Social Networking

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…)

Facebook’s Trends of 2009

As I predicted earlier this month, everyone is pumping out data from the what happened this year.  Last week, I shared with you some of Twitter’s most tweeted words.  Now this week, Facebook has decided to share some of the most talked about topics through status updates. 

“Status updates on Facebook help people understand their friends and the people around them–how they’re feeling, what they’re doing and what they’re thinking,” says Facebook’s Lars Backstrom in a Facebook statement. “In the United States alone, people on Facebook are sharing hundreds of millions of words every day, thousands per second, in status updates. When taken as a whole, these words offer a unique barometer into the issues, world events and thoughts that are connecting people.” (more…)

YouTuber Turns Into Hollywood Director

The Internet and social media has started a new boom of celebrities.  It used to be that if you wanted to act or sing, you had to go to audition after audition.  If that didn’t work, it was your connections through the industry that got you in.  Today, you don’t even have to leave your home to get fame.  We’ve seen it over and over again.  Both Sean Kingston & Lily Allen gained their fame through posting their music on MySpace.  YouTube has also been the birth of celebrities.  We’ve seen the success of Fred, who just wrapped up filming his first motion picture over the weekend, while bloggers like iJustine continue to have millions of followers.

As of early this morning, thanks to the power of YouTube there is a new celebrity in town.  His name is Fede Alvarez and you likely won’t see his face everywhere.  Alvarez, who is from Uraguay, likes to make videos behind the scenes.  Just last month, Alvarez posted a 4 minute movie, which he had shot on a $300 budget.  Less than 4 days after publishing the video online, Alvarez says he started getting offers from Hollywood to film and direct a similar sci-fi thriller. (more…)

The Most Tweeted Words of 2009

This has been quite the year for Twitter.  Becoming the most popular word of the year, according to the Global Language Monitor, and even a source for breaking news, Twitter is just getting started.  

It’s hard to imagine Twitter without a checking out the current trending topics, but the feature was just released in April along with the Twitter search tool, allowing you to type a certain word or phrase and tweets with those keywords will appear.  Using the trending topics has become a great way to stay up-to-date in pop culture, and news headlines from around the world.  In fact, many Twitter users found out that Michael Jackson had died about 45 minutes before those watching the developments on television.  Twitter was also great to watch during the American Idol finale, as it was the first time American Idol winner, Kris Allen, took the top spot beating out Adam Lambert, who was the number one trending topic every week until that night.  As we near 2010, Twitter has decided to take a look at some of the most interesting trending topics of the year.  (more…)

Facebook Wants You To Use Twitter

Yes, I know it looks like something that would never happen, but since the launch of Facebook’s URL shortening service yesterday, TechCrunch confirmed that Facebook will now have the ability to send your status updates from the site onto Twitter.  Surprisingly, this will be an option directly on your Facebook status bar, and you will not need a Facebook app to use this.  A similar feature currently exists on Fan Pages, but will now be available to all profiles. (more…)

Facebook & Google Get URL Shorteners

URL shorteners have been extremely helpful within the past year or so.  With the use of micro-blogging sites like Twitter, which limits you to 140 character, the use of site shortening services have seen an increase in traffic. 

Today, Facebook users have noticed that the social networking site has come up with its own shortening service.  Known as fb.me, users will now see this to help shorten links they post on the site.  A simple search on Twitter shows that many have already started using the new service.  An example, if you type “fb.me/iePlexus” you’ll be automatically taken to iePlexus’ Facebook Fan Page.  

While in the middle of writing about Facebook’s new feature, Google also announced they have created their own shortener, Goo.gl.  In a blog post early this afternoon, the company says while they are excited for the launch, the service will only be available through the Google Toolbar and FeedBurner. However, it looks like Google wants to eventually open the service up to everyone. 

It should be neat to see how both these services succeed.  However, if companies like Facebook & Google are creating their own shortening services, exclusive site shorteners like tinyurl& bit.ly could no longer exist.

Jet Set Away, Thanks To Social Media

By far, one of my favorite things about social media is the amount of free things you can get.  For example, over the summer, I was tweeting back and forth with FOX Chicago news anchor Nancy Loo.  She had mentioned that one of her co-anchors had never had popcorn from Garrett Popcorn, a famous Chicago popcorn eatery.  I had mentioned that I had never had it either and within a matter of minutes I received a Twitter response from Garrett Popcorn inviting me to one of their many stores to try some of their popcorn.  Needless to say, I eventually made my way to one of their shops for some delicious free popcorn.  Ahh, the power of Twitter.

I’ve told you about a few social media contests in the past few months.  Back in October, I shared a contest with you where the Colorado tourism board decided to offer a trip to Colorado for people who had never seen snow in the Snow at First Sight contest.  While an official winner has yet to be determined, the contest is designed around social media.  Users were asked to create a video and promote their video and the contest through Facebook & Twitter.  28 people are currently competing for the trip.  Voting is currently taking place and will soon close as 10 semi-finalist are chosen for a chance to win a dream trip and share their experience through social media.  (more…)

Tweeting The Twitter 12

Last week, I shared with you a report from The Big Money, which came up with a list of some of the world’s top 50 companies using Facebook to their advantage.  After the article was released, the online magazine revealed another list known as the Twitter 12. 

To figure out who would make it on the list, the company asked themselves one main question: Which companies get the most out of Twitter?   The Big Money looked at a number of statistics, such as the number of followers, Twitter growth from September through November, how often and what exactly are these companies tweeting.  The magazine only included companies with more than a million followers.   (more…)

17% of Facebook Users Use Facebook Connect

Facebook seems to have yet another statistic which will amaze us once again.  Last week on December 4, Facebook’s feature, Facebook Connect celebrated its one year anniversary since joining the site.  Late Wednesday, the company announced some pretty amazing statistics.

“Today, we are celebrating the first anniversary of Facebook Connect from the LeWeb conference in France,” said Ethan Beard, director of the Facebook Developer Network. “Facebook Connect is now available on more than 80,000 websites, and more than 60 million people are using the service to connect with their friends everywhere.” (more…)

Facebook’s Safety Board Created

Facebook has always been on top, when it comes to user privacy and keeping their information secure.  On Monday, Facebook announced they were in the process of forming the Global Advisory Board.  The group consists of five organizations including Common Sense Media, ConnectSafely, WiredSafety, Childnet International and The Family Online Safety Institute.

Facebook plans on regularly meeting with the group to get up to date information on security issues, to help protect user information. (more…)