Instagram & Marketing

I've only used Instagram to make photos "prettier" that I want to text to friends or upload to facebook.  These businesses below have found a way to use Instagram to benefit their business and market themselves to those whose interests are similar to their product or service lines. 

3 particular topics are discussed including how to build your brand and be recognized in the world of Instagrammers.  Advertising "expertise" and productions or developments via Instagram makes businesses more marketable and credible in their efforts. The final topic of hashtags is explained as the purpose of the business wanting viewers or followers to be able to search for their products by typing in "key words" of interest that match up to photos posted by their company.

http://www.nfib.com/business-resources/business-resources-item?cmsid=60237

My next question would then be how many within the social network actually use Instagram for marketing purposes or simply to post pictures or as myself to make pictures prettier for re-posting?  Another interesting article highlighting the 80M subscribers and their activity.....

http://www.marketingvox.com/instagram-claims-80m-users-is-it-useful-to-brands-051346/

                                    My Instagram skills at work!  4th of July weekend 2012

Oh the choices!

So over the last few  days while thinking about our course and its' content and researching the web I found myself thinking a lot about all the Web 2.0 applications that are available.  My mind was kind of on overload from all the articles and links I was reading and clicking thru that I needed a break!  So while laying out at the pool today with friends and discussing with other friends who are young professionals seeking graduate degrees (all participating in various types of MBA programs) we found ourselves discussing some of the courses that we're taking and of course when Web 2.0 came up the discussions started grow branches while we all pondered the countless applications and tools available. It then dawned on me how do you decipher between web apps that are reliable and are actually resourceful over ones that may appear to be gimmicks or lacking creditability?  I just googled Web 2.0 apps and several links appear listing numerous apps and their explanations.  90% I've never heard of so how do you know which ones are worth your time?  In a society where everything is fast-paced and decisions need to be made quickly how do you determine which apps are worth looking into?  There are so many times I find myself surfing the web for one thing and I end up on the internet for hours researching multiple topics.  At some point we have to have a fair balance.  Does anyone have any recommendations for this or personal experiences related to this topic?

Authorship, copyright, and open access

There are so many opportunities for people to take credit of other people's hard work and creativity put towards the development of something in this day and age.  It's unfortunate we live in a world where copyright is necessary, but it's just another aspect of the internet and where we've come today with technology and growing trends.  It's important to acknowledge where something came from and we started years and years ago by documenting "works cited" in our school papers so as we turn the clock forward to modern times it only seems practical that we'd be doing similar citations in our online publications and works.  I was taught at a young age that whatever you put on the internet is bound to be seen and potentially used by others so for me personally I take these types of things into perspective before I begin typing away.  I also think it can be of benefit to note someone else's work because the topic at hand may be of further interest or insight to you and the trademark, copyright, citation or whatever it may be could potentially be the answer and link to learn more.

Happy Blogging!

In discovering the world of blogging I've come across so many blogs of interest to me.  I'm amazed by the creativity, design, and hardwork that goes into making them a success. Blogging daily may appear to be a simple task, but I'm learning that some bloggers spend a whole day or weekend prepping and taking photos for what will turn into 5-6 posts.  Blogging becomes a part of one's lifestyle and for so many an actual profession allowing them an opportunity to make some money.  So when you see individuals posting personal blogs and you think to yourself, "who has time for that?" or "who would be so interested in my outfits or daily routine or favorite recipes?" (Trust me....these questions have gone through my head!) well it's definitely a lot more than just sitting with a cup of coffee typing a simple message or thought.  I decided to update my facebook status yesterday to inquire from friends who has a personal blog and do they maintain it.  I got less than 30 responses and of the 30 only 3 people had blogs and of those 3 bloggers they all regretfully admitted that they had slacked on posting and hadn't been active in keeping them current. 

Want to get started or reboost your existing blog? Here are some ideas and tips to get you started!

