I love to find information on Facebook. I love to look at pictures, comment on funny videos, and follow links to interesting websites. Lately, I have also found that Facebook can be a valuable research tool. I have started “liking” companies that interest me and that keep me informed of industry trends. A company’s Facebook page also often leads me to the company’s Twitter and blog posts. I can find everything I need without even visiting a search engine!
So Why Doesn’t Everyone Have a Facebook Page?
It is understandable that not all companies have embraced Twitter and blog posting because it can be very time consuming. However, a company does not need to update a Facebook page every day. So why hasn’t everyone embraced social media?
Last summer, I had a wonderful opportunity to assist in the development of a marketing plan that would help the United States Secret Service with their college recruitment efforts. Of course, with a target market like college students, I was the first to suggest that the Secret Service develop a Facebook page. However, after learning more about the needs of the Secret Service, it became clear that they would probably not want a lot of government information so easily accessible. Qorvis, a marketing agency in Washington, DC, wrote a short article called White House Meet the 21st Century 21st Century Meet the White House. Qorvis also recognizes that the government has a lot of information that does not need to be on the internet, especially social media. However, Qorvis suggests that the White House look into finding a safe way to inform the public of government issues. Since this article’s publication in 2009, the Obama administration has developed a very informative Barack Obama and White House Facebook page. I also agree that this has been a great addition to the government’s communication efforts especially with young people. I hope that other government organizations will develop a stronger social media presence as well.
In addition, Forbes feels that many Social Media companies experience the same issues. With such easy access to computers and smart phones, companies are having a hard time creating new policies for the workplace. Forbes suggests that companies should embrace social media to interact with customers, follow industry trends, and research competition. When companies train employees to use social media responsibly, social media can be a great asset.
Posted in Social Media |
As the cartoon suggests, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the large amount of social media tools available today. At first, I felt that Twitter was simply a smaller version of Facebook and did not offer anything new. Even after reading “12 Reasons You Should Use Twitter for Business”, I was still skeptical. However, after spending an hour exploring Twitter and its capabilities I was pleasantly surprised to find that Twitter opens up a whole new way of communicating.
Twitter felt like a big, global brainstorming tool. Everyone was sharing ideas, job postings, and industry trends. Even the celebrities that I am following were promoting tours, CD releases, and even other artists. I also found that many companies were using Twitter as a recruiting tool. Many of the jobs posted on Twitter were not posted on the company’s website or even the company’s Facebook page. Some companies even had two Twitter pages set up – one for the company and one for job announcements. In addition, many of the special career Twitters were quick to follow me back. It seems that following a company on Twitter is a great way to show you are interested. It is also makes company news easy to follow so there is always something to talk about during an interview.
I also used to think that Twitter was just for Business to Consumer companies with coupons and special promotions to offer. However, more and more Business to Business companies are joining in. “140 Characters or Less” by Megan Yamamoto at LeapFrog Solutions explains how any company can use Twitter well. It is a great tool to use to discuss trends, exciting press releases, or even spotlight a special client. Plus, many companies are now creating personalized backgrounds that help brand the business or explain what the business does. With Twitter, the possibilities for discussion are endless.
Follow me on Twitter @smith4ke
Posted in Social Media |
I was surprised that I had a lot of trouble searching for a new theme for my website. Green has always been my favorite color so I began by looking through all the themes with that color. However, many of the themes had too much white space or the font colors were hard to read. This theme, Dewpoint, has white text on a dark green background and is much easier to read than some of the other themes. My favorite part of this theme is the placement of the top navigation in the upper right corner. I like that this placement because it is different from the norm but still easy to find. I also think the leaf at the bottom the page ties the theme together.
On a deeper level, I wanted to choose
a green theme because I am very passionate about the “Going Green” movement. Even before it was popular, my mom always taught me not only the importance recycling but also the importance of eating organic foods and using products without harmful chemicals. My favorite video that explains how dangerous some of the chemicals in cosmetics can be is called The Story of Cosmetics by Annie Leonard. In addition, I was able to learn more about protecting endangered species after taking Geology at JMU. I did a research on endangered sea turtles and learned that if we don’t protect our beaches, many species of sea turtles could go extinct. I often use the National Wildlife Federation for more information on endangered species.
I feel that this green theme helps me illustrate my passion for these issues. I hope to bring this awareness to the marketing industry as I apply for job. It is not only important to be a good marketer but to also be a good citizen.
Posted in Going Green |
Welcome to my blog. I am currently enrolled in Strategic Internet Marketing (MKTG 470) taught by Dr. Theresa B. Clarke at James Madison University. As part of the course requirements, all students will be completing some of the assignments as blog posts. This is my first official blog post for Dr. Clarke’s course in the JMU Department of Marketing. Check out the blogs of Cynthia Bremner and Megan Henry, some of my classmates in MKTG 470.
Posted in Uncategorized |
