A location based social network is all about the check-ins and it looks like Gowalla failed to comprehend this essential fact. The result is that that this geo-social app is shutting down and while its founders and team will be joining Facebook, there is no doubt that the app failed and failed big time. On the other hand, its rival Foursquare went ahead of Gowalla a very little time ago. It was so far ahead in its check-ins as compared to Gowalla, that there basically was very little rivalry to speak of.

So, what went wrong with the geo-social app and that too, so quickly; after all it was only launched in 2009? The reason can be traced right back to the genesis of Gowalla, and its focus on design rather than functionality. As compared to Foursquare, there was absolutely no doubt that, it was far ahead when it came to design. It was visually appealing, offered good looking badges and all in all looked very pretty. But the problem was that it just looked pretty. It wasn’t a blend of form and function, but focused on just one core element – Design.

Another reason that contributed towards its failure was that it was based in Austin, which did not have the kind of urban density that helps a mobile social app build a better network early on in its life. It just couldn’t get the critical mass to power its popularity. It severely lacked the hometown advantage. Think about it for second. Why are you using a particular social app? It is because your friends are using it and so are their friends and so on and so forth. The point is that people use only that app that connects them with more people. This is essentially what Gowalla failed to do and set in motion a chain of events that led to its shut down.

Mistakes were made at the conceptualization and development levels and it suffered big time.

But that wasn’t it. Gowalla came across as a very complicated site to use. It tried to offer a whole lot of features very early on, which confused people. Instead of attracting as many check-ins’ as possible, it put many people off. Yet another reason contributing to its failure was that it couldn’t get the big brands to lend their brand equity. This also contributed to its downfall. The reasoning is pretty simple. Why would I want to join a geo social app, if I can’t find deals offered by the big brands on it?

Every expert, industry watcher or investor will have different reasons why Gowalla failed. But in its failure lies the kind of learning that will help founders avoid making the same mistakes that this location based social network did. It’s always important to focus on functionality rather than the only putting focus on visuals. It can be summed up in one simple sentence – Always remain true to your purpose.

Every year brings millions of new advances in web design, so trying to determine which features are simply fads and which will be essential to the continued success of your website can be a challenge for any website owner. Over the past couple of years, web design has risen to the challenge of preparing websites for mobile devices and incorporating the rampant popularity of social media and these factors continue to influence web design in 2011.

Facebook has a lot to answer for when it comes to advances in web design in recent times, with the “like” application spreading across all manner of websites, but mobile phones have also had an influence on contemporary web design with QR Codes coming to the forefront. While there are many new web design features emerging every day, here is a quick look at what is currently on top:

1. Social Media

One of the most essential web design features for 2011 will be the integration of business or product Facebook accounts with any other social media accounts, and the addition of a live-streaming Facebook feed box to the website. This syncopation of Facebook activity with the main website will allow site visitors to “like” content on your website, such as videos, new products and images, quickly spreading this information in a viral manner. Simultaneous feeds generated to and from other social media platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn have the capacity to drive even more traffic to your Facebook fan page and your website.

2. QR Codes

QR Codes have been one of the top web design trends in online marketing over the first few months of 2011. When displayed on posters, billboards, stickers and other promotional materials, they tend to inspire curiosity in potential customers and are compatible with one of our other top tech toys – the smart phone. The web design for the mobile site launched by the QR Code should include links to your Facebook fan page, as well as basic company and contact information. This will generate traffic to your Facebook page, which can be linked to your website, as described above.

3. Blogs

So this isn’t exactly news for 2011, but a blog is something that no web design should ever omit. Not only do blogs provide an interactive and personal point of connection with potential customers and an ideal platform for presenting regular updates on new products, services and company developments, they can include links back to your Facebook, Twitter and any other social media pages to provide additional exposure to those feeds. Of course, if well written and posted strategically, blogs will also work as a highly effective search engine optimisation strategy.

4. Video

Video is becoming increasingly popular on media sharing sites such as GoogleVideo and YouTube so incorporating video in your web design is a must this year. When produced correctly, videos are lively, entertaining and informative, meaning that they are a wonderful way of holding the attention of potential customers and easier to absorb than blocks of text. Videos are also very search-engine friendly and can be shared across social media and media sharing sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Politics has always been about giving speeches, addressing rallies and trying to become known face to every one, the objectives still remain the same but as we are moving ahead in the 21st century their mediums are changing. To advance and mobilize community support social media is becoming an essential part of any political campaign. Twitter, facebook and other social networking sites distribute political message and ignite discussion among community about their stand.
For a successful political campaign, the strategy for various networking sites should be different. Twitter is more reactive platform and it is used by most politician as a tool to collect links of all events and favorable news stories, where as for some it is used as a medium where they can react to different news and what they feel about any particular issue. Many politician have created their YouTube channel where they upload their video on a regular basis and they can talk to their audience. YouTube provides great opportunity to a politician as they can show what they want to show to their audience which in turn can alter or strengthen their belief.
Facebook is all about personal and face to face community interaction. If you search for most popular politician on facebook, the winner will be Barack Obama with more than 9 million followers. This figure is sufficient enough to judge true potential of this platform for politician. Every update from him receives on an average more than 800 comments. If you receive that number of comments then it gives you an option to show your loyalty to them.

