#ims201

[dtcapp-blog]

I FINALLY DID IT! 

I made my first infographic! Aside from fumbling around with photoshop for upwards of five hours the work of great beauty and skill is finally complete! 

This infographic tells the story of how criminals may try and access your data over both your personal networks as well as enterprise and other public networks. It then goes on to tell some statistics, things like how many people use public networks and figures showing the true threat of cybercrime! Lastly, it gives the reader some tips on data protection along with a fun QR link the reader can go to to "test their newly learned knowledge"!

Data security is and will be a trending topic on a global scale and will only become a hotter issue as more and more users log on and leave their personal information in the hands of machines and programs. Recently banking sites, e-commerce sites (think Amazon) and even government websites have come under fire regarding the measures they have in place to keep your security safe! There is a growing concern cybercriminals will break into someones accounts and change settings, steal passwords and card numbers and even worse, take a users identity. 

With all the hype it is important I leave you with one message: The security of your data, starts with you!

[echansen5-blog]

This article refers to the the number of online sales that occured during days after Thanksgiving dubbed "Black Friday." In past years, the sales were limited to only the Friday after Thanksgiving, the success has created it to be a week long event. The rise of what is known as "Cyber Monday" has led to cheap online shopping. This article is claiming that online shopping during this time is at an all time high and growing every year. In my opinion, this rise in online sales is a precursor to a bigger shift in consumer behavior. With the accessiblity of the internet compared to traditional shopping, the consumer can find more and better deals all while avoiding the insanity that we call "Black Friday."

[jmhims201-blog]

11/18/12 blog post

  Many people have a YouTube account and upload videos to the site. Many people also do not know the rules and regulations on what kinds of videos you can put up legally. In Ed Carrasco's article "9 Things You Should Know About Copyright And Fair Use On YouTube" he gives people tips on how they can be better YouTube users. 

  Copyright is a huge issue when it comes to posting videos on the internet. Many people do not realize that when they post certain clips of YouTube it is actually illegal because it has been registered with the copyright office making it someones actual property subject to their terms of use. Carrasco gives the advice, "Whatever you do, don’t use creative works on your YouTube video without asking for permission. Infringement could possibly put you in a world of trouble even if you cited the work in your video or in the credits. You could be hit with a cease and desist order or worse (think lawsuit) if the copyrighted material isn’t taken down"(Carrasco). He stresses the importance of knowing what kind of work you are posting and who owns it. He gives a lot of insight on knowing the difference between work that you can use for free and work that you can't. 

 Ed gives various tips to help the average YouTube user stay out of trouble. He also gives advice on how to copyright your own videos. This article gives very useful tips that every YouTube user should know. I would read this article before posting your next video on the site. 

http://newmediarockstars.com/2012/11/9-things-youtube-creators-should-know-about-copyright-and-fair-use/

[paulrr-blog]

This is the infographic that I was planning on presenting in class until we ran out of time, so I decided to use this as a great post topic.  Music Festivals and Concerts have become a living and breathing entity amongst my generation.  Each one has its own personality and its own community that coincides with it.  From the fans to the musicians concerts create a very specific and unique environment that seem to be overwhelmingly attractive to people.  Fans not only flock to the event themselves but they also come together on social networking sites to both discuss feelings prior to the event and to also re-live the event after it has ended.  Being someone who goes to multiple shows a year (most specifically during the summer time) I thought that looking at the best ways to find tickets and what were the most popular shows of this past summer was very interesting to me.  Its cool to see how much the music business and online activity amongst ticket distributing websites gain during the summer months.  

The information is not the only thing that I found intriguing about this inforgraphic.  I also thought that the general layout and the way its presented to the reader directly connects to an inforgraphic that I want to make.           

[kpokelsisadeadendhere]

A new scifi movie is coming out soon, one based off a book where replicated humans have been at war with regular humans. The book itself takes after this war, when a new rebellion is taking place. The big thing about this movie though? It trys to show the potential for information loss and manipulation by corrupt government. That is something that, regardless of the fantasy nature of the piece, can be found important by anyone.

[emarkisms-blog]

Blog Post #2: lululemon athletica

Lululemon Athletica has been taking the world by storm since 1988 when it was founded in part of a yoga studio in Vancouver, British Columbia. We've been growing ever since, and our technical yoga and run clothes are now available in countries all over the world, including Canada, USA, Australia, China, New Zealand, and the UK. The company makes high quality athletic apparel for yoga, running, dance, and anything else that may get you a little sweaty. All Lululemon locations have strong ties to their local communities; they host in-store events ranging from self-defense classes to complimentary yoga classes weekly. 

