"Free" makes the internet a very indispensable media. Free emails, free wallpapers, free movie streams, free radio, and free music? Yeah. If you want to be a successful web-trepreneur, you must know how to capitalize on the word "free".
Such is the case of Project Playlist (playlist.com) - a user-configurable website that allows you to create your own playlist of your favorite songs by scouring the internet of free music links, stack it on your own Flash player, then widgetize it on your social page - Facebook, Myspace, Friendster, etc.
Because of the popularity of the website and the concept, Myspace and Facebook collaborated with the team. Until just last week, when Myspace followed by Facebook, terminated their ink with playlist.com.
As we know Myspace already its own Music service. Facebook reasons out that the website's services violates their Terms of something.
But I know the root of this relationship break-up. Myspace and Facebook are envious of the massive popularity Playlist.com gets. Both websites simply want to copy the concept of Project Playlist.
I have just found out that YouTube and Facebook were banned in Montenegro.
References:
Facebook cuts ties with Project Playlist
Montenegro bans Facebook, YouTube in public offices
Why Facebook and Myspace Kicked Out Project Playlist
What Is The Best Social Networking Software
A couple of posts ago, I wrote about the "Top 10 Social Networking Tools To Help Boost Your Business". That post was intended for those who want to take advantage of the social networking craze. I'm talking about website giants like Fox.com, or ABS-CBN.com.
Now, if you're a blogger and all you think about the subject is just Myspace, Facebook or Friendster, think again. Blogging has never more social than today. If you have just started blogging or if you are now maintaining a handful, consider this - YOU CAN ACTUALLY BUILD YOUR OWN SOCIAL website.
Yes, think about having your own mini Frienster.com or Facebook.com. But, nah, forget about Ning.com. We're talking about earning something here. If your target is just to create community and collect friends without earning a buck, then go for Ning.com.
Starting from scratch, even with a free web hosting like Freehostia.com, yes, you can build your own social empire. Take for example this website : http://campusradio.co.nr. This website uses the open source software PHPizabi. It's free. You can download it via PHPizabi.net. Sign up at a free web host like Freehostia.com. Then install the software, in less than thirty minutes, you can start building your own social website.
But PHPizabi is not alone, there are more free softwares you can install like LOVD BY LESS, Mahara and Elgg. Check out this blog post here about the 5 best open source social networking software. I hope you get to try them.
Is Social Networking Killing Website Forums?
Social networking is not for everyone. But everyone now has a Myspace, Facebook, Friendster, or Hi5 account. Even non-social networking websites have already jumped into the bandwagon of friend-finding and linking. If you look at large news networks like ABS-CBN Philippines and FOX News Network, they have taken efforts or at least taken advantage of the new web platform.
Years before the emerging of the social revolution, there is but one web community platform that has captured many internet surfers – this are the online forums. Online forums are not designed to be socially interconnecting, but at that time, it was already considered social by many.
Mainly because forum posters, or members, those who are registered to be a part of the community, share ideas and eventually build relationships, either bad or good with other posters. Traditional web forums do not allow members to “friend” or link each other, as compared to social networking, but it did allow many surfers to know more people, exchange ideas, and build relationships.
These activities are simply the things not available in social networking. Sure, Friendster, Myspace, and Facebook has their own forum or forum-like sections in their respective sites, and the comments, walls, or testimonial boxes allow members to exchange words, but this does not necessarily provide a good avenue for members to share ideas.
What do you usually post on comment boxes? There is just the common Hi’s and Hello’s. As against forum sites, each member is contributing to a single topic. And believe it or not, forum sites can accumulate more information than an article or news website does.
So, is Myspace, Friendster, or Facebook killing forums like Pinoyexchange.com? Don’t think so.
Top 10 Social Networking Tools To Help Boost Your Business
Okay, so you are a manager and would like to consider social networking as a tool to expand your business. However, you think that such thing is only a waste of money and time. Well, actually it is, if you do it the wrong way.
There are so many advantages why your business should start jumping on the bandwagon of social networking. Among them is the privilege to meet limitless connections to potential customers.
Whether you are an online or physical retailer, a financial institution, or a medical facility, you need these top 10 social network tools.
Bloglines is one of the hottest social websites around. This one however is exceptional, this allows you to find and subscribe to as much blogs that talk about different topics. Add blogs that are related to business’s industry and you are sure to find people who share the interest with you. Who knows, you can convert them into your next customer?
Facebook is the ‘it’ in the world of friend networking. Many of today’s online users have Facebook accounts, even business executives do have their own. The advantage with this social platform is that it caters to a wider demographic, which means you will have high chances of networking with your prospects.
MySpace is now synonymous to music networking, if that is the right word to use. Although more geared towards younger and music-inclined users, Myspace allows you to delve into the present world of pop culture. This Newscorp-owned website draws billions of visitors everyday, just be careful though with spammers.
LinkedIn is to business executives what Myspace is to artists and bands. Meet people in the corporate world, exchange resumes, and discuss potential partnerships. LinkedIn is a niche friend-networking platform, so you as a business exec should have one too.
Ning.com is a customizable social network service. You sign up one time and then you create your own community. The concept is simple, with Ning.com you can choose the people whom you want to be friend with. Of course, you can do that with Facebook or Myspace, but the difference is that you are the admin of your network. Getting a Ning is not just getting a social profile then, it is like having your own social site. Say, you wanted to have a social network website about pharmacists, which is in line with your drug retailing business.
Workbench is the business friend-networking website. No, it’s not another LinkedIn, but rather a Facebook for business-minded people.
