Engaging Our Audience

As we continue on through Brian Solis' Engaged, we learn a variety of ways to increase of social media skills and to engage the audience. In chapter 6, Solis begins by examining the "understated" power of photo-sharing websites like Flickr, Webshots, and Photobucket. Solis says that people who use Flickr are able to "build relationships" over a number of topics (travel, music, etc.) The word relationships really stuck out to me when I was reading through the book. Social media serves to bring people together and connect us and in turn, develop relationships. By sharing our interests and hobbies in images on a social media website like Flickr, we allow ourselves to connect with others who share the same passions.

Solis talks about how The American Red Cross used Flickr for members to share photos and experiences while working with The Red Cross. By sharing stories and photos, it helped the volunteers build relationships and increase connectedness. Despite being a great social network, websites like Flickr are most effective when they are used in conjunction to other social media networks. The American Red Cross also has a blog, Twitter, and Facebook account that are frequently updated. Users are able to interact across multiple social media networks. 

What are some other ways to increase social connectedness? Solis points out a number of ways to create chatter and effectively transmit information. One of the most popular, and socialized, areas of social media are forums/discussion boards. On discussion boards, individuals are able to openly talk about any number of topics. When I need a question answered, a lot of times I will type the question into Google and a number of discussion boards will pop up. Here, people who have the same question work together to find a solution. It is a quick, and generally, effective means of communicating. Solis uses Yelp as an example of a social forum. Members of Yelp provide personal experiences and stories at local businesses in any area. In turn, readers are able to get "real" insight into a restaurant before they go eat. This type of reviewing website is a great way to connect individuals and share stories. It is also very beneficial for finding out nitty gritty facts about restaurants and businesses. 

How do we maximize ourselves on Twitter? Solis provides 21 tips that will help increase connectedness and spread information for brands. Tips include concepts such as: special offers, focus groups, customer service, curation, fundraising, and events. Each of these tips can help brands make their mark on Twitter. 

It is important for brands to make sure that they do not "cross over streams" when they are using social media networks. Each network requires a certain type of behavior. On Twitter, we use short words and language because of the space we are allowed. However, the same sparse language should be avoided on a blog.

Overall, Solis provides an excellent jumping point for brands and individuals to maximize their social networking experience. 

Social What?

"Social Media" is a fairly familiar word to most us. We use Facebook, Twitter, and a variety of other websites to keep up with friends and exchange news. But what does "social media" really mean in today's technologically savvy society?

In chapter 3 of Engage, Brian Solis helps us define and understand social media in a different light. Solis says, “we should never strive to master something that evolves much faster than our ability to fully grasp its lessons, benefits, insights, and pitfalls” (Solis 33). At first, I was slightly confused by this statement. Surely, I am a social-media-sophisticated 21 year old, of course I can grasp everything. Soon I took a step back and thought of how frequently the social tools I use have changed. In fact, it seems like Facebook is always changing, thus causing millions to relearn the social skills they had just acquired.

For most people, social media networks are just social forums. They serve as tools to help individuals stay connected with friends and loved ones. However, for marketers, social media is the microscope into niche markets. “We’re simply becoming aware of our markets, the people who define them, and our place within each community” (Solis 33). Social media networks are helping marketers really reach out to their consumers.

Solis provides an in depth list of social media tools, each with a variety of different purposes. For the most part, I had heard of the majority of the social networks in Solis’ list. However, I was floored by how many exist and how many were probably not listed. Social media tools can vary from a simple blog, to videos, location devices, and photographs. The possibilities are endless. In addition, social media networks have broken down into specific elements. Flickr is a great forum for individuals to post photographs. Websites like Youtube and Vimeo are excellent tools for bands, film aficionados, and others.


So far, we have been able to see different social media networks, but we still have yet to come up with a concrete definition. Solis puts it best when he says, “Social media is many things to many people” (Solis 36). How someone chooses to use social media network will result in their own definition.

One definition that Solis uses is, “Social media is the online tools that facilitate a conversation” (Solis 36). To me, this is the truest definition. No matter what social network we use, we are someone engaging in some form of communication. Watching videos on Youtube can spark comments, thoughts, and opinions. On Facebook we comment, read, and converse with others. No matter what social media tool we use, we are engaging in some form of communication. Perhaps that’s why it is simply called “social media.” Socializing through media.

Engaging in Conversation

Last semester, I took an Entertainment Journalism class that focused on how social media is influencing the way news is transferring. The majority of us probably acquire our news from some sort of electronic medium. The idea of print journalism sounds almost foreign (well, not to me, but many others - personally I prefer reading off paper). Today, news can be obtained through online newspapers, magazines, eBooks, and many other print forms gone technological. However, many of us rely on social media outlets to provide us with day-to-day headlines. If it wasn't for Twitter, I would be clueless on a lot of current events. Social media is completely changing the way we consume news, and how we use it. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Digg, and even the unpopular Delicious, help us find news from different sources we would normally not be exposed to. 

