RyanJin.me

Over the last two weeks, and through the next month, it looks like we’ll be doing some major home repairs, renovation, and landscape work! Although I don’t have any photos for you quite yet (before) I’ll put some up soon so you can take a look at what we are working with.. the process, and the end result.

Any ways, to give you an idea of what we’re doing though, here’s our todo list:

• Create landscape design (rock work, pavers, grass, new plants).
• Purchase and install new pavers, rock, and plants.
• Repair sprinkler system.
• Plant new grass (seed in front, sod in back).
• Wall up kitchen door.
• Make new kitchen door.
• Take out cabintry.
• Update plumbing in kitchen.
• Update electrical in kitchen (and rest of house).
• Lay new hardwood floor.
• Install new cabinetry.
• Install new plumbing fixtures.
• Divert gas line to kitchen.
• Frame new walls for kitchen.
• Drywall new walls.
• Install new lighting.
• Update vents, take out old.
• Install new vents in bathrooms.
• Finish Xavier’s room.

That about covers the major stuff. Again, I don’t have any pictures, but check back Friday, and I should have some pictures for you then. In the meantime please keep your fingers crossed that this stuff gets completed in a timely cost-effective manner. I’m crossing my fingers as hard as my fingers can cross.

Peace.

In a day that I thought would never come, Twitter has officially announced that they will be unveiling their upcoming ad network in the nearby future… possibly SXSW. I know we all knew it was coming, but I think the actual news of it all is shocking to say the least.

So what does this mean for Twitter as a whole? Who knows, but I can give you my two cents.. if you already haven’t figured it out by now.

Although I don’t think Twitter is losing its popularity.. too much, the idea of Twitter as the service is kind of dwindling. Sure, it made popular the actual act of Tweeting, but that act is now so widespread through other avenues (Facebook, Buzz), Twitter, as in Twitter.com is kind of seeing a loss, or at least a temporary plateau.

Is this information surprising? Yeah, I think so! Although you could say this does not take into account everyone on their phones or other local applications. Which brings me to my next point… everyone is on phones and local applications!

If Twitter plans on creating an ad network for their service, sure we can expect to see ads on the side of our tweets just like in search or whatever else, but what about people who only access Twitter from Hootsuite, or TwitterBerry, or TweetDeck, or whatever else? Do these companies need to reconfigure their applications to support Twitter’s ads.. or should we expect to see ads coming in the way of the tweets themselves? You get what I’m saying here? If we begin to see ads in the tweets themselves, I am guessing you will also see people abandon the service for Facebook or even Google Buzz!.. I know that is kind of ridiculous sounding, but as Twitter user myself, I really can’t imagine Paid Advertisements.. (from Twitter) in my streams. That’s like having Google place their Paid Search ads in and amongst your organic search results.  Because interactivity is such a vital player in both search and tweeting… I feel this plays a much larger burden on people then say sponsor commercials in Hulu or YouTube videos.

Although I use Twitter, I know my tweets to my followers mean very little to them if they really don’t know who I am in the first place, or haven’t become a Twitter celebrity. Although brands have an edge in this arena, the bulk idea of having followers is proving more and more like last year’s popularity contest… which is having less and less relevance to this year’s popularity icons. In Facebook, I know I will be able to get more discussion and more interactive interest, so why shouldn’t I focus my efforts there?

It’ll be interesting to see what Twitter does with their ads, and for their own sake.. I hope it will not be as invasive as I think it could be.

Peace

Today, Apollo Group, the owner of the ginormous, University of Phoenix, fell 4.71 points to $56.71 today out of news that they were below street estimates. The prime culprit you ask? Bad debt.

Now remember back in the day when people were foreclosing on homes, losing their jobs, yadda yadda yadda? Well to combat this, our government decided to issue some  stimulus into our economy. More money to people means more money in our economic system right? Not necessarily, but the idea is good. In addition to that stimulus, Obama told people, “Go back to school!”, “Get a higher education,” and so on and so forth. Again this is a great idea and an important tool to increasing the prosperity of our nation.. but what do you think happens to the schools when you have people who can’t pay for this education?

