RealNetworks Inc. does not have any video material that I can find on any of their websites or social platforms. They did update their website which looks excellent! It is simple yet elegant and easy to interact with. I actually learned that RealNetworks has multiple brands that each have their own unique presence on social media platforms.
RealNetworks should make promotional videos for their RealPlayer and Rinse Services. Rinse is a RealNetwork service that cleans up your iTunes music library so it is organized and plays better. This is an excellent service, but how about releasing a special video with great sound and graphics that shows the features of Rinse! That is my recommendation. They could do this for any of their services.
This changes need to happen because web videos drive brand interests. A customer wants to see a video behind a product or service. Just like a fan want to see a video behind a musical artist or song.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Social Media Ethics
What concerns me most about social media ethics? I am deeply concerned about spam, unrealities, negativity, and hate being spread around twitter, Facebook, or any social media platform. I think it is ethically important to be conscious about what you are putting out in the world. If you are using twitter, do not tell everyone the thinks you hate or why you can't do this or that. Be positive! Inspire others! Social Media has so much power these days that we want to make sure we're uplifting and educating each other instead of throwing useless information at everyone. That is my deepest concern with social media ethics. Using it for good and positivity instead of hate and manipulation.
One social media ethics issue that i believe should be discussed in class is one involving the Church. I have seen different religions post advertisements for conversions in hopes to manipulate people into a different realm of thinking. I think this could be very dangerous and i am fascinated when i research the topic. Religious advertisements are on twitter, Facebook, and now even on National Television. Some religious groups are paying loads of money just to get their "group" promoted. But this is different then a regular company or product. This is God and Jesus Christ we are talking about. Do Christians, Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, and all religious people want to be represented in that way? Maybe more natural approaches should continue rather than biting into America's social ways and marketing ways.
Link about church marketing issues & opinions:
http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2008/04/190-hating-church-marketing-and-how-god-invented-it/
Ebay: The Game Changer
EBay started in 1995 under the name Auction Web. By 1996, Auction Web had a gross merchandise
volume of $7.2 million and 41,000 registered user. In 1997, Auction Web officially
changed its name to EBay and the EBay craze began. As of 2010 (the most recent numbers), EBay
has 94.5 million users and a gross merchandise volume of $62 billion. In the
last 15 years, EBay has become the leader in internet “shopping” due to its
innovation and savvy business moves.
From the days of Auction Web to now, EBay has never stopped
striving to be better. They have been able to find the perfect additions to the
site that will make it easier to use for the customers. They have never forgot
the customers. In 1997, EBay introduced “feedback”; the five star system used
to rate sellers. In 2000, the “Buy It Now” option was introduced and in 2006, EBay
introduced Pay Pal to increase the security of whom? It’s customers of course! EBay
always has the customer experience at the for front of their decisions which is
how it should be because who else will increase revenue?
In addition to putting the customer first, EBay has never
lost sight of growing the business. They have expanded their business by
acquiring other innovative businesses that are helpful to EBay itself. In its
17 years of existence, EBay has acquired stubHub, Shopping.com, Half.com,
Brands4friends, Bill Me Later and a few others. These businesses have always brought something
to the table for EBay. Half.com is a book selling site which is a large part of
EBay (textbooks anyone?). Bill Me Later
is the newest add on. It lets the customer be…. Billed later! By growing their
business and always caring for its customers, EBay has been able to stay at the
for front of internet shopping. Who knows what they will be able to accomplish
in the next 15 years.
All statistics and facts are from:
“History – eBay Inc..” eBay Inc. – eBay Inc.. N.p, n.d. Web.
24 Apr. 2012. <http://www.ebayinc.com/history>.
Videos Rhapsody
Rhapsody TV is Rhapsody's YouTube channel which has acquired 657 subscribers and a total of 1,287,765 views. Most of the videos posted to their channel are "On the Record" videos that are roughly one minute long about different artists or commentators and their thoughts on various albums and other (usually) music related material. These videos have fewer than 20 views each, and the video featured below has a total of 9. These videos are posten often, three of which were posted on the same day, three days ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWFp6H5um7U
Below is "another episode of the Strip Down by the River" which acquired 897 views.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny641-yKH9s&feature=plcp&context=C4fc55edVDvjVQa1PpcFMuO0LitpdpM5UlkSxXkEHulMuEpXtAbB4%3D
I would suggest that Rhapsody begin producing content that has greater relevance towards their audience's interests that would compel them to watch these videos and subscribe to its YouTube channel. I feel as if so much energy and resources are being use to create so many unsuccessful, small videos, when rather the Rhapsody team could dedicate time in creating one successful video that could be released every so often--perhaps bi-weekly or monthly.
Video themes such as Strip Down by the River prove to be more successful in acquiring views than do the "On the Record" themed videos. The latter of the two could be dismissed and effort could be directed elsewhere into perhaps developing the former video streams or in producing new, more universally relevant content.
