Entries Tagged 'Facebook Commentary' ↓

Spamming Facebook Newsfeeds Functions Like Advertising

Any marketing executive will tell you that media advertising only works if it is done consistently over a long period of time. It takes time to build a brand because most advertising is easily forgotten due to the fact at any given time one single individual is bombarded with advertisements. Pepsi and Coca-Cola did not become household brand names overnight - nor have they stopped pumping billions into branding themselves each year. They know the power of consistent and pervasive advertising even if is expensive and almost impossible to track the micro-results of your efforts. So too do many Facebook application developers who are looking to grow their presence on Facebook and their application user base.

To Spam or to Optimize

Jeremiah Owyang wrote this weekend that newsfeed optimization is overrated for growing the user base for Facebook applications. Jeremiah states that Facebook is already regulating behavior that is aggressive or “spammy” in nature, suggesting that newsfeed optimization is not worth the time. Now today, Nick Neil writes that there are too many uncontrollable factors that make it almost impossible to A) optimize an item for a newsfeed and B) gauge the effectiveness of your efforts. One talks about newsfeed “spamming” the other one talks to newsfeed optimization like search engine optimization. Both are missing the boat on the use of Facebook newsfeeds for exposure and subscriber growth.
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Will Users Prefer a 1.0 Social Networking Site?

Like many my age I moved home after I graduated college. Most of my friends moved away seeking greener pastures in the “big cities”, while those who stayed could not afford their own place. Like my friends and I, College.com is hoping that students will leave Facebook 2.0 and come home to a platform that is similar to what Facebook use to be; a place for college age kids to connect. I am not sold on College.com’s power to migrate users from Facebook.

As I have stated before, “a social network is a social network” with the only difference between one another being the number of influencers and sneezers that are actively using the platform - driving the hype, buzz and membership of the network.

Why would someone want to leave Facebook for College.com?

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Facebook is a Time Waster… or Is It?

Many people say that Facebook is a time waster. People say it is costing companies billions. It is ruining relationships and it is running people’s lives. Personally, I use Facebook to for people watching, connecting with friends outside of my locale, to meet new people, and to market products, services and of course make money. With so many people talking about Facebook as a waste of time, I would like to know:

How do you “waste your time” on Facebook?

Social Networks Are As Popular As the People Using Them

A social grows because it is new, exciting and trendy. The growth of social networks depends on the first adaptor, the sneezers and the cool people to the spread the word and grow the user base. But the first adaptor, the sneezer and the cool trendy folks only stay for a while; after all being on the bleeding edge requires a sort of nomadic movement from one trend to another. Stay too long at one particular place and you miss the next big thing. Ivor Tossell believes Facebook’s Days are Numbered. While I do not believe their days will be over anytime soon, the mere dynamics of how a social network grows will eventually lead to the decline of Facebook and the rise of yet another social network.

Social Networks Are Like Bars

At least they are a lot like bars here in Buffalo, NY.

Here in Buffalo we have what is known as the Chippewa bar district. Chippewa is the destination for the young and trendy here in Western New York on a Friday or Saturday night. There is nothing but bars for four straight city blocks. The Chippewa scene is unique though. Not for the number of bars or the amount of young people that flock to the area, it is unique in that because it is so densely populated with bars the number of choices to spend your time and money that the bars often reopen under a different name, some yearly, just to stay new, hip and fresh.
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Facebook Platform Changes Are Significant

I am not a Facebook application developer, but this news is significant and could potentially change some of the current dynamics of the Facebook application economy. Nick O’Neil of AllFacebook.com has a nice overview of the expected changes to the Facebook platform.

What is of greatest note to me is that the changes are being made to encourage “good applications” (read non-spammy) and that they plan to remove the email functionality from the Facebook API. This will no doubt impact how Facebook applications grow.

No longer can an average application grow virally due to savvy marketing. Only great applications will grow. Great for users - not so great for those looking to build facebook applications strictly to be sold.

Search Leader + Social Network Leader = World Dominance?

Ok, I do not seriously think that it would ever happen given the $10 billion valuation some have given to Facebook, but what if Google did buy Facebook? Given Google’s interest in the Facebook it is not outside of the realm of possibility (although Google is more then likely interested in an advertising agreement to deliver all of Facebook’s ads).

Imagine the droves of personal data that they could cross reference and how highly targeted every ad that you would ever see using the two of these platforms would be. Imagine the advertising dollars that could be generate. This thought is mind-boggling. I think a move like this would change the online world forever. Seriously.

What do you think would happen if Google bought Facebook?

What is Proper Profile Posting Etiquette?

As my Facebook friend’s list expands and I get more and more “Facebook Rockstars” for friends, I have noticed that my news feed is filled with what I refer to as Facebook News Feed SPAM.

What is Facebook News Feed SPAM?

Facebook News Feed SPAM is when a Facebook user “abuses” the Facebook News Feed functionality by posting or linking multiple items per day.

What Do I Consider Abuse?

Well, it depends, but if you are posting or linking to more than a handful of stories per day of which the majority are your own (from your blog website, etc.) then I would say that you are abusing the functionality.
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