Ko Ellay - Notes from Lifestream

2 hrs at Mae Ngao National Park, Thailand

2010-04-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

Well, as i posted last week, i had a chance to enjoy my Songkran holidays in Mae Sariang which is around 3 hrs drive from Chiang Mai city that i am living now. It was great though we stayed in a small Karen village (sorry i couldn't remember the name), just 20 minutes out from Mae Sariang.

We did play water till late evening for 2 days in Mae Sariang and some villages near by. Then spent last 2 hrs on second day at Mae Ngao National Park which is located 50 kms south of Mea Sariang. All the activities during my stay in the village create memorable days as i saw the villagers enjoy so much for Songkran (Water festival) and New Year.

Villagers bring food, drink and eat in these small tent @ Mae Ngao park.

Villagers enjoy playing water in the river @ Mae Ngao park.

Songkran and short trip to Mae Sariang

2010-04-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

My long holidays started since last Saturday and i spent few days in Chiang Mai where i hang out short time during the day to see how Songkran in Chiang Mai. Of course Chiang Mai is big enough and lot of things to see with full of people enjoying this Songkran.

Though i love to stay in Chiang Mai during the whole Songkran holidays, i made decision to spend few days in Mae Saring since before i begin my holidays. So, it's 6:15 am in the morning and will be leaving soon from my room as a friend will pick me up here.

Museum exhibition hall @ Mae sariang

Here is what i read about Mae Sariang from Wiki: Mae Sariang is a small town and district (Amphoe) alongside the Yuam River in Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand, along the Myanmar border. The areas around Mae Sariang are mountainous and forested. The area has many links to Burma, such as its architecture and a large population of Burmese Muslims.

Fair Trade Shop grand opening in Chiang Rai

2010-04-07T00:07:00.000-07:00

As our company has been planning to open new branch Fair Trade shop in Chiang Rai since late 2009, a join venture agreement was started few weeks ago and grand opening ceremony was held yesterday on 5th April, 2010 at 6pm (local time). Only three of us from our head office could join the event and Akha Crafts Center was the main host for this program.

About 100 respected quests were attended the ceremony and great dinner was served. By opening this join program, we aim to explore fair trade market and bring awareness to the people around us. At the same time, by penetrating this fair trade market, we hope that hill tribe handicraft artisans and the needy people we get more job opportunities to provide their families. The program was finished around 8 pm local time and back to Chiang Mai.

Next Trip to Chiang Rai for new Fair Trade Shop

2010-04-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

Will do my next trip to Chiang Rai within few hours to join the opening ceremony of Fair Trade Shop which is join program of Thai Tribal Crafts Fair Trade and Akha Crafts Center. It's about 3 hours drive from the office and will go together with some colleagues from here. The program will start around 5:30 pm and about 40 respected guests from Hotels, NOGs and Missionaries are expected to be there. And hopefully i could be in Chiang Mai around 10:30 pm.

Free Wireless and good coffee shops at Nimmanhaemin road, Chiang Mai

2010-02-11T02:40:00.000-08:00

If you ask me about "Free Wireless (Wifi) and good coffee in Chiang Mai", then i would recommend Nimmanhaemin road, Chiang Mai. Of course there are other good and nice coffee shops with wifi in Chiang Mai but many of good coffee shops will not provide free wireless. And even you can be charged for your computer power which is not convenience for the people who love to drink coffee and work at the same time. Ok then, just walk around to Nimmanhaemin road and you will know what i mean. Click below map pic to enlarge and enjoy :) Time to time, especially during weekends, i also love to have some coffee and work @ somewhere on Nimmanhaemin road. Do invite me if you think we can be together there.

Let the people know about our business

2010-02-08T01:58:00.000-08:00

Unless we are doing secret business, let the people know our business if we really we to grow and success in our business. Sadly, i come to know there are many companies running their business for over 20 or 30 years but only very few people know about their business. Why? Most of them are just following the traditional ways of doing a business and never wake up to know what is really happening now.

I am sure all the companies want to increase sales and success in business but how if no one knows our business. So ... let's EXPLORE more and more in both online and offline.