Video is a relevant aspect to have regarding this music company because is becoming a highly visual experience as well with the rise of music videos. Rhapsody could also host a YouTube competition perhaps for customers to post videos of themselves sharing their experience with Rhapsody, creating a jingle, or singing a cover of one of their favorite artists so as to gain exposure for Rhapsody's YouTube channel. The winner could to receive a free year of Rhapsody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWFp6H5um7U
Below is "another episode of the Strip Down by the River" which acquired 897 views.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny641-yKH9s&feature=plcp&context=C4fc55edVDvjVQa1PpcFMuO0LitpdpM5UlkSxXkEHulMuEpXtAbB4%3D
I would suggest that Rhapsody begin producing content that has greater relevance towards their audience's interests that would compel them to watch these videos and subscribe to its YouTube channel. I feel as if so much energy and resources are being use to create so many unsuccessful, small videos, when rather the Rhapsody team could dedicate time in creating one successful video that could be released every so often--perhaps bi-weekly or monthly.
Video themes such as Strip Down by the River prove to be more successful in acquiring views than do the "On the Record" themed videos. The latter of the two could be dismissed and effort could be directed elsewhere into perhaps developing the former video streams or in producing new, more universally relevant content.
Video is a relevant aspect to have regarding this music company because is becoming a highly visual experience as well with the rise of music videos. Rhapsody could also host a YouTube competition perhaps for customers to post videos of themselves sharing their experience with Rhapsody, creating a jingle, or singing a cover of one of their favorite artists so as to gain exposure for Rhapsody's YouTube channel. The winner could to receive a free year of Rhapsody.
Game Changers - The Apple Experience
I believe Apple is such a "game changer" because of their vision to please the regular human. What do i mean by "regular human?" I mean a diverse individual who is open and has their own life path, but still needs a simple piece of technology to keep their life happy and in order. The vision behind the apple store is to "enrich lives."1 They want their employees and customers at Apple Stores to feel comfortable and welcome. There products are durable, sleek, and addicting, and their customer service is just as spectacular. Thats what makes the company such a game changer. They push their employees to "release their inner genius," which in force motivates them to motivate the customer. 2
Works Cited
1 Gallo, Garmine. The Apple Experience: Secrets to Building Insanely Great Customer Loyalty. McGraw-Hill. March 8th, 2012.
2 Gallo, Garmine. The Apple Experience: Secrets to Building Insanely Great Customer Loyalty. McGraw-Hill. March 8th, 2012.
A bite of Apple
While I am not the biggest fan of Apple products, I must recognize that they are a very successful company. Providing products to its customers that "enrich" their lives, Apple has established itself as one of, if not the leading tech gadget firm. After reading the article "The Apple Experience" I have gained some knowledge as to how Steve Jobs and the Apple team have successfully transitioned the company from once near failure to the household name it is today.
It seems that Apple transitioned from the traditional business mentality of selling a product to selling an experience and a way of life. I have broken it down by each point made in the article.
1) Stop selling stuff: By removing the focus from the product and on to the customer, the customer no longer purchases just a computer. They now purchase something that will make life better. As Steve Jobs said, "How do we enrich people's lives?" (The Apple Experience)
2) Enrich lives: This motto led to the idea of a non-commissioned sales floor and "family rooms". (The Apple Experience) It seems to me that this allows the customer looking for a computer for work to come in to a store, spend as much time as necessary with the sales associate to find the perfect fit, and leave with the computer that will work for business, but also provide their children with an educational and fun experience. Customers always feel better when they walk out having purchased something that does more than they need or want it to.
3) Hire for smiles: This concept makes sense in any sales situation. Staffing friendly people who enjoy interacting with the customer is going to be a stronger selling point than the person who is boring but knows a lot about the technical aspects of the product.
4) Celebrate diversity: Along the same lines as the third point, looks don't dictate or tell knowledge. The teacher that asks a lot of questions is just as passionate about their job and the product they are selling as the tattooed and pierced hipster.
5) Unleash inner genius: Nothing is as frustrating as having a computer with a bunch of features and never knowing how to use them. When Apple extends the opportunity for a customer to work one-on-one with an Apple expert to explore the functionality of the computer they just purchased they know they have made the right decision because the people taking their money are extending an opportunity to become extremely knowledgeable about the computer they will be using daily.
6) Empower employees: This helps Apple associates create a wonderful experience for the customer. When the customer is able to make a personal connection with the associate they are working with their overall experience is better and they are thus a more satisfied customer. It also helps the associate to determine what it is exactly that the customer needs out of a product.
7) Sell the benefit: This gets back to the idea of selling an experience and enriching lives. Without knowing what a product's true potential is, the product is worthless. The iPad isn't designed for one user. A parent can use a product for work and hand it to the kids to entertain and educate them as well.
8) Follow the steps of service: A-P-P-L-E makes sense. It seems like this would be a standard approach when selling a product to anyone and for anyone, but by spelling it out (pun intended), Apple has made it clear what they expect from their associates, and what the customer should expect from the associates.
