Social Networking Watch: News on the Social Networking and Social Media Industry

The Top Viral Video Ad Campaign For the Week Of May 18, 2009

Brand: Nike Basketball
Campaign: Most Valuable Puppets
Agency: Wieden & Kennedy
Source: VisibleMeasures.com

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Google Hoping Web Surfers Will Ride Its `Wave'

ASOCIATED PRESS -- May 28 -- A new tool called "Google Wave" runs in a Web browser and combines elements of e-mail, instant messaging, wikis and photo sharing in an effort to make online communication more dynamic. Among other things, Google is counting on outsiders to figure out how to weave Wave into the popular Internet communications service Twitter, social networks like Facebook and existing Web-based e-mail services, said Lars Rasmussen, a Google engineering manager. FULL ARTICLE @ NEWSDAY.COM

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Bebo Partners With Samsung And Endemol For Music Show

NEW MEDIA AGE -- May 27 -- Bebo has partnered with mobile phone company Samsung and production company Endemol to create an online music show. Beat will take the form of a daily magazine show and will launch on the social network on 19 June. FULL ARTICLE @ NEW MEDIA AGE

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Twollars: An Innovative Approach To Fundraising On Twitter

MASHABLE -- May 26 -- Twollars are a Twitter reviews-based currency, but they have no “hard” value behind them. If you want to donate Twollars to a charity, you tweet something like “10 Twollars @camfed to educate girls in Africa,” and thus you have “donated” 10 Twollars to Camfed. However, you haven’t given a cent yet; someone has to buy Twollars (at a rate of 10 Twollars = 1 US dollar) for the charity to receive funds. So, what you’re doing is raising awareness; you’re saying “I think this charity is doing a good thing; I think someone should donate money to them.”  Every Twitter user starts with 50 Twollars, but users can give each other Twollars if they like; they just can’t cash them in if they’re not a charity. FULL ARTICLE @ MASHABLE

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MySpace's New CEO Promises Innovation

ASSOCIATED PRESS -- May 28 -- Owen Van Natta didn't detail specifics but indicated that the ability to make changes to the site was a reason he took the job of MySpace chief executive last month. Though praised for its substantial entertainment content, MySpace has been criticized for falling behind rival Facebook when it comes to technology. Its worldwide user base has also stagnated at about 130m, compared with Facebook's 200m. FULL ARTICLE @ ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Facebook's New Russian Shareholder Planning Its Own IPO

PAID CONTENT -- May 28 -- Facebook may not be rushing to go public, but Digital Sky Technologies, the Russian investment fund that just paid $200m for 1.96% of the social network, does plan to float. CEO, co-founder and former Mail.ru chief Yuri Milner said: “Our model ... is to exit via IPO ... An IPO’s timing is dependent on the state of world markets and the willingness of Digital Sky Technologies for the event ... I think it will happen within the next three years.” FULL ARTICLE @ REUTERS

 

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Talkster Wins TMC's 2008 Communications Solutions Product Of The Year Award

MARKETWIRE -- May 27 -- Talkster, an alternative mobile communications company, won Technology Marketing Corporation's (TMC) 2008 Communications Solutions Product of the Year Award for its mobile application talki. talki gives consumers affordable alternatives to traditional long distance and international calling, plus SMS and MMS without any charges. Talkster has been awarded TMC's Communications Solutions Product of the Year Award for the last three years, having won for its innovation in voice over instant messaging (VoIM) technologies in 2006 and for its innovative Free World Dialing(TM) ad-supported calling service in 2007. FULL ARTICLE @ AJAX WORLD MAGAZINE

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This post also appears on OnlinePersonalsWatch.

Iran Lifts Ban On Facebook

LA TIMES -- May 27 -- Iran unblocked Facebook just days after the social network was banned. The rescinding of the ban came a day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied he was behind the decision to block the site, which has been used by his challengers to rally supporters for next month's presidential election. Reformist challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi, a former prime minister, was using Facebook to generate buzz for his campaign. FULL ARTICLE @ LA TIMES

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Facebook Takes That $200 Million Investment

TECH CRUNCH -- May 26 -- Facebook is taking that rumored $200m investment from Digital Sky Technologies, a Russian investment group. DST will take a 1.96 percent stake in the company, giving Facebook a $10 billion valuation. Facebook ultimately did not have to give up a board seat to DST in return for the cash. But DST is getting preferred shares for it’s $200m. FULL ARTICLE @ TECH CRUNCH

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Ning: The Future Of Online Social Networking?

CNN -- May 25 -- Ning lets members custom build their own social-networking platforms based around their passions and pastimes. Ning had 4.7m unique visitors as of January and surpassed 1m social networks. CNN spoke to Ning CEO Gina Bianchini.

Q: What is the mission of Ning?
A: It's a way to get people to organize and get people to meet around their passions.

Q: Did any specific Web sites or companies inspire you to create Ning?
A: We were really inspired by the first wave of Internet companies truly native to the Web like Craigslist and eBay.

Q: What are some of the interesting social networks on Ning?
A: There are 200,000 active social networks right now. There is a network called 'This is 50.' It's like a hip hop TMZ. Another is the 'Pickens' Plan.' It's a way they are organizing more than 200,000 people around wind-energy policy.

Q: What do you attribute to the growth of Ning?
A: What's fundamental in the adoption of Ning is that people are unique. They have unique interest and passion and they like having a contact for that experience and for their identity.

Q: How does your site make money?
A: If you want to add a feature like making your own domain, you can pay al a carte for options. On the free service there are ads contextual to what the network is.

Q: What are your thoughts on the future of social networking?
A: Niche social networking sites are absolutely something people want to do.
FULL ARTICLE @ CNN

Mark Brooks: Ning memberships make sense and are a comparative good deal against the likes of their competition, such as Kickapps.

