Animal Cruelty Awareness

After thinking over the web video assignment, I chose animal cruelty as my social issue even though I knew it would be difficult for me as I am very passionate about this issue. I chose to focus on abuse of dogs because I was a volunteer at my hometown humane society, and in that time, I saw too many sickening animal abuse and neglect cases.

I decided to use sproutbuilder to make my web video. My experience with this application was good, except for the fact that I could not figure out how to make the video end at my last slide and make the music fade out. If anyone can help me with this, it would be much appreciated. When you watch the video, you will see what I am talking about. Despite this frustrating issue, I enjoyed making the video, and I am proud that I actually taught myself to use this application. I think that this is good experience for what we might have to do in a communications profession.

You can watch the video here.

Alzheimer's Assocation Finds Social Media Campaign Success

Caring.com and the Alzheimer's Association posted a press release on PRWeb.com recently that brings to light how their social media campaign and how it has been successful.

The website and the Alzheimer's Association teamed together to take this social media risk with the Purple Ribbon Campaign, which allows users to post a purple ribbon on their blog, website, etc. to help expose and spread awareness about Alzheimer's. The ribbon was posted on over 1,000 blogs and websites during a period of only 7 weeks.

While other organizations have used similar tactics, I liked the idea that the user could personalize a message written on the ribbon. The person could put a family member's name who has suffered Alzheimers or "For Mom", which I thought was a really neat touch.

Caring.com contributed 10 dollars for every ribbon that was posted, which put the total at over 10,000 dollars. I think this is a perfect example of a successful social media campaign and a similar idea could be adapted for a number of organizations and companies.

Photographers Benefit from the Social Media Phenomenon

After coming across an article from the LA Times online, I really began to understand how social media has created a world where anyone can gain fame, and not only kids who makes silly videos that go viral.

The article discusses this photo, which was posted on Roger Eickholt's Flickr page.

Within a few days over 200,000 people had viewed the photo and posted it on blogs and social media sites, and the funny thing is that the photographer had no idea until he was contacted for an interview. He then checked his Flickr, and his followers had gone from 2 to over 100. His story and this photograph have now gained national attention and have been published in a number of newspapers.

This story made me think about how it is impossible to predict what could instigate overnight fame. There are so many people who actively participate in a number of social media applications and endlessly try to create a video or a blog post that will get them attention and notoriety, but many of them never succeed. Then there are people like Eickholt who doesn't even check his Flickr religiously enough to realize his sudden fame. It just shows me that the users really have the power to create this phenomenon, and we are often not in control despite our efforts.

Military Launches "Trooptube"

I came across this article on internetnews .com about a new website that allows those active in the military to keep in touch with their families.

After blocking youtube and social media sites over a year and a half ago, the Defense Department has come up with TroopTube to allow military personnel to keep in touch with friends and family through a video share website. The website allows users to register as a supporter, military member, or family member, and then share a video.

I think that this is a great support system for our troops and another new social media innovation that will make it easier for people to communicate. While, they do not edit videos for content, the Defense Department does screen the videos for any suspicious content. I think that this will be a very positive thing for the troops and the easier opportunities to connect with their family and friends will hopefully bring a boost in moral.

"Mapvertising"

I found an interesting post on marketingvox.com that discusses a new partnership between the Travel Ad Network and the L49 advertisers, which will allow geographically specific ads to appear on maps.com. They call this "geo-contextual targeting".

The ads change as the user changes the view of the map and zooms in or out based on their destination, interest, or intent. They also call this "mapvertising". Corporations that are participating include American Express, Apple, and hotels such as the Hilton and Comfort Inn.

While I think that this could be helpful at times, lets say if you were looking at a vacation spot and a hotel ad for the area popped up, but is this crossing the line? This kind of reminded me of the facebook advertisement controversy or when you shop online and the website offers "other things you might like." I could see how these pop-ups could get annoying, but I guess it is not much different than the pop-ups we deal with everywhere else on the internet right?

Carnival Cruise Taking a Shot at Social Media

As everyone seems to be jumping on the social media bandwagon, Carnival Cruises is taking now sailing in that direction.

