Along with the variation in usage, the dependency of web users on social media amplifies every year. And I don’t really declare anything without proof. We have seen the significance of social media during Barack Obama’s campaign, which led millions into action. The population of Iran protesting against the election was widely known due to social media. Hence, the magnitude of impact cannot be termed as “less” or even “mediocre”.

It’s not possible, today, to detach social media from online users. For instance, last month, the strength of facebook was 350 million users, only 30% Americans among them. This figure comprises 25% of the total web traffic. Almost every one of them uses Tweeter or some other similar service to confirm status messages. Over 94% of the active enterprise tends to uphold or raise their investment in social media. It isn’t just a vogue now. People use social media in houses, SME’s, and business giants. It is now reaching health, education, and non-profit sector. From excitement, freshness, and bewilderment, social media is now a form of communication, to be precise “a language.” From entertainment, to importance, it’s now “a necessity”.

So, what would it look like in the coming year? What would be the meaning of being connected? According to me, social media will change in 2010 in following 10 ways:

1. Social Media Will Emerge As One, Interconnected Experience Entrenched In All Our Gadgets and Actions:

   

   By the end of 2010, social media won’t be just ‘Social Media.’ It will emerge as a combined, inseparable element of your online and offline activities. The presence of unified social media will be single across platforms, and on all the devices and gadgets like Television, internet, mobile, radio, video, etc. It would not be, then, possible to detach social media and any experience.

   Web users will view content from any platform through any gadget, mashup their pics, send text and video, and communicate with everyone effortlessly. New games, new content, new videos, and everything new will be uploaded for the amalgamated population. People will be able to get everything on their desk or palm, like the world is exactly in front of them, ready to be edited, loaded, or vacated from any device, any platform.

2. The Modernization in Social Media Wouldn’t Be Restricted By Technology:

   With perpetual improvement in web services and extinction of constraints like closed platforms and separate logins, organizations are finding ways and will unquestionably come up with modern ways to exploit current technology instead of improving it. The world will witness a shift to influence the existing assets of content and abilities in a newer way that will transform knowledge into wisdom and insight into activities. We will watch more valuable pieces of information coming in, eradicating the useless one through collective oneness.

3. The New Fad – Mobile:

   Almost one-third of the total web traffic is brought in by iPhone. According to IDC, the number of internet users through mobile will reach 1 billion by the end of 2010. With the reduction in technology constraints and ease in browsing internet, people would prefer browsing through mobile while they are not using their PC or notebooks. Gradually, mobile will take the center stage. The decade, if not the year, will bring in thousands of mobile application, diminishing the usage of personal computers.

4. Battles for Content Enhancement:

   In 2009, content exploded throughout the web, making it accessible to everyone, everywhere, anytime, and by anyone. Google managed to sort out the information this year, but it will become intricate every year. Content will increase dramatically, but quality will be demanded.

   Along with companies, the content is now being developed by individuals. With lesser search result relevance delivered by search engines and hazardous effects brought in by free websites, people have started generating and integrating their own center of knowledge.

5. Social Media Will Be Reshaped By Enterprises:

   How effortlessly we forget that some of the major social media pillars like forums, intranets, collaboration tools, and listservs were introduced by large enterprises and not individuals. With social media taking the front seat, enterprises have planned to use the existing media to suit their needs. This year, they have planned to allocate 26% more funds in social media to market their services, solutions, and products.

   They have got the need and the resources. So, don’t fret if the future of social media is being shaped by the enterprises. They will amalgamate their current system with social media to meet their needs of sales, surveys, promotion, automation, monitoring, and developing. Recently, Salesforce.com came up with ‘Chatter’ that made the CRM and consequently, the company, social. It’s quite new, however it already has 69,000 users.

6. People with start gauging Return on Investment:

   Due to huge amount being invested in the social media, companies will start gauging the returns on the invested amount. Last year, although 18% of the investors were happy with the results of returns, the remaining 72% weren’t happy due to less return or their incapability to gauge the returns. Lessons from 2009 and more money invested will compel them to develop an infallible gauging system, and not results based on number of fans or users. They companies who will be successful in gauging the return on investment will be the ones that will survive.

7. Remarkable online-offline combination

   Varied avatars, games and virtual world replication was just the commencement of online offline combination. In the coming year, users will witness and experience innovative permutations as physical remoteness and barriers won’t matter. ‘Augmented reality’ now being available on iPhone, will help people to search relevant content on their mobile. Twitter360, of course through mobile, will let users contact each other, communicate, find status, and check updates. New products resting on the glass shelves of the stores would be observed from mobile devices and instant purchase would be possible. You will get discounts and offers on the products of your interest.

