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Scientists Say Workplace Social Networking Increases Productivity!

Can you believe that using social networking sites at work can increase your workplace productivity? A new study just published by Australian scientists found that taking time to visit websites of personal interest, including news sites and YouTube, provided workers a mental break that ultimately increased their ability to concentrate and was correlated with a 9% increase in total productivity.

Via: RedWriteWeb

50% of Marketers Increase Spending on Social Media.

In a recession, budgets are tightened, jobs are cut, and those who remain are expected to do more with less. Given this type of economic reality, it's surprising to hear of an industry reporting an increase in spending on anything, much less on something as new as social media. Yet that's exactly what's occurring. According to a new Forrester Research survey of 145 global interactive marketers in both B2B and B2C companies with more than 250 employees, the use of social media as a marketing tool is on the rise. What's more, Forrester reports that over 50% of marketers said they will be increasing their spending on social media marketing in the coming months.

Part of the reason for this increased spending is thanks to the low cost of social media tools. Compared with larger expenditures like that of advertising for example, social media requires much less investment. In fact, three-quarters of those surveyed who knew their budgets said they allowed for $100,000 or less for social media tools over a 12-month period.

Read the rest of the article here!

Would You Like to See What Web 4.0 Might Look Like?

The Average Teens Spend 31 Hours a Week Online


They spend some three and a half hours communicating with friends on MSN, and around two hours on YouTube and in chat rooms.

Just over an hour is devoted to looking up cosmetic surgery procedures such as how to enlarge breasts and get collagen implants, an hour and a half is spent on family planning and pregnancy websites and one hour 35 minutes is spent investigating diets and weight loss.

One in four teenagers of the 1,000 polled said they regularly spoke to strangers online but thought it harmless.

One in three admitted trying to hide what they were looking at if a parent entered the room.

But children also use the internet to help them with homework, with at least three hours a week spent searching for such information.

The research was conducted by www.cybersentinel.co.uk, which provides software solutions allowing parents to block access to certain sites.

Spokesman Ellie Puddle said: "The alarming thing is the survey shows teenagers are obviously exploring all sorts of topics as a result of modern-day pressures.

"Talking to friends on social networking websites can be completely risk-free, good fun. But there is also the danger of online predators.

"Teenagers and parents need to realize the dangers of talking to strangers online but parents must not overreact by denying access to the internet. The internet is a fantastic resource for learning and development." Via: The Telegraph

Google Website Optimizer

Looking to increase conversions on your website? Check out this 25 minute video from Google about using their service for optimizing your web pages.  While you are at it, check out Conversion University from Google as well. Using these types of tools is just the beginning to increasing your online presence.

Understanding the Shift in Marketing


This is a simple and clear example of how marketing of old is no longer effective, and how “atomized and parallel media consumption” have impacted how brands market today.

Best Buys Social Strategy

Google announces "Google Media Server" gadget!

Google just announced its odd Google Media Server, a Windows app that finds photos, music, and video and makes it available to DLNA devices like the PlayStation 3, XBox 360, and most Media Center PCs.

Google Media Server is a Windows application that aims to bridge the gap between Google and your TV. It uses Google Desktop technology such as Desktop gadgets for the administration tool and Google Desktop Search to locate media files. All you need is a PC running Google Desktop and a UPnP-enabled device (e.g. a PlayStation 3). At the touch of a button, you can then:

* Access videos, music, and photos stored on your PC
* View Picasa Web Albums
* Play your favorite YouTube videos

Give it a go at http://desktop.google.com/plugins/i/mediaserver.html?hl=en