Eric Ungs

January 10-16, 2011 – #3

Each week I want to share with you the interesting things I come across. It could be anything; blog posts, tech products, new apps, quotes, etc. If you’ve found any interesting tidbits or news, please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear about them.

1. PingTags – creates a QR code for your LinkedIn profile. Simply login using your LinkedIn credentials and it populates a QR code that you can put on any of your personal marketing materials; e.g. business card. Once the QR code is scanned the user can see any of your LinkedIn profile information. They’re also able to easily connect with you via email, a phone call, or click through to one of your profile links without having to input any data; it’s automatically populated. When you login into your PinTags account the dashboard displays analytics for your QR code; how many scans, what links were clicked, and what geographic location it was scanned.

2. 26 Tips to enhance your LinkedIn experience - Social Media Examiner recently put together an excellent list of how to enhance your LinkedIn experience; recommendations, creating a share of voice within groups, introductions, connecting, etc. Aside from this post, Social Media Examiner does an excellent job producing news on the social space for all experience levels.

3. AT&T vs. Verizon 3G Networks – With the recent announcement of Verizon taking aboard the iPhone, it leaves a lot of people wondering if they should switch or not. This piece, via Mashable, goes into detail on the underlining differences between the two networks and what may be the best option for you. I for one am still hung up on getting a 4G EVO (Android) or the Verizon iPhone.

January Read: Referral Engine by John Jantsch

Will you be purchasing the new Verizon iPhone? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Just as I post Privacy on Facebook’s Social Graph I read Huffington Post Readers Dislike “Connect With Facebook” Feature via All Facebook. The ‘Connect With Facebook’ feature (just recently released on the Huffington Post site) allows Huffington Post to suggest articles based on your Facebook profile; likes, bio, etc.

Here’s a few comments on the users reaction to the new feature (via All Facebook post):

“I don’t want any such ‘recommend­ation’ feature to channel me away from stories or presume that my interests don’t shift,” wrote MyFatCat. “This might be good for your advertiser­s, but it’s bad for my reasons for coming here.”

A few other commenters echoed this reasoning, hinting that Huff Post readers generally consider themselves fairly well educated and read, and don’t really need stories to be “so intensely personalized” and “babyfed,” as Leviathan21 put it. “I think I’m capable of navigating my way around a website and clicking on articles that interest me. I don’t need someone to pick my articles for me,” he added.

Cdub1991 said that the move was “a rather obvious ploy to increase revenue by enhancing their ability to sell targeted marketing to their advertisin­g clients. I wish them well, but I think I’ll pass.”

There are two sides to every coin.

It’s always good to see both perspectives on issues.  I still think that having this relevancy, for majority of the user base, is an attractive feature. I for one have very limited time in consuming content (news, sports, gardening, etc.) outside of my day-to-day industry focus. Therefore, based on my Facebook profile, the articles that I want to read first show up first.

So this may leave us with two thoughts to ponder.

Facebook profile optimization.

In the future, as the social graph expands and connecting to sites via Facebook Connect, will Facebook users have to optimize their Facebook profiles? Will Facebook provide areas on our profiles where we know outside sites will capture that data first. So essentially, optimizing our Facebook profiles to better our ‘outside of Facebook, browsing experience.

Two prong approach.

When a user decides to view a site through the “Connect With Facebook” feature, would it make sense to have a subtle box appear with options? The options could include: view content based on your Facebook interests or view in standard mode, allow site to show friends activity on the site, allow to share via Facebook, etc. The idea is to give the user an option in choosing how to view the site. Granite the money making side of this approach would be against it as it would be harder for advertisers to target the users not choosing to utilize all of the ‘Connect With Facebook’ features.

What are your thoughts on this whole ‘Connect With Facebook’ approach? Do you find it becoming a nuance for your browsing experience or do you find it to be an added value when browsing, socially?

January 3-9, 2011 – #2

Each week I want to share with you the interesting things I come across. It could be anything; blog posts, tech products, new apps, quotes, etc. If you’ve found any interesting tidbits or news, please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear about them.

1. Jott.com – Jott allows you to utilize your mobile device to remain efficient all through voice activity. Jott Voicemail takes your voicemail and turns them into text and emails. With Jott Assistant you simply place a phone call and you can add to your todo lists, send emails to colleagues, update web services. The voice-to-text service turns your voice notes, messages, and updates into text and sends them where you want. Jott Salesforce uses voice-to-text and a simple phone call to allow sales professionals to input their account and opportunity updates, take quick notes, and set reminders and appointments, all on the go.

2. Foursquare losing its appeal – A recent post from Reuters.com titled “Foursquare still struggling to become more than a niche app” states that the number of unique visitors is on a downward spiral and fast. There were 1.8 million unique visitors this summer compared to less than 1 million last month. This is a pretty staggering number considering the short time frame in which it occurs. This leaves me with one question; What can Foursquare do to not fall victim to the breathing monster in silicon valley, Facebook? Although the recent upgrades with photos and comments was a great added feature, there needs to be more features that attract the user as well as the brands. Foursquare needs to bridge this gap. The ‘game’ of Foursquare is losing its appeal. I hope they can rebound and not fall into Facebook’s quicksand.

