How Social Media can help in growing the Business?

Social media is the use of web based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Social media is the next big thing currently. It is one of the finest ways of marketing your brand, product across the globe using a single click. Social Media giants like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Digg, Stumbleupon and LinkedIn are making millions and millions of dollars right now. Let’s see how social media is changing our lives.

Social Media platforms

Starting it with my article on the advent of Facebook as a tool connecting people over the internet, Social media has really reshaped the society. The society, globally, has become more digitalized as people tend to spend most of their time online. People are communicating more often over the internet, getting into relations online and making revenues by Electric commerce. This gives us an insight about the penetration level of Internet in our daily lives. The social media is one of the most happening things over the internet now days and is one of the vital elements for any business.

Social Media Circle

What is the role of Social Media in business?

Branded companies like Coca Cola, Wal-mart, Nike, Gucci etc are spending billions of dollars on advertisement every year. The main aim of the advertisement is to remind the consumer about the brand every now and then. Since these companies are already well established and they don’t even need to advertise still they are spending huge amount of money for making sure that the end user always has the name of their brand in his mind. With the technological advancements in the IT industry people are leaning more towards online world. An average person spending almost 13 hours on the internet clearly suggests the rapid growth of internet. Companies have learnt this fact and are inclining towards online marketing more. Social media marketing has the same impact as of advertisement.

Why Social Media is the better choice in Marketing?

Using social media marketing you can create a social presence for your company over the internet and with an average user spending more time on the computer than on TV; you have every chance to get more attention. There are other benefits of that too.

Social Media Features

• The reach is extensive in Social Media. You can target more people from diverse geographical, cultural, economical areas. Because of the reach, things get more viral over the internet.
• The cost per reach is not that high. When you get the chance to reach millions of people through the same banner advertisement the cost automatically gets lower than that spent on TV advertisements.
• More ways of advertisement, you get a variety of ways of advertising your brand including videos, photos, updates etc.
• You can directly interact with your end user and get very up to date Feedback regarding your product. You can ask questions, debate, comment, reply to the consumer’s queries more conveniently and you will be able to know where you product stands.
• Blogging is another key feature which helps you in sharing your opinions with your users. You can share your views, reviews and get to know more about your users this way.

The importance of Social can’t be denied and I won’t be wrong in quoting that Social media will become the most important part of marketing for every company working. Digital world is progressing rapidly and has a promising future, with a scintillating prospect without a doubt it can become the most significant platform in changing the course of online World making it more interactive and lively.

Why Blackberry RIM is losing its market share to other Smartphone manufacturers?

Blackberry RIM (Research in Motion) is a Smart phone manufacturing Canadian firm operating since 1999. It is currently the fourth most popular smart phone with 11.7% market share of the world behind Ericsson, Google and Apple. Blackberry started as the market leader introducing the push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services back in 2003. It started off as a hardcore professional smart phone manufacturer and soon gained commendable publicity worldwide. Lately Blackberry RIM has been declining significantly and losing its market share especially to Android and iOS. In this blog I’ll talk about the reasons which led to its downfall and we’ll see if BlackBerry has any chance of survival in the coming time.

How Blackberry is losing its market share?

Starting from the recent outage of Blackberry services in October, 2011; when an open letter to RIM CEOs came up addressing the failure of Blackberry PR, nothing really turned out good for RIM. New launches were not that successful and nearly 60% of Blackberry RIM users in US are planning to switch to either Android or Apple by the end of next year. Let’s see how it all started. Blackberry was Wall Street’s baby until Apple and Google launched its first iPhone and Android in 2007 respectively. For RIM’s adversity it never felt the need for a real innovation. Blackberry users were using the same technology for years and they needed a change which Android and Apple provided. It all started there and then. Blackberry didn’t realize the need of an hour, which was innovation, and it kept on giving the same services thinking that who’ll mess with RIM. This is where it all begins, RIM never went too far to feel a need of marketing intensely and the other companies made use of its over confidence.

According to Michael Mace

“In my opinion, RIM’s real problems center around two big issues: its market is saturating, and it seems to have lost the ability to create great products. This is a classic problem that eventually faces most successful computer platforms. The danger is not that RIM is about to collapse, but that it’ll drift into in a situation where it can’t afford the investments needed to succeed in the future. It’s very easy for a company to accidentally cross that line, and very hard to get back across it.