Carnival's online program, Make a Connection, allows users to make the cruise planning and sharing process much easier. Among many things, users interested in a cruise can tune into the Carnival channel too see videos and read blogs that will help them decide which cruise it right for them. It also allows people to plan cruises for a group using invitations, interactive polls, and message boards to get input from the group on where they would prefer to go, who wants to room with who, etc.

The program also makes it easy for future cruisers to ask questions to experienced cruisers, which is always positive because people usually trust the opinions of other people more than anything they would find on a website. After taking a cruise users can upload photos to share with their family in an online interactive scrapbook.

I think that this is a great step for Carnival. I have taken two Carnival cruises and the website has been very helpful in planning and organizing the trip. I would have liked to have the opportunity to ask experienced cruisers questions before I went, and I think other people would too. This just illustrates the wide variety of corporations that social media can benefit.

Company Awarded for Use of Social Media

As the use of social media in the workplace to increase and is moving towards becoming a necessity, one organization has taken it upon itself to reward companies for taking a chance on social media.

"The Forrester Groundswell Awards recognize excellence from companies that accomplish business objectives using social applications and technologies" according to an article on Marketwatch.com. Recently, they awarded the business and financial management company, Intuit, for using social media to engage customers.

The award was given on the grounds of Company Transformation and is given to those companies that have really changed and adapted alongside of the market, which has become largely online and interactive in recent years.

Intuit received the award for their Quickbooks online community where small business owners can discuss and share information. They were also recognized for their Just Start Campaign, which offers online video submissions and voting in order to encourage budding entrepreneurs, and for TurboTax live community where users can access answers to troubling tax questions.

I think that the Forrester Awards are a very positive and encouraging way to initiate other company's use of social media. It is a way to showcase those who have utilized it and a way to show other companies how it can be beneficial to them. Hopefully more companies will begin moving towards this "Company Transformation."

Adolescent Bloggers

After discussing the blogosphere in class, and having now had personal experience with blogging, I have come to realize how it can be beneficial to me and to companies as a way to build relationships and make connections; however, adolescent blogging is kind of iffy territory. This issue has both positive and negative aspects because on the one hand if a child blogs from adolescents they will be better equipped to compete as they get older and these skills are necessary for school and jobs. On the other hand, it is dangerous territory, and often kids are not aware of the dangers of putting personal information online and how this contributes to their digital footprint. In order to address this issue, me and a few other classmates discussed the pros and cons on a podcast.








Shownotes

• {Music Intro}
• Introduction to Podcast “Topic: Adolescent Blogging” .5seconds
• {Music}
• Sherry: Article by Bob Sullivan from MSNBC.com 1min 3seconds
• {Music}
• Cori: Concerns & Benefits 3min 3seconds
• Bradley: Controversy with Justice Samuel 4min 25seconds
• Marie Osmond/Adolf Hitler 5min 26seconds
  
• {Music}
• Analee: Raising Entrepreneurs, “Carl”/“Yuga”
• {Music}
• Closing Discussion 7min 40seconds
• Resource Mention: Blogsafety.com 9min 46seconds
• Closing 10min 2seconds
• {Closing Music}

Twitter for Terrorists?

After discussing the micro-blogging site, Twitter, in class this past week, I found an interesting article while searching for more information about it. On cnetnews.com, I came across an article, which voices concern over the possibility of terrorists using twitter to orchestrate attacks. The first thing I thought was "Is this for real?". Twitter seems so innocent.

The report was done by the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion. It is believed that the site could be used for targeting as it is already used by extremists to get their ideas out there and gain supporters. The article offered a number of scenarios in which terrorists could use twitter as a communication device in planning attacks, many of them included accessing twitter through a cell-phone.

I am not yet a twitter user, so I am not sure what I think about this article. It seems a little bit extreme in my opinion, but I guess you have to consider how all of these emerging technologies that are so beneficial to us could also be used in other harmful ways. It is much easier to ignore that side. While I think that this issue should be watched closely, I'd like to think that it is highly unlikely that anything like this would happen.

