OMLogic is a workplace where innovation & creativity is welcomed with open hands. People feel at home while working here and the day passes by in a jiffy. The cool atmosphere and great bonding between the colleagues is simply admirable. I am not saying this just for the heck of it, but it actually is like that @ OMLogic!

With awards like ‘Innovator of the Week’ or ‘Employee of the Month’, people are always geared up to give their best so that their names are added to the ‘OML Hall of Fame’. Every month, the ‘All Hands’ meeting is held wherein everyone gives their suggestions on how we can give better results to our clients. Creativity needs the right kind of atmosphere. And, OMLogic makes it a point to provide it in abundance!

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! And, OML believes in this saying completely! Work is not the only thing on our minds; off site outings where the whole office goes out and spends quality time together are very much a part of the routine! Whether it is a picnic to an adventure park or a lunch on a Friday, there is always something happening so that people can meet their colleagues on a personal note too.

Everyone at OMLogic strongly thinks that the work culture in a company is the biggest driving force for all the employees. It enables them to work with full energy and makes them passionate about their job.
Therefore, every possible care is taken to ensure that it remains a fun filled place where creative minds come together to do what is known as ‘INNOVATION’!

To sum it up, for me it’s my dream place to work at and not just me… but many of us would wish to and love to work at a place like OML.

Oh My Lord! (bless) Our Great & Incredible Crew

Arpita, OMLogic

1.05 % Bounce Rate! What Are You Talking About?

When I first tweeted about this, the first response from a friend in the SEO industry was- Is it a joke? I said no, and thought, why not share the complete details.

We have been consulting clients about conversion optimization, usability and engagement on the website and social channels and bounce rate is a great measure to test the level of engagement on your website and its usability for a visitor.

We revamped this website few months back to make it more engaging. The whole team sat together to ensure the website was perfect in terms of structure and usability for the visitor. We critically analyzed the requirements of the visitors and made sure that they be served in the best way possible. Every SEO parameter was taken into consideration before the website was revamped.

The new website went live in November and the graph below shows the weekly traffic pattern. Please remember it is a B2B website and in December the traffic usually goes down for a services website, it being the festive season. But, we found that suddenly the number of leads coming through the website had increased. I started analyzing the website and got the statistics as below-

Visits Compared to Bounce rate for Last 2 months

We could see a sudden increase in the traffic after pages got indexed… and then came the big surprise! Less than 10% bounce rate! The bounce rate dropped even more than our expectations! The above graph compares visits versus bounce rate and you can see the sudden drop in second week of November when the new website went live.

Bounce Rate for Last 2 Months

I thought… why not explore it a little further. So, I went through the pages to look at how individual pages were performing and saw that a lot of pages which had a high bounce rate were from the blog where you normally have a higher bounce rate, because people come, read your latest post and leave.

To analyze the web traffic, I have a custom segment which eliminates the blog section and then you can actually analyze the website; I selected the segment and the response was-

Website Usage

For a search engine optimization expert, this is more than a dream come true!

Below are the last 2 months’ analytics’ snapshots to provide a better understanding:

Now, the million dollar question is… HOW DID WE MANAGE TO DO IT?

What were the key points in considerations and what SEO and content measures were followed to make the impossible happen! Stay tuned and I would let out the secrets a little later!

Would love to see your comments and thoughts.

Human beings are social by nature. They have always lived socially since their existence. Common interests and relationships bind them together. This concept of living together is very much inherent to their nature. And, with the coming of social media sites, this idea has reached an all together new level. Social media has enabled all of us to connect with society, regardless of time and space.

Nowadays almost everyone, from youngsters to oldies, is there either on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Stumble Upon or Delicious. And, with each passing day this trend is growing further. This very increase in the number of individuals has also triggered businesses to go social.

There’s no denying the fact that most of the social platforms are goldmines stuffed with loads of target audience for various businesses. But, if a business decides to go social, they really need to think about two things.

First, the integration of social media marketing in the overall marketing plan surely requires some effort. Every business that decides to go social will have to be willing to walk that extra mile.

Secondly, where there are your potential and present customers; apart from leads there are also grievances and negative publicity! While you would have new target audience asking about your products and services, you would also have the existing ones registering their grievances pertaining to a bad experience.

Therefore, comes the question – ‘to be or not to be SOCIAL’!

While, the answer to this particular dilemma must be ‘to each its own’, the importance of social media marketing is something that cannot be denied. Its virality, reach and connect has made it an inevitable marketing medium. So, businesses actually need to be more willing to take the extra pain and be realistic in their expectations from this medium. It is no magic wand but surely one of the most effective ways to connect with your target group.

