When was the last time you bought an album?
I guess a number of people cannot answer the question because they do not remember it. Honestly, I don’t remember it. Since there is Internet and I can download music online, I have never bought a new album yet. I believe there are a lot of people like me.
Is it okay to download music for free on the Internet? I think NO. However, tons of people are doing it. According to Stefannie, 35 million U.S. adults download music files online, and 26 million share files online. 67% of Internet users who download music don't care about copyright laws, 27% of Internet users do care if the music is copyrighted, and 6% of Internet users claim they don't know enough about the issue. 65% of Internet users who share files do not care if they are copyrighted, 30% of Internet users do care if the music is copyrighted, and 5% of Internet users don't know enough about the issue.
According to RIAA, global music piracy causes $12.5 billion of economic losses every year, 71,060 U.S. jobs lost, a loss of $2.7 billion in workers' earnings, and a loss of $422 million in tax revenues, $291 million in personal income tax and $131 million in lost corporate income and production taxes.
If someone steals something from you, you can't do anything about it unless you know who did it. On the internet, when someone downloads a copyrighted song file and, without authorization, uploads it to a web site where anyone can download it, there's no way to know who is responsible. If you do not know who is responsible for it, how do you prevent it?
1. Educate people on the benefits of uncompressed music as opposed to compressed (mp3) formats. Let people download but make them buy the songs they really like on CD by telling them it sounds better than an MP3.
2. Enforcement of laws.
3. Create “iTunes” maybe is one way to prevent it to some extent. However, with shared files on computer, there is still space for piracy. There will be no abrupt end to piracy.
4. Lower price of albums. It is too expensive to spend $20 on an album.
5. Heavy penalties could be imposed for people who download music.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Sunday, December 12, 2010
I know where you live even though you don't tell me!!!
Privacy has become a major concern on the Internet. Why Internet privacy is so hot recently when it has been there for a long time? Because anything that happens online seems much more exciting than things going on in the "real" world. In addition, recently the Wiki leak and Facebook privacy issue bring Internet privacy back to people’s concern.
Several activities on the Internet will reveal your personal information, like signing up for Internet service, E-mail, using social network, browsing website, and managing our financial accounts and online bill payments. People know there is possibility that their personal information will be released. However, they do not really know and understand how organizations collect and use personal information on the Internet. Many Web sites require visitors to identify themselves and provide information about their wants and needs. Some Web sites track visitors’ "footsteps" through the site by storing a cookie, or identifying string of text, on their computers. Each organization has different ways to collect and use people’s personal information on the Internet. However, there are only limited regulations that really protect consumers’ Internet privacy.
Privacy & Data-Mining on the Internet , EU’s Data Privacy Directive and International Relations, and United States Internet Privacy Law are main regulations addressing Internet privacy issue. Recently, In mid-May, Vice President Al Gore announced a White House initiative aimed at helping to improve online privacy protections. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report in June addressing Internet privacy. The report is the results of its March privacy "sweep," in which the agency visited more than 1,400 commercial Web sites in search of clearly displayed privacy policies. The FTC reported that while 85% of the sites it had visited collect personal information from consumers, only 14% had posted any privacy-related notices, and only 2% had posted comprehensive privacy policies. Meanwhile, E.U. says it will overhaul privacy regulations.
How these actions will actually protect Internet users’privacy? We don’t know. Even though government is taking their initiatives, but with today’s technology, we never know what will happen. I believe what Internet users’ can do is being sensitive about releasing their personal information. According to an article, there are six tips people can do to protect privacy.
Several activities on the Internet will reveal your personal information, like signing up for Internet service, E-mail, using social network, browsing website, and managing our financial accounts and online bill payments. People know there is possibility that their personal information will be released. However, they do not really know and understand how organizations collect and use personal information on the Internet. Many Web sites require visitors to identify themselves and provide information about their wants and needs. Some Web sites track visitors’ "footsteps" through the site by storing a cookie, or identifying string of text, on their computers. Each organization has different ways to collect and use people’s personal information on the Internet. However, there are only limited regulations that really protect consumers’ Internet privacy.
