Ang Bagong Media

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T10:39:00.002+08:00

Click on thumbnail for a larger image.

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T10:57:00.000+08:00

On October 5, 2011 Steve Jobs' family, in a statement, said Jobs "died peacefully today surrounded by his family . . ."

Godspeed, Steve.

Jobs is survived by his wife, Laurene, to whom he was married for 20 years, their three children, and a fourth child, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, from a previous relationship.

Blog Topics that MAY earn you some MONEY

2011-09-07T21:47:00.000+08:00

I say MAY because if you can't write worth a damn (i.e., your content sucks) chances are nobody's going to go to your site anyway.

Following are some popular blog topics which you may want to try out:

Technology (computers, cellphones, and other gadgets)
Work (news, tips, and finding work)
Photography (tutorials)

What blog topic works for you and earns you a pretty penny at the same time?

Dashes are better than Underscores

2011-08-27T19:56:00.000+08:00

At least as far as Google is concerned.

Take-over Ads

2011-07-31T22:36:00.000+08:00

Click for a bigger picture.

I really hate ads that take over a page when you mouse over them especially those that has sounds or video. It really is quite irritating, more so because I didn't really want to click on it. I was moving my mouse to and fro while I read and my cursor made contact with the ad in question.

Result? Instant interruption. There goes my reading experience.

It really is quite surprising especially for a company that used to have Seth Godin working for them.

Want to DATE a VIXEN?

2011-01-09T19:41:00.003+08:00

Enduranz is giving you a chance to date your favorite Vixen! Watch Karen as she tells you the easy steps to win that dream date!

Romance a Vixen!

2011-01-08T19:42:00.000+08:00

The first ever sexy and uncensored live-streamed show to hit Philippine cyberspace!

Meet the Vixens and get ready to party all night on January 29, 2011 Saturday! You DON'T wanna miss this because anything can happen (and usually does)!

Be part of the action! Register now and get exclusive invites to be a live studio audience!

Live streaming starts 9:00 PM and only limited seats are available for the live studio audience at Blue Onion. The party begins at 10:30 PM AFTER the show.

How do you get a CHANCE to EXPERIENCE the Premiere Vixens LIVE and UNCENSORED? Become part of the studio audience and watch the show live at Blue Onion? Get an EXCLUSIVE PASS for Live and Uncensored simply by following these simple mechanics!

"Like" the Flippish fanpage
Go to your favorite Vixen's official poster and "like" the photo!
The Vixen with the MOST "likes" will be the girl whose fans we'll be raffling off a bunch of exclusive live studio seats to.

Winners will be announced on January 25, 2011.

Wi-fi on the Bus

2010-11-21T11:06:00.000+08:00

The Jac Liner bus company is marketing themselves as the Philippine's first bus line offering free wi-fi.

In this day and age where connectivity is fast becoming more and more a necessity, a bus line with free wi-fi is certainly a very attractive prospect.

I wonder how fast the connection is and what's their technical setup?

Mobile Consumers Rising

2010-11-06T21:42:00.001+08:00

People are using their mobile phones more and more for entertainment and to access their social networks.

Ringtones and logos are no longer considered fashionable and downloads have declined. MMS was supposed to be the next big thing but it seems that pictures, videos, and music are easier to access and share with a bigger number of people via social networks compared to just sending it via mobile (not to mention it's going to put a big dent on your load).

Bautista attributed the decline in MMS —which was once thought to be the next big thing in mobile communications after SMS— to the rise of social media, which are becoming increasingly easier to access via mobile phone.

Read the entire article here.

iPhone ROCKSTARS!

2010-10-21T10:19:00.000+08:00

"Have iPhone, will perform" seems to be the motto of the Brooklyn-based band Atomic Tom with their viral hit, Take me out.

The video shot using camera phone on a subway, utilizes various iPhone apps. The video begins stating that the band's instrument have been stolen and thus they have been reduced to playing using their iPhones...but what a performance.

Steve Jobs TRASHTALKS BlackBerry, Google, and 7-inch Tablets

2010-10-19T21:51:00.000+08:00

When it comes to dissing the competition, few can match Steve Jobs.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently ripped BlackBerry, Google, and 7-inch tablets a new one during Apple's 4th quarter earnings call.

Read the entire article (they got an audio webcast too) here.

Google Wave is DEAD!

2010-08-05T08:26:00.001+08:00

It was a good idea but didn't really catch on as intended.

Click here for the details.

JOLLIBEE finds itself in COLLEGE HUMOR!

2010-07-18T11:08:00.000+08:00

For a moment there, when I found this video on one of my friend's timeline, I thought it was the infamous Jollibee sex scandal.

It's not though but I wonder how the Jollibee food corporation's management and PR managers are going to feel at their beloved mascot presented like this and getting some face time at a very popular viral video site?

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Google ACQUIRES Metaweb!

2010-07-17T08:29:00.000+08:00

In it's continuing quest to improve the art and science of search, Google acquires Metaweb.

Google has acquired semantic web and real world database company Metaweb, a move the company says will help them “improve search and make the web richer and more meaningful for everyone.”

Click here for the entire article.

Hey, Baby FEVER!

2010-07-01T17:25:00.001+08:00

You know that you're really going viral when people you don't know start using your picture as their avatar on Facebook as in the case of Gerry Alanguilan, the progenitor of the Hey, Baby viral video making its rounds in the interwebs!

But wait...THERE'S MORE!

There's also the Manong Face fan page. Check it out here.

Check out the original Hey, Baby video below.

A Movie about FACEBOOK?

2010-06-26T18:50:00.003+08:00

Check out the official site here.

Lakas-tama si Manong!

2010-06-25T14:25:00.000+08:00

Gerry Alanguilan’s Hey Baby video has turned viral and has started popping up all over the place. It has recently found its way in the Tunay na Lalake blog. It's been going the rounds in the interwebs as Lakas-tama si Manong.

Click here to view it on Tunay na Lalake.

A Center for ANTS!?

2010-06-22T23:29:00.000+08:00

If you've watched ZOOLANDER, then you know what the title of this post is referring to.

I've come across a Twitter account that is all about quotes from the movie and though that may sound pointless and inane to some, it's quite entertaining to fans of the movie (which includes me, of course).

Check it out here!

Kris SUSPENDS Twitter Activity

2010-06-18T23:30:00.000+08:00

"Matapos niyang ihayag sa kanyang Twitter account kamakailan na nagkaroon sila ng hindi pagkakaunawaan ng mister na si James Yap, ipinaalam ni Kris Aquino nitong Biyernes na hindi na siya magiging aktibo sa pag-update ng kanyang account."

A good decision indeed.

Read the rest of the article here.

CEBU's First Comic Book Convention!

