I was too busy last weekend that I couln't update Jepoy Dino's Thoughts... And the topic should have been about Banner Ad prices, and I tried searching my mind on what really takes to price the ads; and I had nothing...

I don't know how it would sound to my readers if I say that your website direct banner ads should be based on a metric... and usually web traffic pops into mind. But is it really just traffic or the CPM - Cost Per Mille - that matters? Well, it provides you a mathematical model of how to price it - more clicks per thousand means higher prices.

In my mind, I think it's not as simple as just CPM. As an advertiser, the value the website shall give depends also on the service in terms of market data and targetted engagements - in this case leads capture - may affect the price of the ad. For instance, if I can provide the advertisers contact details and profile data of the netizens who clicked their ad - won't that be valuable? Or maybe, to go further on these data, I could arrange the visitors to capture their age and location, won't that be more valuable? How about orchestrating a social media campaing redirecting the netizens to the banner ad on the website - isn't that direct traffic capture for the brand or product being advertise?

How about a cycle through email push to the visitor who clicked the banner ad? Isn't this a quick way to communicate instantly to the targetted client? Tracking this email push to the client by the sales team doesn't only provide sales leads, but also an engagment wherein the most important messages gets through instantly to the curious client?

How much would the advertisers pay for that? I believe better than the CPM of 1,000,000 by the other website. So even if my website is just 10,000 visitors for now, a targetted social media campaign coupled with value added services that may be used by the advertisers will still be a better deal.

With all these possibilities, how much can I really price my banner ad boxes?

A colleague of mine asked me today what are the industry's standard sizes and going prices of banner ads?

You may actually set your sizes the way you see fit on your website. However, it would be best to put the standard size setforth by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). The IAB is composed of media groups responsible in selling media ads in the United State of America. (http://www.iab.net/about_the_iab)

The IAB have suggestions and format defined as the internet matures. In their website, IAB has some suggestions which I pasted below:

Source: http://www.iab.net/guidelines/508676/508767/displayguidelines?preview=1&psid=0&ph=aa14

Banner ads are meaures in pixel (width x height). And there are standard sizes which are still being used today, and may still be adapted by your advertisers, as follows:

 

Source: http://www.bannercreator.nu/banner-size.html 

 

The prices for these ad sizes varies according to Page Rank, Relevance, and the Advertiser's campaign budget. Generally, the more visits and unique it is, brand exposure qualifies how it should cost. So it's actually you who shall define how much do you think your website is worth versus the Advertiser's objectives.

 

 

 

 



 

Online advertising through Banner Ads for small businesses may be simple. We know that Banner Ads targets a specific niche and works around the idea of persuasion and collective interests of the visitors.

If I have a small business selling used branded bags in the internet, how do I advertise? First, we should know that to advertise is to persuade and to generate interests that will match a certain customer profile. There are ways to attract new customers into your website such as Pay-Per-Click (PPC), which is the most fastest way to generate leads but may also be the most expensive. Affiliate links to other website which is slow in bringing in results. And Banner Ads, which is relatively cheap because the audience is targeted well.

As a small business, the reach required would also be in the proximate locations and influences – municipal level, company level where you work for example – touching that small network amongst your peers, or maybe a small group of enthusiasts or ladies’ civic organization to promote the used branded bags. Using Banner Ads on where these small networks usually hang-out in the internet will be a good start for a small business like this.

Somehow the Banner Ads would not only be a click-through but also expands your exposure – telling your market that you are in business and that your products are available now. By knowing you have such products, that are affordable and classy, these netizens will try to contact you for a much awaited conversion. Not only will the exchange be in the internet, which is quite expensive for start-ups to really shopify their sites, a good Banner ad exposure may spell the difference.

If you can maintain the Banner ads to bring traffic or exposure to your business, or further pinpointing a specific user segment for your product and brand, the results may be very much cost-efficient considering a low cost placement in the right website. So knowing the right message to imbed and the durability of the placement in a high-traffic precise visitor profile website shall be perfect for a quick sale in the near future.

Advertising online through Banner Ads are meant to persuade viewers or visitors of the website to adhere or be captured by the product or brand. One of the objectives of persuasion is to change the belief sets of the visitor. In short, that is to change the attitude of the buyer towards the brand.

A banner ad should attract attention to achieve a message push. One way these advertisers do it is by appealing to the emotions of the visitor. Values that are usually attacked are fear, love, pleasure, vanity or the usual we see now on Ensogo.ph or Groupon.com which touches on scarcity of an offer to instil fear. The fear attitude is engaged to entice them to not miss a valuable offer wherein others had already availed of. This becomes an attitude changer for the visitor since he wants to avail of the scarce offer too that is about to end soon. The fear or scare concepts changes the attitude from passive to immediate aggression – be first to avail at all cost.

This technique of creating stimuli, touching on values and emotions, is prevalent in most advertising media. They simply identify values and emotions that are already desirable by nature such as Sex, Affection, Delicious Food etc. that is already associated with the target visitors, naturally as people with the same interests. When this has been established, advertisers exploit these desires by instilling fear of loss, aspiration to be loved, or messages that create urgency to change attitudes, or in greater sense personal lifestyles.

In looking at the objectives of the advertisers – to emotionally persuade or provide information on a product – the website shall just be a medium to push these messages to the visitors of the site. The website owner should have a good profile of the visitors so that the advertisers may find a good niche of viewers to expose the brands. When a match and opportunity is present, then a good content ad online may be as effective as the traditional media channels.

I received an email from a good friend who is handling consumer brands of a snack food company, telling me what they usually look for in a website to display their banner ads. He mentioned that some banner ads are to maximize on impressions. But for them, a simple display will do.

Here is what I found out:

1) they usually place their ads on top of the page where traffic on that website is highest. It doesn't have to be the home page because part of the factor they look at, is the relevance of the brand to the traffic profile and the activities being done by the visitors on that particular page.

2) the banner ad message is always simple - in fact the dominant brand color and logo will suffice

3) the banner ad size will depend on how fast the website page loads up. It is important because studies show that a slow loading page, somehow has a high exit experience.

He also mentioned that the more traffic - unique visitors - a page has, the better exposure the brand will have. In this case, it is the way the brand is exposed to the target visitors that makes the difference. They measure the banner ad with a link to their system - not to their website like a Click Through banner ad - but by placing a code into the ad box that catches the visits it is imbedded on. The average impressions are measured this way for non-click throughs.

Since this is the way they measure value on a particular placement, I may adjust the media marketing efforts to appeal to them. I have to know the profile of their target market, so I could align the media efforts to attract the right visitors.

It also gives me an insight on how much budget or cost targets these advertisers have, based on the number of visitors. Since they monitor the impressions as total unique visitors, then it is crucial that the price of the ad box be commensurate to the expected impressions. More visits translates to affordability and maximize brand exposure. So if I exceed expected visits, most probably they shall extend their ad placement.

Now that I have a feel of how this banner ad can monetize my website, I think we need to adjust the pages and media marketing efforts to what is expected by my potential advertisers.

I received an email from a good friend who is handling consumer brands of a snack food company, telling me what they usually look for in a website to display their banner ads. He mentioned that some banner ads are to maximize on impressions. But for them, a simple display will do.

Here is what I found out:

1) they usually place their ads on top of the page where traffic on that website is highest. It doesn't have to be the home page because part of the factor they look at, is the relevance of the brand to the traffic profile and the activities being done by the visitors on that particular page.

2) the banner ad message is always simple - in fact the dominant brand color and logo will suffice

3) the banner ad size will depend on how fast the website page loads up. It is important because studies show that a slow loading page, somehow has a high exit experience.

He also mentioned that the more traffic - unique visitors - a page has, the better exposure the brand will have. In this case, it is the way the brand is exposed to the target visitors that makes the difference. They measure the banner ad with a link to their system - not to their website like a Click Through banner ad - but by placing a code into the ad box that catches the visits it is imbedded on. The average impressions are measured this way for non-click throughs.

