My own experience with GAMEEEEE-

When I was young, I liked to play PC games, especially Tycoon games. These Tycoon games are very interesting because all wanted game players to deeply think and create strategies to develop and expand the game business. The drawback of those PC games is that you cannot interact with other people, and your competitors are within the offline games.



 




With the development of technology- the Internet, I started  playing game online. 5 years ago, my first online game was Audition-Vn. I played this game a lot, and i felt like a game addict. I liked it due to its content, 3D graphics, music and the interaction with other online game players in its virtual world.

5 months later, I stopped playing Audition because I didnt have time and I was busy with my studies in University.

In January, 2011 I played the second online game, Dynasty Warriors Online- I knew it because I used to play it on PS2. Well, the game is so interesting lol... heiz.... but then i left it because I realized that the virtual world is so complicated and i saw too many dramas in game. It is not the game for me to entertain anymore.

Why online games are so attractive !!!==> all I can say are as follows:

- Create your game character as you want
- Dress-up in game
- Interaction with online players
- An interesting content which people want to follow- a goal needs to be achieved (events in games with bonus)
- Create a Clan - the purpose of a Clan is that Clan members can play and help each other- create a strongest clan in the virtual world
- Players can exchange items and make real money
- Online dating- ??? (most games have this trouble- that s why i said it s so complicated)

In relation to Facebook games, my first FB game is Barny Buddy. this is a funny game- the most interesting aspect of this game is that players can steal fruits from each other :D. However,  I didnt play that one anymore because it has nothing new to attract me to continue to play anymore.
 Then, I played CityVille and now I am playing the Sim.

Why Facebook games are so popular now?
- You can play games with your friends on Facebook
-  Game graphics is very sophisticated
- Hemisphere in games is attractive
-  Creative game stories 
- The effect of psychology: people feel like they can make a lot of money on Facebook games- can afford to purchase anything for their own virtual world ==> increase game players' fun and happiness.
- Make more friends
- Convenience- no need to install like other kinds of online games- You can play games anywhere and anytime - all you need is access of the Internet


Implications for game developers:

- Create a game community -> build a loyal community-> enhance a commitment
- Boost advertising through Facebook games
- Maintain the game hemisphere -> create  new game features
- Increase revenue = offering game currency exchange by using real money and  offering limited items in special events


What do you think about my topic?Please tell me your experience- thanks :D

Wow Bao's social media marketing strategy: What we can learn!

Do you like BUNS???? :D

Today, I wanna introduce you to Wow Bao restaurant, especially their social media marketing strategy. I am sure that you'll like the way they are doing!

Wow Bao is a fast-casual Asian restaurant with five locations in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

In 2003, Wow Bao's first location launched at Chicago’s Water Tower Place, a Michigan Avenue shopping mall.  Two more locations in downtown Chicago followed in 2007.

Geoff Alexander, managing partner of Wow Bao and a vice-president at its parent company, Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc. took over Wow Bao's operations in January 2009.

In the same year, Alexander launched a bicycle delivery service and set up electronic ordering kiosks at two of Wow Bao’s three locations.  The kiosks, which accept credit cards for instant payment, remember a customer’s previous four orders.

In 2010, Alexander launched an iPhone app for Wow Bao which allows users to place and pay for orders right from their phones. Moreover, customers from other states in US can place orders, which are then shipped to them.

In the past 2 years, Alexander saw the potentials of social media for further reaching and interacting with customers, so he established a Wow Bao's social media marketing mission :" GIVE AWAY AS MUCH OF ITS PRODUCT AS POSSIBLE".  He says “What better way to get people excited about your business than to give them your product?”  and  “That way, we can educate them about our product, get them to like it, and it makes it fun for them to try it.”

The following social media marketing strategies of Wow Bao are the most successful ones:

1. Give Product Away When They Check In

Every time,  customers visiting the restaurant who 'check in' on FourSquare or Facebook Places, are eligible for a deal ' buy 1 get 1 bao  free'. The first time customers 'check in' using Scvngr, a new location -based platform, they will receive a free bao. Furthermore, the one with the most FourSquare check-ins gets a free six packs of bao-  as often as they visit.