2010-06-17T13:35:00.002+08:00

Big Ape Design Studio and JONASDIEGO.COM
in cooperation with
Super Debil Robot Comics and Kawalo Concepts & Designs presents
The 1st CEBU COMIC BOOK Convention
happening on the 25th of September 2010
10:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Activity Center in Ayala, Cebu.

Check out the details here.

Facebook Tagging

2010-06-12T09:08:00.000+08:00

A lot of people tag me on Facebook which is usually no problem especially if the photograph or image actually has me in it (or at least has something remotely to do with me). But most of the time it doesn't.

It's the new way people spread things around nowadays. And it's annoying!

How long before people start ignoring these tags altogether?

New BLOGGER TEMPLATE Designer

2010-06-11T18:48:00.000+08:00

I love the new Blogger template designer!

Check it out on your own Blogger accounts.

Not another Blogger Event

2010-06-11T02:16:00.003+08:00

Is it just me or does blogger events don’t seem to have the kick it packed a few years ago?

Don’t get me wrong: I love blogger events.

They present an opportunity to get your favorite people together and party at someone else’s expense and still end up doing that person (or in the case of blogger events, an agency or a company) a favor.

But if you’ve got your ears to the ground so to speak, you know that blogger events just don’t seem to pack the wallop it once did.

Part of the reason could be that there are just too many blogger events happening nowadays and bloggers are being spread too thin (the good ones anyway). While there are more and more new bloggers every day, majority of these newbies don’t have much in the way of content and influence to make a major impact for the brand whose event they’re attending.

Top bloggers tend to be very selective about the events they attend nowadays to boot.

Another reason could be that with so many events being churned out on a daily basis the creatives are hard pressed to come up with even concepts that are interesting and, well…creative. Most of the time, a run of the mill blogger event would involve lunch/dinner, a presentation (AVP or PowerPoint), and a goody bag which includes a press release.

Kudos is in order to agencies who take the time and effort to come up with something interesting for a blogger event.

I wonder what's going to be the next big thing after blogger events have run its course?

Beauty Products on a Gaming Site

2010-06-10T09:00:00.000+08:00

That's weird. Someone put an ad for Ponds on my gaming blog.

I wonder what I wrote to trigger that?

"Because gamers need to be beautiful too."

The Philippine 24-Hour Comic Book Challenge

2010-06-02T21:38:00.001+08:00

Check out the details here.

Viral Community Marketing

2010-05-29T22:33:00.000+08:00

24

2010-05-24T17:45:00.002+08:00

Help Fight AIDS!

2010-05-03T21:57:00.000+08:00

JoinRED is bringing people and brands together to help fight AIDS in Africa.

Follow their Twitter account here.

Tunay na LALAKE

2010-05-01T20:23:00.001+08:00

A post I made about a masculine wash managed to find its way to the blog, Tunay na Lalake.

Thanks, guys!

Click here to read it.

Manix Abrera's Fan Club

2010-04-20T09:10:00.001+08:00

Call me old fashioned but I long for the days when people became fans of someone else because they wanted to be not because they were invited to be.

Nowadays, everyone including their grandmothers, will come up with a Facebook fan page and invite everyone in their contacts and social circles to become their fans. Maybe if it was someone else doing the inviting instead of you it wouldn't feel so awkward.

It's just so weird: "hey, be my fan!"

That's why it's so refreshing to find a fan group that came to life out of someone else's initiative. Not only that but Manix Abrera's fan base are composed of fun and enthusiastic individuals who are completely devoted to the comic strip he created, Kiko Machine.

Kudos to you guys!

As for me I've already signed up...without someone asking me to.

Shalani Soledad is on Twitter

2010-04-11T23:23:00.001+08:00

That's right. Presidential aspirant Noynoy Aquino's main squeeze, Shalani Soledad is on Twitter and currently has 641 followers as of this writing.

Check out her account here.

Mainstream

2010-03-06T16:53:00.000+08:00

Was it only yesterday that we were in the minority and enjoyed a sort of cool underground rep?

Nowadays, social media is the mainstream.

Anne Curtis Smith's MOLE...has a TWITTER Account!?

2010-03-05T13:52:00.000+08:00

Some enterprising soul has made a Twitter Account for the sexy star's mole.

Specifically, the one between her breasts. Check the account out here.

KOMIKSTRIP 2010 Coverage by FLIPPISH.COM!

2010-02-18T18:22:00.000+08:00

Doing it OFFLINE!

2010-02-15T00:27:00.000+08:00

While I love how New Media has democratized the development and distribution of content and information, there's still nothing quite like an event in the real world to bring people together (comic book creators and fans in this particular case).

The KOMIKSTRIP: UPLB's First Comic Book Convention is brought to you by the UP BUGKOS and JONASDIEGO.com in cooperation with the 101 Boutique and the Graphic Literature Guild.

The event was sponsored by T-Pencil and Visprint Publishing with exclusive online video coverage by FLIPPISH.COM.

The Komiks Art exhibit was made possible by the Philippine Comics Art Museum Online.

Check out more pictures from the event from the following people!

http://charlz-csweddings.blogspot.com/2010/02/komikstrip-uplb.html
http://aktibongpinoy.multiply.com/photos/album/63/KomikStrip_The_UPLB_Komik_Convention
http://charlz-csweddings.blogspot.com/2010/02/komikstrip-uplb.html
http://picasaweb.google.com/jwed2501/KomiksTRIP#

If you also took pictures at the KOMIKSTRIP leave a comment below with the link to the pics.

Next year uli!

Giselle Sanchez for Enduranz

2010-02-10T14:09:00.001+08:00

The bloggers had dinner with Giselle Sanchez and her husband, Emil Buencamino, last February 3, 2010 Saturday over at Fish and Co. in Greenbelt 3, Makati City. The discussion was free flowing, easy, and interesting with Giselle Sanchez exchanging ideas and witty repartee with the bloggers about showbiz, new age stuff, motherhood, and (of course) sex.

Watch out for more of Giselle at the Enduranz blog here.

Check out some of the other bloggers' post about the event:

MEComposing
Catuira

One WAY to Catch People's Attention ONLINE!

2010-02-08T23:37:00.000+08:00

Join the PINTADOS Comic Book Making/Body Painting Contest! Click here for more information.

Only at the KOMIKSTRIP: The First UPLB Comic Book Convention happening this February 13, 2010 Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Presented by the UP BUGKOS and JONASDIEGO.COM in cooperation with the 101 Boutique and the Graphic Literature Guild.

Special guest include Manix Abrera, Gerry Alanguilan, Hazel Manzano, Carlo Pagulayan, Harvey Tolibao, Lyndon Gregorio, Mico Suayan, Carlo Vergara, Ariel Atienza, Komikero Artist Group, Bayan Knights, Ian Sta. Maria, Jann Galino, Gilbert Monsanto, Emil Flores, Andrew Villar, Randy Valiente, Dibuhista Comix Legends, Budjette Tan, David Hontiveros, Michael David, Ace Vitangcol, Jed Siroy, Kevin Ang, Rod Espinosa, Ner Pedrina, Edgar Tadeo, JP Cuison, and Boboy Yonzon.

