Abdul Fattah Ismail - Social Media Week New York (SMWNYC) - MAY 4

Twitter: The Fresh Censor

Posted on January 30, 2012January 30, 2012 by Abdul Fattah Ismail

According to The New York Times’ Bits column, Twitter has sent a message that will flutter in the timeline. The social media microblogger will censor content viewed as inflammatory by selective nations. A grey widget will pop up in the time feed, stating that, “This tweet from @username will be withheld in: Nation X.” Disruptive content could range from banned literature written by Salman Rushdie to criticism of oppressive global regimes. Twitter’s previous policy included an absolute removal of content on a worldwide scale, rather than a selective process of elimination.

The U.S. Government would alert Twitter of content it wished to be removed for security reasons. A few users have speculated that government officials are looking to manage the influence of offline sociopolitical movements (Occupy Wall Street, Arab Spring) that mobilized in the content stream. Others are enraged after the company voiced its disapproval of the SOPA bill, but did not black out with Wikipedia two weeks ago. Some analysts feel that Twitter wants to penetrate market sectors with competing platforms and stronger firewalls (China). Their strategy’s motive will be revealed in time.

In my mind, the message is clear. Content may be king. Censorship wants to be the checkmate. The volume of communication across platforms has evolved to such a high degree that governmental intervention is not surprising. Social media is a young communication device. The medium has empowered the voice of many users, giving strength to the disenfranchised. Consumers express their beliefs in unlimited community forums. As opposed to prior forms of expression in world history, digital censorship has no tangibility. Firewall proxies are solved by hackers within minutes. The facts are simple. Borders do not exist in cyberspace. Censorship cannot control the unseen.

Abdul Fattah Ismail is a digital marketing specialist with expertise in content development. He lives in New York and is an MBA graduate in Marketing Management from St. John’s University. He has contributed articles for Blueliner Marketing and Talent Zoo.

SEO vs. Google+

Posted on January 16, 2012January 15, 2012 by Abdul Fattah Ismail

Pundits have been ready to bury search engine optimization as a tool for data valuation in the web. One writer proclaims that conventional web crawlers will finally stand still. Social media networks, in his mind, now represent the referral source for content. On the other hand, this writer from State of Search says for internet scions to hold off on those proclamations. He states that while search index results will be pushed farther down the page in favor of personalized social media lists (Google+), the integration won’t take hold for awhile.

Looking at both cases, I would not worry for the moment. Unless I am an ardent user of Google+. Your queries for simple knowledge acquisition could be obfuscated at the expense of the search monolith. Google+ has decided to adjust their algorithm to deliver results based on your social media presence and online history.

In short, you search for “Ethiopian Restaurant Reviews in D.C.” Instead of seeing results from leading content providers like Yelp and Zagat, you’ll see individual reviews from John and Jane at the top of your index. One could ask this question: What is Google’s strategy with Plus?

I have an account and like the tool integration of mail, search, chat, and so forth. But it hasn’t registered into my daily social experience. I don’t feel like I’m alone in relaying this sentiment.

As a result, it appears that they are featuring the product at all costs.

The author from State of Search also mentions that a security option toggle allows the user to turn off personal results for privacy measures. Nevertheless, the damage is slowly spreading. Google’s strategy to drive user statistics for their social media tool could backfire.

A cynic may feel that research development was already compromised with the emergence of Google and Wikipedia. They are wrong. Society may look to their immediate network for credible solutions. They are also wise enough to seek knowledge from those who deliver content with expertise, intelligence, and passion. Despite the age, this axiom lives in the cumulus cloud.

Apple and The New Voice Generation

Posted on December 21, 2011December 26, 2011 by Abdul Fattah Ismail

Voice Command Logo As the year closes, the modern world will reflect on those notable moments that set the tempo of 2011. The late Apple visionary Steve Jobs will surely gain more coverage. New CEO Tim Cook has moved forward with strategic developments that are flying under the radar. One of them involves voice technology.

Voice Command is not a new communication tool. I recall having it on my Samsung SCH-8500 back in the day. The effectiveness of voice command, however, has not been kind when bridging the communication gap. At least not for myself.

I recently purchased an iPhone 4s. Many of us know that Apple’s latest mobile device comes with the Siri technology, used to search for queried data across several applications. For a long period, I abstained from using the command API. I reasoned that I already possessed Google applications which cover all of my search demands clearly through keystrokes. Recently, I have tested Siri’s algorithm with various geolocation query. The microphone is really slow to pick up notes in a crowded street district like Fifth Avenue. I found the algorithm a little more accurate in a controlled setting.

