Sometimes you just have to hand it to the New York Post. This online headline caught my eye: E-BAMA OFFERS A LOOK BACKSTAGE. The article goes on to call him President 2.0.
Of course the conservative newspaper called him many other things during the campaign, but I suppose bygones are byones, at least during what I'm sure will be a brief honeymoon.
Anyway, the point of the article was the interesting use of the flickr photo-sharing site by Obama's campaign. The campaign posted 82 photos of the candidate taken on Election Night. The photos, particularly of the candidate and his family, provide a nice inside look at him as he waits to hear if he would indeed become the 44th president.
(AARHUS, DENMARK: jboye08) Robert Cailliau is a Belgian computer scientist who, together with Sir Tim Berners-Lee, developed the World Wide Web.
I was chatting with him before his keynote address this morning at jboye08 in Aarhus, Denmark. He told me he had to “tweak his presentation” on the “history of the World Wide Web.” I found it interesting that the co-founder of the WWW was “tweaking” his history… I joked that he shouldn’t forget to also “tweet” it (Twitter). Robert replied, “Oh, I don’t use those things!”
I like him!
Robert went on to address the subject of Web 3.0...
So enough is enough, right? You've voted and you'll eagerly watch the returns tonight, a new president will be named (hopefully), and then we'll be done with this two-year odyssey. At least the campaign phase, then who knows what will happen.
But of all the SNL skits and sound bites appearing on YouTube and all the e-mails and all the rest, this little nugget stood out for me.
A way to personalize a video that was distributed by MoveOn.org. If you haven't received one yet, and there may be a couple of you out there, you should try this. It's hilarious. And, I think, a very effective means of using video as a targeted, personalized way to get out your message.
I'm already asking the Colgate IT guys to see how we could adapt similar technology to craft a video message that we could send to admitted students and others.
It’s not a virus, Trojan, or a denial of service attack. The latest threat to your browser, computer, and network is click-jacking. Click-jacking is the result of a visit to a malicious web page that allows the attacker to take control of your browser. Specifically, it can force your browser to click on any link it wants.
THE THREAT
“Clickjacking is a malicious technique of tricking web users into revealing confidential information or taking control of their computer while clicking on seemingly innocuous web pages. A vulnerability across a variety of browsers and platforms, a clickjacking takes the form of embedded code or script that can execute without the user's knowledge, such as clicking on a button that appears to perform another function.”
In short, if you visit an unknown or unfriendly website then it could force your browser to click on nasty links that could take you anywhere (including the downloading of a virus or Trojan) or allow the attacker to take control of your computer. And it doesn’t matter which browser you use (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, etc.), all the big ones are vulnerable.
Megha Dhawan writes for Indiatimes Infotech and best sums-up the threat:
”So while you might think you are clicking on your bank funds transfer link, or saving a favourite URL link at Digg, or some innocuous Facebook application, the reality could be entirely different, and dark.
An attack can invisibly hover these virtual buttons below the users' mouse, so that when they click on something they visually see, they actually are clicking on something else the attacker wants them to…”
The United States CERT has issued the following warning: "Clickjacking gives an attacker the ability to trick a user into clicking on something only barely or momentarily noticeable. Therefore, if users click on a Web page, they may actually be clicking on content from another page.”
PROTECTION
• Ensue your browser is the most recent version (updated and patched)
• Ensure Adobe Flash plug-in patches are up-to-date (download the latest version)
• Click on the above link and download in each of the browsers you use (e.g. Internet Explorer and Firefox… don’t forget about Chrome or Opera if you use them)
As always, regardless of the threat, you’re likely safe if you stick to only trusted sites and blogs (in other words, visit known sites and stay away from “free” sites that offer song lyrics, photos, clip-art, porn, and especially video.
(Live blog entry from Cary, North Carolina) “Instantaneous, on-demand is the new way… all kids want today is instant, fast-forward access,” says David Pogue, columnist with the NY Times (addressing the Ragan Web 2.0 conference here in N.C). “I recently spoke at the National radio association conference… and they’re almost suicidal!”
• WIWYA: when I was your age
• NCK: not a chance, kid
• LODH: logg off, do homework
Pogue’s recommended sites:
• Prosper.com (business plan funding)
• CarLoco (car pooling site)
• E-Petitions (UK government sponsored petitions against the Gov.)
• TripAdvisor.com
• WillItBlend.com (check out the iPhone smoothie)
• Google Alerts
Institutional blogs: much more trustworthy (see Microsoft’s Vista blogs with employees candidly discussing Vista problems… see http://shellrevealed.com/blogs/shellblog/archive/2006/10/09/Features-that-didn_2700_t-make-the-cut.aspx)
Web 2.0 Challenges
• Copywrites
• Trademarks
• It won’t stay put (see NBC’s Keith Olberman’s email on Rita debacle)
• You can’t contain it (yes, text messaging can be recorded and distributed)
• They’ll trust you once (Longelygirl15’s YouTube scam)
• When it turns on you (Jill Carroll hostage video… and public response)
• Short sellers (Apple CEO Jobs heart attack hoax… blog attack by short seller)
• Get involved
Pogue’s mock songs:
• “I want an iPhone” (Tune: I did it my way)
• “RIAA” (Tune: YMCA)
(Live blog entry from Cary, North Carolina) “So many intranets such because its being used as a storage bin,” says Jim Ylisela is president of Ragan Consulting. “The storage bin is the lowest common value.”