Another bad day on Wall Street.

High Education, For Profit Education.. it was a nice little alternative for people who lost a lot last year in banks or financials… but looking forward to this year and beyond… my only suggestion is to take caution. UofP mentions that they’re trying to focus their efforts from Undergraduates to more Graduates and Doctoral students… this does make sense, but if you are seriously considering a Masters or higher, I’d try and find a reputable University that focuses on Masters or higher.

For a long time, UofP and their undergraduate programs were a behemoth to not get in a battle with, but is it crazy to think that the idea of ‘Online University’ is moving more along the lines of ‘Online Graduate University’? I think it should, or at least play a more substantial role.

Online degrees (undergraduate) were a good idea, but as people become more and more independent within their own personal education system, so do their mentalities once they began their career. Now, with high school diplomas available online, are kids supposed to think that all higher education is easier AND better online? I hope not. Traditional universities with a campus, athletics, coffee shops, etc. are an important lesson ground for everyday life.. aside from a career perspective. Giving students that kind of experience is almost impossible for online universities to do.. this is why I believe online education should be a post undergraduate thing.

What do you think?

Peace.

As I progress deeper and deeper into my career in Phoenix, as well as into my own personal side projects, I find it hard to come back to RyanJin.me and write for 10 or 20 minutes. I’m sorry this is the case, but its true. If you’ve noticed, I haven’t been very good at keeping up in my daily posts.. like horrible.

Any ways, I’ve realized this has really been an issue for me all the way back since I was a little kid. I’d really like to start something cool, but after a while, the spark of it would die out and I’d want to try something else. In essence, finishing something to the very end has always been a very very bad problem for me. But I guess I’m hoping I can reverse this plague of mine with my blog. Sure I’ve got other blogs up and running with other people (which I do not want to share with you at this time because you might think it is some crazy stuff) but I feel inherently ingrained with RyanJin.me.

Therefore, it is now a pledge of mine to say that if I cannot produce two posts a week from here on out, I have to close down RyanJin.me. This is an ultimatum for myself, but I think of it more as a very important motivation tool. If you do read this blog (those of you who do) please comment. Otherwise, I feel no obligation to keep writing. If you don’t, then I’ll take that as a sign that you really could care less about what I have to say.

Peace.

In my recent attempt to switch from platform maker to platform user, I’ve started thinking more and more about the correct way to create a model for content that is suitable to today’s Web 2.0 audience. Interaction, Yes! That is the goal, but to what extent do I show the true side of the content, in other words, how transparent is my agenda?

If you’ve noticed, the last few posts here at RyanJin.me have focused more primarily around the idea of content and how it is the essential life blood of everything the internet stands for. Really, it is! But as content becomes saturated with fluff, echoes, and ‘how-tos’ for idiots, the idea of content as a serious factor in success has become a hard topic marketers need to grapple with. Top Ten Lists won’t cut it any more.. except if you’re trying to target wannabe social media experts, in that case… welcome to the party. Everyone has left, or has grown up.

But honestly finding the right content and mode of delivering that content is a hurdle for many people these days. Sure you can find your niche and build your reputation organically, but where to begin?

Taking a step back, I’ve been watching Andrea lately and her habits on the internet. Every day, she visits her favorite blogs, favorite discussion forms, and favorite sites. Like clockwork, she manually updates her internal RSS feed to make sure she is up to date on everything and anything associated with what she feels is important to her online experience. From this perspective, should it seem ridiculous that every niche has this kind of network? No! It’s really a simple concept, and it is expressed in everyday user experience of the internet.

When Web 2.0 came out, I thought the concept was hilarious. But quite honestly, it has become the most important changing factor in how consumers AND producers use the internet. For this reason, blogs became the big thing, but then came micro-blogs. As if a concept for the ‘everyday blogger’ Twitter is turning more and more into the Second Life of today. As I see myself using less and less of the application, I feel like I am trying to fix this through other means of ‘reaching out’ or ‘communicating’ with others around me. This is not to say I am retired of Twitter, I just think the program as a singular entity is becoming outdated. Once private networks, or private HOSTED networks become the core of how Twitter or micro-blogging tools connect, there could be a new influx in use, but for some reason, saturation in Facebook, iPhones, or whatever else has rendered the service hard to justify. So what is next?