The stage is set and the chance to reap the benefits of social media is all yours…. All you have to do is DECIDE!

‘Professionals create the Content – Amateurs consume it.’
Since the invention of the printing press hundreds of years ago until a decade back, this statement had defined how media functions. Be it books, newspaper, radio, film or television, one and all followed the same mantra. This basically resulted in a kind of monopoly that these media organizations exercised over information and content being circulated around the world. Therefore, the power to get a message out to the world was only restricted to a few. However, with the rapid expansion of internet and the advent of social media this traditional approach to information and content circulation is now rapidly becoming a concept of the past.
There are two paradigm shifts that have taken place in the media culture as a result of Social Media’s rapid expansion:-

1. The first one being that content is now being created not only by the professionals but also by the amateurs. For e.g. YouTube claims that over 48 hours of video content is uploaded on its servers every single minute by its millions of users around the world.
2. Secondly and more importantly, Social media has now empowered the users/listeners/readers, basically the so called amateurs to not only communicate with the media organizations but also with one another. There is no better example for this than Facebook communities.
What the first paradigm shift has done is to take the control over content creation out of the hands of these mammoth media organizations, corporates and governments. Now, most of the content available for viewing on the internet is not created by professionals with vested interests but by amateurs themselves. In this manner the ideas and information are now flowing horizontally instead of vertically. The second paradigm shift has ensured that opinion is no more controlled by the media organizations. The ability to share ideas and discuss issues at a global level has now ensured audience participation like never before. What this has essentially done is to empower and mould the entire concept of freedom of speech and expression as it was ideally intended to be.

This rapidly changing landscape can be seen through various developments that are taking place in the traditional media houses. Book publishers around the world are under threat from free online publishing supported by e-book formats and companies like Amazon and Apple. Similarly, record companies are taking a serious hit because of YouTube and Apple store. However, most impressive has been the ability of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Reddit, etc. to circulate news, information, creative content and most of all in shaping popular public opinion and mobilizing the masses without the need of massive financial investments. This aspect of Social Media’s strength came to the focus of the world most in the previous year with movements erupting throughout the world from Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street to our own Anna Hazare, all aided by the use of Social Media.

Whether you like it or not, Social Media is now here to stay and it will continue to redefine our ages old media practices. So, the only question we now face is “How can we make best use of this media? Even though it means changing the way we’ve always done it.”

Have you been to conferences where agencies come and showcase their portfolios in the name of talking about an agenda?

Have you felt duped at the end of such a conference realizing that all you had gained from it is a handful of brochures and nothing else?

Well, you would probably then better understand what it means to have a conference where individuals come, talk, discuss and debate and not SELL!

OMCAR 2012 is one such conclave aimed at raising questions and finding answers. People who know the Online Marketing world would know that Social Media is a rage that just can’t be ignored. But, the problem is that those who boast of knowing Social Media have a stereotypical spectrum of vision that could just take one up a blind alley.

So, how do you know what social media can do for various domains? Simple, hear it ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’. When some of the biggest brands and entrepreneurs come together to talk about and display what social media has done for their businesses and marketing, you are sure to look at it wide eyed. And, there is no reason for you to not believe them! Yes, of course you can raise questions!

OMCAR 2012 is not about Powerpoint case studies but real life case studies that have actually come up roses.

Social Media in Indian context is what we are looking at. When we talk about Social for India, we must know and understand that we need to look at ‘Social Media with a Difference’. Because, only then are the results possible. Hear some of the biggest brands speak and show how social media has helped them gain visibility, business, reputation and evangelism because they have not done it via a flowchart method but a little ‘differently’.

Also, OMCAR 2012 is not a ‘Sit n Listen’ format; it is ‘Listen, Think n Share’. Chats, discussions and debates are most welcome. Let’s sit and take a look at where Social Media is headed and how can it really enhance the way we have hitherto been looking at Online Marketing.

Agency Professionals & Brand Managers, Entrepreneurs and CXO’s of Small & Medium Enterprises, Online Marketing Professionals, students aspiring for a career in Online Marketing, Marketing Professionals and Social Media Enthusiasts- OMCAR 2012 is for all those who are looking for an insight into the Social Media world and how it can help or it has helped them achieve their marketing goals!

Facebook is going to remove the App Profile Pages by Feb 1, 2012. Migrate your FB apps to traditional FB pages. Developers can now use the Add Page Tab Dialog to add page tabs to their Facebook pages.

