Bad press and social media

Hey Everyone,

I know the class is over but I saw this article this morning and I wanted to comment. JetBlue

JetBlue has worked hard to use social media as a means to make itself very transparent to its customers. They are known for responding to customers over social media very fast. They are doing exactly what we were taught social media should be used for...building a trust network.

This article sheds light on some of my reservations regarding heavy use of social media...in times of chaos for a company, can the use of social media (or lack there of) hurt the them more than help?

Mike Tracy

Hoboken Bound

I just got a text from my friend with exciting news.... Her blog is featured today on wordpress! I just had to share it! 

hoboken bound

Thanks for a great 5 weeks!

Brette-Ashley 

Consider QR Codes in SWOT Analyses

Although I had not been introduced to them until this class, QR codes are becoming more and more popular in the U.S.  I did some research on them, and found they are not just a catchy way to lure consumers to a website, but they are a new technology that is changing the way business is performed.


Used in Japan since 1994, these codes are utilized in Japan’s manufacturing, passports, perishable food markets and even on bodies in morgues! The U.S. is sure to follow, and with these codes placing even more information at consumers’ fingertips, they are certain to change the U.S. marketplace over time.

One industry that I expect to change is the farming industry—particularly how fresh produce is marketed in stores. At the present time, a Chiquita sticker adorns a banana here or there, but in general, consumers do not know where the produce was grown, when it was harvested, how it was grown, etc. QR codes could change all that. Local farmers would do well to learn about QR codes now, so they can use coded stickers to advertise that the produce was harvested that morning, just down the street, and that it includes the vitamins and minerals shoppers desire.

QR codes can certainly change the U.S. marketplace, making it more competitive than ever. The implications of these codes are definitely something to consider during SWOT analyses—not just for farmers, but for any industry that could be impacted.

Diane Braselton
MSMK 3

Kicking it's way to 5000 strong through the use of Social Media

Hey Guys,
  I thought I would share a local sports league social media sucess.   I play in the Kickball League of Rochester and Ryan's (the founder) use of social media has really helped the league grow from 45 players to a whopping 4,500 in just 2 years!   KLOR is the largest kickball league in one city in America!  Its use of Facebook is especially important.  In fact- this was the primary way I organized my team when I captain'd last year.  The league uses facebook (and now other outlets) to its advantage and its really spread the league virally through Rochester.   Check out their site and maybe I will see you on the field for Fall Ball!  (or maybe from the bench - I'm not that great lol)

http://www.kickball-rochester.com/


Danielle Gore
MSMK #3

Tweeting Football Players

Okay, so I am a HUGE professional football fan.  Not to the point of obsession but close.  In the recent year, I have seen how social media has tremendously affected this industry.  Twitter seems to be the social media tool of choice that athletes such as Terrell Owens use to promote his brand.  Twitter allows players to connect with their fans in a non-threatening manner that in-turn strokes their egos.

Recently, during training camp, the coach of the Cleveland Browns lectured his player on the sue of Twitter and the effects that it could have on their personal brands as well as the teams.  This conversation was the result of Browns player Brandon McDonald tweeting a disparaging remark about football player Terrell Owens. View Tweet Here.  In the aftermath of this action, McDonald was told to apologize and remove the tweet from his account.  Now we all know that nothing is every really removed from the internet and there are ways to find deleted online content.

Due to the increased use of Twitter by players,  the NFL has instituted a rule that forbids players from tweeting during games according to Mashable.com.  Fines have been $2500 up to $25000.  Based upon the recent actions of McDonald, I believe there will be some stipulations as it relates to tweeting during the season.  I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Anitra Anderson

Idea Generation

Upon leaving last class, I was still fascinated by the  "My Starbucks Idea" Web site we'd discussed.  So many companies ask for ideas and input in the form of an online suggestion box, but once submitted, the path of the idea is typically lost.  On Starbuck's Web site, people can submit ideas, others can see them and vote on them, and there's typically someone from Starbucks who follows up with a response to the idea or comment.  What a great concept!

