Industry News

The Wikipedia Video Social Media Campaign

Although many warn against it, most of us use Wikipedia at least now and then.  If you’re not familiar, Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia, which anyone is allowed to edit.  So whether you’re looking for information on Abraham Lincoln, Kazakhstan, or the history of cheese, it’s bound to be on the site somewhere.

While the site can be a very useful tool, many think something is missing from the site.  Videos.  So leave it up to the Open Video Alliance to head an online campaign which will hopefully bring videos to the online encyclopedia. (more…)

The China Google Battle Ending Soon?

While things for the most part have been quiet for awhile between Google and China, Google’s business partners in China are loosing patience with Google, wanting to know if the company will stay in China or it will go.

27 Chineses companies, all whom are advertisers on Google.cn, wrote what is described as an “emotional letter.”   The businesses say the no longer wish to be kept in the dark on Google’s plans.  (more…)

Google No Longer Most Visited Site On The Web

For as long as many us can remember, Google has been the most visited site on the web.  You may recall, that during Christmas & New Years Day, Facebook was the most visited site for the day, but Google quickly took that spot back.

However, HitWise said during March 7 and March 13 Facebook surpassed Google as the most visited site in the US, and the trend looks like it will continue.  For the past year, Facebook’s popularity has continued to grow, while Google’s ranking has remained on a stable path.  (more…)

How Your Business Can Crowdsource

You are probably saying to yourself, “what is crowdsourcing?”  According to Wikipedia, “Crowdsourcing is a neologistic compound of Crowd and Outsourcing for the act of taking tasks traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing them to a group of people or community, through an “open call” to a large group of people (a crowd) asking for contributions.”

It’s also a concept that many businesses are taking on.  While many are using social media sites like a modern suggestion box, others are actually taking those suggestions and putting them into action.  WLS-TV, Chicago’s ABC affiliate took a look at a Chicagoland company which helps people and businesses connect by crowdsourcing. (more…)

Could The Internet Win The Nobel Peace Prize?

It was just a few months ago when President Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, which caused much controversy.  However, last week nominations for this years peace prize winner were due.  Among the nominations according to some include, Russian human rights activist Svetlana Gannushkina, Liu Xiaobo, a recently jailed Chinese dissident, for his “distinguished and principled leadership in the area of human and political rights and freedom of expression.”, Former Illinois Governor George Ryan, and the Internet. 

Yes, the Internet.  The World Wide Web.  What you are using right now to read this.  As you can imagine, if President Obama’s nomination caused uproar, what the internet will do. (more…)

Bringing Yahoo To Your TV

To be frankly honest, it’s been a slow week in the social media world.  However, the Consumer Electronic Show (CES), currently happening in Las Vegas is making the week a bit better.  This year, it seems everything is about TV’s.  I shared with you earlier this week that Skype plans on bringing Skype to your TV screen soon.  Then the technology has made it so far advanced, we can expect to get 3DTV in our homes later on this year.  There is even a LG television that debuted which is only 7 millimeters thick, that’s the equivalent of just slightly over a quarter of an inch! 

While it’s hard to skip over that, Yahoo has decided they want to get into the television business.  Last June, Yahoo announced they were creating a widget which would help bring an internet experience to your television.  The company calls it’s Connected TV.  Thursday morning at CES, Yahoo announced they would be expanding their partnership and would start to make the widget available to the public today. (more…)

Your Own iPhone App: There’s An App For That

It seems that there’s an app for just about everything.  Whether you are looking to play a game, trying to keep track of your finances, search the latest trends in the social media world, or even make new friends, there’s an app for it.   And with several apps profiting in the 7 digit range, everyone is trying to create an app for something or another. But actually building an app takes time and money, unless you have the skills of an advanced developer.  But now anyone can create an app for a pretty affordable option.

A service known as AppMakr launched this week, and promises to help you create an application for iTunes.  That means parts of your website could be turned into an application for iPods & iPhones alike.  Sharing news, your Twitter feed, video blogs, and just about anything else you can think of could now be part of your very own app. (more…)

Social Media News Brief: Jan. 6, 2010

Facebook decided to dominate Google once again, while Google is trying to make an attempt to bring Apple iPhone sales down.  Find out all the details in today’s social media news brief. (more…)

Social Media In The New Decade

10 years ago at this moment, the world was relieved that nothing that they had feared about, regarding Y2K actually happened.  People were now placing their money back into the bank, while others had an endless supply of food they had stocked up on just in case.  It’s crazy to think that if someone would have said “Facebook”, “YouTube”, “Digg”, or just the words “social media,” we most likely would have given them a funny and strange look. 

It was in 2004 when social media was created.  Linkdin & MySpace took to the web and since then there has been explosion of “social media” & “social networking” sites.  When I graduated high school in 2005, if had ever wanted to share a video with the class for a certain project, I’d have to visit the library, maybe a video store, and rent the video, while worrying about some return date.  Today, my brother who is in his sophomore year of high school is able to use YouTube to share a video with just the click of a mouse.  Our world has advanced so much in the past decade, and social media has played a significant role! (more…)

Pepsi To Drop Super Bowl & Use Social Media

There is always that age old question, why do people watch the Super Bowl?  Many watch for the game itself, while others just tune in for the half time show.  And others tune in just for the commercials.  Commerial airtime during the Super Bowl is always   the most expensive time for advertisers to advertise since it is the most viewed event on television.  One commercial you don’t see in the next Super Bowl, Pepsi. 

The company has announced they will not be making a commercial for the 2010 Super Bowl, instead they will focus on a $20 million social media advertising campaign.  ABC News reports that the company will launch the Pepsi Refresh Project on January 13, where online users can submit ideas to help ‘refresh their communities to make a better world.’ (more…)