Lulu is definitely all over the realm of social media. With Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Yelp accounts, as well as an official website and a blog, there are so many ways to find out about Lululemon and what they have to offer. Other social media sites like Pinterest, Instagram, and Flickr make it possible for customers to view products and fan favorites from Lululemon. The YouTube Lululemon account also makes it possible for customers to get information on products, hear from company ambassadors, and get yoga tips from experts around the world. Advertising to generations that have been all about technology and social media, it is apparent that Lulu has made its mission to help expand the yoga and fitness society and through social media, they have made that even more possible.

The most beneficial social media source for Lululemon is probably their Facebook page. The page currently has over 743,400 likes and 13,500 people talking about Lulu. The website features pictures of new apparel, videos from the ambassadors, location and contact information, interaction with their customers with comments on their pictures, of course events that are happening all over the world in Lululemon stores. The Lululemon Facebook page is a source for customers to not only get a glimpse at what products there are to offer, but to also interact with the company ambassadors and other customers. The Facebook page also provides information on events and pictures from past events to help get customers in the mood to participate in classes and events around the country and the world. There are so many classes at all of the different stores available, as well as larger events like marathons and yoga classes that hundreds and hundreds of people can attend. With this available, customers may find out about yoga and promotional events that they may not have known about otherwise. The photos section of the Facebook page can show you people in their Lululemon gear working out at these events, as well as show you what new products have become available. Customer interaction is very important to Lululemon, clearly shown by the pictures uploaded by customers in their new workout gear. The page is also a source where customers can get workout tips and fitness inspiration from Lululemon ambassadors as well as other customers. For example, Lulu posted on November 7, “There is no denying that mornings and evenings are getting darker. Since low-light scenarios pose safety concerns for runners, we asked our ambassador, Heather, for five tips for keeping safe when running at dusk and dawn.” This linked us to their blog post on a separate website that gave 5 tips on how to run during those dark hours safely. This and many more posts make the company seem more likable and shows how much Lululemon wants to interact with their customers.

  As it should be, the official Lululemon website is an easy-to-navigate source in which customers can do a large realm of activities. Whether you want to shop online for new Lulu apparel or find a store location near you, it is possible to do so on this site. You can also make an account to help speed up checkout processes in the future, make wish lists, and track orders. The tabs at the top of the home page also make it extremely helpful to navigate the website. With categories Mens and Womens categories divided into the different types of apparel and yoga accessories, there is no doubt that you will find what you’re looking for. You can also see size charts, fabric information, tips on cleaning the clothes, goal setting, and get some yoga 101 tips. You can also find a link to their blog, get career information, and find out things going on in the Lululemon community. This website is the perfect source for all things Lululemon right at your fingertips.

Customers can also find pictures of new products and fan favorites on Pinterest, Flickr, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram. The Pinterest for Lulu is very fun for customers, featuring pin boards with not only photos of the apparel, but also recipes, exercise tips, ambassador profiles, goal setting tips, photos of their store locations, yoga positions, and fitness inspirations. With almost 1 million Pinterest followers, it is apparent that the new social media craze has been taken advantage of in the best way. As they say, “Creativity is maximized when you are pinning in the moment.”

When it comes to interacting with customers, Lulu definitely makes an effort to reach out to customers with questions or concerns. The company offers live chat with a representative on their website, responds to Facebook wall posts and messages from customers, and even has a LinkedIn profile where information is given on job opportunities. The only complaint I would have about their social media interaction with customers is that they do not respond to customers that tweet them, at least that is what it seems like on their Twitter account; it is understandable however that Twitter becomes very overwhelming when thousands of people could potentially be tweeting you. With that being said, Lulu could improve by posting something in their Twitter profile information saying that if any customers had any questions, to contact them on their Facebook, website, or call their stores. Besides that, Lululemon has definitely done their part in informing their customers and providing excellent customer service.

  Website: http://shop.lululemon.com/

Blog: http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lululemon?fref=ts

Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest: @lululemon

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/22523?trk=tyah

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/lululemon/

[rileymillerims-blog]

Self Diploma, Self Made.

Self diploma “The company you wish existed when you went to college” is a small entertainment company based out of Ohio that specializes in live music and entertainment. Self Diploma focuses on up and coming musical groups and artists and helping them become known to the public. One of their most successful partnerships is with Timeflies. Timeflies started out on YouTube producing freestyles every Tuesday, but once partnered with Self Diploma, they began preforming at small venues and becoming increasingly popular. They even played here for the freshman welcome concert! Self Diploma paired up with many other groups and artists to produce a innovative new company that began to crowd all my friend’s social media accounts. The word over the summer was “What is Self Diploma doing next?” They are full of surprises and always keeping their fans interested. This company absolutely thrives on social media. Their Twitter, Facebook, and website/blog are constantly up to date with the latest news. My favorite media they utilize is Instagram. At every concert sponsored by Self Diploma, there are cool edited pictures of the live performance. They also post pictures of dedicated fans (like me, front row for Timeflies in Cincinnati), pictures of fans at meet and greets, and even behind the scene pictures so the fans waiting can see what the artists are up to. They will also Instagram photos of flyers of their future events.