Now, that I have completely diverged from my original thought, let me get back to the Entertainment Journalism class. In the syllabus, it said, "speak once, read twice." In addition, it said that listening was an integral part of the course. At the time, this really did not matter to me, but after reading the first chapter of Brian Solis' Engaged, it suddenly dawned on me how important listening can be. 


In class, we talked about how to get more followers on Twitters and how interacting with your followers can help boost your image. Solis talks about how social media is a "conversation." I believe this is a very integral part to the marketing side of social media. An idea I am very fond of, in relation to music, is the "connect with fans" theory. How many of us would love to get a reply from Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, or any other celebrity of your choice? Making your fans, or people in general, feel wanted and part of a conversation is likely to better your image. 

Marketers and customer service representatives tend to interact with consumers in a, how to do I put this, awful manner. Consumers are people too and don't need to be spoken "at." In order to effectively sell yourself or product, you should engage in conversation with your followers or fans. Social Media allows users to get to know their fans/followers personally. You have the ability to tap into specific markets. How you choose to use that information is at your own discretion. 


Overall, I think listening is something everyone needs to remember to do. Sometimes I find myself talking way too much and have to remember just to pipe down and listen. It's amazing how people are changing communication. If you open up your ears you'll learn something you never knew. 

Influencing The Web

Everyday, millions of people surf the web for a variety of reasons. Whether it be Facebook, looking up fun facts on Wikipedia, or buying something off Amazon, the internet is a powerful tool that enables us to receive information. However, what is it that leads us to these websites and to do the things we do on the internet.


Recently, a number of articles about "influencers" hit the web. What exactly is an influencer and how is it shaping the way we interact with the internet?

In a time when everyone blogs, Facebook is king, and Twitter is the fastest way to acquire news, people everywhere have a new way to look at internet influences. It appears that the influencers are no longer major corporations, but instead, it is us - the individuals swarming the internet.


As discussed in class, anytime I make an Amazon purchase, I make sure to read all the reviews. When it comes to ordering a product off the internet, you can never be too sure of what you will get. By reading reviews from other customers, you can get a general feel for the person selling the item, thus, you have been influenced by another shopper.


In an article entitled "The Influentials: New Approaches for Analyzing Influence on Twitter." the authors define Twitter influencers as, "the potential of an action of a user to initiate a further action by another user." Basically, every time you read something on Twitter, an influencer is someone who will cause you to do something else - in this case retweet - as a result of what you saw. You have been influenced by the tweet, or tweeter. 

During the first week of school, we discussed how our PR model is changing. We are no longer in a "top-down" model, but instead, a "down-up" model where the consumers are the ones in control. As we can see, that "down-up" model is very influential and important for sales and PR. 

As technology continues to change the way we communicate and live our everyday lives, the concept of influencers is becoming more and more important in the PR and marketing world. How will you influence you market? Better start influencing. 

2011: A Social Revolution

Whoever said Facebook and Twitter are pointless really doesn't get out much. Facebook has 500 million users for a reason. The ability to have so many users speaks for itself. I got my Twitter account in March of 2009. Back then, I didn't see the point of a website where individuals were asked to constantly update what they were doing. So, I'm brushing my teeth, do millions of people really care or need to know that? Probably not, but if you take a step back, then you could see the amazing potential and power of a social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. 


Power and potential - how so? Malcolm Gladwell's article, "Twitter, Facebook, and Social Activism," in The New Yorker, really puts the importance of social networking sites in perspective. In an era where news can be transferred at the click of a button, and mass movements can be arranged over the internet, is our society on the brink of a social revolution? Possibly so. The recent protests in Egypt have put a heavy spotlight on social media websites and the power they hold. After reading articles day after day about the chaos and tragedy in Egypt, it is unbelievable the entire event was organized over Facebook. 


Facebook. How many times a day does the average person check their Facebook? I would answer for myself, but I would like to save some of my dignity. A website most people take for granted, including myself, most Facebook users look at their friends' walls, pictures, and comment back and forth on walls. The average user doesn't use the largest social networking website as an organizing tool for an national revolt, but what if this became a more common theme? Gladwell might have hit it on the nail when he said we're on the verge of a social revolution. 


Twitter has drawn a lot of attention recently because of it's ability to transfer "real time news." Users are able to place themselves in the situation and make any reader feel as if they are partaking in the event as it transpires. Gladwell talks about protests the 2009 protests in Moldolva, when citizens rebelled against the government. Sounds familiar. With the protests in Egypt, Twitter kept millions of people informed about events going on in Egypt as they happened. The use of metadata tools, such as a hashtag, help group and organize news as it is tweeted in. The #Egypt hashtag on Twitter brings up millions of people talking about the protests. Within these tweets, users provide the readers with valuable information and "real time" updates. 