Privacy & Data-Mining on the Internet , EU’s Data Privacy Directive and International Relations, and United States Internet Privacy Law are main regulations addressing Internet privacy issue. Recently, In mid-May, Vice President Al Gore announced a White House initiative aimed at helping to improve online privacy protections. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report in June addressing Internet privacy. The report is the results of its March privacy "sweep," in which the agency visited more than 1,400 commercial Web sites in search of clearly displayed privacy policies. The FTC reported that while 85% of the sites it had visited collect personal information from consumers, only 14% had posted any privacy-related notices, and only 2% had posted comprehensive privacy policies. Meanwhile, E.U. says it will overhaul privacy regulations.
How these actions will actually protect Internet users’privacy? We don’t know. Even though government is taking their initiatives, but with today’s technology, we never know what will happen. I believe what Internet users’ can do is being sensitive about releasing their personal information. According to an article, there are six tips people can do to protect privacy.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Do you get a deal today?
The company offers one "Groupon" per day in each of the markets it serves. If a certain number of people sign up for the offer, then the deal becomes available to all; if the predetermined minimum is not met, no one gets the deal that day. The point here is to get enough people to sign up for an offer. It is a win-win for local businesses and their customers if the deal is done. Customers get better discounts and discover merchandise and/or products they did not know or they have never tried. Businesses get guaranteed valuable customers, exposed to efficient, measurable, and risk-free marketing, and gain effective word of mouth advertising. Christopher Steiner states that Groupon is the fastest growing company ever. Its revenue has increased tremendously.
Google has offered $5.3 billion for Groupon, in what would be its largest acquisition yet, if it is completed. Should Groupon sell it to Google? I believe ultimately it is beneficial to Groupon because in today’s market, they are a lot of competitors. Groupon is a newly established company. In order to survive in a long term run, they have to grow, expand, and improve their competitive advantages. Selling to a company like Google, which is the largest searching engine in the world, is definitely a good strategy. However, the question to ask here is: is it the right time to sell? If it is not, when is the right time to sell?
Personally, I like groupon. It is fun to get the deal because you get a great deal and you feel the urgency. You have to get more people to get the discount. In addition, one deal, one day, one city. It is pretty fun and enjoyable. A very interesting article says a Man tries living on coupons for a year.
Google has offered $5.3 billion for Groupon, in what would be its largest acquisition yet, if it is completed. Should Groupon sell it to Google? I believe ultimately it is beneficial to Groupon because in today’s market, they are a lot of competitors. Groupon is a newly established company. In order to survive in a long term run, they have to grow, expand, and improve their competitive advantages. Selling to a company like Google, which is the largest searching engine in the world, is definitely a good strategy. However, the question to ask here is: is it the right time to sell? If it is not, when is the right time to sell?
Personally, I like groupon. It is fun to get the deal because you get a great deal and you feel the urgency. You have to get more people to get the discount. In addition, one deal, one day, one city. It is pretty fun and enjoyable. A very interesting article says a Man tries living on coupons for a year.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The key driver?
Small businesses will play a bigger role in driving the U.S. and global economies over the next decade. According to Small Business Administration: Office of Advocacy, in 2009, there were 27.5 million businesses in the United States, according to Office of Advocacy estimates. Small businesses employ about half of U.S. workers. Small firms accounted for 65 percent (or 9.8 million) of the 15 million net new jobs created between 1993 and 2009. While successful new enterprises have provided valuable contributions to the economy and society in general, their volatility and failure rate exact a cost to both. An estimated 552,600 new employer firms opened for business in 2009, and 660,900 firms closed. Seven out of 10 new employer firms survive at least 2 years, half at least 5 years, a third at least 10 years, and a quarter stay in business 15 years or more. Census data report that 69 percent of new employer establishments born to new firms in 2000 survived at least 2 years, and 51 percent survived 5 or more years.