@SelfDiploma is really an impressive twitter account with 13,943 followers and growing. This account is mainly used to market events. For example “Tomorrow night at @PLAYCincy, we have @RedBull hosting a Sneaker Design contest with @DJETrayn hosting --> http://on.fb.me/Tx8yM3” with a link to get more information. Twitter is also used to interact with fans. For example, they will tweet, “Send us your favorite picture from the concert last night! Winners will go up on our website”. They even take ideas for graphics on tees or new logos. Self Diploma is very concerned with fan interaction. Rightfully so, without them their company is nothing!

Over the summer, Self Diploma put on a summer long event called the “Self Diploma Concert Series” Every Saturday, they brought a new artist to Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati. They ranged from new underground artists to the newly popular Timeflies and AER. They posted a schedule on their website, www.selfdiploma.com outlining the summer of music. The best part was- every show was free. On the week leading up to the event, they tweeted updates about what the artist was up to, how they were preparing and even what popular Cincinnati activities they were participating in.

To make it more personal, they retweeted the Artist’s personal tweets about the upcoming concert. During the concert the Self Diploma photographers uploaded crowd shots and live performance shots to Instagram and twitter- trying to get everyone they could to downtown Cincinnati for the show. After the show, they posted pictures to the Facebook page, even tagging certain dedicated fans. On their website there is a section titled “Yearbook”. Under this tab you can find pictures from each event and specific concert they put on. Since it was free to see the shows, they sold merchandise at tents right next to the stage. “Self Made” tanks and artist t-shirts were really popular. They also sell merchandise online.

Self Diploma is very smart about it’s targeted audience- College Student’s. It’s logo on the front page of their website is” “the company you wish existed when you went to college” It provides what all college students want: a fun time, good music, and all at a low to no cost. They are social media savvy, as are most college students are and focused on having a flat out good time. What is not to love?

The only thing this hip company is missing out on, is Tumblr. I believe utilizing this form of media could really amp up their marketing and spreading the word. They could post blogs about past concerts or events and videos to show the fans how cool it really was. One look at a concert put on by Self Diploma, and you cant help but get yourself to the next one. Tumblr could also be used to post interviews with the artists. People are always interested in what they have to say, and it creates a more personal relationship with the fans. If the fans feel important and in touch with the artists, they will be more likely to be interested in the company. All in all, Self Diploma is a very impressive company. It keeps the consumer’s needs in mind and creates a unique and interesting way of showing the world these new artists. Self Diploma made a name for itself where everyone is looking- the social media. And today, that is what it is all about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9pP5g3_DaA

[tomlinhm-blog]

There are few companies that are as beloved as Coca-Cola. It reminds one of refreshment, Christmas, saving polar bears, family, Macy’s, the 1930s-1950s, community, home and joy. Coke is everywhere I go. I drink it every evening with dinner; it is the name by which I refer to all soft drinks (Pepsi products included). It is my favorite beverage with which to watch a movie, and I like to give it as gifts with a red ribbon tied around the glass neck. In my mind, it’s a symbol for happiness, and if you can’t tell, I love it a ridiculous, slightly obsessive amount.

I think the reason Coca-Cola as a company is so successful is due largely in part to the image it has created for itself through advertising. Coca-Cola isn’t the only product out there. Pepsi is very comparable to Coke (although some may argue otherwise), and there are dozens upon dozens of assorted carbonated beverages available on the market that are owned by other companies, yet Coca-Cola still remains on top.

Something the company has done well over the years has been adapting along with the changing culture while still remaining light-hearted and staying true to it’s values of community and sharing. One of their most popular campaigns is the “Share a Coke” campaign. There are commercials of polar bears sharing, people sharing, and even Santa sharing. What could be more adorable than that?!

Coca-Cola also does a good job interacting with their customers. Their Facebook page asks questions that encourage customer feedback while on Twitter, they tweet encouragement and thanks to people on a regular basis. This gives off the vibe that they truly care what the customer has to say. They also have a “suggestion box” on suggestionbox.com where people are encouraged to review their experiences with the company’s products, whether they are positive or negative.

There is a link off of the main Coca-Cola website that links to mycoke.com, which is a site devoted to interaction between the company and it’s consumers, and between the consumers with each other. There is a link available for people to follow the guy who invented coke on Twitter if they feel inclined to (he died in 1988 so it must be his ghost tweeting), and also a link that asks people to help Coca-Cola in their philanthropic endeavor of saving the polar bears. After clicking on the link, I was able to see how much money had been donated to the website, which accounted to a whopping $170. I’m not sure if this was just from one day, but it doesn’t seem like a very impressive amount, which leads me to wonder whether their website is very effective at all or if it is even viewed by the public. Perhaps it is just there for formaility’s sake.

