I decided to write about our visit from the author of Citizen Marketers, Jackie Huba. Honestly, I wasn't sure how entertaining or interesting her presentation was going to be because some speakers can be pretty boring, but I think it turned out pretty great.
I loved the videos that she showed us in class, especially the chicken mcnuggets rappers. Who would have ever thought that someone who takes the time to rap about chicken mcnuggets from McDonald's? Then to find out that they don't even like McDonald's is pretty wierd. Jackie just gave this perfect example of how sites like youtube or myspace can really make a difference when it comes to social media. These two guys made a random rap about chicken mcnuggets, posted it on youtube, then were actually contacted to do a real commercial and get paid for doing it! Who would have thought it would turn out that way just by posting a simple little video on youtube?
Jackie did a great job of explaining topics discussed in her book and how Citizen Marketers are effecting the web and society outside of the web. I loved the example of the cable guy that fell asleep on the couch as well. I just wanted to share my thoughts about her presentation, it was informative and much more entertaining than I had expected.
Can't wait to read more of the book!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Blog Action Day
I came across this site on the web called "Blog Action Day." On October 15th tons of bloggers on the web will come together to blog about one single crucial issue, the environment. This day, October 15th, is being called Blog Action Day. The organizers of this event are Collis Ta'ee (with Eden Creative Communities and blogs on NorthxEast), Leo Babauta (author of ZENHabits and writes on the blogs LifeHack.org, DumbLittleMan, and FreelanceSwitch, and WebWorkerDaily), and Cyan Ta'eed, responsible for one of the fastest growing blogs on the net, FreelanceSwitch.
Why is this event so important? Because the environment is important. Just think, if thousands of people blog on the exact same day about one single issue...that would be pretty awesome. You can participate in Blog Action Day by doing ONE or BOTH of the following:
1. Publish a blog post that relates to any issue pertaining to the environment.
2. Donate to an environmental charity of your choice or one from the list on the Blog Action Day site.
I know that most of us are broke college students, but since we are bloggers and it's free to blog, we could take part in Blog Action Day. Check out the site to read more about it, it's pretty interesting!
Why is this event so important? Because the environment is important. Just think, if thousands of people blog on the exact same day about one single issue...that would be pretty awesome. You can participate in Blog Action Day by doing ONE or BOTH of the following:
1. Publish a blog post that relates to any issue pertaining to the environment.
2. Donate to an environmental charity of your choice or one from the list on the Blog Action Day site.
I know that most of us are broke college students, but since we are bloggers and it's free to blog, we could take part in Blog Action Day. Check out the site to read more about it, it's pretty interesting!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
In Class Blog Assignment
Ikea is using social media to support its branding campaign by engaging with their community and giving them the opportunity to capture "the emotions of home" and share it with America. The America at Home project gives millions the chance the share their photos of home and participate in the contest for best photos. The favorites selected will be used in the America at Home book while the winners will also receive $1,000. Photos can include anything from family, friends, pets, ceremonies, or traditions. There is a link on the Ikea homepage to the America at Home page which allows anyone within the Ikea community to take part in this project.
The point of the America at Home page from a social media/PR perspective is that it is bringing the community together and engaging in conversational marketing. They are engaging in the different cultures of their community and listening to the people of America. A picture is worth a thousand words and these photos are being submitted by people all over America. It is bringing different communities together as one.
Brian Solis' newest post talks about what makes the most effective campaigns and how engaging in conversational marketing makes these campaigns successful. Ikea's company measures up to Brian Solis' newest post by engaging in conversational marketing and studying the culture of the surrounding communities. Brian mentions that the most effective campaigns will "place people in front of brands." Ikea is honest and sincere with the intentions of their campaign and they "humanize" their story with their audience/customers. Brian mentions that as long as you listen to people and study the culture of their community then conversational marketing and conversations can become one, which is what Ikea is trying to do with their new at home campaign.
The "Home is the most important place in the world" theme is important because it relates to the customers of Ikea. They want to know why they should be interested in products from Ikea or why they should buy things from Ikea. Well, it's simple really. Ikea is there in order to make your home better and if your home is the most important place in the world to you, then you want it to be filled with things that you love.
