Google’s Contribution to Social Networks

November 2nd, 2011
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Google+, remember that? It’s still there you know, although you are statistically less likely to know it if you’re a) not male or b) not a geek. It seems mad to suggest that with over 20m users the platform is not considered a popular social network, but with Facebook’s active users amounting to 800m and counting only a deluded Googler would dare declare Google + a contender for the world’s most popular social networking site..

What I’d like to suggest though is that Google has contributed hugely to our social experience, even those of you who aren’t aware of Google+.

Something Borrowed and Something New

Quite simply for every intelligent Google + feature that seems to get good feedback from the community Facebook has rolled out something similar.

So Google has circles to allow users to decide what information they see and where it’s inherently an intelligent privacy model too. To match this Facebook rolled out various features including a Subscribe button allows you to mute certain friends without them knowing (just as putting them in a ‘ignore’ circle on Google+) . Smart lists were introduced allowing a user to see a specific subset of their friends, typical circles on Google+ have been ‘friends’, ‘co-workers’, ‘In the neighbourhood’ and ‘College friends’ and these same subsets are the default smart lists on the new Facebook profile. Importantly the privacy model has changed. Privacy settings are now inline with each post allowing you to modify exactly who you share each post with- you’ll never guess where else this exists.  Google +? Yes. The company made privacy a fundamental cornerstone of its product ( I blogged about it here), I’m delighted that Facebook reacted.

Another feature to have been borrowed is improved image settings. Given how huge sharing photos is to the community (not least to brands) it was about time the presentation received a little attention. Images are larger and displayed at a higher resolution, mimicking Google+’s brilliant work on the photo front. Alongside geeks, Google+ is beloved by the photography community.

Facebook’s blog details each feature in an insightful blog, although there’s no mention of where the inspiration lies.

Adapt and Evolve

What I hope is that Facebook continues to borrow and consequently offer an improved service. How else can they progress if there isn’t a competitor? The impending timeline switch is coming soon and once the hubbub dies down it will be a welcome feature that allows users (and eventually brands) to tell a more complete story.

The latest Google+ feature is the creative kit which allows users to apply filters to their images and ‘auto-fix’ them. With the popularity of Instagram, Hipstomatic and the new Flickr app it can’t be too far away, it’s my bet it will be introduced by Christmas.

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Is it the end of the World as we know it?

July 14th, 2011
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 So, in the face of a united House of Commons, Rupert Murdoch drops his bid to take over BSkyB.

The leading news mogul has been in the constant media spotlight since he landed in the UK on Sunday, for all the wrong reasons – and what a fortnight it has been for the news makers themselves.

News Corporation’s press comment that the BSkyB deal was too difficult to undertake in such circumstances was an understatement to say the least. And now, there is the possibility that Murdoch will withdraw more papers from the UK – something that was unthinkable just two weeks ago.

Alleged hacking of the phones of the parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and the friends murdered in Soham, as well as, apparently, families of those killed in the terrorist attacks in London by investigators working for the News of the World have made News International one of the most despised brands in the country in a huge crisis of trust.

Murdoch has been bidding to acquire 100% of BSkyB, a very successful media business -  indeed one that would have been a business opportunity of a lifetime – and this failed bid translates to potential disaster across the pond, where there are more allegations that families of the 9/11 disaster also had their phones hacked.

And the speed at which the News of the World closed down and rolled its last presses on Sunday, was down in no small part to the power of social media.

When the news broke, thousands of people tweeted their disgust and disappointment that ‘real’ people were being targeted in such a way – and almost immediately national brands, feeling the force of that public revolt, pulled out of advertising with News of the World in their droves.

  • Websites linked directly to pre-written tweets so that twitter users could select a brand to target and tweet the question ‘are you going to continue to support News of the World in the light of these allegations’.
  • Links to an online petition at Avaaz.org, the campaigning community, spread like wildfire across twitter, and quickly amassed over 80,000 signatures
  • prolific tweeter John Prescott lent his support to the campaign too.
  • The sheer volume of tweets dwarfed anything we’ve seen on twitter before.

Here at Democracy we saw first hand with some of the brands that we represent how quickly companies needed to act in the light of pubic outrage – and they too swiftly withdrew their advertising from the News of the World website.

