Chapters four, five and six, cover a lot of ground, but we'll dive in anyway. Feel free to respond to any or all of the questions.
1. I referenced this in class today. What do you think of the social media as cocktail party metaphor given in Chapter 4?
2. Where are you on blogs? Do you read them? What do you see as the function of a blog in today's world, both media and otherwise?
3. Visit the McDonald's social responsibility blog, Open for Discussion. What is your opinion? How does this blog play into McDonald's larger social media and promotional plan?
4. Have you used Digg? What do you like/not like about it?
5. I think the premise on page 80 about marketing to people, even if you are a B2B firm is really important. What does that mean for how a companies communicates and behaves in the social world?
2. I find that I don't take a lot of time to read blogs unless I went searching or found something especially intriguing. I feel like a blog is just a longer version of a Facebook post but doesn't have to be as personal, depending on the topic. I feel like a blog is more for the go-getter, the one who wants a lot of info about something, or is crazy about a certain hobby.
ReplyDelete4. I feel like a company needs to have a face to it. It needs a personality while online. Customers want to feel like they aren't just talking corporate lingo all the time. They want to recognize that the company is more than just all about business. Even if a company is marketing to a firm, the people there are what make it. Social media is on a personal level. People want to communicate and talk back and forth.
I kind of like the analogy used about the cocktail party. The part about females going to the bathroom and talking is true, but the points and questions about a cocktail party and social media make sense. There are rules and ways one should act at a party, whether they are coming with a group of friends, or meeting people for the first time, there are rules and expectations one should follow. That is the same for social media. There are rules and expectations one should follow when creating a new page on a site, or updating picture, statuses, information, etc. People don't enter a party and immediately go up to someone they don't know and disclose all their personal information, it takes time, people need to be scoped out, etc. It's the same for a business on social media, no one cares about all of the information they have, the public wants to know why they are going to need something and what it will do for them. To much information of the bat will make customers turn away. There are rules and standards for any situation and social media is no exception. Businesses and individuals needs to learn the rules and follow them.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important for businesses to market to people, because people are the ones buying products from them. Companies need to communicate and behave professionally on social media. We have seen examples or poor judgement on social media and the negative effects it has. Even employees need to keep in mind about what they are saying because they represent the company. It is also important for companies to respond to posts (good or bad) in a timely fashion. It shows they are paying attention to what is being said, and they care and want to know more to make something better. It is important for people to be treated as individuals and they want their opinions heard, so I do think that businesses need to marketing to people even if they are a B2B firm.
1. I think this is a perfect reference. I personally was not familiar with twitter per say before we started, but had always known people to have them. And for them, it was just GOSSIP. They would go back and forth, similarly to Facebook. It can be used for great avenues of free publicity and advertisement, but some people dont use it for that.
ReplyDelete2. I dont use blogs at all. I never thought I would personally need it, and quite frankly still dont. I think that they are good for some people, to try and find out information about someone and get a different indepth than other social media outlets. But for business, I can see how it would be beneficial. They can relay information that makes it directed toward there customers and such. For me, not my thing.
1. I think the metaphor applies pretty well. For example with Facebook you would look at someone's profile just like you may pay attention to them for a bit to see if you would be interested getting to know them. Then that first initial contact is usually something that you think you both find interesting or in common. Being able to response so quickly and conveniently on social media makes it more personal to where there can be a conversation and not "shouting".
ReplyDelete2. I have never read or written a blog until this class. I can see how they can be use to people though. They are a good way if you want to get a lot of information or your opinion out there. Personally I do not think it is a good tool for companies unless the target market is highly active and involved and they seek out information. I wouldn't mind writing a blog as a part of job though. I use to want to be a journalist and in high school I was a features editor. I just don't see blogging being as popular as other forms of social media.
4. I have not used Digg, I've never even heard of it so I googled it. My first impression is that it is pretty cool. I may download the app. It kind of reminds me of a combination of Facebook and Pinterest. I think it is good for people like me who usually get the news from social media instead of news channels and newspapers.
1. I referenced this in class today. What do you think of the social media as cocktail party metaphor given in Chapter 4?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the metaphor. Twitter, in particular, as mentioned in the article, is an extremely fast paced medium. Cocktail parties are all about quick, informal communication with people before a main event starts, so the communication during those parties is usually "quick" and to the point, just like Twitter. I think the metaphor makes a lot of sense.
