Buzz Addict

Google’s AdMob Acquisition Meets Opposition

2009-12-28T12:13:00.001-08:00

Google's acquisition of AdMob gives it a great foothold into the mobile advertising market, but is this purchase anti-competitive or representative of anti-trust activity? Two consumer groups believe so.

clipped from mashable.com

Is Google simply buying its way into the mobile advertising market via its $750 million acquisition of AdMob? That’s what two consumer groups allege in a letter sent to the FTC today, as the organization continues to review the deal.

Is Google’s plan then to capitalize on all of that data to both serve better ads and design better products (ala mobile)? It would seem so. Is that anti-competitive or just good business? I lean towards the latter for now, but how the FTC handles the AdMob deal could be a good barometer of how Google’s able to extend its reach in the future within the limits of regulators.

Marketing on Twitter

2009-04-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

Following is a good post about marketing on Twitter. It's easy to get caught in the excitement of getting followers and having them retweet the messages that you post. However, it's important to remember that marketing is about relationships and providing value to the people that have chosen to follow you.

Social Media Marketing- 5 Power Secrets of Twitter Marketing ...

You should establish in your twitter marketing what we call “Growth Anticipation.” This is simply where people anticipate to GROW following you- and will GROW when they do what you suggest. But this takes time-and you have to prove you ...

Facebook, MySpace Aren't Making the Marketing Cut

2008-11-30T17:26:00.001-08:00

Here's an interesting article clipped from MediaPost.com. It seems that given the current economy, many marketers with the largest marketing budgets are hesitant to spend more or any money on social networking sites like MySpace or Facebook.

clipped from www.mediapost.com

Facebook, MySpace Aren't Making the Marketing Cut

More than one-quarter (27%) of consumer and B-to-B chief marketing executives surveyed online in late October by GfK Roper Public Relations and Media for marketing services firm Epsilon identified social networking and word-of-mouth as the tools they would most like to introduce to their marketing mix to compensate for anticipated budget cuts--ahead of all other traditional or digital marketing channels.

However, more than half (55%) of the 180 responding chief marketers--representing brands with revenues ranging from $250 million to more than $10 billion--indicated low current interest in actually incorporating the networking sites into their plans.

"The same applies to text-messaging," Cone notes. "The channel can be used for marketing, but it's not advisable."

In short, "marketers are being smart" by not trying to use Facebook and MySpace as no-cost online billboards, he believes.

Bakitwhy - a fresh Filipino online community

2008-09-10T16:14:00.001-07:00

I'm doing research for a new project I'm working on called Fil.Am Magazine - an online magazine for the Filipino American community. I stumbled across BakitWhy.com - a new fresh website and online community for Filipino Americans. Their name showcases their Filipino humor as well as their Filipino American influences.

clipped from bakitwhy.com

clipped from www.bakitwhy.com

Twitter How-To Video

2008-04-22T02:09:00.000-07:00

I think I'm getting infatuated with the Twitter service. If you've never used the service, following is a brief video on how it works.

Trying out the Twitter service

2008-04-21T19:12:00.001-07:00

Here's a little description of a new service that I added to my blog called Twitter. The most recent Twitter messages can be found in the sidebar underneath the orange "Get to Know Carlos" section and will highlight some of the random thoughts I have during the course of any given day.

clipped from twitter.com

What is Twitter?

What?

Why?

How?

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

Get Started—Join!

Certificate in Web Intelligence

2008-02-23T22:26:00.001-08:00

There's a great new certificate that you can get on web analytics brought to you by the University of British Columbia, the University of California - Irvine Extension and its even endorsed by the Web Analytics Association. Following is a description of the program and courses. At nearly $4,000 USD, it's not cheap, but it's one of the first credentials of its kind regarding web analytics.

clipped from www.tech.ubc.ca

The Certificate in Web Intelligence is delivered comprehensively in six 100% online part-time courses. The program includes 4 required courses offered through UBC Continuing Studies, plus 2 elective courses offered through the University of California, Irvine Extension, for a program total minimum of 6 courses.

Introduction to Web Analytics

Web Analytics for Site Optimization

Measuring Marketing Campaigns Online

Creating and Managing the Analytical Business Culture

Business Intelligence/Data Warehouse*

Designing Dimensional Models*

Managing Business Process Improvement Projects*

Problem Solving and Decision Making*

Management, Leadership, and Team Building in the Project and Program Environment*

* Delivered 100% online through the University of California Irvine Extension.

Yahoo downgrades its music offerings...

2007-12-04T22:55:00.001-08:00

While everyone talks about Yahoo's new social-networking site in beta-testing (aka Yahoo Mash), some recent changes in Yahoo's music offerings have gone unnoticed. First, Yahoo's Music Unlimited song subscription service no longer offers new users the option to transfer their songs to their portable music player. In addition, Yahoo has dumped its directory of podcasts. Do these actions mark a change in Yahoo's online music strategy? Maybe they'll tie in music sharing and recommending with their Yahoo Mash site. Too soon to tell, but I'll keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.

clipped from mash.yahoo.com

cool stuff for your profile...and others

1.2 million albums sold, $8 each, no middleman, one week: Radiohead Kicks the Middleman to the Curb

2007-10-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

Seth Godin briefly suggests in his recent blog post that Radiohead should capitalize on its success of bypassing the big record labels by creating their own community or paid fan club.