9) Create multisensory experiences: Incorporating as many senses as possible creates a strong bond between the customer and the product they are looking at. Allowing the customer to really use the device will help to define what it is they really need and want from their product.
10) Appeal to the buying brain: Again, this is something that I would hope all firms are doing when establishing a store front. Focus on the product and make sure it is presentable. Hiding the cables, keeping the computers clean, and not putting items on every square inch of horizontal space is an excellent way of drawing attention to the product and not to the store.
Overall I think Apple has used some techniques that aren't new. What they have done is spelled everything out for the associates and the customers so there aren't any questions about what the experience should be like. Ultimately, it's marketing. The products Apple has on the market aren't truly unique, but their marketing is. They have figured out how to create the ultimate buying experience for the customer and have maximized that as a core competency.
It seems that Apple transitioned from the traditional business mentality of selling a product to selling an experience and a way of life. I have broken it down by each point made in the article.
1) Stop selling stuff: By removing the focus from the product and on to the customer, the customer no longer purchases just a computer. They now purchase something that will make life better. As Steve Jobs said, "How do we enrich people's lives?" (The Apple Experience)
2) Enrich lives: This motto led to the idea of a non-commissioned sales floor and "family rooms". (The Apple Experience) It seems to me that this allows the customer looking for a computer for work to come in to a store, spend as much time as necessary with the sales associate to find the perfect fit, and leave with the computer that will work for business, but also provide their children with an educational and fun experience. Customers always feel better when they walk out having purchased something that does more than they need or want it to.
3) Hire for smiles: This concept makes sense in any sales situation. Staffing friendly people who enjoy interacting with the customer is going to be a stronger selling point than the person who is boring but knows a lot about the technical aspects of the product.
4) Celebrate diversity: Along the same lines as the third point, looks don't dictate or tell knowledge. The teacher that asks a lot of questions is just as passionate about their job and the product they are selling as the tattooed and pierced hipster.
5) Unleash inner genius: Nothing is as frustrating as having a computer with a bunch of features and never knowing how to use them. When Apple extends the opportunity for a customer to work one-on-one with an Apple expert to explore the functionality of the computer they just purchased they know they have made the right decision because the people taking their money are extending an opportunity to become extremely knowledgeable about the computer they will be using daily.
6) Empower employees: This helps Apple associates create a wonderful experience for the customer. When the customer is able to make a personal connection with the associate they are working with their overall experience is better and they are thus a more satisfied customer. It also helps the associate to determine what it is exactly that the customer needs out of a product.
7) Sell the benefit: This gets back to the idea of selling an experience and enriching lives. Without knowing what a product's true potential is, the product is worthless. The iPad isn't designed for one user. A parent can use a product for work and hand it to the kids to entertain and educate them as well.
8) Follow the steps of service: A-P-P-L-E makes sense. It seems like this would be a standard approach when selling a product to anyone and for anyone, but by spelling it out (pun intended), Apple has made it clear what they expect from their associates, and what the customer should expect from the associates.
9) Create multisensory experiences: Incorporating as many senses as possible creates a strong bond between the customer and the product they are looking at. Allowing the customer to really use the device will help to define what it is they really need and want from their product.
10) Appeal to the buying brain: Again, this is something that I would hope all firms are doing when establishing a store front. Focus on the product and make sure it is presentable. Hiding the cables, keeping the computers clean, and not putting items on every square inch of horizontal space is an excellent way of drawing attention to the product and not to the store.
Overall I think Apple has used some techniques that aren't new. What they have done is spelled everything out for the associates and the customers so there aren't any questions about what the experience should be like. Ultimately, it's marketing. The products Apple has on the market aren't truly unique, but their marketing is. They have figured out how to create the ultimate buying experience for the customer and have maximized that as a core competency.
Ebay Game Changer
Ebay creator Pierre Omidyar defied skeptics and took the risk in having faith that people are innately good and trustworthy, the faith upon which the entire possibility of Ebay rested. In a time where internet transactions lacked security, Omidyar's faith in humanity laid the foundation for Ebay, but the site relied solely on people's faith in other people--in strangers across the world--that would make the first example of online social networking expand and become a success.
Ebay is still vying on the same tradition of faith in humanity today; however, in the cases where people fail to follow through, Ebay provides the following buyer protection policy:
Ebay has been a game changer for e-commerce such that it provides an bottomless store and endless arrays of options, sellers, buyers, and products from boats to jewelry to collectible knick knacks. In its "Who We Are" section, the most updated statistics are from 2011 which states that there are more than 100 million active users globally and the total value of goods sold per second is greater than $2,100, totaling $68.6 billion sold in the year of 2011.
Ebay is contantly expanding and aquiring new companies, its most recent among the team of PayPal, Shopping.com, StubHub, and Bill Me Later as of 2011 being GSI Commerce. Their markets expanded from individual sellers and buyers to including small companies, to including larger companies, and even to having designer markets.