Chiang Mai flower festival: February 2010

2010-02-06T04:52:00.001-08:00

34th Chiang Mai flower festival is held from 5 - 7 February 2010 and is crowded with tourist visitors and local people when i visited this afternoon after spending sometime at Happy Hut coffee shop. Different kinds of beautiful flowers and special featured decoration such as sculptures of temples, animals and even scenes from the Ramayana (the Hindu stories of the Gods) which are made of flowers and displayed along the streets of Suan Buak Hart City Park somewhere near pratu Chiang Mai (Saturday walking street market).

See some of the photos taken via my mobile and you can visit there if you are in Chiang Mai though tomorrow is the last day. :)

Happy Hut Coffee Shop in Chiang Mai

2010-02-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

Just love to be here today at Happy Hut coffee shop in Chiang Mai on Nimmanhaemin road, Soi 3. They say "always happy @ happy hut". Sure it is cool and just pay for your coffee and snack or any food that you have but free wifi, free power for your computer, nice music, nice table to work - relax and have fun while working. I came here before but not that often - and start from now properly i could back often since i fall in love with this.

Networking One in Chiang Mai and Me

2010-02-03T23:44:00.000-08:00

It's really good to be at "Networking One" in Chiang Mai on every first Thursday of the month , @ Shangri La Hotel, in order to meet different business people from different sectors and companies. If i am not wrong, mostly 89% of participants are foreigners and we can easily communicate to everyone in English.

The program is really fun with beer, wine and some food but it's not the main purpose of the meeting. It's rather an exchange business program and start social networking friendship in order to explore more in business fields. And we know social networking doesn't just mean hanging out; it is the new phenomenon on the web. Lucky draw is one of my favorite programs and i was the Lucky person for the month of January, 2010.

For more photos, please see here: and i will be there again tonight :)

Chiang rai clock tower and Me

2010-02-03T01:03:00.000-08:00

After meeting one of our customers from Japan here in our head office, we left Chiang Mai around 10:30 am. I love all the way to Chiang Rai with beautiful scene surrounding by full of nature and we enjoyed blueberry juice, coffee and lunch at Black Canyon on the half way where we stopped by for a while. Then, the grand Chiang Rai clock tower was welcoming us in the heart of the city and we spent there till 6:30 pm in doing arrangement for new shop. Properly, i will be there soon again. :)

Plan to open new Fair Trade Shop in Chiang Rai and I will be there

2010-02-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

As our company is planning to extend local Fair Trade Shops in Thailand to bring Fair Trade awareness and increase local sales, i will be traveling soon to Chiang Rai with our MD to check it out new place, renting room and some preparation. Properly, we could open this new shop in coming March 2010.

Some discussion at good restaurant in Chiang Mai

2010-02-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

Well, we have been planning and discussing since last Nov for our "Chin National Day" to celebrate here in Chiang Mai and some assignment were made since then. But one of our leader is on travel and we need to re-arrange for some programs and organizers for "Chin National Day" which will be on 20th, Feb 2010. Hope there will be very fun. After having discussion, me and my friend moved to nice Thai restaurant near Mae Ping river. The food is delicious and all other drinks are cheap with Thai traditional dance. Good to enjoy.

Notes from Lifestream

2010-02-01T01:38:00.000-08:00

Sorry that i have been keeping long silence since last Nov 29, 2009 with my last post title of "Job turnover is nature and a must" and start from now, my blog will focus mainly on personal notes from my Life Stream which i would like to share with you all. Of course, i still post business knowledge articles in other different sites which i will let you know later. Thank you for visiting my "Notes from Lifestream".

Job turnover is nature and a must

2009-11-29T20:03:00.000-08:00

When talking about employee job turnover, most of us often first think about the negative side of it. But lets have a closer look at it whether or not it has always negative impact both on the employee and the company. Job turnover is sometimes necessary or inevitable in curtaining new ideas, methods of doing things and an introduction of new employees. The ideas of new employees may be more worthwhile than that of the outgoing ones. In addition, job turnover is an essential in losing employees who are no longer keeping up with organization standards. We must keep in mind that there is a time to hire and there is a time to fire.

But first and foremost, (company) you need to let (1) employees know what you expect of them, (2) employees know what to expect from you and (3) what to expect from each other (among employees themselves). After the evaluation of these elements, both the company and outgoing employee need to see what they will benefit from the analysis below before partying with each other.

Advantages for organization

(1) When the old employee goes out, new employee is necessary to hire which may introduces new ideas into an organization while making the workplace a more interesting one. It contributes to industrial efficiency by introducing new blood and also giving employees opportunities for advancement.