Perhaps bloggers get a "bloggers block" (aka writers block) and just need to take a break from the world of blogging to find their focus again.  Whatever the case may be whether novice to blogging, taking a backseat, or unsure of which direction to head in next....I think all it takes is a little inspiration and motivation from others to get back on the blogging scene!

                                                                                                                          

Tech Bar @ the Salon!

My parents recently purchased a hair and nail spa to revamp the business and hopefully flip it.  In their efforts to regain a strong customer base and boost the atmosphere they have decided to implement a tech bar along with the new and popular color bars and dry bars.  The tech bar is a station that customers who are waiting to be seen or would like to venture away from the color bar while waiting for hair to process can stand at a computer or sit and enjoy an iPad until they are seen again.  I think this is a great idea for the professionals on the go who may need to reply to emails in between business appointments or schedule a conference call.  For the mom's on the go this may simply just be an enjoyable downtime for them to surf the net on the iPad to see shop online, or research an activity or camp they may want to send their kids to, etc.  While I consider "spa" or "hair treatments" as a time for me and a time to relax there are many times I'd love access to an iPad so I could surf the net or research something of interest to me that I may have not gotten around to that day because of other obligations and work. 

Here's an article on how other salons are using the iPad to allow customers to flip through hair styles and to see which one works best for them... pretty cool concept!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/fashion/a-new-salon-tool-in-the-quest-for-beauty-the-ipad.html


6 Creative iPad Uses for Small Retailers 

Moving!

Yesterday my husband and I spent the entire day packing and moving out of our condo.  It was exhausting! I went the entire day phone and web - free! It was actually nice to not worry about responding to an email or picking up a call even if I was packing and climbing up and downstairs 75+ times!  I will say this morning was a little overwhelming trying to get back to calls and emails I missed yesterday but I think there comes a time when we all need a little "break" from being readily available to respond to an inquiry whether by phone, text, or email.  I felt grounded yesterday and I think it's healthy to have that balance in time to yourself or enjoying face to face conversation as opposed to communicating via tech-world. 

We'll be away from our computers and phones again this weekend from Saturday to Sunday and I'm going to pay close attention to the # of calls, texts, emails I miss throughout that time period.  I'm curious to see how urgent (if any) the messages may be and/or if there are less calls, texts, emails because I'm not sending any out myself. 

Our society relies on the use of these tools so much that I think we've almost implemented this standard that people should reply instantly and I think sometimes we forget, not everyone is glued to their phone or computer.  I can sense frustration sometimes when I don't get back to friends right away about something or even to my mom when she sends an email to me at work.  Years ago I don't think people anticipated such quick replies but it's became the way of the world.....  I'll be interested to see what phone, text, email etiquette will be even 5 years from now!

Work Environments - To wiki or blog?

I think either a wiki or blog would be great collaborative tools to institute in any organization because it's a nice forum that allows users to interact and stay current with the use of web friendly tools.  By following a blog employees could check the blog daily for new postings and contribute feedback through comments and or posting additional resources that may add to or enhance a topic of discussion.  I think the challenges would arise in WHO would hold access and maintain the platform.  It would be a challenge to allow 30-50+ employees access to have free reign over the blog.  There would need to be a determination as to which key players should have access and then a set of guidelines should be established so employees stay within appropriate topic and web etiquette parameters.  A user-initiated effort is something that allows those in the company opportunities to promote discussion, thinking, or further insight into areas that concern the company and employees the most.

I found a guide to implementing wikis that offered a lot of details regarding the trend.  One of the key concerns is that people need to recognize that wikis aren't going to be a final product, they are a work in progress.

http://pennyedwards.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/final-report-september-2007.pdf

Between emails in and out of the office, conference calls, printed documents, sharepoint sites and employee manuals it really would be nice to have a general forum to house topics and ideas shared across the board in one central location.  However it does have me questioning me if we're really just reinventing the wheel perhaps?

First time buyers!