2. Where are you on blogs? Do you read them? What do you see as the function of a blog in today's world, both media and otherwise?
I follow a lot of blogs. On my iPad/iPhone, I have an app called Flipboard. It lets me add blog websites, RSS feeds, etc. to read in a more "book-like" way than just a normal website. I read blogs and posts about photography, media design, and DJing to keep up to date on the different aspects of my career and hobbies.
3. Visit the McDonald's social responsibility blog, Open for Discussion. What is your opinion? How does this blog play into McDonald's larger social media and promotional plan?
4. Have you used Digg? What do you like/not like about it?
I have used Digg before. It's not that I don't like it, but I just don't use it all that often. The content is almost too wide, and It is hard for me to find something I really want to read about. I prefer making custom blog/RSS settings in something like Flipboard so I can read only what interests me. Digg is almost too broad, but sometimes I find myself reading on there.
5. I think the premise on page 80 about marketing to people, even if you are a B2B firm is really important. What does that mean for how a companies communicates and behaves in the social world?
Even if you are a company sending messages to another company, it is still important to have that "personality" and "personal touch" to your messages. If you can't connect with the people you are marketing to, there is no point in marketing to that group at all. Marketing to individuals and businesses both need have one trait in common, and that is to connect with their readers.
In response to the first question about Social Media being like a cocktail party, there is a definite connection. He makes a good point about if your talking or listening. It isn't a coincidence that the loudest people at your weekend shin-digs are also usually the loudest on Social Media. Also, there are those who are the center of attention online, and those who keep to themselves and observe.
ReplyDeleteI think of when I first was on Reddit, and I did not know what to expect, just like when I go to a party that is full of strangers to me. Most of us wouldn't start flapping our gums in that situation, and especially wouldn't voice our opinions.
But then I switch to Facebook, which would be my weekend hang out so to speak, and I am much more likely to speak my mind or even express my view on an issue, where I feel safer to do so because I am familiar with the situation.
—Marty Hobe
2. I had nothing to do with blogs until last spring. Two of my good friends went abroad and I began to follow their adventures via blog. I slowly started finding blogs that appealed to me. They each had interesting topics and suggestions. Then this summer I had an internship in Chicago. All of my co-workers were into blogging very much. I began to slowly enter the blogosphere. Sometimes now when I google or search from something I now look for blogs too instead of just websites. I am also starting to follow blogs via Twitter too. I know follow my favorite blogs and check them at least once a week. I think the function of a blog is an interactive way to share a story or fact. It is one of the most popular tools nowadays.
ReplyDelete3. I think the blog is set up nicely. It seems to have a variety of different topics too. I think it plays into McDonald’s larger social media plan because it allows the corporation to tell a longer story. It does not have to be limited to 140 characters.
4. I have not used Digg before. I am thinking about downloading the application and giving it a try to see what it is all about.
5. I think this is really important too. When it comes down to it all businesses rely on, deal with and focus on people. I think in the social media world this means that the company’s actions can reflect its people and values. Social media allows the communication to be on a personal level.
1. I referenced this in class today. What do you think of the social media as cocktail party metaphor given in Chapter 4?
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great metaphor for social media. The point of joining social media websites is to be social, just as one would go to a cocktail party to catch up with old friends and potentially make some new ones. Thinking about social media in this way helps me to be more active. If I think abou social media as just open space on the internet, it is much harder to stay involved. Instead, I think of it in a more personal way of reaching out to friends and/or potential colleagues. In fact, some brands imagine a person who would be the exact fit for their target audience and personalize their posts to make them more appealing to that person, which I think is very smart.
2. Where are you on blogs? Do you read them? What do you see as the function of a blog in today's world, both media and otherwise?
I love reading blogs and often find them to be very helpful. While the blogs I read usually revolve around fashion, food, DIY projects or public relations, at my internship this past summer I pitched multiple stories to different bloggers. We found that the quickest way to reach our target audience was through bloggers and put great emphasis on having them cover our products. This isn't to say that we completely forgot about traditional media - that's still very important too - we just had more sources to choose from.
2. Where are you on blogs? Do you read them? What do you see as the function of a blog in today's world, both media and otherwise?