All this left Murdoch with no choice – shut down the paper – and who knows, possibly more will fold. But whatever happens, this is certainly not the last we have heard of this media mogul.

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Gawping at Google

December 13th, 2010
Google Blog image

Google is the search engine of choice for most internet users, here’s a quick rundown of top searches in 2010.

Unsurprisingly Social Media behemoth Facebook was crowned as ‘the most searched term’ with such a huge amount of users searching for the site and of course new users looking to sign up, the top search item was written a long time ago.

The BBC’s news gathering credentials are undisputed, but perhaps the reason that the BBC has managed second place in this list might have everything to do with its Iplayer service streaming content to almost every computer in the country.

YouTube grows and grows, now with 2 billion videos streamed every day, it would be a huge surprise to see it usurped as the world’s leading video-hosting site. Hotmail too features prominently on the site and continues to evolve, now with Active View and Office docs its popularity remains strong.

In the midst of economic gloom a bidding site is assured of a top-five placing on this list, and with Ebay a well-established leader in the field it rightly assumes its place

It’s funny that Google makes it into its own list of search results, remembering that this a list of Google search results! Maybe Chrome users don’t realise their URL bar is also a default google search bar?  It’s unlikely though that web users are navigating to a Google search engine to search for Google’s search engine, but rather it’s a lazy search made by people looking for one of Google’s products; Documents, Android OS , Nexus phones, tablets, netbooks, maps, streetview (it’s endless).

Predictions for 2011

Surprisingly twitter is not on the list, despite its leading role in many breaking stories this year. Breaking news, celebrity spats and great trending topics will ensure Twiiter emerges onto this list next year.

Facebook’s lead will not last with so many browser plug-ins, extensions and a rise in social browsers such as Rockmelt, there shouldn’t be any need for anyone to browse to Facebook, it’ll be instant, a homepage or in-built function directing the masses to their most-used website. That’s not to mention the growing take-up of all the mobile apps that lead Facebookers directly to their friends.

Surely the BBC will maintain its heady place in the list, especially now that it plans to roll out to paying US customers, perhaps it might sneak onto the US list!

What this list shows however is that either web browser developers haven’t made bookmarks simple enough or it’s the average internet user that is simple. Google might be instant but we could all save time by navigating directly to our favourite sites by organising our bookmarks, simple.

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Stars Die a Digital Death for Charity

November 29th, 2010
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Ever since the advent of the internet and, increasingly, since social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook sprang into life, celebrities as much as anyone in the public eye have used offline media with increasing scarcity. With huge followings on social media channels they can reach almost anyone instantly.

Alicia Keys has enlisted the support of pop stars and sport stars alike to join her in eschewing their Digital Lives to raise $1m for Keep a Child Alive. As of Wednesday, World Aids Day, a who’s who of celebrities will die digitally and not return from their death until fans raise the total.

Lady Gaga is one of the most high profile stars involved; 24m fans on Facebook and 7m followers on Twitter. That’s a staggering reach at her fingertips should she wish to plug her latest single or post a photo of her most recent fashion experiment.

It is an extraordinary step. With such high profiles involved the campaign is destined for success and personally i’m relishing the irony that it’s now the offline media that will generate the hype around the project.

We will be able to gauge just how successful the campaign has been, just don’t expect Lady Gaga to tweet about it anytime soon.

(Image: Rennet Stowe: Flickr)

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GMP lobbys public support with Twitter

October 14th, 2010
GMP embrace Twitter to secure support ahead of spending review

So Greater Manchester Police are in the process of making social media history as they use live Twitter updates to reveal every crime/incident that they have to deal with in the space of 24 hours.  

It is the first time that a Police force has used a social media platform in this way and has certainly made for compelling reading as the day unfolds.

By 9am they had received over 400 calls- varying from the somewhat expected reports of traffic collisions, theft and domestic incidents- to the downright ridiculous – one woman had called for assistance in suing the benefits office because she had no money?!! (Nice try love).