Another option the mycoke page provides for you is the ability to jump to an application on Facebook that allows you to “send a coke” to a friend as a little pick-me-up. This coke is virtual, of course, and can be given by the inventor, a polar bear (of course), or simply gifted along with an interactive pop-up card for a birthday!

According to an outside source, Posse Social Media, Coca-Cola’s two major social media successes are Facebook and Twitter. When this post was written in April of this year, the company’s Facebook page had 41,366,566 fans while their Twitter had 522,143 followers. This author of this post said that her favorite part about Coca-Cola’s timeline is that they have “utilized it to the fullest by adding in all of their history.” They have also “captivated Fans” by using images rather than words. This technique draws a consumer’s eye, which is necessary for customer interaction. On Twitter, they consistently respond to people who are tweeting about their product. This not only encourages the customer, but also increases the amount of people who will be discussing, talking about, and reading tweets about the company. Well done, Coca-Cola!

Another interesting thing that Coca-Cola does is placing QR codes on select bottles that allow users to unlock songs from the year 1938 to 2012 through Spotify (which is most often connected through Facebook accounts). Buy the bottle, scan the code, and unlock the song. It’s a simple technique that takes the emotions found in music and connects them in people’s minds with Coca-Cola.

As far as my knowledge of social media marketing goes (which is very limited), I’d say that Coca-Cola is a leader in this marketing strategy. I honestly can’t think of anything they could do better. I mean, they even have a Pinterest! May God bless America, and may God bless Coca-Cola.

Amen.

And now, I’m off to the vending machines to get a coke. Writing this post made me thirsty like you wouldn’t even believe. 

_________________________________

Martinez, Jessica. "The Top 4 Big Players in Social Media." Posse Social Media. N.p., 23 Apr. 2012. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. <http://possesocialmedia.com/the-top-4-big-players-in-social-media/>. 

[meganraeashdown-blog]

Victoria's Secret

The fashion and beauty store, Victoria's Secret, encourages the use of the Internet to keep in contact with its customers and keep their business good.  Even as one of the most popular women's shopping store, the company still needs to continue their advertisement and commitment for the customers.  This can be done through social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Yelp.  With the help of these common websites, the company is consistently publicizing their merchandise and attracting their loyal customers.

One of the ways in which Victoria's Secret utilizes their Internet connections is through updating its customers on new sales and opportunities on the common social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.  They do so by giving details about new products, special gifts, and seasonal sales that may be of interest to their customers.  Also, the popular women's store promotes chances for their purchasers to win prizes in contests such as the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Countdown Sweepstakes.  The company may can also get the chance to properly engage with their customers on a more personal level through tweets and wall posts.

Victoria's Secret is also currently promoting their popular merchandise on their YouTube channel and the Instagram app.  They broadcast videos on YouTube dealing with their products, employees, and popular events.  Their commercials are being shown on the website as another source of advertisement, giving the audience one last chance to view their products and upcoming sales.  Also, they broadcast "behind-the-scenes" videos of their models, photo shoots, and even world-famous fashion shows.  The channel also gives the customers' makeup tips and workout videos to achieve the ideal image of the company, a Victoria's Secret Angel.  On Instagram, the company has multiple profiles that present an opportunity to post photography of their new merchandise such as lingerie, clothing, makeup, and much more.  Also, they post pictures of their Victoria's Secret Angels models and more "behind-the-scenes" of their travels and adventures.  The company even posts images of their new store designs and locations for customers to have more chances to shop in different areas.

 On websites such as Yelp, the company gets excellent reviews about their staff service, consistent sales, and product quality.  The majority of the comments consisted of compliments such as undergarment comfortability and a wide-range of options for their consumers.  With a five-star review overall, this store has seemed to have satisfied almost all of their current customers.  Even with that said, improvements could still be made.  A major issue with their advertisement setup is that they are constantly revolving their products around the image of the Victoria's Secret Angels.  They are seen as the ideal women that possess perfect qualities of beauty and sex appeal. They are constantly comparing their supermodels to normal women, implying that their customers should strive to be like them.  Unfortunately, the reality is that perfection simply does not exist.  I think Victoria's Secret should focus less on the idea of a flawless supermodel and more on the average woman that would actually be purchasing their products.  This can help improve the variety of their customers, making their merchandise appeal to every type of woman that just wants to feel sexy every once in awhile.