Since this is the way they measure value on a particular placement, I may adjust the media marketing efforts to appeal to them. I have to know the profile of their target market, so I could align the media efforts to attract the right visitors.

It also gives me an insight on how much budget or cost targets these advertisers have, based on the number of visitors. Since they monitor the impressions as total unique visitors, then it is crucial that the price of the ad box be commensurate to the expected impressions. More visits translates to affordability and maximize brand exposure. So if I exceed expected visits, most probably they shall extend their ad placement.

Now that I have a feel of how this banner ad can monetize my website, I think we need to adjust the pages and media marketing efforts to what is expected by my potential advertisers.

I received an email from a good friend who is handling consumer brands of a snack food company, telling me what they usually look for in a website to display their banner ads. He mentioned that some banner ads are to maximize on impressions. But for them, a simple display will do.

Here is what I found out:

1) they usually place their ads on top of the page where traffic on that website is highest. It doesn't have to be the home page because part of the factor they look at, is the relevance of the brand to the traffic profile and the activities being done by the visitors on that particular page.

2) the banner ad message is always simple - in fact the dominant brand color and logo will suffice

3) the banner ad size will depend on how fast the website page loads up. It is important because studies show that a slow loading page, somehow has a high exit experience.

He also mentioned that the more traffic - unique visitors - a page has, the better exposure the brand will have. In this case, it is the way the brand is exposed to the target visitors that makes the difference. They measure the banner ad with a link to their system - not to their website like a Click Through banner ad - but by placing a code into the ad box that catches the visits it is imbedded on. The average impressions are measured this way for non-click throughs.

Since this is the way they measure value on a particular placement, I may adjust the media marketing efforts to appeal to them. I have to know the profile of their target market, so I could align the media efforts to attract the right visitors.

It also gives me an insight on how much budget or cost targets these advertisers have, based on the number of visitors. Since they monitor the impressions as total unique visitors, then it is crucial that the price of the ad box be commensurate to the expected impressions. More visits translates to affordability and maximize brand exposure. So if I exceed expected visits, most probably they shall extend their ad placement.

Now that I have a feel of how this banner ad can monetize my website, I think we need to adjust the pages and media marketing efforts to what is expected by my potential advertisers.

I received an email from a good friend who is handling consumer brands of a snack food company, telling me what they usually look for in a website to display their banner ads. He mentioned that some banner ads are to maximize on impressions. But for them, a simple display will do.

Here is what I found out:

1) they usually place their ads on top of the page where traffic on that website is highest. It doesn't have to be the home page because part of the factor they look at, is the relevance of the brand to the traffic profile and the activities being done by the visitors on that particular page.

2) the banner ad message is always simple - in fact the dominant brand color and logo will suffice

3) the banner ad size will depend on how fast the website page loads up. It is important because studies show that a slow loading page, somehow has a high exit experience.

He also mentioned that the more traffic - unique visitors - a page has, the better exposure the brand will have. In this case, it is the way the brand is exposed to the target visitors that makes the difference. They measure the banner ad with a link to their system - not to their website like a Click Through banner ad - but by placing a code into the ad box that catches the visits it is imbedded on. The average impressions are measured this way for non-click throughs.

Since this is the way they measure value on a particular placement, I may adjust the media marketing efforts to appeal to them. I have to know the profile of their target market, so I could align the media efforts to attract the right visitors.

It also gives me an insight on how much budget or cost targets these advertisers have, based on the number of visitors. Since they monitor the impressions as total unique visitors, then it is crucial that the price of the ad box be commensurate to the expected impressions. More visits translates to affordability and maximize brand exposure. So if I exceed expected visits, most probably they shall extend their ad placement.

Now that I have a feel of how this banner ad can monetize my website, I think we need to adjust the pages and media marketing efforts to what is expected by my potential advertisers.

I received an email from a good friend who is handling consumer brands of a snack food company, telling me what they usually look for in a website to display their banner ads. He mentioned that some banner ads are to maximize on impressions. But for them, a simple display will do.

Here is what I found out:

1) they usually place their banner ads on top of the page where traffic on that website is highest. It doesn't have to be the home page because part of the factor they look at, is the relevance of the brand to the traffic profile and the activities being done by the visitors on that particular page.

2) the banner ad message is always simple - in fact the dominant brand color and logo will suffice.

3) the banner ad size will depend on how fast the website page loads up. It is important because studies show that a slow loading page, somehow has a high exit experience.

He also mentioned that the more traffic - unique visitors - a page has, the better exposure the brand will have. In this case, it is the way the brand is exposed to the target visitors that makes the difference. They measure the banner ad with a link to their system - not their website like a Click Through banner ad - but by placing a code into the ad box that catches the visits it is imbedded on. The average impressions are measured this way for non-click throughs.

Since this is the way they look at value on a particular website,  I may adjust the media marketing efforts to appeal to them. I have to know the profile of their target market, so I could align the media efforts to attract the same visitors that would matter most to these advertisers.

It also gives me an insight on how much budget or cost targets these advertisers compute for, based on the number of visitors. Since they monitor the impression as total unique visits - then it would also be crucial that the price of the ad box be commensurate to the expected impression. In this way, more visits means economies of scale based on the price I sold the ad box for. And if I exceed expectations, most probably they will extend the ad placement to my advantage.

Now that I have a feel of how this banner ad can monetize my website, I think we need to adjust the pages and media marketing efforts to what is expected by my potential advertisers.

I know I want directly placed Banner Ads on my website. And to get advertisers into my website, is to know how they conceptualize a Banner Ad Campaign.

The objective of these advertisers is to 1) create click throughs and 2) entice a "Call to Action" type of Banner Ad. It is needless to say that the ultimate objective is to make sure they profit from the Campaign.

I need to show them how much visitors I have and provide them a profile of my own website campaign - or how and who do I attract on my website that will jive with the target market of these advertisers. Moreover, I have to show them where the visitors gravitate to on my pages and what are they looking for. If I get a match, then I'm sure to get some inquiries on my ad boxes.

Once I know I have a good website to complement the Banner Ad campaign of my potential advertisers, I should also know how to size the ad boxes, what kind of Banner Ad should I recommend - animated or simple text and digital links, and the right color of the Banner Ad to coincide with the overall feel of the website.

I can put up a digital map of the website and include the percentage or actual page visits for each internal page. This will give the advertisers a statistical probability of how much exposure the product will get, hoping a "click through" will happen. Of course, it may just simply be a Banner Ad with a message. It need not be a "click through" display depending on the objectives of the adverstiser.

Once a click through is established, a "Call to Action" may be executed. These advertisers would want a purchase/commercial engagement to happen. After all, the objectives really is to profit. The "Call to Action" will be dependent on the kind of message it shall convey and how the profile of my visitors match. If for example, a visitor is hooked on my videos, and the videos take 10 minutes to finish, isn't it a food snack product Banner Ad on the side of the page where the video is imbedded be a good position?

To sum up, a Banner Ad Campaign serves a couple of functions: to ensure that it interests the visitor to click and provide a good brand message for the  "Call to Action". And my website should be designed to provide good results.

How effective can Banner Ads monetize your website? I believe that this is the most effective and more profitable, since you cut on any middleman or broker agency that shares with your revenue.

Although it would seem that these ad agencies have the muscle and connection to quickly find good adverstiser for your website, it somehow struck me --- why are these advertisers willing to put up a banner ad in the first place on my website? So it means my website has the essentials to make them pay Php5,000 on a text link, and all I have to do is just find the right companies. If they can do it, so can I. And I can put all my effort into it and save the 50% commission I need to pay them for finding one.

More than the savings, I want control over where these banner ads are displayed. By going directly to these advertisers, I know which page and how it should look like on my website. Having control on it, makes it more exclusive and appropriately adding to the value for both my website and their ads.

This also bring credibility into my website, since direct advertisers are joining my cause and has put confidence that their brands shall increase in value by advertising on mine. This creates a synergy that when properly managed, will increase the reputation of my website.

