It's ALL about Brand (Management)

Why I am writing this?
Because in less than two months, il be officially a Management student,so I am just getting into the mode :P
And there is a lotta hue and cry about facebook changing its layout.

And here's what I gotta SAY.

Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites in the world (and when I say world you can imagine the amount of users I am talking about). 'Google it' in our answer to what ever we don't know, 'Facebook it' is ours, when we have to share stuff with people (photos,notes,messages etc).
Facobook's status today stands only after Google when it comes to the online business, now that's a big thing.

The applications on facebook are all user generated and they are free, has anyone pondered the fact why people put these applications for free on facebook, which they themselves have generated?
They don't get money outta it, its still Mark Zukerberg who makes all the cash.
He makes money by putting Advertisements on the sidebars, yes the ones we click.
Yes, facebook is free but we the users are the people who are instrumental in making it run, if there are no users, there would be no Ads hence no money for it to run.

Its a user driver site, the makers cash in on the fact that peple spend hours facebooking, and when people are addicted to a product (facebook), they can't change it without customer support . There is bound to be backlash. After all, we all feel connected to Facebook, its our mini-online home, isnt it!
I am sure if there are changes in my room which I don't like ill surely protest.

The layout is one of the most important aspects of a website, playing with it, without a good amount of market research and customer feedback is absolute foolishness. (Something which wasn't expected outta Facebook)

Last month I got an opportunity to interview Mr. Kiran Khalap (he heads Chlorophyll, the top most Brand Consultancy in the country) where he pointed out to me that today for a Company to be successful its very important that it sticks to its core values, because customers get attached to a brand and start relating to it. The word he used was OWNERSHIP, today customers own the brand. They are emotionally attached to it.
Any change in the product is bound to cause an impact.

Like with facebook, users own it, therefore no one has the right to disturb it.
And if they do they will loose their customers big time.

As for me, if they wont change the layout I am outta quit fb and a loota others like me will follow suit.
Then how in the world will they make money, one golden rule "Never mess with your Customers",
I hope something is done before it too late.

Remember the Old coke and New coke case.

I still got tons to write but a chapter on Bacterial amylase is calling me, the floor is open for a discussion.