8. Re-hire older skills and professionals

   The upturn of social media and downturn of the financial system disappeared the conventional marketing and Public Relation roles. However, it is predicted that this year will be a comeback of these professionals. Most of the companies using social media tools will hire employees that can comprehend user psychology, and those who master the art of using online and offline social media. After sales service and customer support will be online, from top to bottom.

   The testimony developed by R&D department will be based exclusively on user experience and habits through social media, which will then be used for production and innovation. Very soon, you will come across job advertisements displaying vacancy for social media promoters, social media psychologists, and social media heads. These roles would be an integral part of the organizational structure and will handle the endless task of dealing with mass public.

9. The New Rulers of Social Media – Women

   The 2009 statistics shocked the world with some astounding revelations. It was proved that almost three-fourth of the buying decisions are made by women. The social networking sites have more than 50% female users, with women in age group 30-56 comprising a larger part of facebook users. Unlike previous decade, females today are free to express and involve themselves by the means of social media tools. Inherently equipped with excellent communication, grabbing attention, and building strong relationship, women will guide the social media, personally and professionally.

10. Entering New Spheres

    Due to the ease of use and interconnectedness, social media will enter new domains like education, hospitality, training and development, non-profit, and healthcare. The importance and pervasiveness of distance learning will surge as people can access much through their mobile.

By the end of this year, the introduction of social media would be a long forgotten topic. People would be discussing quality, value and relevance of these tools.

These are my predictions, what about you? How do you think will the social media change in 2010?

You will agree with me when I say it’s not possible to be at our blog all the time. However, you will find it little difficult to concur when I declare that not being at our blog doesn’t mean we can’t improve the blog. We definitely can, that is, if we want to.

And you probably wouldn’t believe if I say that being away from your blog is actually the best you could do to improve it.

If you are among those who are always thinking about their blog, its performance, its traffic, etc. then probably these tips a re tailor-made to suit your needs. Sometimes, I just sit against my computer and stare at the blank word document because I don’t know what to write. My mind is as blank as the word document. Perhaps, it might have happened to you as well.

That’s the time you need to be away from your blog. Here is how it helps:

1. Coming up with Fresh Ideas
   This is something that even the best blogger of the world might not be consistent in. It requires a calm and clear mind to generate new ideas. And do you really think sitting in front of your computer for hours would help? It wouldn’t.One possible option is to get away from your PC and relax for a while. Then, take a pen and paper and start jotting down all the topics that you have written about. Select any topic among them and try to look at it from a very different perspective, from all the possible angles.

   Ask yourself: have you covered all the sub-topics that could possibly be created from this topic? What else people would need to know about this topic? For instance, ‘Blogging Content’ is a topic or an idea. However, there can be numerous sub-topics or sub-ideas created from this topic like ‘How to write good content?’, ‘What is bad content?’, and so on.

   This is a very good exercise that promises consistent flow of ideas. You would never have to stare at the blank screen and keep thinking for hours.

2. Relate with the real world
   The real, refreshing outside world probably has much to offer. It can help you to come up with something that the internet wouldn’t. How do you think a new idea is generated? It is generated when we look at various things and think about it differently. Look at everything around you, everything in the outside world, each or any of them could be your next topic, or a new blog.Let’s look at something concrete for now. Pick up any magazine and you will find hundreds of article, which is no different from a blog. Magazine itself is a big blog.

   Next, a business. Any business. My father owns a departmental store. His business, in many ways, can help me to improve my blog. No, I cannot start writing about shopping habits or prices of groceries, if my blog is about improving the way your blog. But I definitely can learn  lot from the smart business models, new ideas applied in the store, how advertising affects the business, or just the way people act, and apply it in my blog someway or the other.

   If I can’t apply it, at least I would know how to operate a business. However, that’s not what we are focusing on right now. According to me, you will get something out of it. Remember, it all depends on how we look at something.