Although it is time consuming to negotiate for direct banner ads. It also sometime is not a stable revenue flow. The ads are most of the time contracted for 30 days or less and it makes you scamper for new ones evertime the term is about to lapse. Not to mention the documents pertaining to the contracts for each brand, that you have to establish before you can engage on their banner ad.

Considering all these pros and cons, I still want direct advertisers simply because, if they pay me an amount, it is because my website can deliver the value expected of it. No ifs, no shares, but simply best value for their money.

In running a website, the object like any other business is to profit. You have to maximize website design and content to earn - through advertising.

Usually there are 2 kinds of clients for a website owner, a publisher and direct ad placement from companies. An Ad publisher is a group that looks for websites and sells their links to capture a certain market, and you get to share in the advertisement check that they make. An example would be Google's AdSense, which is a robot managed program that analyzes the content of your website for topics, and it simply flash an Ad pop up for your audience.

On the other hand, a direct Ad placement from companies, are those paid advertisements in square boxes that is seen on your website, wherein you managed yourself and get directly paid for it. Both capitalizes on information to get through your traffic. By introducing their products and services to your audience, if the reached is concentrated to a common group - this increase their probability of a sale.

A Banner Ad may come in Text form, Digital pictures, or Animated flash codes. They also come in the form of articles  or news teasers. Price is determined by the box size; and the bigger it is, the more expensive. The higher the page rank of your webpage, the higher is the price that you may command. Technically, Banner Ads are html scripts that directs a visitor to the website of the advertiser, to catch the interest and engagement for a possible sale. It may also be just a simple picture on a corner of your webpage and still your audience are exposed to it, for a possible sale tomorrow at the mall.

You may compare it to an Ad you see in print and billboards, or the television. Exposure allows "suggestive" sales messages that captures interest. More people seeing it, the more chances they will make a sale. So how do you entice them to put one in your website? Or to make your website match the target market?

There is a science on how these marketers see the effectiveness of a Banner Ad on your website. Content may be a key. They usually spot "Sticky Content", which is a web page that attracts repeat visitors and creates influence altogether. When you reach this point of popularity, Ads shall be a major source of income.

I had a good chat with a friend somewhere in the Eastwood area yesterday and I learned some of the good trends in Digital Marketing. When I was on my way, I really couldn't expresss what I thought about this Marketing Tool, until that eye-opener conversation - that made me realize that I have come in contact often with the ideas and concepts that circles around this subject. It was really simple afterall.

We talked about Reputation Engines and Group Messaging as the newer ones. The former is actually the "Follow Me" functions we find on Twitter and the other social media sites. This technique dwells on the fact, that your sphere of influence make up for value. Those you know, represents who you are. It naturally becomes your base of influence. The more followers who are reputable, the higher is the reputation score.

The latter - Group Messaging - is a way to communicate in a small group, concentrating the interests and builds a niche for marketing efforts. It becomes a precise target for marketing campaigns, because it is already organized by interest and location. Imagine selling a flip-flop to a group of surfers, pushing enticing email messages for a possible commercial engagement? This becomes a focus approach to a marketable group.

There are other trends aside from these that capitalize on the curiosity of the clientele, and satisfying the desire to know more of a product and service. As you may notice nowadays, QR codes proliferate to capture information on an establishment's product offerings. It is a quick way to push the information for a more defined and accurate match of need and availability - an infomercial way of capturing your decision to buy.

On the other hand, the better of the technique to inform, is the Q & A sites, which have the same rationale - to know what to buy. Except that, it allows a dialogue between marketers and clientele. This is a more personal and more human manner of selling, compared to the techy-approach of a QR Code. Q & A has an advantage of promoting discussion around the brand and interject the negatives and positives of the competition, making it more informative, there by increasing chances of a sale. It builds better loyalty and knowledgebase, among others.

With all these Digital Marketing technique, there is one common ground for all. The target audience are organized to one common interest, and is targeted in a manner that it creates a topic that people will be talking about and shall coalesced into a common bond.

Some websites make it so hard for visitors to understand the service and product being offered. If they do however, it seems so tedious you get lost in the words which makes your brain to freeze!

I suggest some of these websites should have an FAQ page. Or maybe a blog site within the navigational plan. Or better yet, why not a Forum Board!

hmmm.... what is a Forum Board? Well, it is a message board wherein conversation among visitors and administrators may transpire. This seeks to answer queries and a channel for raw ideas to be posted for everyone to comment on. It helps to know what others seem to be afraid to ask or confused with, for the administrator and the owner to clarify.

A forum board is composed of threads. These are a hierarchy of subforums that organizes the information for others to read and reference with. It is like a discussion board wherein message pins are readable by all. This concept in the internet is like our Bulletin Boards, which we visit most of the time for announcements and other information that are relevant to us.

The Forum Board is also a feedback channel for the website. It categorizes the questions and answers for the administrator to take note of. However, it also may be abused by visitors and competitors to weaken the website's integrity through malicious postings. Somehow, it is hard to distinguish the real person under a name handle who does these negative messages, allowing these types to do it.

There is a way to secure the forum. One way is to pre-qualify the visitor by a registration process, to be approved by an administrator. With this, the administrator may collate information of the registrant in a database. As an added security, a Moderator may also be assigned to channel good ideas and siphon out unwanted ones. With this two in place, a Forum Board may be the best way to filter good information.

Is Pay Per Click (PPC) a forgotten model to earn revenues out of web traffic? I believe that if an idea can create value, it shall be available forever. Let me try to know how effective PPC may be for a website by describing what it really is, in my point of view.

I think of PPC as a concept, wherin a merchant advertises on a website, and the website owner gets paid for every click that is directed to a possible commecial value. The volume of traffic that is redirected to the merchant translates to a possible sale. The concept is like advertising in a billboard, the more people sees the merchant's site or offerings, the higher is the possibility it may get an inquiry or an interest on the products and services being offered.

However, PPC is now more of an ecompassing program. PPC revenue is derived by the number of clicks or redirection to the mechant, plus the possible purchase opportunities that it can generate. In this case, the website owner gets paid for the performance it provides the merchant. If a netizen clicks through the ad banner on the website, and didn't materialize into a sale - then the merchant has no cost to pay in terms of a commission on the sale. But on the other hand, the merchant as an advertiser in the website - taking advantage of the website's traffic - pays a price per click, providing a small revenue to cover cost of the website owner. We call this fixed-rate PPC.

There are arrangements wherein the website owner is afforded an over-riding commission on the increase in sales of the merchant. It somehow acts like an advertising agency, developing an ad campaign across search engines and social sites in which the website owner shares on the advertising budget of the merchant, and a contract price is established based on revenue results. PPC plays an important role in as far as feedback and market information gathering is concern. These information is very valuable, and may have to be paid for by the merchant; hence, the over-ride commission it entails. This is an example, of bid-rate PPC.

But do you really mind if its fixed-rate PPC or bid-rate PPC you are availing of? I find it to be just a function of cost-efficiencies for the merchant. For the website owner, on the other hand, the quickest accounting is best.

I had a good insight last night on the relevance of the website in the point of view of the designer and the owner. I realize that a designer looks at it as a car being suit up, and the owner personally attached on how it shall serve its ultimate purpose.

Somehow the site owner sees it to be her "baby" insisting that it is part of her personality. The designer, on the other hand, searches for the most efficient features. For both to be successful in their roles, the two should be complementing and in harmony.

Although the designer does the work technically, the owner is actually is the promoter and the visionary. It is the owner that sets what it should be and is the only absolute guide even after the site is published. She should be the basis for the site evolution, where function and improvement initiatives should emanate from.

Her advocacies should be the ultimate purpose. And as Advocate of the site, the owner shall defend the site from any suggestion that will undermine its effectiveness, even within the organisation and its core members. It is her role to make sure that the integrity of the site is preserved, and doesn't diminished even with pressures from internal disputes.