This event is sponsored by T-Pencil and Visprint Publishing with exclusive online video coverage from FLIPPISH.COM.

Komiks Art exhibit is courtesy of Philippine Comics Arts Museum Online.

Sign up at our Facebook Event Page here.

Sign up for the ARTWORKSHOP here. Workshop fee is Php 150.00 with a maximum of forty (40) participants and will be on a first come first served basis.

For more information about the KOMIKSTRIP visit our official website here.

New Media Promotions

2010-02-06T07:10:00.000+08:00

Aside from running New Media promotions, my company also dabbles in a lot of other endeavors such as events and comic book production for a variety of local and international companies.

Check out our latest project with ONI Press, LOLA: A Ghost Story.

LOLA: A Ghost Story

Story by J. Torres
Pencils by Elbert Or
Inks by Jonas Diego
Grayscale by Robo Monkey Pixel Fighters’ (RMPF) Neil Amiel Cervantes and Katrina Mae Hao

Dinner with Gisele TONIGHT!

2010-02-03T08:24:00.000+08:00

Bloggers, the dinner with Giselle Sanchez is going to be tonight Wednesday 7:00 PM at the Fish and Co at Greenbelt 3, Makati City. You still have the day to sign-up before I make the cut-off.

You can sign-up here.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch via admin(AT)jonasdiego.com.

I'll see you guys later!

New Media can WIN the PRESIDENCY?

2010-01-30T21:18:00.001+08:00

Yehey's Donald Lim certainly believes that it is a game changer.

Click here for the entire article.

Dinner with Giselle Sanchez

2010-01-30T09:20:00.000+08:00

Fellow bloggers, can I interest you to join us for a simple dinner with Giselle Sanchez this Wednesday 7:00 PM at the Fish and Co at Greenbelt 3, Makati City?

It will be an interesting night of good food and some candid talk with the sexy actress/comedienne.

Hurry though because there's only room for thirty (30) bloggers and the slots are filling up fast.

You can sign-up here.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch via admin(AT)jonasdiego.com.

Hope to see you guys there!

Multiply and G-Cash

2010-01-30T09:01:00.000+08:00

Multiply, sometime back, revised its terms of agreement to be able to allow its users to utilize the blogging and social network platform as a virtual e-store. Now it allows those who want to upgrade to Premium accounts to pay via G-Cash.

I think it’s not going to be long now before G-Cash is truly integrated into the system allowing Multiply users to be able to transact with other users using a built-in payment system that utilizes G-Cash as one of its payment options.

Click here for more information.

Will Smilds give you a reason to Smile?

2010-01-29T17:35:00.000+08:00

My stuff from Smilds just arrived via courier a few minutes ago!

A quick check reveals a manual, my Smilds passport, a CD containing what I assume to be soft copies of the PR materials, and my Smilds debit and cash card pre-loaded with Php 2,000.00. My prize for winning best dressed during the blogger event (which makes me think I should dress up more often).

I can't wait to take this baby out for a spin. I'm beta testing for them and I'm going to see if I can actually use this baby to sell comics on an international level.

I'll keep you guys posted!

Even MORE BLOGGERS in your Neighborhood!

2010-01-25T06:58:00.000+08:00

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the people that you meet online

He calls himself Marocharim
He rocks your world with words, extreme
He loves to drink beer all night long
Loves videoke and of course beer bongs

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the people that you meet online

Juned is the one you know
With all those cameras in tow
He is funny as well as wise
He will give you some sage advice

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the people that you meet online

Her name is Aileen Apolo
She’s the sweetest girl that you know
She’s kikay and she loves high tech
She works as Google’s country rep

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the people that you meet
When you’re lurking on the web
They’re the bloggers that you meet onliiiiine!

Make that First Impression Last

2010-01-22T18:57:00.000+08:00

I know, I know...we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover but, most of the time, we do.

It’s just human nature.

The same goes for your website.

Like it or not, the way your website is presented will make a big impact whether a customer is going to get your service, an investor will do business with you, or a visitor will stay long enough to find out exactly what it is that you do.

Rather than fight against human nature, we should use it to our advantage.

Check your website. Are you turning people away or are you attracting them?

More BLOGGERS in your NEIGHBORHOOD

2010-01-21T07:46:00.001+08:00

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the people that you meet online

Jester is the one you know
Complete with floppy hat for show
He can always make you laugh
Just as long as you’re not daft

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the bloggers that you meet online

Hannah is the girl next door
Outgoing, sassy, and head strong
She has a smile for everyone
And she loves to have good clean fun

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the bloggers that you meet online

Jayvee is the one you know
People think he’s suplado
But you couldn’t be more wrong
With anyone he gets along

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the bloggers that you meet
When you’re lurking on the web
They’re the bloggers that you meet onliiiiine!

Do you KNOW the BLOGGERS in your NEIGHBORHOOD?

2010-01-20T07:52:00.001+08:00

Sing to the tune of “Who are the People in your Neighborhood?” from good ole Sesame Street.

If you can’t remember the tune, watch the YouTube video below to refresh your memory. Afterwards, make a few lines of rhyme about your friendly neighborhood blogger.

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the people that you meet online

Marcelle is the guy you know
Doing comedy and magic shows
Tie him up, he’ll get away
Bend a fork and make it sway

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the people that you meet online

Azrael is everywhere
From Quezon City to Bel-Air
The forecast may be foul or fair
But sure enough Az is there

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the people that you meet online

Rico is the techie guy
With gadgets he is never shy
One day he had an idea
Made a site called Technogra-ph

Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?
Who are the bloggers in your neighborhood?
They’re the people that you meet
When you’re lurking on the web
They’re the bloggers that you meet onliiiiine!

Here Today, GONE Tomorrow!

2010-01-20T07:18:00.000+08:00

With all these politicos getting on the new media bandwagon you have to ask yourself, “will they still be here with us online after the elections?”

Yan ang Pinay and PORN

2010-01-19T11:28:00.001+08:00

Some years ago I was part of a Google bombing activity called the Yan ang Pinay movement.

During those days when you Googled the word “Pinay” or “Filipina” you inevitably got directed to a mail order bride site or a porn site. Yan ang Pinay hope to be able to balance this out and show a more complete online face of the Philippine woman.

I even designed a logo of sorts back then for the movement.

Imagine my surprise when a friend of mine reported that he chanced upon the logo...on some Asian porn site.

How to TURN AWAY your READERS!

2010-01-18T07:31:00.000+08:00

The lethal combination you should avoid in blogging: small and white text, black background, and kilometric copy (you know, lines and lines of text that seems to go on forever).

