Laws and Ethics of Social Media

Privacy on the internet is an interesting topic these days. A rule of thumb, is that if it is on the internet it's fair game and public to the entire world. If you wouldn't want your grandma to see it, then I might think twice about posting those pictures from your wild spring break. For more information on what to post and what not to post check out  http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/07/14/netiquette.questions/
We understand that privacy on the internet is a sensitive subject but does it still exist or is it null and void these days?
Just because everything you post is available to the public, doesn't mean the public should have access to your personal account information.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/blogs/press-here/Facebook-to-Users-Dont-Give-the-Boss-Your-Password-143997706.html
 No you can't have my password to my Facebook you creep!

Apps

Apps, apps, apps galore

Red ones, green ones, blue ones, keen ones

I love apps give me more

Apps to pass the time apps to keep track of time

Facebook Angry Birds Twitter Draw-something and Temple Run

If the app is free YAY for me if it's 1 dollar well see if 2 you must be a fool

Keeping track of your klout that's what social media apps are all about

Maintain a positive online presence before you end up like Evanescence

Happy app, sad app, taking a nap app

1 app 2 app taking a poo app 3 app 4 app you are whore app

On the bus app, in a rush app, at the pool app, stalk your crush app

At school app you're so cool app

Apps with friends and apps with kin

Fat app cat app hip app kidnapp

Courtesy of some really cool PR kids at USU
Katie Duncan
Amanda Harris
Kandace Reader
and that kid in IMC

Apps are great! Draw Something is currently my favorite app, here is a little info about it!

http://mashable.com/2012/04/03/draw-something-is-taking-over-the-world/

Here is a list of the top grossing apps. If you are interested in being an app developer this is your competition. P.S. if you do become an app developer please remember me when you are rich and famous :]

Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/topgrossing?hl=en



iPhone:

Proof that free is better!
http://mashable.com/2011/07/07/freemium-apps/

Search Engine Optimization

Title tags, meta tags,descriptions, & html oh my!   

Search Engine Optimization is the process of increasing the amount of visitors to a website by receiving a high ranking spot on the search engine. The higher a website ranks, the greater the chance the site will be visited.
Search Engine Optimizing encompasses a variety of searches including image search, local search, video search, academic search, news and industry searches. 


Google and I are best friends because it is always there for me and helps me find what I am looking for. If you are a business SEO should be your best friend so you can always be there for someone. Here is a fabulous Google SEO Starter Guide for you to better acquaint yourself with SEO in order to use it successfully.
http://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/untrusted_dlcp/www.google.com/en/us/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf

Just in case you aren't as partial to Google as I am here is another great guide to SEO that is as equally as informative.
 http://www.seomoz.org/beginners-guide-to-seo

Collaborative and Distance Communication Tools

Peter Parker's Uncle Ben wasn't joking when he said, "With great power comes great responsibility."

Granted I am sure collaborative and distance communication tools is not what he had in mind, but it is truly amazing all the power we now have at our finger tips provided by the internet and social media. This technology has given us the ability not to limit our selves in any aspect in our lives by distance. It will be so funny to tell the generations to come that "back in our day" we wouldn't have been able to do that because we didn't have collaborative and distance communication tools like you kids do, and then we will proceed to tell them that way back in the day we had to walk up hill both ways barefoot! 

Thanks to distance communication you will never be limited or left out of something again; from updating a wiki in real time, to having a video conference call with the New York office while you're in L.A.,to living a double life virtually via Second Life.

As always here some helpful hints, on how to successfully use collaborative and distance communication tools from a few different articles.

Here is an article on how to make document collaboration a little easier with a list of programs and guides

http://mashable.com/2009/12/20/document-collaboration/ 

This is a great article on using distance communication (Skype) as a educational tool. 

http://mashable.com/2011/09/21/skype-in-the-classroom-tony-bates/ 

If that isn't enough to convince you, check out this article on the health benefits of social media!

http://mashable.com/2010/07/13/social-media-health-trends/ 

Viral Videos

Babies, animals, & British people...that's all it takes for a viral video folks!

