MAKING MONEY IN SOCIAL MEDIA

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/offerpal-media-raises-15-million-to-peddle-in-game-ads/?scp=1&sq=social%20media&st=cse

I found an intriguing article on the New York Times website about how a company called Offerpal Media is working to connect other company's with avatar-like games to get their advertisements out.

Game site owners realized that using normal banner advertisements wasn't working to pay for their site because their users weren't willing to click away from their game to view outside advertisements. This is where Offerpal Media came in. They take companies like Blockbuster and Gap and create quick surveys or sign-ups to get users to look at an advertisement, but then reward them by giving them in-game currency. This way consumers are responding to advertisements, as well as being continued users of the game.

I think that it is crazy to see how many new business and jobs are being created out of the social media world. They are occupations that people wouldn't normally think up, but are becoming lucrative ways to make money. Can you imagine if it was your job to check up on how many avatars had taken a survey so you know how much money needed to be paid from the advertiser to the game site owner. Its funny, but someone out there is doing it.

MY MOM HAS A FACEBOOK ?!?

So it finally happened this week.....my Mom got a Facebook. I had no warning. Went to my home page to look at my friend requests, and there was my Mother's face staring back at me. Needless to say I was a little freaked out. But I think this is a great example of how the social media age demographic is changing. My mom is 56 and just decided to get a Facebook. But her reasons for doing so were different then say some one between the ages of 17-21. My Mom got it to stay in touch with me and other three sisters that no longer live at home. Where as the younger generation uses Facebook to make new connections, and also keep in touch with those that live farther away.

I think now that age demographic is changing on Facebook it should be a sign that other social media tools will be pulling from an older generation too. Think back to the chapter in Groundswell that we read about the Alpha Mom. She is a person who is "kidcentric" and determined to find "mommy excellence". Some what like my Mom, this Alpha Moms are getting comfortable using technology, and want to take it to use for the benefit of themselves and their children.
So now as I get used to have wall posts from my Mom (of course with perfect grammar and punctuation), I will just look at it as an opportunity to see the growth of social media out of its original target market.

GROUNDSWELL STATISTICS

http://www.forrester.com/Groundswell/profile_tool.html

Female--Creators:

U.S. =22%
Japan=34%
Europe=13%

It doesn't surprise me that Japan has the highest percentage of creators. It has always seemed to me that Asia is constantly ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and their relationship with it. I expected though, that the difference between the United States and Japan would be greater. As for Europe, their percentage of female creators is below both the U.S. and Japan. I wondered why this is. I think it could depend on who they polled, what areas of Europe and so on. I assumed that Europe would have equal participation with the United States.

55+ --Inactives:

U.S.=38%
U.K.=67%

When it comes to the older generation, the U.S. has a much lower percentage of those that do not take part in social media. It seems to me that in the U.S. in general there are just more people using the Internet and making it part of the their everyday life. By looking at the numbers for the U.K. it appears that after the age of 40, the percentage of those inactive increases at a greater rate. This could be because these people are starting to leave the work force and have less of a need for constant connection, or maybe they just don't see the importance and possibilities of social media.

FACEBOOK ADS WORTH THE MONEY?

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/12/facebooks-brand-advertising-success-story-a-failure

So in searching for a topic to blog about, because my own social media life is not too interesting, I found this article that reminded me about the conversation we had in class about the Aids resource center.
The story is about the how Proctor and Gamble (creators of products like crest toothpaste etc.) are ending their advertising campaign with Facebook. The article went into detail about the crest white strips campaign that was on Facebook in 2006. Facebook called it a success, but looking into the outcomes it seems less than worthy of the title.
Just like the Aids resource center, becoming a "fan" of something on Facebook, is not going to get continued participation and interest. It is a one time click, whose link then gets lost amid the bumper stickers and wall posts on your page.

I think that P&G, who has a marketing budget of over $300 million, made the right choice in dropping Facebook. I think that looking into another type of social media would be their best bet. They need to have a legitimate two way conversation with their consumers. I think Twitter might be a good fit. It would allow P&G to make short posts about new products, promotions etc., and then allow for feedback and comments from consumers. It would be a step up from Facebook which really was nothing more than a widget in terms of participation.