Get Help! AT LAST

Okay, since I just remembered (due to the Facebook app topic), some people were asking why the Flixster app is named "Movies" and not "Flixster" on Facebook.

(Ji Wei says Kah Hong has sort of covered it in a response to his blog entry soo I'm small-ifying this)

It seems really dumb, since people wanting to find Flixster on Facebook would have difficulty. But it makes sense if you think about it.

So, let me pose a question: Why is, like, movies.com worth more than flixster.com? Ya? I think some of you will have got it now, especially after Chewy's presentation. It's all about perspective. We are thinking like people who know Flixster exists. But Facebook on Flixster is more of an advertising platform, to get more people who don't know about it to know about it (sorry about my awkward phrasing), and less so (I'm not saying it's not) for it's existing users. It is nearly impossible for the many more people who don't know about Flixster to search "Flixster" - but those who have an interest in movies will search --? Yeah, "movies", because it's a common word we are all aware of, and therefore worth more. And through that, they will get redirected to the Flixster app and know, ohhh Flixster will be my one stop for movie info.

At least, that's my rationale :P.

>>Kah Hong also mentioned that he googled "movies" and didn't get a single return on Flixster, suggesting perhaps their presence isn't so strong outside NA.

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Anyway, back to Get Help! I was planning to do this after my mid-terms next week, since like many of you in CS3216, I was on week 0 on some modules until yesterday (thankfully I have caught up on all my reading, just need to apply in doing the tutorial questions now :P). But I figured I should stop procrastinating and just get it done (it was due on 22 feb :X meaning I'm late... which is a horrible feeling that feels me with ugh), especially since I feel better now. I also discovered that blogging helps me de-stress.

Just commenting about it as a whole though, I am not quite sure what gives someone an incentive to actually login to FB and access an app just to ask for help :X I think the idea can work though, just that there probably is some external, dominant third party providing an existing service (speculation). It is useful that it can be spread by like, SMS, but one thing I am curious about is whether people would SMS you back on your phone? Or replies actually get back to the app? (same qns for twitter) Why can't I just post a status feed? Though this certainly provides an advantage of having everything summarized, and a platform to get everything out there.Do I need that though, if it is one-off? But the idea of getting help is constricting, and I cannot imagine why people would constantly return to the app for help (do we need so much help?) or check who needs help. The phrasing is pretty important.

It seems to be that currently, most users would be one-off users, or infrequent users. They probably just go into one or two pages, and they're out of the app. Maybe I see a friend needs help on their FB wall status, I click the link, offer it, done. Most people will access the app from a link outside, rather than through the app itself (if you get what I mean).

I think a better idea would be the overview page to be a really quick summary of everything. Include the "I need help with..." bar, but also a couple of friends need of help, your badge and "level". That way, they immediately know what others need, it's put directly in front of them, in their face. Even though they are already in the app, immediate visibility of its functions is crucial.

Also though, I feel the badges may not be big enough an incentive, especially since it is in a separate tab. I mean, I'm done after I do my search. I probably won't visit the badges page or anything else, others won't know my rank, I won't know another's (probably). Neither do I thinkan entire tab for badges is necessary at all. Perhaps, a side tab with your friends who are top helpers in a side bar, or their faces with their rank on it on every pict they appear in within the app? :P This would probably feed people's ego if it's advertised, rather on a seldom frequented page. Other things I though of: The helpers and probables with multiple avatars of the same person also confused me. If someone offered different help 3 times, it's counted as 3 helpers? If I offer horrible help, is that counted towards my "score"? Same thing for referring and asking for help. It'll encourage some people who are bored enough to randomly ask for/offer help/referrals (and type "aaaaaaaajasdlkajd" and other similar nonsense to up their ranks) and this will distort and destroy everything.

Statistics is optional, probably can be implemented in the side tab also, so friends are "local" overall highscores are "global" like Icytower does their highscores.

I can't think of much to say :P Restarting from scratch sounds serious, and I am not sure why they would re-do the entire thing completely. Just re-arranging and ironing out bugs (ya, I know it's easier said then done).

MS session

Uhmm okies, I haven't posted for Get Help! yet, I'll do that asap. But I figured I should post on today asap before I forget everything (a lessons I learnt from my late external pitching session post :P).

(this is 10minutes later I just saw a spider the size of a 50cent coin (last time I saw a big one was in primary school and it was the size of my wee fist) and it FELL between the table and the wall after being hit by some insect repellent and I'm not sure if it's dead. Goosebumps all over man. Someday I will eat these nasty little monsters in Taiwan to make up for it all. I HATE SPIDERS (unless they are in jars/dead) Just wanted to say how much spiders suck.)