Social media, if not all, should be the part of political campaign. It gives an real time communication within their constituency specially for younger generation at bare minimum cost as compare to the traditional communication tools for the politicians. Few of the social media sites has already been identified as a potential tool and are being used but there are many more sites that can be used for a successful political strategy.

In the year 2007 I first heard the word blog while reading an article in national news paper in India where Amit Agrawal of labnol.org was the highlighted name who earned 1000 USD in a day from his blog.After reading the article within 24 hours I’d created my first blog (a blogspot blog). Since that time I’ve run 15+ blogs and Wbsites (most have survived, some have not) and I’ve also transitioned from hobby blogger to part time blogger.

Photo @Flickr

Along the way have been many challenges, milestones and celebrations so today I thought I’d to share my experience which I have learned from Blogging.

I have learned couple of things while blogging:

1. Business Ideas

While blogging,I  have learned many things.Blogging is not only an online journal but it’s a powerful discussion room too, where number of business ideas rise in our mind.For me it’s an idea generating machine.

2. How to setup a Business

Blogging taught me that how to setup my business with some little efforts in starting.Blogging itself is a business which can be run from home.

3. How to Develop your Brand

Blogging taught me to develop my business brand.I have learned many things while blogging.I know the days when I was new in blogging field.I had short list of my friends who knows my name but while blogging I increased my friend list.Blogging required couple of things like social media marketing,viral marketing and offline marketing.

For example:You need unique logo for your blog,unique typo,then same typo and color matching with your blog on social media profiles.Everywhere your “BRAND” brand and brand…..What is this ? This is brand development.

4. How to Market your Brand

Blogging taught me to market the business.I learned how to spread my business using number of ways like social media,local media coverage,mouth to mouth words and personal relationship strength.

5. How to fulfill the Expectations of Your Clients:

Blogging taught me to fulfill the expectations of my clients.Listen to your client what he is expecting from you.Why he has came to your doorstep if their are number of same business players in your surroundings.He might be exacting many things from you.Listen him what he want to say, then solve his issue with negotiation or using any other polite and noble method.

At present I am running my online business (Blogging) and offline business (Education/Schooling),Even I am starting one more education venture which never established before in my state.Both business required same strategy like blogging business.I have learned all things from blogging.

Want to display the links of your social networking profiles in your blog with cool icons  without touching any coding part?

I have collected some WordPress plugins to display the links of your social networking profiles in cool images.You can display the icons or links in your blog like sidebar section or as popup links window.

Here are 5 Best Plugins to Link Your Social Network Profiles:

1. Follow Me Plugin

The Follow Me plugin allow users to stick the widget on the side of their website.Pop-up functionality that displays all of your social profiles with large icons. You can also  add your Google buzz profile along with an RSS icon.

Download Follow Me Plugin

2. Find Me On

The Find Me On sidebar widget displays icons for all of your social network profiles. Includes 73 Social Network options, 16px or 32px icon size, and three icon styles, including sexy-style.

Download Find Me On

3. SocialGrid

SocialGrid is a simple widget that makes it easy to add and organize links to your various profiles on the internet.

Download Social Grid

4. Find Me Elsewhere

Find Me Elsewhere wordpress plugin let you shown all your social network icons in a widget.

Find Me Elsewhere embedded 16 social networks,including Facebook , Twitter , Friendfeed , Linkedin , Myspace , Friendster , Orkut , Bebo , Hi5 , Flickr , Digg,vimeo,youtube,Buzz,Wave and Delicious .

Download  Find Me Elsewhere

5. Cute Profiles

Cute Profiles is a free WordPress Plugin which will bring all your Social Profiles at one location i.e. either left or right side of your blog pages in a well decent floating manner, saving your sidebar or footer space for ads or other important data and widgets.

Download Cute Profiles

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Suggest Other WordPress Plugins to our Readers If You Know….

Twitter launches application for iPhone and iPod touch is available for free on the iTunes App Store.

Twitter posted this news on Official Twitter blog.

Comprehensive analysis of the Twitter user experience in the iTunes App Store showed very plainly that people were looking for an app from Twitter—we didn’t have one so they generally got confused and gave up. Obviously, we saw room for improvement. Starting today, Twitter for iPhone and iPod touch is available for free on the iTunes App Store. Loren, Leland, and the rest of the Mobile team have artfully crafted an application that takes the Twitter experience to a whole new level of awesomeness. We hope you’ll love it like we do.

Some features of Twitter application are:

• Search has been reorganized, now you can search all tweets and find users in the same spot, view Top  Tweets and Browse Suggested users.
• Search results now include Top Tweets, try it with Trends…winner combo!
• You can now use Twitter without an account! Search, Browse uses, view trends and top tweets.
• Sign-up is now available within the application as well, complete with Suggested user list.
• More tab has been re-organized to accomplish all this. Users with one account can add a second account under the Accounts and Settings button here.
• Actions we’ve found people use most, like Retweet have been moved to the main actions bar.
• Minor tweaks were made to tweet rendering so they match Twitter.com tweets.

Download twitter Application Free.