Feb
10

Google Buzz and Non-Twitter Users

As I reported in earlier blog posts, Generation Y consumers are not using social media sites as much as would be expected. This is because they are not huge content creators, but they do enjoy sharing information via the Internet. This provides the perfect opportunity for Google Buzz to capitalize on this market.

About 5.7 million people have Gmail accounts. Since Google Buzz allows current Gmail users to use Buzz right from their inbox, there is no sign-up necessary. This would make it very easy for a Gmail user to investigate and start using Buzz. Many Gen Y consumers are skeptical of the uses of Twitter, calling it ‘stupid’ or not knowing its true value. However, those who use Gmail are loyal to Google’s products, and would therefore be more likely to start using Buzz.

Buzz also gives users more sharing capabilities than Twitter, Facebook, and other major social media sites. It also seems to integrate many sharing tools that have not yet been combined. Users can share pictures and videos right from their desktop into the conversation without logging onto Facebook photo, Flickr, or TwitPics. I predict that those who do not use Twitter will quickly adopt Google Buzz as their social outlet, and I foresee some Twitter users converting to Buzz, or at least joining it as well. Is Google going to change the social media realm? It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

It will be interesting to see how Facebook and Twitter react to Google’s new and integrated social aspect. Already, Facebook redesigned their layout to make social search at the top and most prominent. How will Twitter react to its new rival?

Jan
19

Web 2.0 Tools I Use

In the past few months I have been involved with and learning about many different web 2.0 tools and ways to manage them. For those of you new to the social media world, check these sites out:

Facebook
Originally started for college students, but now anyone can join. A great place to keep in touch with both old and current friends. I visit this several times a day.

Twitter

A newer site that allows you to connect with others in a more public way than Facebook. You can ‘follow’ companies, music artists, co-workers, friends, and more. This is a great information sharing site as well. I read many blog posts that are ‘tweeted’ about on Twitter daily.

LinkedIn

This site originally started off for business professionals but now college students and businesses have joined. Great networking opportunities abound here and you can join groups to connect with others in the same industry or with your same interests.

Flickr

A site that allows you to post, save, and share pictures and make albums.

RSS

I store all my RSS feed articles on Google Reader. This makes the process of sorting through articles and blogs I like much easier since they are all stored on one site.

WordPress

A great blogging device that has many more capabilities than any other blogging sites out there. It is also able to be hosted on a personal domain name, as I have done.

Foursquare

An application that allows you to ‘check in’ at a place (i.e. restaurant, bar, hotel, movie theatre, etc.) and post where you are right from your phone. Foursquare has most places in major areas in its directory and recognizes nearby locations for you to select from.

Bookmarks, Site Integrations, Etc.

Delicious

Awesome social bookmarking site. Most sites have an option for you to save the URL to delicious. Delicious can be added right into your toolbar for ease of use.

Tumblr

Links to your Twitter account, blogs, etc. all in one site. The results are searchable through Google.

Bluebird

An application that you download right to your desktop allows you to keep track of your Twitter activity in real time on your desktop.

iPhone Applications:

I love my iPhone because it allows me to put all of my online social media sites on my phone as well if I ever need to check up on statues or update my own. I currently have the following iPhone applications:

Facebook
TweetDeck
TwitPic
LinkedIn
WordPress
AIM
Broadcaster (lets you take and upload videos right from your phone to the internet with ease)
Bing
Foursquare

Web 2.0 Must-Read Articles:

In order to keep up with the newest trends in Web 2.0 technologies, I visit the following sites for all my up-to-date information:

Mashable

TechCrunch

ReadWriteWeb

Netvibes

American Marketing Association

Jan
08

Information Overload for Generation Y!

Generation Y consumers are said to be the most technologically advanced and informed of all the generation segments today. This can be a good and bad thing for companies and marketers. Most of my friends and I have smart phones, laptops, iPods, Facebook accounts, cameras, and much more. We have almost TOO much technology at our hands, so we do not always know how to process all of the information. In addition to having all of these products, we are then bombarded by new products/ad/services, etc to add onto our already overloaded set of technologies.

Ads come to my phone (through Twitter text messages, ads on my iPhone apps, and other random advertising messages). They also are all over the internet, no matter what site I am visiting. We are constantly being targeted by Apple, if we already have one of their products, to get more accessories, or the most updated version of their products. Then, when we go to socialize with our friends online on Facebook, we get notifications from them about their new applications and there are also side ads on every page.

So, how do we filter all of this information? We ignore it! I personally just tune out all ads I see when i am overloaded with information, or not in the mood to investigate a new products or service. However, I find Twitter is a great way to reach Generation Y consumers in an intrusive yet acceptable way.

Twitter allows consumers to come to them, which is a great example of pull marketing. If a consumer wants to follow a specific company or person, they can. This means they agree to receive the messages, links, videos etc. that they post, and can decide whether or not they will read or watch what is posted. I personally follow a lot of businesses that I shop at, Dunkin’ Donuts in particular. I am interested to see what they are up to, and occasionally click on the links that they post to learn more.

I believe that Twitter is a great solution to the information overload that Generation Y is experiencing. However, there is a set back. The more people or companies that a person follows, the more information and posts they will receive every day. Twitter users do have the ability to create lists and ‘unfollow’ someone, so they can control the amount of information they are given.

If you can’t tell by now, I am a huge believer in what Twitter does. At first I was a skeptic, but after being on it for many months and interacting with several people and businesses, I have concluded that it is the perfect solution for this generation’s issue. Now all Twitter has to do is get more of these consumers to create accounts since hardly anyone I know even knows the purpose of Twitter, nor is even considering creating an account.

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