And the most challenging for the owner is actually how to defend and envision the content vis-a-vis changes and opinions of those who are to use the website, co-relating the functions of each member of the company. The owner should plan the content considering the message and tone, balancing the objectives and personality of everyone. She will have to take into account the perceptions and objectives of her colleagues, and naturally diminishes her own visions as a sacrifice for a more balanced site.

In short, the owner somehow is mediator and evangelist, always a diplomat and gets the grunts of all. This reality should be acceptable to her because there will always be trade-offs in design and function, and it is her role to find the balance, keeping in mind total bottom line. And as owner, no matter how chaotic the experiences are or were in my personal experience last night, she shall call the shots for the website and rightfully call it her "Baby".

Have you heard of the term Attention Economy? Well, it's a new trend in the world wide web that's an offshoot to social media marketing or some would say a part of it. It's a new way of doing things wherein you agree to be paid in exchange for your attention. What the heck is that?!

Well, some companies believe that in using the "grape-vine", it would be effective to use the person-to-person approach in exposing their services and products. You may identify yourself with the right service and products, and it comes with the influence you make. Examples of these, are the personalized news, personalized search, alerts for recommendations, or the "follow me" types.

This new concept, emphasizes on how netizens value their attention. They get paid for posting news articles and clicking on links where they are needed. The value is derived from relevancy. The more relevant the post is, or the more relevant the followers are, is expected to translate into more engagements.

The objective is to direct and redirect visits to companies that offer the relevant service or product. Trending it this way, allows a broader reach with focus. Concentrating the visits in this manner, allows a funneling through that may achieve greater results. More people carrying their influence, with the same interests, into the right service and product, shall statistically increase the best probabilities.

With all these information above, what then is Attention Economy? It is simply a maximization of the scarce resource - people's attention as a commodity. In web theory, it is the realization that when a netizen is looking for something, he will find it eventually in filters and in another competitor's site. Hence, if Attention Economics is applied, the first page the netizen sees should be the most relevant thus catching his attention to stay in your site and make a difference - and more often get paid for it.

In Social Media Marketing Techniques, the popular partner is Twitter and Facebook. Am I right that these social sites bring the most following? And the more followers, the most engagements are achieved?

The answer is rooted on the memberships of these sites. The more prominent the users are, the more valuable are the visitors for your site. However, the people's profile should match the target market for your website, isn't it? So it may not always seem to be best to have Twitter and Facebook; nonetheless, the overwhelming number of members will statistically bring the most crowd to push the website's presence.

As it is, presence may be a step forward in making some of your products and services known to a larger market. Twitter and Facebook provides this. However, isn't it better to formulate an ad campaign and make available banner ads on sites that have the right profile for your target market? Is it more strategic in bringing in more engagements, than to just have traffic and visitors that squat on your site, and distort your analytics? The key is to have a precise plan on reaching the netizens who are qualified visitors that convert their visits into engagements, and a focused understanding on these types should be captured, more than just super-numbers brought in by Twitter and Facebook.

You have to follow the right people in Twitter and Facebook. Not only do we zero-in on these users, we also need to know what they are talking about so we can plan for the Twits and Status Updates you want them to receive, pointing them towards your site most of the time. If they find the posts and topics interesting, and see that you have more of what they need than anyone else - You are sure of an increase in the engagements more than you expected.

More so, you have to have a plan to exploit the leads Twitter and Facebook generates for you. The followers may have connections in their roster too, that may provide you better people to tap. Exploit on the numbers, creating a set that is most valuable for your website. Ensure that these group, creates a traffic that links your site to the same profiles that make a difference.

Linking up with Twitter and Facebook is a good start. And to move forward, identify the members that have the most essential contribution to your site in terms of quality traffic and actual engagements. Search the net on more precise links to enhance collaboration, touching base on where it matters most in terms of contact. All these are not easy, but I believe a social media plan with these insights, may prove a better outcome than just a link to these 2 popular social sites.

It just came as a thought to me today, how much value do we get out of a website? Or how much impact does a website have on business?

First, we have to understand the preferences of the Visitors. In my readings, we always have a liking on quick loading of pages, appealing home pages, and a clear information on the company conveyed by the website. Somehow, experts say we only have 10 seconds to load up a page or else the visitor shall disengage. It's because the home page is the showcase, and the one that retains the most impression on a first time visit. With this as a fact, the home page should have a brief description of the company and the offerings, clear enough that the interests of the visitor is captured quickly.

It is good to understand and be conscious as well on the internet speeds available to the visitor. As technological capabilities improve, if it is capable of loading up graphics and better designs to entice an egagement, then this shall be a guide on how the website should be created. The features and the formats for the website can't be without a clear understanding of these factors.

Knowing the technical and preferences of the visitor leads us to a detailed design of the website that allows quick and easy transfer of information to the visitor. If we can express what we wish to say within their attention span, and easily imparting the messages and distinct elements into a well planned broadcast, then the engagement should be half way to completion.

Once engagement and interest has been established, Navigation is now essential. A good navigation plan is a further step towards the fulfillment of the visitor to be totally impressed. There is no point to an aesthetically and techincally awesome site when visitors can't get to the right pages that provide the best satisfaction. It is somehow a rule to put them within a few clicks of the information that matters to them.

The most important success factor, is how concise and effective the content and information is communicated. Here we make sure we established credibility. Ensure everytime a visit is made, that security and confidence is preserved and is at par with expectations. The more relevant it is to the visitor, the higher will the engagement be which leads to a good value for money experience.

In general, to provide best impact on your business, the website should be well planned. Focus on the visitor and what the expectation is. Develop the website always within the technical bounds of what is available to them. Make sure they get what they want and that you alone can provide it.

I'm observing the people here in our community clubhouse, all with their tabs and laptaps; and I only can conclude that they are surfing the net as I do.

A couple by the corner near the main entrance chats and smiles peering into the tab on top of the table. It seems they're checking out a good site or perhaps is watching a good video. A lady at the table by my left side has an ear phone and is speaking by herself intensely looking at her laptap screen, with a facial expression that of someone engaged in a serious conversation. As I am writing now, they seem not to notice me.

I wonder whether the internet captures these realities in our lives as we share and communicate with other netizens. It is quite amazing that the emotions are expressed through the connection already available through this technology. It doesn't only allows us to be with people so far from us, but also connects us in the same space and time. Everything to be as it happens, when we like it.

A lad, maybe about 16 years old now, has just sat across the hall and plays a loud Gotye song. Sets a mini speaker and slightly moves his head to the beat and the refrain. Music has evolved to video and many kinds of format, creating for us numerous ways to enjoy.

The capability to connect transformed the way are entertained. It provided us a new way of living. The internet made us all converge in one place, creating an avenue of people, events, and shared creations. And just by looking at these people now, I know they are with me in this cyber world.

I noticed last Sunday how much time my kids spend on the internet. To my surprise, I watched them wake up and turn to their laptaps until before noon. They eat their lunch then there they are again!

In the internet with all kinds of information, harmful and entertaining as they are, seems to catch my kids attention. I saw youtube videos being watched from pop music to crazy personal videos from some deranged person or otherwise worse kind! I asked my boy why he watches those videos and who introduce it for him to click on, and he said he just was attracted at the number of views done on it.

It made me think that popularity is not good always. And I know from his answer that he was merely trying to surf and was attracted to it, without any kind of discerning sign on the quality of the experience. It made me think further, how can I secure his internet experience or perhaps direct him at least on his searches?

So I best thought maybe I need to have some good idea on how they are doing in their internet experience. I am not into restrictive ways when it comes to educating my kids, so I am planning to do the following:

1) Ask them on his favorite sites and try to get his reasons in liking them. This maybe will provide me a glimpse of what is going on in his head.

2) Instruct them on how to discern good stuff and bad ones. In my case, if I get nervous on what I see and experience, then I know that is not for me. I believe these kids are not as different as we are, so I would have to instill this basic sign of when to avoid a site or not.

3) Never allow them to give any information of where they are, neither through the social sites or even on the phone. Best security will always be Anonymity.