There’s a lesson in RIM’s situation for every tech company, so it’s worthwhile to spend some time understanding what’s happening.”

Why Blackberry is failing as a product?

Primarily Innovation was the main reason because of which Blackberry is facing such a rapid downfall. Most of the smart phone users have gone so far and called the upcoming launches of RIM “Boring”. Another reason is the lack of applications in Blackberry. Looks like even the developers don’t like the idea of making Blackberry apps. Since its debut in 2009 only 26,000 applications of Blackberry have been developed as of April 2011. Blackberry’s core competence were its push e-mail and BBM (Blackberry Messenger Service), of late almost all mobile phones have push e-mails and the new iMessage introduced by Apple is gunning for BBM.

What Blackberry should do to strike back?

Blackberry OS 7 is already facing the downfall despite the fact that it’s yet to be released. Blackberry’s future looks blurry with no real hope as it also lost its competitive advantage of BBM which ensured its sales in Middle East and Africa mainly. There are certain things which could be done to save Blackberry for all the right reasons. As Michael Mace says,

“To fix their problems, RIM needs to create rigorous up-front planning processes in its software team, with someone who has dictatorial power placed in charge of overall software integration for a device or OS release. Also, the product manager needs to be empowered (actually required) to delay shipment of a product if it’s not right. I’m sure someone at RIM knew about the problems in the Torch. The fact that the company went ahead and shipped it is almost as disturbing as the problems themselves.”

What Blackberry needs is a visionary innovation that will give RIM a reason to stay in the market and compete at the top level. Along with that the company needs to change its development process to guarantee proper design and integrating all products. There’s a lot of work needed to be done if Blackberry RIM really wants to make sure that it stays in the competition and reclaim its lost market share.

Zong to Launch BIG

Zong has emerged as the fastest growing telecommunications network in Pakistan. Its recent partnership with the most reputed football club of the world, Manchester United, is changing its perception of Chinese brand . Zong, still has to leverage this partnership that is extended to three years agreement.

Zong revealed to throw surprises to football/ManU fans on its official facebook page. Facebook status reads as, "Close to the edge, Red, Sounds of the surprise. Be prepared!"


The decision to sign an agreement with a football club in a society who has intense devotion for cricket is somehow a risk. On contrary, over-zealous niche of football fans cannot be neglected here. I find them the opinion makers from middle, upper-middle and elites of Pakistan. Also, as an opportunist, it is the time to penetrate football in athletic souls of Pakistani youth.

What would be Zong's surprise now? Campaigning with Manchester United players or a football thematic product?


Make sure it will be a huge surprise!

Patents War;is it only the blame game or Does Patents really matter? | RED SIGNAL Blog

Patents War;is it only the blame game or Does Patents really matter? | RED SIGNAL Blog

Steve Jobs Biography: The Best Excerpts

This is taken from Mashable for more details visit www.mashable.com

Numerous media outlets got their hands on the highly anticipated Steve Jobs biography Thursday, which won’t be released to the public until Oct. 24.

Below are excerpts of the book featured in news articles across the web.

Biographer Walter Isaacson — who will be interviewed onSunday night’s 60 Minutes — had unprecedented access to Jobs as well as his family, friends, colleagues and adversaries for two years leading up to a few weeks before the Apple innovator died Oct. 5.

Pre-orders for Steve Jobs: A Biography spiked after Jobs passed away, hitting number one on Amazon‘s sales chart. The book will be available in hardcover, audio and ebook formats.

From The New York Times story:

• “Mr. Jobs told Mr. Isaacson that he was either going to be one of the first ‘to outrun a cancer like this’ or be among the last ‘to die from it,” wrote NYT‘s Steve Lohr.
• “The big thing was that he really was not ready to open his body. It’s hard to push someone to do that,” said his wife, Laurene Powell.

From The Associated Press story:

• “I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this,” Jobs said after HTC released an Android phone in early 2010. “I don’t want your money. If you offer me $5 billion, I won’t want it. I’ve got plenty of money. I want you to stop using our ideas in Android, that’s all I want.’’
• 
  “I really didn’t want them to open up my body, so I tried to see if a few other things would work,” Jobs said.“Hewlett and Packard built a great company, and they thought they had left it in good hands. But now it’s being dismembered and destroyed,” Jobs said about HP’s recent decision to discontinue operations for webOS devices. “I hope I’ve left a stronger legacy so that will never happen at Apple.’’