Ikea's UK approach (Not Going Anywhere) differs from from the U.S. approach because the website is not as developed and informative. There is only one little section of information about submitting the photos. Also, the photos are easier to see on the map of the U.S. site. However, what I do like better about the UK site is that when you click on a picture you not only get to see the picture but you can see a quote by the person right underneath it. So you can read some of the people's feelings and emotions about their homes and why they enjoy them so much. The U.S. approach is a little more fancy and detailed, but the U.K. approach is not bad just more simple in terms of creativity and detail.
The point of the America at Home page from a social media/PR perspective is that it is bringing the community together and engaging in conversational marketing. They are engaging in the different cultures of their community and listening to the people of America. A picture is worth a thousand words and these photos are being submitted by people all over America. It is bringing different communities together as one.
Brian Solis' newest post talks about what makes the most effective campaigns and how engaging in conversational marketing makes these campaigns successful. Ikea's company measures up to Brian Solis' newest post by engaging in conversational marketing and studying the culture of the surrounding communities. Brian mentions that the most effective campaigns will "place people in front of brands." Ikea is honest and sincere with the intentions of their campaign and they "humanize" their story with their audience/customers. Brian mentions that as long as you listen to people and study the culture of their community then conversational marketing and conversations can become one, which is what Ikea is trying to do with their new at home campaign.
The "Home is the most important place in the world" theme is important because it relates to the customers of Ikea. They want to know why they should be interested in products from Ikea or why they should buy things from Ikea. Well, it's simple really. Ikea is there in order to make your home better and if your home is the most important place in the world to you, then you want it to be filled with things that you love.
Ikea's UK approach (Not Going Anywhere) differs from from the U.S. approach because the website is not as developed and informative. There is only one little section of information about submitting the photos. Also, the photos are easier to see on the map of the U.S. site. However, what I do like better about the UK site is that when you click on a picture you not only get to see the picture but you can see a quote by the person right underneath it. So you can read some of the people's feelings and emotions about their homes and why they enjoy them so much. The U.S. approach is a little more fancy and detailed, but the U.K. approach is not bad just more simple in terms of creativity and detail.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Conservapedia? Are you kidding me?
Okay, so I was at work this afternoon and my boss thought she should show me an interesting wiki her and her husband stumbled across this weekend. It's called Conservapedia. This wiki is exactly like wikipedia except it's meant for "conservative people." Supposedly wikipedia has become too much of a liberal wiki, so a group of republicans decided to start their wiki that is more conservative.
It's pretty crazy, on the home page it says in huge letters..."Welcome to Conservapedia! A Conservative Encyclopedia You Can Trust." The word conservative is linked to the page of the definition of conservative. They are trying to make it known that if you are conservative then you are obviously "trustworthy" and that this is the wiki you can "trust."
To give you guys an example of how conservative it really is, check out this definition from the wiki, "Homosexuality is an immoral sexual lifestyle between members of the same sex. It is more than simply a sexual act, it is going beyond the boundaries that God has setup for marriage; one man and one woman." Can you get more conservative then that? I didn't think so.
I think this was just bound to happen, the battle of the wikis! Wiki's are becoming quite the new thing, more popular as each day passes. I'm not a big fan of Conservapedia, but it just shows that anyone and everyone can start their own wiki and state their beliefs.
I just thought this was interesting so you guys should check it out!
It's pretty crazy, on the home page it says in huge letters..."Welcome to Conservapedia! A Conservative Encyclopedia You Can Trust." The word conservative is linked to the page of the definition of conservative. They are trying to make it known that if you are conservative then you are obviously "trustworthy" and that this is the wiki you can "trust."
To give you guys an example of how conservative it really is, check out this definition from the wiki, "Homosexuality is an immoral sexual lifestyle between members of the same sex. It is more than simply a sexual act, it is going beyond the boundaries that God has setup for marriage; one man and one woman." Can you get more conservative then that? I didn't think so.
