The Coolness Factor Spring 2013

Yahoo has finally bravely launched its redesigned homepage. The new page turns out to be a little more familiar than some had hoped for. It actally harkens back to where things left off for Yahoo, Alta Vista and other former leaders that followed the Portal path off into the weeds of obscurity.

Yahoo’s redesigned page includes mobile versions, At first glance one might conclude that this new look is not such a major overhaul or departure. Those of us with a longer jaded perspective see an updated personalized portal approach with content continually updated and refreshed. If Yahoo’s goal is to gives users all the information they want or need, they have done some of that. Although that ultimate goal is near unattainable.

It is not very disruptive nor innovative and does little that you cannot find on olternative sevices. Noticeable new features include infinite scrolling. Also included are new user controls allowing Yahoo users to remove news items they don’t like and features that learn one’s reading habits and interests. There is also a set of utilities/gadgets (weather, finance, sports info, featured videos and Flickr photos).

Pundits and journalists see this new-look Yahoo homepage as dynamic. Yahoo might now have instant appeal to “Newbie” users. However, the real question for the industry is whether this redesign is actually enough to attract new users or draw web viewers back to Yahoo!

I found it amusing that one journalist called it a paint job, another called it a snow job. I think what it is rhymes with snow job. But hey what do I know?

Time will tell.

I have long needed and sought an effective means, method or way of organizing and managing my Social Media activities, profiles and promotions. It is way too much work to indivually develop a self-styled and successful process that can reduce the sheer amount of work necessary for us staff-straped entities to get it anywhere near right.

Sprout Social is a well developed social media management tool well worth a look. So far I have been very pleased although I do not yet have a firm grasp or handle on mastering it. I do not even  remember how I found out about Sprout Social, but tI am glad I did, it has helped..

I am only at the early stages of research in this area but I will make a point to report back here on my findings in case others are faced with similar issues and challenges. As I uncover the power and features and functions of these type of solutions you will hear about them. In the meantime you might also take a look at Sprout Social. Please let me know if there are other similar or complimentary alternative solutions out there in the emerging social space that I need to look at.

Update: A reader just informed me that even with Sprout being such a formidable offering there are other alternatives to consider. One of these is Hootsuite. They have a free trial but you can’t casually enable it or utilize without entering your credit card info. I had a time trying to discontinue a training service they automatically started billing me for. However there were steps to cancel this built right into the Hootsuite service and the company was responsive. It was just a hastle!

Hootsuite seems to have  a bit of a “first-mover” advantage but Sprout Social is starting to gain quickly and in my opinion is more advanced. Others readers are also recommending Seesmic and Tweetdeck (Twitter) as Social Media dashboards or management solutions to consider. In the Nonprofit realm socialbrite might be an option.

Addenda:

Our thanks to Dan Ciotu (@danciotu) for making us aware of  UberVu of which he is a co-founder ,, a powerful Social Media Analysis Platform. As in the case of Sprout Social The Coolness Factor will take some time in the next few days to review and report back to you on this innovative app.

Please take a moment to let us know what you think about UberVU and your experience with it.

GroSocial is yet another player in a growing field of players in this game. GroSocial helps users manage Social Profiles among a list of other important things. Check out AppSumo’s deal for a 1-year subscription to GroSocial or see GroSocial’s web site for a free trial.