From The Huffington Post story:

• “Bill [Gates] is basically unimaginative and has never invented anything, which is why I think he’s more comfortable now in philanthropy than technology. He just shamelessly ripped off other people’s ideas,” Jobs said.
• On meeting his biological father for the first time: “It was amazing,” Jobs said. “I was a wealthy man by then, and I didn’t trust him not to try to blackmail me or go to the press about it.”
• “You’re headed for a one-term presidency,” Jobs told U.S. President Barack Obama when they met in 2010.
• “I wanted my kids to know me,” Jobs said in his final interview with Isaacson. “I wasn’t always there for them and I wanted them to know why and to understand what I did.”
• “We all have a short period of time on this earth,” Jobs said. “We probably only have the opportunity to do a few things really great and do them well. None of us has any idea how long we’re gong to be here nor do I, but my feeling is I’ve got to accomplish a lot of these things while I’m young.”

What are you most excited to learn about in the biography? Chime in below.

Revolution..Yeah We need that but how? How can we bring a change as an individual?

Enough said about bringing a revolution. In this huge pile of 170 million people everyone loves to talk about bringing a “Change” or a “Revolution” in country but nobody actually knows how to bring one and how to change the country’s situation. That’s been our dilemma lately, we like bitching about our system our politicians but we really don’t know what can we do to make an impact as an individual. No offence but we are equally as bad as our corrupt politicians because we, like them, only talk about changes and policies but we don’t really plunge into anything to make things happen and that includes myself.

Pakistan is on the verge of its worst traumas. Country is running into losses with bad debts, below par living standards and more than 40% still living under the poverty line. Economy is jeopardy, chaos is on the rise and bombings have been a tradition lately. The country still stands where it was in 1947 or I won’t be wrong if I say that Pakistan is at an even worse condition than it was in 1947 because, in 47’ at least we had people who were hungry for a scintillating future. They were united and wanted to cruise this sinking ship in the right direction to make it a successful, peaceful homeland for Pakistanis. But look what we have here; agonizingly frustrated dark era.

Well this is what we have been crying over for so many years but unfortunately for some inexplicable reason we haven’t been able to bring about a change. Now I ask why? We have been facing the same problem from the last 64 years; constitution has been broken more than once, resources not been captivated, economy has been declining consistently but still by hook or by crook one idiot replaces the other to run this country making amendments according to his wish and we bow down to them cursing them in our hearts and waiting for the next idiot, who for some odd reasons always looks like the only hope but as the time goes we start remembering the last one and after some comparisons we come to the conclusion,” Pehle wala banda hi theek tha.” For our great history full of good deeds even God has been giving signs by earthquakes, floods and most recently dengue to the country that we are surely topping the list of detesters.

Starting with the dead spirit of our nation we don’t need a wakeup call now because we have had many. There is the need to really prove that actions speak louder than words because we now need someone to stand up. Imran khan is a reasonable guy, no doubts he is the best we have right now but in my opinion even he is not the one who can really bring a “Revolution” but certainly he can bring some good changes and can be the first step towards the prosper Pakistan. We need to individually help his good cause. He needs to really target the internal affairs first rather than talking about external affairs too much. Drones, US will automatically come to an end when we will have a good system through good people.

System won’t change on its own since it’s something intangible which is directly influenced by people and here we need to change ourselves to change the system. Maybe start following the traffic signals, at least be a Good citizen first then you might add fuel to the fire of bringing a revolution or a change. Do your work honestly and play your part in making the economy of the country stronger. One thing is for sure, bringing a “CHANGE” doesn’t mean that you have to come out on streets dissing the politicians or others. These politicians are not called from anywhere else, they are the ones picked by us. Don’t blame them; blame yourself for not Voting for the right candidate. Use this most powerful tool given to you as the rightful citizen of Pakistan in the right way; it’s your duty to VOTE.

I would end this debate with a quote hoping that we would try to bring a change to our self first rather than waiting for the system and others to change, “When you can stand for what you believe in, you can change the world.”

I hope Pakistan will come up as the best country soon, I just hope that we will be able to live with our heads held high, I just hope because Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

Why You Should Stop Being Nice and Start Being Helpful | Bits Station

Why You Should Stop Being Nice and Start Being Helpful | Bits Station

Ron* was up next. As a senior analyst in this investment firm — and a good one — he knew a lot about the company he was about to pitch to the management committee.

He paused for a minute as he sorted through the pages of numbers in front of him and then he began to present his case.