ReplyDeleteI have never really read a blog before but now that we are required to have one, I find myself reading ones more often. I think blogs allow you to gain information from a different source. The person writing a blog is clearly very compassionate about what they are writing. A blog is not something that can be easily done (at least in my opinion). I feel as though if you are going to write a blog, you spend a lot of effort and time thinking about what to put on there. I see blogs today as a way for you to gain information via word of mouth. The blogs that are "sponsored" or written directly from companies are questionable. When you know someone is being paid to write them, I feel as though their information could possibly be biased. I like to stumble upon real people's honest opinions instead.
5. I think the premise on page 80 about marketing to people, even if you are a B2B firm is really important. What does that mean for how a companies communicates and behaves in the social world?
I think communicating to people is extremely important because if you are a big company marketing to other big companies, you are missing out on a lot of people. I personally hate when brands just seem to try to get their name out there as opposed to creating a brand personality. Lately, I feel as though brands have to have something unique about them that resonates with the "people" to stand out. Connecting with the people allows your business to gain word of mouth and buzz that could eventually lead to businesses purchasing your products. There needs to be a face behind a brand and unless they market somewhat towards people they will never have that face.
1. The cocktail party metaphor is helpful. I like that it not only shows the importance of being social but helps give an idea of the way to go about interacting on social media. I took away from it that the value of the interactions you have matter more than the amount of interactions you have and that you should give more than you get.
ReplyDelete3. At first, I thought it was contradictory for a company that sells deep fried everything to claim to be focusing on spreading ideas of Nutrition and Well Being. The fact that McDonald's is willing to start a blog shows that they are willing to be transparent about an obvious flaw they have (unhealthy food). I think this transparency makes McDonald's appear somewhat sincere about this claim.
5. I agree that it is important that a company has a personality. People like to do business with people they like, and companies are ran by people. Giving a business a personality allows a company to be like able.
1. I referenced this in class today. What do you think of the social media as cocktail party metaphor given in Chapter 4?
ReplyDelete-I really like this particular metaphor, and it helped me visualize social media's role in marketing. I feel that by comparing social media to a cocktail party you can better understand how social media is constructed and works- and how to use it effectively in the marketing world. You can't just start a blog or twitter and only talk about your products and services expecting people to read it. Just like a cocktail party, many people try to avoid a salesman. If you put out valuable messages, you will gain from earning a relationship with followers and consumers.
2. Where are you on blogs? Do you read them? What do you see as the function of a blog in today's world, both media and otherwise?
-I started my first blog this semester for our class, but I have read my fair share of blogs in the past. Especially with the help of Pinterest, I can easily find links to blogs that might interest me. Not only that, but I often find myself bouncing from blog to blog when bloggers reference or link to other blogs. In the book's chapter about blogs, the author stressed the many different functions of blogs. However he primarily stressed that individual blogs are where authors are passionate about a topic and want to tell the world what they think. To some extent, I disagree with the author. I feel that while there are some blogs that are just about sharing thoughts, there are other blogs that strongly based on the concept of sharing valuable information and tips, not just opinions. For instance, DIY and cooking blogs are mostly written to share successes (and failures) with readers so their readers can learn from their experiences.
3. Visit the McDonald's social responsibility blog, Open for Discussion. What is your opinion? How does this blog play into McDonald's larger social media and promotional plan?
-I think that McDonald's blog makes a great effort to get the word out about the positive things the company is doing to reduce waste and stay sustainable. When I read about it in the book it didn't sound impressive, but visiting the site gave me a new perspective. Even though the Vice President may not be actually writing the blog, by putting his name on every blog and even having an "About the Author" section with his picture makes it appear that this VP is staying connected to McDonald's consumers and investors and is easily accessible. The only disappointing thing is that the blog reads like a press release sometimes, and isn't as personable as it can be. I don't think that readers will ever stumble upon this blog unless they were looking for this information.
1. I completely agree that social media is like going to a cocktail party. It can be slightly awkward at first, especially for companies because they may not necessarily know how to use this technology, but once you get out there and listen to what others are saying and responding to what is out there then there are positive repercussions. That is if the company is acting "human" and not just out their to sell there product. I think listening is the main thing with social media being like a cocktail party.
ReplyDelete2. I have recently started reading blogs just before I started to take this course. I started to look at a lot of design blogs to help learn new skills, or what kind of design style is popular. I agree with David, in the book he talks about blogs being one person sharing their ideas. I think that is a great way to express what a blog is. I personally see blogs being used more by individuals rather than companies. The only companies blogs I have ever looked at are those of fashion retailers. I like looking at their blog post pictures and hearing what the latest fashion for the upcoming season will be.