Even with all of the new talk of Twitter, and then this gradual fall, blogs have still remained. Actually, as people have seen they can be heard (or read) through Twitter, more and more are adopted actual blogs. I think this is absolutely great. With everyone’s blog however, simple RSS reeders are going to get their work cut out for them.

My prediction for 2010 and 2011: Organization of social media is going to become very very important. Twitter will remain, of course, but it is already evident that there needs to be an internal organizational change to make the service more enticing for new and retired users. Association of blogs and personal sites… RSS readers will become the new TweetDecks or Twitterifics. When there is something new to read that is seriously from a valid source… you know as well as me that we’re both going to read it.

Peace

As more and more websites fill our browser histories and/or fan pages on Facebook, a looming question for some becomes apparently obvious. How do I create the mass amount of content needed to stay ahead of my competitors? I suppose this kind of questions isn’t really suitable for some people who only ‘microblog’ or have some sort of physical or service oriented product. (Although I could be wrong)

When social media gurus talk, a lot of times, they speak to content. It’s like a runway for an airplane… without it, you can’t take off.. or land back on earth, but then again, without the airplane, you wouldn’t get anywhere in the first place. If only we could apparate or use floo powder.

So while content is important, how are some websites like Examiner.com, or Gawker.com coming up with up to the minute stories and articles? 6 words… It’s like open source magazine publishing. In all actuality, it’s basically what many people today think of as ‘Community Blogs’.  With a few exceptions. Remember About.com?

The content on About.com is surprisingly decent for how diverse the articles and information is. From fixing a grand piano to cooking Thai food, to learning PHP… you can basically learn or read about anything from About.com. The reason you remember it so well (or are still finding it pop up in your search results today) is because that content is intertwined with all the other content on the site. In other words… it was like the Wikipedia of it’s day.. but without the ability to freely write whatever you want. Instead of opening the editor to just anyone and their dog, they decided to ‘hire’ what are called Guides. As Wikipedia explains:

Guides are compensated with a base stipend plus bonuses for increased traffic; according to About.com, several guides are averaging over $100,000 per year, although the exact number is not disclosed.

To learn more about how Guides are paid or even how to become one.. check out About.com’s Be A Guide section.

So why is this important? – As social media becomes even more and more important to people, businesses, and organizations, the whole ‘Content is King’ deal… really becomes a forefront issue.

So should I or Jim at Jim’s Tri-Coutny Electrical Repair build our own content platforms and hire hundreds of high schoolers to write about different things? Of course not! That’s not my point. What is my point is.. these platforms exist FOR you, not BY you. If you think you’re an expert at plumbing in Phoenix, check out Examiner.com and see if you can add your own input or even publish your own works to the community. You never know exactly what you’ll find.

For those of you who ARE in the content business…

Well I think we all know it really isn’t a one person job. Try the model out sometime if you’re interested… I bet you’ll be surprised by how much more ’stuff’ you are able to put out there then when it was just you in your cubicle at work -_-.

Peace.

With the recent turn of events for Andrea and I, we’ve often discussed and pondered the idea of how public to take our exciting news. Yesterday, after finding out our little bundle of joy would be a little boy, we decided, “to heck with it… let’s tell Facebook“.

Although we were originally against it, we decided to take up the social network to essentially make easy work out of what would have been a timely task. So whats the big deal?

When you have friends on Facebook… better yet, a lot of friends, a certain thing happens that Facebook really has helped fuel. The return to old friendships. Although depending on who you ask, this might not be so evident with others. Why? Just look at the sentiment revolving around social networks right now. They aren’t conducive to real physical relationships… they help foster them… but that’s it.

