A Week of New Websites

3 new websites were released this week: Google Buzz, DearCEO, and U-Swirl.

Google opens new social hub in face-off with Facebook

On Tuesday, Google created "Google Buzz," which contains many of Facebook's features. It was released after Facebook changed their own site around again. This site will be available to Gmail users. Similarities with Facebook include: users can post updates, pictures, videos, and links. When using a cellphone with Google Buzz, users can see others' updates in the same location.

I did not know that Google had previously released a social networking site called "Orkut" 6 years ago before Facebook was started. This site never really reached many people outside of Brazil. Google is certain that Google Buzz will not flop like Orkut did. The site promises to remove the clutter and only have updates that reach each users' interests, which is a current advantage over Facebook. How the site will do this I am interested to know.

Google and Facebook remain direct competition. Facebook may be releasing an email service in the near future. In 2007, Facebook sold a 1.6% stake to Microsoft. And Sheryl Sandberg, a former Google advertising executive became Facebook's chief operating officer.

Along with many others, I am curious to see how Google Buzz will do. Google is the leading search engine, but will people make the switch from Facebook to Google? Google has more power, but among social networks Facebook holds the most popularity. It will be interesting to see the site develop and the people that become users.

Website to make contacting CEOs easier

A website launched last week called DearCEO will allow investors to quiz company representatives, send queries to companies, reply from the company to site users, and provide info to small investors. The site sends questions through email to the company's chief executive and if there is no answer the email is then sent to a generic IR contact.

I think that this site can be useful for all IR professionals because I feel that the site simplifies IR tasks and makes all information available in one place. The site is free which is also an advantage and is set up like a FAQ system. Although it is not directly related to Facebook, I find it similar because it is bringing IR professionals together. On the site's statistics it says there are 2,269 members and 2,210 companies, which is very impressive for a site that is only a week old.

Healthy Fast Food Unveils New Website at U-SWIRL.com
U-Swirl is frozen yogurt and its new site provides details about their tasty treat. It links to their Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace. The site currently provides info about franchising, and key investor, stock market, and corporate governance about Healthy Fast Food. Future plans for the site are to have a stronger IR platform, in-store videos, customer testimonials, franchise case studies, and many more.

This press release emphasizes the importance of staying up to date on current online trends. Just launching a website is not enough anymore, there need to be links to social media outlets. I found it interesting that even a company that is viewed as a dessert needs to stay up-to-date in the online world. I am interested to see the site evolve more in an IR prospective.