And lastly to totally eradicate my fear that they get harm is 4) to make sure that they clearly know what is right and wrong in real life.

That no matter how anonymous you are or the netizen you are interacting with, the morality in cyberspace should be the same in real life. Do unto others what you want others to do unto you (of course without exposing yourself too much, than what they have revealed to you). Right? Fair is only fair when you are comfortable about it. :-)

We usually see a 404 error message if we wrongly typed an address. I sometimes don't mind the error message and simply re-type the address of the site i wish to go.

These 404 message is not just an ordinary prompt when we couldn't find our destination. In fact, this 404 message error means that you located the server but the exact resource location is not available at the time of your visit. It shouldn't be confused with the server not found message, which is explicitly saying that the location or site is truly non-existent. This type means you couldn't connect to the server you requested.

The 404 not found message and the similar ones are actually recognisable standard response codes. The first digit the number 4 indicates a wrong address or a URL. The next digits number 0 and 4 indicates the specific error encountered. Various numeric codes are followed with readable language such as "not found" in this case. Several codes like 204 - No Content, 301 - Moved Permanently, 401 - Unauthorized and many other Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) response status codes, is part of a world wide web standard.

All these are parts of the world wide web protocol, that is being followed by users of HTTP/1.1. This platform allows building of independent systems separate from data being transferred. It is actually set up to manage objects, links, and sub-links to organise multiple systems in the world wide web. When your browser sends a request, the server response by any status it is design to do like display content or files and other resource available to the requesting browser.

So whenever you see some HTTP response code, it tells you a specific problem in the server, the browser, and the non-existence of the site you are looking for. It's not just someone's funny idea to confuse us further in our searches, but actually a good guide if we understand the coded messages. 

When the internet started to catch my interest, it has become part of my daily routine to surf and get hooked. Mostly my favorite sites are about news and business trends. To some extent, I adapted a routine visit of reuters, bloomberg, bworldonline, the site of the bank i worked for, mtv, youtube, and facebook (of course!).

I wonder how much time do I really spend in the internet? If i would estimate, I am in social networks by 20% of the time, 30% on news, and 50% on videos and other lifestyle sites. I am so attracted with video and animation on the different sites I visit, and it is a sure return if I experience updated ones. Spending time watching and browsing on these sites provides me good entertainment. I just wonder why I'm attracted to it.

I believe each one of us have their own peculiar interest in the internet. Personally, I think mine is news reading, emailing, know how my friends are doing, and my desire to search for information and knowledge. The videos show a clear audio visual experience, and is the easiest to appreciate. The news is simply a need that I must do to update me on current events. Communicating, on the other hand, is because it's inevitable. In totality, all of these are my online activities that form part of my life in the internet.

One factor that describes my desires for the things on the internet is rooted on our culture. The way we are educated and raised, the work we do, the family interests and the influence of our peers and friends; somehow add to the whole aspect of our Netizen character. This is well evidenced by how people in different countries, so diverse from each other, statistically leave different footprints on the net. In closing this post today, let me share this information I found on how we are part of this cyber-world:

Have you ever came across the term "Snippet" before? It is by the dictionary defined as a small piece of something, and usually these are information or parts of literatary works or articles. And in the IT world, or in the Internet, these are small programming text or codes.

Snippet coding are re-usable codes and functions differently in a variety of programming platforms. Since it is re-usable, it may be present in different programming modules, and operates uniquely on each one. For example, are loops or replay instructions for countdown clocks on your programming. Imbedding videos and slide shows into your website, is another. These visual and non-visual operations are in the form of snippets that are in the code lines of your programs.

Snippets may be classified to be static, dynamic, and scriptable. As the word static implies, you can just do plain text display. For the dynamic ones, these are your time values or those that run clocks or dates that form part of another applications. And for the scriptables, these are the runnables where we also find some variations of shell commands.

How wonderful isn't it? So when you get across the term snippet - it may not only mean parts of literary works like poems and short stories, but are also a term used in the internet. Let's improve our knowledge of the internet, and explore the possibilities and the usefulness of this world in our daily lives.

The green bar or the https:// line in the address bar of your browser tells us that a website is secure. What really does it mean to be secured online? The common notion is that a Secured Socket Layer (SSL) certificate is in place.

An SSL certificate encrypts data that tells your browser connection to the company's web server is private. It prevents any intentional tampering of transmitted data and digital forgery. It is like a seal that tells your visitor that his activities on your site are free of any leak of confidential information.

Usually, it is a value add for your visitors to be engaged on your site. It guarantees somehow that your site is sensitive to your visitor's privacy. It improves the integrity of transaction online from your site, and will be a good reason to experience some more return visits. In a way, this improves the overall reputation of your site and your company.

SSL doesn't only secure the visit, but also authenticates the stay. This means you are not only sure of your information is safe, but also you have the peace of mind that you are sending information to the right server and not a dubious one. Some websites somehow mirror identities of legitimate companies, and you would be fooled to believe that you are in the right site. Not to mention, phising activities that are very rampant in the internet. An SSL certificate ensures that your are on the right location and company.

So, the next time you shall transmit information such as personal details on a feedback form, or a site that ask for confidential information, or a purchase you wish to do; check that the address bar should be color green with a padlock icon before the https:// prefix.

In surfing through the internet and when the search engine directs you to a specific name site, is it really that simple? To Netizens just surfing for information and gets directed to sites with the most probable primary domain, it seems just typing and there you go. But it is not so simple for the webmasters or the web designers.

The domain name is part of an Active Directory setup in the network. The primary domain usually is www.example.com and is suppose to show your way to the particular website. Usually, these primary domain bring you to where you wish to go through "cookies". Well, it is a bit complicated to expound on how the "cookie" functions, but let's just describe it to be a set of data that is held by an intermediary to bring your computer browser to a specific site. And, primary domains are actually a set of these "cookies" in an organize manner. You see, it is so difficult to find a site if it were a set of numbers, and so the internet set it up to be of words interralated and specific that there aren't any domain that is the same. All are unique in words and extensions.

The primary domains that make the website, may be subdivided and are called sub-domains. Sub-domains are usually in http://sub.example.com/ formats. But why do we need sub-domains? Are they necessary? Sub-domains are actually just like folders within your root directory, wherein you can organize the index page to be products, games, or forms redirecting your visitors into specific links within your primary domain. Simply just links that brings your users to the specific information, but for webmasters and web designers, it is a lot more. Some use sub-domains to shield the confidential information and those that are for public access. On the other hand, some just wish to organize the data for quick restructuring or management like what we do with our file folders in our hard drives.

Not for the unfamiliar, the use of the sub-domain directory is delicate. A novice may make a mistake of over extending the sub-domains that it interferes with the identification by search engines and the formats of the "cookies". This may become so nasty that it destroys the way the browser reads the pointers, and you lose your traffic. The "cookie" impact should be studied well.

The simple search is so complex in the world of the internet, that the codes should be well spelled. We experience, as ordinary Netizens, the convenience in searching for our needed information, and it's not so common to us to really ponder on how the internet brings us to the sites we choose to go. Now, isn't it awesome that the internet have its own location system that keeps everyone on the right path always?

I'm playing online games for quite sometime now. I have my favorites, and these are the shoot-em up first person and adventure rpg games. In my gaming experience, the name-handles become icons of who you are.

How important is it for the gamer to mirror his real self? As for me, I always use the handle Merda de Dragao on games that are adventure rpg, and jmdino for the shoot em ups. Sometimes I use Onid for warrior characters in the popular game Skyrim of Steam Media and Might and Magic. And I tell you, I am so attached to it, that I am so affected of an injury and so happy for every victory. But that's not me in real life, right!

How many of these gamers are like me or are more attached that they value their identity in the games they play. And some I believe reserves sequel versions in advance, so that they may register the same name-handles, and not be robbed of their gaming reputation. And yes! Some really do rob names in a game to be the person they never beaten or they wish to be to gain at least the reputation they never had in that particular online world. How awesome that people value their characters in the world of the internet.

