More Nickelodeon

More and more brands are maximizing the use of digital media to reach out to their target market. Chart is from Comscore Media Matrix

One of these brands include Nickelodeon. In an article by Andrew Hampp published at AdAge last February, he reports that the network saw 3,000,000 visitors to network's five websites.

The news article also quotes Jim Perry, exec VP-ad sales for Nickelodeon and MTV Networks' Kids and Family Group. "We have a lot of different business on the digital front, whether it's Nick or Neopets or Addicting Games or Shockwave."

At home, we do have Nickelodeon at home. Sometimes, I catch a good program. But now, I think I will visit their website and be one of the 3 million visitors.

Top 10 US On-line SNS Sites

I am continuing to do research for my second article in the Tech Times of the Manila Times about social networking. This time, I am looking at the impact and influence of social networking sites to brands and business. The above chart is from www.marketingcharts.com, compiled by Neilsen Online.

MySpace continues to lead followed by Facebook which reported grew by 102% over the year, as compiled by Nielsen Online. But am sure in the Philippines and this part of the globe, Friendster leads.

Already, I have come across brands like Nokia and Nike putting up their own social networking sites, to bring their users together and create a more engaging experience for their brands.

Friendster or Facebook?

When was the last time you viewed and updated your profile on Facebook, Friendster, LinkedIn, or MySpace?

Probably, a few minutes after you started working? Or before you finished your first cup of coffee for the day?


Yes, you are probably connected! — To your friends from high school and college. To your relatives and family inside and outside the Philippines. And even to total strangers with the same interests, beliefs, and lifestyles. Through social networking sites (SNS) this connection is made wider, easier, and faster. And best of all, these sites come with free space for photos, blogs, videos and music.

Remember classmates.com? Launched in 1995, this was one of the first social networking sites. This website (http://www.classmates.com) helped users locate and connect with classmates around the US.

Xanga, another popular SNS started in 1999. It begun as a site for sharing book and music reviews. Now, it has an estimated 40 million users called Xangans. I started my Xanga site in 2004 when I was still in Vietnam, blogging mostly about life and work in a foreign country. Xanga allowed me to connect to other Filipinos living outside the country.

According to Universal McCann’s Wave2 Global Research (March 2007), 194 million people around the globe manage a profile in a social networking site. There are hundreds of social networking sites that include Bebo, Facebook, Friendster, Hi5, LinkedIn, MySpace, Tagged, TakingITGlobal, etc.

Bebo? That simply means, “Blog early, blog often?”

Have you heard of sosyalan.com? This is Pinoy-centric networking site launched in June 2007. After its first six months, it recorded 50,000 users. “Now, it reaches 200,000 Filipinos worldwide,” according to Tom Pestano, its founder. He added that his site is focused on the 4Fs of social networking: flame, fun, friendship, family.

For more about social networking, click on my April column in the Manila Times published last Monday, 07 April 2008.

Reputation and Blogging

Earlier this afternoon, I was in Studio 6 of ANC (at the ABS-CBN Compound) for the taping of the episode of "Beware of the Blog" for the program, Korina Tonight.

Also in the program for the first segment was Melvin Calimag, representing the IT Journalists Association of the Philippines (ITJAP) and Resty Reyes. I also saw Joey de Venecia and Giselle Sanchez, who were there for the second segment, whose reputation has been maligned or attacked because of blogging.

Me? I was there as a legitimate blogger. Are there illegitimate bloggers? This was the first question of veteran broadcaster, Korina Sanchez.

Yes! These are bloggers who hide behind a fake identity, by raising or lowering their age or simply, not giving their real names! Why they remain anonymous? I wouldn’t have a real answer as there are many reasons why they hide behind anonymity.

This particular episode was really all about the current issues and concerns being raised by Brain Gorell’s blog about losing $70,000 to a former friend. His blog has attracted a huge interest among bloggers, both friends and foe (who hide behind anonymity).

Media has also become part of the argument has its role in this social phenomena called blogging has somehow blurred the lines of between traditional media and blogs as sources of news. Melvin and I prior the program talked about it. If anyone really wanted real news, there were a lot of credible on-line news sites, from CNN to the country’s leading broadsheets, Manila Bulletin and Phil. Daily Inquirer.

I do believe the personal blogs provide colorful and sometimes, even, in-depth insights into daily concerns of ordinary people. Blogs about parenthood or pregnancy help other couples learn more about these stages in life.

While blogging extends the bounds of freedom and reach as a media form, so that the responsibility and accountability of each blogger. In my one liner submitted to Penny Quesada for tonight’s episode, I said, “Bloggers allow people to get into their lives and intrude into the lives of others.”

You can catch the episode tonight on ANC and a replay on Friday night at 11pm!