Add no pictures/graphics and the mix goes nuclear (i.e. your readers get a splitting headache and/or depart).

Getting some ONLINE Attention!

2010-01-17T08:54:00.000+08:00

Check out our upcoming comic book convention at UPLB, Laguna this coming February 13, 2010 saturday.

KOMIKSTRIP: The First UPLB Comic Book Convention is presented by the UP BUGKOS and JONASDIEGO.COM in cooperation with the Graphic Literature Guild.

Click here for more information! Click here to sign up at our Facebook event page!

Give 'em SOMETHING to TALK About!

2010-01-14T08:18:00.000+08:00

New Media is all about having conversations.

If people are not talking to you or talking to each other about you, you’re probably in trouble.

No Contact Details!?

2010-01-13T07:28:00.002+08:00

I was checking out a few new sites lately and am very happy to see that a lot more brick and mortar establishments and businesses have begun taking to the web in the hope of widening their market through the power of the internet.

I did some cursory site audits for these sites.

One thing that really makes me shake my head about the guys who does these businesses’ web design is how can they possibly leave out contact details? You manage to attract and awe customers with the spiffy design and cool graphics yet there’s no way for someone to connect with the client.

It’s like having a cool car with no wheels.

Ultimately, you’re not going anywhere.

Risky Business

2010-01-11T08:47:00.000+08:00

Don’t be afraid to take a risk.

There is no set formula in New Media. The online landscape changes so fast (driven by developments of new technology and people’s creativity) that most practitioners are hard pressed to keep coming up with fresh new ideas to capture the online word’s attention.

A tall order to be sure.

It’s only by taking risks and pushing the envelope that keep up with the game.

The beauty of New Media is that it allows you some leeway to tweak your campaign mid-stream.

KOMIKSTRIP Brochure Site is LIVE!

2010-01-11T07:27:00.000+08:00

This is something I've been working on for the past few days: a brochure site for KOMIKSTRIP: The First UPLB Comic Book Convention.

The event is being presented by the UP BUGKOS and JONASDIEGO.com in cooperation with the Graphic Literature Guild and will be happening this February 13, 2010 Saturday at the CAS Annex 2 in UPLB, Laguna.

You can check the site out here.

Turn the Music...OFF!?

2010-01-09T08:29:00.002+08:00

Don’t you just hate those sites and ads that automatically play music once it gets loaded?

It’s bad enough that it plays really loud music and sound effects but what’s worse is that there’s no mute button anywhere in sight. Most Filipinos go online using the office internet connection and sudden loud music is frowned upon by most office management.

Get ‘em TALKING!

2010-01-07T11:07:00.000+08:00

When starting online conversations, always remember that most people don’t like answering complicated questions.

They like answering simple questions which could lead to complicated answers.

Inquirer...HACKED!

2010-01-06T13:00:00.000+08:00

As of 1:00 PM today, this is what you're going to see over at http://blogs.inquirer.net!

Blogger? Have I got WORK for YOU!

2010-01-04T16:43:00.002+08:00

Looking for work?

The politicians running for public office in 2010 are looking to hire you.

“Politicians are now on the lookout for bloggers, writers, designers, and even professional "tweeters" to help them in their respective campaigns, which officially start next month.”

Read the entire article here.

New Media plays big role in UK 2010 Elections

2010-01-03T10:06:00.002+08:00

As the UK gears up for their own elections this 2010, it is revealed that New Media will be playing a pivotal role.

“At the last election, in May 2005, social networking sites were known to few. Facebook was largely unheard of and Twitter had yet to be invented. YouTube had been in existence for only three months. Blogs were in their infancy and political bloggers, now hugely influential in the flow of news, had yet to evolve. All parties used email, but beyond that the internet remained undeveloped as a campaigning tool.”

Not so the case today, eh?

“From yesterday until Election Day (the most likely date is May 6), the output of political material online will be huge.”

Obviously it won’t be the same here in the Philippines but majority of the politicians running for office this 2010 has adopted some form of New Media for their campaign strategies.

Read the entire article here.

Should you use an Interstitial?

2010-01-01T22:54:00.001+08:00

“Interstitials are web pages that are displayed before an expected content page, often to display advertisements or confirm the user's age.”

Interstitials can be seen on sites which contains content of a mature or explicit nature. Other sites use it to present legalese and your consent to abide by it. It is also used to present online advertising which is considered distasteful by some readers.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T15:01:00.001+08:00

Online Monitoring

2009-12-24T23:06:00.000+08:00

It should be routinary for any company or organization, or at least one that cares about its public image, to check the interwebs daily on what is being said about it.

SEO VS Content

2009-12-23T22:48:00.000+08:00

Your article may be optimized for search engines but it does not offer much value for your readers you’re not going to get far, not far at all.

SEO is a tool for search engines to be able to better find your article but the one who are going to be reading your article are the people using the search engines, not the search engines themselves. All too often, a lot of bloggers will write for search engines not for people.

The best types of content are the ones that offer both.

So while SEO plays an important part in building traffic don’t fall in love with it too much.

Why you’re NOT going VIRAL

2009-12-22T22:37:00.002+08:00

With more and more political figures getting into the New Media bandwagon, we’re going to get a slew of online videos between now and May 2010 competing for your attention and hoping to go viral. Some may but the big majority of these will probably

If only it was as easy as that.

We’ve seen viral videos use humor, music, celebrities, and the greatest standby of all time...sex and yet the numbers don’t rise beyond a few hundred or, if they’re lucky, a few thousand.

What’s missing?

There are several factors of course but, in my opinion, most viral videos out there have no chemistry with the intended audience.

Eye-catching Facebook Advertisement

2009-12-21T15:50:00.001+08:00

This one certainly caught my eye in Facebook earlier today as I was browsing through a friend's profile.

When you click on the ad it brings you to Mark Jimenez's site.

We're probably going to see worse as we get nearer to May 2010.

Putting out the Flames

2009-12-17T07:45:00.002+08:00

In an ideal world, you get to put out a small fire just as it’s getting started before it’s had the chance to become an all out conflagration.

I wish for the same thing in Online Reputation Management (ORM).

Ideally, you become aware of a potentially ugly situation before it gets out of hand. But it’s not an ideal world, is it?

Most of the clients who come to me for ORM services are usually already in the middle of an ugly situation and I am expected to do damage control for them. These types of campaign are more costly, longer, and generally more hairy.

These kinds of problem can be avoided however with a little bit of vigilance and online monitoring.

A stitch in time and all that.

Bong Bong's Twitter

2009-12-16T09:22:00.001+08:00

Bong Bong Marcos has a Twitter Account.

I wonder if that’s really him tweeting though or just one of his staff.

Question: when is Imelda going to open one?

Being Cute

2009-12-15T18:48:00.002+08:00

Unsolicited advice: unless you’re a kid, dog, or a cat don’t try to be cute. Seriously.

