If you’re lucky enough to live in a city that has an IKEA store, then you may have taken a trip inside their massive building and viewed the showrooms chock full of stylish furniture and accessories. I’ll be the first to admit that Cincinnati got a little better the day the IKEA opened. And yes, sometimes I go there just for the Swedish Meatballs. Don’t judge me.
But those of us that aren’t fortunate enough to live near this giant showroom and warehouse of Swedish furnishings and treats, still deserve to get as close to the IKEA experience as possible. And IKEA seemingly thought this exact thing when they made a brilliant move with their Facebook Showroom. Check out the video to see how they did it. And if you have a Facebook page for your business, perhaps IKEA’s story will get your creative juices flowing. Me? I’m gonna take a trip to get some meatballs this weekend. Mmmmmm meatballs.
Have you ever heard of the game “telephone”? What happens is the first player whispers a phrase or sentence to the next player. Each player then whispers what that player believes he or she heard to the next. The last player shares the statement to the group. As you can imagine, large amount of errors typically occur in the retelling, so the statement announced by the last player is often hilarious.
In this funny “desserts gone wrong” feature story, I can’t help but wonder if the customer and the specialty cake designer played “telephone” that day.
Have your own cake disaster stories? Share them with us- we’d love to see the photos.
As we have said before in previous blog posts, Facebook is the world’s largest social media networking site, with over 400 million users. The average user in the United States is a female between the ages of 25 and 34. From 2008 to 2009, total minutes spent on Facebook increased from 1.7 billion to 13.9 billion, an annual growth of 700%. Currently, most Facebook users spend, on average, 7 hours a month on the social networking site, passing Google by a long shot, where most people were not even spending 2 hours a month. Though Google responded to those statistics by saying: “We may be the only people in the world who can say our goal is to have people leave our homepage as quickly as possible.” Good answer.
We’ve heard why so many people are spending less time on Google’s search engine, let’s take a look into why so many people are spending more time on Facebook. Can there ever be a time when it’s too much- at least in Facebook’s mind?
According to many studies and blogs authored, Facebook has grown so popular because of the strong desire for people to communicate. In a 2009 survey, most Facebook users log in to maintain those relationships with people they have met offline. According to Facebook themselves, they suggest that it gives people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.
When you are given the power to share and connect, can Facebook stop you from doing so? The short answer is “yes”. In fact, a message shown below can actually appear.
I’m off to check my Facebook, but be aware of the amount of communication you are doing. It may be more about quality vs. quantity.
Choosing an Internet browser (the program you use to access the Internet) may seem like a non-decision. Historically, many people have simply used the Internet browser that ‘comes on their machine.’ They assume all browsers are the same. However, with each new version released, browsers like Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari are differentiating their features. If your needs demand features like:
hi-speed program launch
built-in password management
spell checking
anti-virus protection
parental controls
…it might be time to update your current Internet browser, or change to a new one completely!
Would you like the change the way you view the online world?
Not on the Social Media bandwagon? Check out what Nielsen Online, the global leader in media information, is saying: It may be time to hop on.
In terms of “traditional media”, first came the radio, taking 38 years to capture an audience of 50 million. Then came the television, which took 13 years to capture an audience of 50 million. While it took the internet only four years to reach an audience of that size, it took Facebook less than 9 months.
According to a survey taken in Cincinnati, Ohio- 74.8% of respondents stated they find business value in social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. However, only 45.7% stated that their organization was part of a social media group.
Where is the disconnect here?
In our experience, often times people are hesitant to use social media because of the complexity of it all. However, it is important to increase your brand visibility as well as conversing with your customers. Check out this video that describes social media in “plain English”.
Today, Google announces their latest Google Buzz. In the past, Bradley Horowitz, Google’s vice president for product management, dreamed for Google to have a platform that allowed its users to share experiences, much like Facebook and Twitter. Horowitz’s dreams came true.