3. Ge.tt File Sharing -  “With Ge.tt you can share any number of files, no matter how large, within seconds. Click on select files. Share the files with your friends. Move on” It’s a simple file sharing/hosting tool where you can easily push out to Facebook, Twitter and email; no plugin to download, view real-time analytics and free yourself from rejected emails because of too large of files. More about Ge.tt.

January Read: Referral Engine by John Jantsch

What does Foursquare need to do to be mainstream?

This week when watching “The Facebook Obsession” (part 1, part 2, part 3) documentary put on by CNBC, of course, a hot topic was the privacy issue.

Embrace the relevant web.

When you sign up to Facebook you agree to abide by their rules – It’s free, Facebook makes the rules and has that right. If you aren’t on board with their rules of use and privacy policies, don’t sign up (though deleting an account can be rather cumbersome and difficult, but that’s a different topic). Users need to embrace the social graph and where the web as a whole is going. It’s a relevant, one of kind cloud made just for you.

Shopping via your social graph.

People find it easy and extremely convenient to utilize a login system like Facebook Connect not having to open and setup another account. The minute they enter the site they’re appalled by how relevant and personalized everything is – this scares people.This is when they feel their privacy has been breached.

Why is this an automatic red flag?

This is where I am confused. Yes, the site is taking data from your Facebook profile essentially without asking for permission (but you agreed to login with FB connect). Why is this so daunting and scary? These sites are using your data to generate an intimate experience for the time you’re logged in. Once logging out, it’s gone.

Why aren’t users on board of this approach? Why wouldn’t you want to walk into a department store having everything laid out that only you like; style, brand, color, etc.? It’s basically been built strictly for you. Why wouldn’t you want a suggestion from a close friend via their “like” or purchase whether they’re physically with you or not? Facebook’s open graph provides a shared shopping experience regardless of when your connections have been there. Friends are influential, you feel a sense of self gratification when your friends give you a bit of reassurance on your purchases. That’s what theses sites are doing, they’re providing a relevant shopping experience for YOU based on you. It’s efficient, easy, and connected.

Why waste time searching when it’s already suggesting?

Privacy on the web is a concern, but if your data is being used to create a better experience for you, embrace it. This has, and will continue, to change the way we shop forever.

Let’s open it up.

How do you feel about third party sites using your Facebook data? Does this breach your privacy or scare you?

Each week I want to share with you the interesting things I come across. It could be anything; blog posts, tech products, new apps, quotes, etc. If you’ve found any interesting tidbits or news, please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear about them.

1. Quora – A social platform organized around questions – answer or ask questions. You can follow topics, questions, and people and your answers are voted either up or down.

2. SMB Web Tools - working via the ‘cloud’ is getting stronger and stronger. In the near future this is what companies will solely rely on. This post (via Read Write Web) has an excellent array of various tools an SMB could utilize for their business operations.

3. 2011 Goals – You can find mine here, but, what are your 2011 goals?

January Read: Referral Engine by John Jantsch

Did you come across anything this past week you’d like to share? Drop it in the comments below.

A new year brings new goals.

Most likely those who set goals won’t achieve them. I’ll admit it, I fall into this category at times. This doesn’t mean there isn’t work taking place, it’s just that most times the goals set are unobtainable.

88 percent of new years resolutions fail.

According to a national survey by the MorningStar Farms brand 88% of resolutions fail – granite the survey concentrated on health related resolutions, the concept is the same.

This year will hope to be a prosperous year through implementing goals and action plans I can reach.

Bring on 2011…

1. Always do whatever it takes.
Each year and every day, there aren’t any excuses. The ‘excuses’ that pop up is the lizard brain wanting to resist anything from producing art; from achieving. Be persistent in pushing through the lizard brain.

2. Read a book a month.
Reading books is a great way to gain industry knowledge and also allows the creativity to surface. Ideas automatically ignite from what lies within the covers. The kicker: I have to alternate each month with a business related book to a non business related book. This allows me to give myself a rest on industry related issues while gaining various perspectives from the book in hand and thinking outside of the marketing realm.

3. Disconnect to increase productivity.
This year I really want to make an effort in setting aside chunks of time disconnecting from the web to enhance my productivity. Not saying I am not capable of doing both, but the productivity levels skyrocket when it’s just you and your thoughts. This means disconnecting from people, email, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Reader, etc.

4. Freelance push.
I want to be able to set aside time to contribute to my freelance services and making a conscious effort in lightly communicating those services.

5. Increased blogging efforts.
If you haven’t noticed, my last blog post was on July 30, 2010. Again, there are no excuses. You can expect one post per week with an additional “e’s week in review” post every Sunday evening. Feel free to call me out when you notice a skipped post.

6. Stamping Education as a  major contributor for AAF CR-IC.
As I enter my second year with the American Advertising Federation I have a better sense of the expectations, by both the board and the students. Education has an opportunity to put itself on the AAF map.

