Facebook rivals Google for finding certain content
Facebook has surpassed Google as a gateway to major Web sites such as Yahoo! and MSN, indicating that social media has a growing role in how users find content, according to a study by Compete. Experts note that while search engines still play a vital role in how users find content, the fact that social sites can serve as a portal and a destination gives them an important advantage. “People are spending less time navigating the Internet on their own and are now navigating the Internet based on their friends’ recommendations,” said Dave Yovanno of Gigya. San Francisco Chronicle – http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/14/BUU51C0AMN.DTL
Congressional tweets bring brevity to political rhetoric
Some members of Congress manage to let their personalities shine through on Twitter — even with the 140-character limit, Amelia Hassani writes. Some members are given to making solemn proclamations, she notes, while others like to get a little more personal. Hassani writes that Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., offers the most likable tweets, while Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah., gets a mention for being fond of crafting tight arguments via Twitter. OhMyGov! – http://ohmygov.com/blogs/general_news/archive/2010/02/12/the-10-quirkiest-congressional-twitter-users.aspx
Startup Path promises to make list-building exciting
Path, a startup headed by former Facebook Platform Manager Dave Morin and Napster founder Sean Fanning, has yet to launch, yet leaked evidence indicates that its mission to become “a tool that facilitates the creation, sharing and correlation of lists” is well under way. Given its stable of top beta list builders, Marshall Kirkpatrick suggests Path will offer an exciting take on the way people share information. ReadWriteWeb - http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/first_peek_at_pathio_the_stealth_startup_from_face.php
Google Chrome Extension adds Facebook to Buzz
A Google Chrome Extension devised by David Mulder allows Buzz users to add information from Facebook’s News Feed to their Gmail sidebars. Once installed, the extension lets users access their Facebook News Feed and post Facebook status updates from Google Buzz and their Gmail inbox. TechCrunch – http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/16/annoyed-with-buzz-in-your-gmail-add-facebook-too/
Younger users embracing Twitter
Younger users are starting to make up a larger portion of the total user base on Twitter, according to a study by comScore. The number of Twitter visitors under 25 jumped from about 20% of all users at the end of 2008 to more than 30% by the end of 2009. Social Media Today – http://www.socialmediatoday.com/SMC/174901
A successful social-media strategy requires more than tactics
Too many companies struggle with their social-media strategy because they confuse tactics with a long-range vision, Shannon Paul writes. “I am all about good measurement and tying business value to social-media activity, but many seem to be putting the cart before the horse,” he writes. Experts suggest creating alignment between an organization’s social-media efforts and its communications strategy. VeryOfficialBlog.com – http://veryofficialblog.com/2010/02/14/the-missing-ingredient-in-most-social-media-strategies/
Social media offers opportunities for women to influence, lead
Women are in the majority on many social-media sites, giving them a prime position to exercise their influence on services, products and marketing efforts, as well as their leadership in the technology field, Jessica Faye Carter argues. “Social tools help people to connect across cultural, social, and other barriers to interaction. For women in business, this is especially good news, as they often confront difficulties in securing capital, gaining access to key decision-makers, and finding opportunities to demonstrate their expertise,” she notes. Mashable - http://mashable.com/2010/02/15/social-media-women/