Facebook is coming with yet another change in how apps are integrated to its traditional pages and is also going to kill the App Profile Pages by 1st February 2012. The move will help Facebook maintain only its traditional types of pages contrary to its previous management of maintaining two different versions of app pages and traditional pages which only meant different insights, likes, API keys and distribution/ integration channels. The users will now be directed to the Facebook Page Tabs/ Apps directly instead of landing on an App Profile Page first.

View App Profile Page link as it appeared earlier

The App Profile Pages that Facebook is going to kill were generated automatically as soon as any app was made, to show the insights, etc. for the app. The link – View App Profile Page – that you used earlier to add an app on a Facebook Page Tab has already disappeared and from now onwards you would be able to add an app to a page tab using the Add Page Tab Dialog (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/dialogs/add_to_page/) or a simple link:

http://www.facebook.com/add.php?api_key=[APP-ID]&pages=1

where you just need to provide the API key of your app.

If you are the administrator of an eligible Facebook page (please note that the page name should be the same as that of the app and must fall in the same Product/App category), you will come across an option to transfer the Likes to this page. The message would read as:

Removing App Profile Pages
By February 1, 2012, we are removing App Profile Pages. You can migrate Likes and the Vanity URL of this Page to an existing Facebook Page with the same name and Product/App category. Click here to migrate to an existing Facebook Page.

‘View App Profile Page’ link has already disappeared from the Dev App and appears only on those pages which have already been made. If you want to make an App Profile Page, visit Contact Info section > Create Facebook Page > Confirm. The pages are named as ‘[Your App Name] Community Page’ by default which can be changed later.

Gizmo lovers and techies from all over are sending their entries for the Netbook Mania Contest! When a Netbook is up for grabs, you must understand that it is a chance not to be missed! And those who have understood it well have sent in some amazing pieces of creativity!

The first entry worth a mention is the video created by Deepti Ahuja, who owns a channel on YouTube by the name ‘cutebarbiecurls’. Don’t be fooled by the cute name for the brainy female has put up this great creative on ‘How a Netbook Can Transform One’s Life’ based on the characters of movie Deewar. Originally created as a student project during her Mass Comm days, the video is surely a reflection of her creative bent of mind.

Ally Raj redefines technology in her unique style. The image created by her is inspired by the everyday help that technology and Netbook in specific provides in the kitchen. The best of the recipes are available for just a click! WOW! What a practical thought. It is surely something most of us come across in our daily lives without even realizing.

Next on the list is the video submitted by Ayesha Jain. It is truly a feast for the eyes and ears! With perfect rhyming and cut outs from the movie Dabangg, Ayesha has a super funny story to tell in an even funnier style. She admits that she made it just to kill time at her hostel but it has come out as a perfect integration of a valid message with creativity.

So, don’t be left behind while others are drawing close to winning that Netbook. Your entry could be a simple thought expressed with a pinch of creativity or an out-of-the-box idea. The contest is still open and we look forward to receiving a lot more masterpieces. It seems, it’s really hard to select the best so far!

Planning to buy a new Netbook? Well, you don’t need to when you stand a chance to win one!

Yes! A brand new Netbook could be all yours! All you have to do is participate in the ‘Netbook Mania’ Contest and tell ‘How a Netbook Can Transform One’s Life’ through a story, image, video or presentation. The most creative entry will win a Netbook.

Since their inception in late 2007, Netbooks have gone through a myriad of changes and improvements. From being the little computing machines that lacked certain features, Netbooks have now become the power devices. So, it’s time we take notice of this tiny tech tool that’s making its way in to our lives, with each passing day!

OMLogic, the Online Marketing Experts, are out with ‘Netbook Mania’ Contest on their official Facebook page. Just log on to the page and send in your entries. The contest begins 8th November 2011 and is likely to go on for a few weeks before one emerges as the winner of a brand new Netbook, all for themselves.

So, for all those who love computer in all its forms, it’s time to show the world their love for the latest addition to the ‘wonder machine’ family!

Think, create and share! You never know, your masterpiece might fetch you the ‘tiny tech tool’! And, don’t forget to mention ‘Intel’ in whatever you create because that is the POWER behind Netbook. Just log on to the official page of OMLogic on Facebook and submit your entry for the contest. While you have all the time in the world to create your masterpiece, don’t be too late!

They say, ‘It pays to be creative’. And, here is your chance to get rewarded for your creative self.

So, let the Netbook Mania begin!

Now this is what I call innovation. Facebook has just done something which seems inspired by Google+. It has introduced the concept of Google+ circles in the form of Smart Lists. It has introduced three main improvements, which it is claiming will change the way you interact with your friends.