Even though I believe Victoria's Secret could better their advertising techniques, it's still clear that they have accomplished a great deal of success.  According to LinkedIn, It has become the leading specialty retailer of lingerie and beauty products over the years.  With their desirable fashion collections and well-known fragrances and cosmetics, they symbolize the wants of all women.  I think this profitable company achieved their primary goals through the social media, accessing the daily lives of their customers directly.

[echansen5-blog]

This article outlines the relationship between the Chinese Government and the accessibility of Google. The Chinese are about to appoint a new leader, which is the first time in a long time, so the government decided to block access to Google and other services provided by Google. This article is another example of government censorship to avoid the spreading of democracy. China fears that by allowing unrestricted internet access, the Chinese people will revolt. Google is beginning to get angered by the government censoring its content, thus it should be interesting to see the future between China and Google.

[jmhims201-blog]

11/11/12 blog post

   Social media is no longer just a website that allows you to connect with your friends. It has now changed the way people express their political opinions. According to the Philadelphia Inquier, "And as of 10:15 p.m., Election Day 2012 became the most-tweeted event in U.S. political history, with 20 million tweets"(Timpane). People feel strongly enough about their political views to post it on social media sites. This article talked all about how Facebook has provided more people with information about how and where to vote. This then has made the number of Americas who vote go up. It also talked about how much people were posting about the election on social media sites.

  I find it interesting that people are willing to put these thoughts on Facebook and twitter. People usually like to stay clear of these topics in fear of offending someone. Maybe like cyber bullying people feel more comfortable typing these things rather than actually saying them to people. I know that on election night my Facebook feed blew up with status both praising and bashing candidates. I don't know if people would feel comfortable saying these things in public but for some reason they feel comfortable typing it. Is there really a difference?  

http://articles.philly.com/2012-11-07/news/34974563_1_twitter-tweets-social-media-obama-campaign

[paulrr-blog]

My hometown of Rye, New York was battered by super-storm Sandy which occurred this past week.  My hometown had been seriously damaged and it crippled the entire town for an entire week.  My house was luckily left relatively un-affected, but a few of my friends houses were partially destroyed as a result of the storm.  Some were more un-lucky then others, but it is clear that overall Rye, along with countless other towns were irreversibly changed as a result of Sandy.   Sandy took out the power to my house for more than week.  Rye schools had been shut down and flooded for the entire week following the arrival of Sandy.  Sandy had left its mark by causing millions of dollars in damages in Rye and billions of dollars in damages throughout the entire NorthEast.  

This is a letter that was sent out by the Rye School District, I thought that this would be a good article to show and put into perspective to how super-storm Sandy was an extremely serious and dangerous storm that greatly changed a large part of the NorthEast, specifically my hometown of Rye, New York.       

[kelseyims201-blog]

Reflection Blog Post #2; Social Media Business Audit; PETA

            With the ever growing media crazes, many companies have had to conform to the new trends and sensations of this generation; social media being on the top of the list. An organization that I have heard about through these media outlets, PETA, has done a great job in putting forth their ideas in this era of technology.

            I chose the business and organization, PETA.  I don’t necessarily agree with all of PETA’s opinions because some of them are very radical. But I do believe in Animal Rights. PETA stands for “people for the ethical treatment of animals.” Their main goal is to spread awareness of animal mistreatment; “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment or abuse in any way.”

            PETA is all over the social media realm. I, in fact, already follow them on Twitter. To me, it seems like they use all of their social media correctly. They tweet and post frequently. In addition to a Facebook site, a Twitter account, and a YouTube account, PETA also has an Instagram, a Tumblr, and a Pinterest. It is quite apparent they are an up-to-date business; they would have to be because they are very popular.

PETA’s website is current. It is very organized and labeled in a way in which anyone could understand. On their website, they also contain a link to their blog, The PETA files. In the blog, there are videos and articles pertaining to stories that are centered upon Animal Rights.  The blog seems very effective because it’s written from people that are just like you; it is easy to understand; the stories are heartfelt.

It is obvious that PETA wants people to get to know about their company through social media. A blogger from The PETA Files, Michelle Kretzer, wrote this:

“Do you sometimes get down in the dumps about cruelty to animals? Me too. But to change that, we need to be gung-ho go-getters, not teary-eyed tissue-wetters. And it has never been easier to initiate changes for animals without even leaving home.

Getting active online takes just a few clicks of the mouse, and since we already use social media almost every day, getting animal rights messages out to hundreds—even thousands—of people is even easier.”

            It is quite apparent that the company is clearly engaged with their audience through social media. Judging by its 330,000 followers on Twitter, 1,600,000 likes on Facebook, and 45,000 YouTube subscribers, the audience is greatly involved in PETA’s social media sites. On their Facebook site, they leave a recommendation box where anyone can post ideas or give their input. On Twitter, PETA follows a third amount of their followers; that is a lot compared to other large companies.  