Ebay is considered as the first example of online social networking as well, firmly establishing that fact such that when three years after it's launch in 1998 it introduced a personalized network account, "My Ebay." Thus personal profiles developed with personalized shopping relativity and relevancy towards previous searches, purchases, and interests. Mobility also increased as Ebay further expanded and PayPal devised a mobile application for customers to send money via their phones.
In 2000 Ebay became the number one in e-commerce, and it has held its position firmly ever since.
Ebay is still vying on the same tradition of faith in humanity today; however, in the cases where people fail to follow through, Ebay provides the following buyer protection policy:
Ebay has been a game changer for e-commerce such that it provides an bottomless store and endless arrays of options, sellers, buyers, and products from boats to jewelry to collectible knick knacks. In its "Who We Are" section, the most updated statistics are from 2011 which states that there are more than 100 million active users globally and the total value of goods sold per second is greater than $2,100, totaling $68.6 billion sold in the year of 2011.
Ebay is contantly expanding and aquiring new companies, its most recent among the team of PayPal, Shopping.com, StubHub, and Bill Me Later as of 2011 being GSI Commerce. Their markets expanded from individual sellers and buyers to including small companies, to including larger companies, and even to having designer markets.
Ebay is considered as the first example of online social networking as well, firmly establishing that fact such that when three years after it's launch in 1998 it introduced a personalized network account, "My Ebay." Thus personal profiles developed with personalized shopping relativity and relevancy towards previous searches, purchases, and interests. Mobility also increased as Ebay further expanded and PayPal devised a mobile application for customers to send money via their phones.
In 2000 Ebay became the number one in e-commerce, and it has held its position firmly ever since.
Who Watches Videos About Coffee?
Well, as it turns out, not too many people have been scouring the Internet for Tully's latest and greatest video content. I don't imagine video content would be a crucial element of Tully's social media presence or marketing plan. That being said, they could easily improve their efforts in the realm of video.
The first thing that popped into my head when I thought of Tully's videos was the potential to post a YouTube video that describes and shows the process of "how coffee is made". These types of videos are very popular. Additionally, this project would give Tully's a means by which to differentiate themselves from other coffee connoisseurs and roasters.
Here's an example of "How its made-Coffee":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYsWECLaakI
YouTube also provides a powerful platform for customer interaction. Not only can they watch the videos, but they can ask related questions, leave comments, and even share or embed the video elsewhere on the Internet. So, if Tully's is really serious about their social media campaign then they should reevaluate the importance and potential that video content holds. If they discover value in this strategy then I would suggest that they improve their YouTube presence by offering more interesting and relevant content on a dedicated channel.
The first thing that popped into my head when I thought of Tully's videos was the potential to post a YouTube video that describes and shows the process of "how coffee is made". These types of videos are very popular. Additionally, this project would give Tully's a means by which to differentiate themselves from other coffee connoisseurs and roasters.
Here's an example of "How its made-Coffee":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYsWECLaakI
YouTube also provides a powerful platform for customer interaction. Not only can they watch the videos, but they can ask related questions, leave comments, and even share or embed the video elsewhere on the Internet. So, if Tully's is really serious about their social media campaign then they should reevaluate the importance and potential that video content holds. If they discover value in this strategy then I would suggest that they improve their YouTube presence by offering more interesting and relevant content on a dedicated channel.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Seattle Aquarium Video Usage
Facebook
On the Seattle
Aquarium’s Facebook page, there are 21 videos. Of the 21 there 18 videos of
marine animals swimming or playing which leaves 3 videos that have actual
people in them that are educational. Though
the Seattle Aquarium should have a lot of marine animal videos, they should also
have videos that explain the workings or the aquarium or from the biologists. The
Seattle Aquarium could also host a video contest for a prize of tickets to the aquarium.
This would attract more people to the page and get followers involved.
YouTube
Seattle Aquarium joined
YouTube in July of 2009. In the last three years, they have attracted only 202
followers and posted only 37 videos. Their last video was uploaded five days
ago and is titled “How to teach a harbor seal to jump in the water.” This is a
good us of the most searched phrase “how to” and the Seattle Aquarium is
starting to post videos more often. Their small following is a hindrance
though. After being a member for three years they should have more of a
following. I suggest the Aquarium post links to their YouTube page on their
other social media sites and host a video contest as stated above.
Website
The use of video on
the Seattle Aquarium website is non-existent. After searching every link, I
could not find one video. This is troubling since people want to be
entertained. If the Aquarium was to include video on its pages, guests would
spend more time on the website. This could also increase traffic to their YouTube
page. If someone found a video they liked, they could then follow it to the YouTube
page where they can watch more interesting videos and follow the aquarium.
Bottom line: the website NEEDS video.