You’ll just embarrass yourself.

A possible exception might be pretty or hot girls but even then it’s not always a sure thing.

What are THOSE?

2009-12-14T09:08:00.001+08:00

In the beginning was websites.

As the internet grew in reach and influence however, websites evolved into...something else. Nowadays aside from websites, we have microsites, landing sites, brochure sites, CMS, message boards, blogs, microblogs, and mobile sites.

It’s enough to give someone vertigo.

Before you succumb, allow me to enlighten you to the basic definition and functions of these mutants.

A Website is a collection of web pages with a common domain name in an Internet Protocol-based network accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network.

A Microsite refers to an individual web page or cluster of pages which are meant to function as an auxiliary supplement to a primary website.

A Landing Page, also known as a lead capture page, is the page that appears when a potential customer clicks on an advertisement or a search-engine result link. It usually displays content that is an extension of the advertisement or link and is optimized to feature specific keywords or phrases for indexing by search engines.

A Brochure Site, also known as a display site, offers visitors a quick overview at what your company has to offer in terms of service or products.

A CMS, or Content Management System, is a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. CMS are frequently used for storing, controlling, revising, and publishing documentation.

A Message Board is an online discussion site.

A Blog is a type of website, regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order.

A Microblog is a form of blogging that publishes content in small portions either to be viewed by the general public or by a restricted group as defined by the user. These messages can be submitted by a variety of means, including text messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, digital audio, or the web.

A Mobile Site refer to websites designed specifically to be accessed from a mobile device such as a mobile phone.

It’s amazing to know the sheer variety of options that we have now both as the developer and end user.

Who knows what we’re going to be seeing a few years down the road?

Blog Theme Contest

2009-12-07T23:49:00.005+08:00

Bloggers usually hold contests in one form or the other to create buzz and build traffic for their respective blogs. These types of activities are more about the interaction than the prizes but a great carrot (like a brand new car for example) will always encourage more participation.

It’s a great and fun way to interact with readers.

A friend of mine, wanting to take her blogging to a whole new level and improve her blog’s look and feel, decided to hold a contest to see who can create the best new look for her blog.

I gave her some advice on how to go about the contest which I share here with you guys out there.

Ask for designs now, code later. It’s easier to design than to code and a few of your readers might feel frustrated if they spend a lot of time designing AND coding a custom theme and then end up not winning...unless of course you're offering a substantial prize.
Offer some information the designers can use to create the theme. Things like your favorite color, fruit, animal, etc. will go a long way in generating inspiration for the design work and a general direction is always appreciated in any creative endeavour.
Provide some materials the designers can work with (such as photographs and other visual elements you own). These make the designer’s job easier and would lessen the chance that he’s going to use some copyrighted material somewhere and get the both of you in trouble for infringement.
Have runner-ups and special awards. There can only be one, yes but it doesn’t mean you can’t spread the glory around. Better yet feature all the submitted designs for some link love as an added incentive to those who will be joining.

A last piece of advice: when you finally have the winning design coded, have someone you trust check the code/backend before you upload it just to make sure there are no malicious programs or back doors that anyone can use to exploit your site or, worse, you.

In this day and age, security is paramount.

Let the games begin!

Keep the Music Playing

2009-12-01T11:55:00.000+08:00

It’s one thing to be able to start a conversation and another thing altogether to keep the conversation going.

The rules on how to get more people to reply to your Twitter posts apply in starting a conversation as well:

Question
Declare
Provoke
Challenge

But how do you keep the talking going? Here’s an idea: provide feedback.

Remember, conversations are two way streets and you have to let the other partie/s get a word in too.

Hey, Mom! I'm in UNO!

2009-11-29T22:10:00.000+08:00

Family gatherings are always a surprise filled event. The one I went to today was certainly no exception.

My uncle told me earlier today, “nasa UNO ka ah”.

*Blink, blink!*

The thought “I don’t remember taking my clothes off recently for a sexy pictorial” was running through my head right about that time. My uncle must’ve seen my perplexed expression and followed up his first statement with “nasa Band of Bloggers ka”.

“Ahhh...yeah! That’s it! Whew!”

Check us out at the October 2009 issue of UNO Magazine. Thanks to Jayvee for including me.

Manny Villar has a new Twitter Account

2009-11-29T20:57:00.006+08:00

It’s not a verified account (yet) though I’m pretty sure this account and this one was set up by Team Villar.

A few days ago I found that the Manny Villar Twitter account I was following was bogus (click here to read more about it). While the growth of its Twitter followers was slow, it has amassed 329 followers as of this writing.

Hopefully, since these are the official accounts and will have the full support of Team Villar, it will perform better compared to its bogus predecessor who had a daily growth average of around 2-3.

UPDATE: Just got confirmation that this account, http://twitter.com/manny_villar, is the official Twitter account and was just launched today. Nix Nolledo however said he is not aware of who owns the http://twitter.com/mannybvillar Twitter account but it looks like a genuine account...so far.

Something OLD, Something NEW!

2009-11-29T08:14:00.002+08:00

Remember that, while the thing that you may be posting on your blog may be old for you, it’s still new for someone else out there.

How to Design Better Websites

2009-11-28T08:09:00.016+08:00

If there’s a rule that I would have you live by in designing websites it is this: usability is key.

Or to put it more simply, make sure people can use the website you design.

If the user has no idea what to make of your website, much less how to get from point A to B, then all the fancy graphics in the world will be all for nothing and you have essentially failed as a web designer.

Aside from that, there is no big secret in designing great websites. Aside from the obvious need for visual talent on the part of the designer (because, let’s face it, without talent any Joe Average can just up and design a website) it’s all mostly about how much common sense can be made to bear on any particular project.

I remember Robert Fulghum’s book, It Was on Fire When I Lay down on it. There’s a story about how a wise man was once asked a Zen Master how one achieves enlightenment. The wise man said:

And there is nothing you must do.
There is really nothing you must have.
And there is really nothing you must know.
There is really nothing you must become.
However. It helps to understand that fire burns, and when it rains, the earth gets wet...

I would paraphrase it a bit for my purposes.

Okay, kid. You got talent. You got it made.
You’ll probably make millions and be adored by millions.
You’ll drive a Lamborghini and have a girlfriend with big bewbs.
However, when designing websites, it helps to understand that most people read from left to right, scan from top to bottom, love pictures, and it’s usually best to be simple and direct with text...

Ohmmm...

Get MORE People to REPLY to your Twitter Posts

2009-11-27T14:19:00.006+08:00

Admit it: you get a rush when people reply to your Tweets.

Whenever someone takes the time to reply to something we posted or tweeted, it is a validation. It’s a validation of either our intelligence, popularity, influence, or just the simple fact that we matter...enough at least for someone to say something in response to something we posted.