7. Reigniting 380social
380social was quietly put on the back burner. This year the founding fathers want to regroup and restrategize in keeping this group in tact. The commitment wihtin the 380social community is there. It’s being able to remain consistent and persistent on both ends – but that starts with the founding fathers.

8. Implementing the social space into the financial services business model.
This year will be the year, with my current employer Transamerica, that training and implementation of the social media channels will have a common section in the agency’s business model and marketing initiatives.

So that’s it – these are the goals that I will strive to achieve day-in and day-out.

So what about you…  What are your goals or new years resolutions for 2011?

Photo courtesy: Mooi - Flickr

Photo courtesy of Wired.

Amazon just recently put out some numbers that shows e-books are putting up a good fight with the old fashioned print book, and may be going for the knockout? This past month alone Amazon sold 180 e-books for every 100 hardcover books. What was the tipping point?… the price structure. Since bringing the price point down to $189 sales have shot through the roof. As the iPad lowers their price, the Kindle will have to continue to lower there’s to remain competitive. For just a basic e-reader, setting the price right under the $100 mark will be smooth sailing – but that’s for another time.

How is this going to affect publishing?

Here’s the thing, I don’t see e-books affecting the publishing companies as much as most people think. Yes, of course, there will be whiteboard sessions in finding ways to strategically reposition themselves, but this happens all of the time anyways. This new form of absorbing ‘book’ content is relatively new for the average reader. People are excited about it and are racing to the checkout lines to get a hold of the latest and greatest.  I want to assume that those who purchase e-book’s don’t necessarily stop purchasing the printed book. Which brings me to my next point…

There’s enough room for both the digital and print platforms.

The e-reader is excellent for the busy body traveler who already has too many gadgets to carry – so they’ll slim there reading material down to just digital, catching up on all of there publications by a click of a button.

Then you have those who find extreme pleasure in the emotions that come along with the printed edition. The feel, the smell, the colors, absorbing the beautifully designed cover, brushing your fingers across the page all nestled up on the couch in front of a fire. Harnessing the book’s they grew up with or their children grew up with. The experiences, memories, and emotions that connect with the print book is just simply irreplaceable.

What about the music industry from CD’s to mp3 files, that didn’t turn out so hot?

What about it?… The book publishing channel does not fall into that category, it’s created their own identity. The CD is completely different in the sense to fully enjoy the content within that platform you had to put the CD into a CD player, so you weren’t actually holding it, or smelling it, or touching it while absorbing the content. With the print book, from cover to cover, you are emotionally and physically absorbing that content, the book itself, along with the content, is always present.The emotion that’s connecting with the print book isn’t comparable to that of a CD.

Mashable did a poll this week that backs up my thinking fairly well. They’ve found, through their readers, that the printed book was in favor over the e-book by roughly 19%. What does this mean considering the DNA that makes up Mashable’s core audience (social media, tech savvy, geeky gadget lovers: fore the mos part). There’s something of value here and it may fall within the lines of the level of difficulty to replace that physical connected emotion that comes with reading a print book.

Not to mention, how do you go to book signings with an e-reader?

So, is there room for both an e-reader and the hardcover on your bookshelf? And if you purchase an e-reader, will that keep you from purchasing other print books?

Every other week I will share with you the interesting things I came across through my “e’s Weeks in Review” post. It could be anything; blog posts, tech products, new apps., quotes, etc. If you have found any interesting tidbits or news, please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear about them.

1.) Local SEO Clinic: This was a podcast just recently published on The Marketing Spot blog, authored by Jay Ehret, and it features Glenn Gabe of G-Squared Interactive. Glenn runs through a well executed case study, Kati’s Kupcakes, on the importance of local SEO in a small business. By making the necessary tweaks and adjustments on your website you’ll reap major benefits stemming from the search engines. Also by verifying and ensuring your business information is consistent throughout the web is key: IYP’s, local business listings, etc. Glenn discusses the four pillars of local SEO. Take a listen, you’ll want to immediately jump on your site and make the necessary changes and/or additions.

2.) 380social Podcast: 380social is a social media gathering point in Eastern Iowa. We recently just recorded our first, of many, podcasts. It was more of a roundtable discussing the ‘Founding Fathers’ backgrounds and moved quickly into the social media scene. Topics of discussion included; iPad/iPhone, the state of social media in Iowa and how our local SMB’s can utilize the online tools, ending with a Twitter (social networking) professional dashboard called Hootsuite. Look for upcoming episodes, we hope to push them out every 2-3 weeks.

3.) f8 Conference: Facebook just recently released a few game changing features that takes their existing social graph and tosses it out in the web, making the users’ entire web experience more social and personalized. Not only will you be connecting with your friends via Facebook, but also through the sites that utilize Facebook’s open graph and social plugins. For instance; CNN, when these social plugins are implemented, without you logging into their site, CNN will feed you which of your Facebook friends have liked the story without CNN ever knowing who you are. Click the ‘like’ button, it feeds that item into your profile. These are powerful new features brands will benefit from. Music, restaurants, etc. they can all be fed back to your Facebook community by a simple click of a button. Mashable also has more here.

e’s Weekly Read:
“Everyone Communicates Few Connect” by John C. Maxwell