(2) If not hired from outside, it creates opportunity for talented juniors for advancement in the organization.

(3) It can reduce the workforce but increase employee efficiency by enlarging the existing employee’s job descriptions and responsibilities.

(4) It creates job opportunities for other individuals; new hires are not as costly to maintain in terms of salaries and benefits as are more senior employees.

Disadvantages for organization

(1) Inefficiencies as the new employee learns new job

(2) The supervisors and peers lose additional time while the new employee gets up to speed

(3) Lost efficiencies of departing employees in those weeks or months just prior to his or her leaving

(4) Additional time lost by supervisor and peers just prior to the departing employee’s leaving

(5) Productivity lost while the position is vacant

(6) Out of pocket processing cost, including search fees and expenses, orientation, training and travel costs for recruitment and candidates

(7) Cost of processing incoming and departing employees including relocation and costs and

(8) Demoralization of stayers.

Advantages for employees

(1) Obtain a better job somewhere else

(2) Avoid stressful former job

(3) Renewed commitment to work

(4) Pursue outside endeavors

(5) Relocation to a more desirable community and

Disadvantages for employees.

(1) Forfeit seniority and fringe benefits

(2) Transition stress in new job

(3) Relocation cost

(4) Terminate personal and family social network

(5) Loss of valued community service.

Based on the statements mentioned above, we can conclude that job turnover is not always negative. It also has some positive impact on both parties. In conclusion, both the company and employee should evaluate the pros and cons of the job turnover for their respective interest before any action.

The job of a well-balanced Manager

2009-11-26T00:23:00.000-08:00

The name manager is very simple but many of us do not understand the real role of a good manager. The job of a good manager is very complex and complicated task from meeting customer needs to creating profit for the company (shareholders) and preserving the welfare of employees (subordinates).

The company (shareholders)

A manager is responsible for creating profits for the company. If he/she cannot make it, there is no reason for companies to hire him and let him manage the company on their behalf. However, if one focuses so much on profit, this orientation may lead him to using any means to make profit for the company without any thinking for his/her followers’ benefit nor taking the feelings of customers consideration for the long term.

Employee

In order to create profit for the company, a good manager is again required to recruit and manage his/her employees in ways that can motivate and increase their performance. As employees have direct interactions with customers, their behaviors and performances directly affect the perceptions of customers toward the company.

Therefore, in order to motivate and increase the performance of employees, the manager should be qualified enough to inspire and motivate employees by observing the law of fairness and equity in the work place and willing to maintain the well-being of employees.

Customer

Again, to create profit, a manager needs to meet the customer needs and wants and spend time to learn more about the trends and change of customer demography and lifestyle. By meeting the current needs of the customers and being proactive to the future needs and varied needs of the existing customers, it is no doubt that a manager can ensure profits for his/her company (shareholders).

Conclusion

If a manager tried to serve the need of only one side, he/she can be one of the worst managers in the business world.

(1) If he/she is so profit oriented and short sighted, he/she may drive the employees to death without any thinking of their personal needs. If he/she ignored the well-being of his/her followers, their actions will lead to a decrease in employee dissatisfaction and performance.

(2) If she/he was very concerned for the well-being of employees, she/he may demand more benefits for the employees from the company rather them directing them to achieve the organization’s goal.

(3) If he/she only focused on serving the needs of customers, sometimes he/she may spend unnecessary budget to serve the needs of unprofitable customers.

(4) Finally, if she/he is more concerned about her/his own gain than any of the above mentioned areas, he/she will always try to make credit for him/herself from the work of his subordinates. This will lead to the unwillingness of the employees to perform the work properly which will cause unsatisfactory job performance and customer dissatisfaction. Unsatisfactory job performance and customer dissatisfaction will no way lead to profit for the company.

Pricing strategies: Cost-based pricing and pricing based cost

2009-11-15T22:26:00.000-08:00

Basically there are two pricing strategy, Cost-based pricing and pricing based cost.

Cost-based pricing (more traditional) is the price that you charge to cover the cost and make profit.

Pricing-based cost is you charge the price that your customers are willing to pay. In this case you need to study your target group and their characteristics. If you don’t want to pay high price for your product, you reduce the cost in production. Then, adjust the price that they want to pay.

