Do you really think people read your blog???

It is funny to know that most significant revolutions of the last twenty years have all had to do with communication, more specific: with writing! Think about it: First we had email, then webpages, then mobile phone texting and now we have blogs. All of this reflects a trend whereby the world is becoming more formal in how it communicates.

Some people say there's a book inside everybody and the Internet and blogs have let the book out! For example, there has literally been an explosion of opinions!

The advantages of blogs from an organizational perspective include the following:

1. The consumer and citizen are potentially better informed and this can only be good for the long-term health of our societies and economies.
2. Blogs have potential to help the organization develop stronger relationships and brand loyalty with its customers, as they interact with the ‘human face’ of the organization through blogs.
3. Blogs, in an intranet environment, can be an excellent way of sharing knowledge within the organization.
4. Blogs can be a positive way of getting feedback, and keeping your finger on the pulse, as readers react to certain pieces, suggest story ideas, etc.
5. Blogs can build the profile of the writer, showcasing the organization as having talent and expertise.

The disadvantages of blogs are:

1. Most people don’t have very much to say that’s interesting, and/or are unable to write down their ideas in a compelling and clear manner.
2. I have often found that the people who have most time to write have least to say, and the people who have most to say don’t have enough time to write it. Thus, the real expertise within the organization lays hidden, as you get drowned in trivia.
3. Like practically everything else on the Web, blogs are easy to start and hard to maintain. Writing coherently is one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks for a human being to undertake. So, far from blogs being a cheap strategy, they are a very expensive one, in that they eat up time. As a result, many blogs are not updated, thus damaging rather than enhancing the reputation of the organization.
4. Organizations are not democracies. The Web makes many organizations look like disorganizations, with multiple tones and opinions. Contrary to what some might think, the average customer prefers it if the organization they are about to purchase from is at least somewhat coherent.

Shocking Advertisements & Commercials

As written below, we see advertisements everywhere, in the street, on the internet, on television and for example during sporting events. Because we see on average 3000 ads per day, it is very important to gain attention. Shocking content in an advertisement or commercial significantly increases attention, benefits memory, and positively influences behavior of people. When attention is drawn to the advertisement or the commercial companies expect that further processing will take place. The companies use these techniques nowadays more often thinking that a shock appeal will influence the customers behavior. Some advertising purposely breaches social norms with the intent to shock, which implies that companies are willing to go far beyond the borders to gain attention. Next to companies, also government organizations are willing to play this game along. See for example the next two movies from a road safety organization. These movies are extremely shocking and want to remind people to drive carefully and watch out on the road.

Road Safety Organization video 1
Road Safety Organization video 2

Besides the importance to watch out on the road, the government tells us for years that smoking is bad for our health. When normal advertisements and commercials didn’t work, they went to the shocking abilities. Have a look at the next two movies.

Anti Smoke Video 1
Anti Smoke Video 2

Do you want to see more shocking commercials? Just search for them at YouTube and become aware of how happy you are at this very moment! BUT WAIT! Before you go, please let me know whether you accept shocking commercials or not on the right site of this page!

Windows Live Messenger

MSN Messenger is one of the best and most popular instant message service existing nowadays, through this application people can be in contact with thousands of people in the network. Before the product was renamed Windows Live Messenger, it was known as 'MSN Messenger Service'. The first version of MSN Messenger service was released in 1999.

MSN allows you to be in contact instantly all around the world, in addition, it enables people to chat with many users at the same time, to send emoticons, avatars, wall screen among others; one can also share folders, make PC-to-PC calls, make PC-to-Phone, send offline messages, and play games.

Windows Live Messenger is the most popular instant messenger in Europe. In the year 2004 27 million Europeans made use of this program and in The Netherlands 5.3 million people made use of it. More and more companies are using these kind of communication programs, for example to have direct contact with their suppliers. Nowadays it is even possible to communicate with messenger through a mobile phone!

But why is this popular program for free? Many people will certainly be able to pay for this application. The answer is probably because Windows Live Messenger has enough sponsors that pay a lot of money to get visible in the main page and other places.