In Thursday’s class, it was discussed that larger businesses are more likely to use social media as a marketing and networking tool. Over the summer on co-op, I witnessed a small, local company use social media to their advantage. It proved to me that a company doesn’t need a large client base or geographical range to use social media effectively. This articled by Alex Salkever reviews a survey taken by Internet2Go of 2,000 small businesses with a focus on the presence of social media. The survey found that 45% of small business owners utilize Facebook or Twitter. Compared to 44% of small businesses that have websites, it appears that small businesses have taken to social media much faster than they have to websites.
What does this mean? Social media’s ability to be managed by companies themselves could take away advertising business from larger companies like Google, who rely on small-business advertisements and searches. Adobe could also face a loss if smaller companies are not in need of website-creating software. Salkever presents social media as removing the need for websites, and therefore does not iterate social media’s negative aspects: it is disruptive, and two-way communication can lead to negative comments or incorrect information causing the need for constant monitoring. Nor does he cover the aspects of websites that social media cannot reach such as high informational content and quality, and automated, secure ordering systems.
To see the original article, go here.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Social Media: It's Everywhere .... Or Is It?
We had a discussion in class on yesterday about the use of social media by businesses. A major focus of my lecture and the subsequent discussions was on the types of businesses that are using social networks and the objectives for using these tools. We looked at the strategies used by companies such as Kodak, Apple, Target and Honda. All somewhat different, but seemed to enhance their marketing strategy and their customer reach.
The general consensus was that social media is showing up everywhere and being used by more and more individuals and now businesses. As the conversation progressed we also determined that there are some businesses and organizations where social media may not be appropriate, such as human service agencies and that there are many people who have not, and have no intentions of, embracing social media outlets.
So you wonder who is using and who is not? According to a YouTube video entitled "The Social Media Revolution" the fastest growing segment of Facebook users are females between the ages of 55-65. What? OK let's move on. Another statistic that I found interesting is that while it would take 38 years to reach 50 million users via radio it only takes about 9 months to reach 50 million users ("friends") on Facebook.
If you check out the "Social Media Revolution" video you will note that the widespread and fast growing use of social media is mind boggling. More importantly the way in which it has changed the landscape of how we communicate and receive information would have been unimaginable 15 years ago when Internet was a youngster. At the end of the video the question is asked "Do you still think Social Media is a Fad?" Well no I don't, but possibly we will agree that it is not yet everywhere and used by everybody and that's OK. However at the end of the day it is a major player in the way in which content/media is distribution
DD
To view the "Social Media Revolution" video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVXKI506w-E
The general consensus was that social media is showing up everywhere and being used by more and more individuals and now businesses. As the conversation progressed we also determined that there are some businesses and organizations where social media may not be appropriate, such as human service agencies and that there are many people who have not, and have no intentions of, embracing social media outlets.
So you wonder who is using and who is not? According to a YouTube video entitled "The Social Media Revolution" the fastest growing segment of Facebook users are females between the ages of 55-65. What? OK let's move on. Another statistic that I found interesting is that while it would take 38 years to reach 50 million users via radio it only takes about 9 months to reach 50 million users ("friends") on Facebook.
If you check out the "Social Media Revolution" video you will note that the widespread and fast growing use of social media is mind boggling. More importantly the way in which it has changed the landscape of how we communicate and receive information would have been unimaginable 15 years ago when Internet was a youngster. At the end of the video the question is asked "Do you still think Social Media is a Fad?" Well no I don't, but possibly we will agree that it is not yet everywhere and used by everybody and that's OK. However at the end of the day it is a major player in the way in which content/media is distribution
DD
To view the "Social Media Revolution" video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVXKI506w-E
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Surprise hit 'Paranormal Activity' scares money out of moviegoers
The new movie Paranormal Activity is in the "first-ever major film release demanded by you." Social networks like Twitter and YouTube and word-of-mouth have helped spread the news about this movie, even without a real movie-trailer. This social networking helped this movie become a top 5 hit seller over the weekend and this was done without traditional marketing strategies.
ParanormalMovie.com has also urged fans to demand this movie to come to theaters near you. The site even posted that if the site gained 1 Million fans, it would open up nation wide. YouTube was a major contributor to spreading the word to demand the movie.
This unique marketing campaign has seemed to work and the film is basically selling itself, as stated in the article.
It is unbelievable that a movie so small could become so big just by social networking and media distribution. It is an eye opener to new movie creators that commercials on TV can become old news. Social Media is where people need to turn to because you can access millions of people on Facebook, Twitter, and especially YouTube.
