Searching using Google SSL allows you to have a secure transmission of data while using the Google Web Search service.

SSL stands for Secure Sockets layer and are allow for security while communicating via the web. This type of encryption also known as cryptographic protocols are currently and widely used in multiple applications, such as email clients, faxing on the internet, web browsers, IM, and internet telephone services known as VOIP.

SSL is not a complete security solution but provides a solid protection that might otherwise not be in place. Google also notes that while the terms or keywords that you search will be encrypted, ISP’s may be able to determine the websites that you may visit after you leave the Google site. It is also important to note that when using other Google services, you may not be protected with SSL. As an example, searching Google News is not encrypted, but Google Images does support the new SSL feature.

Good luck and let me know why you think Google is trying out this new feature!

Google SSL

As of June 8, 2011, it appears that Facebook is discontinuing certain types of syndication or RSS feeds. Facebook RSS feeds were used to feed content from a Facebook page into RSS readers, applications and mobile apps. This means that applications that have relied on Facebook content feeds, are now displaying the following message:

“You probably reached this page by entering the guide of a syndicated error message into the location bar of your browser. This probably means that you can’t see the feed that you were trying to access. This is probably because the owner of the feed changed his or her privacy settings or deleted content on the feed. You may be able to get access to the feed by contacting the owner of the content being syndicated in that feed.”

Facebook published RSS feeds in 2010, and this was viewed widely as a positive feature, allowing the content aggregated on Facebook to be viewed across a multiple of platforms.

While some types of Facebook pages still deliver RSS feeds, others have recently stopped. Open standards on the internet are vital. Many bloggers and developers are disappointed that easily accessible feeds, public or authenticated, seem to be disappearing on the internet.

Facebook has not made their position on the RSS feed issue readily apparent. Additionally, there is little third party discussion from the media regarding this change. Other bloggers have reported on this issue as well as Twitter’s end of RSS. However, in a world where every sneeze of a new media company is reported in the Wall Street Journal, it is interesting that national media has not picked up on this change.  It is clear that Facebook and Twitter have little incentive to keep distributing their content using RSS feeds. Advertising revenue and control via API seems to be the wave of the future.

Please let us know your thoughts. Has your Facebook RSS feed been cut? Are you seeing “Facebook Syndication Error” messages on mobile apps or online? Why do you think Facebook has eliminated this function?

Domain registry scams are a common ploy, to which many fall victim. It starts when you receive a letter in the mail from a company you’ve never hear of before. The letter contains a notice that your domain name will soon expire, and an annual renewal bill is attached at the bottom.

Our clients often ask us why they’ve received the bill and how they should proceed.

The answer is simple: Ignore it! Several illegal entities are posing as domain registrars in order to fool domain owners, like you, out of money. The letter they send in the mail looks and feels just like a real bill. Often times, they will include fees for services they won’t provide. The company banks on the fact that most people don’t know much about how domain names work, let alone where the domain is registered.

The simplest way to avoid falling prey to domain registry scams is to KNOW YOUR REGISTRAR. If you have a site administrator that handles your domain, be sure to ask.

3 CLiCk Media is excited to announce that is has expanded its offices to New York City. The new offices are located in the Historic Paramount Building at 1501 Broadway overlooking Times Square.

In addition to the move, 3 CLiCk Media has expanded its scope of services. To enhance our clients’ new media strategies and further their reach on mobile platforms, we are now developing affordable mobile applications for Windows 7 and Android Phones, as well as continuing to develop new and exciting features for our affordable iPhone Applications.

Emmett Murphy, creator and founder of the 3 CLiCk brand, is looking forward to beginning several innovative projects this year and forging new paths with emerging technology.

By DARREN DAHL
Published: New York Times – November 17, 2010

Read entire Article HERE

Asked to name the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, few people would think of Eric Lefkofsky, who is 40 and keeps a deliberately low profile in his hometown of Chicago. But Mr. Lefkofsky has an impressive entrepreneurial track record, one that recently led Forbes to estimate his wealth at $750 million.