(Live blog entry from Cary, North Carolina) “The employee-company relationship – this is the thing we do very, very well at SAS,” says Jim Davis, SVP & Chief Marketing Officer of SAS (delivering his keynote “Faster than a speeding bullet” at Ragan’s “Corporate Communications in a Web 2.0 World” conference”). “You have to think about your employees as your most important and valuable asset.”
Business analytics / business intelligence leader SAS is an incredible success story that owes its success to many factors, not the least of which is its employees:
• Profitable every year since 1976
• Revenue growth every year since 1976
• 10,000 employees, 44,000 customers
• 4,000 employees at headquarters in Cary, North Carolina
• Continually ranked by Fortune magazine as a top employer
• Average employee turnover is 4% (average in the software industry is 22%)
• Privately owned company – at SAS we don’t care what we say
• Don’t use outside agencies – all creative is done internally
• No technology is out-sourced – the people cutting the grass are employees
• Internal marketing team of over 1000
Employee tools at SAS:
• SAS Wide Web (intranet in multiple languages)
• Using SharePoint 2007 (MOSS)
• Employee Blogs
• Employee Wikis
• SAS Video portal (executive updates, podcasts, webcasts, town hall meetings)
• Two sound stages at SAS working every day
“People blog like crazy here now,” says Davis. Blogs are monitored and governed by an Employee Code of Ethics. In short, the blogging is self-policed. “Very few problems…” adds Davis. Training is also available including a program on “How to blog better.”
SAS encourages web use that is not necessarily directly related to the business: “I hate to hear companies that are blocking Facebook, YouTube and other sites…. It’s dumb! The only thing we block at SAS is porn!”
Four Critical Dimensions (Insight into change):
1- Human Capital
2- Knowledge Processes
3- Culture
4- Infrastructure
…
What’s next?
• “The data explosion – what are its sources and how can organizations cope?”
• “Is your organization ready for Generation Y?”
• “How are companies leveraging unstructured data?”
• “Is it technology or attitude?”
• “Web 3.0?” (speed and latency independent of the platform)
Davis cites Professor Deming: “It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.” (W. Edwards Deming)
“Change is a must; we have to change,” says Davis.
--
Editor’s note: SAS is a very progressive organization that is well worth watching (and reading about). I’ll be speaking in a little over an hour on “The latest and greatest in WCM: Trends, traps & tips.”
Americans really dig social media… but Canadians love it.
Almost 60% of Americans interact with companies on a social media Web site, and one in four interact more than once per week. These are among the findings of the 2008 Cone Business in Social Media Study (Cone LLC).
When asked about specific types of interactions, Americans believe:
• A company should have a presence in social media (93%)
• A company should not only be present but also interact with its consumers via social media (85%)
• American consumers feel both a stronger connection with and better served by companies when they can interact with them in a social media environment (56%)
• Companies should use social networks to solve my problems (43%)
Of the younger, hard-to-reach consumers (ages 18-34), one-third believe companies should actively market to them via social networks, and the same is true of the wealthiest households (household income of $75,000+). Two-thirds of the wealthiest households and the largest households (3 or more members) feel stronger connections to brands they interact with online.
Survey:
The 2008 Cone Business in Social Media Study presents the findings of an online survey conducted September 11-12, 2008 by Opinion Research Corporation among 1,092 adults comprising 525 men and 567 women 18 years of age and older. The margin of error associated with a sample of this size is ± 3%.
If you thought Americans were demanding… according to comScore Media Metrix numbers from Canada, the Great White North is more social:
• 85% of online population visit a social networking site, spending 6 hours per month per visitor*
• 63% of online population visit a blog site in a month
• Almost 24 million Canadians age 2+ online in a month, spending an average of 46 hours online per person (that’s 3/4s of the country that is older than 2-years-old!!!)
• 94% of online population perform search in a month,
conducting 33 searches per searcher
• 85% of online population stream a video, viewing an average of 120 videos per viewer per month
The comScore Media Metrix numbers are in fact from the beginning of the year and undoubtedly higher today. In fact, according to ZincResearch.com 90% of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 34 are Facebook members (9 million). Those numbers are from the beginning of the year (the participation rate is definitely higher today).
Now I know Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper knows what Facebook is... do Bush and Cheney know?
Can anyone point out the PR mistakes that this Australian Senator makes in the following TV interview regarding an oil spill off the coast of Australia?