CBS Goes Interactive

As a new part of CBS Interactive, the network is adding social lounges to their online program that allows users to watch full episodes of CBS network television shows. These "social viewing rooms" will allow online users to chat about shows while they are watching them.

This is a great example of how CBS is moving into the WEB 2.0 world in which users have the ability to interact, as opposed to the "read-only" WEB 1.0. The website allows users to join groups based on the shows that they watch, and then chat and discuss the show with people who share the same interest. The program is also offering these social viewing rooms for old series that had a sort of cult following, like Melrose Place.

http://www.cbs.com/socialroom/

I think that CBS is taking a positive step in creating a more interactive experience for users. Watching television shows online has become increasingly prevalent, and creating a social lounge where people can share their opinions is a great way for CBS to get feedback, and the writers of the shows can also use this to see what viewers think of show content and what direction they should take the show next.

Hopefully the response to this new option will be positive, the only problem I can foresee is people wanting to concentrate more on watching the show than chatting about it, but CBS is taking the right steps in jumping on the Web 2.0 bandwagon.

Speaking of Podcasting...

After discussing podcasting again in class on Thursday, and getting our feet wet with garageband, I was feeling a little bit intimidated and technologically "unsavvy" you could say. I don't have a mac, so I haven't really gotten a chance to play with it other than in class, but while doing some internet searching I came across this twelve year old, Nicholas Montgo, who has produced a successful podcast and even gets a share of revenue from advertisements! So I'm thinking, maybe this won't be so bad...



Nicholas started Blastr.tv, which is a live podcasts that deals with issues concerning tech news, gagdets, youtube videos,etc. Because it is a live show, he is able to interact directly with his listeners as they call in and contribute their own opinions or questions. He also gives some good advice to people who are interested in starting their own podcast, which focuses on the importance of content first, over making money because if the content is good then the rest will fall into place.

This is just another strong example of how podcasting can be beneficial and get an average person some recognition among millions of users. Because he has started so young, I think that he success can only grow from this point.

Now I just need to tackle this garage band thing...and consider getting a mac maybe...

Mathew Shepard Foundation Uses Social Media to Promote their Campaign to Erase Hate

As the 10 year anniversary of college student Mathew Shephard's death approaches, who was killed as a result of a gay hate crime, the Matthew Shepard Foundations is calling for people to join their Campaign to Erase Hate.



"This campaign provides tools on how to spread the message of “erasing hate” by using innovative technology, viral marketing, personal relationships and the power of “personal voice” to create social change," according to the Foundation's website.

I think that the Campaign is moving in the right direction in utilizing social media to spread the word and engage users. Through a sign-up page on the website, users are able to create their own page to support the campaign, which allows for a number of unique possibilities. In doing this, the Foundation is able to start a conversation among those who have strong feelings towards this issue and maybe even engage users that weren't initially aware, but want to take part in the Campaign. This is a great way to raise awareness because people can get information from other people just like them that are passionate about the issue rather than relying on only information published on the webpage.

I think the most important thing that the Campaign advocates is the power of "personal voice," which is definitely true in the social media world.

Timberland's Earthkeepers Facebook Application

So, I always wondered what was behind the idea of the facebook applications that allow you to give your friends plants or plant trees. One of these, I discovered, is all a part of Timberland's Earthkeepers Campaign, which also includes a blog and an environmental forum on the social networking site, Changents.

The Facebook application already has over 58,000 monthly active users. I think that it is gaining success because not only is it something cute that friends can give to one another, but it is actually helping the environment. The application promises that "each tree grown into adulthood will be planted in the real world to fight deforestation, desertification, and drought."

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=10820316983

This is something that Timberland can also acquire brand recognition from, and it will be associated now with projects such as Earthkeepers that aim to help the environment. This is a perfect example of how social media can do the work for a company if it is used appropriately. While there are other tree planting/giving applications on facebook, I believe that Earthkeepers is one of the few that is actually attached to a retail brand. Timberland makes outdoor and recreational shoes and clothing, and while they admit that this can be a contributor to the environmental problem, they created Earthkeepers as a way to give back to the environment. Timberland seems to have made a good choice in taking the initiative to dive into the social media world.