The first business Mr. Lefkofsky started, StarBelly, made tools for building Web sites; he sold it in 2000 for $240 million. He then started two companies that have since gone public — InnerWorkings, which provides printing capabilities over the Web, and Echo Global Logistics, a transportation and logistics outsourcing business he founded with a law school friend, Brad Keywell. He also founded MediaBank, which helps companies buy advertising. In each case, Mr. Lefkofsky used the power of technology and the Internet to update an industry.

And then came Groupon, the social-coupon Web site that he bankrolled and started in 2008 with Andrew Mason — a venture that has been called the fastest-growing company ever. Groupon offers its followers a deal-of-the-day coupon, sponsored by a local business, that the followers are encouraged to share with their social networks. The local business gets customers, and Groupon takes a share of the coupon proceeds — a business model that has led to talk that Groupon, still privately owned, could be worth as much as $3 billion. More recently, Mr. Lefkofsky and Mr. Keywell started an investment fund with $100 million of their earnings. It’s called Lightbank, and it invests only in early-stage technology companies that are built around social media. The following is a condensed version of a recent conversation with Mr. Lefkofsky.

Q. Did you have any idea how big Groupon would be?

A. Not when we first launched. It’s nearly impossible to predict or even comprehend this level of growth. We have grown from a handful of employees to more than 2,700 over the past two years. This year alone we have expanded into 29 new countries.

Q. Was there a key decision or strategy that made Groupon a success?

A. ThePoint.com, the predecessor of Groupon, was a failure until we found the right recipe, which was to make buying a social experience. Now, Groupon is a very well-run business with great operational control and a metrics-driven culture. As a result we have revenue, profits and cash flow.

Q. Companies have been overwhelmed or even destroyed by running a Groupon special. How do you feel about that?

A. I find it almost absurd that the biggest complaint people have been able to levy against Groupon is that it actually delivers too many customers. More than 95 percent of all Groupon merchants want to run another Groupon discount. There is no greater evidence of value than that.

Q. There’s a study that indicates 42 percent of your customers wouldn’t run another promotion. What do you make of that?

A. The study is flawed. They chose an absurdly small and incomplete sample set and their thesis is largely inaccurate. First of all, we conduct regular surveys and our merchants are overwhelmingly happy. Secondly, we have featured about 5,000 merchants more than once, which would never occur if they weren’t making money off Groupon.

Q. Why have you decided to focus on social media with your investment fund?

A. We think that the most disruptive business models will take advantage of that social graph over the next five to 10 years. Take travel as an example. You should be able to plan your entire trip online, invite your friends to come with you and even interact with other friends who have already been to that location. Those people will provide you with content that will augment your experience.

Q. In what industries are you seeing similar changes?

A. Think about the way most companies currently hire. You post a job and then get blind résumés in response. This should be a social experience. If you took everyone and asked them to list everyone they knew, you could create an enormous social graph of several million people. There’s no reason to hire people that we can’t learn something about through some connection of our personal network. There’s no site today that takes advantage of the social graph in this way, yet.

Q. Doesn’t LinkedIn do that?

A. LinkedIn does part of it. It’s a great example of a company that is leveraging the social graph to grow and deliver value.

Q. What is it missing?

A. The site is missing some of the key social features that make Facebook so compelling. The ability to quickly understand someone based on whom they know, what they share and what others think of them, for example. To me, no one has fully cracked the code on social recruiting yet.

Q. Now that Lightbank exists, do you get inundated with business plans from entrepreneurs pitching ideas?

A. Absolutely. We have already invested in seven companies and we have a goal of doing a new one about once a month. For example, we invested in Watermelon Express, which is a test-preparation company. Studying doesn’t have to happen in a silo. It can be a social experience. You can engage with your friends and family to find out the answer to a tough question or have someone explain it to you. You can also study anywhere you happen to be and on any device.

