Article : http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122697440743636123.html
Advertisement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmykFKjNpdY
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) released an advertisement this past weekend for their over the counter pain pill Motrin. According to the Wall Street Journal article, the ad was "geared towards mothers who get back pain from carrying their babies in slings". The problem was that people felt the ad was "an insensitive portrayal of women's pain" according to the article. What did the masses do in response? With lighting speed they hit blogs, You Tube, and Twitter in an attempt to get the word out that this ad needed to be pulled. Not only did they succeed, but it took less than three days for J&J to pull the ad. To J&J's credit, they are up to date with Web 2.0 tools. They have their own health channel on You Tube, and a blog called JNJ BTW (JNJ By The Way). J&J actually issued an apology through their consumer web blog......I was impressed with how fast the social networks were able to get J&J's attention, and ultimately get the ad pulled.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Working for Obama!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122653748039422809.html
I know Prof. Kane had blogged about change.gov, and I wanted to add some additional color after reading today's paper. It looks like there are approximately 7,000 government jobs that open up after each president leaves office. These jobs are referred to as "politically appointed, or non career positions", according to the article. Areas of interest are accounting, communications, law, engineering, technology and education. Unfortunately, there are no finance jobs for those like me. But to be honest, I am very happy where I am currently. You can go and get a description of the jobs available at gpoaccess.gov, or through print editions of the Plum Book. After finding a job that interests you, the application can be filled out and submitted on change.gov, just like Prof. Kane did. The article mentions that if you are serious about applying, make sure you specify what type of job you want, it will improve your chances. There are some factors that will not pass the screening process like poor credit rating, failure to pay income taxes, and child-support delinquency......For those who are looking for jobs, looking for a change of pace, or simply supporters of the next administration, this might be something of interest. Cheers!
I know Prof. Kane had blogged about change.gov, and I wanted to add some additional color after reading today's paper. It looks like there are approximately 7,000 government jobs that open up after each president leaves office. These jobs are referred to as "politically appointed, or non career positions", according to the article. Areas of interest are accounting, communications, law, engineering, technology and education. Unfortunately, there are no finance jobs for those like me. But to be honest, I am very happy where I am currently. You can go and get a description of the jobs available at gpoaccess.gov, or through print editions of the Plum Book. After finding a job that interests you, the application can be filled out and submitted on change.gov, just like Prof. Kane did. The article mentions that if you are serious about applying, make sure you specify what type of job you want, it will improve your chances. There are some factors that will not pass the screening process like poor credit rating, failure to pay income taxes, and child-support delinquency......For those who are looking for jobs, looking for a change of pace, or simply supporters of the next administration, this might be something of interest. Cheers!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Please, no more ads!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122637098500816351.html
Facebook has been experimenting with a new version of online ads called "engagement ads". These ads would appear on the main screen when you log into your Facebook account and they would require some interaction. If you reply, in typical Facebook fashion, they let all your friends know that you "liked this trailor", or you "added this event to your calendar". It basically spreads the pain of online ads. ARGHHHH. These ads require you to respond in some fashion, you simply cant ignore the ad. They also are a cheaper version of advertising than banner ads. My question is, do we need more internet ads? Will these ads take away from the Facebook experience? I think in the short term "engagement ads" are not a game changer, but I would really like to avoid having to intentionally respond to an ad when I use Facebook.
The good news is that the growth of the online ad market is slowing from 17% in 2008 to 14.5% in 2009. According to the article, advertising on social networking sites is particularly vulnerable as there is currently no right way to measure the effectiveness of these "engagement ads". Also, ad agencies view Facebook as being a narrow audience, limiting the effectiveness of the ad to reach broader audiences.
Facebook has been experimenting with a new version of online ads called "engagement ads". These ads would appear on the main screen when you log into your Facebook account and they would require some interaction. If you reply, in typical Facebook fashion, they let all your friends know that you "liked this trailor", or you "added this event to your calendar". It basically spreads the pain of online ads. ARGHHHH. These ads require you to respond in some fashion, you simply cant ignore the ad. They also are a cheaper version of advertising than banner ads. My question is, do we need more internet ads? Will these ads take away from the Facebook experience? I think in the short term "engagement ads" are not a game changer, but I would really like to avoid having to intentionally respond to an ad when I use Facebook.
The good news is that the growth of the online ad market is slowing from 17% in 2008 to 14.5% in 2009. According to the article, advertising on social networking sites is particularly vulnerable as there is currently no right way to measure the effectiveness of these "engagement ads". Also, ad agencies view Facebook as being a narrow audience, limiting the effectiveness of the ad to reach broader audiences.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The presidential election hinges on Social Networking sites? Maybe.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122456174919853363.html (referenced article is half way down the page)
According to a Wall Street Journal article posted on Tuesday, both candidates McCain and Obama will turn to social networking sites as a place to woo voters. I find this fascinating from a voter perspective. In a (fairly) close election, swaying independent or undecided voters one way or another could represent a dramatic shift in the outcome. Given that many voters feel like their vote doesn't matter, receiving attention through these sites might help change their view on voting.