The purpose of the activity is to demonstrate to both the public and politicians just how busy the force is, ahead of impending public spending cuts which could see their budget cut by up to 25% next week. Chief Constable Peter Fahy has stated that two thirds of all calls are social problems and that actually only a small part of police work is now dedicated to tackling serious crime.

It’s a great tactic by the GMP PR team, who have already received national media coverage and massively increased their Twitter following. It just goes to show the massive potential impact that the correct use of social media can have on a business and how influential it can be.

Let’s see if Mr Cameron pays attention…

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Down with silver surfers

September 2nd, 2010
surfer

It’s been hard to miss the efforts going into transforming the nations over 55s into “silver surfers”.

Online workshops, niche networking sites like Saga Zone and even Sir Terry Wogan as a Silver Surfer Day ambassador (Yes – it really exists!) and all urging the over 55s to log on.

It all seems to be working. According to the latest research from Pew Research, the average age of users of social networking websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are getting older.

According to the research, the number of online users over the age of 50 has nearly doubled to 42% in May 2010 from 22% in April 2009, as older people use social networks to keep in touch with relatives and catch up with old friends.

So what? Well to many brands, the rise and rise of social media has been considered a youth phenomenon (or under 35 anyway). Encouraging brands to reevaluate this, even with the latest stats is challenging. Just like all social situations – understanding who you’re talking with, and why, is key.

I don’t think many do – and what’s more, I believe that the ‘silver surfer’ title may be doing us all more harm than good.

Lumping everyone over the age of 55 in one group in any other sense seems ridiculous.  At 55 you may have taken early retirement and be pottering around the garden, but you may also be a high flying businessman or woman. At 65, 75, 85 and 95, life, commitments and challenges are different. (For those who think 95 might be pushing it, then remember Ivy Bean, the world’s oldest tweeter, who died aged 104 this year.)

Mixing an older audience into current social media communications means that we all need a greater understanding of how all of the people over 55 use that space.

Just like the niche communities that spring up in our teens, twenties and thirties – this 50 year age block wants different things, from different people at different times.

They may be on Facebook but are they watchers, commentators or broadcasters? Do they actively look up brands that they engage with to share their opinion, or do they silently read, absorb and relay the news to their offline community?

It’s time for brands to consider the people behind the tag and gain a greater understanding of their desires.

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The Greatness of Britain and the National Trust

April 14th, 2010
english-countryside

Working for a traditional, English brand such as Duerr’s, we’re often reflecting on our national identity.

Ahead of St George’s Day, we commissioned a poll about lost traditions, due to be unveiled next week, we’re creating the first English Whisky Marmalade and we’re even encouraging the people to embrace the lost art of jam making by digging out long forgotten recipes featuring English ingredients (unfortunately my mum can’t enter the competition….silly rules!).

Last weekend, I had what I believe to be, one of the most ‘English’ of all experiences. As a true city slicker, I took a trip to the countryside for a minibreak (Bridget Jones style) and stepped back to a forgotten time when neighbours left their doors open and red squirrels roamed the land in their masses.

The barriers that us city folk put up came crumbling down as I found myself compelled to make friends with random strangers because I admired their ingenious foldaway picnic blanket, spent all my money on nick nacks in craft shops where I felt obliged to whisper, ate my own body weight in scones with cream and jam and developed a taste in rural art thanks to my slightly hungover euphoric state….

By the end of my fantastically English break, I came to the conclusion that although i’ve spent the majority of my adult life travelling the world and visiting far off cities, there is no place in the world I would rather be.

Now not being much of a map reader, I loved this iphone app from the National Trust, that helps you to find a National Trust place near you, wherever you are in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. You can see it on the map, find out opening times, prices and facilities and access information. Just perfect to help a city girl navigate the unfamiliar terrain.

One word of advice though… when the National Trust says ‘sensible footwear recommended’, take heed….. Rock and Roll chic may look fabulous, but heeled boots and a climb up to a waterfall is not always the most sensible option!

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Baby Lotto

March 16th, 2010
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Working for a client who produces baby food – means that we’re always on the look out for baby related strories and initiatives that might be a media opportunity for the BabyDeli brand. Childhood obesity usually tops the list, but this week it was the launch of a Baby Lottery that caught our attention.

