2009 March

First Microsoft killed the printed dictionary with Encarta then the Internet killed Encarta with free, fluid content:
From:http://newsblaze.com/story/20090330160032howa.nb/topstory.html
Microsoft has confirmed that it’s pulling the plug on its Encarta encyclopaedia software, as Wikipedia continues to dominate the online reference market. In a message on the Encarta website, Microsoft tacitly admits that Wikipedia has pulled the rug on [...]

So the new buzz is that Birmingham City University is going to start offering a masters degree in social media. It reflects the growing demand for social media professionals, people who understand how to utilize these social platforms for marketing reasons.
I read this article on the subject: http://www.tcapushnpull.com/?p=505

Of course, one of the things I noticed [...]

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/mar/29/myspace-facebook-bebo-twitter
MySpace shrinks as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo grab its users
The “Place for Friends” is starting to feel lonely. MySpace, the Rupert Murdoch-owned website once synonymous with social networking, is losing popularity and key staff in its biggest troubles since launching five years ago.
Latest figures show that Murdoch is being beaten in the fight for [...]

Full Article: mashable.com/2009/03/29/sharing-great-posts/
One of the best things about the web and social media is how much great information is written and produced every single day. If you’re a regular reader of blogs, you probably come across great articles that you just want everyone to know about. But what’s the best way to share these [...]

I’ve been asked more than once if a lawyer/attorney can use social media to promote his or hers business. Most of the time it’s met with great skepticism when I say they should set up a blog, FaceBook page and start a Twitter account. Anyway, it appears if you’re not doing these things you’re going [...]

See Full Article: http://au.sys-con.com/node/898077
NEW YORK, NY — (Marketwire) — 03/30/09 — Social Media for Social Change (SM4SC), a digital organization that uses social media tools to raise money for deserving charities, is holding an event to benefit City Harvest on April 3 at 7:00 PM at the Roger Smith Hotel. SM4SC hopes to raise [...]

I like this article over at Mashable (big surprise, I must link to them 4 times a day). Anyway, it lays down some good points why FaceBook needs to stop being Twitter. This is true for me, I may follow several thousand people on Twitter, but I have only around a 100 friends on Facebook. [...]

This is a great article in choosing a social media expert. Social media is the new gold rush, and the field is becoming increasingly congested with “experts”. Check out this article before hiring someone:
Full Article: microgeist.com/?p=158

Good article on using social media marketing for real-estate:
Full Article: http://www.globest.com/news/1371_1371/insider/177701-1.html
Social media–how people perceive your brand and what they say about it–is more important than ever before. Although social media started as simple conversations between individuals, it has evolved to conversations about companies and emerged as a significant driver of new business.
Experts say businesses [...]

So I just got this e-mail a few minutes ago:
————————————————————–
Hi Andrew,
I want to see what plans, if any, you have for an affiliate program in 2009?
We’re finding that marketers are increasingly turning to affiliate marketing in a bid to extend their online reach.  We have helped the best companies on the internet extend their online [...]