Web 3.0 known as the Semantic Web will bring much definition to how the search engines defines our search in databases, thus making the Internet more human-like.

In·ter·net

noun

a vast computer network linking smaller computer networks worldwide (usually preceded by the ). The Internet includes commercial, educational, governmental, and other networks, all of which use the same set of communications protocols.

Here are some of the dates and important landmarks in the history of Internet:

1969, Aparnet

1972: CYCLADES

1974: The beginning of TCP/IP

1978: The Bulletin Board System (BBS)

1984: Domain Name System (DNS)

1989: The proposal for the World Wide Web

1991: First web page created

1995: Commercialization of the internet

1995: Geocities, the Vatican goes online, and JavaScript

2000: The bubble bursts

2001: Wikipedia is launched

2003: MySpace becomes the most popular social network

2004: Web 2.0

2004: Social Media and Digg

2004: “The” Facebook open to college students

2005: YouTube – streaming video for the masses

2006: Twitter gets twittering

2007: Major move to place TV shows online

2007: The iPhone and the Mobile Web

2008: “Internet Election”

2009: ICANN policy changes

Well, of course for more in-depth information on the history of the internet, check out: The History of the Internet in a Nutshell

 

Caught on the Net

In the present times, with the recent terrorism cases and riots breaking out in towns from the case of the London riots to the Iranian protests that took to the streets in June 2009 a few years back, the Internet has been a great immense force behind Politics and its dictators.

Be it either shedding a negative or positive light on Politics with unintended consequences that could devastate innocent lives, The Internet has indeed breeched the gap between the news media and its reality in the world. Now, people get to know the ‘ugly truth’ of what is happening out there through Twitter and social media. Everyone who has access to the Internet now has the ability to visit the real world out there especially with the rise of video sharing community sites like Youtube.

However, the Internet if harnessed rightly with the right tools and the right message has the power to significantly help many lives; one great example would be the Obama’s campaign and his understanding of the power of social media.

On the other hand, the Internet has the dark side as well. One interesting book written by Evgeny Morozov provides an analysis on the Dark Side of Internet Freedom. Titled The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom, this book gives a great perspective on the power of Politics with the use of the Internet.

Here’s a short review by Nytimes:

As Evgeny Morozov demonstrates in “The Net Delusion,” his brilliant and courageous book, the Internet’s contradictions and confusions are just becoming visible through the fading mist of Internet euphoria. Morozov is interested in the Internet’s political ramifications. “What if the liberating potential of the Internet also contains the seeds of depoliticization and thus dedemocratization?” he asks. The Net delusion of his title is just that. Contrary to the “cyberutopians,” as he calls them, who consider the Internet a powerful tool of political emancipation, Morozov convincingly argues that, in freedom’s name, the Internet more often than not constricts or even abolishes freedom.

Two decades of inane patter about the magical powers of a technology of mere convenience had transformed Twitter — once the domain of “a bunch of bored hipsters who had an irresistible urge to share their breakfast plans,” as Morozov mordantly writes — into an engine of political revolution. Or as Jon Stewart put it, mocking the belief in the Internet’s ability to transform intractable places like Iraq and Afghanistan: “Why did we have to send an army when we could have liberated them the same way we buy shoes?”

For more information, check out these links below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/books/review/Siegel-t.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.economist.com/node/17848401

 

5 Keys To Successful E-Marketing Concept

Now that we touched base on business, we can move on to understanding e-marketing and e-commerce. Nowadays, businesses require diverse platforms for the company to thrive and bloom. And technology has greatly aided in the success of companies. From having virtual platforms that serve the needs of clients and customers through the corporate websites and social media sites to the use of blog shops that become part of the entrepreneurship experience, technology has played a vital role in bringing companies to greater heights.

Here are 5 Keys To Successful E-Marketing Concept by emarketings.org

E-marketing Intention: You must have a clear intention of what you want to create for yourself. Your goals need to be something you’re passionate about that you’re willing not to go without. Visualize your intent and mind map it for success.

E-marketing Attention: Placing your attention on what you want and focusing on the end vision is key. Most people are so focused on what’s not working, how little they have in their wallets and that’s what you’re giving energy and attention to. Remember if you have children you give them attention, attention = LOVE – Most people are in love with being broke because their attending to it all day long.

Energy for E-marketing: Everything on this planet is energy. We are energy in a larger field of energy. Get fired up about what your creating. You will be a magnet to all the things you desire when you radiate this kind of energy.

Belief for E-marketing: You must have an unbending belief in yourself, your product and industry for E-marketing. The most important belief is in Yourself. When you have that, you are unstoppable in any business you’re in. Know for yourself that you are in the process of creating massive success for yourself.

Growth of E-marketing: You must be growth driven. You must constantly be immersing yourself in that which empowers you. This world is constantly evolving and growing. What worked for you a year ago is obsolete. We must constantly be learning and growing. Learning new ways to your E-marketing continuously and constantly working on your own personal development is also critical.

Despite these tips, I would still think it’s always important to go back to the basics and consider the business concepts as a whole and not just solely based on e-marketing. Remember to look at the big picture.

For more information on e-marketing, do visit http://www.emarketings.org/internet-marketing/5-keys-lead-to-successful-e-marketing-concept.html

 

Pinterest Facts

Here’s another nicely designed infographic on the facts collected about Pinterest.

 

Pinterest Statistics

Below is a marketer’s guide to Pinterest.

Marketers Guide to Pinterest

 

Pinterest – Are You Interested?

