Gatecrasher Google has clout to make friends

Friday, August 5th, 2011

Google+ has been gaining headlines this week over how quickly people have signed up for the social-networking strand of Google’s online empire.

Figures from web-traffic researcher ComScore suggest the service had reached 25 million users in just a month since launch – not bad for a project that remains in beta.

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Just how popular is Google+?

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

We keep getting told that Google+ is Facebook’s biggest threat, that it’s on the rise faster than a 1990s house price and the only way is up. We’re told it already has 10 million profiles – or is it 20 million?

But is Google+ really catching on? I mean really, as in outside this little tech industry bubble we love to confine ourselves to? (more…)

Google+: big companies can cause big problems

Monday, July 25th, 2011

In its first three weeks of availability, Google+ reportedly attracted 20 million users. That’s a pretty impressive launch – especially since it’s been accompanied by what can only be described as a negative marketing campaign. Even as millions of users have poured onto the service, Google has insisted on calling it a “limited field trial”. At this rate, by the time they officially make it available to the public, everyone will already be on it.

Everyone, that is, except for Mr Matthew Brock of Swiss Cottage. I have it on good authority that the gentleman in question, an old friend of mine, is giving Google+ a miss. (more…)

Thousands fall victim to Facebook profile scam

Monday, November 29th, 2010

I have to admit that I really don’t care who has looked at my Facebook profile. If I didn’t want people to see it I would nuke my Facebook account. If anyone who does take a look is so impressed by my boyish good looks and the eloquent charm of my update postings, then they can request to become my friend and I can merrily ignore them.

There are, in all honesty, many other things which take priority when it comes to worrying Mr Winder: when will the central-heating boiler start working again, how much snow is going to fall today and what will my nose look like by the end of the week after surgeons have finished operating on my face, for example. Yet, for tens of thousands of Facebook users the question has obviously been weighing heavy on their minds. At least that is the only explanation I can think of to explain why a rogue Facebook app is running riot right now.

“OMG, OMG, OMG! Now you can see who viewed your Facebook profile” the scam message doing the rounds suggests, and a click on the link allows you to download an app to reveal all.

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Promoting with Facebook: four ways to free marketing

Friday, November 19th, 2010

Time and marketing pounds are limited, and one of the most important skills in running and promoting a business is knowing which particular horses to hitch your cart to.

For the past several years there’s been only one player in town: Google. So marketing experts have recommended, quite correctly, a two-pronged approach of working on search engine optimisation (SEO) for long-term traffic and Google AdWords/Display Network advertising to instantly drive potential customers to your site.

I’d hate to calculate how many hours I’ve spent learning, practising, analysing, adjusting and worrying about AdWords in particular. This is because of its near-legendary ability to drain the deepest pockets unless strict limits are set and extreme vigilance exercised. And it’s been a big success for me. AdWords has driven the success of several of my businesses and is currently performing admirably in the run up to Christmas for MakingYourOwnCandles.

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Creepy Facebook adds friend stalker tool

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Oh Facebook. You never do learn, do you?

The social networking service has unveiled a shiny new “See Friendship” button on the site, letting users see “the story of their friendships”. But instead of “See Friendship” being a nice little add-on feature, Facebook has again taken it one step too far and hurled itself crossed the creepy line. (more…)

Gap logo: a PR stunt gone right?

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Call me a conspiracy theorist if you will, but can it really be true that Gap was actually planning to use its new, terrible logo?

I don’t think so. I think its PR gurus headed off to a retreat to work out how to generate free publicity with the minimum of effort, downed a few double-strength lattés and gazed at the blue sky. And someone came up with a quite ingenious solution.

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How to get your data from Facebook

Monday, October 11th, 2010

Facebook is giving you your data back, and it’s surprisingly easy to download.

To get everything you’ve ever done on Facebook in one handy zip file, start by heading to Account, the drop down menu in the top right hand corner of the site. Scroll down and click on  Account Settings.

If your account has download access already – it’s being rolled out, but should be in most accounts by now – then you’ll see a Download Your Information line second from the bottom of the list. (To summarise: Account │ Account Settings │ Download Your Information)

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What The Social Network gets wrong

Monday, October 4th, 2010

Is Facebook the work of a loner, a nearly-autistic coding genius, an anti-social jerk? That’s the premise of Hollywood’s take on the founding of the world’s largest social network.

I saw The Social Network last week, as our good friends at Den of Geek had a spare ticket to an advanced screening. Thanks to a bizarre embargo, I’m not allowed to review the film yet, despite many takes already hitting the web (but when it does come out next week, go see it; it’s fascinating and very funny).

While the film has certainly made its producers very happy by winning top spot at the US box office over the weekend, and being described as the best picture of the year so far by unencumbered reviewers on the other side of the Atlantic, many tech pundits are crying foul over the negative portrayal of founder Mark Zuckerberg.

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15 ways to keep up with PC Pro

Monday, July 19th, 2010

The PC Pro website isn’t the only way you can keep up to date with the latest news, reviews, features and opinion from the tech world. Here are some of the many ways you can keep in touch:

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