I think this was just bound to happen, the battle of the wikis! Wiki's are becoming quite the new thing, more popular as each day passes. I'm not a big fan of Conservapedia, but it just shows that anyone and everyone can start their own wiki and state their beliefs.
I just thought this was interesting so you guys should check it out!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
5 Commandments of Social Media
In Chapter two titled "From Chaos, Structure," from the book The New Influencers, Paul Gillin discusses the blogosphere. He explains who is involved, what it is exactly, gives some examples, and asks the question "which way will the blogosphere go" (Gillin 17). He also discusses standards of behavior when it comes to blogging, emerging standards of blog maintenance, the five commandments of social media, and the next level of the blogosphere.
One of the most detailed sections of this chapter talks about the five commandments of social media. These five commandments are as follows:
1. Thou shalt link: Gillin states that "links are the currency of the blogosphere" (21). He just wants the audience to understand that links have many advantages and make a blog post more interesting and interactive.
2. Thou shalt not diss: Gillin just explains that blogs are meant to be informative and at times competitive, but there is no need for disrespect. Many blogs out there are rude and disrespectful, but that is not what blogs are meant to be.
3. Thou shalt be transparent: Blogs should be filled with honesty and integrity and the authors of blogs should be open-minded and fair. Gillin compares blogs to diaries, which is a great comparison because blogs are pretty much meant to be like an online journal or diary.
4. Thou shalt comment: Blogs are naked without comments, the more comments the better!
5. Thou shalt not blather: Blogs are meant to be informative, but not lengthy. Short and sweet is good, no one wants to fall asleep reading a long exhausting blog.
Gillin ends with explaining that the blogosphere is developing into a "extraordinarily civil and deferential culture" (Gillin 27). Which of course he is right! Blogging has become one of the most popular ways of communication on the web and has developed into its own interesting culture. Great chapter!
One of the most detailed sections of this chapter talks about the five commandments of social media. These five commandments are as follows:
1. Thou shalt link: Gillin states that "links are the currency of the blogosphere" (21). He just wants the audience to understand that links have many advantages and make a blog post more interesting and interactive.
2. Thou shalt not diss: Gillin just explains that blogs are meant to be informative and at times competitive, but there is no need for disrespect. Many blogs out there are rude and disrespectful, but that is not what blogs are meant to be.
3. Thou shalt be transparent: Blogs should be filled with honesty and integrity and the authors of blogs should be open-minded and fair. Gillin compares blogs to diaries, which is a great comparison because blogs are pretty much meant to be like an online journal or diary.
4. Thou shalt comment: Blogs are naked without comments, the more comments the better!
5. Thou shalt not blather: Blogs are meant to be informative, but not lengthy. Short and sweet is good, no one wants to fall asleep reading a long exhausting blog.
Gillin ends with explaining that the blogosphere is developing into a "extraordinarily civil and deferential culture" (Gillin 27). Which of course he is right! Blogging has become one of the most popular ways of communication on the web and has developed into its own interesting culture. Great chapter!
PEREZ HILTON!
Well, I decided to blog about Perez Hilton's famous blogging website. I'm sure most of you have heard of him, but for those of you who haven't, he is the media queen. This famous american blogger's real name is actually Mario Armando Lavandeira. He began his blogging career with the site Pagesixsixsix.com, which was known as "Hollywood's Most Hated Website." Perez is famous for blogging about and/or criticizing the live's of celebrities. Currently, his new blog is Perezhilton.com, which is one of the most popular media sites out there for today's generation.
As for my opinion, I love this website. I think what Perez has done is great. Even though he is criticizing celebs and making fun of their lifestyles constantly, about 90% of the stuff he says is most likely true. He says what most American people feel and would want to say about celebs but don't have the guts. He is blunt and honest and I love it. I think he is pretty intelligent to come up with this new way of blogging to the American public. Compared to other newspapers and magazines, it's comedic and it's extremely entertaining. Not only do people get their news here, but they enjoy reading it for its witty remarks.
I just think it's crazy how one random person can start a blogging website that has turned into one of the most popular media outlets on the web. What do you guys think?
GO PEREZ!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
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