Apple: the game changer
Apple Inc. is one of the most influential American computer and media player corporations. With more than 30 years of corporate history in producing home and educational computers, today Apple Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of personal computers. More than just a computer company, Apple is also a leader in portable digital media players and smartphones. The famous products offered include operating system, application software, iPhone, iPad and iPods. The success of their innovated products has helped strengthen the company's brand image and consolidate its market position.
The reason why I think Apple is a game changer is because Apple not only produce great products, it also promotes them with great commercials that featuring the excellent function of the products . For example, when Apple first released iPhone 4, there were three very touching commercials that were featuring Facetime.
The first video “Meet Her” is about a son showing his father his new born baby girl through FaceTime.
The second video “Smile” is about a father trying to make his daughter Shannon smile through FaceTime.
The third video “Big News” is about the marry couple talking through FaceTime, and the wife told her husband that he is going to be a dad.
I found these commercials successful since they depicted loving interactions that make different from the old-fashioned voice call.
Also, when Apple released iPhone 4S, they also promoted it with interesting commercials that featuring Siri.
Apple has already had a lot of success with their products and promotions. However, Apple got a large number of competitors, especially from Wintel (Windows Intel) family create a red ocean for Apple. These competitors offer similar product to apple with only little different in features, brand and design. Several Apple competitors are IBM, HP, Microsoft, Sony, Toshiba, etc. Therefore, I am quite interested in their future plans in this competitive market.
The reason why I think Apple is a game changer is because Apple not only produce great products, it also promotes them with great commercials that featuring the excellent function of the products . For example, when Apple first released iPhone 4, there were three very touching commercials that were featuring Facetime.
The first video “Meet Her” is about a son showing his father his new born baby girl through FaceTime.
The second video “Smile” is about a father trying to make his daughter Shannon smile through FaceTime.
The third video “Big News” is about the marry couple talking through FaceTime, and the wife told her husband that he is going to be a dad.
I found these commercials successful since they depicted loving interactions that make different from the old-fashioned voice call.
Also, when Apple released iPhone 4S, they also promoted it with interesting commercials that featuring Siri.
Apple has already had a lot of success with their products and promotions. However, Apple got a large number of competitors, especially from Wintel (Windows Intel) family create a red ocean for Apple. These competitors offer similar product to apple with only little different in features, brand and design. Several Apple competitors are IBM, HP, Microsoft, Sony, Toshiba, etc. Therefore, I am quite interested in their future plans in this competitive market.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Apple as a game changer
Apple Inc. is a multinational corporation that creates consumer electronics, computer software, and commercial servers. Its core product lines are iPhone, iPad, iPod music player and Macintosh computer line-up. Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The very first Apple product was Apple I, which was a computer. As the company developed, there are more and more new and high tech products.
The reason that i think Apple is a game changer is because Apple products are now everywhere. It changed people's living style. 8 out of 10 of my friends are using iPhone. Almost all of my friends have at least one Apple product, such as iPhone, iPad or iPod. More and more people are becoming Apple fan/freak. They have to use Apple products. Nowadays, you can see people all holding an iPhone and doing the sliding action everywhere, on the dinning table, on the bus or even in the class. The age that kids start to use electronic products are getting younger and younger. It is pretty common to see a 2 years old kid sliding his/her finger on an iPad/iPhone.
As of 2011, Apple is one of the largest technology firm in the world, with the annual revenues of more than $60 billion. There are a lot of reasons why Apple can attract so many customers. Apple provide customers with the newest style of its products which is not in the market yet. Also, Apple products are convenient and user friendly which customers can get used to very quick. In addition, in its stores, there are always many assistances ready to help you. Last but not least, Apple knows how to promote its products and that's why there are always so many customers waiting outside of the stores for hours just for Apple's new released products.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Google a company immortalized.
" Let me Google this," "How about you Google that?" - Accept it, you have said one of those sentences before; Google has as a company changed everyone's life so much, that we use their name as a legitimate word. It was added to the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary back in 2006, but it was being used in daily context even before being immortalized in the English language. How did Google achieve this?
Everyone knows that Google came to life through Larry Page and Sergey Brin, it started as project "BackRub" and from then on further developed to the Google website and search engine as we know today. In my opinion, the algorithm that Page and Brin invented and perfected in later years was the primary force in making the company. It was so good, other search engines, such as AOL.com, Yahoo and etc. paled in comparison. People started using Google more because it gave them the more relevant results, not just a bunch of websites that lists the words that they were looking for. In 2003, Google had its IPO and started to grow even bigger while accepting projects that are supposed to immortalize them once again.
Google has thorough the years introduced a lot of projects that could change the way we do thing, however, it also has its fair share of failed, discontinued or "on the edge of oblivion" projects. The newest one with the most buzz is Project Glass (more info in Kate Reye's post), it is supposed to revolutionize the way technology interacts with us on a daily basis. Before that, Google came up with the Android OS, a mobile computing platform that could compete with the Apple iOS. On the other hand, Google has a considerable number of projects that did not work out as they imagined, one of the most recent things, is Google+ and GoogleWave; both were supposed to be changing the way we do social media, communicate and collaborate; fast forward to to day, GoogleWave is going to be cancelled on April 30th while Google+ is a wasteland. This makes me question the Project Glass, is it just another project destined to fail or is it going to change our lives again like Google already did once?