A human egg is being given away this week to a woman plucked from the audience at a fertility seminar. The ‘lottery’ winner is to receive £13,000 worth of IVF treatment and is set to link US based IVF clinics and British clinics in an order to sidestep strict UK payment and guidance laws.

Anti-IVF payment for profit regulations mean a British donor can expect to get £250 for her eggs and supplies are drying up. US donors however are paid up to £6,000 a time and therefore, unsurprisingly, up to 500 students a month donate eggs in order to help pay for their education.

Consultants at the London Bridge Centre and IVF Institute in Fairfax, Virginia, are hoping Wednesday’s event will start a transatlantic trade to help with the lack of donors in England and believe that this lottery style event will attract people as it does in consumer driven America.

This randomly picked winner will not only get the egg but will be able to leaf through profiles of donors, who are generally pretty, university educated young women and then choose who they would like to donate an egg to them.

It’s apparent that there is a need to increase the number of eggs donated in Britain, but creating a “win a baby” competition can’t be the way.

As a PR professional operating in the baby market, I understand that organisations have a responsibility to market their products in the right way. As a woman I can understand the desperation couples feel when they want a child and simply can’t have one. As an auntie i understand the joy that a little girl or boy brings to a family. But as a human being, i can only ask the question . . .  How do you tell a child that he/she was the prize in a lucky dip?

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The iPad, what else?

January 28th, 2010
Steve Jobs

It would seem rather against the grain to talk about anything that isn’t the iPad today, even though I’ve spent most of my day talking about anything but. (That’s jam sandwiches, pelvic toners, entrepreneurs, baby food menus, hall tests and grapefruit if you were wondering)

Anyway onto the iPad, after reading the announcement via twitter during ‘The Derby’ last night and reading the opinions of tech journalists in the papers this morning I’ve just managed to watch the video on Apple’s site and I have to say, that, just like everyone else, I think it looks like a big iPhone.

I am convinced that, like all Apple products, you won’t realise you need one until you get one (or all your friends do first) and I really like the name; it’s like an iPod, it’s like a pad, geddit? Best use of the name so far in a blog from Stephen Fry today entitled “iPad About”.

So if we’re all reserving judgement on the product, which seems to be the general consensus, the thing we can marvel at instead is Apple’s PR skills. When was the last time someone launched a laptop and the world’s media gave it this amount of attention?

By keeping everything about their product a secret Apple created the ultimate crescendo of excitement around the launch event. Rather than leaking specs or samples to favoured journalists or bloggers, Apple kept the tech community holding their breath and they passed their excitement on to their readers, friends and followers.

If only Apple didn’t seem to enjoy making such beautiful adverts they wouldn’t need to advertise at all.

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Social media: The battle of good vs evil

January 25th, 2010
Facebook

As a lover of all things social – it’s remarkable how many people feel the need to share their (or their friends) social media ‘experiences’.

Gone are the days when you’d hear. . . . “you’ll never guess who joined facebook?” Now it’s more about the outrageous and the outraged as social media integrates itself in every day life. Here are a couple of examples, let me know which you think is the force for good:

Story 1: Over Sunday lunch I was treated to the tale of the husband in a recently estranged couple, who decided to divvy up the friends by hacking into his former wife’s facebook account and simply removing anyone he deemed to be ‘his’ friend from her friend list, then going onto his own account to remove the people he left her with from his own account. The lady I was chatting to felt divided, she had been left as a friend of the wife, while her husband was stuck with the hubby.

Story 2: Another friend today, while sharing how he was planning a surprise for his girlfriends birthday, revealed that for Christmas he bought her an iTouch and an upgraded account to Spotify. A an extra special treat, he even hacked into her account to create a series of playlists of her favourite tracks to add to the Christmas surprise.

I know who i think is on the side of good, put perhaps it’s not as clear cut as that. Perhaps the husband wanted to save his ex-wife from the heartache of working out who she should trust. Or perhaps the girlfriend felt invaded at having her password hacked and her personal information viewed – even by the man she loves.

I guess in the battle of good versus evil, social media is just like all the other battles of the world. It’s simply down to the reasons behind why you’re doing it and understanding the effect on the audience.

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