racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

I know some blogs are fond of giving away stuff thru contests. I think I ought to try it out. I’ve been meaning to run some contests on Splashpress Media, but I’d like to see first how it goes here on the J Spot. So with a little help from the creators of productivity software FruitfulTime, here goes.

Update: On the urgings of Janette Toral, I’ve converted the contest into a survey-type one.

Just answer the question What machine do you usually use to blog: notebook computer or desktop computer?. Post your answer as a comment here. From the responses, I will to select three in random, via a randomizing software. In the event that the comment chosen isn’t a response to the question, then I’ll move on to the next number.

I’ll keep the contest open until I get 150 comments, so hopefully that would last until this weekend. Update: let’s make this contest quicker. We will end when we reach comment or trackback #50.

The prize is worth $49.99 (but they’re selling it at $29.99 up to end February). You can actually try out a free version, which is fully-featured, but limited to only 10 days.

A to do list can be written on a piece of paper but it’s way too inefficient to do that. FruitfulTime TaskManager can help you do the job. FruitfulTime TaskManager is a to do list software that helps you handle your to do list. With it you can input your tasks and split them into subtasks. You can then set due dates on the tasks and subtasks and have FruitfulTime TaskManager remind you about pending tasks. In this way, FruitfulTime TaskManager will become your life coach to help you eliminate procrastination.

Again, just send in your answer. I’ve recently switched to a desktop machine for my main non-mobile computing needs (a Mac Mini). But I still do bring my Asus Eee mostly anywhere I go.

A friend is doing research for his graduate degree in communications and has asked me to share this with fellow Filipino bloggers. If you have time, please answer this survey: PinoyBlogging: Goals, Trends& Baseline Survey (V 1.3).

Blogging is slowly emerging as an alternative communication medium worldwide. In the Philippines, blog sites like Friendster, Multiply, and i.ph have started becoming popular, first among the youth, and more recently among adults and professionals.

We wish to obtain a baseline reading of how Pinoys use, engage, participate, read, socialize, benefit from and communicate via blogs. This is a part of our requirements for UP College of Mass Communication Class on Communication Research Methods.

For questions and inquiries, please visit our blog at CommTheo3.multiply.com or text us at (0922) 8266353.

They need responses by this weekend, and they can share the results by end of this month. We would also appreciate it if you can spread the word by blogging about it.

Here are some interesting info tidbits I picked up from yesterday’s One Internet Day Manila event. Maoi Arroyo, who presented on blogging for buzz (the most engaging presentation during the event, IMHO), cited some figures pertinent to blogger demographics in Metro Manila.

Based on the latest Blogosphere report (available only to Digital Filipino members), there’s an untapped way of talking to the young and upwardly mobile segment of Manilenyos:

• 18% of internet users read blogs
• 55% of bloggers are < 20 years old
• 20% of bloggers are between 20 to 29 years old
• 71% are male
• 84% are single
• 48% are students
• 97% have their own computers at home

I’d be interested in seeing the full details of the report. I guess I’d have to sign up for a membership for that (do you offer discounts for bloggers, Janette?). From this summary, though, one can surmise that there is still a good proportion of the Philippine market that can be tapped by blogging services or as blog readers, with only 18% reading blogs (knowingly or unknowingly, I’m not aware—there is a difference). I think there are about 10 million Internet users here in the country of about 80 million.

Thing is, most of our Internet users do not have their own computers at home. Some may have access to computers and the Internet at the workplace, but most others access the ‘net from cafes. The fact that 97% of bloggers have their own computers at home is indicative that the inconvenience of having to blog from an Internet cafe is a barrier to entry.

The figures are quite as expected, though, as they reflect the usual expectations from blogger/Internet user demographics. Most bloggers are younger than 20—perhaps teenagers—, most are male, and most are students. One notable concept from Maoi’s presentation yesterday was that the age group that comprises the 20-29 year-olds are probably what the marketers should target. They are, after all, the group with the most disposable income (as a ratio to total earnings) and probably the ones who have a higher propensity for consumption rather than saving.

Okay, sorry for the econ speak here. But you get the drift. When you’re young, unmarried and already earning—and you probably have stacks of credit cards—you’re bound to splurge on stuff for yourself. And this is just the ideal target for firms that sell clothes, apparel, gadgets, and other such things.

I think it’s a good idea to conduct a survey among my readers, just to know what my “market” is. After all I’m selling some things. And these are ideas.