Indeed, It really is quite a world we have in the internet. We become the heroes, the vermin, the prettiest, the royalty, and the general that we somehow aspire to be in reality. We see our gaming lives as a reflection of who we want to become, and we get attached and we feel our joy, fear, and sorrow on our online victories and defeats just like how it is in the real world. The only difference is that we can quit and reboot and change the outcomes as we think fit. And this I like. Happy Gaming! ;-)

Is being Online a bane or a boon to your business? The usual discussion in putting up an online business always, at first instance, is much about the cost. The usual contention is that it is too expensive, and to justify it with the volume of business to be generated is always vague and undetermined at the start. These discouraging facts slows the decision process and limits a company's conviction to jump into the world of the internet.

The right disposition and factors that points you to whether to pursue an online platform should be more on what are your liabilities once the site is activated. To know the amount of liability shall provide you the value or cost of doing so. Once you are online, the cost of development is already actualize, and to achieve the scale of business to be created shall be how the site plan will hit the objective. So is it the development cost that matters most in a decision to embark in an online business, or how strong will your plan be just right for the target audience?

Since we know that the world of the internet is so dynamic and the Netizens are impulsive in their actions, the audience preference on their online experience is king! It is so diappointing, and this is so true with a lot of websites we go to, that we always fill out an inquiry form or a feedback form that never responds immediately to us. Moreso, when the ecommerce site doesn't even update inventory and product catalogs, that when we delight on a couple of items we are redirected to a "page not found" screen message. This makes the cost of the development so expensive for these businesses that they fail to account the backlash to their brands and their company's reliability. In a way, turning all their online efforts into very big liabilities. In this regard the amount of failure, by comparing the cost of putting up an online business at start up and the cost of not having a good site strategy, clearly dwarfs the former.

In taking advantage of the benefits of an online business, it is very much important to know how you will satisfy the target audience. And in ecommerce, in particular, the target market should already be clearly identified including their preferences, and how the company shall manage their expectations. If this is done successfully, I believe the cost of putting up one is a smaller risk versus the larger overall success that needs to be worked on.

In developing a website, we should know first what we wish to convey based on the purpose of why we are putting up a website. The reasons may vary from selling products or raising funds, as the case may be. Or simply an infomercial or a showcase of our ideas. We need to know this so we could identify and focus on our target audience.

The audience shall dictate to us the technology to be used, say Flash or Jquery since not all have the best browsers to accommodate Flash. It is good also to consider, if we will use animation or simple slide shows, dependent  again, on how we wish to catch the audience's attention.

All of the above are good starting points in creating our website. We need to know our audience and we need to match this with our ideas and the site's purpose. To keep all these factors together, we should put a considerable amount of time with Navigation - the heart of the website.

A website with the most functionality and technology is nothing without a good navigation plan. It provides the audience a feel of the structure of the website, which also guides them on the flow of ideas and coherence of all the visuals and text put together. The total audience experience relies mostly on how he transfers from main page to sub-pages and sub-folders. This distinguishes a good website from the others.

The engagement is strengthened if the visitor knows what to do next. It is always good not to confuse the visitor when he lands on a certain page. They say a good website somehow implies and suggest to the visitor where next to click, and to find his much needed information. A good metrics of the navigation plan will always be the visitor's adventure from the main page, like a starting point of a maze; and his ease of exit up to the last available interaction.

I am wondering how much time do we really spend surfing the net? When I search the net for topics on this, the first page is about "how much time wasted on socializing in the net" or "I do only my surfing after office hours", and it gives me negative vibes and a feeling it is being controlled. On the other hand, it seems it is so common doing it at work that our employers find it unproductive.

Is it really unproductive? How do we define the use of the internet during office hours to be overly excessive that it catches their attention? Isn't it the internet is a resource, and information we gather here should add to our knowledge? Even if we our into the social sites like Facebook and Twitter, we tend to bond with others in our industry, and even spot marketing moves our competitors are implementing. Surfiing may not at all be detrimental to our production but may somehow be a concern.

As people, we always are to be connected to others whether physically or in the internet. It is basic and natural for us to do so. I couldn't imagine that a good worker is just alone in a cubicle or a corner in the office trying to write and aswer the mail, and believe that it is "just enough to be who you are" at the moment. Learning is a lifelong process, and it is prudent we get hold of all information we could grab to improve our skills.

So why are we regulating the use of the internet during work hours? This somehow touches on ethical issues that most of the companies are creating controls on or is setting an environment of "do's and don't's" hoping they can limit exploitation of the technology. Some of them approach it by time-use surfing, that in my opinion is too lame to be a control point and also unnecessary. In fact, there is a study on the effects of technology in connection to the risk of ethical and illegal practices in the workplace and the numbers are interesting. (http://ansteadsue.tripod.com/technology_ethics.html)

In the final analysis, what is "wrong to do" in surfing the internet is dependent on how the user has applied this technology in himself and his work in accordance with the Laws such as Intellectual Property Rights, Copyrights, etc. It is the responsibility of each of us to know which one is "right or wrong" based on our judgement, and our companies set the guidance on how we use the internet on our jobs in relation to those assets - physical or intellectual in class.

Photoshop is expensive! Reading the comments and reviews made me sigh.

In my mind, I personally felt disappointed that a technology supporting the development of the internet was only affordable to a select market. The capability to create better animation and graphic design has prevented the Filipino web designer an opportunity to showcase their creativity, simply because we couldn't afford the better, if not the best, software available today. How sad that this barrier is so real for us.

I always believe that with good training one can achieve his full potential. And this is very true in almost all aspect of one's profession. The skills he wishes to be expert in is rooted on his desire to be perfect. However, it is limiting if the tools are not available to him. As an analogy to web designing, it is not only important you master the skill; it is as equally important also to master the tools.

The Filipino web designer is world class. But they also need the support to improve themselves. Not with standing the limitations economically, our talented designers shall strive to be the best. I hope somehow software developers, with the mutual exchange of expertise and ideas in the industry of web designing, can help to level the playing field by offering selective price offers dependent on its affordability per country, in a way increasing our enjoyment of the web.

Ecommerce is doing business in the internet. This encompasses fund transfers, logistics systems, transaction processing in a secured network, and data interchange across platforms and systems. So complex that somehow it overwhelms the not so techy of us.

What does it really do? Its just a way to pay and bring funds where it is intended? It seems so technical and absurd to even think that others sends and received money electronically, and are confident that it reaches the suppose beneficiary. It makes the internet so powerful, we rely on it on our transactions and money flows, helping us not only reconcile the finance side of our business, but also captures our inventory system. Not to mention, it also provide us with information on data between our partners and suppliers.

When we incorporate Ecommerce into our online business, our users and visitors see it as a friendly interface in sending money and transacting their intended purchases confidently. However, this is not just a simple click and forget system, but a whole connected system flow within a reliable network of computers from businesses and banks that allows all these to happen securely. We know that somehow the flow of money will still be used the way it is by essence, which is to facilitate exchange of goods and services in the marketplace. The Ecommerce facility allows it to be done in cyberspace, different from the shop purchases we do in the mall or else where.

Looking at it as a system of exchange in the internet, how is it so valuable in our lives then? What does it really bring us in terms of our time, money, and overall satisfaction? To simplify Ecommerce, it is a simple method of payment in a complex computer system in the internet that spells again.... CONVENIENCE.

I read an article recently about how web content - color, pictures, graphics, layouts and text - make a website express the message clearly. The color suggest the kind of emotion a company or an individual would like the visitor to feel. The pictures and graphics, on the other hand, create a visual for the visitor to imagine in his mind a glimpse of the message to be imparted. The layout directs the position of the eyes to the right page location - just like a story board. And finally the text, to impart the exact message it wishes to convey.

All of these elements draws the visitor closer to an egagement by expressing a good image of what to expect of the service or product or information the website wishes to convey. In the process, increasing the amount of enthusiasm and interest of the visitor to the subject matter. By having a clear visual experience and a clear text or article, that culminates in a good website visit.