Anyway, before today, I never really thought of advertising/marketing all that much, though throughout the talk I was making links to stuff I observed in real life (probably had a glazed look on my face LOL), so I guess I'll just type them down here xD May be long, but it's also for my own reference next time hahaha.

Mm, so today, the presenter said something that really resounded with me (since I'd just said it to my mom yesterday actually), i.e. something along the lines of la good location is the most important thing perhaps in Singapore. I completely agree that it can be sometimes the case. Perhaps not always - people do go for fleas in ulu places and to the Expo :P But for stuff like food? Unless you are really established like Ubin Seafood, no matter how good you are, it's a horrid idea to start off in a low traffic location. On the other hand, you can cook really disgusting fare, but if it's in a place where there is a lot of human traffic, e.g. business districts, Orchard, you will probably still see queues. I brought this all up because there's this horrid hokkien mee in Somerset that costs 3bucks and tastes worst than my cooking. And it had a queue! People don't enjoy it, but its queue, while long, is still shorter than others. So for people who in a rush + not very particular about their food. You also trick first time patrons who will never patronize you again - but Somerset probably has millions travelling its streets a year, so they have many victims. Therefore a good location is the first step, though it may/may not bring you to the next step. Depends.

Though ofc, we can see places like Uniqlo which opened at Tampines1 (I have been to Tampines less than 5times in my life :X) and had people going down from all parts of Singapore to queue just to enter the shop. I must say what was called ermm the basic advertising thing (I forget the term that was used) was successful - all the full page ads in the newspapers plus news coverage and such. Though for me, I never did bother to go to Uniqlo until it opened at Ion and 313 (both places have ugh layout though), but different consumers respond differently :P Seriously though, you see a ton of the stuff Uniqlo sells are more suitable for cold weather? And yet they sell so well in sunny Singapore :X Global warming is that bad now meh? I think most Singaporeans just buy to stock up, regardless of whether they are immediately going abroad or not. They don't actually have a need, they probably bought the stuff on impulse, perhaps because of a opening discount (Did I mention that the same discounts were available at Ion AND 313, which are minutes from each other - yet 313 was packed and Ion's outlet was empty? :x). Though we have learnt that just lowering prices isn't very competitive, and they really have to compete more effectively. So is what Uniqlo doing "good"? Then again, they're new entrants, so they probably want to just make a presence.

BTW, doesn't Microsoft make a loss on each Xbox sold (not sure if it is still true), and basically profit from games? So it means they aren't competing very well, right? Though I remember that when companies like Lenovo sell at a loss, it's only because they want a larger market share.

But I disagree than in Singapore, competition isn't efficient. I remember reading recently about Topshop (okay, so it's not an sg firm) in sg, where everyone else was offering huge sales over Christmas or so, but they said they would not be offering such large discounts, since their marketing strategy was to provide unique pieces people can't substitute with something from elsewhere. So that was their niche. Though seriously, I am sure there are other shops offering large discounts with really unique pieces stocked too. Not that it matters, because what Topshop wants to send out the message and make everyone think they have the most unique pieces (perception), which is why you should pay their higher prices. Would that be competing effectively, then? But seriously though, if everyone is slashing their prices, it's weird if you don't follow suit, since consumer have expectations right. Maybe Christmas, CNY are more understandable - but can you imagine, like the Great Singapore Sale? And everyone is offering HUGE discounts, and you choose not to because you are so special? Probably won't be so effective during such a season. Sometimes it's quite reliant on the existing culture/mindset, so you kinda have to understand it... sometimes quite bo pian, must slash prices.

Anyway, I remember my mkt prof talking about price discrimination before, and that coupons are such an example. For those who are willing to pay a higher price, they won't hunt for the coupons. For those who are more price sensitive, they have the option of spending time cutting coupons. In such a way, each pays as much as they are willing to pay for a good. Sounds a bit like what we discussed today. Hence, I don't think discounts in such a form are a bad idea. Actually, I also remember my prof saying something like Carrefour guaranteeing that they have the lowest prices. They promise to match a lower price if the customer finds one. Though obviously they know they don't offer the best prices for everything. So why? It serves to lull customers into thinking they have the best prices so they are patronized (perception), and if someone is so price sensitive they will go back with something cheaper, they can simply match the price for the item already paid for, and still keep the customer, i.e. retain the market share (I think). So instead of truly offering the lowest price, they don't, but say they do so they can collect the max. of whatever people are willing to pay, and also capture a larger proportion of customers when customers are charged the same price as elsewhere.