But there are many more pricing strategies for different products and situations as follows;

Premium is a pricing: is you use to fit the product image. The better image of your product, the better price you charge (especially for luxury products such as Mercedes, BMW, LV)

Penetration pricing: is that you use to attract more customers. Once you achieved the desired level, the price will be increased.

Economy pricing: is that you charge the lowest possible by reducing the cost of marketing and manufacturing. (Such as Airasia, some commodities at the supermarket).

Price skimming: is that you charge high for the competitive advantage but when competitors come into the market you reduce the price to attract more customers and hit out the competitors.

Psychological pricing: one unit for 99, 199, 59,599 (dollar) is the psychological pricing. Most people see only the first digit. is the price that you charge to trick customers.

Product line pricing: is the price that you charge for added items or services. For example a hair cut is $5 and cut and wash is $9. This is called product line pricing.

Optional product pricing: is the pricing strategy that you charge for some extras. For example, the normal hotel room is $200 but the room with sea front could be $300 in the same building.

Captive product pricing: is the price that you charge premium for some complements of your products. For example a razor manufacturer will charge a low price and recoup its margin (and more) from the sale of the only design of blades which fit the razor.

Product bundle pricing: is the price that you charge lower price for a bundle of products. The buyer may not need all the items in the bundle, but it attracts their attention to buy more with lower price. Videos and CDs are often sold using the bundle approach.

Promotional pricing: is the price that you charge to get more customers or to sell your old products out. For example, buy two get one.

Geographical pricing: is the price that you charge for the same product differently at different locations based on the demand cost of shipment.

Value pricing: is the price that you charge for the value that your customers perceive of your product or service. Therefore, you can charge better than your competitors. Behind value-pricing strategies there are a few important concepts:

Customers are value conscious rather than price conscious e.g. some customers will pay extra for prompt delivery.

The selling price is based on customers’ perceived value rather than on the vendor’s costs e.g. an e-book costs less to produce than a paperback but readers will pay more for it because of the value placed on format and instant delivery.

Recession is a good time for shrewd employers

2009-11-10T23:19:00.000-08:00

During the recession, tons of top workers are displaced not as a result of the fault of their own but of across-the-board cuts. At the same time, there are many new graduates hunting for jobs in the employment market. This scenario shows that there is an over supply of job seekers.

As unemployment grows, the incentives to hire those star players only increase. Salary expectations are lower and desire to have a job is higher. While the displaced workers try to seek a job to compensate their loss at the previous company, the new graduates try to get experience from the real life and cover the cost of their study.

Therefore, if a company were smart enough to meet the needs of these desperate job seekers, it would be able to blend the invaluable experiences of the displaced workers and new theories of the freshly graduate job seekers. When there is the right balance of experiences and theories in workplace, the company will not only survive the crisis but also develop more in the future.

Thus, the employers should get rid of the inefficient workers and replace them with the more efficient ones with smaller amount of salary during this period.

Handicrafts promotion at Thai Tribal Crafts, Chiang Mai

2009-11-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

As Christmas season is coming, more people are looking for product promotion to buy special gifts for people whom they love and care. And there are more variety of products to select and even more easier today since there are many online stores to purchase and ship easily. To make something different and memoriable present for this year, with hundreds of selected items to fulfill the needs of customers in this Christmas season, Thai Tribal Crafts Fair Trade has special promotion in its local shops in Chiang Mai and Measot, Thailand.

If you are looking for a great present on high quality handmade and fair trade products for yourself or the one you love and care in this Christmas season, then this will be a great chance to check it out in order not to miss this once in a year opportunity.

All products are made by the 7 hill tribes people of northern Thailand and the company is running its business under Fair Trade principles as certified member of WFTO. Your purchase will be helpful these hill tribe families to have a better living and their children's' education.

Enjoy 10-20% discount on every purchase at the company's local shops and 10% discount on your total online order within limited time. Offer expires on 23 Dec, 09. For further info, please contact at info@ttcrafts.co.th or visit the site for more detail.

Climate Change could kill hundreds of children more

2009-11-04T23:36:00.000-08:00

"Farmers can no longer predict the weather and have lost their crops..." and "900 million children in the next generation will be affected by water shortages and 160 million more children will be at risk of catching malaria..." are all about the climate change issue reported by Save the Children currently. How sad if we all could imagine the day that really happens. It is not a dream but the reality that we all can evaluate in our current situation which is effected by the climate change.

