To no one’s surprise, Twitter will now sell advertisements. The company unveiled its plan today with 10 inital companies on board. I am interested to see how these companies will change their marketing plans for this. Afterall, most have Twitter accounts already. Will they split their time between their accounts and paid advertisements or go all for one area? Will the two be integrated?
Also, how will users respond? As with anything, some will hate it while others will embrace it. Regardless, it is probably here to stay.
So I am reading a blog and see: “In 2009, Dell made over $6.5 million through Twitter.” Now that caught my attention!
CheapTweet allows users to search for deals my category. It will then customize a stream of tweets according to their votes and Twitter conversations. This is supposed to lead to less spam (think email overload which is typical when signing up to find deals online).
Being “new” to Twitter, I am still getting accustom to many of the services offered. This is one I need to look at a little closer. Today’s world is so fast paced. I really look for services like CheapTweet to catch on because after all consumers seem to gravitate towards convenience.
Charity work and volunteerism has played an important role in my life for years and a new cellphone app is making donating to charities even easier. To use the application, CauseWorld, you go to your regular local stores (such as grocery stores) and “check in” on your application. It uses GPS to track your location. Just by “checking in” you earn “karma points” which can be donated to a charity. You can pick where you want your donation to go. Causes to donate to include: “Prevent Child Abuse America”, “American Red Cross”, “Feeding American”, and many more.
So if you have a mobile iPhone or Android phone, I invite you to check it out!
The devastating earthquake this week in Haiti is making headlines around the world and people are responding. The thing that is suprising me is the way they are responding. Within the first 36 hours after the earthquake over $7 million dollars in pledges had been made via texting to help with relief.
Major carriers, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile are backing the campaign by not charging for text-messaged mobile donations. The donations will be added to the user’s monthly bill.
Social media is also playing a powerful role:
Although many times we think about social media for daily communication and marketing, rarely do we consider for it emergencies. I have been amazed the ways that social media is helping families and relief workers to communicate. I will continue to follow this one closely and pray for those affected by horrific disaster.
I back up my documents (and sometimes photos) on jump drive and occassionally email myself a copy. I really had not given too much though to lost documents that is until a couple of months ago…
At 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning my mom called to tell me a family friend had lost everything the night before in a fire, cell phones, computers, family photos, clothing. The only thing they had left were the clothing they were wearing at 3 a.m. in the morning when the fire broke out.
My heart broke for them. I can not imagine (and hope I never know) what they felt like. Their experience made me re-evaluate my own life. For instance, I now upload my photos to Shutterfly. Photos are VERY important to me because I truly believe that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” However, I still need to take additional steps to protect documents.
A recent article that caught my eye discusses a new offer from Google. They are selling additional storage space online. Currently, Google offers unlimited storage of Google Doc. With this new upgrade, people will be able to save files in their original form.
I think this is a good move by Google. This could easily be marketed through stories such as the one of my family friend. It will be interesting to see the marketing approach they decide on with this one…
Recent reports show that Apple’s App have surpassed 3 billion downloads. In addition, Christmas gift cards lead to a volume of downloads that was 13 times greater than all Android photos.
Apple’s mark on the technology world is undeniable and I think we have only seen the beginning. Already making the news this week, Apple is set to release its new tablet. Although few details are known, Apple is causing the techonology world to buzz once again.
Now take a look at the video of apple inventions…
Now think back about 5 years ago…all of this was unthinkable. Look ahead to the next decade, I can’t help but wonder what will be next…
Just as Congress is in heated debates over healthcare, a different aspect of the future of (online) healthcare comes forward.
A new health program is allowing Texas residents to visit the doctor through video chat. A division of UnitedHealth Group (the nation’s largest health insurer) is behind the idea of what is being called the NowClinic. The group claims that this will help with the shortage of primary care physicians and eliminate time wasted dealing with appointment and insurance claims. Anyone, regardless of insurance coverage, can utilize the service for $45.
Reactions from doctors are mixed. Some do not like the idea because it takes away the one-on-one contact. Others say it is a less expensive way to provide care and like the idea.
Now for my opinion: I am against it.
Doctors need personal interaction with patients. You can not check someone’s ears over the computer! Furthermore, how can you truly see a person clearly? (Take a look at this screen shot.) The decisions doctors make depends on a lot more than what is said. This is just too big of a risk.
Also, I really do not like that the doctors are able to prescribe medications through this service. If a doctor can not examine the person fully, how do they know the right prescription is being prescribed?!
