This is exciting news for web designers and e-marketers alike! Google has released a new method for using Google Analytics with Flash!

Yesterday, at the Adobe MAX Conference in San Francisco, a joint collaboration between Adobe and a some third party developers announced a simplified solution for tracking Flash content called Google

Analytics Tracking For Adobe Flash. I have had the opportunity to work with many clients who have used the power of Google Analytics to identify and analyze trends on their web sites. But, one of the most common implementation challenges has been tracking Flash content on their pages. With this launch, tracking your Flash content has never been simpler.

What It’s All About
This feature is a translation of the current Google Analytics tracking code into the ActionScript 3 programming language that dramatically simplifies the ability to track Flash, Flex and AS3 content. This new Flash tracking code can be used to track Flash content such as embedded videos, branded microsites and distributed widgets, such as online games.Now it’s simple for Flash content developers to answer questions like: How many people have watched my video? Are we developing the right creative that attracts new users? How effective is my content at getting people to take action? The ability to answer these questions is now a reality, and the best thing is that they’re providing our entire AS3 code base under the Apache 2 License as Open Source! [From Want to track Adobe Flash? Now you can!]

Change is not coming to the marketing community. It is here! 

Many companies have many questions about social media. What is it? How does it work? What does it cost? Is it a cost effective marketing strategy? Is it a good business decision?

As stated in previous blog entries, social media is different from traditional media. It is a two way conversation. It allows customers to express their opinions and ask questions. It is also a tremendous resource for information. It is a discussion about your industry, your company and your services.  

If you are unsure about the power and the value of social media, just ask Barack Obama. 

Obama’s Rivals Should Steal From His Social Playbook

In an article about Barack Obama’s use of social media in Advertising Age, Denise Shiffman explains how Obama used social media to communicate his message and engage the public.   

“Today’s web and the new media that underpin it are known for the ability to create instant sensations. From Digg’s social news to CareerBuilder’s Monk-e-Mail campaign, companies can advance from zero to 20 million viewers practically overnight. The viral nature of this highly social, user-driven environment enables complete strangers to connect over common beliefs, desires or interests and together create winners and losers.” 

“Obama’s campaign is immersed in his audience’s experience. He meets his audience where they already go on the web, and his message of “change” is packaged in a clear and consistent manner, much like the best consumer products.” 

“Candidates must create interactive, personal and engaging Web marketing if they want to affect the conversations on the web. These conversations can affect voting decisions much as they can alter consumer purchasing behavior.”    

The following interview with David Bullock, Obama’s Director of Online Research explains how Obama used social media and how “business can learn from the tools and strategy that Obama’s campaign used.”

“The first presidential campaign to fully embrace the ideas and practices of social media has met with a successful end. Senator Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States of America.”

Small Business Owners Reap Benefits of Social Media

A survey conducted by online payroll service SurePayroll, reports that “the prominence of social media is  growing.  Professional social networking site LinkedIn grew 187% over the past year.”

David Rohrer, SurePayroll’s online marketing manager, states that “(Social media) is no longer just an outlet for personal use — it’s rapidly becoming a must for business success”.  

“What’s so great about the online world is you don’t need a million-dollar marketing budget. In fact, the most effective online connections are free personal communications from a business owner to their community.” 

Taking it to the White House

In a 2007 YouTube interview, Obama said he intended to use the medium for “fireside chats.” He wants to “give the Internet audience a chance to question him directly.” You will be able to “ask Barack Obama”!

Change has come to the marketing community. More than 73% of American adults are online and more than half of Facebook users are over 35 years old.  Social media is a very powerful, very valuable and very cost effective marketing strategy. 

Are your competitors communicating with your customers? 

Join the discussion! 

I came across this video recently and I just had to share. I use some of these stats in my presentations and its funny how many of the ones that I’ve been quoting for a couple of years made it into this video.

Check it out:

It is interesting to me to see how different people react to some of these types of illustrations. The one that I use most often that found its way into this post is that it took 38 years for radio to reach 50 million people, 13 for tv, but only 4 years for the internet to surpass. Some people are blown away by those statistics, while some show very little surprise.

I don’t think anyone in the U.S. today is unfamiliar with how expansive the Internet has become, and competition online is continually increasing. Business owners have to be innovative, creative, and resourceful to survive during the best of times. But with the current economy, your online business marketing needs to be more effective at reaching your target audience, attracting and converting new customers, and maximizing the ROI of every marketing dollar.

However, despite all the economic gloom reported in the media, savvy business owners have so many advantages afforded by online marketing due to the growing number of Web users who search the Internet for local business information. People are reaching for the Yellow pages less often these days; and with good reason! You’re sitting in front of a computer anyway for most of your day, so why would you hunt for a possibly outdated yellow pages when you can just look it up online. And that’s what users are doing! A recent study showed that 49% of online American use search engines in a typical day! And that number is up from 33% in 2002.

If you want to continue to grow your business in tough economic times, then you have to be smart about it. And there is no better move to market your business than to the largest audience possible that allows you to target them with unbelievable accuracy.

This might be one of the best explanations I’ve come across for Social Media.

Yaay!!  We all scream for ice cream!  Wasn’t that fun?