Facebook Monetization Speculation
May 24, 2012
“It’s free and always will be.” CNet News’ Chris Matyszczyk speculates that Facebook may have to break its famous vow in “Why Facebook May Soon Cost You Money.” Extrapolating from a New Zealand test run of a program that would boost visibility of your status updates for a fee, Matyszczyk sees more charges in the future for Facebook users. He also suspects this may ultimately (ironically) give users more power. He writes:
“This week’s New Zealand experiment comes from the same helpful impulse that spawned fees for your first checked bag at the airport. “In other words, now that we’ve got you, give us something. Of course, one of the difficulties if Facebook succeeds in charging customers for, say, actually having people seeing their updates, is the possibility that its relationship with its users will change. ”Currently, Facebook can switch its privacy rules and drag you along because you are aren’t a paying customer. ”But once you are, mightn’t people begin to take on a different attitude? A paying customer might expect a higher level of service, of feedback — and, yes, of privacy.”
That is a good point. Certainly Facebook isn’t eager to hand users any control over the site.
I’m sure they aren’t eager to break their promise to always be free, either. After all, that vow is posted prominently on Facebook’s sign in/sign up page, and has always been integral to the company’s philosophy. On the other hand, charging piecemeal for perks (a.k.a. improvements) won’t technically violate their word, and may just help keep those shareholders happy.
Cynthia Murrell, May 24, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Report Finds Google+ Lacking User Engagement
May 23, 2012
Business Week recently reported on Google’s social media arm in the article “Is Google+ a Ghost Town, and Does It Matter?”
According to the article, RJ Metrics found that, after surveying 40,000 of the 170 million people with Google+ profiles, user activity is rapidly on the decline. Unlike other social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, Google+ has an extremely low rate of reposting (15% to be exact) and the average time lapse between posts is 12 days.
Google denies these allegations and states the findings to be inaccurate, but fails to provide its own data on user engagement. The search giant does say that people are two to three times more likely to share content in their private circles than to make posts public.
The article states:
“Robert Moore of RJMetrics acknowledges that the study is skewed by the lack of private data, but points out that his findings echo a ComScore (SCOR) study released in February, which showed that Google+ users spent only about 3 minutes per month on the social networking site in January, compared with 7.5 hours on Facebook.”
While we can certain of the accuracy of this data, based on my own personal experience with Google+ it paints a pretty accurate picture. This study certain reminds readers that Google sits alone at lunch.
Jasmine Ashton, May 23, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Facebook Explains Data Policies
May 22, 2012
Ah, Facebook and its content treasure trove. The New York Times reports, “Facebook Shares More About How It Uses Your Data.” The social behemoth has added new explanations about its content and privacy policies to the site’s Help tab.
Writer Somini Sengupta infers that the new disclosures may be in response to questions from certain European college students and the Irish Data Protection Office (which regulates Facebook’s European data policies.) Perhaps, but it seems to us that the clamor for transparency from Facebook began long ago. More likely, the timing has something to do with Facebook’s comparatively new Director of Privacy, Erin Egan. Ms. Egan was previously a partner and co-chair of the global privacy and data security division at a respected international law firm based in Washington, DC.
The write up informs us:
“The new explanations, available by clicking on the Help tab on the bottom of the Facebook home page, include one on how cookies work on the site and what information application developers receive when you download an app on the Facebook platform. The explanations also inform users about who can see what kinds of posts on their timelines.”
“‘We also provide more information about how we use data to operate Facebook, to advertise, and to promote safety and security for Facebook users,’ Ms. Egan wrote.”
Could the timing of these explanations, and the creation of the Director of Privacy position itself, have anything to do with Facebook going public? The company must now balance the specter of public scrutiny with its obligation to plump up profits for shareholders. Good luck with that.
Cynthia Murrell, May 22, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Forrester Lets the Social Cat Out of The Bag
May 18, 2012
Enterprise Communications recently reported on social media monitoring in the article “Forrester’s Evaluation on Social Media Monitoring.”