            By determining the great amount of likes on Facebook, Facebook probably has the most impact on its viewer. I also think the recommendation box helps with the attractiveness of Facebook. It is something that is used quite frequently, approximately 1 time per hour.

            PETA’s Pinterest has the least amount of followers, about 2,000. This is probably because Pinterest is the least popular of the social media sites. However, with the increase of Pinterest leads to the increase of PETA’s Pinterst site; they gain more followers everyday. On their Pinterest, they put PETA recipes (vegan) that others can use. This calls for viewer/follower participation if they so choose.

            The YouTube channel put forth by PETA also does many good things for their viewers. It is extremely informative and contains over 250 videos. Videos are also being uploaded very currently—at least once over a period of a couple days.

            PETA does many good things with social media. The fact that they are involved in all of the new media sensations shows a lot of initiative and attempt to create an awareness of their company and goals. In some ways all of this focus on social media demonstrates PETA’s appeal to a younger audience: Maybe ranging from ages 14-30? I could understand why PETA would want to appeal to a younger audience because it is easier to shape their minds when they are young, instead of someone who is older and has their mind already made up.

            However, there are a few things in which I think PETA should do differently with their social media outlets. On Twitter, for example, there is lack of communication between the viewer and the Tweeter from PETA. While the account is informative, I think that PETA should respond to some of the comments and question put forth by their followers. I also think that PETA should put forth some participatory questions.

            PETA has done a great job getting their outlooks out to the public through social media. I believe that more companies should take a note out of PETA’s book and completely integrate themselves into the social media realm. It is how I discovered PETA, and how many others will!

http://www.peta.org/mediacenter/default.aspx

https://twitter.com/peta

http://www.youtube.com/user/officialpeta/videos?view=0

http://www.facebook.com/officialpeta

http://pinterest.com/officialpeta/

http://officialpeta.tumblr.com/

http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2012/02/09/how-to-save-animals-with-social-media.aspx

[falynims201-blog]

Nordstrom

Since the establishment of Nordstrom in 1901, it has transformed into a nationwide fashion specialty chain selling the finest apparel, shoes, and accessories in America. Then and today, Nordstrom continues to offer their customers the highest customer service, selection, and value. And since the phenomenon of social media sites, Nordstrom has adapted in order to maximize profit and develop a more personal connection and interaction with their customers. After conducting some research about the utilization of social media that Nordstrom carries out, it is evident they have taken full advantage of social media sites for advertising their products and their store. Firstly, it is vital to have the knowledge what media sites Nordstrom has connected with. Nordstrom is connected on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, Yelp, their own personal website, a blog, and even a phone application. Their connection to these famous social media sites makes it evident that Nordstrom attempts to stay connected with its customers in every way possible.

  Their Facebook page includes constant pictures, new products, and an interaction with their customers with comments on their pictures. Not to mention the thousands of likes the customers post on their page on a day-to-day basis. For example, Nordstrom’s recent activity includes a “Buy 2 Mascaras, Get 1 FREE! Saturday ONLY!” I think that the Nordstrom Facebook page is one of the strongest and most beneficial media sites for Nordstrom. Through the posts, Nordstrom has the ability to post sales, events, new products, and pictures of products asking the customers what their favorites are, enabling customers to post responses and reviews. On Twitter, Nordstrom tweets more than once a day about sales, new arrivals, and even current events like the election. They post links to products from the store and respond to customers who tweet @Nordstrom with comments/reviews. I think that Twitter as well as Facebook is one of the biggest social media sites that helps benefit Nordstrom. Twitter and Facebook include many of the same posts of sales, products, reviews, etc. I think the links on the Twitter site provide customers convenience by being able to access products by one click of their mouse. Nordstrom’s tweets are upbeat, positive, informative, and appealing to members of Twitter.

  The list continues with more sites that help Nordstrom maximize their business. Nordstrom has a YouTube channel and post how to's, sneak peaks, behind the scenes, etc. I think that Nordstrom should attempt to provide more awareness about their YouTube channel. I found it so interesting and innovative that Nordstrom even had a YouTube channel featuring makeup tutorials, behind the scenes of fashion shows, and interviews with designers. I had no idea this was available on YouTube. I think that if Nordstrom made customers more aware of this, their customers who would find it helpful and entertaining would positively review it. Nordstrom also has a Tumblr page that looks extremely similar to their personal website with mostly pictures of products. Each month on Tumblr, Nordstrom posts pictures involving fashion, beauty, clothes, designers, or anything related to their store. Of course, Nordstrom has their own personal website featuring the products of their store that you can purchase online with free shipping and free returns. On the bottom of the website they have a "Follow Us On Twitter," "Read Our Blog," and "Get Nordstrom Apps" under a title called "Connect With Us." Lastly, Nordstrom has actually more than one blog. Each blog Nordstrom has created targets a different consumer audience. They have a blog called “Beauty 24/7,” targeting the beauty collection in their store. Furthermore, they have a “Men’s Shop Daily” blog, clearly targeted at their male consumers. They also have a “B.P. Fashion Blog,” meant for their female teenage buyers. These are just a few examples of Nordstrom’s blogs.

