My First Web-Based Distance Learning Experience

My First Web-Based Distance Learning Experience

Hi Friends!!!

This is my third blog post and I’m going to explain you about my first web based distance learning experience.

 As we are final year undergraduates of the Department of Marketing Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, we are lucky that we have to follow the Digital Marketing course unit. Because of this subject I had this great opportunity to experience the web based distance learning.

 Last Wednesday (8^th May) we had this wonderful opportunity and the lecture was conducted by Mr.Suranga Priyashantha (Senior Online Marketing Consultant at Netstarter - Australia) who is also a proud product of our very own department. He conducted his lecture from Sidney, Australia. The lecture was regarding the Search Engine Optimization and it was conducted by using webinar facility.

 According to the “Webopedia”, webinar can be defined as “Web-based seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the Web”. It’s kind of similar to the Skype Video Chatting but for all most all of us it was a totally new experience.

 Webinar can be also defined as a way of attending a conference in a convenient place for everyone who engages in that. Here we can hear and see the presentation as well as the presentation slides used by the facilitator by using a computer and a telephone or an internet connection. The presenter will not be physically present at the location but we can see and hear all the things that he presents through the internet.

A key feature of a Webinar is its interactive elements such as the ability to give, receive and discuss information. Contrast with Webcast, in which the data transmission is one way and does not allow interaction between the presenter and the audience.

Benefits of Webinars

• Time Saving

It saves the travelling time of all the participant and we can have the lectures from anywhere in the world.

• Cost effective

Webinar is the best option to gain more knowledge without spending lot for travelling.

•   Convenient

We can attend the lectures from any place that is suitable for us. It is not a problem that whether you are in your home, office or the lecture hall.

• Easy to use

It is very user friendly and all you need is a computer, a high speed internet connection and a high quality microphone.

• Hot and applicable topics 

           Can gain all the required information on most up-to-date topics by the reputed and trustworthy sources or else experienced presenters.

• Interactive

This is a very interactive method since we can ask questions from the lecturer at the end of the session and we can clarify our questions also.

Adopting new forms of technology like webinars can feel somewhat scary. But the cost of providing programming like this is quite economical compared to planning a "live" lecture in a typical lecture hall, travel costs and energy expenditure required by the lecturer and the students to attend the lecture. So I hope that we can have more lectures by using this webinar facility in future, not only for our Digital Marketing subject but also for other subjects too. Hope my friends from other departments may have this kind of experiences in near future. Finally I would like to show my gratitude to Mr. Amitha Amarasinghe and the Ogilvi team for all the support that they have given to create this wonderful opportunity for us. 

Website Usability Checklist- Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Website Usability Checklist- Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Hi friends!!

This is my second blog post and I’m going to evaluate the website usability of Central Bank of Sri Lanka.(http://www.cbsl.gov.lk/) The reason for choosing this web site for evaluation is mainly due to high usage among internet users in Sri Lanka.

First factor that I’m going to evaluate is the Accessibility.  The Site loading time is relatively reasonable. Also the texts are adequate to background contrast. Also font size and spacing in the site is easy to read. Flash images have being used to important links such as CBSL SMS Alerts and Coin packs publications.

 Appropriate images have also being used to enhance the appearance of the site.

When evaluating the web site Identity, CBSL logo has prominently placed in the top of the site. Tag lines that they have used in their site have the clear purpose for what CBSL stands for. There is a very clear path of receiving information from the site and home page can be observed very quickly.  There is a site map in the site and contact details are visible very clearly.

Third factor that I’m going to evaluate is the Navigation of the CBSL site. Main navigation of the site is very easily identifiable. Navigation labels are clear to the site viewers. Since the site can be loaded in Sinhala and Tamil language as well, it is very easy to every site viewer to understand the content and navigation of the CBSL site. CBSL carries lots of information it carries lots of links but it is reasonable when compare it with the information they carries.  Hence there is an information search button also site search is very easy to the viewers. Every link they posses in the site are consistent and easy to identify.

Final evaluation factor is the content. In the CBSL site major headings are clear. It has used nice blue colour for the background of the site so it makes very user friendly and pleasant also. Their font styles and colours are very consistent throughout the site. They have used flash images to highlight the important information and links. URLs (http://www.cbsl.gov.lk/) are meaningful and user friendly.

My final overall evaluation considering Accessibility, Identity, Navigation and Content about the CBSL web site is very good.

Permission vs. Interruption Marketing

Hello everyone!!!

This is my first blogging experience and since this blog is devoted to Digital Marketing subject I thought of writing my first blog about the Permission Marketing and the Interruption Marketing.

First we’ll look at what Interruption Marketing is

According to the Wikipedia, Interruption marketing is a pejorative term that refers to promoting a product through continued advertising, promotions, public relations and sales. It is considered to be an annoying version of the traditional way of doing marketing whereby companies focus on finding customers through advertising. This can take various forms such as, Telemarketing, Print advertising, Direct mail, E mail spam and television and radio advertisements.

Then what is Permission marketing?

Permission marketing is a term used in marketing in general and e-marketing specifically. Marketers obtain permission before advancing to the next step in the purchasing process. For example, they ask permission to send email newsletters to prospective customers. It is mostly used by online marketers, notably email marketers and search marketers, as well as certain direct marketers who send a catalog in response to a request.

Since there is a strong backslash consumers regarding this interruption marketing more companies have adopt this permission marketing to promote their brands. Here the information about the products is sent only to the consumers who are really interested about the product effectiveness and the response rate of this method is really high because consumers are receiving the information they are asked for. Permission marketing can be offered via the internet, telephone or through the direct mail. These high results of permission marketing can be further enhanced by utilizing database technology and well segmenting the consumer.

There are five steps in permission marketing.

1)  Obtain permission from consumer 

•  Permission is obtained mostly by providing incentives to the consumers such as information, entertainment, gifts or cash.

2)  Offer the consumer an ongoing curriculum that is meaningful.

3)  Reinforce the incentive to continue the relationship.

4)  Increase the level of permission

5)  Leverage the permission to benefit both the parties.

Permission marketing programs have the potential to built strong and ongoing relationships with customers when the program offers something of value to the customer. By featuring Empowerment and Reciprocity the results of the permission marketing can be optimized. Empowerment means consumers believe they have power throughout the relationship and not just the beginning when they agreed to join the program. In order to maintain the positive attitudes consumers should be given the instant rewards along the way. This creates the feeling of reciprocity. One mistake that most of the companies do is rewarding consumers only for joining the company’s permission marketing program. Empowerment and Reciprocity lead the consumer to believe the company values the relationship. This enhance the quality of the program and increases the chances that the consumer will remain an active participant in the program.

Permission vs. interruption marketing

• Permission marketing is more about getting found by customers. The main components of permission marketing include content, search engine optimization and social media.
• With permission marketing, the company is encouraged to build up a long term relationship with   customers which can be beneficial in the long run.
• It allows for a more targeted traffic on websites
• It increases the conversion rates.
• With technology, permission marketing is often considered to be more effective and less costly.
• Interruption marketing techniques are becoming less effective.
• Most people are more accustomed to interruption marketing and this often results in companies spending more of their marketing budgets on outbound marketing. To be able to gain additional advantages, some companies are combining both inbound and outbound marketing and making use of multiple channels to reach a larger audience.

The challenge for marketers

The challenge for marketers is to persuade consumers to volunteer attention - to "raise their hands”. “Permission marketing turns strangers into friends and friends into loyal customers”. “It’s not just about entertainment - it's about education."