Continue reading Off-Platform Key to Social Media Survival and Success

Off-Platform Key to Social Media Survival and Success originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google (GOOG) is accustomed to being in the top spot. It leads search and virtually owns the online ad space. Its Google News portal is among the top sites for directing traffic to media outlets. But, the behemoth is starting to feel the feet from social media sensation Facebook.

Not only is the rather young platform stealing market share from Google News, it's now encroaching on its e-mail turf ... a situation that Google isn't taking lightly. To compete more effectively with Facebook, Google is upgrading its Gmail capabilities to include more social media tools reminiscent of those found on its competitor.

Continue reading Google Wants Gmail to Take Social Media Market Share

Google Wants Gmail to Take Social Media Market Share originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It was only a matter of time. This week, social media platforms Twitter and LinkedIn announced new features that will undoubtedly appeal to corporate marketing departments, so Facebook hopped on the bandwagon. Its new preferred developer program is a step toward structuring the Facebook application development and services space, by endorsing providers known to the company.

The program is still in its infancy, which means there isn't much structure around it. According to AllFacebook, "[T]here's really no way to apply to be in the directory aside from being connected with the people over at Facebook." Fourteen vendors are already listed in the directory.

Continue reading Social Media Marketing Continues: Facebook Launches Preferred Developer Program

Social Media Marketing Continues: Facebook Launches Preferred Developer Program originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

An unemployment rate of 10.2% means that serious jobseekers are using every tool they can find. So, it's not at all shocking that social networking tools top the list, with LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter leading the charge. Openings are being tweeted, hints of a new position are being monitored and hot candidates are being hit up directly, even if they aren't saying they're on the prowl for a new gig. Social media is a tool to use in a job hunt but not necessarily the only one, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Instead, it makes sense to balance a search with many tools.

John Challenger, CEO, says, "The job search has changed radically over the last two decades with the advent of electronic mail, the internet, social networking, smart phones, etc. However, it is important to remember that all of these technologies simply enhance the job search; they will never replace the face-to-face connections that are critical to a successful search." But, he continues that "we feel that these new networking tools are essential and now advise all of the job seekers going through our program to open LinkedIn accounts and to consider other services such as Facebook and Twitter.

Continue reading Job hunting in a social media world: 95% LinkedIn, 59% Facebook

Job hunting in a social media world: 95% LinkedIn, 59% Facebook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Privately held social network Facebook just saw its prices go higher. Digital Sky Technologies has announced it will pay $14.77 a share for an additional stake in the social network, bumping its total position in the company to up to 3.5%. If this deal is completed, it would imply a total value of $6.5 billion - down about one-third from Digital Sky's last investment in Facebook.

Even the $6.5 billion a share value is optimistic. Investors have pushed the value to below $5 billion in private secondary market transactions over the past few weeks. Nonetheless, the relatively new company is still valued well above major technology and media heavyweights, including CBS (NYSE: CBS) with a $4.06 billion market cap and SalesForce.com (NYSE: CRM) at a $4.72 billion market cap.

Continue reading Digital Sky to put another $100 million into Facebook

Digital Sky to put another $100 million into Facebook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dear New Media Executive: I am not your friend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Social networking sites are all the rage and growing fast. A little over a year ago on July 19, 2006, Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp (NYSE: NWS) paid $580 million for MySpace.com. It has continued to grow and establish business partnerships, bringing comments that this was the biggest deal of the new millennium, and garnering staggering valuations that it is worth upward of $10 billion.

Early on, my teenage daughter was spending countless hours on the site (and probably yours, too) with her friends and it has grown to be a real community. But that success was bound to be copied, and now it appears that Facebook.com is stealing some of MySpace's thunder.

According to reports, Facebook is growing faster than MySpace, and having started on college campuses, caters to a better educated and more affluent customer base. My daughter, now in college is making the switch. This does not mean that there is not room for both of them, but it does indicate the market is still wide open and that there is plenty of opportunity. It is rumored that Facebook has already turned down multi-billion dollar offers to be acquired and is gearing up for a grand IPO some day in the foreseeable future. Based on all the hype and the growth of the site I do not think I would be going out on a limb to suggest an IPO would be the hottest thing since Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), and they know it.

Continue reading Social networking sites are growing and growing up

Social networking sites are growing and growing up originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last December, over 100 stocks were featured in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Now, at mid-year, we turn to the 20 advisors whose picks showed the strongest gains to get an update on their previous picks, as well as a new favorite stock for the second half of the year.

Mark Mowrey, editor of the Prudent Speculator TechValue Report, chose Cogent Inc. (NASDAQ: COGT), which rose 41% as of June 1, 2007. Although he maintains a $24 price target for those who own the stock, he no longer is recommending purchase.

For his new top idea, Mark looks at United Online Inc. (NASDAQ: UNTD). The advisor explains, "For as many reasons to be wary of the company, we find more to like about this net-centric company.

"Founded as Juno Online Services in May 1995, and formed via the merger of that company with fellow dial-up Internet services provider NetZero in June 2001, United Online is one of a select few surviving early Net access players.

"As UNTD milks the dial-up business for cash flow, management hopes to transition as many of those paying customers as they can to a new broadband offering. Still, revenue from the communications segment is declining at a rapid clip, falling 13 percent in 2006 to $375.9 million.

"So what is there to like about a company with declining revenue in its core business, the only savior for which is entry into an even more competitive space? The general answer is the provision of services folks utilize once they're already on the Net.

Continue reading Top 20 advisors: Mark Mowrey goes 'net-centric' for UNTD

Top 20 advisors: Mark Mowrey goes 'net-centric' for UNTD originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Internet deals a plenty, but Yahoo-Facebook talks stalled originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Is Facebook.com really worth its asking price? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.