Somehow it would always be visuals that make the first impression. The style and the methods used on the pictures and graphics, for technically inclined visitors, already makes a good subject matter encouraging for these type of visitors to stay. And I know the longer they stay before a drop-off is a little bit closer to an engagement. Now that they are awed by the design and the visual content, the substance of the message in text becomes easily absorbed.

The website is a cyber-magazine targetting a specific group of individuals comprising of the market segment. May it be to inform of a new product, a message for a group of people, or an announcement of a special event, the website should have these basic elements synchronize to increase the enthusiasm for the new and the repeat visitors. In this way, the bounce is minimized and prevented, capturing the interests of each visit. Just like a good magazine, it stays on the shelf for people to read again and again.

It's been Holy Week here in my beloved country, The Philippines, last week. The post I was planning to do just couldn't grab space in my vacation mode life. Nevertheless, I hope to continue to write on the Tabs dominance over the PC - so it seems.

I said in my previous post that the Tabs were so convenient to use, and the Internet's vast information so easily accessed with a mobile, light, and reliable computer.

Wait?! Did I say computer... so is the Tab a computer? Defined by utility, is a machine that allows processing of data into useful information. Does the Tab really provide so? ... Not at all. I couldn't even do a simple 20 pager powerpoint with animation and really save all my work into it. Yes it may be done, but for my kind of work in the bank, it's just not efficient.

If the Tab has this weakness, though functioning well for some in this aspect; my option is to buy a computer for my processing and save my Tab for the research and information available in the Internet. It is queer indeed, to have a laptap on the table, a Tab on my hand, and a cup of coffee in a nook at my favorite coffee shop. I dont't like to be branded to be a Geek.

Wouldn't it be better to just have one piece of computer and Tab in one? Is there one which shall suit my desire, providing me with good computing power and convenience? I know there is. THE ULTRAPORTABLES!

If the Ultraportables are computers and internet capable bundled into mobile, light, and reliable that spells CONVENIENCE, I can have a good satisfaction experience. So if the Tabs were really ahead today in unit sales than the PC, and the PC evolving into speedy computing, to crisp displays and abundant storage capabilities, then size and light as a Key Feature for Success... then the ultraportable may have the better of both. If the PC manufacturer price these miniature mammoths just a little bit higher than a Tab, and a great discount compared to a PC, then I have in a way hit a bargain, isn't it?

So If I find a good ultraportable that is mobile - meaning 8 inches lengthwise and 5 inches in height display and its lighter than 0.80 kilograms (and I believe this is the only perceived product differenece the Tabs have over the PC) can I still say its a Tab?

I am wondering whether the demise of the pc is forthcoming? No less than Apple's CEO has declared that we are in "post-PC era". Let us try to reflect on how we really do our computing nowadays.

Isn't it that the trend a decade ago were to have faster chips and improved graphics display? The race for better display and quick computing always spikes prices expectedly. Then storage and weight mattered afterwards. Then size and soon weight. Why has these been so, when practically a faster processor and a good display is all we needed. We certainly could carry a 3 kilogram or less on our shoulders as long as we are confident we have a reliable notebook that delivers, right?

And who wants really a slow and small computer? Some say this types we call Tabs are toys. But sales of these Tabs is about to eclipse sales for PC, and I believe surpassed it per unit volume in the recent years when IPad was launched and the Androids further innovated. Even better for the Androids, the surge in unit sales over time was faster, that Apple had to sue a Korean Company to stop it from eating market-share, protecting the territory they had for years; in which this Korean company built so quickly through a partnership with Google, leveraging on the internet.

So we know we can't do sophisticated programming or report writing using our Tabs. Especially, if spreadsheets and documents are too huge that our storage is so limited. Yet, we want to have a Tab and a PC at the same time? What a queer preference, isn't it?

That preference is not surprising at all. As the internet grew and was packed with relevant information through the years, we unnoticed how we got attracted to the vast information it provided us, thus the changes in the way we sought information. The usual TV that hooked us on because of our natural desire to improve our knowledge base, two decades ago, has shifted towards the Tabs as more convenient in terms of weight, size, mobility and ease of access. Since we already now have the internet, how much more innovations shall we see coming forth in the future.

One such market that benefitted from the internet is the stock market. Prices before were quoted through phoned-in bids and offers creating delays, which some took advantage of and used to profit enormously. Now, as we quote in real-time, trades were done instantly. The competitive structure of the markets are now efficient, and captures the desires of the participants in real-time. As I buy, a seller usually is ready to take my bid.

The internet somehow allowed us to setforth our desires in a dynamic market, may it to sell or buy stocks or any other good for exchange, to profit by quick negotiations. The technology gave the ability to transfer and communicate data so timely for decisions to be made. The effects are evident in how it strengthened the market system allowing each participant full access to price and trends, have equal access to technology and know-how, and has become open to all kinds of external factors through ease of accessibility by many stakeholders, all towards the completion of an improve market - that borders to being perfect.

The Internet became a tool, in this case, to create competition, dismantling a monopsony of somehow well funded brokers against the small traders, who usually before this phenomenon was available, gets beaten by the hugeness of the funds and the information only available to these juggernauts. Now, we can see the market trends as the big boys do, and receive information almost the same time as the insiders.

How it has impacted into some case of "leveling the playing field" is one major change the internet has done to our economic lives.

What can a website do to your business? Have you heard of a Family Website? A website can be differentiated by purpose, by content, by navigation, by the kind of IP, or by utility. By purpose means you focus on the information you wish to convey to the public. The text and images on the website provides a clear definition of what it is. An example would be a Family Website, wherein you see a picture of the family and typically a description of each members' character and person on the home page. It always has a house picture depicting the quality of the family's home. The general colour of these sites are prime, suggestive of happiness and bliss. Somewhat intriguing to me is, seldom do they have video links; but for those which has, these are mostly of the travels of the family or a members escapade.

I am surprised it showcases the personal side of people now. The usual purpose were for advertisements in general, and shopping for e-commerce, and information for G2Ps. How come it became so personal and I am expecting to find individuals' resume in website format soon? Not far away in the future, in fact presently, the social sites are capable of linking one from our accounts. Why has the website evolved outside of business and has touched our personal space?

I believe that some of the factors may be evident in how the world has changed in terms of technology, and with the heightened consciousness we have now translated into economies of scale allowing us to avail of the innovation. I now can afford to host my site, when before we count the price versus the bandwidth and the amount of data it may accommodate per second. Somehow it became so common to setup servers using even desktops, and the infrastructure to store data became commercially efficient in tandem with innovations in telecommunication. These improvements has allowed the marginal cost per bandwidth to decrease.

Hosting a site today will cost you less than USD50 per month. Not only has it become cheap, there are webdesign softwares that bundles this service already. Depending on your expected traffic and engagements, these software packages will be just right for you. You see, not only did technology improved, innovations in translating programming html or C++ into user friendly interfaces, making me capable to drag-and-place pics, highlight text and write directly into a webpage, change the properties of pages, and allowing me to patch payment gateway protocols and snippets makes the fun easy to achieve.

Today, businesses are not the only ones who can afford a website. The affordability has become so immaterial, the cost is a give-away. And so, do you really mind the price of being in this world of the internet?

I'm looking at my smartphone right now and reminiscing on how it looks like compared to my GSM phone a decade ago. I remember I used to get SMS, text messages as they use to call it back then, of jokes and quotes that entertains me so much, thinking how Jurassic those gadgets were. I even have before a cellphone that is like a wireless phone, and really bulky tagging on my pant's belt. Hahahahaha It really makes me smile now!

How useful were those cellphone before, and wonderful that we could communicate real time. Now with my smartphone, I still appreciate the information i get in terms of speed and accuracy; but with more interaction. I can play my favorite app and get my messages and email as it comes now, allowing me to be entertained and productive simultneously. The animation and graphic presentation show me in depth information to analyse relationships of variables, making my decisions and objectives accurately. All of these I can do nowadays.