Everyone knows that Google came to life through Larry Page and Sergey Brin, it started as project "BackRub" and from then on further developed to the Google website and search engine as we know today. In my opinion, the algorithm that Page and Brin invented and perfected in later years was the primary force in making the company. It was so good, other search engines, such as AOL.com, Yahoo and etc. paled in comparison. People started using Google more because it gave them the more relevant results, not just a bunch of websites that lists the words that they were looking for. In 2003, Google had its IPO and started to grow even bigger while accepting projects that are supposed to immortalize them once again.
Google has thorough the years introduced a lot of projects that could change the way we do thing, however, it also has its fair share of failed, discontinued or "on the edge of oblivion" projects. The newest one with the most buzz is Project Glass (more info in Kate Reye's post), it is supposed to revolutionize the way technology interacts with us on a daily basis. Before that, Google came up with the Android OS, a mobile computing platform that could compete with the Apple iOS. On the other hand, Google has a considerable number of projects that did not work out as they imagined, one of the most recent things, is Google+ and GoogleWave; both were supposed to be changing the way we do social media, communicate and collaborate; fast forward to to day, GoogleWave is going to be cancelled on April 30th while Google+ is a wasteland. This makes me question the Project Glass, is it just another project destined to fail or is it going to change our lives again like Google already did once?
Facebook's Influence on the Internet
Facebook has become a major influence on the internet. It is often the first page people check when they get online, even before their email. I have also seen statistics that show a certain amount of people who check Facebook on their phone before getting out of bed in the morning. What has made Facebook so addictive? And how did it completely beat out competitions such as Myspace?
Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, first developed a site called Facemash which compared "hotness" between female Harvard students that he and his friends knew. It grew very popular over a span of a few hours. Different ideas then flew around for "The Facebook." Zuckerberg then created the site with similar ideas from Facemash in mind. He realized that most college students visit sites like these because they are interested in dating whoever they are looking up. He created a detailed "about me" section that included relationship status and what they were looking for.
I believe this personal edge is what gave Facebook more success than Myspace in the end. Zuckerberg seemed to really understand what his consumer was looking for. He also continually made updates and put a priority on the websites functionality. He knew people quickly lost interest and had extremely short attention span, so he needed to keep Facebook alive and interesting because otherwise, another website might steal them away. Maintaining constant interest through updates and focusing on the consumer's needs of staying connected to their friends and potential date interests has allowed Facebook to be a successful "Game Changer" in the online world.
Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, first developed a site called Facemash which compared "hotness" between female Harvard students that he and his friends knew. It grew very popular over a span of a few hours. Different ideas then flew around for "The Facebook." Zuckerberg then created the site with similar ideas from Facemash in mind. He realized that most college students visit sites like these because they are interested in dating whoever they are looking up. He created a detailed "about me" section that included relationship status and what they were looking for.
I believe this personal edge is what gave Facebook more success than Myspace in the end. Zuckerberg seemed to really understand what his consumer was looking for. He also continually made updates and put a priority on the websites functionality. He knew people quickly lost interest and had extremely short attention span, so he needed to keep Facebook alive and interesting because otherwise, another website might steal them away. Maintaining constant interest through updates and focusing on the consumer's needs of staying connected to their friends and potential date interests has allowed Facebook to be a successful "Game Changer" in the online world.
Facebook as a Game Changer
My 3 Reason why Facebook is a Game Changer
1. They are always evolving
Facebook is always innovating and
reinventing. Whether it’s introducing timeline or Facebook chat they never stop
thinking of the next thing. This keeps their brand relevant and interesting.
There is element of magic that Facebook has. They have connected the world in a
way that is undeniable.
2. They have a vision
They weren’t necessarily the first but they
were the best at executing and sustaining the Facebook brand and services.
MySpace lasted for a split second compared to the ongoing success Facebook has
experienced. This is because after their worldwide success they remained
focused on improving the experience of connecting people. The was in which they
have integrated their service into so many aspect of everyone’s lives to make
it easier and more enjoyable to connect with our friends.
3. They didn't sell out
Facebook understands their audience
because they are their audience. Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, built something he
and all of his friends would use and love. And because of this, he has remained
in control of the company he created and has not sold it to the highest bidder.
This has made the Facebook experience consistent for their users as many of the
Facebook features have changed.
eBay...a game changer
eBay was founded in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar. Omidyar spent an entire Labor Day weekend writing code for the website on his home computer. At the time, it was called AuctionWeb. In 1997 the AuctionWeb brand officially retired. At that time eBay hosted more than 200,000 individual auctions per month, compared to 250,000 auctions in the entire year of 1996.
eBay has acquired many companies in its lifetime. One of the largest is PayPal which was acquired by eBay in 2002. In 2007, eBay had 85.3 million global active users while PayPal had 57.3 million global active registered accounts. In 2010 that number for eBay has grown to 94.5 million, and for PayPal it has grown to 94.4 million.