Nordstrom interacts with customers on their blog page, they tweet customers who tweet the Nordstrom twitter page, they have online customer service that you can access on their website, and they have even made Nordstrom available with one tap of a finger on your smart phone with their free downloadable app. I think that Nordstrom does a phenomenal job of utilizing a variety of social media sites to benefit the store and to create a personal relationship with their regular customers, and attempt to attract new customers. Their sites are all professional, aesthetically pleasing, and up to date. I think Nordstrom takes advantage of these social websites by not only having them, but also by updating them constantly. They are concerned with customer reviews and having the utmost customer satisfaction possible. Furthermore, Nordstrom tries to interconnect all of their social media sites. By putting their Twitter page, blog page, and a direction to how to download their app on the smart phone, Nordstrom tries to make every social media site they are connected with known to the customer. They have 1.4 million Twitter followers and their 1.7 million likes on Facebook, validating how much positive effect social media sites contribute to the company.

  The critique I would have about Nordstrom’s utilization with social media sites is that in an attempt to have more connection with the customers, they could maybe have a little more interaction with them through questions on Twitter about a certain product, or live tweeting sessions, or even maybe offer ways for the customers to be able to be put on their blog with a review blog or a personal experience blog with Nordstrom. I’ve heard companies that have done a live tweeting session before, interacting by commenting followers on Twitter and I think it would allow customers to see how much Nordstrom cares about their customers opinions and thoughts regarding the store, products, customer service, or even by answering any questions the customers may have. I think that overall, Nordstrom does a fantastic job of using social media to reach a broader audience of customers. Nordstrom is a higher class and more expensive store, but I think that through these social media connections, Nordstrom attempts to reach a more wholesome audience of families, trying to make Nordstrom appealing and affordable to all groups of people and to all ages. Through social media sites, Nordstrom, and all companies, have the opportunity to express their stores unique taste and offers. I think that Nordstrom’s variety of connections on social media, up to date posts, millions of followers, and constant adaptation to the social media phenomenon enables Nordstrom to explore all of their opportunities in a positive and successful way.

[andrewwheath-blog]

American Eagle Outfitters 

American Eagle has become a staple in the wardrobes of teenagers and even young professionals. With the ever-growing market and the appeal of young people, social media has started becoming more and more important in their efforts to advertise.

            With our generation being all about social media, there is no better way to advertise to a younger audience than on the technology that many of us spend way more time on than we want to admit. American Eagle or more commonly know just as AE, has taken its work outside of jus the malls of America and the online store. AE is now on all of the major social media websites, Twitter, Facebook, even Instagram. With each new technology is a new genre of people in which they can reach not only nationally but also globally.

            Out of all of these social media sites, Facebook is probably the most beneficial in terms of advertising for American Eagle. Not only does their Facebook page contain images of their latest adds, but also features pictures submitted by costumers in which they are wearing clothing from AE. I think that this helps them because it allows people to look at how other people look in the clothing and then they are more likely to buy it if they see a real person in the clothes rather than just a model that has nothing in common with them. In short, these pictures make the clothing more relatable to the people who are most likely going to go out and buy them.

            Another way that American Eagle uses Facebook successfully is by posting photos that advertise their latest deals. For example, on November 1, American Eagle promoted a photo of a stack of folded hoodies with the caption “Stack the line up” advertising that all hoodies were on sale for $24.99. These frequent ads helps inform people of the latest deals, incase they haven’t been to the actual store, or the online store in a while. In a sense, it is free advertising, and unless you decided to not “like” the American Eagle Facebook page, there is no way to get around seeing advertisements at least one or two times a month. Facebook has also been their site for posting videos from the set of their photo shoots.  I suppose that these backstage passes are supposed to entertain the audience and get them interested in the new products that will be coming out soon. I, myself, have never actually watched one before doing the research for this post, so I don’t know how many people actually take the time to watch them when they appear on our newsfeed.

            American Eagle has also started using Twitter as a means to communicate with their customers. Often times they will tweet a question, such as, “What is your favorite thing to wear on a night on the town?” These types of open ended questions allows them to not only seem more personal, but also helps them to know their audience in the a more direct way, therefore they can help to tailor what type of products they are selling, to the information that they receive from social media sites.

