Dear Friend,

This month's spooky edition of THE PULSE brings us two articles by Scott Spaid that focus on social media. The first examines the unintended consequenses of overstepping your bounds in the social media world while the second asks what all the fuss is about Google's new social network Google+.

Enjoy!

The In10sity Team

Can Google+ Compete with Facebook?

As a follow-up to my last article on Google+ (or G+ as the digital hipsters put it), I want to pose some questions and see if we can answer them together. Since one man does not a focus group make (or a conspiracy, for that matter), I’m reaching out to you to see what you think about G+.  Here are my questions, which I will answer from my point-of-view:

1. Do you use G+?

2. What do you think about G+ in comparison to Facebook?

3. Do you think Google has a grand strategy where the answers to the first two questions don’t matter in the short term?

Read the rest of the article >>

Client Spotlight: East Tennessee Economic Development Agency

The East Tennessee Economic Development Agency (ETEDA) is the economic development marketing organization for the 15 counties in the Knoxville region of East Tennessee. 

In10sity was chosen by ETEDA to redesign the site to make it direct and easy-to-use for site selectors and business decison makers worldwide. A treasure trove of data, the website features maps, demographics, available properties, and much more. Integrated with In10sity's inPower Content Management System, the website is constantly updated by ETEDA staff so site visitors can have the freshest information on which to base their decisions.

ETEDA has been awarded the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) Website Award in 2011 for its regional website.

“ETEDA is very pleased to have partnered with In10sity in the redesign of our regional website to achieve this prestigious award.” said Allen Neel, president of ETEDA. “As an economic development marketing organization, it is critically important that we remain on the forefront of utilizing the latest in technology to promote the excellent business climate that our 15 county region has to offer.  In10sity’s web design capability and creativity are very instrumental in assisting ETEDA with accomplishing its marketing goals.”

Visit www.eteda.org >>

Social Media Boundary Issues

Social media is so new that the long term unintended consequences of its widespread use are still being figured out. What is it that drives teenagers to post photos of themselves hitting a beer bong? Why are people compelled to tweet that they will be on a two-week European vacation next week? Why would a doctor post the day’s events from the emergency room? Why do some teachers feel it is OK to friend their students on Facebook?

If you’re in the camp of people who think, “What’s the big deal?” then I worry about you. The problem isn’t with social media but rather with folks who don’t understand that the beer bong photo from college might not impress the HR director of ABC Corp later in life. Do you have no problem letting the world know about your extended vacation? Burglars love you. Do you think it is OK that your 6th grader’s teacher “Likes” little Johnny’s page and tweets him regularly?

Read the rest of the article >>

Quote of the Moment

"Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

- Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple, 1955 - 2011