Companies such as Amazon also have a large e-commerce presence; however they operate differently. They don’t provide bidding options for buyers and sellers. The concept of bidding on an item is quite unique especially in a worldwide online marketplace. eBay provides buyers with the ability to bid on items and sellers with the ability to put items up for bids; at the same time it provides buyers and sellers with options such as “Buy it Now”, where buyers can purchase the item for a set price, and sellers can set the price of the item at what they think is fair. eBay is a game changer because it has revolutionized the concept of e-commerce. It has truly grasped the concept of selling online worldwide.
Works Cited:
History - eBay Inc. (1995-2012). Retrieved April 18, 2012, from eBay Inc.: http://www.ebayinc.com/history
Image of eBay's logo retrieved by doing an "Advanced" Google Image Search, and selecting "free to use or share" in the "usage rights" section.
"Google it!"
Beside being so successful in the search engine field, Google also has its name on one of the strongest competitors for iPhone with Android operation system and Google phone targeting young and creative users. Going along with the growing Android market, Android applications are going wild. Users now can shop for apps on their phone, and as well on their web browser (Google Chrome). Furthermore, users now can even play their favorite app games on their browser (Google Chrome).
There is so many good things to say about Google; however, there are also things that Google has been doing that do not please the users. The question here is how many users really know what Google is doing? I'd love to talk about this, but focusing on why Google is a big game changer is today's discussion so I'll wait.
To cap up this blog post, here is a few videos to share with everyone:
Project Glass
Citation:
"Google." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google>.
Amazon.com's Game Changing Company Culture
Amazon is a customer centric company.
Most everyone from Seattle is familir with the Amazon company, but do they know how they changed the face of business? What makes Amazon.com a game changer is the fact that they were among the first to fulfill the dream to have their clients and users have the ability to discover whatever it is they are looking for online (with the exception of illegal goods and services).
Amazon.com is knownas a pioneer in online retailing, but many do not know that they got their start in the online book-retail sector. Now almost anything you can legally buy in a store you can buy on Amazon.com. Further, the new software that Amazon has integrated allows users to simply click-to-buy. This feature is available because users that choose to implement this feature enteir their personal bank information and it is saved securely to amazons servers, so that later when visiting and logging in bank information is not needd to be netered again. That does not mean you can't choose where you want to have your package delivered and other popular options for recieving the product.
Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon. He has acted as a catalyst for change in the Amazon company, and is recognized as one of the major reasons that the company culture at amazon is the way it is.
From Laura Schneider, former About.com Guide, on Amazon.com's company culture:
[Customer Obsession: We start with the customer and work backwards.
Innovation: If you don't listen to your customers you will fail. But if you only listen to your customers you will also fail.
Bias for Action: We live in a time of unheralded revolution and insurmountable opportunity--provided we make every minute count.
Ownership: Ownership matters when you're building a great company. Owners think long-term, plead passionately for their projects and ideas, and are empowered to respectfully challenge decisions.
High Hiring Bar: When making a hiring decision we ask ourselves: "Will I admire this person? Will I learn from this person? Is this person a superstar?"
Frugality: We spend money on things that really matter and believe that frugality breeds resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention!]
Innovation: If you don't listen to your customers you will fail. But if you only listen to your customers you will also fail.
Bias for Action: We live in a time of unheralded revolution and insurmountable opportunity--provided we make every minute count.
Ownership: Ownership matters when you're building a great company. Owners think long-term, plead passionately for their projects and ideas, and are empowered to respectfully challenge decisions.
High Hiring Bar: When making a hiring decision we ask ourselves: "Will I admire this person? Will I learn from this person? Is this person a superstar?"
Frugality: We spend money on things that really matter and believe that frugality breeds resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention!]
Bibliography
Laura Schneider, former About.com Guide. (n.d.). Amazon.com Company Research. Retrieved from About.com Tech Careers: http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/companyprofiles/a/Amazon.htm
Stone, B. (September 28, 2011, 9:35 AM EDT). Technology. Retrieved from Bloomberg Businessweek:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/the-omnivore-09282011.html
Ten Products and Companies that Changed the Business World. (n.d.). Retrieved 2012, from CNBC: http://www.cnbc.com/id/42820902/10_Products_and_Companies_That_Changed_the_Business_World
From Reference: [Amazon.com
It started as just an online bookstore, but as Amazon has grown, it has proven a threat to the entire retail spectrum. By not having to worry about rent prices, the company can offer lower prices and remain extraordinarily profitable. Even retail king Wal-Mart has felt the heat, launching a series of price wars beginning in 2009 (especially during the holidays) and becoming much more competitive in the online space.]