Often times however, most of the things we do say remains largely unnoticed.

Chances are it’s not a personal affront to you. With the sheer number of people out there on the interwebs producing content on a regular basis, you’re bound to be drowned with the sheer number of stuff that comes out.

So how do you stand out? Tweet stuff that does any of the following:

Question
Declare
Provoke
Challenge

No one CARES about your BLOG!

2009-11-26T14:17:00.003+08:00

“But how can that be?” you ask yourself.

You have your own domain name, you got a kick ass designer to whip up a kick ass design, and you produce content on a daily basis. People should be flocking to your blog but you check your analytics and realize that you get a total of 2 visitors a day and there’s a very big chance that one of that two is you...with the other one being your mom.

There could be a number of reasons of course but off hand I’d say that your blog just don’t deliver value.

Remember that people are basically self-centered beings: it’s all about them.

If you’re blog doesn’t do anything for them, they’re not going to be coming back for more because there weren’t anything there to begin with.

Why aren’t you on the WEB!?

2009-11-25T07:11:00.000+08:00

Remember that old advertising adage that a lot of billboard companies seems to have adapted as their mantra of sorts?

“A business without a sign is a sign of no business”.

That’s not exactly true just yet for the web, at least here in the Philippines, but were getting there...

Chiz Withdraws from the 2010 Presidential Elections

2009-11-24T13:49:00.001+08:00

Via Bong's YouTube account.

What is the True Value of a Blogger’s Event?

2009-11-24T08:17:00.002+08:00

Here’s a hint: it’s not about traffic.

While you will indeed get a bit of a spike for your brand, traffic generation is the last reason why you should be doing a blogger’s event. The logistical nightmare of getting bloggers together in one place, entertaining them, and hoping they're going to write favourably is simply not worth it if all you’re after is traffic.

If you do the math, you’ll find that it’s significantly more expensive to do a blogger event to get more traffic compared to much more efficient practices such as investing in a Pay per Impression (PPI) campaign, or a Pay per Click (PPC) campaign, and online media buying in general.

More bang for the buck and definitely a lot less complicated.

There are several things that I consider as the true value of a blogger’s event.

Establishing good will with the online community which is always a good way to launch something whether it’s a brand, a service, or a company.
Kick-starting a viral marketing campaign (previously known as the marketing tactic called word of mouth).
SEO.

Boy Tondo

2009-11-24T07:53:00.003+08:00

With Boy Tondo, we finally have webcomics in the (political) mix.

The Boy Tondo site has a very youthful feel to it, going as far as adapting a manga style in the artwork which is also the over-all look for the webcomics.

Paolo Villar, son of Senator Manny Villar, is actually a fellow comic book fan (as I found out when I met him during one of his dad’s blogger event) and I suspect he may have had something to do with this. They were looking into producing comics for the various activities they were conducting and I suggested that they should also go into webcomics.

There are links for Palengke, Palengke (coming soon) and some animated shorts narrating the early life adventures of Senator Villar featuring a younger version of himself but the comics seem to be the main attraction of the site.

I wonder if the other candidates will now be following suit and put up webcomics of their own?

Villar's Twitter...HACKED!?

2009-11-24T06:56:00.005+08:00

This screenshot was taken at 6:50 AM today, November 24, 2009.

Looks like someone hacked Manny Villar’s Twitter account.

UPDATE: Nix Nolledo of HAVOC Digital Media, the guys handling the online campaign activities of Senator Villar, says that the account is bogus and that they never put up such a Twitter account.

They're currently getting in touch with Twitter to have the account taken down.

Presidentiables Twitter Follower Trends for November 10-23, 2009

2009-11-24T00:33:00.002+08:00

I was actually waiting for the end of the month before coming out with the results of the Twitter Follower Trends so I’d have more meat to work with, so to speak. I however learned earlier that Francis “Chiz” Escudero will be holding a press conference later at 8:00 AM at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan and wanted to check how this will affect his Twitter Follower Trends.

Click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.

I will save the detailed analysis for later. I’ll just do a quick before and after check.

Francis “Chiz” Escudero
Current Average: 52
Former Average: 77

Manny Villar
Current Average: 2
Former Average: 3

Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino
Current Average: 164
Former Average: 238

Gibo Teodoro
Current Average: 35
Former Average: 23

Joseph “Erap” Estrada
Current Average: 1
Former Average: NA

Nicanor Perlas
Current Average: 2
Former Average: NA

You know you’re in TROUBLE when...

2009-11-23T09:56:00.000+08:00

You type your brand in a search engine and you get results listing various websites and blogs and none of them are about you.
You type your brand in a search engine and you get results listing various websites and blogs and all of them are about you...and they are all NEGATIVE!
You type your brand in a search engine and you get results listing various websites and ALL of them lead to your COMPETITOR’S site.
You type your brand in a search engine and you get results listing various websites and ALL of them lead to your COMPETITOR’S site...and they’re making a TON of money from the traffic.
You find that your boss put out a want ad for a New Media Expert on the local daily...and that happens to be your job title.

Protect your Online Reputation

2009-11-22T21:55:00.001+08:00

Reputation: years to build, seconds to destroy.

The same is true for your online reputation. When the first few pages of a search engine result is sprinkled with negative articles, it will drastically affect how you are thought of in the online space never mind if the articles actually have a modicum of truth in it.

First impressions last and you’ll want the first impression anyone who’s meeting you via a search engine search to be a good one no matter if it’s a possible date, a potential new client, or a curious investor.

This is what Online Reputation Management (ORM) does.

The problem with most clients is that they approach me for ORM services when the damage has already been done. An ORM campaign will typically last anywhere from 3-6 months (sometimes even longer) depending on how bad the situation is and, in some cases, how committed is an online villain in besmirching your good name.

Oftentimes, the most vulnerable to these kinds of attacks are people, organizations, companies, and brands with little or no online presence at all.

A good solution is to be proactive and create a pervasive online presence. The more sites that belong to you that populate the first few pages of a search result, the less opportunities for negative articles to pop up somewhere in between the cracks and cause problems for you or your business.

How’s your online reputation?

Why it’s Important to have a presence on the World Wide Web

2009-11-21T20:22:00.006+08:00

Because when you have something to say you can say it yourself.

Sounds ridiculously simple and stupid but nonetheless true.

Remember the days before the web went mainstream? When people said bad things about you, you’d have to wait for one of the TV or radio stations to interview you and air your side of the story. If the broadcasting powers-that-be deemed that your story is not newsworthy enough you had the option to have your story on print instead.

Any of the three options presents an altogether expensive proposition especially if you’re talking about mass reach here.

Now fast forward to the present.

You’re a celebrity, popular personality, or a political figure and people are saying bad things about you. Of course as someone who is widely known outside your family and immediate circle of friends, whatever you have to say is probably news worthy enough to be picked up by any of the local news network or one of the major dailies. But how sure are you that whatever you’re going to say are going to come out just the way you intended?

