FN-FORUM: Thoughts on social tools, bookmarking and newsfeeds anyone?

date posted 25th March 2008 08:58

Good Morning,

Hope you guys won't mind me resposting this as I would really like
your comments, and this thread has probably got lost in the hundreds
of emails you have to get through after easter.

A client of mine, whose website is a government-funded information
type website, which has recently been tasked with increasing sign-ups
by 5% to their site, is considering linking in with social networking
sites and other tools such as facebook, digg, furl, stumbleupon, etc..
I am sure you guys will be wanting far more information in order to
provide me with a more informed response, but due to the sensitive
nature this project this is all the background I am able to provide
you with.

Now my belief is that because of the nature of their site, they should
be making news and creating the features that make the likes of
facebook and others want or need to link to them, not the other way
around...as once you haven sent your visitors away, they will go there
direct and you have lost your traffic and all hope of signup. No? The
key I think is in developing the features on their site rather than
looking to other sites for them to compensate.

That said, some of these social bookmarking tools are really good, and
I am wondering what your thoughts are?
I know the BBC as a good example is now linking to Digg and other
bookmarking tools, and things like RSS newsfeed readers are definitely
in, for example. Do you know of serious government-funded websites
which use these tools that I can take as an example? Which would be
those you recommend we tie into?

Sorry for the vagueness, I assure you any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Duncan

--
_____________________________
Duncan Glendinning
_____________________________

This message (and any files transmitted with it) is intended only for
the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential information which
may not be copied, distributed or disclosed to any third party. If you
have received this message in error, please inform the sender
immediately and delete from your mailbox. Any views expressed in this
message are not necessarily those of Duncan Glendinning, and no
liability is accepted for loss or damage arising from their use.
Emails may be open to monitoring and are stored for future reference.