According to the article, the Forrester report evaluated nine current vendors that it split into the groups: current offering, strategy, and marketing presence. The research revealed some potential changes and considerations businesses should take into account when implementing a social media monitoring strategy.
the results revealed:
“Radian6 and Visible Technologies were, according to Forrester and should be used as a guide only, leading the market principally based on two key aspects: dashboards that are broad in the functionality, and road maps that are innovative in design. Forrester’s evaluation also rated Attensity, NM Incite, Converseon, SDL, Networked Insights and Synthesio.”
Unfortunately these “listening tools” only gather data. The companies are then forced to decide what to do with that data. I wonder if the coverage is free or pay to play? Real consulting firms and real analysts do everything for intellectual rewards.
Jasmine Ashton, May 18, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
New Survey Asserts Google+ Has Weak Social Engagement
May 18, 2012
Fast Company recently published a story on some disconcerting results from a new RJ Metrics report on the “social spine” of Google. In the article, entitled “Exclusive: New Google+ Study Reveals Minimal Social Activity, Weak User Engagement,” writer Austin Carr reveals that after surveying 40,000 random Google+ users, surveyors found the search giant’s social network to have minimal social activity and weak user engagement.
According to the article, the report found that the average post on Google+ has less than one +1, less than one reply, and less than one re-share. Also, roughly 30% of users who make a public post never make a second one and even after making five public posts, there is a 15% chance that a user will not post publicly again.
A Google spokesperson countered these results with a statement saying:
“By only tracking engagement on public posts, this study is flawed and not an accurate representation of all the sharing and activity taking place on Google plus. As we’ve said before, more sharing occurs privately to circles and individuals than publicly on Google+. The beauty of Google+ is that it allows you to share privately–you don’t have to publicly share your thoughts, photos or videos with the world.”
Since the survey only looked at user’s public profiles, we can’t be completely sure of the accuracy of its results. However, what we can be sure of is that Google needs to increase its social game because there are some skeptics out there.
Jasmine Ashton, May 18, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Perils of Social Media and Compliance
May 16, 2012
I’m sure Facebook didn’t mean to cause trouble, but the company’s recent implementation of Timeline for businesses has created a new compliance issue for firms subject to FINRA regulations. InvestmentNews reports on the transition, and warns that more changes should be expected, in “Social Media is Evolving by the Day.”
Regarding Facebook‘s Timeline change, the article explains:
“Among other things, it allows users to add a ‘cover’ to their ‘story,’ edit basic information, quickly jump to the past, see highlights of their Facebook existence from each month at a glance and more easily highlight events that they want others to notice.
“These changes present challenges to many firms.
“‘In general, I think that securities firms that allow Facebook are going to have to provide ongoing guidance when new features are available or they will find that the granular features may quickly land their firm out of compliance,’ Art Metzger, vice president of advertising supervision at Advisor Group, wrote in an e-mail a few weeks ago.”
Such twists and turns emphasize that social media compliance requires constant maintenance after the initial setup. Writer Davis Janowski is right to note that Timeline is just an example of the ever changing nature of social networks. Compliance advisors must stay on their toes, but at least it looks like they can count on some job security.
Cynthia Murrell, May 16, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Tagged.com Holds User Interest
May 15, 2012
Digg declares, “Social Discovery Site Tagged.com Has More Engagement than Facebook.” Is there a better Facebook than Facebook? Well, not exactly. Tagged.com isn’t better, just different.
Tagged.com used to be much like Facebook, a rival, in fact, in the early days. When the company wisely realized they could not beat Zuckerberg’s phenomenon, they changed focus. Now, their site is a “social discovery” site, a place to find new people. That is one realm in which Facebook does not even try to excel (yet).
The metric used to define the “engagement” of the article’s headline: the average time users spend on each site per visit. While Facebook users average 10.9 minutes, the typical Tagged visitor spends 12.1 minutes. Writer Rocco Penn suggests the difference has to do with the nature of each site:
“Checking through our friends’ and family members’ updates is quick for experienced [Facebook] users and posting to the site is a breeze. With social discovery, there are limitless connections, searches, and profile-views that can happen. It’s simply a matter of how much time someone is able to spend looking for their next social BFF.