From Podcast to Published

After discussing podcasts in class today, I decided to do a search of my own and came across this interesting article. Scott Sigler is a podcaster turned published author after podcasting his novels free of charge to the public. After gaining circulation and popularity, his podcasts caught the attention of Crown Books, who offered him a publishing contract.

This just goes to show one of the many opportunities that podcasts have to offer. After reading the chapter on podcasts in "The New Influencers," I was surprised to find how many people found unexpected success in podcasting when really only meaning to play around with it, like the mommycasters and the HT guys, etc.

He has also used a lot of social media outlets like myspace and facebook to promote his book. "I do several promotional videos around the book, like book trailers, and those are up on the pages and so are the audio trailers for my books. So as soon as people stumble onto my page, they’re getting exposed to what the podcast sounds like, getting exposed to the story, they’ll see the video, and it makes it really easy for them to communicate and interact with me"- Scott Sigler.

What I thought was really neat about this is that it is different from buying a book because you don't get to have the whole thing at once. Listeners had to wait every week for the next chapter, which is probably what made a lot of them keep returning. His book "Infected" has also picked up by Crown Books, and I think that he is a perfect example of how podcasts can work in our favor.

Another CEO Blogger: Bill Marriott

After discussing CEO bloggers last class, I decided to do a little search for other CEOs of large companies that are blogging. One that I encountered was the CEO of the Marriott hotels, Bill Marriott.


http://www.blogs.marriott.com/

While the blog seems a little bit on the formal side, it seems very helpful to customers and organized. In my opinion a hotel is a good candidate for a blog because you can get customer feedback on their experiences at the hotel easily, but this idea could have its downside. Negative comments from customers could be seen by potential guests and stray them away from staying at the hotel. But, that aside, hotel companies are very big on customer service, or they should be, and a blog is one good way to get information out on new resorts, new amenities, or apologies for recent issues or problems at the hotel.

Bill Marriott has recently used the blog to inform people of a tragedy that occurred in the Islamabad Marriott Hotel in Pakistan when a car bomb killed or injured many Marriott employees and destroyed the front of the building.

Overall, I think that he is an effective CEO blogger, when I looked back at his first post he seemed very honest about the fact that he didn't know much about blogging, but he was going to give it a shot, and honesty is always a good way to start a successful blog.

David Blaine Dive of Death: Good PR or Bad PR?

So, this past week David Blaine, the magician/dare devil/stuntman completed his new dangerous escapade by hanging upside down above Central Park for 60 hours. ABC aired the event in a special called "David Blaine: Dive of Death." Unfortunately, this new stunt might have hurt him more than helped him. The ABC trailer for the event seems to have been a little misleading.



Apparently, he took a break from hanging upside down about every hour to go to the restroom, drink some water, and have his vitals checked by a physician. Now can you see why maybe the trailer was misleading?

In my opinion, this new stunt was a PR effort to get his name and his image back out there since Criss Angel, a fellow magician, has gained popularity recently, but unfortunately this stunt did the opposite. While I am sure the stunt was still very dangerous and grueling, it seems kind of uneventful when you go to see him hanging upside down, but instead you find him relaxing and having some water for about 20 minutes. I think that he is a very talented performer, and I hate to admit that I am easily drawn in to his magic and stunts, but I think that the public's upset and negativity towards the stunt could have been avoided if it were presented more honestly and straight-forward.

Microsoft Windows: "The Mojave Experiment"

Since the Microsoft commercials starring Seinfeld and Bill Gates began to air, they have received mixed reviews by the public. The most common response seems to be just confusion while others either love them or hate them. Recently I have noticed that Microsoft seems to be running less of the Seinfeld commercials and more of the "Mojave Experiment" commericial.



