Corporate blogging:a new marketing communication tool for companies

A corporate weblog is published and used by an organization to reach its organizational goals.Nowadays, Many companies have incorporated blogs into their websites. Blogs can be categorized as either external or internal.

Internal
Any employee can view this weblog through many corporation's Intranet generally accessed through the corporation's Intranet. Many blogs are also communal, allowing anyone to post to them.

External

A public space where company employees, teams, or spokespersons share their views to to explain and clarify policies, react on public criticism, announce new products and services and as a a window to the company culture.

Let us look at a company, which is Mobile88.com. Corporate blogging is a tool for marketing communication tool in the sense that it use blogs to sell their products and promote their companies. For instance, the main purpose of Mobile88.com is to provide a platform to enthusiastic members who are keen to share information as well as opinions on the mobile industry, devices and technology. Besides,it also helps build the brand.

Blogging provides a platform for businesses to interact with potential customers as well as a way for companies to build their brand through knowledge sharing. For example, many photographers across the country have started blogs in an effort to keep in contact with their current clients, offering them “sneak peaks” of their session images, and also attracting new potential clients.

PROS:

• Posts and comments are easy to reach and follow due to centralized hosting and generally structured conversation threads

• It also helps you get beyond the typical sleek front and go to the back and know what this company stands for 'Blogging supplements a voice.


• It’s also interesting because it’s a voice that is anti-establishment, it also generates a lot of interest in your beliefs. People now are very focused on your beliefs rather than corporate vision. This helps to attract like-minded clients and staff. For example. Foto-ZZoom’s blog is used solely to provide information on the company’s latest cameras as well as photography tips.


• The company also uses its blog to better handle queries from potential customers. Customers can also ask questions in the comments area.

CONS:

• There is a risk that an ill-judged comment could be seized upon by the media or disgruntled investors.


• Blogs make many organizations look like disorganizations, with multiple tones and opinions.


• It can be tricky to drag public comment out of a company without first routing through the sanitizing filter of a press office.

References;

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weblog

2. http://www.kommunikationsforum.dk/default.asp?id=2&mode=kronologisk

3. http://www.ximnet.com.my/thelab/articles/default.asp
4. http://www.punchaboveyourweight.com/index.htm

E-Government in Malaysia : Its Implementation So Far and Citizen’s Adoption Strategies

Electronic government is defined as the use of Internet and other digital devices in public sector to deliver services and information. The adoption of e-government integrates both the processing and the communication technologies since it integrates people, processes, information, and technology in the service of achieving government objectives. By implementing e-government, it will help to improve the government processes, connect citizens and build interactions with and within the civil society.


As one of the strategies to achieve Vision 2020, Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) has been introduced to accelerate Malaysia’s entry into the Information Age.

Under the e-government flagship, seven main projects identified which are:
- Generic Office Environment (GOE)
- Electronic Procurement (eP)
- Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)
- Project Monitoring System (PMS)
- Electronic Services Delivery (eServices)
- Electronic Labor Exchange (ELX)
- ESyariah.

Factors for a successful e-Government implementation in Malaysia are:
- The government’s willingness to share information with the public and across government agencies/departments
- Expansion of national electricity grid and promotion of alternative energy sources
- Promulgation of relevant laws and regulations to secure privacy and legal recognition of electronic interactions and electronic signatures
- The technical and decision making skills in government increases

In order to encourage citizens to adopt e-Government, government have to know the citizens’ needs. Citizens expect and demand governmental services with a high degree of quality, quantity, and availability in a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week, and year-round fashion. Besides, citizens do not adopt e-Government because they are lack of confidence with the system. Thus, government should make sure the e-transaction does not suffer from security leakage problems. Furthermore, the government also must take note the availability of the system, integrity and confidentiality of data and system. Moreover, government should also provide assurance to show that the security measures have been properly implemented.

The latest update can view this PDF document www.epractice.eu/resource/203

The achievement in the e-Government plan can view this PDF document http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/egov/documents/2008_Expanding_E-Gov_Report.pdf

Things to take note to prevent e-auction fraud when a consumer participating in an e-auction

Nowadays, buyers and sellers alike benefit from the great opportunities that online auctions provide. However, the rapid growth of online commerce presents new opportunities and new challenges for both traditional retailers. According to the National Consumers League’s Internet Fraud Watch, auction fraud is the most common sort of online fraud.