Why do some small businesses survive and some fail? Several research indicates that management of people, continuing education, cash management, management of information, technology-oriented, and quality and marketing contribute to success of small businesses. Marketing is significant for small businesses' success. The popularity of Internet has made online social media a mainstream marketing tactic, but is it the key success factor to small businesses? I don't believe so.
Yes, online marketing has a lot of advantages. 1) Most online marketing is free. You just need to create an account and then you can market to anyone who has access to the site. It is very cost efficiency; 2) Time efficiency. News travels very quickly. Your current and potential consumers can get updated information of your businesses right after you post it; 3) Increased potential consumers. You can reach consumers that traditional marketing misses because people can easily refer or direct their friend to your site; 4) Build consumers relationship. You can use it to demonstrate your personality, interact with consumers with live chat and comments, and show them that you care; 5) Feedback efficiency. You can learn how to improve your products and services. By encouraging open communication through public comments, you can learn what your consumers need and want and make your products more palatable.
However, there are downsides of online marketing. It is time efficiency, but time-consuming too. You need to contribute continual time and effort to create a positive, relevant presence. It will take time away from initiatives that might suit your business better. Sometimes news travels too fast for you to keep up with the reactions (good or bad) from your followers. You need to keep coming up with innovative exciting content that interests a variety of readers. Otherwise, all your efforts will be wasted. You have no control of your followers. Anybody can comment your business and criticize it. If a person does not like you or your business and writes negative comments, you may lose a lot of potential consumers if somebody new to your site reads those comments.
I believe online marketing is a great strategy for marketing small businesses, but it is not the key success and needs to be used carefully. Before going online media marketing, several questions need to be asked. First, will the person run online marketing technology savvy? Second, how much time will be dedicated to online marketing? Third, is the content appropriate and interesting enough for public? Small business needs to combine with other marketing strategies. For example, charity donation is a great approach. You can donate money or your time. It will be a big return even if you only donate a small amount of money or time. Sponsor your local sport team is another approach because sport is a very important part of United States culture.
Why do some small businesses survive and some fail? Several research indicates that management of people, continuing education, cash management, management of information, technology-oriented, and quality and marketing contribute to success of small businesses. Marketing is significant for small businesses' success. The popularity of Internet has made online social media a mainstream marketing tactic, but is it the key success factor to small businesses? I don't believe so.
Yes, online marketing has a lot of advantages. 1) Most online marketing is free. You just need to create an account and then you can market to anyone who has access to the site. It is very cost efficiency; 2) Time efficiency. News travels very quickly. Your current and potential consumers can get updated information of your businesses right after you post it; 3) Increased potential consumers. You can reach consumers that traditional marketing misses because people can easily refer or direct their friend to your site; 4) Build consumers relationship. You can use it to demonstrate your personality, interact with consumers with live chat and comments, and show them that you care; 5) Feedback efficiency. You can learn how to improve your products and services. By encouraging open communication through public comments, you can learn what your consumers need and want and make your products more palatable.
However, there are downsides of online marketing. It is time efficiency, but time-consuming too. You need to contribute continual time and effort to create a positive, relevant presence. It will take time away from initiatives that might suit your business better. Sometimes news travels too fast for you to keep up with the reactions (good or bad) from your followers. You need to keep coming up with innovative exciting content that interests a variety of readers. Otherwise, all your efforts will be wasted. You have no control of your followers. Anybody can comment your business and criticize it. If a person does not like you or your business and writes negative comments, you may lose a lot of potential consumers if somebody new to your site reads those comments.
I believe online marketing is a great strategy for marketing small businesses, but it is not the key success and needs to be used carefully. Before going online media marketing, several questions need to be asked. First, will the person run online marketing technology savvy? Second, how much time will be dedicated to online marketing? Third, is the content appropriate and interesting enough for public? Small business needs to combine with other marketing strategies. For example, charity donation is a great approach. You can donate money or your time. It will be a big return even if you only donate a small amount of money or time. Sponsor your local sport team is another approach because sport is a very important part of United States culture.
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