The credit card discussion brought up was interesting. Because I think those tie-ups are meant to benefit the restaurants in the sense that more price sensitive customers would be more likely to attend if they have discounts, much like the price discrimination idea described above. But interestingly in Singapore, if you have enough cards, you can get a discount almost anywhere xD So people don't visit a place anymore lured by the discount. They already know they can get one regardless of where they go, so it's a small issue - just whip out all their stuff. It was very funny to hear it because it's sooo true xD My mom/aunts/friends always ask "does ... card have dicsount?" after eating out and YES they always do find one of the cards will help them. It amuses me every single time. So why do firms bother with these discounts? :P Actually, I think again it's b/c they have no choice liao. Everyone offers some discount - if you don't offer, people will visit someone else. The offer is, like, a necessity now (like a uni degree 20 years ago, and now).

Moving on to bing. Seems like it is more for consumers who want to make decisions? I mean, what if I'm not making a decision - I just wanna find info for my homework? :X Actually, I stopped using IE because somehow I kept getting re-directed to bing which was annoying (like Buzz, where I unfollowed everyone since I didn't wanna see all the numbers). I think now though, that it is explained properly, I may use it in the future. I'd really rather use something if it was explained properly, e.g. through videos, than forced on me. Though I don't know about all the other consumers la.

Okies, anyway, since I just recalled: Why did so many find it funny that Google is so highly searched o.o I also type "google" and hit "enter" (and many of those not laughing do so too). So what? We all do stuff differently. I'm not blur and I can type "google.com", but you see, the "enter" key, which 5 letters long, is one key. ".com" is, like, 4 keys. See, consumers are really smart :P They wanna shave off time here and there. (Yeah, I know there's a toolbar. But I don't like having one since it takes up space) It's just like we all notice we get re-directed to wave.google.com/wave and mail.google.com, but simply prefer to type gwave.com and gmail.com. It's easier xD

Haha, anyway someone asked about the small proportion of customers who ad-block and everything (they must really hate ads. I like looking at ads actually. I always watch TV ads on utube xD or googling images of newspaper ads) But anyhow, an article I remembered when I heard that that had me smiling (I am not sure what emotion I felt though):

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/apple_files_patent_os_embedded_advertising

Cheers! Awesome people if you actually read this entire post.

Ganna take medicine now.

EPSBE:) (can you guess what it means???)

^ stands for: External Pitching Session Blog Entry :) Lame, I know.

Wow, I haven't posted in a bit :P But I've been sick for 3 weeks, and I really, really think it is because of CS3216. I've fallen sick more times this year (2months past) than I did last year (probably due to a lack of sleep) :( And it's horrible. Imagine having a fever, sinus infection, sore throat. You can't eat because you can't open your mouth big enough to fit the spoon in (even porridge was a chore). You can't sleep because if you try to lie backwards, your head hurts. If you try to lie left or right your face hurts. If you lean forward, your eyes hurt. You feel both hot and cold. I kid you not. Can't even go karaoke :P But I met the rest of my family today and we're all like that :D I thought it'd therefore be a peaceful day since no one would talk, but they did. Can you imagine 5 people with sore throats laughing and struggling to speak :P Horrible, horrible. But so funny, and then I will burst out laughing but laughing hurts my half recovered throat.

But back to the pitching session :) And btw I'm able to speak again :)

So, hmm, the pitching session could have come sooner perhaps. I think by then quite a number of people already had in mind what they wanted to do and formed groups already. One person kiasu, then herd instinct kicks in. Though the pitching session didn't really leave me inspired. And I created and iSyndica account on the spot xD But seems like there IS a limit leh. Wonder if they'll let me intern even if I don't help them on this project :X

Hmm, so what I remembered best was RedSports (the one before that on world cities left me "???" and from DS I learnt some sign language... did I mention I broke my glasses so I've been using one 300degrees below since that session haha). The thing about the RedSports presenter that really struck me was that he seemed so sincere in making Singapore sports news available for all. He really had an idea of what he wanted to do, did it, and it's all really inspired. Though I am not sure if it is so much SG sports news, or SG youth sports news? Seems more like the latter case, and if so, he is serving a niche market, though I've honestly never heard of the site before. I wonder how large their audience is... 2000? Is it really worth all that effort for such a small audience? I guess to someone who is doing it as a hobby, even 1 viewer would be a good enough reason to continue. It would be nice if everyone in the world did a good job for no reason other that the satisfaction of another :p