            The newest way that American Eagle has expanded their social media world is through Instagram. With this relatively new site based solely on the sharing of pictures, it is perfect for the clothing company to give small glimpses of new products or else to share photos that people have sent them. Ultimately, the AE Instagram account probably isn’t doing a whole lot more than the Facebook photos are, but it is the fact that they are expanding the audience in which is possible for them to reach, that makes it successful.

            One of the downfalls to American Eagles social media tactics is that the majority of the photos and information look the same. They are always the same type of ads, displaying the latest and greatest clothing, or else telling you how much you can save. However, I think that something they could improve upon is to use social media more as information as far as their products work. How many times have you looked at an outfit in an ad, but would never be able to put a similar outfit together by yourself? Or else have tried on the outfit that you saw, and it doesn’t look good on you? These types of problems are issues that people face often while shopping. If American Eagle were to make YouTube videos, of topics like, how to make an outfit, or what you should look for in finding the perfect fit jean at AE, then I think not only would it get them onto a social media site that they don’t have a whole lot of involvement on now, and hopefully be helping their audience at the same time.

            But as all AE social networking sites ensure us, no matter what, you can always #LiveYourLife in #AEJeans. 

[taylorhims201-blog]

Reflection Blog Post #2

The company that I chose to write about today regarding social media usage within their business is Brick Street. (or Brick for short) Brick is a bar located in the Uptown area of Oxford, a popular place for Miami University students. They go for drinks and dancing at night, food and football games during the day, and fun with friends at all times.

Brick Street is a very successful business on Oxford, arguably one of the most successful, and it is known for bringing in celebrities for concerts, hosting parties for current events are going on, (i.e. election viewing, hurricane relief parties, etc) and of course for bringing back classic songs on Tuesdays for 90s night. How did they get so successful, you ask? Besides their steller location in a college-town and appeal to anybody wanting to have a good time, Brick Street relies heavily on social media for it's success.

Through their own website, Twitter, and Facebook pages, Brick Street interacts with its customers in various ways to get them to go there as many times as possible.

On their personal website, they sell tickets to concerts, include their menu for food and drinks, list a schedule of events for the week, give information about renting the place, etc. They have just about everything covered when it comes to any general questions, and besides calling or walking in, this would be the best social media source to go to when you have a question.

Other important social media sources that they have include their Twitter and Facebook. If you follow or like their pages, you are given updates on events and special deals you may not have known about if you weren't following them. These are the pieces of social media they use to have interactions with their customers. Some examples include asking customers to tweet at them for ticket giveaways, show the bouncers at the door a tweet to get in for free, or facebooking pictures of prizes you could possibly win if you went to Brick Street that night.

Overall, I think they do an excellent job in communication via social media to students. By having a website that is resourceful, professional-looking, and organized, anybody is able to go onto it and get mostly any question answered. They also do a great job with communicating on social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter by regularly updating and interacting with students to help make them feel more connected to the bar. 

Something that I think they could improve on, however, would be their audience appeal. Yes, the majority of people who are going to Brick Street and who will even be reading what they put online is students, however, students aren’t the only people who will be going to the bar or researching their place. There are other demographics of people who will go to Brick Street rather than just 18-22 year old students, such as adults, people who live in Oxford of all ages, and parents of students. Most of the posts they make on their social media outlets are directed only towards students and may turn adults off from coming because of the unprofessionalism. An example of this is this Facebook status:

Although this can be seen as funny to some college students, it may be offensive to some or any other person who would stumble upon this status. People who may be offended include those who are fans of Paul Ryan or are of the Republican party, because it could make the political figure seem as if he is demeaning those who were to drink those beverages.

Another thing I would suggest for improvement would be to expand their horizons even more when it comes to social media. As far as I know, they only have a Facebook and a Twitter. Although these are very popular websites among students, it wouldn't hurt for them to put the company out there even more on other websites such as Youtube. (they could feature videos from concerts, make promotional videos, etc.) There are other places they could also set up profiles to make themselves look more professional, such as LinkedIn. Overall, setting these additional sites up would do nothing but help them in the long-run when it comes to getting their name out there.

In conclusion, I think that Brick Street is an excellent place to go to. Whether you want to go for food and watching a sports game at the bar, watch talented students play live music every Wednesday at 'Piano Man', or even have a good time on the dancefloor to 90's night, Brick is your place to go. They do a great job at creating a fun atmosphere and realing students into going, both during the week and the weekend. Although they could improve on their audience appeal and have even more social outlets, I think they do a great job when it comes to social media usage because they're doing exactly what they should be: appealing to students through deals and interaction. I know that this has worked for me and gotten me to personally go there, and I'm sure it has worked for plently of other students. They're a very successful business here in Oxford, and their use of social media is just one reason why.