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Why did Myspace Fail?

July 29, 2011 by

With so many social networking options on the market today, it’s amazing that Facebook still reigns supreme. The internet is rife with nearly dead social sites: Multiply, Friendster, MySpace, etc. MySpace used to be Facebook’s only competitor, but it slowly fell by the wayside. With the introduction of Google+, which site will fall like MySpace did– Facebook or Google+?

Why did MySpace fail, anyway?

Origins of Facebook and MySpace

You were probably an early adopter of Facebook only if you were a college student or taking online courses. Facebook spread rapidly to the college crowd; in fact, Facebook was only available for .edu addresses for a long time. Everyone else embraced MySpace– moms, high school students, even the elderly. So why did the more-popular site fail?

Why did MySpace Fail?

MySpace sort of “sold out” in the eyes of its users. The site’s ads were large and overwhelming– and they often involved sexual content. It gave users a vibe that the site wasn’t safe– or at least it wasn’t operating with integrity. Spam reigned supreme. Facebook, on the other hand, always felt like a safe gated internet community. Google couldn’t touch the pictures you posted, the status updates you wrote, or your messages between friends.

Facebook also had a better ad strategy. Facebook ads are quiet and unobtrusive– but Facebook now has so much of an audience that it doesn’t matter how big or small the ads are. Facebook users receive ads targeted directly to them, making a much more personalized advertising experience.

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The Convenience of Online Learning

July 20, 2011 by

Many people grew up with the sound of their parents preaching how important a post high school education is. Unfortunately, many people did not pursue an education after high school, regardless of how often their parents might have nagged. A number of factors contributed directly to this occurrence, the most prominent being the fact that many students had to find job, which functions notoriously well as a scheduling conflict for school. Additionally, some students leave high school intending to go to college, but simply get caught up in life while not being in school, and slowly lose the motivation or funds to further their education.

Whatever the fact, online learning has brought many of these people back into the scene, providing an option for anyone to pursue a higher degree. The main reason for people coming back and deciding to pursue an online degree is due to the immense convenience online schools bring to the table. People who previously had a time restraint as a result of a job can now attend classes as part of online Bachelors programs at their own convenience. Most schools require that students log on a specific amount of time a week, however, there are no set times that they must log on everyday, negating the conflict with schedules.

While in fact there are still many people who have not explored the world of online learning, it is becoming more of a popular option for both modern students as well as return students who did not have the opportunity to further their education in the past.

 

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Use Surveys to Develop More Useful Software

July 19, 2011 by

Software development never ends. As soon as you release the latest version of your product, you have to start developing the next one. With this constant workload, software developers might find it difficult to determine what features their customers want most in the next version. Instead of making wild guesses, you can use targeted questions that will help you and your staff develop a useful piece of software that will solve the dilemmas your clients face.

Make the Most of Your Website

Your website offers information about products to your customers. Why not use it to get information from customers about your products?

A service like kissinsight.com makes it easy for you to turn your website into a surveying tool that will help you identify which features you should include in your next software update. By asking direct questions, you can expect meaningful answers that will help your company meet consumer expectations.

Request Information from Current Users

Since you already have customers using your software on a regular basis, use that connection to gather information about the features you should develop for future releases. Ask customers to register their software. That way, you will have their contact information. Send them short emails inviting them to take online surveys about their experience with your products. You can even include a survey in your next software update to ensure that you get feedback from more users.

Knowing what customers want could help you craft a piece of software that more people want to use. Which techniques do you think will work best for your business?

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Essential Technology Tools for Online Learning

July 13, 2011 by

If you’ve enrolled in online courses for the first time, you may be wondering if you’re technologically equipped to meet the demands of your online learning experience. Here are the technology tools you will need and computer features to test before entering your online classroom.

Videoconferencing Tools

Some online classes rely on videoconferencing tools. This may be Skype or other software tool that the professor has selected and expects you to download ahead of time. It’s important to test out the videoconferencing tool before entering your online courses. Check your computer speakers to ensure that they are working properly. Additionally, if the teacher expects you to speak during the class, you will need a microphone. Conduct a microphone check before classes start.