Climate change could kill 250,000 children next year, and the figure could rise to more than 400,000 by 2030, according to Save the Children.

INGOs and local activity groups have been talking more often on this climate change and its effects on our human being but sad that some business groups including aggressive government groups are ignoring this issue.

The report claims that climate change is the biggest global health threat to children in the 21st century as droughts and floods force families to leave their homes and children to drop out of school. Starvation and economic collapse caused by natural disasters could even lead to more child trafficking and child labour.

As we have seen here, the question must be raised that who is responsible and how we could control. For the certain reason, hope all the readers will agree that we all have resposibility for our environment in our daily life where we are living. At the same time, all the leaders and government bodies must put and come together at the same point to save the world before the time has gone.

Ecommerce Online Sales Will Increase by 8%

2009-11-04T20:37:00.000-08:00

The world of ecommerce becomes more powerful and online shoppers have more opportunities and satifaction for their online shopping by looking for the best coupon code or overall discount so they can get the best price for every item that they purchase.

Moreover, It is so convenient and cost effective for consumers to browse all of their favorite online stores from their home that it is not surprising to see that sales are expected to rise.

Today, the benefits of the online shopping experience are becoming more apparent for retailers and consumers as ecommerce sales are expected to climb this holiday season.

Forrester Research Inc reported that "they predict online sales will increase by 8% or $3.3 billion compared to the prior year" but this predict will be mainly based in the west online shopping since many of Asia countries are still not available or convenient to shop online. Hopefully more and soon in Asia.

Differences Fair Trade and Free Trade (or) Conventional Trade

2009-10-13T19:17:00.000-07:00

As we can see from forums, sites, news, reports etc today, people are curious to know more about what is "Differences Fair Trade and Free Trade (or) Conventional Trade", and there are some misinterpretation among authors.

Recently, Barbara Crowther, Director of Communications and Policy, Fairtrade Foundation, also mention in the post that "Sir, Stephen Pollard’s article (Thunderer, Oct 12) creates a false dichotomy between fair and free trade, as though they are diametric opposites.

Then, what's Stephen Pollard's article talk about? In the article, Stephen Pollard said "“Fair trade” is simply a label attached to certain products (mainly coffee and chocolate) that are sold at a premium because a specific price has been negotiated, and they meet criteria about reinvesting the profits. Consumers are presented with these goods in competition with others. Lots pay a little bit more because they like the idea behind the label."

For our concern, "Fair Trade" is not just as simply label attached OR not just the idea behind the label. But it's the reality and the truth benefit of the producers behind the products and label. "Fair Trade" products can be even without label because label is just a slip of paper, cloth, or other material, which attach to the products to indicate its manufacturer, nature, ownership, destination, etc. But again, "Fair Trade" is more than just a label and it put the fairness among producers and buyer behind the products based on dialogue, transparency and respect."

According to CRS Fair Trade "Under the conventional or free-trade system in place today, we often have no way to know how our consumer choices affect our brothers and sisters around the world, from the textile workers in Asia to farmers in Africa to artisans in Latin America. Fair Trade, however, seeks to change that and many other ways in which conventional trade often leaves behind the most vulnerable people."

The following table provides a brief overview of the basic differences between Fair Trade and conventional trade OR Free trade: Click on the image to enlarge

To conclude, Barbara said "Fair trade operates as a voluntary market mechanism, through which consumers create a demand for products certified against standards that ensure producers get a fair return for their crops and labour." And hope people will see more on the differences between these two trade system, policy and movements.

Myanmar's export to South Korea amounted to 63.7 million dollars

2009-10-12T02:57:00.000-07:00

Myanmar's export market seems increasing yearly and South Korea has listed the 8th largest trading partner of Myanmar which exported to South Korea about 3,000 items of goods covering agricultural produces, marine and forest products, and garments, while it mainly imported from South Korea steel, garment, electrical and electronic goods.

According the report on October 10, 2009; Businessmen from Union of Myanmar Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) and South Korea Importers Association are to hold a meeting in Yangon on Oct. 19 will be attended by South Korean entrepreneurs dealing in metal, ore, rubber, chemicals, wooden furniture, kitchen utensils, household goods, souvenirs, electric motor parts, equipment for producing wrench, tile, surveying equipment spare parts, marine products, canned food, color sorter and gas cylinder spare parts industries, the sources said.