Truth be told… this is a fake (what gave it away?!?!). The gentlemen in question are in fact a comedy duo called Bruce and Dawe. However, there are some sound PR lessons to be learned from this…
1- The Senator quickly acknowledged the problem!
2- Emphasizes the tanker wasn’t *not* safe… just not as *safe* as other ones!
3- Openly admits that tankers are not allowed to be made from cardboard…. Or cardboard derivatives!
4- Underscores the necessity that each and every ship must have a steering wheel!
I think the key learning from this spoof is that you can believe most of what you see on YouTube.
Yes, the blogosphere and ‘Web 2.0’ are filled with fluff, idle chatter, and, quite frankly, a lot of crap. However, if you learn to filter the junk, as you do with your mail, e-mail, or television, the rewards can be extremely meaningful – and valuable to business.
I live on Wikipedia (and often am driven their by Google). I do a lot of research and reading and find the quality on Wikipedia to be superlative. In fact, while it has its critics, I’ve yet to encounter a credibility gap. And yet, the reliability of more traditional, scholarly sources are not always as reliable.
For example, I recently read a biography on Stalin from a very credible source and historian. Now I know a thing or two and am a bit of a history buff, but I called into question the nature and circumstances of his death as detailed in this one biography. In fact, there are multiple versions and contradictions on how and where Stalin died, and who was present at the time. I am presently reading the annotated memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev that greatly contradicts the circumstances surrounding Stalin’s death. Khruschev’s story was in fact corroborated by several others, including Stalin’s daughter, and is the one I’m fairly certain is correct. To my pleasant surprise, despite the many stories and conspiracy theories, the Wikipedia version of Stalin’s death is the correct one (from my informed standpoint).
Web 2.0 is more about the conversation and those technologies that promote the conversation. In fact, notwithstanding the above example, Web 2.0 has less to do with factual data, and is more centered on subjective opinion: subject matter experts that offer their expertise, hobbyists and fans that share their passions, consumers that share their experiences, etc.
TripAdvisor.com is largely a user-generated opinion and review site (while its key to success is its travel reservations engines, the user reviews provide the fuel and the traffic). In July, TripAdvisor drew 25.5 million visitors to its network websites (according to comScore Media Metrix). It is now firmly the number one travel website with almost 25% more traffic than its closest competitor, Yahoo! Travel (which, having come to understand TripAdvisor’s success, has since incorporated user reviews).
“TripAdvisor is to travel reviews what Kleenex is to facial tissues," said Henry Harteveldt, a vice president and principal analyst at Forrester, in the International Herald Tribune. "They define the category. This is a company that was ahead of its time, but now they're in the sweet spot. And as social computing becomes big, they're poised to capitalize on that."
Thankfully for business, Web 2.0’s success has also bled onto the corporate intranet. Like Web 2.0, Intranet 2.0 represents the evolving collection of social media tools that are revolutionizing the intranet, and the way organizations and employees connect and collaborate. Specifically, Intranet 2.0 tools like blogs, wikis and social networking sites promote collaboration, people connection, and ongoing dialogues that augment, but not replace the traditional top-down communications model.
Speaking of travel, Sabre, the company that runs most of the world’s airline flight reservation systems among many other systems, launched their own intranet social networking site for employees called SabreTown.
SabreTown has all the features of most social networking sites:
• Employee profiles with lots of details
• Shared photos
• Blogs
• User commenting
• Network connections & feeds
• Enterprise question & answer functionality
On Sabre Town, users can post a question to the entire organization, and the site’s inference or relevance engine will automatically send the question to the 15 most relevant employees (based on what they’ve entered in their profile, blog postings and other Q&As that have been previously posted). The results have been spectacular: 60% of questions are answered within one hour (one hour!); each question receives an average of 9 responses.The system has already led to more than $150,000 in immediate, direct savings for the company, with much greater benefits not yet measured.
Before they implemented their own employee social networking site, BT (British Telecom) discovered that 4,000 employees had voluntarily joined a BT Facebook community in their own time. Employees were connecting online, in their own time, talking about BT, and BT wasn’t part of the conversation.
While BT’s management was reluctant to introduce these tools to employees, they really had little choice: employees were already using them and BT was in danger of being left out, and left behind. In addition to social networking, BT employees blog, podcast, collaborate in discussion forums, and they wiki too. In fact, the wikis are so popular and successful that there are more than 500,000 employee wikis – and the vast, vast majority of them are dedicated to business topics that help BT compete in the global workplace.
Toby Ward is an Internet and intranet consultant who lives, blogs and podcasts from Vancouver. He is the founder and CEO of Toronto-based Prescient Digital Media.
Tell us how you manage unrealistic expectations, meet reporter needs, churn out news when there is none, deal with a client you can't stand, and what you say to people that slam PR. Or anything else that's on your mind.
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