After reading Gladwell's article, I am semi-convinced he might be telepathic. Gladwell's ability to weave history and technology, perfectly demonstrate what might be in store in the future. The article was written in October 2010, months before the events in Egypt. Although the protests are an isolated event, they could potentially serve as an example for future movements. 

Happy Birthday, Facebook!

February 5th is a monumental day in history. You might be asking yourself, "What is so important about this random day?" Well friends, today marks the seventh birthday of the largest and most revolutionary social network: Facebook. Over the years, Facebook has grown from an exclusive website for Harvard students to an international social and business phenomenon.

Social Media website, Mashable, did an awesome write-up about the history and changes Facebook has undergone over the past 7 years. Have a look back in Facebook history and reminisce on the days when advertisements and privacy settings didn't swarm your news feed.


7 Years of Facebook: A Retrospective

Which Social Media Blogs am I reading today?

I find that I spend most of my day staring at my computer. Whether it be Facebooking to get through class, or just surfing the web, I lose way too many hours to my MacBookPro. It's so easy to get lost on the web. You find one thing that interests you, which inevitably leads you another thing, which in turn ends up taking 4 hours of your life. Just like that, the internet took away your day. However, every now and then you find a few sites that cover everything you're interested in. I compiled a list of online blogs that really do an excellent job of keeping me informed on all my social media interests. 

Mashable – The Social Media Guide

The real question is, what isn’t interesting about Mashable? As a Social Media addict, this blog quenches my never ending desire to read and learn about social media and technology.

         Mashable’s main strength, in my opinion, is its variety of subjects. Whether it is Twitter or Facebook, to Technology and business news, Mashable has an entire 360 degree coverage of the Social Media realm.

         Mashable appears to be updated on the minute and on the hour. As news pops up, it is instantly updated. That is another one of the blog’s strengths: timeliness. No one wants stories that 39203920 other blogs have already posted. Two-thumbs up to you, Mashable, for always being on the ball.

         Most Mashable articles are overwhelmed with comments. I use the term overwhelmed in a positive sense because it is always good to see different perspectives on the same topic. Everyone have a different outlook, and sometimes reading someone else’s opinion will flip the switch in your own brain.

         For a long time I did not know about Mashable. Simply through typing in, “social media blogs” on Google did I end up finding it. However, Mashable is very active on Twitter and Facebook. This allows it’s readers to spread to other social media networks and share news to others. 

Gizmodo – The Gadget Guide

         Despite loving social media news, I also have a love for technology (since it is the medium we acquire most of our social media news through.) Gizmodo covers all sorts of stories. When the unreleased iPhone 4 was mysteriously found in a bar this past summer, Gizmodo was the first news source on it. I like being up to date on what type of gadgets and gizmos will be coming out, and how they can help me in the future. I find myself emotionally attached to my MacBookPro. Gizmodo covers so many different stories in relation to Apple that it always spark an interest in my Apple-addicted head.

         One of Gizmodo’s strengths is the depth of some of the articles. I cannot find any other blog that has such a deep focus on technology and gadgets. I also think the simplicity of Gizmodo (ironic, eh?) is something that makes its website appealing. The articles are easy to read and are not overwhelmed with too much technology jargon.

         In terms of updating, Gizmodo is on spot. Like Mashable, it is updated as news comes in and is never behind. As I mentioned earlier about the iPhone 4, this is a perfect demonstration of Gizmodo’s active awareness and timeliness.

         I consider Gizmodo the “sister blog” of Mashable. It also attracts lots of viewers and readers. With almost 200,000 Twitter followers, it is bringing in a wide-variety of comments and opinions. This is very important in keeping news updated and circulating.

         Like I said about Twitter, Gizmodo reaches a wide audience. On Facebook, the blog is nearing 200,000 “fans.” Again, this open communication through different social networks is important when it comes to acquiring news, information, and stories.

         Leave it to the technology/gadget blog to have all these categories covered. 

The Anti-Social Media – Satirical Blog

         The final blog I chose is a little bit out of my element. While I thouroughly enjoy all the social media news, my sarcastic side loves making fun of it. Listed as one of the top social media blogs of 2011, The Anti-Social Media takes a satirical approach to the ever-growing social media networks.

         This blog definitely plays to its strength through the use of funny videos, comments, pictures, and other art forms that mock social media. A lot of the videos and pictures I saw instantly cracked me up, thus hooking me as an active reader.

         Unlike the first two, this blog is not updated as frequenty. While it has new posts almost every single day, they are simple, minimal, and usually only once a day. Mashable and Gizmodo has hundreds of articles released daily. However, for this type of “small scale” blog, the minimal updates work well.

         In terms of community interaction and circulation, activity for this blog seems average. The stories are retweeted and posted on Facebook a decent amount of times. It does not compare to the mass-sharing of Mashable or Gizmodo, but again, it is fitting for this blog.

         Community interaction is definitely great on a site like this because people enjoy the dry, sarcastic humor. A lot of times this leads to sharing with friends and family because of the laughter it brings.