Posts Tagged ‘social networking sites’

Facebook Mimics Google+, Alters Friends Lists

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Facebook continues to feel threatened by Google+.

Facebook began rolling out smart friend lists to users. The new tool makes it easier for us to group Facebook friends into categories such as close friends, acquaintances, or work colleagues. Sound and look familiar? It’s because it’s a Google+ feature.

According to a Facebook blog post, with the improved Friend Lists, we can easily see updates from and share with different lists of friends.

Facebook claims the lists are completely optional. If we don’t like them, we don’t have to use them.

Each of the lists has its own News Feed, where you can see just the photos, status updates and other posts from the people on that specific list.

Both Social Networking Sites Continue to Compete Against Eachother

Both Social Networking Sites Continue to Compete Against Eachother

Why does Facebook feel the need to continue changing the site? Most of us probably like the news feeds and lists as they are. If we don’t, then we know not to update our status, post a picture, or like a link.

Why should Facebook be allowed to tell us what it  thinks we want to see. Aren’t we smart enough to figure that out on our own?

Facebook needs to be careful with all these new features and changes. America seems to be growing really tired of the social networking site.

Read the full story in PCWorld.com.

Social Network Profile Abandonment – Social Consequences?

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Three years ago I signed up for many social network profiles so I could test and measure what each one could potentially bring me as an online marketing professional as well as to potential business clients. Two of these profiles were Plaxo.com and FastPitchNetworking.com.

Three years later, I still receive weekly or bi-monthly reminders that I have “connections pending” on both accounts and incentives to “upgrade your account on Fast Pitch Networking” – I haven’t touched either one in over a year. Are there social consequences for setting up social network profiles and then abandoning them?

I setup one Google+ profile a couple weeks ago and haven’t logged back in to see who might want to join one of my circles. However, I am very active with my LinkedIn profile, groups and adding people to my network.

What has been your experience regarding social networking profiles and abandoning your initial efforts either as an individual or business? Should you be active with each profile you have or only remain active with those that bring you the most contacts and potential business?

Social Media Developments: Innovative, or Annoying?

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Everyday, there seems to be a new social media site feature created that we have to explore. With so much social media marketing and information thrown our way, it’s hard to stay on top of the latest trends.

Here’s two of the newest updates in the social media world.

1. Frozen Bytes – Have you ever wondered what you were doing, or thinking this time last year? Thanks to Facebook’s latest feature, you now have that option.

As you’re surfing the site, past statuses can appear on the right-hand side.

The “On This Day in (insert year here)” message and status shows up usually when you’re looking at friends’ photo albums.

You can “Like” stepping back in social media time, and see what else you had to say back then, or click the “show more” button to see additional status updates.

If Your Friends Like a Feature, Odds Are You Will Too

If Your Friends "Like" a Feature, Odds Are You Will Too

2. Showing Lists – FourSquare now allows users to create lists to rank the types of businesses they know best, from cupcake making places, coffee shops and malls to popular restaurants. You can create your list, rate your places, and share them with friends. We know that if we see one of our friends frequently visiting a place, we’re more prone to try it ourselves.

Are consumers being confused, and possibly annoyed by the addition of features to social media sites almost on a daily basis? Whatever happened to that saying, “If it’s not broke, don’t try to fix it”?

In the mean time, we’ll still continue to check out the latest trend and probably  “like”, “share”, “post”, “tweet”, or “follow” it.