Next Steps

Scoopler Gives You The Scoop

June 18, 2009 @ 12:42pm

Updated — June 24, 2009 @ 8:43pm

by Mason Razavi

What exactly are real-time search sites? Imagine being able to type in a buzzword, a hot news item, or just any word that could spark a conversation. Then imagine being able to get a real-time stream of information from both major news sources as well as people all around the world.

Now stop imagining. It’s real. And your boss isn’t going to like you sitting around with your eyes closed looking like you need your 3pm shot of java.

I’ve checked out a few of these sites, my favorite so far being Scoopler. A search engine with a clever and dynamic twist, Scoopler will take whatever words you enter into it and pull up relevant articles and videos on the right side of the page while pulling up Twitter feeds on the left side of the page. If you want to see how it works, try typing in a few words related to a hot topic. Simply typing in “Iran” or “Obama” will give you enough information to make your head spin right off your shoulders – in a good way.

If you’re trying to stay abreast with what is going on in Iran, this is an excellent tool. As I mentioned in my last entry, Twitter has become the preferred vehicle of repressed Iranians to spread their word around the globe. By seeing all of the Twitter feeds relevant to the situation all in one place and chock full of links to pictures, videos and articles (oh, and did I mention it updates Twitter feeds in real time?) is juicy enough, but to have all of the coverage from major news sources in an adjacent pane makes for an atmosphere that can only be defined as media-junkie bliss.

Scoopler and other real-time search engines are slightly less exciting when you are searching for anything other than white-hot news. I typed in a few words related to my beloved hockey team, the San Jose Sharks, and got nothing more than a couple of Twitter feeds and a couple of uninteresting articles.

The lesson learned here? Use Scoopler to find out about the latest, most exciting, and most relevant news out there. Give it a shot, I’ll bet you’ll be hooked!

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Iranian Election Coverage Proves The Power of Social Sites

June 16, 2009 @ 2:46pm

by Mason Razavi

Politics are neither my forte nor my preferred topic of discussion, however as a new media marketer it’s impossible not to realize the impact that social media sites – particularly Twitter - have had on the happenings surrounding the Iranian election.

According to CNN, the U.S. State Department asked Twitter to reschedule maintenance in order to keep the social network alive and pumping information out to the web during crucial election-related moments. Furthermore, sites like YouTube and Flickr have become great resources for getting video and pictures for those who want more insight, and, unsurprisingly, blog posts from individuals on the scene are providing more useful than the media when it comes to providing up-to-date coverage to the public.

Despite the Iranian government’s attempts to shut down social media sites including Facebook and others(do a quick Google search), relentless bloggers, Twitterers, and other social networking site fanatics have been posting away.

All of this amounts to what could become an incredible case study in the value of social websites to the public. When the U.S. State Department is banking on Twitter users to relay important political information, when foreign governments attempt to shut down social websites in order to control how their image is presented to the world, and when there is global attention paid to seemingly amateur bloggers, it is time to admit that social media sites have begun to transcend traditional media.

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MySpace Giving Way to Facebook, Twitter

June 9, 2009 @ 7:06pm

by Mason Razavi

“Why-eee-iii-eee-iiii-eee…..yeaaaa….MySpace is dead….”

MySpace seems to be suffering the same fate as the Our Lady Peace, the band who’s lyrics I so artfully butchered. Like the mid-nineties pop-rock outfit, MySpace got its 15 minutes of fame and now seems to be on its way to the land of irrelevancy.

In the world of social networking, it’s all about what’s hot, what’s new, and what everyone else is doing. We’re nothing if not a society of sheep!

In an article from CNN, the author points out the decline of MySpace and the rise of Facebook, as well as the social media tool that may eventually dethrone Facebook: Twitter.

Really, who uses MySpace anymore? It may be better for blogging, and it is certainly a better site for bands, but for the average Joe who wants to connect with his network, Facebook and Twitter have successfully usurped MySpace as the industry leaders.

What’s your take?