Honestly though, I don't think they have done a very good job marketing themselves. Not even sure people bother reading everything... perhaps only the players themselves, their friends, and a few others? Then again, I'm not a sports player. Perhaps they make their presence known at games with RedSports branded tees and cameras and such. With their Facebook page, I actually could kinda point out on the spot (as many of us could) how to make it more nicer. One thing I really do not get is that small "RED" picture :X Is it their logo? Looks very random. Nevertheless, I like what they have done - taking action about something they have an interest in. All that said, I think slowly and steadily, if the site can survive long enough, it could become something rather successful. Not very though, how successful it becomes hinges on external factor, like the sg youth sports scene.

Another thing I remembered was module-review. I really don't know what to say about it haha xD I just remember it well. It's kinda funny b/c when you visit the site, a ton of mods are missing, and for some facs, not a single review is posted. While everything is arranged nicely for someone visiting the site, it's less appealing for the information provider imho unless I really, really know and want to provide a free review. I am still not sure what to make of it though. When I first heard of it, I though it wasn't going to work. But I couldn't explain exactly why. I mean, it would be useful. But I had no idea how to execute it or make it work. I am not sure it's a good idea for a third party to handle this, but then CollegeBoard works (although it simply covers the unis I think, non-specific). I think it would be great though, if the schools would do it for us. It's not like they don't collect reviews from us every sem already in return for bid points :p To me, this is something like umm a public good. So no one will supply anything, and the school should provide it for us or it won't work xD Okies, econs majors (do we have any) please don't come after me if I said it wrong, hahaha.

Last, I think the Prince of Persia opportunity was cool, though the timing wasn't so cool :( Also, checked out the explosive barrel site and the games actually aren't that cool :X So sorry. I know I shouldn't say stuff like that about other people's work especially if I can't do it better myself, but they aren't all that appealing, especially in terms of gameplay. I am not sure if they were thought out properly, though I am sure much effort was put in. Very honetly, there are plenty of individuals out there who do better games for free as their hobby. Then again, the games they display on their site are probably not their best work. What they do for other companies like Ubisoft must be way better. If Ubisoft picks them, they must have their reasons. But that site is not such a great portfolio at first glance :X

Actually, one thing I kinda realized is that a game doesn't have to be coded well to be successful xD Please don't blast me. The code can be messy, but if it works seamlessly on the surface, and the layout, drawings are nice, many people will play it. Then when you are successful, can get better programmers xD This game I used to play (and will be playing next age (does that give me away :))) supposedly had really primitive code but it still lasted so long until the new people re-wrote it (full of bugs intiially), and really, many people would have at that point in time, stuck with the old code than welcome the new, hopefully better written one. Because people play not for the code. The end is what matters, not what's below all that. Like a house that looks clean and beautiful, but all the dust is swept under the carpet, mountains stored behind cupboard doors. People don't really care as long as they can't consciously feel the effects of the problem. And if you tell people to come to your house 5h later when they're at your doorstep, because you wanna clear all the dust I can't see under the carpets, I think people will be really disgruntled. So do you improve or stick with the old? And when you improve, people must be able to feel, and enjoy the difference. Ok, so I went off topic.

Oh gosh, actually I just basically said a lot of things weren't done very well. I feel like a mean old woman (I am NOT mean, don't comment on this) Which I feel I shouldn't since I haven't done any of these thing and I don't understand their possible limitations (which I have realized during CS3216 xD Heart wanna do, but hard to carry out given constraints). Though this is my honest opinion as a third party. Though I have nevertheless learnt through the session (new info provided, and it really forced me to think about how I'd do things, rather than just seeing everything and going "yeah, yeah, that's cool, that's not cool". I have to pinpoint more exactly and it's hard after 2weeks :P).

I'll get the next entry I owe up asap! Uh, but not today :p

Sorry, I edited the entry quite a bit for words here and there and stuff :P Bad habit, but make it easier for the reader to read I hope.

Two Half Days as a hermit

Okie, hermits will probably be pissed I say that, but 2 half days at home without the internet is like being away from the whole world. And after a netless near 3 days at a retreat, it's like nearly 5 netless days.

So the problem is finally solved but we were kind of forced into signing on with Singnet for another 2 years :/ Told my mom not to but she told me not to be ignorant, and it's the only way blaaah.