As my emerging media class comes to a conclusion, I am excited about what the future holds. I think technology can really benefit all of us in various ways. However, there are still limits and areas where “traditional” is best. I am just not on board with “going to the doctor” online!
Ok, time to hear what you think? Is this a good move? Would you utilize this for your family?
I saw a Best Buy commercial (not the one above but similar!) on television the other day that advertised their “Hint Helper 4000” for the holiday season so I decided to check it out. Here is how it works:
1. You visit the Web site and pick the gift you want.
2. Next, you enter your information (name, email, etc).
3. You enter the name and email of who you want the “hint” to go to (up to 10 people).
After you enter all the information, it will show you a sample email that your recipients will receive about your gift. Here is the sample they showed for me:
Dear Nick,
Here’s a fun holiday message from Nicole R (lilriggs05@yahoo.com) who is using the HINT HELPER 4000 to let you know what she wants this holiday.
So, if you’re looking to get Nicole R the perfect gift this holiday season (and who isn’t?) The BEST BUY HINT HELPER 4000 requests you click this link below to grant it permission to drop fun and helpful hints to you while you’re surfing online.
(Link to accept hint will go here.)
The surprise hints should start soon. You never know when they’ll appear. So keep on the lookout, won’t you?
Best,
HINT HELPER 4000
According to the site, they email the “gifter” requesting permission to drop hints. However, they do not reveal exactly how. Once they agree, hints are dropped all over the internet about the gift the person wants. In addition, to help the site spread virally, they had links to email, Twitter, and Facebook at the bottom that would help link those accounts to the page letting others know about the service.
I thought this was really neat. I have not seen anything (yet) about how this is working for Best Buy. If it is successful, I can see other companies developing similar efforts in coming years.
Watching how stores and brands are taking advantage of new media is really interesting to me. I think the key is to be creative and be the first to “step outside the box!”
P.S. Best Buy also has a Secret Santa application that you can play on Facebook but I have not have time to check that one out yet!
Yes, this groom is seriously Twittering and Facebooking at the alter! The Maryland groom caused quite the viral stir after this video was uploaded. At the end of the wedding prior to kissing his new bride, the groom, Dana Hanna, pulled out this phone and updated his relationship status on Facebook and Tweeted about getting ready to kiss his bride.
Both the bride and the minister were shocked. After he was finished and put this phone away, the minister said “As I was saying, I now pronounce you husband and wife. It’s now official on Facebook. It’s official in my book. Dana you may kiss your bride.”
I wish I could have been at this wedding because this is hilarious. It is not something I would have though of doing and if I was the bride, I too would have been shocked!
I have seen the crazy entrances…
And the first dances…
But Wedding Facebooking and Tweeting is new to me!
This is just another example of how social media is changing and impacting us so much. Five years ago no one would have thought of this partially because no one really cared what a person’s “relationship status” was on Facebook. Now, some people are obsessed with various social media outlets to the point that “they know everything.”
I think this was just the groom’s way of “relaxing” the situation. This will definitely be one of the videos I pass on to friends.
So what are your thoughts? Was this appropriate? What does it say about social media?
The mobile world is stirring up again. Google is set to launch a new phone that will rival Apple’s iPhone. The company recently gave employees the device to experiment with and get quick feedback. The buzz has already started among bloggers and twitter users.
If it moves forward (which it looks like it will), Google will become a stronger force in the mobile device world. However, some think the move is risky from the view that it will put the company at odds with partners Verizon Wireless and Motorola. An anonymous Google employee disagreed and said the plan will not conflict with partners; instead it will work with them.
After watching the above video, here is what I like about the phone:
The touch screen and regular key board option
It’s ability to hold up against the iPhone in various forms including megapixal and price.
However, I still have many questions such as:
How will this affect the price of other phones? Will the iPhone drop in price?
How will this affect the providers? Will our phone bills go up to compensate for money loss. (Currently, phones are not where providers make money. The money comes from getting customers to sign up with 2-year plans. However, if that option is taken away, what changes will the providers make?)
Will all providers jump on board or will they continue to sell phones through their own store?
While many details remain unknown, there is some conflicting evidence in the various reports I have read. For instance, one article said that Google plans to sell the phone directly to the consumer and then they will be able to sign up with any provider they choose. On the other hand, the video above gives an example in price comparison between the iPhone and Google phone when attached to two year contracts.
In my opinion no matter what the details, this phone is going to continue to cause a stir. However, whether or not the phone will be a success is in the hands of the consumer.
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