My husband and I are in the process of buying our first home. When we began "house hunting" just less than 3 months ago I would have never imagined the amount of stress I would undergo during this process.  I'm a very detail-oriented, planner, list maker, and "beat the deadline" kind of person.  So when we began our search I never thought of all the time and energy that goes into buying a home.  From day 1 there were so many questions I would have never thought of that have eventually come to surface over the last several weeks.  Each phase can take a day, or a few.  There's so much waiting and wondering and even times of nervousness.  We're just shy of 3 weeks until our closing date and I've found myself browsing the net trying to find sites or blogs that offer advice to first time home buyers.  I'm looking for anything and everything, whether it's questions to ask of your lendor/realtor/sellers or a list of "everything" you'll need, to timelines to dealing with the anxiety of it all.  Many of the sites I've come across are basic and are posted by various banks or people that work in the mortgage loan arena.  No site has provided all the answers, but I'm learning all sorts of information flipping through different links.  I'm curious to know if there's any sites anyone really stands firmly behind and recommends? 

Below are a few sites that helped provide information and even eased my stresses (a little)!

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/7-must-do-s-for-the-first-time-homebuyer.aspx

https://www.wellsfargo.com/mortgage/buying-a-house/first-time-home-buyer/

http://www.ziprealty.com/blog/4-ways-minimize-stress-buying-home


                                                       NERVES~ANXIETY~WORRIES

THE LONG IN BETWEEN.....TO GET THE KEYS

                                                                HOME SWEET HOME! 
                                                                  (the countdown is on!)

                                                                      

Pure Barre

Not to steer away from the purpose of this blog, but since it's about my personal encounters and research on the realm of the web I wanted to touch on a topic that has become of interest to me recently.  A friend of mine used to dance for the Orlando Magic and recently was asked to join the Pure Barre Jacksonville Beach team to instruct classes that focus on lifting, toning and burning!  Some may ask what does that mean but for those of you with a background in dance, gymnastics or cheerleading you can probably put the puzzle pieces together.  The goal of PB is to introduce a workout that promotes an all-over workout using small isometric movements to tone your thighs and seat and to burn fat.  Stretching is incorporated and in just 2 weeks time I'm already feeling leaner, longer, and stronger! My friend roped me in pretty easily and I'm certain I've found my perfect mix to my regular running routine training for half and full marathons. This new workout is quite the growing trend across the nation featuring 1-2 locations in major cities such as New York, Dallas, Nashville, Chicago, San Diego, LA, etc.  There's no crazy web 2.0 mediums for getting the word out but they are certainly on top of their marketing techniques by being active and putting their name out there on Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo Sports, beyond the barre blog and Vimeo.  Their website is user friendly allowing you to purchase classes and sign up online to reserve a spot in the class.  Pure Barre isn't exactly easy on the wallet either so I find it very helpful that Pure Barre has made an effort to put their name out there along with as much information as possible so potential customers can learn about the benefits and services to really determine if it's an investment for them.  With all that PB has to offer I've decided it's an investment that'll help me with my personal running goals and it promotes a healthy lifestyle that I think most want to achieve! 

                                                         

                                                               

How much is too much?

In response to Vanessa's post regarding her travels this week and Delta's in flight wifi service offerings it prompted me to really think about my internet usage and habits.  I'm guilty of checking facebook 2-3 times a day, I surf the net usually while I have my coffee when I first get to work and I probably send a handful of personal emails daily to catch up with friends or follow up on open items.  To think of my internet or phone usage int terms of a pie chart it really makes me nervous to think a good amount of my day is spent being connected to the world via technology.  I don't necessarily think it's a "bad" thing, but can this affect how I communicate and interact with those around me in person?  We rely on emails, texting, and social platforms so much.  Are we so accustomed that it intimidates us to ask our boss, parents, or friends questions face-to-face?  These are the things that psychologists and parents today may worry about for future generations.  A psychology from Psychology Today posted an article back in 2010 regarding teens and their internet usage.  To consider the internet becoming an addiction is a scary thought. Great article that puts things into perspective and will help us to appreciate the grandness of today's technology but help us to appreciate where we all came from before the internet was such a phenomenon.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/stepmonster/201004/teens-and-the-internet-how-much-is-too-much