“Over the next year, expect a shift in time spent on social discovery. Facebook will be the end destination for the connections we make (unless Google+ can somehow grow more quickly) but the site does not lend itself to finding fresh acquaintances, to ‘reloading’ so to speak. Tagged may be the perfect place for freshness.”
Penn may be right about that. He also expressed surprise that Tagged’s success seems to have snuck up on social media pundits. The company has turned a profit since 2008, and has snapped up some startups of its own, including competitor Hi5. They can also boast of nearly tripling their number of workers over last year, and they seem poised to continue growing: this page is all about their career opportunities.
Cynthia Murrell, May 15, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Still No One Stop Shop for Social Media Management
May 15, 2012
Digg recently reported on social media management monitoring, or in this case, lack thereof in the article, “Why Is Social Media Management Still An Epic Fail?”
According to the article, when it comes to viewing today’s social media landscape there are an overwhelming amount of social media management tools available. Unfortunately, there is no one stop shop for all of your social media tracking woes.
Elaborating on this point, the article states:
“You’re going to find that all the tools you evaluate are going to perform better either as a stand-alone management tool or a listening tool. Very few try to do both—and in those cases, they fail at one or the other. Most companies and small businesses will start this journey looking for a social media management tool because the first step in evolving your company’s social media brain is “awareness,” in which you identify and track your existing social media presence on social platforms.”
So it appears that social search is not a slam dunk. Now the notion of actually managing social media emerges as a challenge. Isn’t governance a nice way to say, “hey, we can’t manage?”
Jasmine Ashton, May 15, 2012
Sponsored by Ikanow
Forbes: Google and Facebook Will Be Obsolete in Five Years. Really?
May 14, 2012
When researching the impact of web tycoons like Google and Facebook, every once in a while you come across an article that’s so out of left field that it bears mentioning. Forbes contributor, Eric Jackson’s article “Here’s Why Google and Facebook Might Completely Disappear in the Next 5 Years,” is an excellent example of one of these stories.
According to the article, with the rate of technological progression, tech companies that have dominated in the web 1.0 and 2.0 eras have historically been unable to adapt to the changes that come with the new generation of social and mobile technology.
Jackson writes:
“[Facebook and Google] will have all the money in the world to try and adapt to the shift to mobile but history suggests they won’t be able to successfully do it. I often hear Google bulls point to the market share of Android or Eric Schmidt’s hypothesis that Google could one day charge all Android subscribers $10 a month for value-added services as proof of future profits. Yet, where are all the great social success stories by Web 1.0 companies? I imagine we’ll see as many great examples of social companies jumping horses mid-race to become great mobile companies.”
While Jackson brings up some excellent points, he forgets the fact that Google and Facebook have already made the leap from social to mobile and are continuing to adapt.
Jasmine Ashton, May 14, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Infor Trailblazes the Future of Workplace Social Technology
May 12, 2012
Market Watch recently reported on a new enterprise software solution in the news release “Infor Delivers the Next Step in Software: Social Business Applications.”
According to the release, enterprise software provider Infor has announced the release of a new enterprise software solution that has the advanced capability to collaborate and communicate. What does this mean exactly?
The New Workspace works similarly to social networking tools and provides a similar interface. But it also works as a great asset to workplace decision making by providing role-based and contextual information from multiple applications in a single interface.
When describing the benefits of the New Workplace, the article states:
“Workspace also helps manufacturers address the critical problem of attracting and energizing young workers, particularly millennials. With Workspace, younger generations of workers are able to interact with one another in a way similar to their interpersonal interactions online. They can share and discuss their work with each other in an intuitive, familiar environment, helping to excite them and ignite the creative collaboration that fuels innovation.”
Due to rapid technological advancement it is imperative that companies adapt to meet the needs of the next generation of employees. This innovative new platform is an excellent step towards achieving this.
Jasmine Ashton, May 12, 2012
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