Social Media State from a Lemurian Perspective:

by Laurent 7. June 2010 16:32

More and more people are using it. We often complain about it as a fundamental waste of our time or of how it trespasses our privacy, therefore, we can now officially pronounce Social Media as mainstream. Yes, it is part of our daily life, during the good and the bad times, and due to globalization as well as the increase in household internet connections, we start sharing the same experience worldwide. And yet, do we all use it the same way?

ZackBrandit being located in Belgium, is in the center of a cultural crossroad. The country has 3 official languages as well as Germany, UK, the Netherlands, Luxemburg and France as neighbors - each one with its own language, communication and entrepreneurial culture. Belgium developed Netlog, The Netherlands brought Hyves and the others introduced their own set of social networks and other media.

When Brian Solis, a prominent new media thought leader, introduced the Social Media Prism, most of the brands that were included were from US based start-ups. In the meantime new prisms were created for other countries such as Germany, Japan and China while international start-ups were added to the original one.

In February 2010, Brian Solis wrote a blog post about
the state of social media around the world where he uses a study by TrendStream to explain that although Facebook dominates the market in most countries, social media usage can vary from one place to another.

 


For a complete analysis I invite you to read Brian’s blogpost. What interests ZackBrandit the most is the evolution of the blogosphere. Projections of the research show us that in most western countries we mainly use social media to upload pictures and manage a social network profile. Only 10% of people who have internet access (average of 50% of the population) write their own blog. On the other hand, if we go to Asia or Latin America we notice that blogging has a predominant position; often much higher than social networking; yet, rates of internet access remains proportionally much lower (except for South Korea and Japan).

Most social media technologies originated in western countries; which also means they mature faster in western societies. Whereas Asian and Latin cultures, where life isn’t as fast-paced, show that online communication is also evolving at a slower speed.

At first glance this may not sound alarming, but we may expect a further decline of blogging in western countries and probably also in the rest of the world on the long run.

Larger and more influential social networks will start looking to expand beyond their virtual borders. It has already started with Facebook Connect, but with time we may anticipate much more interaction between the different existing platforms.

This also means that companies with a business model revolving around social shopping, affiliation and online marketing will start to see local and international shifts in their communication strategies. Thus, can we start talking about glocal online communication?

How does this influence ZackBrandit’s model?

Though we originally developed the Zilhouette and our affiliation model for bloggers, we value being active on different platforms. This of course demands a lot of energy; priorities must be established. When we decided to create ZackBrandit about 5 years ago, we expected to see Europe follow the US lead in social media. With time we realized that cultural and perceptional differences were telling us otherwise. This complexifies ZackBrandit’s model and its goal to push conversation forward.

So, where are we going to? What direction will social media take?
We can only guess, but we expect to see standards and interconnections popping-up.
Language remains a strong barrier; however automatic translation is also improving.
Server costs can be very expensive and partnerships to reduce them are also viable.
3D, virtual and augmented reality will become even more immersive. Today we connect to the internet; tomorrow the internet will connect with us.
Indeed, social media is still in its infancy…

 

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General

Eclat Cacao

by Laurent 3. June 2010 11:26

When I say Belgium you think…

1. Frites (Belgian fries)
2. Beer
3. Politicians
4. Waffles
5. Chocolate

Belgium is indeed quite well known for its many culinary marvels and today’s post is about Belgian Chocolate.

There are many chocolatiers in Belgium. Some of them with their names echoed all over the world, while others prefer to keep a low profile and enjoy producing quality artisan pralines.

The ZackBrandit team is multicultural but we all have one point in common, we love chocolate! That is why we’re looking to promote these delicious wonders.

We recently discovered Eclat Cacao in Brussels and we’re all sold!

Meet David and learn more about his new chocolaty venture. Discover how pralines, bars and easter eggs are made. You can really taste the passion in his work!

 

All these chocolates are of course available on the ZackBrandit platform, fresh and delicious directly from David’s shop.

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Product

1000 Posts! It’s time to celebrate!

by JeanPaul 27. April 2010 18:01
  You have of course heard of this little word during your visits to our website or during our various interactions on different platforms where we are active: The Zilhouette!!! The Zilhouette is one of the services provided by ZackBrandit.
ZackBrandit offers the Zilhouette as a reference tool where bloggers can find out how their blogs are perceived by their readers.In popularizing this tool with both the practical and fun aspects, a couple of months ago we asked bloggers on BlogCatalog to take advantage of this free profiling tool.

This effort was a huge success! Today, our discussion is one of the longest and most followed on BlogCatalog with more than 1000 posts. More than 400 bloggers participated in this discussion. They are pleased to see that their blog has personality and how it is being perceived.

Here are some examples of feedback we received:

Acostaki

Blog: http://katrina-fashionistadiva.blogspot.com

Profile as seen by ZackBrandit: Admonisher

   

"Wow, thank you so much for your review! You are too kind!

I am very much a perfectionist and am somewhat unhappy with my blogs inconsistency. I am still learning the whole blog lingo, but trust when I say I will perfect my art...soon enough!