I know you will be surprised at what Wow Bao's doing, but Alexander states:

"If I were to spend $10,000 on a billboard, radio ad or magazine ad, I have no idea what’s the return on investment is ,” . “For the same amount of money, I can give away 7,500 baos. I can touch 7,500 people and hopefully 100 percent of them are going to like the product and become hooked".

I think it makes sense-  a good way of doing business and also attracting people's attention.

On “Secret Word Wednesdays” customers of Wow Bao’s Facebook page can learn a secret word to tell the cashier for a free bao at the restaurant.

                           or other events:




He further explains why Giving Away Product to Customers Who Check In is " A Conversation-Starter"
“Most of the people on Foursquare have their accounts tied to their Twitter accounts, and their Twitter accounts are tied to their Facebook accounts, which are tied to their blogs. When somebody checks in, it goes viral on these different (platforms), and you start a conversation. First, it's ‘Hey, I'm at Wow Bao'; then, ‘What's that?' Then, ‘I love it—have you tried it?' “ 

2.  Create an Twitter Avatar for your business










We all know that a right Twitter avatar can generate many benefits: It helps define your brand and spread it around the Internet. Whenever you're participating in some social activities online including commenting on blogs, tweeting, sharing a link on Facebook, you want to be recognizable.

@BaoMouth's job is to:

• tweet a daily deal
• reply to inquiries from customers
  
• retweet from loyal customers
• engage in conversations with customers regarding any issues
• make customers happy- give a big surprise as possible. 

3. Let Customers Place an Order through  your Facebook fan-page

When customers place their orders on Wow Bao's Facebook page, they can automatically share their purchases with other friends on Facebook. Then , their friends might ask them " what is Wow Bao" or they can check it by clicking on Wow Bao's link

In another article, Alexander told QSR  reasons to launch online ordering -CLICK  ME






4. Build a brand ambassador program

Interestingly, a loyal customer can become a Bao Mouth. They just need to register online, then they will be given a Bao Mouth card. Wow Bao will protect card holders' personal information. Bao Mouth member's job is to look for people who love Wow Bao, are really promoting Wow Bao and sharing Wow Bao with other people.
Bao Mouth members will receive exclusive offers from Wow Bao.  For instance, during the week before Christmas, Bao Mouth card holders will be given free meals at the Wow Bao restaurant.


5. Utilize new technologies  

- Offer technology -driven customer experiences
- Provide customer convenience
-  When a customer forgets his wallet, he can use his smartphone to pay for the order at the restaurant -

Source: Chicago Business , 2011

What do you think about Wow Bao's SM marketing strategies? Do you think Wow Bao will go further????

Social Media and Child Safety Issue - PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN !!!

This morning I read some news in relation to Facebook privacy and safety issues which most people are currently concerned about. Suddenly, I remember that  few months ago a 17- year- old girl named Emily Longley, was found dead days after she posted a status on Facebook that she was being stalked.

Moreover, there are many suicide cases that happened among teenagers related to cyberbullying and social media in recent years.

In February 2010, Phoebe Prince, the 15-year-old South Hadley, Mass., girl hung herself after alleged repeated bullying at her high school.

In September 2010, Tyler Clementi,18 years old, jumped off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate and a friend allegedly streamed a Webcam video of his sexual encounter with another man.

A few weeks ago, 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer killed himself after being bullied online regarding his sexuality. Jamey used social networking sites to show that he was struggling with his sexuality, though he encouraged others on the It Gets Better project webYoutube to fight off the bullies. He took his own life after posting an online farewell.

Honestly, after reading these stories, the question which came up in my mind is that where the hell their parents and teachers were ..... why things like this happened to those teens...

What is Cyberbullying? “Cyberbullying is any harassment that occurs via the Internet. Vicious forum posts, name calling in chat rooms, posting fake profiles on web sites, and sending cruel email messages, are all ways of cyberbullying”. It is true that it is easier to bully in the online world than in the real life. Kids and teens these days have more opportunities to use new technologies including SMS, email, instant messages on MSN, Skype and Yahoo, blogs and other social networking sites. They became more freely to talk about themselves or voice their opinions regarding any issues, and if others dislike or disagree with them ==> it can lead to a Fight or even Cyberbullying

To prevent cyberbullying, parents need to understand how to use these new platforms and also be proactive in observing their children's activities. If you are a parent, you should read tips from Microsoft- Family Safety.
For example, parents should:

