As per the recent Google Analytics benchmark report, the referral traffic has gone down by 1.6%, if this is the case how to justify that "Social Media Engagement" really helps in driving traffic to websites?



And in the other hand a report from "Search Engine Land" says, integrating your website with Social Networking sites like Facebook increase referral traffic by 300%!!
So which one of these values is exact? Any thoughts?

PS: "Social Media Engagement" may not drive enough traffic but gets business!

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A poll result from the Webinar by ChiefMarketer, sponsored by Position2:

Question: What social media site will you most likely be actively listening and engaging with prospects and customers?

Answer:

As expected Twitter and Facebook leads the race...
Click image to enlarge

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Based on the recent trends released by Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Twitter, I have listed the top 5 trends of 2010. The list includes the most popular topics out of the 4 individual lists.

Here is the Top 5 Trends of 2010:

1. World Cup
2. Oil Spill
3. iPhone
4. Haiti Earthquake
5. Justin Bieber

Top 10 Twitter, Facebook, Google and Yahoo Trends:

Twitter
Gulf Oil Spill
FIFA World Cup
Inception
Haiti Earthquake
Vuvuzela
Apple iPad
Google Android
Justin Bieber
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
Pulpo Paul

Facebook
HMU
World Cup
Movies
iPad and iPhone
Haiti
Justin Bieber
Games on Facebook
Mineros / Miners
Airplanes
2011

Google (News)
haiti
besiktas
chile
earthquake
lady gaga
iphone 4
jörg kachelmann
menowin fröhlich
mobile technology
oil spill

Yahoo
BP oil spill
World Cup
Miley Cyrus
Kim Kardashian
Lady Gaga
iPhone
Megan Fox
Justin Bieber
American Idol
Britney Spears

Click here to download the above data in Word/TXT format.

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The new toolbar from Google has the Sidewiki option. It enables anyone who has logged-in with a Google account to write comment, which is visible to everyone.


I feel, we can use this place to showcase news, achievements, products and services if any, or it can be used as a user feedback box (If nothing is there, pay someone to praise about you in Google's Sidewiki, just kidding...)

Few features:

- The owner of the page can write a comment which can be kept floating on-top always. Can be edited for any new update too.

- Simultaneously publish it in your blog.

- All the Sidewiki entry will reflect in your Google Profile

- You can even share it in Facebook and Twitter or email it instantly to your friends about your Sidewiki entry.

- You can always rate others Sidewiki entry.

- Any plan to integrate with Google Wave? whenever a link is shared via Google Wave the Sidewiki list will pop-up with the entry list. Cool feature, isn't?

Many more cool features to come... stay tuned!

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I like this Facebook security feature. If you sign-in Facebook from unknown location other than your regular location especially from any public internet café you will get the below message as an added security feature. Nice one.



Tip: always use your actual birth date to tackle such situation.

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"Micro blogging is a form of multimedia blogging that allows users to send brief text updates or micromedia such as photos or audio clips and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user" – Wikipedia

Consider the two major social media websites (especially well know for micro blogging) "The Facebook" and "The Twitter". Of course LinkedIn leads the list, but I am not considering it for this discussion as it is completely a professional networking site.

In the recent times micro blogging have great impact on traditional blogging. Take a look at the below screenshots,





The first graph is from Google Trends comparing the search volume of Blogger, Twitter and Facebook.
The second graph is from Alexa comparing the average time spent on these websites.

It is clear that micro blogging overtook the traditional blogging. People spend more time and interact much in micro blogs. The number of traditional blogs create on an average is comparatively less when compared to number of new users and new interactions that is happening in micro blogs.

So what will be the future of traditional blogging? Should I start a community/group/page in Facebook to save the traditional blogging - "Save the Traditional Blogging"? – Just Kidding!

While the chase is happening among micro blogging and traditional blogging, in the recent issue of Business Standards newspaper there is an article which talks about social media websites (especially Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) helping companies to generate leads, traffic, resource and business. Adding more negative impact to traditional blogging!

PS: The last previous paragraph in the above business standards article is quoted by me :-)

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