Twitter is taking social and friend networking into a whole new level, or should I say a smaller approach. Twitter is pretty much like your shout-out or your status message on Facebook. The site definitely is all about what you are doing right now. Business people, especially those working in the internet industry, have found great use with Twitter. It allows them to update existing and potential clients about their whereabouts. Most Twitter users today have found more usage than just mere “shouting out”. Now, Twitter is popular known as a micro-blogging tool. By inserting a Twitter widget on your blog, or even on your social profile page, your friends will be able what you are doing right now, what websites you’re currently viewing, or your thoughts about last night’s soccer game.
Digg is one of two popular social bookmarking websites. This site is basically for internet users who are huge news “diggers”. You know, those people who love to share their great finds. How can Digg help your business? Simple, it allows you to connect with people who find great articles, news, and resources on the internet everyday about your industry
StumbleUpon works like Digg, however it focuses more on your power to recommend or suggest websites. Networking-wise, StumbleUpon is better than Digg.
Flickr, a Yahoo-owned photo-sharing site, has grown to be one of the biggest social networking site for photo enthusiasts. Great if you are huge photography junkie.
Maintaining 10 social websites on a daily basis does not seem like a very practical activity. You can however monitor at least two sites everyday just to keep in touch, connect with friends, add comments and talk about anything you wish. The trick is not too sound like a salesman in your profile page. Don’t push too hard. Remember your goal in using social networking is to connect with friends, they are potential customers already, so you don’t have to sell right away. Be casual, loosen up, be free, and above all be friendly!
Can I Put Adsense on My Friendster Wordpress Blog?
Now that social networking giant Friendster has switched from Typepad blogging platform to Wordpress, is it possible now to put Adsense for Content ads on your Friendster blog?
The answer for the moment is an apparent NO. For the record, the Wordpress platform on Friendster is still very limited. Unlike the free Wordpress.com, WP on Friendster does not allow you to tweak a certain design. In fact, there are only 2o design templates that you can choose from. You cannot change the header, although you can modify and add some widgets.
The Dashboard allows you to modify plugins -- the only mystery is that how does one suppose to add plugins?
There are however quite a handful of advantages in the new Wordpress blogging platform for Friendster.
- Ease and convenience in blogging -- the old Typepad platform was very pesky. It did not have an auto save feature that when you accidentally clicked on something, your draft will be wiped out. The new WP platform is easy. Probably because I was using Wordpress.com and WP blogging CMS for a while now. But even so, blogging nuts who have not tried WP before, will surely find this new FS blog platfrom amazing and advantageous.
- High Google pagerank. As you may know, Google does really favor Wordpress. WP's structure is very SEO-friendly. Which is of course, helpful, especially for internet marketers.
- Can-do for Money Making. You may not be able to run a publisher program on your FS blog, but certainly it can help you market your other websites or blogs. As said stated in #2, WP is very SEO-friendly. Just don't sound too obvious though, Friendster might ban your blog.
One thing I noticed in the new FS blog though - it does not include Adsense anymore. I hope it's for life. I mean, social networking, aside from building connections, after all is about money making.
Image of Under-ocean Internet Optic Cable Structure
After making a research on how the world is connected via the internet, I stumbled upon this amazing graphic from TeleGeography. This image shows how the world is connected literally through these optic cables. These optic cables, which are laid on sea and ocean beds, are responsible for transmitting terabytes of data every millisecond from continent to continent.
In the image, you will see a web-like structure of cables that interlink all continents. The Atlantic Ocean obviously has the most network of cables from both the mainland Europe and continental US. The Pacific Ocean, despite its size, is not logging behind. In fact, it has the busiest connection cables that connect China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, and India.
Just recently, a new network of optic cables is built to connect Africa and the rest of the world. Reportedly, Africa has a very small computing industry. However, its mobile communications sector is booming, paving the way for the entrance of wireless internet usage.
I can still recall how the presence of optic cable under sea and ocean beds help improve the economy of various country. With more and more cables being connected into Africa, in 10 years, the economic activities in its countries will definitely increase.
Source: TeleGeography.com Click the image to enlarge
Why Fox News Channel Chose Facebook Over MySpace
Fox News Channel announced recently that it is collaborating with MySpace’s primary rival, Facebook. This is in line with the news channel’s aim to increase its network of friends. But why did Fox chose Facebook over News Corporation’s MySpace?
There are three obvious reasons why the Fox News Channel chose Facebook. Most of these actually are present in MySpace. But could it be because MySpace has partnership with MSNBC?
1. Audience. Fox News Channel says it is all about the audience. Facebook is undoubtedly the leading social network website in the world. Facebook’s membership also has a wider coverage, with a significant percentage that is comprised of senior members, which of course is Fox’s primary target market.
2. Clean design and more features. Aside from having a broader audience, Fox chose Facebook because it has more features that are cleaner like reviews, comments, photo submissions, and polls.
3. Social Networking-Friendly Video Players. Fox says unlike the other social network platform, Facebook’s video player capability is well suited for social networking. Fox says they are able to add, create video playlists, and share clips to more friends.
Fox is not the first news channel to collaborate with a social network website. At present, MSNBC and MySpace are working together on a promo contest that will send 2 winners to the national political conventions. ABC formerly collaborated with Facebook but later dropped the partnership.
Fox News Channel aims to make full use of the social networking sphere in the information superhighway, which comprises 32% of internet usage. As of present, only ten percent of social networking users receive and read news through these websites.