Even though Ron described himself as a numbers guy, he seemed to really enjoy this part of his job. He was meticulous in presenting his ideas and took pride in the depth of his analysis.

Twenty minutes later, as the meeting ended, Laurie, the head of the firm, thanked him for his work, specifically remarking on his exhaustive research. He smiled and thanked her.

Everyone filed out except Laurie and me. I asked her how she thought the meeting went.

“Oh my goodness,” she said, “What’s the best way to handle an analyst who drones on and on?”

“Who?” I asked. “Ron?”

“He’s a great analyst, a smart investor, and a really nice guy. But he talks too much.”

“But you told him he did a great job!”

“His analysis was great. But his presentation . . .” She trailed off with a chuckle.

“Have you told him?”

“I’ve hinted but no, not specifically.”

“Why not?”

“I probably should.”

But she hasn’t. And the reason is simple: Laurie is nice.

I know her socially and she’s a delight. I’ve never seen her do anything that could be remotely construed as mean or rude. And to tell someone that they drone on feels both mean and rude.

But it’s neither. It’s compassionate.

If we don’t provide each other with feedback, we won’t become aware of our blind spots. Which means that Ron will continue to drone on and, without ever understanding why, lose his audience and his impact.

Giving people feedback is an act of trust and confidence. It shows that you believe in their ability to change. That you believe they will use the information to become better. And that you have faith in their potential. It’s also a sign of commitment to the team and to the larger purpose and goals of the organization. Because, ultimately, we’re all responsible for our collective success.

Laurie knows this. And yet even for Laurie — a competent and courageous CEO — it’s hard to give someone critical feedback because it still feels aggressive and confrontational. Should you really tell people they talk too much? Or dress poorly? Or appear insincere? Or walk all over others?

Without question, you should.

And not just if you’re the CEO. Everyone should offer feedback to everyone else, regardless of position. Because as long as what you say comes from your care and support for the other person — not your sympathy (which feels patronizing) or your power (which feels humiliating) or your anger (which feels abusive) — choosing to offer a critical insight to another is a deeply considerate act.

That doesn’t mean that accepting criticism is easy. In How to Handle Surprise Criticism I shared my own struggles with accepting criticism and offered some tips to being open to learning from critical feedback from others.

But even though it may be difficult, letting someone know what everyone else already knows is the opposite of aggressive. Aggressive is not giving people feedback and then talking about them and their issues when they aren’t around. Aggressive is watching them fail and not helping.

Ironically, when we avoid sharing feedback, it usually comes out at some point anyway, as gossip or in a burst of anger or sarcasm or blame directed at the person. And that’s aggressive. Passive-aggressive.

To avoid that kind of ugliness, it’s critical not to delay.

On the other hand, if we all strutted around willy-nilly tossing criticisms at each other, things would deteriorate quickly. So how should we do this?

First, ask permission. As in: “I noticed something I’d like to share with you. Are you interested in hearing it?” Or simply, “Can I share some feedback with you?” Once they say “yes” — and who wouldn’t? — it evens out the power dynamic, makes it easier for you to speak, and prepares the other person to accept the feedback more openly.

Second, don’t hedge. When we are uncomfortable criticizing, we try to reduce the impact by reducing the criticism. Sometimes we sandwich the criticism between two compliments. But hedging dilutes and confuses the message. Instead, be clear, be concise, use a simple example, make it about the behavior, not the person, and don’t be afraid of silence.

Third, do it often. That’s how you create a culture in which people are open and honest for each other’s benefit. If you only offer feedback once in a while, it feels out of character and more negative.

Of course, not all feedback needs to be critical. Positive feedback is excellent at reinforcing people’s productive behavior, encouraging them to use their strengths more effectively and abundantly. Offer it frequently. Just do so at a different time than you share the critical feedback.

“May I offer you a thought?” I asked Laurie as we finished up our conversation.

“Please do,” she responded.

“Not telling Ron that he drones on is hurting him, you, and the business. I know you feel badly sharing the criticism but in this particular case, choosing not to share this feedback is a selfish behavior. You’re hurting him in order to avoid your own discomfort. He needs — deserves — to know, don’t you think?”

Silence. It was an awkward moment.

Which, it turns out, is a useful catalyst to action. Laurie thought for a moment and then picked up her blackberry and emailed Ron, asking him to meet later that day.
*Names and some details changed