Yesterday Facebook introduced their “Open Graph” platform that will allow users to integrate their favorite websites and web apps with their existing account. So, now instead of just being able to “like” your favorite company’s Facebook page, you will be able to “like” their website. Also, if programmed to do so, a vendor’s website will be able to pull your personal information from your Facebook account to personalize their site to your tastes.

For example:

Music discovery engine Pandora is undergoing elaborate integration with Facebook, which will allow the engine to suggest artists based on bands/artists that you “like” via your Facebook account. They will also include a list of your Facebook friends with similar music taste and share their playlists with you.

There is a variety of plug-ins that can be added to your company’s website that could show all types of Facebook features, such as chat. The programming for this was developed to be easy to implement, with a single line of HTML code for each plug-in you want to incorporate. This is another link back to your website, as well as access to your users like never before. The possibilities are endless.

With the digital age upon us, more and more companies are having to locate other ways to reach their growing customer base from Generation Y. The number of people who read the printed newspaper has dropped as more turn to digital media. Over the past few weeks, DDA has been working with one of our long-time clients in developing a social media plan that will help them reach potential and existing customers via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and the web in general.

As we have been uploading product videos to YouTube, we have also been developing a custom Facebook page that launched last week. To get the ball rolling in the social realm, our client opted to run a contest where they are giving away a 1/2 carat pair of diamond studs. All one has to do to enter is become a fan of their page, it is that easy! At the same time we have launched their Twitter account which will aid in driving traffic to their Facebook page.

Now that the page is up, we will get back to the drawing board and press forward with building their social presence. It is mind-boggling how fast social media has grown and the importance it has developed. As always, DDA will be right there learning what there is to know and mastering it for our clients.

As I was reading through various articles this morning, I came across one that made me stop and think. It was an article that delved into the Internet, the birth of the web, and focused on how the first .com web domain was registered 25 years ago today.

There were other fun facts mentioned that I found interesting, so I thought I would share:

• The company that registered the very first web domain is now defunct.
• In 1985, there were 6 domain names registered.
• By 1997, there were a total of 1 million .com web address registered.
• Currently, there are approximately 668,000 .com sites registered every month. (Imagine what that number is if you were to include .org, .edu, .gov, .net…..)

Since finding this article I have been trying to figure out when my first exposure to the World Wide Web was. I still don’t have an answer… but if I remember I will let you know.