The three main improvements are as following:

1. Smart lists – Create them yourself and stay up-to-date with the profile info your friends have in common with you.
2. Close Friends and Acquaintances lists – You can see your best friends’ photos and posts at one place, and see less from people you’re not so close to you.
3. Better suggestions – You can add your friends according to your own preference.

Friend Lists are completely optional. If you don’t like lists, you don’t have to use them.

Smarter lists are now available on Facebook

Smart Lists

Initially, Facebook provided the following options to manage the lists:

• Work
• School
• Family
• City

I personally think that this will make things much easier as earlier it was very tough to scroll down the whole friend list to find someone.

Close Friends and Acquaintances Lists:

There are two important lists which have some special properties- one of them is Close Friends list and the other is Acquaintances list. The close friends list will allow you to choose only 5-10 friends that you think are your real close friends and will show/notify you even about their slightest updates. Whereas the Acquaintances List will only show the most important updates of theirs and yes you can add them to yourself.

Better Suggestions

When you add someone as a friend or confirm a friendship request, then you’ll be able to add that friend to any of smart lists- Close Friends, Acquaintances, and your own lists, making them easier to create and update.

Better Suggestions

See and Share

Whenever you feel like sharing something with a narrower set of friends, simply use this tool and pick one of your lists.

See and share on Facebook

According to me, this new sharing option has just made Facebook a lot safer and it will also resolve privacy concern of the users.

To sustain Leadership in the market, companies have to keep on adding something new in their offerings. Same is the case with social networking giant Facebook. To sustain Leadership in the social networking arena & to maintain popularity among its userbase, Facebook is adding something new to its product line every other day. Recently, it made some changes in its chat & notifications settings, which had a mixed response from the users, and now, Facebook has rolled out big time changes its privacy & sharing settings (few changes have been live & few would get live in the coming weeks).

All of these changes could well be categorized into two parts:

1. changes to its sharing functionality, and
2. changes to privacy settings on user profiles.

Let’s see how these changes would affect the user while using Facebook.

Changes to sharing

These changes are done keeping in mind how you can share your content with others or how you want your content to be visible to others. These sharing changes would fall under two sections:

1. Tagging/Un-tagging
2. Status updates

Tagging/ untagging in Facebook posts

Tagging is a very interesting way to share your photos, videos & experiences with your friends. But it becomes too irritating when some-one tags you in something which you don’t want to be a part of. Now, you would have the option to approve or reject before the picture or video actually gets published. So, you can control people tagging you in their content. Also, you can now approve or reject when someone tries to tag your content, even if they aren’t tagging you specifically. The major change in tagging option is of ‘tag anyone in your posts’, no matter you are friends with the person! Isn’t it interesting?

Shared with friends

This feature would make it possible for you to share your experience with a large group of people inspite of the fact that you are not friends with them. And you never know, once you share your experience with them, they can become your friend. So, with the Facebook tagging feature you can expand your social circle!

Shared with Custom

Another change is of ‘un-tagging’. We think that this is the most sought after option by the Facebook fans. Facebook has tried to improve this feature by providing more options like asking the photo uploader to remove the photo from your profile completely and blocking that person on Facebook.

‘Status Update’ has also come-up with few amendments. You can choose to share your update in three ways: share with public (previously everyone), with friends or customize your status update sharing. You can now decide to whom to share ‘What’s on your mind?’ (Never tell your boss what’s on your mind! )

Not only this, you can now add location & people to your Facebook updates. So, you can share your updates telling the world, whom you are with at that moment of writing the post & where! Now, you can add your location from anywhere, regardless of what device you are using.

Also, you can choose to add location to your photos, albums & videos. We must say these changes in sharing settings will make Facebook more user friendly, not sacrificing the privacy and fun to spend time with!

Changes to Privacy Settings

The biggest change to privacy option is the transfer of privacy controls from settings page to user profile page. Now, you can see the edit-settings option on the top-right side of your profile. The users need not jump on to cumbersome privacy settings tab to limit the visibility of photos and other things.

Also, the ‘View profile as’ option has also been shifted to your profile from privacy settings page. You can easily see how your profile appears to public & your friends.

View as Public

All these changes are again an attempt by Facebook to show the world, that when it comes to innovation, the company is always ready to play the game.

But, the game changers (customers/users) are always the king who decides the success & failure of the player!

So, let us know whether these changes in Facebook are what you desired for & whether you liked them or not?

This post was written with inputs provided by Neha Jain.