Google Drive new webhosting. With Restrictions

So…The new Google cloud storage service (Drive) has taken its next step and released an option to host web content within your ‘Google Drive’ folder.

This new option is making web development easier for non web developers to host content on the World Wide Web, allowing also pre designed templates to be hosted and adjusted very easily.
The downside to this new option in Google Drive is that you are restricted to only the main supported extensions for web development such as HTML, Javascript and CSS.
The restrictions cover popular website extension such as PHP, so in other words limited with regards to open source backend development, database integration etc.

We are promised improvements so watch this (google) space! Matt

See below for more details

Google Drive SDK: Publishing your website on Google Drive

4 more years, the best (social media) campaign won

So… Now that the campaign is over and Barack is back in the white house for another four years who won the battle for social media supremacy during the 2012 election?

Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney’s Twitter handles were going crazy over the past year but who came out on top.
When television networks called the victory, Twitter went into manic overdrive, with election-related tweets rising to an average of 327,453 a minute.

"This happened because of you. Thank you," Obama tweeted to 22 million followers just minutes after the first US network called his victory, indicating the importance he attached to social networks in his 2012 campaign. This one tweet was his most re-tweeted ever - shared more than 320,000 times - according to Twitter's government and politics account @gov.

The President’s celebration photo from his official Facebook page has become the most liked Facebook photo ever with more than 2.1 million likes and counting.
The knock on effect was the Obama family photo was then shared on twitter and you guessed it became the most re-tweeted message of all time.

Still twitter and facebook were not the only social media outlets that tried to reach out to the thousands of undecided voters, celebrities and filmakers took to ‘You Tube’ and broadcasting. Avengers director and ‘Buffy’ writer Joss Whedon took a serious stance on backing Barack, only to make sure we all avoided the quote ‘the zombie Apocalypse’. Ok!

Chris Rock (remember him thought not) jumped onto the campaign wagon with a piece that was shown on an American talk show pushing for Barack’s support, the piece included the actors usual tongue in cheek approach.

So where did Mitt Romney go wrong with his social media reach? Firstly to engage people on social media, the content needs to be in peoples pockets all the time, it needs to be on everyone's finger tips and easy to follow. Press release after press release was how Romney’s media campaign went and this turned out to be less personable. The results are below!!

So the winning formula for Barack on the social media front came down to two aspects for me firstly, Barrack was cool and wanted the public to run with him whilst the election was in motion, you felt like you were with him all the way and secondly, Barrack’s polices were correct this was what the American public wanted… Oh yes the politics I forgot about that I am sure he was the best candidate for these reasons mainly… right??!!

Trimming 'Adword' (API) scripting using AWQL

So...An interesting report on a new way of trimming the amount of code used to conduct Ad Hoc adword reports, using AWQL which is a Adwords query language (so not droping coding completely). The presentation explains the process and includes code examples (Be warned it is not the best presentation in the world and the sound is slightly bad) but what is interesting is the use of streamlining the way adword reports can be pulled and viewed in the future. This could lead to finally pulling away from the long code base scripting format that has dominated SEO on the web for years. Matt

The Best PR Stunt EVER?

So... I'm not sure 'Coke Zero' have nailed the best PR stunt of all time but still a good try. The stunt was filmed in what looks like Kings Cross train station in London.  Take a look at the heyuguys original article below and make up your own minds. Matt

Original article

What can online Social Media outlets give to a new online business?

So... Word of mouth is the most important way for businesses to compete on Social Media platforms right? The two co-founders of Groupon have a different point of view. The key points made by the two at last week’s Chicago’s Idea Event are;

The value of social commerce is two-fold;

1. Social commerce helps businesses get online (social has a lower barrier to entry)
2. Social commerce helps your business grow (“disseminate”) faster (viral effect)

Matt

LOL...The Social Media Sickness!?

So...Matt

Original Source

Published by - marketo

Facebook Ad Exchange...!

So... What makes the new facebook ad exchange interesting is that the advertising is driven by a non browsing experience from the user. Users are not search-driven or browsing in the facebook environment. "Traffic where the user is looking to do something, or looking to find something, or read about something. Facebook is a communication utility". So when the user stops using Facebook and ventures to the ad they more than likely BUY that item.
The exchange sofware technology called real-time bidding allows advertisers to use previous user cookie attributes from previous e-commerce websites to follow the user right through their browsing experience, even when the person is static on Facebook.  Mattx

Original Source

Zombie Cake Eaters!

So... When you think of effective seasonal pr campaigns, cheap cake and pie maker's 'Greggs' don't jump out at you. For this Halloween the company have hit a good social media (Facebook page) and advertising mix. The short viral video below does'nt tell you much of what to expect but it is still fun, and will no doubt do the viral rounds this year for youtube and peoples inboxes this October season. Mattx

http://www.facebook.com/greggsthebakers

Britain Prepare for Zombies - Only Humans Allowed

Eye tracking (Gaze) technology the way of the future?

So...As nice as this technology could be (it is still in the expermental stage), I found the video more interesting in prompting web/tablet usability advantages and dis-advantages what do you think...Mattx

Original Source

Tobi-Gaze

Google Map API developers in Thailand use Social Media to help online users affected by severe flood warnings

So.. This is an interesting video, a google developer in Thailand uses the Google API technology to help users find their nearest ATM machines, also in the case of serves weather warnings people can find high ground during the Thai flood seasons, via the Google Maps and Elavtion API. Mattx

More Than a Map

Original Source:

http://www.morethanamap.com/

Twitter handle

#morethanamap

14% of the global population use Facebook a month! How many 'like' clicks have been activated? God knows!

So.. Mr Zuckerberg has annouced that Facebook is now being used by 1 billion people every month, thats 14% of the global population of about 7 billion.

And the answer to the above is 1.13 trillion Likes, as well as 140.3 billion friend connections and 219bn shared photos since it launched in February 2004. More than 300m photos are uploaded every day and 62.6m songs played. Now lets get the twitter figures please?! Mattx

Hold on! Facebook move in fast for bigger and better!

So...Hold on hav'nt we seen this somewhere before Facebook Gifts looks like treater. Facebook are introducing a new gifting service, allowing Facebooker's to exchange gifts via the social media platform. Treater has had a small application up and running for a while and must be gutted that FB have now moved in and produced a bigger application. Mattx

Original source

Happy Birthday to you...

So...Happy Birthday Google... Turning 14 today. Question is has it improved over these years? what has changed in the past 14 for it to go another 14? A leading search engine a competitive browser 'chrome', the 'Google Android OS'  what else will keep it on top? Mattx

The numbers

Treater...The Future is to treat your friends to a little something

So... On a social media tip... Treater is still in Beta mode at the moment but this reward facebook app could be great in the near future in the UK. Check it out! Mattx

http://www.facebook.com/TreaterHQ

treater

WHSmith to offer WI-FI hotspots

An interesting strategy by WHSmiths to offer WI-FI Hotspots within it's stores a great way to pull in the public, when logging into the hotspot you'll be presented with a landing page detailing the store offers and other features!
I'll have a snickers whilst your downloading Fifty Shades of Grey for your Kobo!

- Mossy

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/KoboeReaders.aspx
http://www.snickers.com/

The Tweet Shop

So...The starbucks method of loyality social media has taken the next step. Where in the USA four square could get you coffee via your smart phone,  Kellogg's is running a promotion for a new product with the paywithtweet function. Mattx

http://www.paywithatweet.com/

kelloggs-opens-pay-with-a-tweet-pop-up-shop