According to the official statistics, though there is no chart or list to prove here, Myanmar-South Korea bilateral trade amounted to 252 million U.S. dollars in the fiscal year of 2008-09 (April-March), significantly increasing from 108.2million dollars in 2007-08. Of the total, Myanmar's export to South Korea amounted to 63.7 million dollars while its import from the East Asian country stood at 188.48 million dollars.

And now, the two countries to seek more business opportunities through cooperation in industrial sector.

Wooden Products are in High Demand

2009-10-11T23:53:00.001-07:00

Consumers' behavior, demands and decision are always changing in everyday life which can be turned into new products demand on IT media products or repeat (old) products demand. Moreover, natural looks products are in high demands in today's market including wooden products. And it might be a good chances and opportunities for Asia to export the nature looks products to Europe, Latin America and west countries since Asia has a rich traditional nature products which were passed to new generation from the history.

But Asia and production companies must know the product categories of market demands in order to meet the expectations of consumers. Recent survey reported that increasing demand for products with a natural look leads to growing demand for wooden home decoration.

In the previous month, the CBI market survey for wooden home decoration shows that increasing demand for products with a natural look. There is also a tendency to replace plastics with wooden products, because of the luxurious and classical look which wood gives to products. Furthermore, there is a growing demand for products with a personal and emotional touch. Consumers are willing to pay a higher price for unusual and special products. EU consumers value the style, quality of construction and functionality of the product.

This market survey covers the EU market and the markets in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. It provides information on consumption, production & trade (market sizes and trends), trade channels for market entry, prices, market access requirements and business practices and sales promotion.

As conclusion, it's expected that wooden home decoration and products with a personal and emotional touch will hit up more market soon. Wanna check some products? Just visit www.ttcrafts.co.th

China, Japan and South Korea to consider Free Trade

2009-10-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

In Asia, Japan, South, China and India are playing the main business role today and we can see there are more business issue and topic discussion among these countries.

And now, Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed on his report from Tokyo that leaders from China, Japan and South Korea said Saturday that they would explore the idea of a free trade pact, inching closer toward deeper regional integration.

Premier Wen Jiabao and his Japanese and South Korean counterparts declared they were "committed to the development of an East Asian community," agreeing to expand cooperation across a wide range of issues, including climate change and sustainable growth. At the same time, Hatoyama said "The Japan-U.S. alliance remains important, but as a member of Asia, I would like to develop policies that focus more on Asia,".

But how and when? The source did not confirm the implementation time on the agreement of these countries. Before considering a free-trade agreement or other economic partnerships, the three countries need to sign an agreement on investment promoting a "business friendly environment," said Kazuo Kodama, press secretary to Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

Such efforts are hindered by differences over the exact conditions each country would extend to the others, he noted. Even Japan's talks with South Korea on a two-country pact have "somewhat stalled for the time being," Kodama said.

If it is the case which really comes out soon, US and EU may consider its trading partnership with all these three countries in order to have more reliable business channel in Asia.

Social Networking Visitors increase 62% in US

2009-10-09T23:55:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest Internet Service Providers in U.S release its internet user analysis in August and September 2009 while comparing with year-over-year user percent change from September 2008.

On Oct.9, 2009 - as reported by Hitwise, U.S visits to social networking Web sites increased 62 percent in September 2009. On the other hand, it is also mentioned in our previous post that more than half of Employers now block social media sites in US.

It is announced that Facebook accounted for 58.59 percent of all U.S. visits among a custom category of 155 social networking Web sites in September 2009. The 58 percent was the highest among all social networking sites sites, as U.S. visits to Facebook increased 194 percent in September 2009 compared with September 2008. MySpace received the second-highest market share of U.S. visits for the month, with 30 percent.

Tagged received 2.38 percent of visits in September 2009, the third-largest amount. Twitter had the largest percentage gain in market share of visits among the top five visited Web sites, increasing 1170 percent compared with September 2008. U.S. visits to social networking Web sites increased 62 percent in September 2009 versus September 2008 among the custom category of 155 of the leading social networking sites.

Seeing this, the question might be raised that what will be the influence factors of social media networking sites in today's business and people life.