Wazza's Blog

Google Chrome…it’s nice, very nice

Wazza — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:05:57 +0000

Well the IT world is paying a lot of attention over the last few days to Google’s release of a web browser called Google Chrome. We here at Wazza.com are no different and have installed it on some of our machines.

As with most things that Google do they have worked hard on simplifying the browsing experience and in my humble opinion have done a good job. For a 1st time beta release Chrome works really well and has no where near the number of bugs that Firefox or even many versions of Internet Explorer experienced during their beta releases.

Of course there will be many critics out there talking up the faults but all in all I think Chrome is an excellent browser and has many more attributes than detriments. The Omnibar is an excellent idea and simplifies the whole searching progress. If Google has its way and Chrome takes off like I am sure they planned many of us on the web will have no real need to go to Google’s homepage any more as all searches will initiate straight from the address bar at top of the page.

Once again hats off to Google for bringing the innovation and ease of use to the browser that they did to web based email with Gmail. I am sure Microsoft will continue their public stance of how superior their new release of IE is but surely if they have any kind of self awareness they must be concerned that Google may be going to at the very least significantly reduce another of there monopolies. It boogles my mind how a company the size and financial resources of Microsoft can continue losing ground to Google but it’s a fact. Something I am sure they are reminded of daily.

Thanks,
Adam

Further to Yesterday’s Blog

Wazza — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:47:52 +0000

In today’s update on TechCrunch they discuss an article in the latest Business 2.0 magazine about the many companies who are in effect cloning the largest social networks.� While TechCrunch has debunked the validity of some of the sites many of Business 2.0’s examples are correct.

Have a look at the graphic below and see how many you recognize.

I’m confident that most of these won’t grow to anything significant.

Time will tell.

Thanks for reading
Adam.

Think Forward

Wazza — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:00:43 +0000

It is not exactly a profound statement to say business is moving faster than ever before.� In the past revolutions took decades.� Even in the 90’s revolutions like the internet or the mobile phone took 6+ years to hit the mainstream.� Today it is a completely different matter.

Businesses that were just ideas 2 years�ago are now outgrowing competitors many years their senior.� Longevity no longer matters.� Just take a look at the Presidential debates and the fact that the main medium the public is using to connect with politicians (namely YouTube) didn’t even exist at the last election.

No longer is business about finding a need and filling it.� Today it is more like anticipate a future need, develop your product, wait�a couple�years for the market to realize this need and then fill it.�

The interesting thing is that so many of us fail to understand this.� I see businesses everyday throwing literally millions down the drain because all they do is follow the leader.� A new market opportunity opens up, an innovator recognises this, they’re in first and so when the shift towards their product takes place they are ready to seize the moment.� The innovator�makes a bundle of money and so everybody else decides they want the same.� Sorry folks but the horse has bolted.

The�thing these�businesses fail to relize�is, the need no longer exists (well not in the same form anyway).� So the sheep lose their money and wait for the next big thing.

Herein lies the problem.� By the time the next big thing is the next big thing it is too late!

Here in Australia there has been a lot of competition entering the market trying to catch the big job boards.� From my point of view this is simply a waste of time.� These�leading job boards�are backed by huge media empires and�are too well entrenched to ever be�knocked off their perch.� They have too much money, too many media outlets to feed off and already have the customers.� Monster and Careerbuilder are in similar situations in the US.� No job boards will ever catch them.� For these companies to lose their market share there has to be a change in the game.

The good news is change is automatic.

The good news is change is automatic.� As a competitor we have to remember this and take a step back, see the reality of the situation and understand what is and isn’t happening in the market currently.� Then take this view and compare it with what we think�will be in the future.� Somewhere in between is a good starting point.� The market will shift and whoever gets there first will have a big headstart.

So how do we tell whether we are on the right track to being an innovator?� Well I have to be honest and say this I do not know for sure.� I can tell you one thing though and that is “If everybody likes your idea, then it’s not the right idea.”

Thanks for reading
Adam

Social Networks as a Marketing Tool

Wazza — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:05:19 +0000

We’ve been looking at a few ways lately to market ourselves to the online community outside of SEO and Pay Per Click.� While SEO is a must and will forever be in our marketing plan Pay Per Click is something we are wanting to phase out or at least reduce our monthly spend.� Some of the marketing options we are currently undertaking include involvement in social network sites like MySpace and YouTube�as well as aggregator sites like Digg and StumbleUpon.�

Without giving too much away these are avenues that we feel are under utilized.� When you take into account that websites like�Wazza.com are all about connections (between job seekers and employers) we would be silly not to put a plan into action to encourage use through these sites.

I find it very interesting that in the United States, presidential candidates like Barack Obama, Fred Thompson, Hilary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani and more are all using social media sites (just search MySpace and you’ll find they all have pages)�to present themselves and their ideals to the American people.� Considering the tens of millions of dollars they each have raised they could easily bypass these mediums and head straight for the mainstream.� This tells me that social networks are fast becoming mainstream.

As with anything the early adopters are often who gain the most.�

Stay�in touch with our blog and we’ll keep you posted on how things go and maybe even fill you in on some of the details.

Thanks
Adam

Craig Harper’s Blog

Wazza — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:05:23 +0000

For all you out there interested in taking charge of your life be sure to check out Craig Harper’s blog.� His post today on ‘Why I hate the Concept of Destiny’ is excellent.

Click here to view Motivational Speaker Craig Harper’s blog.

Thanks
Adam.