Gowalla 2.0 Launches for iPhone
March 12, 2010
Gowalla is a service that has been getting a lot of buzz lately. If you're not familiar with it, it's a location-based social networksing service that comes in the form of mobile apps. Gowalla announced today, the availability of Gowalla 2.0 for the iPhone 3G and 3GS platforms.
Gowalla highlights the following new features with this version:
- Design – Gowalla developers have created a fresh new experience that is more flexible, readable and usable.
- Photos – Gowalla 2.0 gives users the ability to not only check in and create new spots; they can also upload a photo after checking in, browse photos from friends and see photos taken at that spot.
- Checkin Commenting – Now when a friend checks in someplace, other users in the community are able to tell that friend what they think.
- Multiple checkin messages – Users now have more opportunities to add messages even after they’ve left a checkin spot. Skipped typing a message? Come back and add one.
- Hot spots – The most popular spots nearby will be highlighted for users in a particular area to discover.
- Browse friends – and friends of friends. Browsing friends’ bookmarked spots and creating trips are two new features put in place by Gowalla’s developers by popular demand.
- Facebook, Twitter and web links – Building your Gowalla network is easier than ever with more ways to stay connected with friends through Facebook, Twitter and web links.
- Spot details – Address, phone numbers, Twitter names, Facebook pages and website will now be available in several checkin spots.
Gowalla will be heavily involved in SXSW (of which WebProNews will be covering the Interactive portion). Gowalla has updated its SXSW mini-site that details all of the SXSW initiatives the company will be rolling out, including: real world rewards, competitions, challenges and events.
Context Optional Launches Facebook Brand Management Suite
February 22, 2010
Social marketing company Context Optional has launched Social Marketing Suite (SMS), a customizable platform for brands to manage and build their presence on Facebook.
"Brands that have taken social seriously need to find more efficient ways to stay involved in consumer conversations while keeping pages interesting and free of profanity," said Kevin Barenblat, co-founder and CEO, Context Optional.
"Marketers are demanding workflow and analytics solutions for Facebook that are on par with what they use for television, email and search."
The SMS allows brands to build and launch applications on Facebook Pages, moderate conversations, schedule Facebook posts, track media and links, and analyze engagement and conversation on Facebook.
More than a dozen global brands and agencies have licensed Context Optional's Social Marketing Suite including Fortune 500 companies in the retail, technology, entertainment and financial services sectors.
Social networking users are increasingly making themselves more open to brands and 59 percent of online consumers are active on social networks at least once a month, according to a recent Forrester Research study.
EU Calls For More Privacy On Social Networks
February 9, 2010
The European Commission is reminding teenagers to "Think before you post!" on social networking sites as Europe marks Safer Internet Day.
The Commission said 50 percent of European teenagers give out personal information on the web, which can remain online forever and be seen by anybody.
At last year's Safer Internet Day, 20 companies signed the Safer Social Networking Principles, including YouTube and Facebook, but a report from the Commission says more measures need to be put in place to protect children's privacy online.
"If we want children to think before they post, social networking companies should post the right information using the right language. Last year the European Commission urged companies to act, and I am glad that many have heeded this call," said EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding.
"However I expect all companies to do more. Minors' profiles need to be set to private by default and questions or abuse reports have to receive quick and appropriate responses. The internet is now vital to our children, and it is the responsibility of all to make it safe."
Highlights from the report include:
- Only a third of social networking sites responded to user reports asking for help
- 40% of social networking sites assessed make minors' personal information visible only by their friends by default
- Only 11 out of 22 make it impossible for the private profiles of minors to be found through search engines
Have You Read This?
>EU Launches Online Consumer Rights Guide
> EU Probes UK Over Internet Privacy
> EU Commissoner Pushers For Independent ICANN
Google’s One-Minute Guide to Search-Based Keywords
January 2, 2010
Google has put together a one-minute guide to using its Search-based Keyword tool. The tool was launched just over a year ago in beta. It lets paid search advertisers see what keywords they may be missing out on based on searches on their site.
"Millions of people use Google each day to find products and services by searching on various keywords," says Dan Friedman of Google's Inside AdWords Crew. "This means that by including all keywords that are relevant to your product or service in your campaigns, you can ensure you can ensure that you will reach a greater set of potential customers. To help you do this, you can use the Search-based Keyword Tool to quickly identify relevant keywords which aren't yet included in your AdWords campaigns."
The guide follows:
Earlier this year, Google made some improvements to the search-based keyword tool. The company not only expanded the reach to Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and New Zealand in addition to the US and the UK, but users can also now select the currency they'd like to see suggested bids in on the setting page.
Google also added some customization features to the tool this year that could lead to more targeted results for users. These include language/country-specific results and ad/search share filters.
Have You Read This?
> Google Improves Search-Based Keyword Tool
> Google Launches Search-Based Keyword Tool