Once again you are subject to the whims and biases of the editorial powers-that-be.

Let’s say however, that you have a blog.

That makes you a publisher in your own right. Now you can be heard on the internet and the message you are trying to convey remains pure and true to your vision limited only by your (or your copywriter’s) command of grammar, imagination, and creativity.

With the right voice (and maybe with some online media buying) there’s no limit to the size of your audience.

Got beef? Cook it. Got something to say? Blog it.

What Approach do you USE?

2009-11-20T07:41:00.001+08:00

The one-to-many approach or the many-to-many approach?

Always remember...People are Crazy

2009-11-19T06:18:00.004+08:00

People are not logical. We never were to begin with.

If we relied more on cool logic to make most of our decisions, I dare say advertising would have no place in our society as the primary purpose of ads is to tug at your heartstrings and providing you with information coming a close second. But the fact of the matter is that we almost always go for the emotional choice and rationalize our decisions afterwards.

We use our brains to justify the choices our hearts made for us.

Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. We’re human beings after all, not computers.

So how does this relate to New Media? If people are using emotions to decide, we should also be using emotions to convince. It makes sense, right? All too often however, New Media practitioners will keep hammering at their audience’s brain and wonder later why they never get anywhere.

Remember: just because people should doesn’t mean they would.

The way to go about it is to:

Tug at their heartstrings
Stimulate their imaginations
Talk to their heads

Children use this technique all the time to get what they want; successful Don Juans frequently apply this tactic to bed the object of their amorous affections; and the greatest political figures of all time certainly employ them to great effect.

“But I want to mess with their heads” you say.

No problem.

To paraphrase Polgas's (Pol Medina Jr.’s immortal comic strip character) advice to someone who wanted to do something similar, “kick him in the balls...he bends over in pain. Kick him in the head”.

‘Nuff said.

How important is New Media in the 2010 Elections?

2009-11-18T22:07:00.001+08:00

About 6 months before the May 2010 elections and we’re seeing extensive use of New Media by politicians intending to run for office most notably the Presidential Aspirants.

You’ll find the candidates blogging, social networking, online media buying, and viral marketing. I imagine we’re going to see more and more of these kinds of activities as we get nearer to E-Day.

New Media, as I see it, fulfils three roles.

Create a pervasive online presence for the candidate.
Build a community that will support their candidacy.
Coordinating and organizing tool to supplement their pre-existing political machinery.

The million dollar question remains however, will it be enough to win them the election?

Let’s be real about one thing: New Media is not about to come in and be the be all and end all for anyone’s political aspirations...at least not in this election (maybe not even six years from now, for the next presidential race). It does, however, have enough reach and influence to make a serious contribution in a candidate’s efforts and, like in love and war, every little thing counts.

By 2010, we’re going to have around 23-28 million online users in the Philippines. As of August 2009 Facebook has roughly 5.78 million active Philippines users with a growth rate of 31.25%. Friendster boasts of having 13 million unique visitors from the Philippines in December 2008. Multiply has a decent 2 million unique Filipino visitors.

New Media however is a tool.

It’s not a genie who’s going to grant you three wishes and hand them to you on a silver platter. It’s a mean of reaching people similar to television, radio, and print only New Media allows you to have meaningful conversations with these people...if you so choose.

Remember the saying, “it’s the Indian, not the arrow”? The same can be said for New Media.

It will allow you to talk to people, people you may not have been able to reach before, but if you have nothing to say...well, you’re still basically screwed.

The Challenge of the Super-duper Friends

2009-11-18T08:46:00.004+08:00

This was a viral and seeding campaign that we did for Viral Medium back in 2007.

The campaign was done in a 4 week time period, without the benefit of media buying, and with only a 3-man web team composed of Marcelle Fabie and Kristine Fernandez working directly under my supervision.

We generated approximately 750,000 page views in a span of three (3) weeks which peaked at about 1,461,306 after 4-5 weeks. Average visit length was about 2 minutes and 30 seconds with incoming links from 1,335 websites and blogs. The campaign also received over 1,000 e-mail addresses from the newsletter drive during its four week run.

We surpassed our original target of 500,000 pageviews in one month. Needless to say, the client was very happy indeed with our performance.

Several factors contributed to the animation becoming a popular viral video.

Reference to a popular cartoon show.
High profile political characters.
An upcoming US presidential election.

Running a viral campaign is something akin more to magic than science. There is no scientific method that you can apply that assures you of a home run each and every time. You do this often enough however and you get a “feel” for when things are going to come together.

Can something similar be done here in the Philippines considering that we’re also on the verge of a major elections this coming 2010 comprised of some very colorful characters?

Maybe.

One thing’s for sure though. The viral video that becomes the most popular is not going to be the most expensive one...it’s going to be the most creative one.

A Sure-fire Way to Improve your Blog Posts!

2009-11-17T16:04:00.004+08:00

With the 2010 elections fast approaching, we see more and more politicians joining the blogging bandwagon.

It’s quite an interesting mix, really.

You have the politicos who have been long time bloggers (thus earning them more pogi points), you have the newbies who can’t seem to make neither heads nor tails of this whole blogging thing (yet make a valiant attempt none the less), and there’re those who just gave up all together and just hired someone to do it for them.

Politicians in general can be quite verbose (they have to be...its part of their job). A lot of them will talk your ears off if you let them and it shows on their blog posts.

I got a few unsolicited advices to politicians (and other newbies) that have just started blogging.

Keep it short and sweet, as much as possible. The number of people who will read your blog post is indirectly proportional to its length. Simply put, the longer it is the less people who will read it.
Add pictures and/or graphics to your article. People are visual creatures and pictures increase the chance that you’ll keep your readers’ attention long enough for them to finish your article.
Start strong and end strong. Most people will only remember the beginning and the end of most articles so make them count and stand out.

With that said, I think it’s great that politicians have started blogs (assuming that’s really them and not just some ghost writer they hired). Blogs are an excellent way for people to get to know their leaders better and to interact with them especially on issues of concern.

Let’s hope that the politicos continue to blog even after they’ve won...or lost, for that matter.

Pulse Asia's October 2009 Nationwide Survey

2009-11-16T11:49:00.002+08:00

Senator Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III at 44%.

Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr. at 19%.

Senator Francis G. Escudero at 13%.

Former President Joseph Estrada at 11%.

The other individuals included in the presidential probe register voter preferences of at most 4%. Less than one in ten Filipinos (4%) does not have a favored presidential candidate at the moment.

Read the entire Pulse Asia report here.

Can’t Spell People without OPLE

2009-11-16T11:18:00.000+08:00

It’s one of those clever pieces of copywriting that makes you go “now why didn’t I think of that?”