It’s possible that the forerunners of social media sites have provided the stepping stone to the success of future companies. Tried and tested. One such website is a fast growing site with the interesting name – Pinterest.

Starting from a simple site for wedding planners, recipe organizers and merely used to seek for inspirations. This humble little site has grown to a great company that is standing alongside social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.

So what is Pinterest?

Hmmm, you wonder what makes it so different from other social media sites? In the next few blog entries, I will share on some of the findings about Pinterest, its history and its user interface.

The Pinterest logo was designed by Michael Deal and Juan Carlos Pagan.

{What is it?}

Category: photo-sharing site

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where users can create different boards and digitally pin images on a virtual screen.

“ Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.” – Pinterest team

Pinterest Interface

{Who is it for?}

Anybody can join this site, however, to get started, you will need to receive an invite from someone who is a Pinterest member.

Teenagers, working adults, designers, photographers, even moms will find it fun and user-friendly.

This is also what makes Pinterest so unique from any other social media sites.

{What makes it so special?}

I think the team of Pinterest has adopted a smart marketing strategy relying solely on referrals to keep the site going. Though this strategy might seem to have high risks and low returns, the power of connections through the referrals approach can become a force to be reckoned with. Also, an invite-only approach gives the users a feeling of belonging and being privileged to join an interesting social media site.

{How does it work?}

The users are the people who contribute to the image library by pinning through the use of a ‘pin it’ button that can be easily installed in the web browser as a tool on the toolbar.

Pinterest goodies - "Pin It" Button

 

Obama Campaigns through Social Media

Obama on Twitter

Just this month on Feb 11, Obama’s campaign staff garnered support through the savvy use of social media from a simple post of Tumblr’s blog tagline to a single word tweet on Twitter “to share a Tumblr blog containing Facebook timeline covers of the President.”

The tagline on Tumblr is a simple sentence that states to “Show your support of President Obama with your Facebook timeline’s cover photo.” Users have an option of a series of 20 cover photos, with 2 containing pictures of Obama. With no strings attached as seen by the blog that claims that it has not affiliation with any political campaigns, users can be assured that the main purpose of the campaign is ‘paying attention to and engaging with content other social media users are posting.’ Furthermore, this campaign taking on a subtle marketing approach adds to the appeal for users to take a call to action.

Though a great campaign with smart use of social media, suggestions show that this campaign could be more successful with the use of more social networking sites such as the new fastest growing Pinterest site where a picture of one of the timeline covers and linked to the Tumblr blog can be pinned to a supporters Pinterest account, this would give stronger reasons for a call to action to use the photos on Facebook.

In the next few blog entries, my focus will take a turn to report on the new fast growing photo-sharing site – Pinterest that is a unique and interesting site that blends the power of graphics and blogging into one. From this, we will delve into the history of Pinterest, what’s make it so unique from other photo-sharing sites, the trend of photo-sharing sites and the bright future for Pinterest.

For more information, check out this link:

http://www.examiner.com/politics-roundup-in-national/obama-campaign-promotes-facebook-timeline-covers-shows-social-media-awareness

 

5 Common Campaign Twitter Mistakes

Here’s an interesting article that I just read from OhMyGov.com and just wanna share it with you.

Here are the 5 Common Campaign Twitter Mistakes by OhMyGov!

1. Mistweeting from the wrong account: Many people have multiple Twitter accounts. They may have a personal account and another for a political campaign. If you run multiple accounts, make sure you are logged into the proper account before you tweet! This mistake is more common than you may think, especially in the business world.
   
2. Confusing a direct messages and a general tweet: Former New York Representative Anthony Weiner learned that there are big differences between a direct message and regular tweet when a lewd photo was posted to his Twitter account. The scandal eventually led to his resignation. The lessons? Make sure you know who you are sending your messages to – and never assume that electronic communications will be kept private.
3. Being overly emotional: A little emotion in your tweets is fine. After all, you don’t want to give the impression that you are a campaigning robot. On the other hand, too much complaining, vitriol and anger can be even worse. And keep your language clean, no matter what!  
4. Letting the numbers fool you: The quality, not quantity, of your followers is important. You’re running to win an election, not a social media contest. Having 1.3 million Twitter followers doesn’t really matter if they are all mostly fake. Honestly, do you think anyone actually compares the number of social media followers between campaigns and throws their support behind the more ‘popular’ candidate? With a good social media strategy, the followers will … follow.
5. Being too ROI focused: Although marketing through social media is arguably measurable, it does not mean you should obsess over the traffic and retweet metrics. The intangible benefits from relationships and message promotion are more important. (But for those who are interested, a great tool to help measure your social media ROI is OhMyGov).

Check out this link for the post @ http://ohmygov.com/blogs/general_news/archive/2012/01/10/5-common-campaign-twitter-mistakes.aspx

 

Power of Social Networking

Year 1978 – An important year that marks the birth of social media.

Making a difference in the way the Internet was used had all began with Ward Christensen and Randy Seuss whose invention of BBS which stands for computerized Bulletin Board System allowed data to be transferred and shared via phone lines. Social networking has made a remarkable impact on how people interact with each other socially through the technology of the net that greatly defines the new digital age.

Social Networking

The creation of social media was not formed solely because of the need to fulfill meeting social needs in people as seen in the Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs but it also plays a dual role in creating a platform to create interconnections among friends and family and in forming new found friendships among strangers through their common interests and like-mindedness. With the growth of Social media, it has now become a great platform for campaigns and advertisements to reach their target audience worldwide. With that, social media is the glue that holds it all together.

Below is an infographic created by onlineschools.org that gives us a brief and simplified understanding of the history of social networking.