Over A Billion Served (In A Day), And Facebook Is Just Getting Started
Every Monday morning at 7:10 am, I am a guest contributor on CHOM 97.7 FM radio broadcasting out of Montreal (home base). It’s not a long segment – about 5 to 10 minutes every week – about everything that is happening in the world of technology and digital media. The good folks at CHOM 97.7 FM are posting these segments weekly to SoundCloud, if you’re interested in hearing more of me blathering away. I’m really excited about this opportunity, because this is the radio station that I grew up on listening to, and it really is a fun treat to be invited to the Mornings Rock with Terry and Heather B. morning show. The segment is called, CTRL ALT Delete with Mitch Joel.
This week we discussed:
Last Monday was a big day for Facebook… and a bigger day for how much digital technology has connected us all. Say what you will about Facebook: teenagers don’t use it, millennials are tired of it, etc… none of that really resonates in a world where the online social network had one billion people using Facebook on that single day. What does that really mean: one out of every seven people on the planet were logged on. So, what do you think, will there be something after Facebook? I’m thinking this could be the channel that does, in fact, connect us all.
How are businesses coping with all of this Facebook stuff? Last year, brands received almost 22 million questions on Facebook and Twitter from customers. The good news is that most brands are now listening and responding. Brands that respond well on Facebook are now getting a green badge on their pages, next to their profile picture (like being “verified” by Twitter). The thing is, Facebook wants brands to really step it up. In order to get the badge, brand pages must respond to customer questions in less than five minutes, 90 percent of the time, over a seven-day period. Pages are re-evaluated every week. The Globe & Mail ran an article about this (and I was quoted in it). So, is Facebook both the Better Business Bureau and the center of customer service?
Apple has sent out invites for an event on September 9th. What are we expecting? Based on how they currently cycle out new devices, this probably won’t be the iPhone 7, but more likely the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. So, is it worth it? A better camera? Faster speed? Front-facing flash (selfie much?), animated wallpapers? Force Touch technology? Oh, maybe even a new Apple TV or some new laptops… a new iPad?