Impact of Google Buzz on Twitter, Facebook!!

More than 9 million posts and comments in about 56 hrs.

160,000 posts and comments per hour.
Buzz is already creating the Buzz!!

These are only two numbers being released by Google till now...
With such a grand start... what's going to happen in microblogging and social networking scenario.

Check out Ben Parr's analysis and insights here at Mashable

Where is my money!!? - A question that NGOs need to find a solution for!

Where is my money?

Figures say that for 1 USD we donate to NGOs, on an average only 70 cents goes to the actual cause.

Rest 30 cents are wasted as fundraising and administration cost.

As per global trend people are increasingly willing to donate today,, but they want each cent of their money to be utilized for the real Purpose. Whereas, in the wake of such facts people end up asking “Where is my money!!?”

This high administration and fund raising cost severely affects NGOs Productivity and Efficiency. 

NGO Productivity   α Total Funds Raised for the cause.

NGO Efficiency (%) = Funds Used for Cause

                     Total Funds Raised

Fund Raising Efficiency = Total Funds Raised

                           Fund Raising Cost

Problem defined:

‘How can NGOs increase their Productivity and Efficiency?’

Reasons explored:

If we assume that all the funds finally available (after deducting fund raising and admin cost) to the NGO are being used completely for the cause then there are two clear factors that affect Productivity and Efficiency of NGOs.

1.  Total Funds Raised

2.  Cost of Fund Raising

So, what are the reasons that are holding back NGOs on these parameters?

1.  Total Funds Raised

a)  Limited Geographical Reach – Fund raising activity is limited to area of operation.

b)  Limited Penetration/Awareness – Even in the area of operation not everyone is aware of the NGOs.

c)  Lack of Credibility – I don’t know if my funds will be completely used for the cause.

d)  Lack of Tangibility/Transparency – I want to see where my funds are being used.

e)  Limited Resources – Limited volunteers and resources.

f)  Poor supporting technology infrastructure – Not using adequate technology and infrastructure because of limited funds.

2.  Cost of Fund Raising

a)  High fund development cost – Capturing new private and corporate donors is costly.

b)  High Marketing Cost – High cost of marketing, road shows, awareness campaigns, etc.

There is a need for an efficient fund raising channel for NGOs.

Solution Proposed:

A web based ecosystem for NGOs

An Internet portal to provide a one stop website solution to connect global donors and various (participating) NGOs.

However, it is not simple as it seems to fill the gaps by simply building a portal.

The portal should be designed to fully exploit the potential of Web 2.0 (Interactive web, social networking, facebook, twitter, etc.) to reach millions of users.

Some of the desirable features of such portal could be:

·         A large user base.

·         Integration with social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, etc.

·         One Stop Solution for various NGOs.

·         Country, NGO and Project level Transparency.

·         Making donation a fun process.

Potential Benefits:

Contact me at rahulsingh.mail@gmail.com

Changing trend in Internet Presence of Companies.

I was reading about penetration of social websites and micro blogging and their relevance in today’s business context when one thought suddenly flashed in and left me wondering.

If we trace the Internet presence of companies/businesses over the last decade, there is a surprising trend that emerges. To make things more clear, let’s go back in time and trace some trends in internet space with context to Companies and Businesses.

Time: Early 2000s

Internet Presence: Company Website.

Use/Content: Content Sharing. Mainly used for sharing Company specific content. Products, Solutions, Success stories,etc..

Content Update Frequency: Long intervals. Usually Months or Years.

Time: Mid 2000s

Internet Presence: Websites + Blogs

Use/Content: Experience Sharing + Content Sharing

Content Update Frequency: Shorter Intervals. Weekly or Fortnightly.

Time: Late 2000s

Internet Presence: Websites + Blogs + Web 2.0 (Micro Blogs + Social Network) Presence

Use/Content: News update + Updated Customer + Experience Sharing + Content Sharing

Content Update Frequency: Even Shorter Intervals. Daily or Weekly.

 

So, tracing the internet presence of companies, the trend shows that focus of companies have moved from 'uploading large content less frequently' to 'updating smaller content more frequently'. Strange trend...

Either companies have become more customer centric, OR, it is just another battle for consumer's mind space where companies are trying to engage customer on a more frequent basis.

The thought just left me wondering, after short and sweet daily updates on Twitter, what could come up next? Is there anything shorter than Tweets being developed somewhere!!?

Watch this space for more such thoughts.
Contact me at rahulsingh.mail@gmail.com

#Tweet #FaceBook - Can we use Twitter to sell ice-creams!!?

Using Twitter to sell ice-creams!!?

Recently I have come across many articles about the power of Web 2.0 (social websites/Facebook/Orkut, microblogging/twitter, etc.). Popularity and reach of these sites is well known. Many companies (even the likes of Dell, Dominoes, etc.) are using them to their benefit. Predominantly companies are using them for promotion and marketing activities to reach out millions of users. This prompted me to think, in how many different ways can these websites be used to get a business benefit? What different business and delivery models exists at present around these websites and what new possibilities can be explored? 

I am trying to understand the possibilities. I have listed down couple of things based on my limited presence and knowledge on Twitter, FaceBook. Please contribute with sharing anything you have come across - any interesting model, any interesting website, your thoughts, anything.

I will keep adding them to the list, as they come.

To list few areas:

1.      Marketing and Promotion

a.       Travel Companies

2.      Brand Building and Awareness - Companies are using them to update customers and employees with latest news.

a.       Mahindra Satyam :)

3.      Connect and Network - Connecting like-minded

a.       Sprouter.com - Connecting Entrepreneurs

4.      Crowdsourcing and Brainstorming – Yes, few companies have started using twitter for crowdsourcing ideas overnight. Interesting.

a.       Ideasculture.com

5.      Broadcasting information

Some interesting websites and specific ideas I came across:

1.      #Twitter - Twitter powered icecream trucks/vendors to share there whereabouts

2.      #Twitter - School lunch menu published via Twitter

3.      #Twitter - Crowdsourcing ideas overnight through Twitter

4.      #FaceBook – Gaming applications like Farmville, Restaurant city, some Pictionary type game, etc.



Cheers.