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MASHABLE -- Feb 29 -- Steve Chen, YouTube co-founder: "Live video is
just something that we've always wanted to do, we've never had the
resources to do it correctly, but now with Google, we hope to actually
do it this year." So, it's not 100% certain as they only hope to do it
this year, but it's good to know they're working on it. FULL ARTICLE @ MASHABLE
ONREC -- Feb 29 -- According to a survey of graduate recruitment site Milkround.com,
97% of respondents use Facebook – way ahead of MySpace with 44% and
Bebo with 23%. The survey also asked respondents to rate the sites out
of five for staying in contact with friends, sharing photographs and
videos, networking for jobs and general entertainment. Bebo ended with
1.7, MySpace was given a better average rating of 2.3, Facebook was the
top performer with an average score of 3.5 out of 5. "All of the major
three sites would benefit if they could think of ways to help users
find a job", says Milkround.com spokesman Mike Barnard. Milkround.com launched an application on Facebook in October, called "My Dream Job"
which can be set up to display the latest internships, graduate jobs
and schemes on user profiles matched to unique job hunting preferences. FULL ARTICLE @ ONREC
TAIWAN JOURNAL -- Feb 29 -- Vickers Venture Partners, a Singaporean
equity firm that focuses on high-growth companies in Asia, plans to
invest US$8 million in iParment in 2008. iPartment launched in August
2003, and to date as many as 1.4m "tenants" browse the site. iPartment
targets career women, who could design their own virtual apartments,
decorate them with virtual furniture, carpeting and wallpaper, chat
with friends, invite roommates and keep diaries. Members have to pay
for these services, which is an important source of revenue besides
membership fees and renting advertising space. In 2005, the company
expanded to China. Currently, iPartment boasts nearly 10m members
across China. The annual revenues are estimated to be over US$3
million, and the company is set to open its second overseas branch in
Japan. FULL ARTICLE @ TAIWAN JOURNAL
Mark Brooks: iPart.cn is one if the most popular SNS among youngsters in China, and it actually makes money, unlike most of the other SNS in China. Hopefully they will be attending the Tokyo Internet Dating and Social Networking Conference in May. I'll be there. Ping me at mark@socialnetworkingwatch.com if you're planning on going as well.
ONLINE MEDIA DAILY -- Feb 28 -- According to Mark Goldston, chairman and CEO of
parent United Online, Classmates had signed up 1 million new paid
subscribers in 2007, equal to three years worth of previous paid
membership growth. Goldston noted that Q4 sales had increased 27% to
$53.3m and Classmates generated 42% of the company's overall
revenue--up from 19% in 2005. Overall 2007 revenue for United Online
fell to $513.5m from $522.7m a year ago. In December it canceled its
proposed IPO of Classmates, which would have raised more than $117
million. Unable to go public at a valuation in the $700 million to $900
million range, the company held off. Classmates also plans to expand in
Europe. FULL ARTICLE @ ONLINE MEDIA DAILY
Mark Brooks: Facebook stole Classmates thunder. Now they're gaining ground again. See Compete.com comparison.
NEWS TIP -- Feb 28 -- Vigster is a new social network for video games,
currently in public beta. Users can build and catalogue their games,
create virtual game shelves to show off their games collection, connect
with friends, discover new and exciting video and computer games, rate
and review games, create and play video game quizzes, voice their
opinions, have their say, comment on games, share games, share gaming
experiences, buy video games, explore games and much more.
NY TIMES -- Feb 28 -- Bill Gates announced his presence on LinkedIn by
posing a question to the community: "How can we do more to encourage
young people to pursue careers in science and technology?" Mr. Gates'
appearance presents something of a marketing opportunity for the social
network. Microsoft is buying ads across the site today. It also helps
Linkedin to promote an unrelated round of changes to the site,
including a redesign that allows users to organize blocks of
information, or modules, on their profile page, and to write a short
statement that keeps their contacts updated on their current doings. FULL ARTICLE @ NY TIMES
Mark Brooks: I wonder how long it will be before Microsoft acquires LinkedIn?
BUSINESS WIRE -- Feb 27 -- Genetic testing is now the newest way to connect. A new social network, Genebase.com,
allows users to submit a DNA sample from home, retrieve the results
online and then connect with community members interested in finding
others with shared genetic traits. Genebase.com are putting personal DNA genealogy knowledge directly into the hands of
consumers and giving them the tools to use it to learn more about
themselves. Genebase.com
offers a wide range of databases against which members can compare
their DNA, including a deep ancestry marker database that allows
members to trace their family history back 150,000 years. Consumers can
purchase a DNA test kit for just $119. FULL ARTICLE @ BUSINESS WIRE
Mark Brooks: Yikes, I just paid $1k for my 23andme.com test! Still, not all DNA tests are created equal. They usually cost $2k+ direct through a hospital. 23andme.com's test revealed to me that I have a relatively high chance of developing diabetes, but a lower chance of having heart problems. Good to know. I signed up for Stickk.com and am going to lose 25lbs (or pay $500 to charity) and avoid diabetes.
WSJ -- Feb 11 -- Companies like NebuAd, Project Rialto, Phorm,
Frontporch and Adzilla use behavioral targeting but even though the ads
are more "relevant", users increasingly tune them out. Facebook's
Beacon was a PR fiasco. But it still familiarized users with the notion
that they can control information about themselves online. Look at
Dopplr, a site for travelers. Users make their travel plans visible to
preferred vendors. The new model creates a more trusted environment for
reaching high-value, frequent purchasers. The new value creators are
companies -- like Facebook and Dopplr -- that know how to build and
support online communities. FULL ARTICLE @ WSJ
Mark Brooks: I look forward to the day that advertising becomes truly synonymous with content. Advertising, so relevant and interesting, that its viewed more as content. The MySpace generation don't do ads. They do however define themselves by the brands that they trust, and follow, and believe in. The whole branding dynamic is changing, and social networks are going to lead the 'new' way. A note to the CEO of Facebook... Beacon was/is brilliant, but take babysteps next time.
Btw, Dopplr rocks! Email me at mark@onlinepersonalswatch.com if you'd like an invite to connect and see how it works. Great usability.
PRODUCT REVIEWS -- Feb 27 -- The family of 15 year old Kristin Helms
are suing MySpace after she committed suicide in 2006. When Kristin
committed suicide in 2006; she blamed Kiley Bowers, the 27-year-old man
who traveled across state lines to meet her. Even though Kiley and
Kristin didn't meet on MySpace, they did use it to communicate. Kiley
Bowers is now serving a nine-year federal prison term in Texas for
having sex with a minor and transporting child pornography. FULL ARTICLE @ PRODUCT REVIEWS
PR WEB -- Feb 27 -- WhyDoWork.com launched the first Canadian
niche social network for those that want to, or already make a living
online. WhyDoWork's (29,000 members) provides the opportunity for home
based business owners to connect, share ideas, and make friends.
According to Managing Partner Matthew Rivard "part of the problem with
finding legitimate ways to earn a living online is the anonymity the
Internet provides. Our social network will allow our members to work
together to oust scams and find what works". FULL ARTICLE @ PR WEB
Mark Brooks: eLance.com, odesk.com, RentAcoder.com. These sites work, very well.
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