Additional articles on the topic:

http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Spending-Too-Much-Time-Online

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-04-13/health/mothers.internet.addiction_1_internet-addiction-beautiful-babies-new-moms?_s=PM:HEALTH

Produsage

                                                Week 2 Prompt Response

This week's discussion question is centered around how produsage is or is not prevalent in your life whether everyday use or professional.  Until viewing our week 1 introduction WebEx video the term was completely foreign to me.  In class readings this week and outside reading I discovered the four fundamental characteristics that outline the term "produsage".  Automatically in reading the term my first thought is production and creating content, or developing something.  In understanding the newly coined term I can see where I may be using produsage in terms of "performing an activity that produces some result".  Examples I came across explaining produsage included: facebook, twitter and wikipedia. Of those three terms alone facebook and wikipedia are sources I actively utilize while facebook I also "contribute" to in terms of posting photos or posts that prompt other users to react (comment, reach out and contact whether by facebook or another source of communication).  While I think produsage was termed initially for web based reasons I think produsage can be seen offline in other mediums.  Produsage is definitely a new term and a new way of viewing producing and consuming as a whole. I would say it's of very little prevalence in my life currently, but I can definitely see that changing as I learn more about it and find ways to become more involved.  For a fairly new phenomenon I think there's great promise that it will certainly catch on quickly.

web 3.0

Check out this video from vimeo featuring discussions from different people and perspectives surrounding Web 3.0 and what the future holds. One of the speakers is author Clay Shirky (course text)!  The story was created by a recent graduate NYU student, Kate Ray.  I think Kate has done a great job putting things into a format we can all relate to.

http://vimeo.com/11529540

geeks & God

My husband and I are very active in our local church community.  Our church holds services on Thursday evenings and Sundays so we attended last night's service and I guess I just have it on my brain right now. So I decided to do a little research on what I could find in the Web 2.0 world of church communities.  Our church currently uses Planning Center which is an online worship and management center for churches.  We are active volunteers for the children's ministry at our church and signing up to participate has become such a seamless process for us.  We simply get an email notification and can click on a link that is directed to the planning center and allows us to either accept or decline the invitation to serve/volunteer.  In this planning center we can go into the calendar to block out dates we're in town or not so that when the church employee who coordinates the calendar needs to schedule volunteers she can easily see who not send invitations too when dates are blocked out prior.  Another feature of this tool is pastors and ministers can actually plan out sermons and meetings with the tools literally down to the minute! In a growing church environment you're usually relying on volunteers, members and those that serve directly in the church via email, texts, phone calls, face-to-face, etc.  It becomes very challenging to have everyone on the same page when your church community is made up of all different lifestyles, ages and in some cases people spread out all across a city.  Like most online services this one does come with a price, but for businesses I think they'll find it to be worth their while if they working with a vast majority of people that aren't always available to meet on a daily or weekly basis. There's a lot Planning Center offers in terms of focus to specific types of church services so if you're involved at church you may find this of interest to you! 

                    [Images below feature some of the services Planning Center offers]

To help you see how my church has utilized not only the Planning Center but other forms of technology I've included the link to my church so you can browse their web page.  It's really awesome to see how churches (something that has always been known as being so traditional) are just as much ahead of the game as businesses and schools.  Take a moment and tour Beaches United Methodist Church site and see for yourself how technology is working in many ways!