Besides adorable babies, cuddly animals, and fabulous British accents, what makes a successful viral video?

If you are in the market to create a viral video there are a few tips in the following articles.
 http://mashable.com/2010/10/19/viral-video-science/
http://www.reelseo.com/viral-video-tips/

Okay just for I am going to share with a long list of my favorite viral videos.
This shit is classic!
http://www.urlesque.com/2009/04/07/the-100-most-iconic-internet-videos/


http://mashable.com/2012/02/01/shit-people-say-hasanyonesaidthisshit-videos/#4523114-Sht-Nobody-Says


 http://mashable.com/2012/01/27/best-shit-people-say-videos/#c9ehQ7vO7c0

http://mashable.com/2011/11/29/unforgettable-youtube-videos/#4-94JhLEiN0

Location Based Media

Personal I find location based media to be a stalker's paradise. It is sad to think that the future restraining order is going to have to include social media. From a personal view I don't see the point, no one really cares where I go or where I check-in, if they do they can call or text me to find that out.

On the other hand from a business stand point location based media is genius! It is practically free advertising, promoting, and publicity for the company all you have to do is bribe the customer with an incentive(anything free or some form of discount) and they are "sold" on using that companies location based media.

Mashable seems to have a fabulous grasp on successfully using location based media as a business tool, here are a few articles  and an inforgraphic that will teach you the tricks of the trade. 

http://mashable.com/2010/03/15/location-based-marketing/ 

http://mashable.com/2010/03/19/location-based-strategy/ 

For those of you that love free stuff check out ranker.com list of free things you can recieve by checking-in, enjoy!

http://www.ranker.com/list/foursquare-rewards-the-best-check-in-deals-in-america/mollie 

Traditional Media Views

Say see-ya-later to traditional media, not nessicarly good-bye.

Social Media is the future, and Traditional Media is the past, you can't have a successful future without the core history of the past.

The 'times are a changin' and I believe that traditional media is outdated in this technological era and will soon become obsolete. In today's world there is such a strong emphasis on New Media/Social Media, it holds that same core values of Traditional views but it is more efficient, fast pace, and dynamic it has the potentioal to be an extremly successful tool, if used correctly.

Here are a few articles are their headlines, that assist me in making my point


5Ways Traditional Media is Going Social

 by Woody Lewis

http://mashable.com/2009/05/04/old-media-goes-social/

The Future of Public Relations and Social Media
by Erica Swallow
http://mashable.com/2010/08/16/pr-social-media-future/



Social Media Marketing by the Numbers
by Todd Wasserman
http://mashable.com/2011/08/16/social-media-marketing-stats-infographic/


Moral of the story...respect the classics (tried and true traditional views on media) but keep up with the times and embrace the New Media/Social Media, it is taking over!

Blogging

Who even blogs these days? Okay in all honestly everyone blogs! Obviously, I am blogging now, and you are reading it, so there are at least two of us. There are endless possibilities for blogs these days, ranging from professional blogs to personal blogs, including; mommy/craft tutorial blogs to professional business/corporation blogs.

Blogging isn't just for personal journals anymore, it is new opportunity for personal branding. Your blog is available for millions of people to view on the world wide web, If you wouldn't want your grandparents or boss to see it, I would recommend filtering your posts. It helps to set professional guidelines and boundaries such as using appropriate language and tone in posts. I recommend censoring yourself but not losing yourself.

The key to blogging is to find the perfect balance and blending them to create a hybrid of a professional blog with the right amount of personality.

Here are a couple articles that give great blogging advice!
http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/blogging-personal-branding/
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2011/05/16/setting-personal-and-professional-boundaries-fo-your-blog/
http://www.slideshare.net/trishaokubo/blogging-for-personal-branding
http://socialmouths.com/blog/2010/05/17/7-examples-of-kick-ass-personal-branding/

Happy blogging and good luck with your personal branding.

Organizations and their use of Social Media

Times are changing and social media is not a fad,  believe it or not social media is here to stay.  It is time for you and your business to not only accept it, embrace it, but to also benefit from social media.

