the Web Chef's e-Bytes

Wacky Widgets Continue Growth

Fortune reports on the extreme valuation that T.Rowe Price and Fidelity have projected in Slide, one of the top widget producers given their recent $50 million, 9.1% stake investment in the firm.  Their 50 million widget users, with many more projected to be on the way, are seen as providing a potential monetization opportunity well beyond the keyword ad results associated with search engine giant Google.  With "engagement marketing" becoming the new mantra on the web, it is felt that what better tool to generate engagement then one where the user elects to interact for play, content acquisition or other purposes.

The article also references RockYou, "Slides" largest competitor. 

In other widget news, The Wall Street Journal references Gigya a widget distributor that recently raised $9.5 million.  In a brief report compiled by Scott Austin of VentureWire, the Journal states "The publisher can track the number of times a widget is installed, where it is placed and how many times it is viewed, among other metrics."

For more on widgets see my article "Widgets - web components for plug, play and pay" in Wisconsin Technology Network. 

Paul Gibler

Web Tidbits - Social Networks

The BBC reports that AOL has acquired Bebo, the third most popular social network in the U.S. for $850 million.  The acquisition will give them a foothold in the emerging market for advertising and marketing through social networks. According to the article Bebo has "40 million viewers worldwide who view an average of 78 pages per day each."

AdRants reports on the beta launch of socialthing!, a Boulder, CO-based company that will aggregate social media sites into a single view.

iMediaConnection author Jere Doyle has an article titled "Find the right social network for your brand" that gives some tips on evaluating demographics and marketing opportunities through social networks.

Web Tidbits - Online Music and Video, Widgets

The Wall Street Journal reported today "Web Tools to find Your Inner DJ" on some of the developments in the online music space.  Among the trends and sites that they referenced were the following:

• Music Streaming Sites - Jango, Pandora (I've been using this one for awhile and love it. )
• Music Search Engines - seeqpod, songza, SkreemR
• Music Social Networking Sites - imeem, last.fm, iLike, MyStrands

Widgets
iMedia Connection has a video clip introducing widgets and the role that they can play as part of your marketing strategies.  You can see the video at: Widget Marketing 101. Also see their article "Do Widgets Spell Doom for Portals?"

For more on widgets see my article "Widgets: Web Components for Plug and Play" at Wisconsin Technology Network.

Online Video
CoolzOr has a posting on a new service called Hey!Spread that allows you to upload your promotional videos to 17 sites saving you the hassle of individual uploads. 

New Column in Wisconsin Technology Network - Widgets

I've written a new column in the monthly series of articles, Buzz Networks, recently published in Wisconsin Technology Network.  The article "Widgets - web components for plug, play and pay" reviews the evolving and expanding world of widgets or gadgets and the benefits they can provide companies looking to connect and distribute their messages widely. 

With Facebook, Microsoft and the major blog platforms endorsing these portable applications, they will only be growing in the future.

If you'd like me to come and speak to your group on the latest developments in e-marketing, I'd be happy to discuss your budget, needs and schedule.  Please contact me in the United States at 608 255 4092 or via e-mail.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Paul J Gibler

e-Business and Marketing Glossaries

Periodically I like to post e-business and marketing glossaries that I've identified.  Previous glossary postings include one about a Financial Times Glossary of digital business terms.

Ourmedia has another glossary that you might find interesting called the Social Media Glossary.  Many of the terms that are identified in this glossary are further elaborated on with additional examples in the series of articles that I've written over the past year and a half for a Wisconsin Technology Network column called Buzz Networks.  Take a look at these articles for additional resources and insights on RSS, blogs, social networks, podcasts, wikis, online advertising, etc.

Paul Gibler
the Web Chef

Web Tidbits - Web 2.0 Miscellaneous

Strategy & Business has a new article "Web 2.0 Profiting from the Threat" that makes some interesting points.  In the article they reference recent Booz Allen & Hamilton research that found 50% of internet users visit a social media site.  They had 3 summary suggestions for businesses to keep in mind as their strategies evolve:

1. Businesses are no longer in charge of their message
2. Marketing channels are fragmenting
3. Web 2.0 is magnifying customer complaints

For each of these items case studies are supplied.

For more Web 2.0 coverage, you might want to take a look at the series of articles I've written for Wisconsin Technology Network under the Buzz Networks column with a series of 13 articles on a wide range of Web 2.0 topics - podcasts, social networks, RSS feeds, wikis, blogs, etc.

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I offer presentations and consulting services on Web 2.0 techniques.  I'd be happy to speak to your group and/or talk to you about your organization's needs for enhancing your web strategies.  Give me a call at 608 255 4092 or e-mail me for more information.

Paul Gibler
the Web Chef

Big Brother Internet Surveillance to Increase?

In yet another example of Government run amuck, the Justice Department is investigating instituting requirements that video and photo sharing sites maintain records about who has uploaded content to their sites for a two year period.  This requirement is being pursued according to CNET because the government feels it would be valuable in investigating terrorism, child pornography and other crimes.

This "data retention" concept has been pursued by the Bush Justice Department for a number of months.  According to CNET "Internet service providers typically discard any log file that's no longer required for business reasons such as network monitoring, fraud prevention or billing disputes".

Privacy experts are alarmed that this government intrusion is yet another step in government access to a full range of private information that could be used in a politically and personally harmful manner.

You'd think with the heat that the Justice Department has been under for their many unpopular positions and recent mass firings of a number of Federal Attorneys, that these types of initiatives would be put on the back burner.

New Colum in Wisconsin Technology Network - Brand Protection in the Content-Rich Web 2.0 Era

Brands of all sorts are under attack!  This attack has led for the requirement that Marketing and Corporate Communications Managers be on top of strategies and techniques to maximize their brand's protection. 

To help you gain insights on this topic, I've written a new article Brand Protection in the Content Rich Web 2.0 Era for Wisconsin Technology Network. 

You might also be interested in looking at BrandChannel for additional insights on brand management.

Word of Mouth Marketing Predictions

The Viral and Buzz Marketing Association (VBMA) is seeking review and feedback on the 10 predictions that they helped craft in the book "Connected Marketing: The Viral, Buzz and Word of Mouth Revolution".  You can help update these predictions by reviewing the 10 predictions and providing your comments on all or any number of the predictions that were in the book.

New Column - Wireless Wizadry Coming to the Small Screen in Wisconsin Technology Network

I've written a new article "Wireless Wizadry Coming to the Small Screen" that has been published in Wisconsin Technology Network.  It is one in the "Buzz Networks" series of columns that I've written for the publication over the past several months.

I welcome your feedback, ideas and suggestions for additional columns for Wisconsin Technology Network or for this blog.  Please drop me an e-mail or give me a call at 608 255 4092.

Paul Gibler