3. Use the technology
   If it’s really urgent to update something on your blog, or replying a comment, and your are traveling, or just far from accessing a computer, don’t fret. Just relax and enjoy the benefits of the improvement in technology. You can access your blog or edit it through your mobile, iPod, blackberry, PSP, or many other devices.An application called WordPress for iPhones can allow you to type and post your article on your blog. You can also edit blog pages, upload images, or reply to a comment. So, you aren’t actually away from your blog, are you?
4. Offline Advertising
   It is the most effective way to utilize your time improving your blog while you are away from it. Unfortunately, very less percentage of the bloggers today use offline advertising as a source of promotion. This can be very effective if your blog discusses something about the real outside world. Offline blogging can be done by distributing t-shirts, car stickers, posters etc. I will be soon writing about the various ways to advertise offline because I rally think it’s quite effective and least used.
5. Just Relax
   Here is another point on which you won’t agree with me, but relaxing does help to improve your blog.
   I have seen many bloggers face something known as ‘Blogger’s Block’ i.e. a time when they are not able to write, not even a word. Relaxing, then, is the best solution. Even if you are a bit overworked, relaxing will help you to soothe you mind and body, which is quite important to come up with new ideas regularly.Being relaxed is a way to calm your mind.
   Being relaxed is a way to be creative.
   Being relaxed is a way to be in a proper state of mind.
   Being relaxed is a way to improve your blog.

Okay. These were my suggestions on how can you make optimum utilization of the time you are away from your blog. Some people have the habit of carrying a pen and paper along with them, wherever they go. I do believe it’s a great idea because it helps you to jot down every idea you come up with.

I would really appreciate if you can discuss how you can utilize you “non-blogging” time. Would love to read your inputs.

Suggestions Please!

I am not quite aware about all the possible purposes of blogging, but I can unquestionably say, one of the major purpose it to spread and share your views with people; correction, maximum number of people. That’s an obvious one and no one can refute this fact.

Another fact is that most of the blogs are opinionated. If it isn’t, then probably it’s a news article you are looking at. This post is opinionated, wrong or right, that you have to decide.

But the thoughtful opinion and the research can prove to be quite ineffective and useless if it doesn’t reaches enough number of people. The blog has to be promoted and I guess you know most of the ways to do it online.

However, I have noticed that offline advertising is something that people are not much aware about. Or may be they don’t want to do it. Again, I don’t know the reasons but it’s a fact that offline advertising is hugely neglected by bloggers.

Here are few ways to promote blog ‘researched’ and ‘opinionated’ posts offline:

1. Print it on a T-Shirt
   

   Okay. Not all methods are neglected. This is the most common one among bloggers. If you are a beginner and don’t know much about it, let me tell you this is not a new idea.To do this kind of promotion you will need several t-shirts on which you get the name of your blog printed. If you are quite good looking, get you photo on it. I would suggest keep it simple. Just the name and a relevant small logo or a picture. Then, get some people to wear those t-shirts. If none agrees to wear it, at least you could, right? Yeah! Keep loving your blog.

2. Why only T-Shirts?
   You won’t get a lot of people easily who would agree to wear that creepy t-shirt. Who cares, you have many other options, all better than the t-shirt idea. Be creative. Use pens, paper weights, coffee mugs, free calendars, or anything that people commonly used.
3. Pinning Posters
   You will probably need a well designed poster if you are a part of any community. They have these bulletin boards or notice board where you can pin the posters that describes about the blog. A good design can attract a lot of people. Add some punch lines or humor in the poster to get more readers.
4. Sponsor
   If you have enough funds, look for things, small events, or camps that you can sponsor. It’s an amazing way to promote your blog. Sponsoring charity events can work well because blog is also something that helps people. It shares the same purpose, same connection, and same feeling. It’s a courteous way of promotion.
5. Car Sticker
   

   I love this because I have a sticker saying bloggingwithchris.com on my car. It a good way to promote you blog but remember you cannot travel around the world in you car. It’s local. However, it can reach more number of people than a t-shirt, coffee mug, or a bulletin board can.Make sure the letters are big enough for people to read easily even if you are driving speedily.

6. Radio is still in
   For those who think it’s obsolete and useless, I declare that it will, for sure, reach much more people than your car, or thousands of t-shirt can.You need to check out which channels are within your budget and advertise there. However, you also need to ensure that the selected channel is the right fit for you. You cannot promote your blog on a channel that plays records from 1910-30.
7. Business Cards, Letter Heads, and Diaries
   This isn’t as far reaching as other because you (or any other individual carrying your card) wouldn’t stick your business card on your head or shirt and walk on a busy street. However, somebody knows about your blog instead of none. This is a promotion strategy, and I don’t think it’s wise to miss it out just because it reaches small number of people.
8. Voicemail
   Wow! This was my expression when I first read this idea on a blog post some months ago. It’s really a cool idea to mention the URL of your blog with your message. However, make sure you don’t get into the details of the blog and kill the main purpose of the voicemail. They called you to know where you are. Remember?
9. Promotion Leaflets
   If it’s possible for you to design a leaflet or a brochure (ideally A4 size) and print a few thousand copies, do it. Get on your bike and drop a copy in the mail boxes of the houses in your locale. Or hire a school boy, he will enjoy doing it. However, make sure that it’s legally allowed do so in your area, or you might end up paying more than your blog can make.
10. Yellow pages / Newspapers
    There are numerous firms that will readily post your URL and details in the Yellow Pages and local newspapers. Why can’t you do it? You can and this time it’s 100% legal.
11. Use Yourself:
    You are searching numerous sources to promote your blog, when the best source is you. Start speaking about your blog to the relevant people and I am sure the snowball will get bigger than your expectation. Ask your friends, family, and relatives as well to help you spreading the word.