Auction fraud occurs when an item won in an online auction never arrives or has been significantly misrepresented. Because of the liability policies for card-not-present transactions and because buyers cannot see the item, they may get a defective product, thus, the fraud rate in e-auctions is very high.

Here have some tips to take not to prevent e-auction fraud when a consumer participating in e –auction:

1. You should understand how an online auction works before you bid on merchandise and should understand obligations as a buyer or seller.

2. Ensure you understand refund, return, and warranty policies, such as: does the auction site provide insurance that covers buyers up to a certain amount? How would the auction site handle a dispute between buyer and seller?

3. Review the seller's feedback if available on the auction site which provides users with the ability to comment on their experiences with other individuals.

4. Investigate the seller as much as possible. You should be cautious of sellers who provide only an email or post office box address. It is better that you call the seller to see whether the phone number is working, or send an email to see if the email address is active.

5.Before you bid, contact the seller with any questions you have, such as: find out what type of payment is required, when you can expect delivery, and if shipping and delivery are included in the price.

6. Protect yourself from identity theft by not giving out such personal information as your social security number, driver's license number, credit card numbers or bank account numbers, as sellers do not need this information.

Although e- auction provide many convenience to us however we should alert anytime when use the e-auction service to prevent we suffer the financial loss due to e-auction fraud.

Reference:

1. More on Electronic Auctions

http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/260/267260/online_appendices/Turban-Appendix2A.pdf

Review on e-tailing

Opinion after reading the post on (http://ecommerze.blogspot.com/search/label/e-Tailing)

Toch n Go (TNC) is the smartcard looks similar to a debit card. Information contain in this card can be read and written via magnetic induction using specified radio frequency and smartcard software. The electronic card reader will deduct the exact fare from the value stored inside the card after a user uses the Touch n Go card each time. User can continue using the card as long as it is pre-loaded with electronic cash.

From the post, I have noticed that the usage of Touch n Go has been expanded from a pre-load card for transportation and toll collection purpose to some other fast food industry and petrol station such as Caltex.

The company and retail outlets in partnership with Touch n Go are holding special promotions to encourage consumers to use the card. For example, fast food chains such as A&W will give 10% discount on Ala Carter menu and KFC will offer vouchers to Touch n Go cardholder whom purchase Touch n Go cards or Reload RM50 and above. They are giving out discounts, vouchers and freebies to customers from yesterday until June 2008.

In line with the company’s tagline ‘Life in the fast lane’, the card is now a solution for lifestyle convenience as it is one card for all such as toll, parking, public transport and theme park. With the ongoing promotions, it is not just a debit card, it also gives cardholder benefits. Lastly, I hopefully Touch n Go card can includes more function in the future.

Review on a local e-commerce site - Lelong.com.my

What is Lelong.com.my? I believe everyone is familiar with this website, especially for people who are used to purchase goods online. It is similar to the international auction site, such as eBay.com which powers a robust and secure avenue for trading in Malaysia. But, what are the attractions of using Lelong.com.my? Certainly there are benefits in abundance! The benefits that you will get include Professional Store Listing with gallery, more exposure for your product or service, discount on hosting packages and special rebate for featured listing prices. Furthermore, you will have a storefront with your own sub-domain (URL) with your own store logo, more advance functions and special fees rebate.

In addition, the users of Lelong.com.my are mostly are very varied with different interests and preferences. They come from all walks of life; with different races, age groups, jobs, salary structures, location and interests. With the facility of credit cards and direct debit, people can easily purchase their goods through this website. Not only that, Lelong.com.my also provides a afetrade service for buyer to pay for their goods. Lelong.com.my intended to provide a safe and neutral environment to complete buyers’ online transactions with a charge of RM 2.00 per trade. From that, both buyer and seller interests are protected when using Safetrade. The buyer is guaranteed delivery in good time since seller will not get payment until shipment is made. Seller is guaranteed payment as long as the item is shipped.

Moreover, this website have several eye-catching features. It is convenient for users to seek for goods they desire as it is arranged in categories accordingly such as arts, antiques and collectibles, clothing and accessories, electronic and appliances and even “Feng Shui”. For example, if customer looking for watch, by just clicking on “clock & watches”, the picture will appear in one time. The catalogs used are static catalog which the pictures are no motion or animation. There is also a site for ladies where clothes, lingerie and hosiery, beach and swimwear and cosmetics are sold. Various methods of selling products available in lelong.com.my. The methods are classified into “standard auction”, “Dutch auction”, classified, “wanted and “for sale and buy now”. A search icon is also available where we can search for current items, closed items and even find members.