This commercial was definitely a public relations strategy and a crisis response to the overwhelming negative viewpoint of Windows Vista. The question is whether this commercial is more effective than the humorous strategy of the Seinfeld commercials. It seems to me that the Mojave Experiment would be interpreted as more real and effortless, while the message of the Seinfeld commercials seems to be unclear. If they are trying to change the public's image of Window's Vista then the Mojave Experiment might be more successful.

The Mojave Experiment is also a more effective PR response to the Mac ads that have poked fun of Windows Vista multiple times. Such as this one...



The only questionable thing about the commercial is that it could have been a set-up by Microsoft, but I think that it is an appropriate response to the negative publicity that the new program has received. I also think that it was a good choice because they did not respond to the Mac ads by bashing Macs, they just tried to show that the product has been misunderstood and misrepresented, and it could be worth a try.

New Google Phone

As if they aren't already a success, Google will soon release its new Android software phone, which is expected to be in close competition with Mac's iphone. It will have complete camera and video capabilities, and the new Android software is expected to offer an improved internet experience on a phone.

While I am not sure how receptive people will be to a Google phone, I think that the idea behind it is to get a tangible Google product out there that users can associate with the ever popular search engine. This association has the potential to help the search engine build relationships with users and create loyalty to Google. This could also be the start of Google developing other products such as mp3 players. I think that the phone has the potential to increase Google's already well- established brand awareness and recognition by consumers.

The key is to get people to use the search engine at ALL times rather than almost all the time, and what better way to instigate this then by developing a Google phone that makes it easy to use Google's many programs on a hand-held device. I personally never use the internet on my phone because it is too difficult, but I think this new Anroid software is targeted to people like me. It will be interesting to see how people respond to it after the iphone has already generated so much success; however, there are rumors that it will cost about half as much as the iphone, so this should generate some interest if nothing else.

Wikis Used for Educational Purposes

As a person who had no idea what a wiki was before this week's classes,I decided to look into them more on my own. I was surprised to find a few articles concerning the use of wikis for educational purposes. It is understandable that the problem with this could be that the information is unreliable because it can be edited by anyone rather than only experts on the subject; however, I think that they could be very beneficial in college classes.

Take, for instance, a test review that a teacher puts on Blackboard. What I usually do is team up with my friends in the class, split the review up between us, and then we each email our parts to one another. Then once we have compiled the whole review we study and review for the test together. I do not really consider this cheating or cutting corners because it is really just a way to collaborate and get notes that your friends may have that you didn't get, etc. This idea could be adapted on a greater scale into a wiki.

If the test review was uploaded as a wiki in which all of the class members could edit it by adding the notes that they had or parts that they had looked up, it would be a great way to collaborate with the class, and there might be a higher success rate on the test. The only problem with this would be that even classmates that did not contribute anything to the review would have access to the information that others had actually taken the time to add or look up. This could be addressed by the professor actually noting the students who added information and giving extra credit or taking a grade. I am not sure how well it would work but it might be worth a try.

Microsoft Launches New Ad Campaign

On September 4th, Microsoft launched a new ad campaign starring none other than Seinfeld and Bill Gates. The advertisement is what seems to be part of a larger PR effort to change the face of Microsoft as we know it. In recent years the PC has increasingly lost popularity as Macs are the new computer of choice and have dominated the advertising world.



The commercial utilizes that classic Seinfeld humor, which can almost be read as having nothing to do with anything. It takes place in a Shoe Circus store as Seinfeld helps Bill Gates find shoes and later hints at the idea of Microsoft changing and developing something new and exciting. This seems to be an effort to change people's perceptions of Microsoft with a hip new commercial that applies dry humor as well as a promise for improvements.

This could also be in response to the far from warm response to the recently launched, Windows Vista, which did not have quite the success expected. This commercial would be then offering a promise of new innovations to those who were unhappy with Windows Vista.

My question is whether this ad is an attempt to make Microsoft hip like Mac and popular with young people because of the humorous commercial, or whether it is changing its target to an older group. As a PC owner myself, in an environment in which most of my friends my age own Macs, I felt that it was refreshing to see a PC advertisement, but I'm not too sure what it is getting at. Maybe its randomness is what made it so memorable...