Social media is no longer the tweens social networking sites, it has become a very successful business tool. It is a way for businesses and consumers/customers to interact and communicate on a personal level locally or internationally. For companies and consumers alike it is a tool that can be used for a plethora goals. Social media makes it possible to reach companies or consumers, to learn about them and the products or services they offer. It has been and can be used to track and collect data, and monitor business and social trends. It can be used to establish hopefully positive relationships between consumers and companies.

I am going to share some fabulous social media advice I found from Sarah Evans article, Social Media for Business: The Dos & Don'ts of Sharing (http://mashable.com/2009/02/27/social-media-for-business-2/)

Three main points stood out to me in her article; be transparent, authentic, and be human. Leave a legacy. Your social media personality should become part of your brand's legacy. She also focused her article on return on engagement (ROE) rather than return on investment (ROI) which in turn will help to generate more successful social media, which leads to ROI. Return on engagement includes; tracking incoming traffic, number of people subscribed to RSS feeds, number of people in social media groups, and fan pages, trackbacks or linkbacks to posts, comments, and increased sales and general involvement. 

For a more visual understanding of how business use social media check out this graphic from Mashable.com
http://mashable.com/2011/02/14/small-business-social-media-infographic/

There you have it ladies and gentlemen, social media is not only here to stay but is the new 'it thing' when it comes to creating successful business via interaction and engagement.  Best of luck to you in your social media business endeavors.  

The Big Seven

I had a discussion with my family about my class schedule and course list. The majority of people I speak to are always so interested as what public relations majors study. When I shared with my family I was taking a social media class I recieved interesting responses and comments. My personal favorite was from my dad, "You are taking a Facebook class? What a waste of money! You could have just had your sister teach you how to air out your dirty laundry over the internet, for free!"

Now granteed this is the edited version but let me give you a little background on my dad to help paint a picture. He is a small town redneck (I wouldn't have it any other way!) He was born in Trenton, Utah and made it to the big city of Smithfield, Utah and thinks that he lives in a big city... He hates social media/aka facebook. He isn't a huge fan of technology and hated using his phone and only used the internet to check email.

After his general reaction to my being enrolled in a social media class I asked him to just hear me out and give me a chance to defend social media as an educational tool, resource, and business managment in addition to a social networking site.

I went through the main social media sites that could pertain to him and would be the easiest to convert him to, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. I didn't want to overwhelm him with all the possible social media platforms, Google+, Linkedin, Flickr, Tumbler, Pinterest, Blogger, Foursquare, and more.

I started with Facebook trying to have him look at it from a business stand point rather than looking at what 'dramatic girls' post. I tried explaining that using Facebook is a new way for customers to have a voice and to instantly be heard. I showed him this email that gives explains of successful social media customer service.
http://mashable.com/2011/10/28/social-customer-service-brands/

I proceeded to Twitter which he didn't even know existed yet a lone what it was. I told him once again to look at is as a business tool for a chance for the company to conect and relate on a personal level with their customers.  In turn to see it as a chance for their customers to be in the know of what the company is doing now, at that exact point in time, and to connect and be heard.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2011/05/24/true-tales-of-twitter-as-a-business-tool/

I concluded the conversation with something that was a little more familiar to him, YouTube. I didn't want to completely overwhelm him with social media.  I told him that youtube isn't just music videos and people making funny videos, I told him that it has become an educational tool on multiple levels. It has been intergrated in classrooms and  has do it your self tutorials for a hands on step-by-step learning method. This was the silver lining that made social media 'O.K.' He sterotypical hardass that can't ask for help or directions so he was a interested to learn more about what types of videos were available to him on YouTube.
http://www.google.com/educators/index.html

He thought that social media was a fad but I broke the news to him that social media is here to stay and he might as well embrace it.  It isn't just about social networking anymore and it has become a valuable form of communication in our society, and I would recommend to use it as wisley and responsibly as possible.
http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/social-media-it-s-here-to-stay-so-use-it-wisely-1.29304



P.S. I had this conversation about two months ago, he now owns an iphone and is slowing exploring his options of social media.