What’s been buzzing in the world of social networks?
- Google Buzz: Well my class unanimously agreed that Google Buzz is late in the game but Google had no choice. Read Jeremiah’s take on this strategy and the impact on the stakeholder spectrum (facebook, twitter, SEO etc.). Personally, I agree with both but I’m intrigued about how this fits in with the story for Google Wave.
Social Gaming
- A quick mention of ibibo. One of the largest desi social networks. Recently they’ve launched a marketing blitz on ‘Why play akele? Play social games at ibibo’. Reminds me of a childhood PJ. What did the lonely banana say to the other banana. “I am a-kela“. But hats off to ibibo for the first strong positioning statement from an Indian social network. Desi Martini, Big Adda, Fropper, iTimes… they’ve all tried bollywood masala and failed to make a dent into facebook and orkut market share
- We all know Zynga (of Farmville and Mafia Wars fame). Well they’ve opened an office in Bangalore and that made front page news in all major dailies.(that’s a bit much!). However our very own Rodinhood has lots to say about the space. (Side note: Rodinhood is by Alok Kejriwal of of c2w and g2w fame. I met him way back in 1999 when I was still in college. He treated us to a nice breakfast and was beaming proud of running one of the few dot coms to survive the crash. I guess he realised the B2B mantra way before the rest of the online junta)
Love is in the air
For some reason I added ‘Love’ in the title of this blog. With V day last week, I guess I have to give it due share of importance. Check out this winner ad from Google. (and yes… I couldn’t resist the pink and red border)
Paying the Price of working in India
Paypal got suspended in India. That’s huge. Reserve Bank of India - would you have done that to an ‘offline’ player like ICICI?
Is your brand listening?
Real time feedback is the single largest lesson for brand positioning on the internet. I was pleasantly surprised with NEO Sports recently. Have a look at this twitter conversation and how quickly you can win back trust just by acknowledging the customer respectfully. (Read bottom to top)
@ameyamhatre thnkfully, they’ve acknowledged my protests. let see how they mend their ways.
Thats prompt,thanks!RT @NEO_Cricket: @nareshb all your points have been noted and ll be fwded to the concerned person. Thnks for ur feedback
an appeal to ur reason (& MBA bosses) @NEO_cricket : adding an extra second to two to ur ad slots don’t increase a brand’s mindshare
wud @MMXSurprise like it if I don’t buy their xcllent FB fone just cos @NEO_cricket ’s prgrmming (cutting short coverage for ads) sucks?
to brands advertising on @NEO_cricket : Watch where you r treading, you are causing resentment amongst your customers
a sincere msg to @NEO_cricket : not allowing a proper closure to an over by stretching ads is not world-class programming
Social Media Marketing - Welcome to India!
February 19th, 2010 at 6:57 am
Paypal got suspended in India? I missed that. That is huge, particularly considering how it’s become a virtual banking system in the UK; it’s interesting to note that I don’t know anyone providing a competing money management/payment system aside from the banking players in India.
- Y
P.S: Pl ignore any psuedo-knowledgable air that the comment may attempt to impart.
February 19th, 2010 at 7:13 am
brownie points for the V day video?
February 19th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
My net connection is too slow to check it out. In fact there’s just a blank space of white after you talk about the video insertion. Anything else for Brownie eligibility?
February 24th, 2010 at 12:25 am
CC Avenues (http://www.ccavenue.com/) do it with limited success. But paypal’s APIs and robustness remain unmatched. Sad thing indeed!