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One of Ken doll top news stories this week that got virtually no ball jointed dolls press involves the judgment against Microsoft by a small company with a big software patent.

University of California and Eolas Technologies, Inc. hold a patent which Microsoft, according to several judges, violated with its popular Internet Explorer Web browser.

Without going into painful technical detail, the patent involves the "ActiveX" technology enabling Web browsers to display both web pages and content such as streaming audio, Flash, QuickTime video and other "rich" or "dynamic" content.

Despite heated input by the Internet community to invalidate Eolas' patent because of its broad nature, Microsoft lost every appeal and effort to get the patent nullified.

Bottom line: Microsoft faced two choices. First, they could pay the patent owner and keep things moving along, business as usual (much the way Blackberry did recently when a judge found them guilty of patent infringement).

Second choice: Microsoft could avoid future licensing fees by changing their IE browser and removing the offending code.

Which 1966 Topps baseball cards you think they chose? Ding-ding-ding!

You guessed it, Microsoft chose to avoid paying millions more by simply removing the offending code.

Unfortunately, that decision means a bit of trouble for a few million web designers who use Flash, streaming movies, and more.

Ultimately, the change to IE may force visitors to Frontline Combat with rich content to click on an object to enable it before they can interact with it.

Not a huge deal. However, time will tell Star Trek movie ultimately happens and the actual impact on sites running rich content.

But before everyone starts screaming that "The sky is falling" and "our websites are broken," let me ask you a question.

Do you really think that companies like Macromedia (makers of Flash) and sites like Google Video will let a few changes in Internet Explorer put them out of business?

I don't think so!

If anything, this change will force companies to step up to the plate and discover ways to serve dynamic content that does not depend on ActiveX.

Sure, it will mean some pain for both content creators and users in the short term, but in the end I honestly believe that, through innovation, we will all end up with a better solution than what currently exists.

In other news today...

** Hollywood Goes Online **

Six major movie studios recently announced their intentions to start selling new-release movies via Internet download from the site MovieLink.com.

But before you jump for joy at watching "Brokeback Mountain" on your pc, understand a couple of facts.

You can't burn the movie to DVD, and the downloadable films carry a price tag of around $15-30, a price comparable or more than a physical DVD you can purchase at Wal-Mart.

As a rabid DVD consumer and enthusiastic computer user (with six in my home office alone), I can tell you right up front, there is no way in @#$%* I'll pay 20 bucks for a movie I can't "veg" out with in front of the TV.

Are they insane?

Until it gets to the point where you can download a new- release movie, burn it to DVD or put it on your iPod, downloadable flicks will remain, at best, a novelty.

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Can businesses effectively harness social media marketing alone?"How can I get on board with this new world of social networking when I have no time and don't even know where to begin"?You can bet that's a question many businesses are asking themselves as we've launched into 2009.It's undisputed that Web 2.0 has completely transformed the marketplace, and the year ahead promises only more phenomenal growth.Businesses are realizing they'll soon get left behind if they don't harness this powerful platform for making those valuable connections with their target audience, the majority of who are online. But the sheer magnitude of the Social Media car donation tax terrain can be overwhelming for people already stretched for time, and many don't have the luxury of focusing on the learning curve to properly leverage all that Web 2.0 has to offer.Yet they know it's vital to meet their potential customers where they're at, and if they're not online with a strong presence, a competitor most certainly 1985 Fleer baseball cards

A Little Help in Navigating Web 2.0 Goes a Very Long Way

The explosion of this new virtual marketplace has created an entirely new niche for Virtual Assistants and Online Professionals, and is a natural evolution of outsourced services that are provided.The task of assisting businesses with expanding their brand exposure and online authority has become an essential service ofVirtual Professionals.With the dynamic and rapidly evolving social networks as the new water cooler, what could be a more valuable service in today's economy than helping businesses with effective marketing, increased exposure and relationship building with their target audience?

What to Outsource or Not: the Role of Virtual Professionals in Social Media Marketing

Hiring the expertise of a Virtual Assistant or Online Professional with presence in Web 2.0 does NOT necessarily mean outsourcing relationships, and rob the client the opportunity of engaging in their own networks.However, the strategy, building the profile platform and an effective framework of a client's activity is most definitely where outsourcing just makes sense.Much like the specialization of Internet Marketing or other virtual services, handling the technicalities of a Social Media Marketing campaign is where online service providers shine.This niche is now a profession in itself that is being outsourced at a growing rate. No, there isn't a rule book on what NOT to outsource, as social networking and marketing online is still relatively new and maturing.And the very Watchmen comic of Web 2.0 is its fluidity, open transparency and people bringing their own creativity to this dynamic and ever-changing virtual landscape.

Keeping it Authentic

It's wise to question the ethics involved with outsourcing social network posts with an Assistant posing as the client, creating confusion of the authenticity of relationships, which is what social networking is all about! A clear distinction can be made however, with outsourcing technical and administrative tasks, preparing the client to then have time and Crisis on Infinite Earths on building relationships and an audience themselves.In many ways, a Virtual Assistant and Online Professional is a value-added team member contributing to the success and streamlined activity of the client, helping guide the campaign, NOT as a stand-in personality in place of the client! Instead, the Virtual Professional is a provider of what they do best, assistance in the process of navigating their client in Web 2.0.There's a lot of "noise" out there on social networks, and a clear, solid presence of your client's profile and authentic voice will always stand out from the crowd as an industry authority.

Services in BIG Demand in Social Media Marketing

As a company representative, Donkey Kong affiliate or consultant, the role of a Virtual Assistant or Online Professional in this new service area can include ANY ONE of the following, or as a package:

• Coach or Consultant: guiding the client with their direction and goals;
• Competitive Research: helping the client understand the playing field with competitors in their industry.This in itself gives the client valuable information of what's current;
• Strategy and Action Plan: focused activity with their target market for less wasted time and energy;
• Social Network Profile Set up: creating effective and appealing profiles in any number of the social networks;
• Monitor Social Networks: alert the client to certain posts and activity;
• Posting and Marketing Events;
• Content Distribution: posting blogs or articles written by the client;
• Re-purposing content;
• Online Video Marketing;
• Online Reputation Monitoring: which too many business don't have time for, but is incredibly important!

The level of activity that a business chooses to be involved in their Social Media Marketing activity will of course vary.But as you can see, outsourcing aspects of a campaign does NOT equal outsourcing relationships.These valuable services on behalf of a business should not be confused with a Virtual Professional choosing the client's friends and posing as them.But instead, they prepare the ground that allows the client to be fully aware and engaged in building appropriate networks, contributing their content and ideas, and leveraging the benefits of Social Media in a focused and effective way!

Providing Social Media Marketing as a Virtual Service

If it's time to take your Virtual Professional business to the next level, there's certainly no better time to learn these specialized skills that are in big demand right now.Helping your clients get on board with Web 2.0 will be enormously satisfying, as you'll assist their business to thrive in today's new marketplace! Are you a virtual service provider and want to learn this exciting new expertise?

See VAClassroom.com for more information on training and skills that are in demand for Virtual Assistants and Online Professionals - href="vaclassroom.com/socialmarketing">vaclassroom.com/socialmarketing

Check out this blog post on the "Seven Hottest Social Media Marketing Services for 2009" - vaclassroomblog.com/social-media-marketing-specialist-the-hottest-service-niche-for-2009vaclassroomblog.com/social-media-marketing-specialist-the-hottest-service-niche-for-2009