Google Buzz allows you to “follow” people as well as have them “follow” you back. Buzz lets you post links, share photos and comment on just about anything. In order to access this feature, you must have a Gmail account. Below are instructions on how to access the latest tool (assuming you are already on the Google bandwagon). Let us know what you think!
You are then taken to a “Welcome page”, where you you will want to go in and customize your profile. You can change your picture, add a URL, connect to your Twitter account among other things.
Once you are satisfied with how you appear to your Google followers, be sure you save your profile. Couple more steps and you will be ready to post! Google also provides you with a list of your current followers along with suggestions. Not satisfied with Google’s suggestions? You can search for your friends by either name or email address.
It would appear now that you are ready to post! Doesn’t matter what you post, a link, a picture from your Flickr account, whatever you are feeling that day. Enjoy socializing!
Is your career a perpetual “countdown to blast-off”? Well our friends at CareerRocketer.com have the remedy. Their website functions essentially as an advice column for job seekers, personal branding enthusiasts, and career developers. Why is this site vital? Because the job recruitment process has changed so radically over the past 5 years. And unless you work in HR or have had 10 employers since 2005, you might not realize it.
Not currently looking for a job? You must still pay attention to career activities in social media. Completing a LinkedIn profile today, for example, will put you on an HR professional’s radar from today onward. And in our current economic times, that simple action could define whether you’re out of work for days…or months.
That’s my two cents, but CareerRocketer.com has millions of ‘em. CareerRocketer.com published our advice in recommending Twitter to job seekers. It’s a great article, but only one of a thousand published on the topic. So check out our mention and keep exploring CareerRocketer.com, even if your current job is a slice of paradise. There’s always room to grow.
Our Friday Funk today comes with a message. Sometimes it takes a little silliness to get people’s attention. “General” Larry Platt proved that with his viral hit “Pants On the Ground” in the American Idol audition recently. Haven’t seen it yet? Well, check it out… Read the rest of this entry »
Are you an administrator of a Facebook Fanpage? If yes, you know Facebook features are constantly “tweaked.” The basic capabilities for posting data and reaching fans stays consistent, but the methods change sporadically, just to keep us crazy.
For months, business owners have flooded Facebook message boards asking how to send Fans a direct note (an email viewed in their Facebook inbox). Facebook has responded! Those who assumed they could only reach fans by posting a status message now have a better solution. Please follow the steps below to send a “Facebook email” to your Facebook Fans:
As an administrator of the Fanpage, log into your Facebook account and visit your Fanpage. Then follow these 3 simple steps:
In the wake of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti Tuesday, the US State Department advises that immediate aid should be in donation form. Travel to Haiti (especially its ravaged capital, Port-au-Prince) is very difficult, so it’s best to donate to groups that are already on the ground working in the region. Even $5 dollars would help greatly. Here is a list (based on USAToday’s) of trusted charitable groups with details on how to give today:
**NOTES: If a site below is overloaded, please try again. The scale of this tragedy has caused millions to respond. Also, those looking for lost relatives in Haiti are advised to call (888) 407-4747, a line set up by the State Department. The official Twitter topic for the Haitian earthquake is #Haiti.
American Red Cross
The Red Cross has already committed $1 million in immediate aid to Haiti. Please join them. The link above leads to their homepage, from where you can donate money, time or blood.
Mercy Corps Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Donate from the home page of their website by clicking the link above.
UNICEF You can text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts from your mobile phone. The charge will appear on your next phone bill. (I’ve done this myself and have researched that it is safe.) Or, you may click the link above, which allows you to donate specifically to the UNICEF Children’s Fund. Thousands of children have lost loved ones or are facing critical injuries today.
Yele
Musician Wyclef Jean, a native of Haiti, began this group to inspire change in Haiti– promoting education, sports, the arts and environmental responsibility. Either visit their website through the link above, or text “YELE” to 501501 for a $5 contribution.
Please also feel free to add any other charitable groups by Commenting on this entry below. Thank you.
http://www.google.com/buzz 