One setting which Apple has not conquered is the television marketplace. Customers of Apple TV have developed into a devoted, static customer base. Studio producers are not ready to lose their distribution rights just yet, with online advertising scale still in development. Siri Logo

Tim Cook is looking to change the sea tide with further advancements. According to this piece from the Wall Street Journal, the Cupertino-based giant wants to integrate motion and voice to the home viewing experience. Patents are being submitted for approval. The iPhone Siri is then a smaller piece of the corporate spectrum. Here is the message. Apple wants to further develop the communication between hardware. In the future, you could speak into your smartphone to power a multitude of devices. Microsoft Kinect uses motion sensor technology to execute gaming procedures. Television remains a business clinging to its traditional system despite the changing dynamics of content access. Apple has proven, however, to transcend early innovation entrants with aplomb. The effects are seismic. Siri wonders what can Apple help TV with right now. So do I.

E-Commerce Knocks On Gentlemans’ Closets

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Abdul Fattah Ismail

The e-commerce marketplace for men remains undefined. A swarm of websites has emerged, offering a multitude of collection pieces. Statistics have proven for years that men despise entering a store to purchase clothing. As a result, hubs such as Mr. Porter and Gilt Groupe flourish by providing esteemed labels at lower price points. Gilt Groupe has built a microsite, segmenting even more exclusive men’s fashion named Park & Bond. A former Ebay executive is entering the market with a new concept named Trunk Club, where shoppers receive a booty of goods, choose their favorites, and return the rest. Aldo, the Italian shoe designer, also rolled out a new microsite dubbed Mr. B’s Gentleman’s Boutique. The collection, unlike the other purveyors, showcases original leather-crafted products, ranging from bags to footwear.

It is clear that men have far more channels to survey available products. Marketers, nevertheless, are still trying to solve the dilemma of drumming up sales figures. Ricardo Poupada of AskMen.com believes that a brand has to add a little more. “With deals targeting men, the smart money is moving beyond product discounts to deals that offer novel experiences, with a focus on quality.”

As a man who places a high quotient on sartorial matters, I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Poupada’s sentiment. I scour all types of forums to identify, locate, and purchase goods. I not only want to find exclusive products, but also durable ones that will last over time. They become part of my personality, telling the world of my life experiences upon first glance.

Men live for discovery. They also want to stand out amongst their peers. Creators of men’s products should heed these tidbits for 2012. E-commerce merchants have built outstanding user experiences online. Many more need to connect offline for the hearts and wallets of men.

Abdul Fattah Ismail is an interactive marketing specialist with expertise across a range of online strategies. He lives in New York and is an MBA graduate in Marketing Management from St. John’s University. He has contributed articles for Blueliner Marketing and Talent Zoo.

Will Social Media Till for Bills?

Posted on December 2, 2011December 3, 2011 by Abdul Fattah Ismail

The Farm Bill is officially titled the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. It is a long, complex document outlining the funding sources and programs relevant to agribusiness. The seemingly nominal legislations of the government gain little notice, but affect our livelihoods on a wide scale. The Farm Bill is such an example. It affects the agribusiness scale on market value and product development amongst other instruments. When you peruse the supermarket and see a change in price points, it hits you.

Social media has been a key instrument in connecting others for geopolitical affairs and causes over the last six years. Domestically, it has reformed political discourse, galvanizing movements in light speed. I believe that it has had a mixed impact on informing the public of basic government legislation. Our executive and legislative branches of government are seen in such a disillusioned scope from the perspective of society. I wonder if this is a large factor in why specific bills with deep impact do not gain much mainstream discussion. For better or worse, social media is ingrained to the content pipeline. If you Tweet it, they will talk.

The Farm Bill Hackathon is an all-day forum where participants will produce content to inform the public of the Farm Bill's significance to our health regimen.

Organizations like Food + Tech have done an exemplary job of outlining the documents’ issues. On Saturday, December 3rd, the Food + Tech publishers will host the Farm Bill Hackathon. The event could set a benchmark for online discourse of government legislation. The Hackathon represents a timely forum where social media applications will be at the forefront for driving media leads. According to this report, several journalists, organizational leaders, and scholars will post materials and relevant data to an official Wiki site. Members of the digital community, including developers, designers, and marketers will take the content and shape it into accessible formats for public discourse. You can expect to see social media campaigns, video webinar discussions, and other engagement tools.

Food + Tech’s event has a chance to start a seismic transition. I hope that with the continued rise in unemployment of talented individuals, we see an intellectual shift where interactive marketing focuses a spotlight on pure government legislation. The solutions could be a point and a click, ended with a return.