This movie has great ratings and I've heard from my friends that it is one of the scariest movies to date. I will be watching it this weekend.
(This article came from CNN.com/entertainment - 'Surprise hit 'Paranormal Activity' scares money out of moviegoers' - by Lisa Respers France
Monday, October 12, 2009
BBM, texting, and email
So we are all used to getting spammed on every email account we have. Last week for instance, I got an email from AVON, a company I have never made a purchase from, to my RIT email account, an account I use for nothing but school work. AVON's email did not even have a link directing me how to be removed from their email list.
Well I used to think that email spam was annoying enough, up until I got an email telling me that my phone number may or may not be on a text messaging list that will "allow" me to recieve promotional offers to my cell phone. Now, I can be solicited via all electronic sources, rather than just my email. This summer, a PR professional that I worked with passed on her newly found knowledge that the new wave of solicitation and advertising will be text messages sent to your phone via Bluetooth when you pass a billboard or advertisement or perhaps a company's office. I understand that Billy Fuccillo would like everyone to know how HUUUGE his deals are, but I prefer to not get direct text messages from him.
When I first started text messaging, I thought it was sort of cool that I could see when another Verizon customer recieved my text messages, allowing my to ensure that my text message made it to their phone. I then learned that on BlackBerry phones and smart phones, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) allows you to not only see that a message was sent, but also when it was received and even read. Forget trying to ignore an unwanted message, because everyone now knows that you opened your text, and that six minutes later you still have not replied.
I can see where these tools can be useful in some ways. However, for the sake f privacy, I don't always want creepy dude from work knowing that I am ignoring his BBMs, and I don't want William Mattar's law firm text messaging me about being hurt in a car while I am driving. I think that often, people are motivated by selling something, but forget that sometimes more is not better. Sometimes ignorance is bliss and less is more. I think back to class last week when we discussed life without the internet, and how simple life was. Yes, I was much younger, and more naive, but life was simplier. I didn't worry if my boyfriend got my message and hasn't called me back right away. I didn't feel the need to spend money just because Victoria's Secret was having a one day 20% every purchase over $120 dollars. I didn't need to be so connected with the world all the time, and I didn't worry about forgetting my phone at home because I didn't have a cell phone. I think that all of the ways we can distribute and transmit information is overwhelming and I think perhaps in the future it would be better to look at ways to convey information without all of these channels and outlets, but to focus rather on simplifying. After all, there was a time when the daily paper was all one person needed to get anything they needed, from Classifieds to Headlines, Obituaries to Comics.
Well I used to think that email spam was annoying enough, up until I got an email telling me that my phone number may or may not be on a text messaging list that will "allow" me to recieve promotional offers to my cell phone. Now, I can be solicited via all electronic sources, rather than just my email. This summer, a PR professional that I worked with passed on her newly found knowledge that the new wave of solicitation and advertising will be text messages sent to your phone via Bluetooth when you pass a billboard or advertisement or perhaps a company's office. I understand that Billy Fuccillo would like everyone to know how HUUUGE his deals are, but I prefer to not get direct text messages from him.
When I first started text messaging, I thought it was sort of cool that I could see when another Verizon customer recieved my text messages, allowing my to ensure that my text message made it to their phone. I then learned that on BlackBerry phones and smart phones, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) allows you to not only see that a message was sent, but also when it was received and even read. Forget trying to ignore an unwanted message, because everyone now knows that you opened your text, and that six minutes later you still have not replied.
I can see where these tools can be useful in some ways. However, for the sake f privacy, I don't always want creepy dude from work knowing that I am ignoring his BBMs, and I don't want William Mattar's law firm text messaging me about being hurt in a car while I am driving. I think that often, people are motivated by selling something, but forget that sometimes more is not better. Sometimes ignorance is bliss and less is more. I think back to class last week when we discussed life without the internet, and how simple life was. Yes, I was much younger, and more naive, but life was simplier. I didn't worry if my boyfriend got my message and hasn't called me back right away. I didn't feel the need to spend money just because Victoria's Secret was having a one day 20% every purchase over $120 dollars. I didn't need to be so connected with the world all the time, and I didn't worry about forgetting my phone at home because I didn't have a cell phone. I think that all of the ways we can distribute and transmit information is overwhelming and I think perhaps in the future it would be better to look at ways to convey information without all of these channels and outlets, but to focus rather on simplifying. After all, there was a time when the daily paper was all one person needed to get anything they needed, from Classifieds to Headlines, Obituaries to Comics.