A company called Rapleaf, did some research on social networking sites, focusing on the sites popularity in certain "swing" states. In Iowa, Facebook and Yearbook.com are most popular and are sure to garner the most attention from the candidates. In Wisconsin, Bebo Inc. is the most popular. Close to home for us, New Hampshire, which has an aged voter population, tends to use Linked In. You have to think that if the WSJ can get some of this information for an article, then McCain and Obama are already working on a plan of attack if one hasn't already started.
This got me thinking. I have seen quite a few people becoming friends with candidates on Facebook. In fact, John McCain has 588,228 friends, and Obama has 2,210,799 friends. There is no doubt in my mind that advertising and promoting themselves on social networks will ultimately garner more votes for each candidate, but it also will get more people out to vote as they realize their vote matters.
Cheers,
Matt
According to a Wall Street Journal article posted on Tuesday, both candidates McCain and Obama will turn to social networking sites as a place to woo voters. I find this fascinating from a voter perspective. In a (fairly) close election, swaying independent or undecided voters one way or another could represent a dramatic shift in the outcome. Given that many voters feel like their vote doesn't matter, receiving attention through these sites might help change their view on voting.
A company called Rapleaf, did some research on social networking sites, focusing on the sites popularity in certain "swing" states. In Iowa, Facebook and Yearbook.com are most popular and are sure to garner the most attention from the candidates. In Wisconsin, Bebo Inc. is the most popular. Close to home for us, New Hampshire, which has an aged voter population, tends to use Linked In. You have to think that if the WSJ can get some of this information for an article, then McCain and Obama are already working on a plan of attack if one hasn't already started.
This got me thinking. I have seen quite a few people becoming friends with candidates on Facebook. In fact, John McCain has 588,228 friends, and Obama has 2,210,799 friends. There is no doubt in my mind that advertising and promoting themselves on social networks will ultimately garner more votes for each candidate, but it also will get more people out to vote as they realize their vote matters.
Cheers,
Matt
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Cloud Computing has me in a cloud!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122214259441966713.html?mod=hps_us_my_companies
Every morning when I get to work I try to make my way through the WSJ. Some mornings I am so busy tracking my companies as an Equity Analyst that I can't get through it all. This morning I noticed two articles that were of interest to our class. The article I chose to blog about was on Cloud Computing. Last week in our class Prof. Kane explained to us what Clouod Computing was, and he even gave an example in Amazon.com. Well this article mentions Amazon.com but offers up some interesting points on the definition of the phrase.
In the article, Salesforce.com CEO Mark Benioff refers to Cloud Computing as a means by which two companies can share software. This is quite a bit different than sharing spare processing power as with Amazon.com. The article goes on to mention that the term Cloud Computing has taken on all differnt meanings including: Virtualization software, and online software. No company wants to be left behind in trying to leverage the phrase into additional sales of their products.
As a result of so many companies changing the definition of the word, the expression Cloud Computing is essentially meaningless. Dell actually tried to copyright the phrase based on its feeling that cloud computing would not be possible without its products.
For a JV member of the computer world, it is of little surprise to me that yet another phrase in the computer world blows right by me. Fast and furious, thats how the tech world operates. It actually makes me feel like my current job as an equity analyst isnt so fast moving after all!
Every morning when I get to work I try to make my way through the WSJ. Some mornings I am so busy tracking my companies as an Equity Analyst that I can't get through it all. This morning I noticed two articles that were of interest to our class. The article I chose to blog about was on Cloud Computing. Last week in our class Prof. Kane explained to us what Clouod Computing was, and he even gave an example in Amazon.com. Well this article mentions Amazon.com but offers up some interesting points on the definition of the phrase.
In the article, Salesforce.com CEO Mark Benioff refers to Cloud Computing as a means by which two companies can share software. This is quite a bit different than sharing spare processing power as with Amazon.com. The article goes on to mention that the term Cloud Computing has taken on all differnt meanings including: Virtualization software, and online software. No company wants to be left behind in trying to leverage the phrase into additional sales of their products.
As a result of so many companies changing the definition of the word, the expression Cloud Computing is essentially meaningless. Dell actually tried to copyright the phrase based on its feeling that cloud computing would not be possible without its products.
For a JV member of the computer world, it is of little surprise to me that yet another phrase in the computer world blows right by me. Fast and furious, thats how the tech world operates. It actually makes me feel like my current job as an equity analyst isnt so fast moving after all!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Batter up!
How about the stock market at the end of the day today. Buckle your chin straps, this is going to be a crazy finish.
MPL
MPL
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