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Tehran Blocks Facebook

BBC -- May 24 -- Iran has blocked access to Facebook ahead of June's presidential electionsy.  The move is aimed at stopping supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi from using the site for his campaign. People attempting to visit the site received a message in Farsi that said: "Access to this site is not possible." FULL ARTICLE @ BBC

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Facebook’s Valuation Heading North Again

TECH CRUNCH -- May 22 -- A few days ago, we reported that Facebook turned down an investment term sheet that placed their value at $8 billion. Now that valuation number has jumped to $10 billion thanks to an offer from Digital Sky Technologies, a Russian tech investment company, that wants to invest $200m. The company would also buy between $100 million and $150 million in common stock at a $6.5 billion valuation. It’s not clear if Facebook has responded in any way. FULL ARTICLE @ TECH CRUNCH

 

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The Top Viral Video Ad Campaign For the Week Of May 11, 2009

Brand: Vodafone
Campaign: Make the Most of Now
Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, India
Source: VisibleMeasures.com

Chris Cunningham, Founder And CEO Of appssavvy

SNW INTERVIEW -- May 23 -- appssavvy connects many of the most popular social media applications found on Facebook, MySpace, iPhone, among other social platforms with leading brands and agencies. appssavvy has recently announced six exclusive partnerships with top social media application companies, whose popular apps include Circle of Moms, Pick Your Five, Texas Hold’em Poker, Friends for Sale and Dogbook. Here is the interview with Chris Cunningham, appssavvy’s founder and CEO.

Tell us about what appssavvy does.
appssavvy is not a destination website. We are a direct sales team, a rep firm that exclusively sells best-in-breed social media applications on Facebook, MySpace, iPhone and any other platform. Today we represent 10 of the top 20 fastest growing social media applications.

We’re a sales engine that helps developers make premium revenue, CPMs and allows brands to buy relevant placements on those applications.

We’re the only company in this space that is actually generating real revenue for developers at this time. Facebook is an incredible platform with 200 million people and continues to grow, and brands need to figure out a way to leverage this audience, so we provide alternative solutions for brands to buy.

What is your background?
I’ve been in sales for 10 years. Michael Burke, appssavvy co-founder, and I were at a company called Freewebs so we already had some education and experience in social media. When Facebook opened up its platform, it made sense for us to connect both brand and developers and create this bridge.

So let’s say for example Purina comes to you. How do you introduce them to pet communities?
Part of it could be a standard IAB media unit. Part of it can be an integration or more of a sponsorship type but typically what we do is find communities that are talking about, say, Purina Dog Food and there is an audience already talking about the health of their pets or what are the best supplements. Then there is a perfect opportunity for Purina to come in and potentially provide tips for users or content for users.

So it’s not per se advertising in a traditional method with placing a banner, for example. It’s more contextual based where you are actually one-on-one involved with people in a conversation.

How long has the company been around?
We started the company officially in January 1, 2008.

How many groups you have an access to right now?
We have an access to hundreds but there are about 10 to 12 that are very significant and have great reach and provide great utility for users.

Apart from Facebook and mySpace, do other social networks approach you as well?
There are other companies that will allow platforms for developers to grow viral apps, but the truth is that right now Facebook is really the main leader. So we’re very focused on Facebook at this time.

Give me an example of some of these applications that you found success with.
There are quite a few of them. I can name “Where I’ve Been” and “SocialCalendar” for example.

With regard to the future, where do you see your business going?
We believe the app space will only continue to grow and get better, especially apps that are focused on providing value, such as utility, community and more. We’d love to see other companies like Google, LinkedIn and Yahoo have success. We’re pulling for those guys.

Right now, as I mentioned earlier, I think Facebook is the underlying winner here. But I think users will continue to want to get content where and when they want it, how they want it. It’s going to be less about searching the Internet and more about bringing content that is relevant to them in their environment. So that is kind of what we see in the crystal ball.

New Site Sponsor, Viximo

SNW -- May 22 -- Viximo is a new Social Networking Watch site sponsor.  They offer a virtual goods platform suitable for social networking sites. Cyworld and QQ alone make hundreds of millions of dollars from virtual goods. Asia loves virtual goods, and Americans are turning on to them. Facebook and Hotornot are two success stories to reference in the U.S. market.  I'm told, two of the most important factors for a making virtual goods work on a site is in having  1. really great virtual goods, and  2. the right pricing and handling of money and virtual money. Viximo can help.  We're excited about virtual goods, and virtual currency and proud to have Viximo as a sponsor. As always, we vet our sponsors. No fluff is allowed on SNW. We recommend taking a look at Viximo.

See all posts on Viximo      See all posts on QQ
See all posts on Cyworld    See all posts on Facebook

Renault And Match.com Among First To Use Pre-roll Adds On YouTube

MARKETING MAGAZINE -- May 21 -- Warner Brothers, Match.com, Activision, Renault and Nissan will be the first advertisers to show pre-roll ads on YouTube. The pre-roll ads will run up to 30 seconds. The test partners will be able to sell pre-rolls through the YouTube sales force and the pre-rolls will be sold on a CPM basis. FULL ARTICLE @ MARKETING MAGAZINE

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This post also appears on OnlinePersonalsWatch.

Hulu Plans For UK Presence Are Far From Set

PAID CONTENT -- May 21 -- Nothing is set about online video portal Hulu’s plans to launch in the UK. The Telegraph reported Wednesday that Hulu wants to launch in the UK this September with 3,000 hours of U.S. programming and UK content partners. No deals are in place with ITV and Channel 4, although discussions continue with multiple programmers in the UK. FULL ARTICLE @ PAID CONTENT

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