Electronic Currency

Imagine, instead of walking into a book store to browse and purchase the latest novel, one may simply log onto the World Wide Web (Web), browse through thousands of abstracts and purchase the novel. Due to the new development of electronic currency, an online purchase is just a few clicks away. Money was originally a physical substance like gold and silver. It could even be alive. Cattle were one of the oldest forms of money.

Electronic currency refers to money or scrip which is exchanged only electronically which involves use of computer networks, the internet and digital stored value systems. One of the most reliable, secure and useful electronic currencies today is Pecunix, others are e-bullion, Liberty Reserve, WebMoney,. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and direct deposit.

Some of the digital currencies are backed by real gold stored in vaults, such trustworthy currencies with proven record of good faith and reliability ensure buying and selling gold with ease because gold doesn't become obsolete with time due to inflation, economy, political events or any social .You can also get profits when gold grows up. The advantages of electronic currency payment system are:

1) Confidentiality/Privacy
When an electronic currency amount is sent from a customer to a merchant, there is no way to obtain information about the customer. This is one significant difference between electronic currency and credit card systems.

2) Security
The security of electronic currency is provided by the use of encryption. The utilization of digital signatures in electronic currency provides a secure means of conducting transactions in electronic commerce.

Whereas, the disadvantage is:
1) Fraud
A major disadvantage to electronic currency is fraud. If a consumer somehow misplaces his private key and a perpetrator uses it to withdraw funds, the bank would never know and the consumer would be liable.

On the other hand, Electronic currency trading involves converting base currency to a foreign currency at the market exchange rates through an online brokerage account.
currency trading by this method is wholly electronic, execution speeds are extremely fast, allowing the trader to quickly buy and sell currencies to cut losses and take profits at a moment's notice.

References: http://www.murdoch.edu.au/elaw/issues/v6n3/ishman63_text.html#Introduction_C

http://ezinearticles.com/about.html
http://www.e-currency-directory.net/definition_e_currency.htm
http://www.bigblogcompany.net/index.php/products_services/individual/internal_blogs/

Mobile Payment System in Malaysia : Its Potentials and consumers adoption strategies

Cash payments in Malaysia still account for a large portion of the number of transactions in the economy. In order to take advantage of the technology and innovation wave, it is expected to move towards more efficient payment modes. One of the efficient payment modes is mobile payment .According to research, mobile payment usage via a mobile enabled payment mechanism is expected to be used by 1.4 billion people by 2015.Mobile payment is a point-of-sale payment made through a mobile device, such as a cellular telephone, a smart phone, or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

Potential Mobile payment system in Malaysia:
Bank Negara Malaysia sees tremendous promise in mobile telecommunication networks as an electronic payment channel since mobile phones are already in the hands of most Malaysians, with 88% (25 million) of the Malaysian population subscribing to mobile phone services. Moreover, mobile phones are integrated into consumers’daily lives, so there is potential to develop a robust business model around mobile payments. Mobile payment also acts as an efficient payment mode which can increases operational efficiency, simplicity and convenience at minimal cost for the public.

Consumers” adoption strategies:
One of the function of mobile payment system is to enable consumers to pay for goods and services at anytime, anywhere using only a mobile phone coupled with a 6-digit security PIN (Personal Identification Number) via SMS (Short Messaging Service).For example, Mobile Money is a PIN-based Mobile Payment Solution designed by Mobile Money International Sdn Bhd .It functions like a Credit Card and debit card which address the limitations and bottlenecks created by cash, cheques and credit cards and gives the freedom to shoppers to buy products online and pay the merchant using his/her mobile phone without being physically present at the store.

Lastly, the current mobile payment options are not fully functional, in the sense that they have not been made completely secure and are inconvenient in certain situations, so, for mobile payment system in Malaysia to succeed, there is a need to strengthen consumer confidence in safety, security and reliability of its networks as a means for consumers to access financial services. I believe that in the near future Mobile commerce will eventually replace the existing E-commerce systems.

Reference:
1. Mobile money
http://www.neowave.com.my/mobilemoney_overview.asp
2.Zeti Akhtar Aziz: Towards a more efficient payment system – electronic payments
http://www.bis.org/review/r080605d.pdf