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Here's what happens in an internet minute

February 15, 2012 by John McGarvey

It’s a mistake to stop and think about the internet for too long. You’ll struggle to grasp the sheer size of the thing, its mind-boggling complexity and the rate at which it changes.

Still, it the internet is fascinating. And that’s why this infographic from Intel caught our eye. It gives you some idea of what happens online in a single minute.

While you’ve been reading this, a score of people have had their identities stolen, hundreds have signed up to social network LinkedIn and there have been 100,000 new Tweets. Bonkers.

What happens in an internet minute? Intel infographic{{}}

Alt text: Infographic – what happens in an internet minute

Just to put some of that into context:

  • The 639,800GB of data transferred is equivalent to sending about 135,000 full-length DVD films across the internet.
  • Those 6 million Facebook views sound like an awful lot – but then you have to remember that worldwide, one in every nine people has a Facebook account.
  • The number of internet-connected devices is set to soar over the next few years as cars, TVs and even kitchen appliances all get their own connections.

While there perhaps aren’t any hard and fast conclusions for your business to draw from this, it certainly highlights some of the opportunities out there. With 1,300 new mobile internet users every minute, having a mobile website makes sense. And with 1.3 million videos watched, perhaps your business should have a YouTube channel.

You know, I reckon this internet thing might just be here to stay...

Posted in The internet | Tagged social media, Internet, infographics | 0 comments
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Social media isn't as new as you think

February 02, 2012 by John McGarvey

You can’t move round here for social media experts and social marketing agencies. Facebook, Twitter and their ilk are big business, because companies see them as vital new marketing channels.

It’s true that social media has had a huge impact on how companies communicate and interact with new and existing customers. If your business isn’t already on Facebook, there’s a good chance you’re thinking about it.

Social business is nothing new

But something’s got lost in the in the rush to claim this new, technological territory. Caught up in all the excitement of becoming a ‘social business’, many companies seem to have forgotten that there’s always been a social element to running a company.

Luckily, Global Dawn (who say they’ve created the first comprehensive ‘social business engine’, whatever that is) have put together an infographic showing how social business has grown and changed through the years.

Click the image below to expand and let us know what you think of it in the comments – and give us your examples of social businesses from before Facebook existed.

Social media infographic (Click to expand){{}}

Posted in The internet | Tagged social media, marketing, Internet | 0 comments
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2012: great for Google+, group buying and gadgets

January 05, 2012 by Andrew Miller

Google+ screenshot{{}}

Will 2012 be the year of Google+ for business?

Guessing what’s in store is traditional at the start of a New Year. And so I’ve been looking ahead to consider what 2012 might have hold for businesses and the way they use technology. Here are my predictions.

Considerable consumerisation

Consumerisation of IT is going to become even more widespread in 2012. This is the migration of consumer technology – like tablet computers and social networks – into the world of work.

With almost half the UK population using smart phones and tablet computers becoming increasingly popular, demand to access business content on a range of devices will grow exponentially. The line between consumer and business use of technology will become increasingly blurred as workers expect to be able to access work email on their personal devices - and vice-versa.

Google+ growth

We’ll see an increased adoption of Google+ as a new way for businesses to reach key customer groups. Facebook is not always the right marketing channel for a business but Google+ has the potential to bridge the gap between social and professional.

Small businesses have the flexibility to be amongst the early adopters of new tools like Google+ and so should capitalise on the opportunities they can bring.

Happy huddling

If 2011 was all about the growing popularity of discount sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, 2012 will see more and more companies looking to services like Huddlebuy - the small business equivalent of Groupon.

These services enable small businesses to boost their presence, acquire new customers and ultimately increase sales. The offers are widely promoted and generally very well received - so they can provide a great opportunity for small businesses.

Finally, the use of QR codes will continue to grow. We’re already seeing these pop up everywhere: in magazines, on groceries, adverts and so on. They provide yet another avenue for customers to interact with a business, giving smaller companies a voice in crowded markets.

More articles looking ahead:

Andrew Miller is technology marketing consultant at Dell.

Write for the IT Blog

Posted in Buy and manage IT | Tagged social media, predictions, group buying, Google+, 2012 | 0 comments
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