When I joined Facebook.. in December of 2004, there were approximately 1 million active users (www.insidefacebook.com). Let me repeat that statistic for you… 1 million active users! With over 350 million registered users on the network today, it seems like forever ago when you had to have a college email address to even join.. let alone an email address from a college that was in their database.

So what am I getting at?

As more and more people find my profile on Facebook, I am continuously reminded of all the friends I have, have had in the past, or just simply family members I have yet to meet in the future. But although I might not talk to you, I am able to communicate with you. Doesn’t that make you think that high school reunions in the future won’t be as awkward as they were 10 years ago? Maybe not, but it makes a difference when you already know whether or not someone has a baby or even a spouse

On the other side of this story is the growing popularity of the commercial ideal for Facebook. Ask yourself this question… do you have friends on Facebook who you’ve never met in person? If so, about how many? For me, there is 1 person on my Friend List that I have never personally met. If that seems weird to you, then you and I are obviously using Facebook for two different reasons! – Back to my point…

So when I say I’m telling Facebook something, better yet… when you tell Facebook something, who do you think is reading it? Your networks? Your groups? Old friends? Who knows… But just remember… when you do meet that old high school classmate from 10 years ago… know that there’s a good chance they know more about your professional life (and of course, social life) then you may think. I’m constantly watching you… whether you like it or not!

And yes, we are having a boy!

Peace.

P.S. Check out www.insidefacebook.com for more cool info or visit Facebook’s Timeline

If you’ve been floating around the internet lately, especially those social networks that shan’t be named, you might have seen some posts that start with the ever so popular “Top 10…”, or “10 Reasons to…” or “10 Ways to do…”. Is it me or do these kinds of things begin to get a little irritating?

With that said and done, here is my Top 7 Reasons Top 10 Lists are So Popular!

1. They are Quick. – The thing that many bloggers don’t have a lot of these days, is time. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for little 10 or 20 minute windows to pump out an entry in between the day job activities. Although I don’t really do this I have to admit, I do. But this is not a problem with Top 10 Lists! The beauty to writing out a in-depth and well thought out Top 10 List, is most of the work is already done. In in all reality, its really like writing a top 3 list!

2. Its great content that everyone loves reading! (tiny bit of sarcasm there) – If you can pull a top 10 list out of your butt and have it be at least somewhat engaging, people out there will read it. Let’s just say you do a top 10 list of the reasons why H tags are important in SEO…. If you do SEO, I’m sure you can think of 10 reasons why H tags are important, and if you can’t, I’m sure you know how to find those reasons out. The point being made is… these so-called lists are the quickest and most informative way of expressing content in a post. I bet I can do a Top 10 List every day and the average amount of traffic I get to my site will increase day after day… which brings me to point 3.

3. They are quick to read. – When someone is looking through some author’s hugely engrossing Top 10 List, if they don’t want to spend the time carefully uncovering those treasured facts, they can skim through the headings and get the gist of the post. Bold your headings or at least do some sort of thing to make your list look like an easy read.. even if it isn’t.

4. You don’t need any creativity.. Just find someone else’s top list and just jumble their list items around to make your own, it’s really simple actually for you lazy bums out there. On that same note, creativity does actually help when trying to persuade your audience why your specific list item is there, but in all reality.. they’re not reading your thought out reasons… am I right? (In this case, I hope I’m wrong).

5. They make you look informed. Although I have to say my top 7 list does not really do me any credit when it comes to social media, I just wanted to add fuel to the fire.. like I always do. Believe me, I am not an informed social media guru… I’m not even that big of a D-Bag. I’m just an individual taking both sides of the social debate. The talker and the listener… its quite fun and revealing when you are on both sides.

6. Its a nice Thursday morning write-up when you can’t think of anything else to write. – While professional bloggers might think they are future novelists and great thinkers of the Web2.0, there are times when writer’s block strikes the best of us. The beauty behind Top 10 Lists is that they are mindless. A good way to come up with a new list… 1) Take something you like. 2) Find 10 reasons you like it. 3) Spend 2 minutes writing them out. You’re done. Congratulations!