Monday, October 5, 2009
"Welcome to the Future. Your Newspaper is Here."
As a newcomer to the blogging world, I took some time to look around and investigate before I wrote my post. What I found was something very interesting, in our major we often hear about how the newspaper industry is dying out and how they need to create new ways to embrace the internet in order to survive and that exactly what The New York Times seems to be doing.
The New York Times has the Times reader 2.0 which is powered through Adobe Air. It is a digital edition which is "delivered" to your computer daily for $3.45 a week. Now im sure that a lot of people are skeptical about this what makes is so unique, why not just browse the articles free online? or maybe your thinking that there are things that only the actual paper can offer you...
The Times 2.0 is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. The paper is downloaded to you computer and after that you don't need the internet and you can take the file with you. You can choose how you browse the paper, look by headline, section, even by images! If you connect to the web you can get a constant update and browse image and video galleries. You can even do the crossword puzzle on your digital copy of The New York Times.
Still not sold? While there has been a lot of negative feed back, as we even discussed in class, it seems that the newspaper is the perfect thing to go digital. Its not as long as a book so you don't have to worry about your eyes getting tired. Having the capability to connect to the internet and see the updates as they happen instead of waiting for the next days paper. Also you have a weeks worth of archived papers at a time so you can go back and catch up if you weren't able to read through the whole paper in the day.
If you look at the cost to get the paper delivered 7 days its at least $5.85 if you commit to 12 weeks of subscription so your even saving money!
Friday, October 2, 2009
A World Without Internet ...
Yesterday I had an enlightening discussion with my students. The initial discussion was centered around eDistribution and eCommerce and how the Internet enables these processes. After my formal lecture I posed the following to them: "Imagine a world without Internet." I then asked them to select a process or transaction that is done via the web and discuss among themselves the impact of no Internet access.
This is where the enlightenment comes in - most of the students were not mortified at not having Internet access. In fact many of them indicated the world might be a better place without it. They went on to cite the ways in which they could function sans Internet. Once again I am reminded not to stereotype this younger generation and not to assume that since they are children of the Internet that they don't appreciate non-electronic interactions, face-to-face communications and some manual transactions.
To my students I say thank you for enlightening me.
DD
This is where the enlightenment comes in - most of the students were not mortified at not having Internet access. In fact many of them indicated the world might be a better place without it. They went on to cite the ways in which they could function sans Internet. Once again I am reminded not to stereotype this younger generation and not to assume that since they are children of the Internet that they don't appreciate non-electronic interactions, face-to-face communications and some manual transactions.
To my students I say thank you for enlightening me.
DD
Monday, September 28, 2009
Secret Service Investigates Facebook Poll
While browsing blogs for random stories and articles, I came upon a site which I surprisingly ended up enjoying. SiliconANGLE is an open blog that seems to focus on social media, entrepreneurship, news and trends. I'd definitely suggest the site to most new media publishers looking for an interesting read.
However, that's all beside the point. The first article I stumbled on the site was "Facebook Poll Asks "Should the President Be Killed?" and Nutbars Come Out of the Woodwork." With a title that seemed so strange, I shrugged it off thinking it was simply a joke or some sort of attention grabber. Still pretty intrigued, I decided to look for more information and surprisingly, I found articles and video clips already.
On one of the many third-party applications on Facebook, a user created a poll which asked "Should Obama be killed?" Answers included "Yes," "No," "Maybe," and "If he cuts my healthcare." Overall, there were 730 users who responded to the outrageous poll, though the responses were unavailable. Once more people were aware of the poll's existence, including the Secret Service, Facebook moved to remove the poll. Facebook stated that they were unaware of the poll until early Monday (September 29), and have no record of which user created it (although they assume the third-party who created the application will have a record). Also, after the poll's removal, the Secret Service began its investigation of who was behind it and what was his or her intent in creating it.
None of the articles around seem to be full of detail, although this does simulate how quickly news can be distributed over the web through blogs, newspaper websites and social networks. A quick browse on YouTube brings up a few videos, on Facebook, there is already a poll in retaliation to the one against Obama, you can find numerous tweets about the subject from random users made on Twitter, and many blogs have already written up posts about it.. Most news articles haven't even been posted for half a day. Despite being exposed to this sort of wildfire-like spread of knowledge almost daily, I am constantly astounded by it.
SiliconANGLE (blog with the post mentioned about the poll first): www.siliconangle.net
News article from LA Times: www.latimes.com/ --
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