Can’t Spell People without OPLE is Susan Ople’s main tagline and is displayed prominently in her campaign website. Susan, affectionately called “Toots” by friends and close associated, has declared her intention to run for a senate seat with a labor centric platform. The title of her speech, The Filipino Worker is Worth Fighting For, says it all.

From all indications, Toots will also be running a grassroots intensive and a new media heavy campaign, not having the millions “required” to launch a national senatorial campaign. Her daughter, Estelle Osorio, disclosed that it will most probably be a low-budget, guerrilla campaign.

They seem off to a good start however with 2,647 members at Susan’s Facebook Page and 1,756 members in Friends of Ople. The Ople Team also has some strong New Media resources in the person of Carlo Ople, one of the Philippine Blogosphere’s more popular and influential bloggers. Susan herself is a long time blogger with her blog going back as far as April 2006.

She is also accomplished writer having graduated with an A.B. in Communication Arts from UST and the Kennedy School of Government (KSG), Harvard University where she received the Vernon Award for Excellence in Communications.

A cursory glance at their current online assets suggests that they still have some way to go to populate the online space with Susan’s presence but I figure this will be done soon enough. Chances are it’s one of the first things on their to-do list, now that Susan announced her intention to run for office.

With limited financial resources for an online campaign but with a web-savvy team, it will be interesting to see what Team Ople has in store for us on the online space. The New Media team is going to have to get creative and that’s always a good thing.

Some of the most popular campaigns on the web were run on nothing more than a shoe string budget, elbow grease, and a lot of imagination.

The Presidentiables' Twitter Followers

2009-11-10T13:01:00.001+08:00

I’ve been following the Twitter Accounts of four (4) presidential aspirants (Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Manny Villar, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and Gibo Teodoro) since October 31, 2009 to see how they’ve been performing online in terms of followers on Twitter.

Click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.

Francis “Chiz” Escudero

That’s really Chiz Escudero tweeting at SayChiz, his own personal Twitter Account. He has 14,729 Twitter followers as of this morning when I checked his account with a daily average of 36.

One would expect Chiz to have a higher following but considering that he has not officially announced his presidential bid and with several postponed announcements (around three, I think) regarding his announcement to throw his hat in the ring, it’s safe to assume that he has lost some ground especially on the online space. That being said, however, his Twitter Account is still performing well all things considered.

He outperforms Villar and Gibo (daily average of 3 and 23, respectively) with his daily average of 77. It would be interesting to see how this trend will change if and when he finally announces and joins the race officially.

The deadline for the filing of candidacy is on November 30, 2009 so the next few weeks are bound to be quite interesting.

Manny Villar

Manny Villar has been spending considerably online but has only so far attracted a total of 270 followers on his Twitter Account with a daily average of 3, the lowest among the four presidential aspirants.

There are even days when there has been no movement in terms of new followers.

This is not entirely surprising. Giving Senator Villar’s Twitter Account a cursory glance there isn’t really a whole lot of interesting content to be found and, as any new media guy will tell you, content is king. It doesn’t even have to be political in nature. Business related and useful tidbits would be very welcome especially for those of an entrepreneurial mind and people hoping to follow in Villar’s steps in his rags to riches story.

Also possibly affecting the Senator’s Twitter Account’s popularity is that it’s not Senator Villar doing the actual Tweeting, or at least most of it.

It’ll do wonders for his followers if Senator Villar made a daily habit to personally tweet 5-10 things each day. At a 140 characters per Tweet, it shouldn’t take him away from his hectic daily schedule. Another idea could be having his beautiful daughter Camille do the Tweeting for him.

That could be a great gimmick: seeing the elder Villar’s day through the eyes (and Tweets) of his beloved daughter.

Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III

Noynoy has a significant lead at 18,065 followers as of early this morning.

Following the death of former President Corazon Aquino and with support from his popular sister and her showbiz friends, Noynoy easily overtook and dominated the last few SWS surveys. While detractors are quick to cite his apparent lack of experience and his riding on the coat tails of his parents and sister’s showbiz clout, there’s no doubt that Noy has become a juggernaut to contend with.

He experienced a pronounced spike during the period of November 3 to 5, 2009 which can be attributed to the YouTube viral video that was launched in October 30, 2009 featuring some of the luminaries of local show business. After the initial surge in interest however, the trend has started to drop albeit very slowly.

Over all, Noy’s Twitter Account has been performing quite nicely with a daily average of 238 followers considering that he doesn’t update all that often. A more regular schedule in terms of update and new content will go a long way towards attracting more followers.

Gibo Teodoro

Gibo, as of this morning has a total number of 3,622 Twitter Followers and a daily average of 23.

Compared to the other aspirants, Gibo has been operating mostly under the radar.

Chiz, Manny, and Noy have been creating buzz online through their various gimmicks and activities and the efforts of their various support groups but, outside of a small online media buying stint, a YouTube viral video, some on-site based promotions, and during the height of the typhoons that hit the Philippines (Gibo is the National Disaster Coordinating Council Chairman), there has been very little hype about him online.

Ah, but it is still early in the game after all.

It’ll be interesting to see what Gibo is cooking up, new media-wise.

I neglected to include Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Nicanor Perlas’ respective Twitter Accounts in there though (frankly, it just slipped my mind)...my apologies to the supporters and fans of the two. I’ll be including them in the next cycle.

After a cursory check, Erap stands at 488 followers and Nick at 114 followers.

About Bagong Media

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Bago is the Filipino word for new so Bagong Media is literally New Media.

New Media is a relatively new animal in the Philippine marketing and advertising landscape. So new in fact that there’s not a whole lot of people who understand it, partly because of its dynamic nature. It is in a constant state of change driven by the influx of new technology and how this technology is used by people in innovative ways, often times unforeseen by the developers and engineers behind these new technological wonders.

New Media is a powerful tool for change and can be a formidable part of your arsenal of weapons. Definitely your company, organization, or brand stands to benefit. Bagong Media aims to educate and inform about the benefits of New Media and the many wonderful things it can do for you.

Mag-bago na!

About Jonas Diego

Jonas Diego is a New Media Practitioner specializing in web design and development, blogging, blogger events, and viral marketing. He’s been a blogger since 2003 and is one of the Philippine Blogosphere’s most prolific bloggers having had more than 80 blogs to date.

He owns and manages JonasDiego, Inc., a multi-disciplinary company specializing in Web Development and New Media Marketing, Mobile Content and Online Publishing, and Art Production and Creative Solutions.

He is an advocate of using digital technologies and New Media as an alternative way of popularizing and monetizing Philippine Comics Books.

Visit his site here.

Contact

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For inquiries please get in touch via the following contact details:

JONAS DIEGO
E-mail: admin(AT)jonasdiego.com
Mobile Numbers: 0906.574.6779 (Globe), 0908.756.8780 (Smart)
Yahoo Messenger ID: jonas_diego