7. They are the easiest way so-called “social media experts” can get you to their content. – Sorry, but its true. When people are looking to be informed, they are looking for simple easily readable information. If that person thinks you’re credible or at least likes your list.. well great. On the other hand, those who disagree with you from time to time will also enjoy reading your lists and explaining back to you why your list is wrong and totally screwed up. Hey, but at least I’m getting traffic right?

So there you have it. My Top 7 Reasons Top 10 Lists are So Popular. If you skimmed through this and didn’t take the time to read the actual post, well then thanks. My writing isn’t good any ways.

Peace.

After the long break from work and some much needed time with my family, I’m back in the office (with a new coffee pot, thanks to my father and mother-in-law) and I’m shifting gears and starting to look deeper and harder into organic search. That crazy thing. I’m not cutting off all ties with paid search, it just is taking a back seat for a while… we’ll see.

To start the year off right, I thought it best to really dive into some of my employer’s more important search terms. Those terms you might be asking?… generic. Highly searched, highly competitive, yet highly profitable. Why do you think you see so many ads for insurance, or online schools, or investing? Those are the people who see the biggest bang for their buck for paying the most for your click. So why is this a problem.

Just as these vertical’s paid search and display campaigns might be gigantic, the affiliate marketers and content creators backing them up are just as big. Are you looking for car insurance or an online degree? Don’t type in ‘car insurance’ or ‘online degree’ in your search browser unless you want a site that will sell your information to the highest paying provider. It’s a system that works, but quite honestly, from a 50 thousand foot level, a lot of discredit goes to those searchers like you and me out there. Are we getting the service that best matches what we want? Probably.. damn, but maybe not. I guess that depends on if you know how to search for the product or service you’re looking for.

So what does this mean for me and my ongoing endeavor for search engine optimization?

Some friends and partners of mine over at KEO Marketing in Tempe, AZ have really pushed an interesting aspect of SEO on to me. “How do we get through all of the mumbo jumbo of content pushers, and affiliate aggregators in our space?” Focus your efforts along side theirs. Better yet, expand our efforts by leaps and bounds.

These affiliate websites have tons and tons of other websites networked together performing single, high output, actions at a time… and with those actions, money goes right to them. But their network of sites do all the heavy lifting.

If, as a business, we can focus our efforts as expansively as they can, shouldn’t we be able to start edging back into the 2nd or 1st pages of some long tailed keyword search results? People are typing huge search terms in these days… because they see that crap! Those are the searchers we want to see come to our site directly.

So what’s the process in doing this? You should know by now… most likely, you’re into search (why else would you even consider reading this far down into my post?).

Peace

As December suddenly made its way into my hectic lifestyle, a few important and very exciting things have started occuring to me… and I guess it centers mostly on family.

Being away from my family this past Thanksgiving was a little difficult, but Andrea and I made the most of it through spending some quality time at Disneyland. Honestly, it was a really fun trip, and I’m still going through withdrawls. (the car ride home was horrible) But that being said, I can hardly wait for Christmas to come. Not only will I get to go home, but I’m totally excited to see my family, friends, and eat good food. Just thinking about it now makes me ansy.

And although I know this has no relevance to anything in search or social, I’ve really felt the strong desire to tell you now just how I feel. Actually, I was visiting a blog of my friends who is in Japan teaching. Recently, Julia has been updating her blog on holiday plans, food posts, and pictures of her daughter, who is just too cute. It is the highly personal things (from family and friends) that really make me come back to a blog to read more and continue to stay updated. I may think I’m more into reading up on my professional area of expertise, but I think when it comes down to it, friends, family, and thoughts of comfort (home) is what makes me the most happiest.

And so I guess this brings me back to my blog. No personal pictures, no stories of my family, and not even a steady post rate. As a blogger, I’d have to say I deserve the grade of a strong C-. There is a lot to improve upon, but more importantly, I’m thinking I don’t really want to lecture in my posts anymore, but communicate more along the lines of talking and discussing. I know I’m a month early, but I think a good new years resolution for me is to push out 5 times as many posts as I did this year. (I don’t think that will be too hard) I’ll try more.

Peace