Productivity Tools for Online Learning

Many online programs expect you to download reading materials and write papers demonstrating your understanding of the material. PDF files are the common mode of transmission for academic materials because students can easily download Adobe Acrobat software and view documents that may have been created in other applications.

To write your papers, you will need word processing software such as Microsoft Word. Check with the professor ahead of time to ensure that you have the appropriate software. If the class requires you to calculate and track numbers and/or make presentations, you will also need spreadsheet and presentation software.

Other Necessary Equipment

If you will join an online class from a noisy environment, be sure to turn off your microphone and invest in noise-resistant headphones. This will guarantee that you hear the class and block out unwanted noise.

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Excellent Verbal Skills Will Give You the Employment Edge

July 12, 2011 by

As the way we work shifts to the Internet, excellent verbal skills will give you an employment edge. More people are looking to work from home, so the competition is getting stiffer. In order to get the really good paying jobs, you’ll need to communicate like an expert writer.

Making Technology Understandable

One of the biggest job opportunities in the computer industry is technical writing. As the world becomes more technical, companies will need people who can make technology understandable to the average user. By developing your writing skills, you can place yourself as the one who explains the latest software, operating systems, and hardware designs to the people who will ultimately be using them.

It’s not too late to improve your language skills. Enroll in online courses that focus on communication. Basic grammar, reading comprehension and even foreign languages are the best education choices for anyone looking to make a transition to online writing. Since the new SEO rules demand quality in the content available on the Internet, any communication degree will position you to get the best jobs available.

How Can a Second Language Help?

Technology is world-wide. Much of the new software and hardware being developed is coming from non-English speaking countries. There will be a demand for writers who can translate to English and from English. Spanish, German and French have been top foreign language choices in the past, but today’s student should consider Mandarin, Farsi, Korean, and Japanese.

By being tuned to the future, you can establish yourself, early on, as an expert writer with excellent verbal skills. Your excellence will ultimately save your employers time and money because information that is easily understood is a product that it is easily sold.

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Making a Career on the Internet

July 12, 2011 by

If you want a stay at home job, finding a job on the Internet is probably a good idea for you. Even if you want to work in an office, you can still find jobs that work with the Internet. It may seem like there are only scams out there, but there are plenty of careers online. Some of these careers require training, while for others you simply need certain skills.

Online Job Opportunities

There are plenty of things you can do online that don’t require training. Freelance opportunities are available all over the Internet, and you can work by writing for blogs, editing, and doing data entry or other types of work. You can visit Craig’s List or other sites to find writing opportunities. You can also start your own business or website on the Internet, but you will have to do extensive research to make your business or website successful. If you do have your own website, posting other business’ adds on your site can help you raise money, especially if you get a lot of traffic through your site. These jobs are also great for travelers because you can do your work almost anywhere in the world.

Training

You can find better jobs on the Internet by taking online courses or other types of training to start your career. Designing and developing websites pays very well, but you have to understand computers very well. You can also work as an online assistant by giving advice to others, which can range from helping them build their own website to giving personal advice.

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Upgrading Your Operating System is Not Difficult

July 12, 2011 by
Windows 7, the latest client version in the Mi...

Image via Wikipedia

Our computers are constantly evolving and one of the most important requirements is upgrading the operating system. So how do you go about upgrading your operating system?

There are many ways to learn more about operating systems, including online courses, but upgrading a system isn’t that difficult. Here is a look at how to safely upgrade a Windows OS.

1.    Back up all of your data. This is extremely important in case you experience a failed installation or some other problem during the upgrade process.

2.    Perform a degramentation on your hard disks. Repeat this process until there are no remaining fragmented files.

3.    Create a new folder where the new operating system will be placed. It’s a wise idea to use a new directory for the install so your files will remain intact until you are certain that the install of the new operating system is working correctly.

4.    Reboot your computer after completing steps one through three.

5.    Place the new operating system install disk into the CD drive. This disk will auto-run and begin the install processes. You will be required to enter information at this time, including the serial or registration number of the new operating system.