Mainly my thoughts on blogs...
ReplyDeleteI think when done right, blogs can give a wealth of information and insight that you can't get anywhere else as easily. Sure you can hunt and probably find similar information from a source that's not a blogger, but it's probably going to take longer. I've also found that blogs are really useful for DIY and walk throughs. Because there is a person voice that is clear in a well-done blog, it is easy to follow that voice's instructions.
Personally, I don't read many blogs unless it comes up on a google search or if someone links me. I'm a fan of tumblr. I like lots of images, sound clips, and other visual pleasing things in one space that I can scroll down forever. Tumblr is nice for following bands because you get all their updates and all of their tour images in one space. It's magical.
Thoughts on Digg. Digg used to be the bee's knees. Within internet culture, people used to only get their daily supply of internet news via Digg, but then there was a mysterious shift and things haven't been the same since. Personally, I think it's been taken over by Reddit. As in, most people who used to go to Digg now go to Reddit, another magical place. Digg is definitely prettier to look at, but Reddit just has content and depth that I can't argue with (so long as you unsub from half of what you're automatically subbed to).
I generally agree with Scott’s analogy of the web being a city. It is quite the creative one, but it has a lot of truth to it. The various sites he listed, such as Craigslist and Amazon, are essentially online versions of the physical locations. However, there is much more to the web than just these virtual stores. Scott does touch on this a little with comparing social media to a cocktail party. In some respects, I agree with this. We socialize online via chat rooms or posting comments on our friends’ walls on Facebook. But there are many other characteristics to social media than just the virtual social environment.
ReplyDeleteIn many ways, social networking sites like Facebook or even Twitter are like our personal diaries, except they are open for the world to read. People pour out their emotions on Facebook, share exciting news, and even vent when they are angry. Often times, people overshare things that most of us would rather not know.
Blogs are similar to Facebook in that they are often online diaries. Some people blog about their daily life; things that have happened to them, how they feel, and just general stuff about their life. However, blogs are many other things as well. Continuing along with Scott’s analogy of a city, blogs can be the local college. You can learn how to do many things via blogs. People often provide feedback or have full discussions like what happens in the classroom. Unfortunately, blogs are one class (or many) that I do not attend often. I’m not sure why I am somewhat put off by blogs, but I just do not find the pleasure of reading them regularly. I will admit that I come across some posts that interest me, like random crafts for instance. But I never really subscribe to blogs, because frankly, it involves a lot of reading and I get enough of that from school work. Maybe this will change when I no longer have homework to do, but for now, I go online to get away from school, for the most part at least.
In regards to B2B firms, I think it is important to remember that people make up every business. We also have to keep in mind that not all businesses are exactly “fun” to work for, so sometimes the employees need a little humor.
2. Basically, my take on blogs is that personally, I don't read them. I tend to get my advice on things from friends and family. With today's society constantly referencing the internet for opinions, I can see their usefulness. Blogs provide a place for people to praise what a business has done for them, or hasn't done, share opinions and other things. Personally though, I rather just ask people in real life than read the opinion of someone I don't know.
ReplyDelete3. The blog is very helpful for McDonald's image. It explains their efforts to give back and sustainability as a company which is usually overshadowed by their complaints. It's a really helpful way for them to help show them in a better light.
2. I tend to read blogs when I am interested in a specific topic. For example, I like to read blogs that have instructions/information for something I am researching or curious about. Being an artist and graphic designer, I really like to look at blogs that feature artists' work. It shows their experience and skill level and helps give other artists inspiration. I do sometimes have a problem reading blogs, however. Some bloggers become trolls on the internet and like to rant in a negative manner and post harmful and hateful material. They feel as though because they are sometimes anonymous, they can say whatever they want with no consequences. Blogs should be for sharing normal thoughts and feelings and showcasing one's talents.
ReplyDelete5. I agree with the author that even if you are a B2B company, you must still market and communicate to people. People are running these businesses and must still be treated like individuals. Also, these people are the core of the company and put character in the business. When marketing to these businesses, other companies must consider the employees of the business they are trying to reach and whether or not their efforts will be successful. The tone of the entire campaign will obviously be different from strictly marketing to consumers, however, the techniques should still parallel each other.