The thing to keep in mind is this: the value of the permission. The fact that the group now has more than a million people they can go make music for is worth many times over what these people already paid. If they're smart, they'll continue to change the way they work. Paying for their mp3s should get you into a club, a club with continuing benefits.

I think Seth is right on the money. Based on Radiohead's album launch success, I believe you'll see other big and up-and-coming acts focus more on building their own "communities" or "clubs" than promoting other third-party communities like MySpace or other niche-MySpace wannabees. Why? Because the money is in the customer list: building it, nurturing it and learning how to monetize it. Take a look at Madonna and her decision to not renew her contract with Warner Brothers so she can consolidate all of her revenue channels (merchandising, touring, etc.). Madonna and Radiohead continue to be successful because they are good at branding themselves with their fans and taking control over their creative future. Look for more acts to follow suit.

New to podcasting?

2007-10-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Jason Van Orden, podcasting consultant and author of Promoting Your Podcast, posted a great video on anyone who wants to learn about podcasting. It's a clean and straight-forward 8 minute presentation. Not the snazziest video you've ever seen, but the content is top-notch.

Is MySpace now business-friendly?

2007-10-10T13:32:00.001-07:00

According to Mashable, MySpace may open its platform to developers as soon as next week. This is welcome news to critics of MySpace - who has traditionally discouraged users from marketing on the website. Time will only tell how far MySpace will go with being a "business-friendly" community and how their new platform will differ from those offered by Facebook and other social-networking sites.

clipped from mashable.com

MySpace to Open Developer Platform, Just Like Facebook

Finally, MySpace looks to be moving closer to an open platform on which developers can make applications for users. This may have been in the works for some time, but could be announced officially as soon as next week at the Web 2.0 Conference. With Facebook having launched its own successful platform earlier this summer, many have announced plans to open their platforms to developers as well. From LinkedIn to Bebo, everybody’s doing it.

MySpace vs. Facebook - The New Digital Divide?

2007-10-10T04:42:00.001-07:00

"Mashup" was a social media conference held earlier this year by YPulse.com, a popular blog for marketers targeting the Generation Y audience. One of the keynoters, Danah Boyd, briefly discussed an interesting trend regarding the different audiences that MySpace and Facebook serve. Is there a digital divide now among social networking sites? Does Facebook attract more upwardly-mobile high school students (i.e. - those that are college bound) while MySpace attracts kids who just want to hang out and have fun? Watch the keynote videos on ypulsecasts.com and voice your opinion.

clipped from www.ypulsecasts.com

Convergence Culture: A Keynote Conversation

How media influences contemporary culture

Participatory culture: New ways consumers interact with media
content, media producers and each other

Experiential marketing strategies that resonate with consumers

danah boyd, Fellow
Annenberg Center for Communications,
University of Southern California

Henry Jenkins, Director,
Comparative Media Studies Program,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Reading The Dip by Seth Godin

2007-10-03T17:31:00.001-07:00

I have started reading Seth Godin's new book, The Dip. The book comes at an appropriate time in my career as I am re-evaluating some of my business ventures and determining if I should "quit" or stay through the dip. I've read the first few chapters and it's been helpful so far. Following are some blurbs about the book from Amazon.

clipped from amazon.com

Every new project (or job, or hobby, or company) starts out exciting and fun. Then it gets harder and less fun, until it hits a low point—really hard, and not much fun at all.

And then you find yourself asking if the goal is even worth the hassle. Maybe you’re in a Dip—a temporary setback that will get better if you keep pushing. But maybe it’s really a Cul-de-Sac, which will never get better, no matter how hard you try.

According to bestselling author Seth Godin, what really sets superstars apart from everyone else is the ability to escape dead ends quickly, while staying focused and motivated when it really counts.

Winners quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt—until they commit to beating the right Dip for the right reasons. In fact, winners seek out the Dip. They realize that the bigger the barrier, the bigger the reward for getting past it. If you can become number one in your niche, you’ll get more than your fair share of profits, glory, and long-term security.

New Media Expo Pictures

2007-10-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

Following are some photos from the 2007 New Media Expo. Some podcasters broadcast live from the show, while other companies showcased their new products and services. I think that the show will have a better turnout and more exhibitor participation when they go to Las Vegas next year.

New Media Expo

2007-09-29T16:06:00.001-07:00

Today I checked out the Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California. The number of exhibitors seemed to be smaller than last year. I will post pictures of the show as well as my overall show experience shortly.

clipped from www.newmediaexpo.com

The 3rd Annual New Media Expo is an annual convention that educates individuals and companies about how to produce high-quality audio and video digital content, grow a loyal audience, and market or monetize that content in creative ways.