6.    Reboot the computer again, once the installation process has completed. This will ensure that you are starting from a known state, and you will be able to identify any potential problems with the new system.

7.    Once again, perform a disk defragmentation process. This will provide more free space.

8.    Examine all programs on your computer and make sure that all of your software is running correctly. You may need to perform updates and fixes on some of them.

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A Solid Understanding of the Basics

July 12, 2011 by
Various cellular phones from the last decade.

Image via Wikipedia

You do not have to be a computer genius to use a computer in this day and age. Many computers and other gadgets like cellular phones, tablet devices and the like have been designed and developed for user friendliness. This is to make sure that most people can use them. Developing a basic understanding of how to use these devices can benefit you significantly.

The Basics of Technology and Computers

The more that you know about operating systems, hardware and software, the Internet and related subjects, the better prepared you will be to deal with your own technology. If your computer breaks down, will you know how to fix it? Many people decide to pursue an online college degree to broaden their understanding of technology. This can help, but there is a lot of self teaching and self learning that you can engage in as well.

The more that you know about computers and other technology, the better able you will be to utilize those devices to their fullest potential. Using a computer can be more than Internet and e-mail, because computers have a lot of exceptional functionality. The same goes for cellular phones and tablets. Cellular phones were once simply phones, but now they are productivity and gaming devices that you can utilize more fully than ever before. With so much additional functionality, it has become virtually necessary to learn more about how to use these devices in order to truly get the most out of them and all of the functionality that they have to offer.

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The World of Online Classes

July 11, 2011 by
BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 24: School...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Most people take online courses because they find it hard to fit school into their schedule. You can use online classes as a way to fit school into your schedule, or for several other reasons. There are a variety of classes you can take, and each one works differently.

Types of Classes

There are many different types of classes you can take online. You can take online courses to complete a degree, or you can simply take classes for education purposes. High school courses, if you’re being homeschooled, are offered as well as college courses, but usually you can only work up to a bachelor’s degree online.

How They Work

Each class you take works differently. You can take classes that have a final deadline, but allow you to complete each lesson on your own time, or you can take courses that have a weekly deadline for each lesson. Sometimes you will have a scheduled video session with a teacher, but this isn’t always required. This all depends on the class that you decide to take.

Benefits of Online Classes

Online courses have many benefits, allowing you to complete your degree on your own time and work around your own personal schedule. Other advantages may include:

  • Your deadline for assignments may be longer.
  • You can choose classes that fit your needs.
  • They are affordable.
  • You can complete them while traveling.
  • You can work up to a bachelor’s degree, and usually in a shorter amount of time.
  • You can complete a variety of career options.
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Time Saving Technology Tools

July 11, 2011 by
MSI laptop computer

Image via Wikipedia

Whether you are earning an online college degree, working in an office or trying to stay connected with a large social network, time-saving software and technological equipment can help you complete tasks more quickly.

A Laptop Mouse

When laptop users begin using a mouse, they see an increase in their productivity. Navigating websites and productivity software with a touchpad alone can be time-consuming. Using a mouse will increase your speed. Navigating between screens, scrolling and copying and pasting information suddenly becomes faster with a mouse.

An External Keypad

Whether working as a data entry clerk or studying accounting, you can speed up your tasks by using an external numeric keypad. You can use a regular laptop keyboard by setting the alphabet keys to the numeric option. Alternatively, an external keypad will allow you to quickly complete 10-key data entry.

Noise-Resistant Headphones

When working in a noisy place, for example in a coffee shop while working towards an online college degree, headphones can save you time by blocking out distracting noises. If you’re someone who works better with music on, noise-blocking headphones can improve your productivity.

Productivity Software

Productivity software refers to applications known more commonly as word processing software, spreadsheet applications and presentation software. While most computers come with these applications, many people don’t take advantage of them on a daily basis. For example, tracking a household budget is simple once you set up the right formulas in a spreadsheet. There’s no longer a need to repeatedly punch household expenses into a calculator. The formulas will do this work for you.

With a few extra technology tools, you can work faster and have more leisure time in your life.

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