Fact: Good-Bye Paper Books

35% of Amazon Book Sales are for the Kindle!

–> I got a Nook for Christmas, and cannot wait for it to arrive in February!

Socialnomics

I spent my long holiday weekend re-reading Socialnomics by Erik Qualman. I love this book.  Qualman rights about different real life stories, and lets the world know that social media is here and we should be embracing it.

What I like best about Socialnomics is Qualman talks about companies that have both been successful and unsuccessful using social media.  Although the book does not teach you the strategies a company should use to be successful, there are plenty of case studies available to prove why social media is important to the business world.

Currently, I am considering someday creating my own startup, and I definitely think Socialnomics is a great “textbook” to have to help with my social media plan. I believe that social media would be essential to any potential startup.

Fact: I’m Facebook Friends With My Grandma

The Fastest Growing Segment on Facebook is 55-65 Year Old Females!

I wonder what applications they are using?

Daily Fact

There are 31 Billion Google Searches every month!

I am waiting for another Google Logo Contest!

Daily Fact

1,732

The average number of texts sent and received by American teens in a month.

–> What about having teens sign up for text updates for brands through Facebook, Twitter, etc.?

How Much Should You Give Up To Get Everything?

When recently thinking about the idea of StartUps, I have been wondering how much these founders have to give up to make their business successful.  There is so much time invested into making a StartUp successful, that I wonder if it takes away from their family or personal time.  Or what about the financial costs of a StartUp? How much of their own money do these people risk to make their business successful? What about location? Ethics?

I would assume that many businesses fail because one just gives up. However, all successful businesses run into dead ends, and once that happens you need to keep at it and try a different path.  But how much should you give up/try trying to make your StartUp successful?

I see people who work 60 hours a week with families at home, people who relocate 1500 miles across country to make their dreams come true.  Is there ever a limit someone should set before creating a StartUp?

I think if I create a StartUp, I want to do it before I have a family.  Currently, it is feasible for me to work 60 hours a week.  It would be easy for me to pick up and move across the country without effecting others.  The money I am making and investing would only hurt me if lost.

I have seen first hand the sacrifices people have made to create a business, but I have also seen people who run successful businesses and prioritize their kids and family as most important. These people would not jeopardize their future for the success of a business.

If quick to judge, I would say that the people who are willing to give up everything are money hungry and self-centered, while the people who put their loved ones first have their priorities in line.  But it is not fair for me to say that, because I don’t know.  I think there has to be the perfect medium when creating a business, but I am not sure what it is. Hopefully, one day I will know first hand the sacrifices one must take to have a successful StartUp – and only then I will be able to judge how much one should give up.

Daily Fact

Wikipedia Launched in 2001.

Wiki is a hawaiian word for quick.

They have 13 million articles, in 200 languages.

Great Post About Fan Pages

Clearly, I have been irritated with the progress of my Facebook Fan Page.  Today I read a great blog post by Francisco Rosales.  His blog socialmouths is all about personal branding, social media, and blog designing.

Check out Francisco’s post – it’s great!

Daily Fact

2009 Traditional Advertisements Decline:

• Newspapers 18.7%
• TV 10.1%
• Radio 11.7%
• Magazines 14.8%

2009 Digital Advertising Growth

• Cell 18.1%
• Computer/Internet 9.2%

–> Pepsi just announced for the first time since 1987, they will not be advertising during the Super Bowl.

Startup Idea

I went out this weekend only to once again be surrounded by guys.  All my girlfriends took the smart path and picked up and left after college.  Now, I’m stuck in Madison spending my weekends with the boys, drinking beer, watching the games, playing poker, and setting my fantasy football lineup. The only thing that makes me the girl of the group is I do not engage their bodily function competitions.

I long for my girlfriends back. I want to go dancing, drink martinis, watch a sappy movie, and judge men as they walk by – not women! However, I have come to the realization that my girlfriends are not coming back.  Madison is a great place to live, but not the right place to make new friends that are my own age.  I’m not longer in college, thus I’m not meeting people in college.  The people I work with have families at home. Where are the ladies my age?

This problem is not just a problem I have.  My friends that have moved away are trying to make new friends but tend to be in the same situation as I am in. When you pick up and move to a strange place by yourself, it can be scary and you can often feel alone.

Here is my solution – an online best friend locator site.  If one in eight married couples have met online, why can’t we meet friends online.  There has to be a some sort of formula that can introduce us to our new best friends. I think this site would work! We are not ashamed to use the internet to find the love of our life, why not use the internet to find friends?

Okay, so someone might tell me to go to the gym and start mingling, join an indoor soccer league, go to a wine tasting – sure I could do that, but at the gym I’m not going to turn to the lady that is showering next to me and try to become friends. Have you seen the Burger King commercial? My indoor soccer team would end up hating me because I would probably cry if I got hit by the ball, and lastly, I am going to assume the majority of the people at the wine tasting are couples sampling for their weddings.

Alright I admit it, I need to be more optimistic, but I think if I had the opportunity to meet a friend online I would feel way more comfortable. Plus, if I met the person and decided they could never be my best friend I could just send them a good-bye email.