Blog or vlog?

Are we ready for video online? How is video adding to the social networking experience for women? As the world catches up to the concept of blogging we are now experimenting with new forms of social and professional networking with micro-updates at www.twitter.com and video-blogging.

Video adds a further level of personalization and context to the Internet experience but are we ready for it as a communication tool? For women, video adds a more visual experience to the communication mix which gives us a sense of familiarity and safety when connecting with others online. Adding video to your blog can be very effective depending on your objectives but here are some basic 101's to keep in mind;

-know what you want to communicate and why
-keep it short
-edit wherever possible to ensure a well-articulated point of view
-be honest and authentic in your delivery
-make it web-streamed, avoid downloads if you want it to be seen

We have been studying online video for three years with our www.defineyourself.ca campaign and learning about the magic formula for delivery online. Consumers will watch it if their 'equipment' allows and if you make it easily watchable.

Social sharing and online learning not just a trend for women

As female consumers and entrepreneurs network and build their profiles, their online tools are only getting better. Here are some resources and statistics that have recently popped up.

The Goldman Sachs Group has launched 10,000 Women, a site dedicated to helping women in emerging economies launch and build their businesses. Partnering with universities in Europe and the United States including Harvard and Columbia Business School, 10,000 Women places women in flexible programs and traditional educational environments, supporting their path towards earning an MBA or BA.

In a social networking capacity, women have a slightly greater presence on popular social networking sites over men. According to a study by RapLeaf, a sample of over 30 million users found that women are more likely to spend their time online establishing and nurturing relationships on sites such as Flickr and Facebook.

With new blogs and sites popping up regularly on topics ranging from pop culture to the environment, women are proving to love debate and dialogue online. A great new site, wowOwow: The Women on the Web, was created by fifteen women in different fields including entertainment, journalism, and publishing. Contributors include Whoopi Goldberg, Candice Bergen, Lesley Stahl, and Lily Tomlin, all providing their unique views on topics ranging from current events, politics and pop culture.

Holiday shopping online?

Where are you shopping online this year? With the dollar in an on-par place it makes cross border online shopping that much more desirable. What Canadian e-tailers are grabbing your attention and reducing your holiday stress? For the creative gift seeker, try www.orangefish.ca for unique gifts designed and crafted by Canadian artisans. How much of your shopping are you doing online this year?

Seeking: A Naturalist with strong opinions!

Finding a naturalist is proving to be tougher then we thought! We are wrapping up casting for our second Season of the Define Yourself campaign which will feature a range of women with dramatically different mindsets on the topic of aging. We have had no challenge finding lots of women to be involved with one exception-- we are looking for a women who loves every wrinkle, rarely or never wears makeup and is against any anti-aging products or treatments. Does this sound like anyone you know? If so, we would like to hear from you asap! Please email contact@swingthink.com

Gamers re-defined

Did you know that there are roughly 117 million "Active Gamers" in the U.S. in 2006, 56% play games online, and 64% of these online gamers are women.