|
About Eiler
Eiler Communications is a public relations and marketing communications firm in Ann Arbor, MI. We specialize in new and traditional media marketing, serving established and emerging companies in the communications
technology, financial services, biotechnology and healthcare industries. |
|
Michigan - The Helping Hand State. Find out how your business can apply for recovery money!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 QZone Turns Profits from People, not Ads
By Alyssa Eckles
It's time for Western Internet users to say "ni hao"-or "hello"-to the biggest social networking website on the Internet, QZone.
QZone is a Chinese social networking site started by China's largest Internet service portal TenCent. The website has more than 228 million reported users as of the second quarter 2009, according to Reuters. Some of QZone's features include tools to interact with friends, online games, uploading and sharing photos and music as well as the wildly popular instant messenger QQ.
What makes QZone unique to other social networking sites, like the U.S. based Facebook and MySpace, is how QZone makes its revenue. In 2008, QZone and TenCent made over $1 billion and only 13 percent came from advertising. The rest of QZone revenue comes from virtual purchases.
Virtual revenue is made up of any type of service or online good which users pay real money for. This can range from subscription fees to buying virtual clothes for avatars and codes or boosts for games. As silly as it may seem to some to pay for accessories for a two-dimensional character or to cheat in a game, this technique has made online companies in Asia wealthy.
Whether Facebook and MySpace can employ the same technique with equal success is still to be determined, but for now QZone stands as the business model for social networking.
Information on QZone provided by Fei Zheng, Eastern Michigan University student.
|
Social Media and Appropriate Networking
By Mike Witkowski
Social media is increasing both in personal and business utilization. It is becoming more then a way for people to merely stay connected. Social networking is beginning to expand into marketing and research ventures as well. However, whatever advancements may arise depend on the keystone to social media, networking.
Networks are the connections within social media that users associate themselves with. These can be academic institutions, corporations, regional location, or other such larger groups. Additionally a user can belong to multiple networks simultaneously.
This simultaneous association can lead to a networking overlap. Updates on a social media profile that overlaps networks could result in business contacts receiving personal information or personal contacts being privy to business actions. These information crossovers, while not necessarily disastrous, could be in appropriate. For example, your boss should probably not be receiving Tweets about your experience at your cousin's bachlor/bachlorette party.
The recent emergence of social networking in multiple facets of life has resulted in these networking overlaps. In response, some social networking sites have limited their scope. LinkedIn is a website designed specifically for business connections. A sort of virtual reference and business contact index. These profiles are limited in information that pertains directly to work related experiences and achievements. Other sites have developed stricter admittance to their networks. ASmallWorld is only accessible via invite from an existing member, the VIP room of social networks as it were.
Social media sites being constructed with a specific purpose and network in mind, eliminates much of the inappropriateness that can stem from network overlap. However, just because you are not connected to a business associate through a social based network, does not mean that that social information about you is not accessible to curious professionals. In the end, anything that you do not want the world to know should not be posted, blogged, or uploaded on any network.
|
The Use of Jargon in Modern Society
By Mike Witkowski
The use of jargon throughout various industries is changing. Jargon does not need to be explained or as simplified to the general public as it once was. This is especially true in regards to some aspects of technology.
The regular person in today's society is more tech savvy. A main cause for this is the general application of technology in the everyday lives of people. This daily dependency has encouraged people to purchase the updated versions of their Smart Phones, ipods, and other devices, even in the rough economy. Take for example the sales of the Android phone, which costs close to $300. As the newest tech advancement, it is in high demand, despite its high cost. People's use of, appreciate for and desire to understand technology is on the rise. As a result, their exposure to tech jargon has increased as well.
If people are still confused by jargon when it appears, the detailed explanations can be left to outside sources. The increased access to information allows the public to find definitions and examples for jargon almost more effectively than the ad or article could convey the medium it is presented.
|
Supposed Media Biases Dispelled in the Blogosphere
By Mike Witkowski
With the increase in pundits and commentary on the news, stories and sources seem to come from one side of the aisle or the other, depending on the outlet. While the opinions and slants of the pundits and sources cannot substitute for actual facts, they still hold some sway. However, there is a counter balance to the dilemma, the input of the public.
The opinion of the average person or "man on the street" has been a journalism tool used for years to give a review or share an experience. It is a means to personalize the story for the audience. This "man on the street" approach has recently segued into an even more viable source for news, through the use of social media.
Legitimate news outlets are increasing the use of the "man on the street" commentary using Facebook status updates, Tweets, and blogs. While this may be another step away from traditional watchdog reporting, it has allowed for the public to become the editors of the news. If the bias stretches the news too far, the "man on the street" commentators can bring the story back in line. These opinions by the public editors are often more accurate than one would assume, due to the mass accessibility to information allowed by the Internet. Operating in much the same way as Wikipedia, if something is incorrect or misstated, the public will correct it.
Internet news has become a primary source for many people, indicated by the continued decline of printed news outlets. With many of these sites a comments section is available below the article, allowing and encouraging the "man on the street" to share their views and knowledge regarding the subject. Not only is the Internet news usage allowing for more access to information, but also it is creating a new means for people to interact with that information. The more interaction occurs the more sources are developed, ideas explored, topics debated and connections made. The blogosphere is arguably allowing for a more personalized and realistic understanding of current events for the average person.
| |
|
|
|
|