Q. How is that a business?

A. They sell test-preparation applications for devices like the iPhone.

Q. What exactly do you want from a company with an idea to pitch?

A. That’s a tough question. Typically we want passionate entrepreneurs who have a great idea. Beyond that, there is no exact formula that guides us to invest or not. Part of this is gut instinct and part of it is based on experience.

Q. Do you think that every business needs to rethink what social media means to its future?

A. Today, I think that every business is again in serious flux because of the rise of all these social tools. Take telemarketing sales, for example. Why would your business ever make a cold call again?

Q. What’s the alternative?

A. Certainly businesses are using Facebook and Twitter to reach thousands of customers that historically they might have had to call or e-mail to reach. I think everything will begin with a person’s individual connection to the graph. That’s how small businesses will get customers, promote products and get feedback from their customers.

Q. Should dry cleaners have social media strategies?

A. Yes. Any business that is looking for new customers needs to understand the Internet and how to market their goods or services through it.

Q. Do you understand why a lot of business owners get the willies when they hear the term social media? Do you have any advice for them?

A. We just invested in a company called SproutSocial. If someone gets the willies, they should buy their product, which is designed to help people that don’t fully understand the social Web.

Q. What does it do?

A. SproutSocial creates a social media dashboard for businesses. It allows them to monitor their brand on the Web by monitoring things like tweets, reviews, blog posts and news. It helps businesses find their perfect customers by targeting the right buyers and those with influence while allowing them to manage their social contacts and connections. In essence, it’s a complete social customer relationship management tool for any business.

The United States Library of Congress has selected a website designed and developed by 3 CLiCk Media for 2010 political campaign Jeff Doctor for Congress.

www.JeffDoctorForCongress.com has been selected  for inclusion in the historic collection of Internet materials related to the 2010 U.S. National Election.

The Library of Congress preserves the Nation’s cultural artifacts and provides enduring access to them. The Library’s traditional functions, acquiring, cataloging, preserving and serving collection materials of historical importance to the Congress and the American people to foster education and scholarship, extend to digital materials, including websites.

The Library also wishes to make the collection available more broadly by hosting the collection on the Library’s public access website.

The Library of Congress Web Archives are important because they contribute to the historical record of the United States, capturing information that could otherwise be lost.  With the growing role of the Web as an influential medium, records of historic events could be considered incomplete without materials that were “born digital” and never printed on paper.  The Library has developed previous Web Archives some of which are available through the Library’s Web site .

Looking to develop innovative and cool mobile apps for a fast growing new media strategy firm?

3 CLiCk Media is working heavily in the mobile market. We are seeking a Senior Developer specializing in HTML5 and CSS3, with familiarity in JavaScript, JQuery and PhoneGap. Candidates will also be comfortable in client-facing situations and have superb written and communications skills. Employment will be offered on a contract by contract basis or full time.
3 CLiCk Media is a boutique company that values quality over quantity. We are a close-knit team that relies on frequent, open and honest communication. We prize creativity and encourage team members to have more fun.

If you think you’re ready to work with our highly motivated team, submit an application.

3 CLiCk Media has developed and launched the Republican State Leadership Committee iPhone App.

The RSLC App aggregates a huge amount of information focusing on state Republican politics. This year Republicans are very interested in finding out what happens not only on a national level but on a state level as well.  Emmett Murphy, New Media Strategist at 3 CLiCk Media noted “We think this is a very innovative way of putting political news into the hands of the people who are most interested.”  3 CLiCk Media is coordinating with RSLC on November 2 for a full day of news streaming into the App. RSLC will also be launching a  24 hour push notification campaign that will hit all of the RSLC App users  with an iPhone Notification Message the moment that any news breaks. You can download the RSLC App on the iTunes App Store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/republican-state-leadership/id373425654?mt=8