Thanks again, you've given me great confidence!
"

Econtatto

Blog : http://lookartv.blogspot.com

Profile as seen by ZackBrandit: Idealist

 

"Perfect, exact, accurate, strict, correct,true!!!

Thanks a lot and for what regards the affiliate program....well everyone have to live somehow!! hehehe!

Thanks so much again"

Our 1000th post was written by Vikasiiit.

Blog: http://www.guptacounsell.blogspot.com/

Profile as seen by ZackBrandit: Opportunist 

 

About Vikasiit's Blog:

His blog is focused on a variety of topics relevant to everyday life.

He even has stock market and weather widgets for the information of his readers!

Still skeptical? Don’t you want to know how your readers perceive your blog? It as easy as, signing up (free of charge) on ZackBrandit’s website, putting the widget on your blog, then asking your visitors to share their feedback with you.

Join ZackBrandit’s Fan Page, join a community of bloggers and internet surfers.

Jean-Paul

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Zilhouettes

Reaching the customers where they are located

by JeanPaul 30. March 2010 14:42
It’s all about the placement.

The customer has become the main focus for brands. Like the term “Customer-centric” says, it’s the customers, and more importantly their wants and needs, which initiates product development. In short, the customer is KING.

The success of any business during this troublesome economy requires a lot of originality and creativity. Being able to establish a relationship of trust, and especially on a long-term basis, is the challenge of lasting success. For this, we have to know the customer and really take into account his/her environment. Brands today don’t hesitate to go to where the customer is located: social networks, blogs, forums, etc. to find out what they are saying and what they are thinking.

“Reaching the customers where they are located”; this is a popular strategy. To know and be there where the customer is found will help well-known brands, as well as small companies, get closer to their customers and to listen to them. To not take such an approach could be fatal, especially in a system where everything is rapid. Furthermore to be capable of listening to the market via widely used social media platforms leads to knowing what is said or could be said about a brand or a product. To reach the customers where they are, also means to be able to step in for its cause and acquire supporters.

Nevertheless, all businesses in their strategies of conquest don’t necessarily adapt this vision and yet they succeed well or sometimes even better than those who have in mind “customer centric”. They are uniting large communities around their products and services that are more than just faithful. This provides us with a tricky question and leads us to address the customer in a more specific way.

So isn’t the key to this question being inventive, proactive and to know how to match the product offer with the customer demands?

To be present on different social network questions is not a luxury, but more like a necessity. This is also a reason for which ZackBrandit establishes a strong long-term relationship with its clients (Brands, Brandits and Netizens) via social media like Facebook, and LinkedIn (social networks), Twitter (microblogs), Flckr, Youtube and SlideShare (Content Sharing websites).

Did you know of cases where businesses knew that they should focus on the customer as the center of their activity?

How would you explain the success of these business that function by their own way and don’t completely accept the idea of centering their businesses activities on the customer?

Visit us often and share your opinion and suggestions with us on our forum.

See you soon!

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Eclat Cacao: a Marvel Made for your Mouth

by ZackBrandit 24. March 2010 16:02
Bunnies, bells, chicks and eggs, what would Easter be without chocolate? And artisanal, delicate, fine chocolates at that.


David decided to open his own chocolate workshop, Eclat Cacao, with his wife Valerie after 20 years of working for reputable companies in the Belgium chocolate and pastry business. With Belgian chocolates, being the most acclaimed for quality and finesse in the world, David has explored and applied multiple techniques in order to produce delectable and delightful truffles, bars, figurines and pralines.

Everyone from small to tall will enjoy these sweet treats from Eclat Cacao. And for the more gourmet taste, the chocolaterie offers flavors of orange, caramel, almond, speculoos, and that's just the beginning.

Although Eclat Cacao specializes in Chocolate, David and Valerie have come up with another petit pleasure: real-fruit flavored gourmet marshmallows. In passion fruit and raspberry, this will be sure to satisfy your little sweet tooth.

ZackBrandit is proud to offer you a product of such distinction. This is a must-try for everyone, especially something special to share with your friends and family. 

Special Easter Discovery Pack

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Enter the Legend with the New HTC LEGEND

by ZackBrandit 22. March 2010 15:05
Let’s start with a little riddle.

I am a spartphone, I am multi touch, and I operate on Android 2.1 with a unibody design. People say that I am elegant with a brilliant AMOLED screen, and I have a metal finish. I want to be a “Legend” in for my generation. Who am I?

Introduced for the first time at Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona, the HTC Legend, the answer to this riddle, made an outstanding impression. Equipped with an extensive selection of widgets, the HTC LEGEND allows you to personalize almost anything, and therefore lets you bring out the best in your phone.


Super connected in social media, the HTC Legend will help you stay in contact with different circles of friends, or colleagues. The new widget, “People Widget” makes your life easier by enabling you to create a group on your phone and direct your calls, messages and social media updates to them.

Explore in a blink of a second the technical description of this HTC jewel. It is currently on sale at ZackBrandit.com; you’re just a click away!

Become a part of the Legend too!

Zack 

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