As we saw in the video interview with a Starbucks representative, support for the "My Starbucks Idea" Web site had to come from the top down.  It seems like such a unique situation now, a company totally opening up their doors for everyone to see. Yet for successful companies, I believe this will start to become more of the norm.

Marcy Pontius
MSMK 3

Giving it a Try

Despite my earlier techno-fright (or maybe techo-laxity is a better term), I have decided to embrace social media while I search for my dream job in marketing. In pursuit of a better portfolio, I have decided to bring an idea I've had for some time to fruition: a blog about local businesses. Check out wnylocals.com and, if you feel so inclined, please follow it. While it's in the early stages now, it promises to be huge.

Erin Caldwell
MSMK3

QR codes and the jazz fest

To follow up on Bob's QR code post here I am scanning the QR code my company created for the jazz fest that allowed the entire schedule (see the poster to the right) to be downloaded to a person's phone. 

I think the debate between QR codes and ms codes is going to get interesting. 

thanks for all your interesting posts. You guy find the most interesting stuff. Thank you so much. Deb

Comparison of QR codes and MS tags

Fellow classmates: please check this website blog show above and this briefly compares

between the MS tags that are found on magazine ads for anyone with a cell phone to view

any product demos AND QR codes are similar fashion but allows you to view any interactive

item at a festival. Notice the bar codes are different and we must understand & explore how�

those codes work if to be used more commonly... which one seems more effective? Will there

be any more codes in the near future as technology moves rapidly? What do you think?

Bob Green (Cohort #3)http://khason.net/offtopic/microsoft-tag-vs-qr-tag/

Fun with Facebook

For the previous 2 years I worked as a project facilitator for Community Action, part of the focus of my job was to instruct a class on job readiness, this included everything from resumes, interviews, how to dress, how to speak, and things to avoid when interviewing for a job. I am still in contact with many of my former class participants and received an email on Friday from a young man asking why I felt he was given a bad review, he had scanned in a copy of the review for and sent it to me. I had never noticed a company mentioning social networking on an employee review, his one did. He is in sales, and uses his twitter and facebook accounts to update his clients, while his accounts were primarily business related, he was not monitoring what was being posted on his page -or perhaps felt the posts would benefit his business, I'm not inside his head I can't be sure- as many of them were from...people inappropriate for a lamp selling networking page. Hmm, yes it truly is a mystery why this was a negative aspect of his review... :) :)
Dana

Zynga for Charity

I was very interested in how 7-eleven used Zynga and its Mafia Wars as an ad campaign, so I did a little research. I found this article on Mashable: Zynga for Charity
I thought this would be a nice short read especially since we are all working on social media plans for non-profit organizations.


See you next week,

Mike Tracy

FIRST EVER online videos

Hi Class! Check out this article with the first posts from the 12 of the world's most influential sites.

GO HERE

Enjoy,

Hayley

Lost PDA - Impact on Social Network

So...this weekend I lost my phone and was unprepared for the impact that its absence would have on my life.  I was in different state and away from home, luckily I with family. This could not have come at a worse time because I was the main contact for my family reunion and would need to be contacted.  I realized that my PDA was my primary source for internet and social media access.  I check my Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and email accounts via my PDA.  Being outside of the loop, I felt lost and out of touch with the world...my world. I utilize Facebook and Twitter to stay aware of current events in politics and events to attend around the city. 

This experience made me aware of the fact that PDA/cell phones and the internet represent a lifeline  to its users.  A lifeline that users can not be separated from for a long period of time.

Anitra Anderson

A blog a day, keeps the doctor away

Sorry if this is Span Guys - I thought I posted this last Friday but I can't seem to find it  on the blog- here it is again!

In my quest for investigating a healthier blogging diet, I have found a whole new take a food choice (emphasizing the word: WHOLE).   Since we started learning about blogs and online communities,  I have been fascinated with finding new blogs that interest me and trying to avoid the celeb-filled junk I usually read about. 