Somewhere in between

                                                      Week 1 Prompt Response

While reflecting on the goals and tasks for Week 1, I've learned that there is far more to Web 2.0 than I have been previewed to in years past.  With my decision to go back to school for a second Master's in IS I new that more online tools would be used as I explored this path of study.  Over the last few semesters I have seen myself using more and more tools and apllications that otherwise would have remained foreigned to me if I just continued on with my regular day to day routine without venturing back into further study.  The tools on the internet are continually expanding, growing, and being recreated.  For me social media has been very prevalent in my daily routine and interests.  Between Pinterest, Facebook and following my favorite fashion blogs I'm pretty up to date on trends of particular interest.  In exploring Web 2.0 further I am realizing that there are so many more tools aside from the "big name" ones that offer the latest and greatest in services, features and knowledge. 

Just with the little research I've done thus far, communities extend far beyond a basic webpage or blog.  So many elements of organizations or groups are dispersed across several arenas whether it's by participating in multiple facets of Web 2.0.  People are connecting on so many levels and it's more than just using gadgets, it becomes an experience. 

I'm excited about the opportunities for me to discover new Web 2.0 tools and how they can be used in different environments.  It is a little slightly overwhelming to be entering this course and automatically jumping into various social media and web outlets, however I think there's something to be said for dabbling and trying everything out.  I am hopeful to figure out where my niche in Web 2.0 may be!

Workitywork

In my efforts to surf the web and learn more about Web 2.0 and what all encompasses it I am discovering there are buckets full of applications and programs that really allow people to intereact, learn from one another and even give kudos to someone deserving recognition!  I work for a small private company that has experienced the highs and lows of a fast-growing and successful businsess.  I've been with my company for about 8 years so I've been around quite some time to witness positive growth and negative setbacks.  In fast-paced environments (whether work or an educational setting) I think individuals are so caught up with tasks, meetings, calendars, and following up with every account tied to them (i.e. fbook, twitter, etc...) that it's easy for us to forget to show thanks and appreciation to those we're surrounded by daily.  Everyone can use a little positive encouragement and/or recognition!  Workitywork isa  site designed for coworkers to engage one another and boost morale. 

This site can be utilized to say congrats on an employees accomplishment or celebrate with your team on meeting quarterly sales goals.  The site also allows users to track the work "vibe" and morale within an organization over time.  Polls can be created so individuals inputs and thoughts can be captured and shared with their peers.  With a 15-day free trial anyone can test the site out.

In a struggling economy who doesn't need this clever and creative concept? 

SeatID - Social Seating

Talk about making in flight experiences personable!  SeatID is a service that uses data collected from Facebook, Linkedin, and other social networks to allow those traveling to book their seats based on social and other similar interests with other airline passengers.  Does this mean we could potentially be sitting to our new best friend on the next flight we take as opposed to the screaming baby or gentleman snoring?!  With the solutions offered with SeatID airlines and travel websites are able to increase revenue while improving customer satisfaction.  To be come a member you must go to http://www.seatid.com/ and enter your email to join their invite list.  You can also request a demo so that you can learn more about SeatID and how it can help your business.  Currently access is by invitation only.  JWT Intelligence published an article recently highlighting this business as the way of the future in air travel. 

This is a new phenomenon that I think will intrique businesses and those networking!  It allows the frequent flyer to have more control in their traveling experience.  As SeatID says, "it's an elegant way to know interesting people".

And so it begins....

I would like to think I'm fairly tech savvy, but with this past week's introduction to blogging, tweeting, wikis and so forth I must say I'm still teetering in the shallow end but am anxious to dive in and explore the realms of Web 2.0 and the tools available for personal, educational or career use that can be of benefit to myself.

I am anxious to learn the in's and out's of the tools we'll use in this course and to see how they will guide me in my career endeavors in the field of Instructional Systems. My brain is overwhelmed! Between creating my first blog, signing up on Twitter and joining Diigo I'm really starting to feel bad for referring to my own parents as being "out of the loop" in terms of technology sometimes.....looks like I've got catch up to do on the net!  @ashelyspence7

I'm really excited to learn more about these tools and interact with the rest of the EME6414 group!  Vanessa wasn't kidding, I've got a spreadsheet going with usernames, emails and passwords so I can keep up!