1. Understand how a new technology works. Learn how your child will use it, who he/she will communicate with and what information he/she could potentially share.
2. Always set up privacy settings on any new technology. My Mobile Watch Dog lets parents monitors the texts, emails and phone calls their kids’ cell phones are receiving. Net Nanny is a software that can be downloaded onto a computer and can schedule Internet access, block social networks,  stop inappropriate chats, stop illegal file sharing and monitoring where children are going online.
3. Talk with your child about cyberbullying. Encourage your child to tell you immediately if he or she is being harassed online or contacted repeatedly via email or cell phone by an unwanted person. Also explain to your child that cyberbullying is harmful and unacceptable behavior.

If a child is being cyberbullied, you can look for certain signs - CLICK ME

If you suspect your child is being cyberbullied, there are some guidelines from Stop Bullying Now which you can have a look, briefly:

1. Encourage your child to stop communicating with the cyberbully.
2. Do not erase any photos, video or texts–you’ll want to keep all evidence. Take as many screenshots and print them out if possible.  Cyber Bully Alert is an online software the lets children using computers automatically alert their parents when they are being harassed online. As soon as the child presses a button, the software takes a screenshot of the computer and immediately alerts the parents via email or text.
3. Try to identify the cyberbully if he or she is anonymous. Your Internet Service Provider (like Comcast or AOL) should be able to track them. However, if the cyberbulling is criminal–or you suspect it is–contact the police and ask them do the tracking.

Source: The Link Paper

What do you think about cyberbullying? It seems that Australia's current anti cyber bullying laws failed to deal with this issue... Please let me know your thoughts!

How Google +1 affect your Google search results

While I was searching for some information on Google, I saw this Google +1 button. Honestly, I have known its existence on Google results for long, but I never tried to use its function in my personal life or even have a look at its benefits in business. Thus, this is a good chance for me to write a blog about the Google +1 button today :D

What is Google +1 ?


Well, surely everyone can see that Google + 1 is simply a feature that adds "a button" ( to illustrate "Like") to the whole web search (Note: you can only see it if you log into your Google account). It is much like the Facebook "Like" button. The Google + 1 button allows all users'"likes" to be shared with the user's entire contact network on Google. The difference with the Google +1 button is that it is made visible to the whole web. Furthermore, it appears on advertisements, sites across the websites and in Google search results. All of the users' likes are saved in a tab on their Google profile and if they want, they can choose to share this tab with the whole web world. Currently, the Google +1 button is included in blogs and news sites as a logo which readers can click on to like the page and share with the web world.

How does  Google +1 affect your Google search results ?

As mentioned above, the Google+1 button gives all users a personalized search engine experience. The personalization allows them to search in Google and see results that are recommended by someone in their social circle either in Google+ or Twitter. People can connect their Twitter account with Google+, and if they follow you in Twitter have Google+ accounts their +1′s will show up in the results too.

As a result,  the Google + 1 button has an influence on our search results because it shows us the search behavior of our friends and family. Furthermore, this button may influence the ranking of the search results. This means if businesses integrate the Google +1 button into their sites, it can help push them up in the search rank.

However, what if Google users repeatedly click  on the Google +1 button or someone does cheat the Google + 1 clicks for their business, will it be a disaster? The answer I found out is that Google is not that easily fooled. Firstly, you need a Google Plus account to click the Google +1 button. Google has their own system that can check who is clicking and also the other buttons that person has clicked. If you use the same account or even create a new account it is quite easy for Google to detect false clicks and accounts. It is advised that businesses shouldn't use " buying clicks" because Google can find out and these business sites will be penalized.

How Google + 1 can promote your business - TIPS

 ==> Integrate the Google +1 button in your sites: Google Plus Your Website <=CLICK ME :D

It can be cleary seen that the Google +1 button is certainly a better deal than the Facebook Like and Google Buzz.Why? The reason is that it brings many benefits to advertisers including its function used for social ads promotion.. Definitely, it will make ads more effectively, and one thing is that even if it is not able to be adopted by the whole Google world, it will still have far reaching effects.

 

What do you think about the Google +1 button? Will it be successful in the future?  :)

 P/s:  There are  more than 50 million active Google plus users - wow- the number is growing faster-- :D