From Reference: [Amazon.com
It started as just an online bookstore, but as Amazon has grown, it has proven a threat to the entire retail spectrum. By not having to worry about rent prices, the company can offer lower prices and remain extraordinarily profitable. Even retail king Wal-Mart has felt the heat, launching a series of price wars beginning in 2009 (especially during the holidays) and becoming much more competitive in the online space.]
Amazon.com: the Game Changer
I believe that
Amazon.com is the company which bring us value. They usually have the cheapest price on items, and even ship
the items to us for free sometimes if we are Amazon Prime Member, which means
that we do not have to spend some money on gas or bus fare to actually get
shops. Who does not choose cheaper
choice? The answer is who do not
have access to Internet and Amish people I believe.
CEO, Jeff Bezos,
knew that online customers could search around which companies have the
cheapest price on items, and what kind of items online customers buy without
seeing and touching items, such as DVDs, Books, and so on. He is always wearing customers’
shoes. Creating eBook market with
kindle series before apple launched iPad and iBook was just amazing success. Amazon.com
is always customer friendly and seeks to carry value to customers. Books take lots of space in our houses,
and it simply too heavy to carry around. Now, eBook Market is dynamically
growing. According to the Association of American Publishers, eBooks sales
grew 193% between January and August 2010, which means January to
August were up from $89.8 million in 2009 to $263 million in 2010 in dollar
terms. Moreover, over the three months prior to October in 2010, Amazon had
sold 143 Kindle books for every 100 hardcover books.
Some book lovers still want to have actual
hardcover, but I believe that customers will prefer the best value all the
time in this free market. If it is cheaper choice, enviromental friendly, and
easy to carry around, who does not choose eBooks? The answer is who do want to work out by carrying heavy books
and Amish people I believe.
MacManus, R. (2010, December 24). Top
trends of 2010: Growth ofebooks & ereaders. Retrieved from
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/ebooks_ereaders_top_trends_2010.php
The Controversy of Facebook
Facebook has become a phenomenon in the world.
Since it was first appearance in 2003, formerly known as the 'Facemash', it has
become a controversy. 'Facemash' was originally a blog created by Mark to let
the students of Harvard compared 2 people side-by-side and choose who is
'hotter'. Few days after the launch of the Facemash, the website was closed by
the university because the illegal action that did by Mark to establish this
website. (For more information, you can read the 'History of Facebook or watch
the movie The Social Network).
Later, Mark decided to upgrade the website and
make it into what is known now as Facebook. Facebook become worldwide used by
the people. Originally, what is intended for a school blog, Facebook has become
a social network that is widely used. People use Facebook not just for fun
anymore, but also to get connected to people they know all over the world.
There are so changes that Facebook has brought into our social life. You could
find the latest news/hits/ads, you could earn money through it, companies do
their marketing product and you could even find your long lost relatives from
Facebook.
However, not all country shows support toward
Facebook. China, for example, has censored Facebook due to political issues.
Not only Facebook, China has censored couple social media network as well, for
example Twitter, YouTube and also Wikipedia.
The Revolutionary of Apple Company
As everyone knows, Apple has grown rapidly and has gained
its popularity for the last ten years. The first Apple’s product that I had was
iPod. I bought this iPod in 2003 and I thought it was the coolest portable music
player at that time. After few years Apple launched iPod in 2001 or 2002, Apple
launched variety-interesting products, such as iPhone and MacBook. With the
greatest tablet has ever made by Apple, iPad just flew off the selves like
crazy.
Steve Jobs is the main reason for Apple’s success. He is one
of the greatest, the most creative, and innovative person that succeeded in
making Apple to be a gigantic company. Every year, Apple designs and launches
products that were even better than before. Steve Jobs was the one who planned
the idea of adding a slightly significant service to current product and
promoting it as a new evolution, such as iPhone 4s. With the additional feature
of voice detection, Apple succeeded in causing people agreed to change their phone
from iPhone 4 into iPhone 4s. As Apple
fans get new product on their hand, I imagine, they probably get the feeling
that they are reborn into a better life. The ideas of being simple and
efficient are the keys of Apple products, which have brought Apple to be the
role model for other software and hardware companies, include Samsung’s Galaxy
Tab, Google’s Android, etc.
The majority of the companies have their special sales team
who will get commission through the products that they have sold, and thus,
bringing them to adopt push promotional strategy. However, Apple pursues
different system, which then has become Apple’s differentiating value over its
competitors. Apple employees are trained not to insist customer to buy their
products. Therefore, they will not get commission from it. Instead, Apple
employees use pull strategy by showing to their prospective consumers how great
Apple products is. I witness myself on how Apple employees approach its
customers. The customers can try the products in the store by themselves and
also any Apple’s employee will assist them personally if they are confused.
They will give a detail explanation on how creative and innovative Apple
products are. This promotional strategy will give a better environment for customers
to enjoy their shopping experience and for employees to have no burden in insisting
customers.
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