But through this experience I've realized how dependent I am on the net. It's turned already into a need rather than a want :( That's scary. I'm going cold turkey after CS3216 for sure. After that I'll probably revert back to my old ways, but at least I'll get reacquainted with warm Mrs. Sunshine. Frolicking in Botanic Gardens or wherever :P And then I'll take pictures of the scenery and upload it to my comput... OHH blah LOL. There goes netstinence.

Now, time to catch up on all the tutorials I couldn't do :P

Blah and some of my keyboard keys fell off or cracked... sian. Typing by pressing that gel nub like thing.

Flixster "Critique"

All right! I was assigned "Flixter" (it's really Flixster - do I get brownie points for noting a tiny typo HAHA) and it's pretty cool since this was the first app I used after joining Facebook. Orry mentioned a loyal fan base from the original site - well, I was one of them ;D

So, about the app, i.e. what I think is significant.

Well, I think the thing that the most obviously unique thing about Flixster as an app would be that it is less reliant on Facebook that other apps - like Orry has said, it won't die if Facebook is gone. It has it's own site and all. And that's what makes it a great app. When it came onto Facebook, it already had a lot of functions in place already - it was merely integrating it into Facebook. It gave them a huge advantage since it was probably one of the better apps when Facebook first started out, and it gave them A LOT of exposure. Flixster setting up in Facebook was a great idea due to it's vast network. It was perfect.

In the original Flixster site, your friends actually have to have a Flixster account for interaction, and well, unless you are a movie buff, why would you specifically create a Flixster account? :P (okay, you would, just not as many as they would on Facebook). By integrating it into Facebook (from here on referred to as FB, so tiresome to type it in full) they harnessed it's power: a vast network of connected friends. The users that they needed was just there in and delivered right into their hands. Of course, the users had to actually allow the Flixster app, but it removed hassle - only a few clicks (for those with existing FB account; people are more likely to key in their data for a FB account that Flixster), and therefore a huge encouragement for people to use their FB app. It was great advertisement for their main site as well.

So, so what if it didn't start out in Facebook :p If an app like Flixster started out in FB w/o an existing template, it'd be impressive. The fact it is an app that is sort of an advertisement that comes from another site doesn't undermine it at all. I think it's actually rather fortunate since it makes a much stronger app :D

As mentioned, I was a loyal fan of Flixster (but I don't watch movies so much now. Heck, I've only watched one this year). And there are plenty of other loyal fans like me. When Flixster started in FB, it brought along with it a ton of data about existing users on their main, which was imported into the FB app. Yeah, if my memory serves me right (I am old) I was pleasantly surprised to see all the info in my Flixster account was in FB so it saved me a lot of time. And plenty of my friends who saw there was already info in the app were obviously encouraged to use it also. They'd get more reviews and matches. Again, this gave them a competitive advantage.

So, the FB version isn't as comprehensive, and it really has nothing new from the main site. I think rather than a bane, it's a good thing. You don't want the FB version eclipsing the main site. It wouldn't be good if all their users moved there; it isn't a replacement. Then they may as well close down the main site and shift to FB. The thing is, the FB version shouldn't be too different from the original Flixster site - it'd be messy for one thing. Then I'd have to be using both the FB Flixster AND the main for different purposes. The FB Flixster, I feel, is more of a really quick thing - an at a glance to serve the basic purposes of the main. It doesn't intend to draw users from one site to FB, but the FB app enhances and makes more convenient the original experience. And I think it has achieved it's purpose well.

I think the important thing about Flixster on FB is that it really shows how flexible and powerful FB is. Not only do new, FB dependent apps come up, but old sites evolve also. Even sites with their own loyal fan base see the need to, or perhaps value in setting up in Facebook and it's really win-win. A lot more similar sites will replicate what they have in FB if they haven't already done so. It doesn't make sense not to. And it's really scary if you think about how some people may actually end up doing everything online from FB some day. Well, I think it is possible anyway, haha. Flixster is a nice case study of something that has successfully harnessed and used FB to their advantage, and I think it may have been a better idea to discuss that, rather than Flixster's uses as a whole - because really, that is not very unique to FB.

One thing I think that does suck would be that it was mentioned the database only contains US/CA movies :( But I think that is the market they are focusing on, but they are missing out on a lot. If even my 7yo cousin can possibly play Texas Hold'Em on FB, why can't people review a Chinese movie on Flixster? Well, I am not a law student, so, actually I'm just saying. It may be easier said than done, and they probably have real reasons (=

End.

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On an unrelated note:

My wave group met today. Glad I am in another awesome team :D We are like some United Nations - all from different countries HAHA.