WSP03 Extra – Diffusion of Innovations
by Tom Anthony on Apr.11, 2008, under Show Extras
The surge of you tube is not just a phenomenon; it is a fundamental change in how ordinary folks use the internet. Just about everybody I know across all age groups have at least watched a you tube video, a lot have posted video. The other day my stepdaughter posted one of the grandbaby doing sign language. Not only is that particular video truly amazing — the fact that grandmothers and great grandmothers all over the world are experiencing the best side of people — using technology — has put the technology in a whole new light. It is easy, it is fun, and it is not just limited to unsavory traffic.
If you accept this premise then the next logical conclusion is that business will follow suit.
There is an adoption acceptance curve for all technology. Everett M. Rogers in his 1962 book, Diffusion of Innovations, theorized that innovations would spread through society in an S curve, as the early adopters select the technology first, followed by the majority, until a technology or innovation is common. And while there are lots of exceptions, generally that theory holds up today.
- Innovators
- Early Adopters
- Early Majority
- Late Majority
- Laggards
I would like to think I fall into the first bucket. This is not a brag – just letting you have the context here. Video on the internet – more or less – was invented by Real Networks in February 1997. In 1997 I produced for the internet a video clip of Joe Cipriano doing a commercial for the Simpsons on Fox TV. As far as I know – and I truly believe – that was the first use of Video as a promotional vehicle for TV announcers on the internet. Back in 1997, I was using a low bandwidth version optimized for 14.4 modem that was essentially a slide show.
Joe still has video on his web site – but it’s now a much better quality. He also has plenty of video on You Tube. Here is one I edited from the off air recording for him.
Now come full circle and compare that with the home video of our granddaughter doing sign language on you tube for grandmother and great grandmother. The point is – that if Rogers theory on the Diffusion of Innovations has any validly, if you are not using video on the internet for your business you will soon become a minority. It is tough to catch up.
Another Example
Here is an industrial video I produced a little over a year ago for Landmark Communications. They are the company that owns the weather channel and weather dot com – although this video was for a much smaller division of the company, Continental Broadband. It is a product demonstration for geeks. Enjoy.
From time to time Tom Anthony, the host of the Web Strategies Podcast, uses video or discusses technology like You Tube. This is where that video generally lives.
If You’re Not Committed. . .
by Tom Anthony on Apr.07, 2008, under Podcast Show Notes, Show Extras
If You’re Not Committed… Don’t Go All The Way.
Just one week passed between show one and two and the first show has been downloaded 72 times. I am just astounded and very, very grateful. Thank you for your interest! We had very positive feedback from the first podcast; with guest was Tom Walker, President of Web Teks. We brought Tom back for this show and hope to feature him often. Tom Walker is a very smart guy when it comes to understanding business and the role of technology.
This week Tom discusses how to begin a web initiative, or perhaps more importantly how not to.
WSP 02 Podcast Extra
In our Web Strategy Podcast Extra we talk about a Web 2.0 social bookmarking site called Delicious. Actually it’s a clever URL that spells the word Delicious – like this http://del.icio.us. Now I love it, but I have to admit it’s a web site I used for many weeks before I actually had the ahh-haa moment.
After tracking 186 bookmarked web pages I found myself giving a link out to a particular tag. Oh – a TAG is a single word description of what the content relates to. Sort of like a keyword. That tag happened be web 2.0 – when I looked at the whole list it allowed me to view the subject in a much more organized way. Please take a few minutes to visit my Delicious page, where you’ll see tags relating to Marketing, Technology, and Pod Casting among others. The particular link I refer to in WSP 02 is http://del.icio.us/tomanthonydotcom/web2.0.
If you have questions or comments they are welcomed and will be responded to. Thanks for your interest!
KPI vs. ROI
by Tom Anthony on Mar.29, 2008, under Podcast Show Notes
This is The Web Strategies Podcast Number 01, and let’s begin by telling you what the show is not. There is no online course in business development to buy. We don’t have some mega seminar to buy tickets for– except in the sense that this podcast is distributing information widely. In fact we are not selling anything.
There is no such thing as a free lunch so I must say this podcast does have a business strategy. I believe, and our sponsor Web Teks believes, that by freely giving the same kind of information we give to our consultancy clients you may see a value in our level of expertise as it applies to your business. Otherwise, this is free.
I believe we have an interesting first program, talking about the difference between performance and return on investment.
In Wikipedia KPI is defined this way: Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are financial and non-financial metrics used to help an organization define and measure progress toward organizational goals. KPIs are used in Business Intelligence to assess the present state of the business and to prescribe a course of action.
While ROI is defined as equivalent a core financial; rate of return. It is the ratio of money gained or lost on an investment relative to the amount of money invested. Big difference, but both related. In Podcast WSP 01 Tom Walker gives us his views on the difference.
WSP 01 Podcast Extra
This week I wanted to offer you directions to get to one of the most remarkable resources on the internet: iTunes U. Apple accurately describes it this way: iTunes U puts the power of the iTunes Store to work for colleges and universities, so users can easily search, download, and play course content just like they do music, movies, and TV shows
Head and shoulders above the pack for my taste are three files I found on iTunes U featuring Author Thomas L. Friedman. First if you have not purchased the book “The World Is Flat” you are really missing the picture of how and why the world is transforming into a global economy. Do a power search for Friedman and you’ll find those files and a great talk about his new book, Green is the new Red White and Blue. This is Very worthwhile material. To find it go to iTunes and search for Thomas L. Friedman.
The Web Strategies Podcast
by Tom Anthony on Mar.18, 2008, under Podcast Show Notes
Welcome to the Web Strategies Podcast program web site featuring program notes and links for each show. You may subscribe to our program here or through iTunes. The Web Strategies Podcast is a program dedicated to the technology and techniques of marketing your business on the internet. I am the site administrator and podcast moderator Tom Anthony.
How did we pick the name? Well, first the program is a podcast, and it is specifically about web strategies. That is where I live my professional life. In my day job I am the Vice President, Client Services for our program sponsor Web Teks, a Virginia based Consulting and eBusiness Solutions Firm.
Second – this is true so help me – while sitting in the waiting room at a routine doctor’s appointment I looked up this domain name on my Palm Treo phone. When I found it was available I actually purchased the domain through the browser on my cell phone. Seemed like a good sign.
Shortly we will post a series of programs with a focus on the strategic internet. We welcome your feedback and hope you will review our podcast on iTunes. Thanks for your interest.
-
Welcome to The Web Strategies Podcast!
To subscribe to the podcast directly through iTunes click here.
