Fully Grasping the Graph

Facebook’s biggest asset is no doubt the precious mine of user data that advertisers
and even Google lusts after. What Graph Search does is take that user data and turn
it into a searchable database of sorts. Before the update, Facebook’s internal
search feature was largely an afterthought, mainly because of its limitations. This
tool was most useful for finding pages and apps, unlike the functions on Twitter and
LinkedIn that help you find actual users.

With Graph Search, a user can go beyond the pages and apps to find much more
detailed information related to specific users. These details may include articles,
photos, or even places they have “liked” while connected to the network. Facbook is
hyping the new feature as a tool that will create a better experience for the user.
For example, typing in something like “new books” might help a user find reading
suggestions based on the information shared across their friends’ profiles.
Convenient? A little. Unnerving? A whole lot.

Enter the Privacy Debate

If you didn’t think something that probes as deep as Facebook Graph Search would set
of the privacy alarms, then you don’t know the internet community very well. Users
are being warned to watch what they post on the popular social network, and
according to some of the blog comments I’ve been reading, some have called this the
last straw — the act that drove them to delete their account.

According to reports, a British programmer created “Actual Facebook Graph Searches”,
a testing platform designed to highlight how the new feature could at the very
least, put users in some embarrassing situations. In the tests, he revealed how the
update uncovered real names, sexual preferences, and various other personally
identifying information that users might not want to be known on a broad scale.

On the other side of the fence you have the realists who say the privacy buffs are
overreacting once again. These observers believe that this information was more or
less already available on Facebook, and that users need to be more responsible to
begin with. Expect this debate to wage on as the Graph Search feature is continually
rolled out across the platform.

Marketing Implications

Like I said, Facebook’s Graph Search impacts all parties involved, and that includes
marketers. If you are a brand with a presence on the social platform, it gives
people another way to discover your content. Savvy marketers can position themselves
to take advantage by not only posting more content, but approaching it like another
aspect of SEO. Soon we will be hearing all about companies conducting keyword
research and developing content marketing strategies designed to capitalize on this
interesting new concept.

Graph Search isn’t a discovery engine on the level of Google’s core product, but it
is another one of many signs indicating where search is heading, and that is a path
to deeper social involvement. With the strong belief that social media already
influences rankings, experts are encouraging marketers to make their sites more
social, and create content that gets users to share with the people in their
networks. Now that Facebook, one of the most powerful forces in the web space, has
made another big move on the search front, the activity is likely to pick up
considerably.

What’s Next?

We will surely be hearing more regarding Facebook Graph Search and how it affects
Google, users, marketers, and everyone else as time goes on. The feature is
available in a limited beta testing program, which at the moment, is only available
to users in the U.S. Facebook has put up a page that explains more in detail about
how it works and privacy implications, for those who would like to know more. That
page also allows you to test the feature out and put your name on the waiting list,
which is probably pretty long at this point.

Is Graph Search another way for Facebook to compromise user privacy? Does it pose a
legitimate threat to Google? Share your thoughts in a comment?

There’s more you can do to increase your posts visibility:

• Include the latest post in your Email Signatures -

• Include the latest post in your email newsletters – This is applicable only for those who have been practising this

• Include QR code pointing to mobile version of the website/blog in every marketing material you can think of  (No additional cost)
  http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

This is, if you have never been involved in any kind of black hat techniques. I can only think of the below scenarios which can actually screw up happiness.

Scenario 1 : After taking on a messed up project where in the past the site was involved in building spammy links, spun content and over optimization etc, leaving the site in the state of mess.

Situation : When client demands results forgetting the past ( Mistakes looks smaller and smaller as time passes) and holds you accountable.

Scenario 2 : Development team would have messed up the site in the past and you would have been proactive in fixing those.

Situation: Client might turn a blind eye to obvious facts that any onsite mess ups would take weeks and some times months to start showing correctly in Search Engines again.

Wondering on how to deal with the above situation ? In short, your concern should not be dealing with the above situation. Instead dealing with the client or boss who holds you responsible despite knowing the fact he or she messed up in the past.

Yes, expect this situation if you haven’t experienced one.

Disclaimer : This post is not aimed at any clients I worked for in the past or currently working with.

My advice on how to deal with the above situation:

• Set Expectations Right & Communicate 

Return on investment = Net profit ($) / Investment ($)

• Whining

If something is wrong, don’t waste time complaining. Put that effort in taking the site to the next level.

Don’t talk about what’s wrong or what went wrong. Talk about how you’ll make things better, and communicate that to the client in advance.

After all you were hired by the client to clean up the mess he /she made and not to keep reminding  him/her on what happened in the past.

• Learn -> Unlearn -> Relearn

The more experience you gain, the more likely you are to think you know everything. Break that habit.

In this digital world, techniques that are valid today need no longer be valid tomorrow.

• Learn from yours/others mistakes

The past is valuable. Learn from your/others mistakes.

Read forums, blogs and learn from others mistakes. You don’t have reinvent the wheel sometimes.

• Clinging ( THE MOST dangerous habit )

When you’re afraid or insecure, you hold on tightly to what you know (the techniques), even if what you know isn’t particularly working for you. Holding on to what you think is right won’t get you results. Sharpen your skill-set.

If I have to summarize the above post in 2 words,  SHOW RESULTS.

Scenario : To integrate WordPress Blog in a store powered by mangento

Step 1 : Install Magento and WordPress Using the same Database.

Note: If you want your blog  be accessed at www.rama.id.au/blog/, you should install WordPress in the sub-directory named anything other than “blog”.  Eg: “www.rama.id.au/something”

Step 2: Copy the Magento WordPress Extension URL:http://www.magentocommerce.com/magento-connect/wordpress-integration.html

Step 3: Visit Magento Connect Manager and paste the extension url from Step 2.

Step 4: You will now notice WordPress in the magento admin dashboard, Navigate to WordPress>>Settings>> setup and fill in the details ( That simple!!)

In short, Choose the below values

WordPress Integration  -> Yes

Database Location -> Magento / WordPress Share a Database

Table prefix -> default is “wp_” unless you have chosen something else at the time of installation

Integration Level  -> Fully Integrated

Blog Route ->Will be the URL that the frontend of your integrated blog will be visible on. Example: Enter “blog” if you want your blog accessed at www.rama.id.au/blog

WordPress path -> Actual path of the installed wordpress sub category. Example: “some thing ” as mentioned in the step 1.

Enable Login -> Yes

Step 5:  Login into wordpress ( path where it was originally installed) and Go to Setting >> General and change the ‘Site Address (URL)’  to be the full URL that you want your WordPress blog to be visible on. Example : www.rama.id.au/blog