In most of the above mentioned ways, I have compared one method with the other regarding the reachability, just for your understanding. So, if you happen to choose just one, you can select the best one. To promote your blog offline effectively, use a combination of all the methods.

I am pretty sure that there are several other way to market your blog offline. If you think I have missed the major ones, please leave a comment.

We visit various blogs everyday and subscribe to few of them. This subscription decision depends on two factors. First, we like the blog or the way it’s been posted and second, we don’t know much about it. The wieghtage of the latter is generally more. This facilitates improvement of our knowledge and skills, if we read the article sincerely and with concentration.

It may sound weird because it is. I am going to explain you how to read an article effectively without missing out important information. And it may also feel idiotic to go through something that teaches you to read, but it’s important. Each person who reads blog must go through this article at least once. Most of the time, I just go through the headings and sub-headings of the blog post and very often I miss out the essence of the blog post.

Don’t read just because you came across the article. If you read it, don’t give up before ensuring that you some new knowledge from the post.

Don’t read. Interpret.

Most of the blog posts are opinionated. The blogger might support or be against an idea. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to agree with him and go against the idea just because the blogger has put it agreeably or rhythmically or intelligently. What worked for him may not work for you. What is right for him may be wrong for you.

There are some exceptions to this. Some posts offer tutorials which needs to be followed as mentioned in the article.

Okay. Now let us consider an example.

Mr. A writes a blog post about how he made money. He explains in depth the steps he took to generate his income. It also involves a product. It turned out to be a great article because he also mentioned what kind of personality you need to adopt in order to sell a product in ‘today’s market.’ He later informs his reader about the type of market he worked in and how much time did he take to get the targeted money.

Mr. B reads the article carefully. However, unlike us, he reads the article carefully and lists down the facts:

• About the product he used to generate income
• The steps
• The type of personality required to sell the product
• Lot of research needs to be done before jumping on to a conclusion and start selling.

With this information, he can make money in his own way instead of following it blindly. He knows he cannot directly relate to the article, despite the fact that this article has been on the best one and topped Digg for many weeks, mainly because there is a difference in personality. Mr. A and Mr. B are very different from each other. However, there were a couple of things Mr. B liked and were in common, which he directly applied.

This may sound weird but this is what many bloggers asks their readers to do. For instance, relationship blogs. If you are going through a break-up or post break-up depression, they straight away ask you to do this or do that or follow 5 steps to lead a happy life again. How? The blogger and the reader are so different. I hope you got the point.

Okay. What’s more?

If you are really reading something to extract information from the article, you need to analyze it. And by doing this, you will definitely learn something new. That’s a guarantee from my side. Here are few ways that can help you to analyze any piece of information.

1. Read it again:
   This is quite boring and I am sure most of skip this. Even I skip it. But not when I really need the information. Do this once and you will be astonished to know how it benefits you.You got a general idea when you read it once. However, after reading it for the second time, you understand much better.Generally, when we read an article, we come across many sentences, the meaning of which is not quite clear to us. However, we proceed and never come back to the un-comprehended sentence.
2. Does the current paragraph relate to the next or the previous one?
   Paragraphs are made to differentiate sub topics under a topic. If you can relate the interlinking meaning, you will get a bigger and better picture of the whole. Try this, it’s fun and useful.
3. Your title test
   To know whether you will learn something from the article or not, try this. Read the title, and before reading any part of the content, just reflect everything you know about the topic.If you don’t know much, you must definitely read it, may be twice. Even if you know about it, read the article and check what did you miss or sometimes, what did the blogger miss.

I know it may sound quite tedious to many and quite impractical to some. However, I found this to be of great use. You read (or just glance through) the article once and I am sure you don’t remember anything. But read it twice with focus, you will not forget it anytime soon.