Organic vs. Processed diets is a subject I am really interested in and I thought I would share a very informative blog with you all.  When trying to shed some pounds, so many American's reach for anything labeled  Fat free or  Low Carb - whatever is the latest diet fad.  Is "Organic"  yet another fad that is coming into play in the dieting world.    The blog below has been really helping me understand why WHOLE foods are the better choice.  Check it out if you get a chance this weekend!


The Food Illusion Blog


See you in Class next week!

Danielle Gore
MSMK 3

Using Twitter for Consumer Research

As a Consumer Insights Analyst in the grocery industry, I've always had an interest in social media, but like many people, I've had trouble figuring out how I can get to the information I'm looking for.  After our last few classes learning about Twitter, I went on Twitter and searched "cereal."  I would have never thought people would be using Twitter to talk about cereal, but they absolutely are!  It was so interesting to read through the first dozen or so tweets.  This serves as a great start when working on a project to take another look at what's out there - beyond the typical point of sale and Nielsen information.

Marcy Pontius
MSMK 3

Is Google Googling you?

  Well I just finished reading a blog post on Mashable.com titled "Is Google Watching You". I thought this was a pretty interesting article and it made me think of the movie Enemy of the State with Will Smith. However, back to the story at hand, there is a new plug-in that was developed by a couple of individuals (not too fond of Google by the way), that will alert individuals when their personal information is being transmitted across the internet back to Google servers.



The name of the browser plug-in is called Google Alarm. The individuals who came up with the concept for this plug-in hypothesized that Google was collecting information from users on the internet without the users’ knowledge or permission. After research and product development, turns out these individuals came up with more than just a hunch. One of the users indicated that over 80% of the sites he visited had some type of Google bug tracking his internet usage.


With so much personal information being posted online and the emergence of social geolocation sharing media (ex. Gowalla) it makes me feel that there needs to be some type of limits in place to what people can share and what is allowed online. From this blog post and the information that was discovered I have to say that I’m not completely surprised. I am sure that most people would not be surprised to find out that companies are tracking your web purchases, and browsing history. As a consumer it just would be nice to know how they’re doing it and how often.



Justin Blair

Get your niche on at Ning.

Prior to our last class, I had never heard of Ning.  And prior to Ning, I would not have considered that cemetery lovers would want their own community.  But they do.  And they have it.  And although there are only 167 members, they're quite the photographers with 1,795 photos posted.

I found some other Ning communities I thought were interesting.  Communities for pilots' wives, RENTheads, owners of Land Rover Freelanders and bake sale volunteers.  It dawned on me that Ning, a site that builds community, is a great marketing tool for companies with niche markets.  (Which is why Epitaph Magazine created The Cemetery Club.)  Even though the target audiences may be small, many are very reachable on Ning.  And because this tool is free, large amounts of advertising dollars are not wasted on individuals who are not in the target market.  For six ways to use Ning for your business, whether you're seeking a niche market or not, click here.

Diane Braselton
MSMK3

Will social media change the way relationships happen?

Social media is changing the way we do marketing, the way we do business, and the way we interact with friends and family. We receive our news differently than we did five years ago. Will social media also change the way romantic relationships develop and grow?

Check out the video below for one man's take on dating social media-style.




Erin Caldwell
MSMK3

47TH ANNUAL PRINT DESIGN SURVEY AN ESSENTIAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

Print is still alive & kicking based on the 47th annual survey and we still provide print collateral & interactive.
91% of our design projects is based on print and more & more is becoming more evident on digital printing.
This depends on what your producing for your clients based on the requirements & its markets. The world of the interactive is alive & kicking, too... it is vital to have the best of both worlds for a successful campaign.
Enjoy reading this survey and keep in mind of other media to use today & tomorrow!

Bob Green (Cohort #3)

http://www.gdusa.com/issue_2010/06_jun/feature/index.php

Click onto this website and hit on the right side to view the survey & the contents.