Why is all of this so possible to do before with simple text, and has improved to what it is today? I think technology has expanded faster than our lives, and is getting ahead of our lifetimes. I wonder how i would cook my rice on the way home from the office via SMS,  just like in a sci-fi movie. Video face-to-face is amazing, when a long time ago I just watch Mr. Spock calling for the Enterprise! So many questions from realities today amuse me... Not knowing this would all be real in my lifetime.

How does your realities change you? Do you ever stand up from bed to surf the web or even check your facebook account while watching TV? Do you ever get lost now that GPS is just there on your smartphone? How about picking up the phone to order from your favorite fastfood chain for dinner, do you still do that?

Share with me your awesome experiences with our technology today. Let's put it in a timeline and see how graphically things evolved for the better through amazing innovations present to us today. Just comment on Friend's Insight at the bottom of this post, and lets have fun mapping our techy lives.

E-commerce? Online Purchases? Net Subscriptions? What comes to mind when I read and hear these words, is a convenient payment for purchases in which I expect delivery in 2 days. What do these new internet jargons really mean to the ordinary person or "netizen" (a person living a unique life and character when interacting in the world wide web)?

As for myself, my instant impressions of these concepts is to have the ability to exchange money for a product delivery: the ability to purchase. I think majority of us will see this now as an ordinary transaction in the internet, however the level of confidence in it is still low. We don't usually trust the transaction at once, simply because we are used to being served by real persons that we wish to get a hold on, when our purchases don't come as expected. We feel that when errors arise on our bank account statements, there won't be a smooth resolution to the dispute. But, isn't it when we buy products from our favourite stores unsatisfied, we are also in the dark on what to do; and we pressure them in heeding our complaints by, sometimes out of character, making a scene? It seems to me, our reluctance to do our purchases in the internet is really the helplessness we perceived to be in or the ignorance perhaps on the procedures we need to take when disputes arise.

Internet Purchases is actually the easiest to handle. We pay through the internet, get products delivered, use the product to our satisfaction, and re-order through the same website. Imagine a dispute on the payment and problems along these processes, how many entities are involve to whom you may call attention to? We may file a complaint directly to the website owner identifiable through the Uniform Recall Locator or URL Address, the manufacturer, the credit company or your bank, and the brand owner, all shall be witnesses to your transaction and working towards a happy resolve. Now, compare this to a purchase in a store, not knowing really the sales lady who was on the job casually that you hardly even noticed the colour of her dress that day, and the only proof you have for the dispute is the piece of slip that is supposed to be the official receipt; bringing along an opened packaged product that you need to prove to be defective. Worse, you have to prove that you are really the shopper who bought the other day by identifying the name and person on that slip you wish them to acknowledge.

In the world of the Internet, many are witnesses. We all have our unique identities, number codes on our being, creating a different us in a world so intertwined with the physical and the real. It shall be our tool in bringing everything connected knowing each one, cyber or virtual as they say, incorporated into our lives - Real or Netizen.

I was in a business call yesterday on a special banking service required by a prospect. The discussion was so interesting because it was not only about efficiency, but also how those metrics should be met. The benefits from the service was inherently cost-savings for their business, and the internet or via use of data through the web system compounds these benefits.

It was another dimension, in my experience, in the power of the web. Doing tasks with the use of portals and internet structures somehow saves time, resources in terms of man-hours, and critical required authorisations may be dispensed real-time resulting to unimaginable efficiencies. This is very evident for business entities which requires service deliveries via the net, may it be for data processing or a whole gamut of information exchanges.

As I focus my sight on this technology, my panoramic view of the way our life will be in the very near future overwhelms me.

I will close this short post by saying this: The avenue for new things is dawning. A glimpse of a new character. An innovation we should expect to be reality soon.

I always thought that to be connected should be free. The ability to express one's idea is a right. It is an essential part of being human. It provides self reflection that allows us to mirror our thoughts with others.

If we couldn't express any of our views and opinions, we are not then being the perfect person we ought to be naturally. As such, we couldn't consider ourselves as even fulfilling our essence. The right to express in any medium should always be available to everyone.

I appeal therefore to businesses and establishments to make the internet accessible to all. Provide a terminal for people to use, as a big step in supporting our need to communicate. Let us advocate to empower even the less fortunate to experience being connected. Let's make it a habit to assist and promote the internet, just like what we have done with the Disabled - by putting ramps for their access. If we all can share the experience of mobility, why not the internet as a window to the world and the vast ideas it may impart to the less fortunate?

How it saddened me today, that i asked my son to call his friend and he answered "they don't have a phone?" I said again email them, and still he answered "they don't have one?" It is not as if I was surprised, it was more of a question of deprivation that my son couldn't connect to them. Not even the  popularity of social networks like FB and TWITTER is available to the youth living in the age of the internet, when I thought the internet has become part of our lives already.

It's not Free after all. I know that a gadget or a Tab comes with a price. But how much really is it compared to our incomes and the economic transfers we do daily? Will an IPad be worth a huge portion of these transfers? If we approach it collectively, can we be certain that it's that expensive to even deny people of the ability to be connected?

I am looking forward to the time when i need to connect with anyone or a group of people, i can do it free as my right. I hope we would realize that to communicate is a need. The internet has provided a platform for this, and has recognised its importance in our lives through Skype, FB, Twitter, and numerous forums and chat live technologies so popular nowadays. But we should be conscious and do our part too, just like how we saw it with the Disabled - Let's make Connecting available to everyone.

On this next post, i really wish to continue on the topic of the internet in our lives. However, something about our lives, more than the internet and what it is, struck me tonight.

How come when we struggle to be the best, we usually benchmark on our norms and emulate those set by the majority? And, this is always about laurels - symbols of pride - motivating each one of us, expressing "if he can do it, i can too!". We focus on capacities and abilities vis-a-vis everyone else strengths and weaknesses, as if we are all equally capable in every circumstance. So much so that we believe that we differ only in our attitudes.

But, I believe otherwise, that we are not the same in a lot of ways. We all have different lives and we're living it all at the same time in a society that molds our aspirations. Eventually, we create the principles of life in our activities, providing us a visual of the utopia. However, as individuals, my life will never be yours and will always be different. If I'm right that we are all unique from each other, then why am I the same like everyone else, so to speak?

It lies perhaps in someone else expectation of us. Looking at you to be someone they want you to be. And since pride is such a strong feeling that motivates us, we try not to disappoint them. Then, without us noticing, we already live in the image of what others want us to be. I say now with conviction... Wrong! We are unique...Period.

In my search for some new things, and in my conversations with old friends and new ones, just a few weeks back the Internet has caught my attention. How important is it really in our lives? Our kids are stuck everyday socializing digitally, just like us 2 decades ago on TV. Our Smart Phones so indispensable, that it would be a disaster for us losing it. The machines we interact with all connected by this phenomenal technology called the Internet. A community so encompassing that a big portion of our lives are interrelated without us noticing it.

Do we really think it to be part of us? I'm sure most of us will say yes. But do we know why? Not all of us know how it affects us. Let me try to show why. I'm going to a mall and couldn't find the Nike store because my son wants to buy a pair of Hyperfuse, i get my smart phone i click an app, and AHA! Found it! How about home shopping for those of us on the night shift, 7 days a week? Internet shopping is now here, that we could almost get hold of our needs by a click, and at the front door is a box of your goodies! This comes with it social interactions, getting your thought through as many persons and touching them with your ideas, and vice versa.

But do we really like that kind of way of life? Or should I ask, what value do we really have now as the Internet engulf our lives? To many of us maybe its convenience. We get it done quick, information is real time, we have the power to push our messages and ideas across loud-and-clear, the interactions are precise, and we know what we need, as in everthing!, is now in the Internet 24/7.

With this, my first post on the maiden launch of the Jepoy Dino Thoughts on Good Value In My Homtown blogspot, i leave you to wait how I think I can contribute in the world of the Internet on my next post.

- People don't want to be sold anything, but everyone always want to buy. ;-)