The Web Uncovered

A new technology that could change information distribution is gaining some serious recognition.  Developed by a small team of University of Chicago business students, Bump Technologies has created a Iphone aplication called “Bump,” which exchanges basic contact information instantly, when the two Apple devices “bump” into eachother.  Currently, it only works between two Iphones or Ipod Touch’s that have the application.  However, by creating a standard and implementing it, it could be revolutionary to mobile devices.

The Takeaway: While for now this a great tool for networking, this technology could be developed to bump larger pieces of information, and also create a seamless cross-platform standard to remotely exchange information.  Imagine I could bump my Ipod into your Blackberry, and then within 15 seconds you have a copy of my favorite Bob Marley track.  There is a lot of potential to take this technology and run with it.

A phenomenal achievement by Social Media experts Brian Solis and Jesse Thomas, The Conversation Prism (V2.0 recently released) is a visual representation of the various categories and associated websites that make up the Social Media landscape. By their own admission, the creators recognize that the constatant evolution of online conversations and communities makes this a snapshot at best. Far be it for any one of us, expert or not, to define social media in such specific terms. However, we should be so lucky that Solis and Thomas have made such an attempt! A clear and crisp image of of the Conversation Prism and it’s many details is difficult to come by online. However it should be noted that a full size 18″x24″ poster is available for purchase at www.theconversationprism.com. (Click to view V1.0 | V2.0)

Thanks to a recent blog post by Andy Beal, We can find the MarketingProfs survey of Twitter users.  What did they find?

Twitter users were asked to rate the reasons why they participate, on a scale from 1 to 5 (with 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree):

• “I find it exciting to learn new things from people”: Average score 4.65
• “I value getting information in a timely manner”: Average score 4.58
• “I like to be connected to lots of people”: Average score 3.91
• “I want to generate new business”: Average score 3.70
• “I find it gratifying to have people follow me”: Average score 3.64

The Takeaway:  Twitter users care more about being heard than listening.  if you are using Twitter as a marketing tool, then you must generate frequent, targetted content that will truly gain the interest of followers after you have enticed them to  follow you.

On our weekly Tuesday radio program, Rick Rovigno and the group discussed Linked In and the possibilities for building an effective professional network. Last week’s discussion revolved around the basic functionality, building a profile, and various applications like blogging and recommendations. This week, we discuss 10 rules of etiquette to excercise on Linked In…that will help you gain an advantage when it comes to finding a job and making a great impression within your network and the Linked In community. Have a listen…

When you are hiring a techie to develop your website or another online marketing tool on your behalf, they have a tendency to use a lot of jargon that will make very little sense without a background in computer science (or Star Trek).  One of the first of these terms that you will hear often is “RSS Feeds.”  

No, they are not photon generators from the Klingons.  An RSS Feed (Really Simple Syndication), is format used to publish frequently updated works – such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video.  Blogs, online publications, and status updates from social networks generally all have RSS Feeds.  Where do these feeds go?  That depends on where you want them to go.

Feeds can be used in an aggregator to show several feeds in one location.  Sounds technical, but it really is simple.  For instance, you can make your homepage an aggregator of three sources:  your best friend’s blog, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal.  In this regard, RSS Feeds are a time saver, as you can get up-to-the-minute updates in one place rather than three (or 20).  

But RSS Feeds can also be utilized as a tool for your online marketing campaign.  For instance, you can have your company blog automatically update your Facebook Notes, Your Twitter status, and even have an aggregator on your homepage of your website, so viewers can see new content, making your online presence consistently fresh.  Setting up an RSS has become increasingly easy, up to the point where now many aggregators and social networks accept RSS  in the form of a URL (web address).

The Takeaway:

Not only can RSS Feeds save you time as an information consumer, but they can increase your reach as a content provider online.  By posting content in places that contain RSS feeds, you can invite your target audience to subscribe to your content updates.  Furthermore, you can utilize RSS feeds to update your content across platforms, such as blogs, social networks, and more.