Here is an example: A company that sells a product can set up Social Media to enhance their business by showing product photography in a Flickr account. They can link that Flickr site to their Facebook page so that anytime they upload new product shots to Flickr, Facebook will automatically create a post that shows the new photos were uploaded. They can set up a YouTube page to show video clips of their products being assembled or better yet... show them being used by customers. The company can utilize a Twitter news feed on their corporate website so that anytime they make a Tweet, their website updates to show that information. Facebook itself can even be used to offer special promotions and discounts to friends and fans of the company page. The possibilities are endless!
Some excellent examples of Social Media enhancement can be found here: (please note: I am not responsible for the nature of the content found on these sites)
http://www.facebook.com/mountaindew - Notice the landing page tabs on the left side link to some specialized/custom pages and content as well as YouTube videos!
http://www.youtube.com/user/animalplanettv?blend=1&ob=4 - Note how the site layout is customized and includes special features not found in typical user accounts. You need to have many followers in order to "unlock" these specialized options.
For this assignment I have updated my blog to include various Social Media applications that I use to promote myself and showcase my work. I use Facebook and Flickr as online portfolios for some of my designs and photography. I added these "widgets" to my blog layout with the Flickr feed showing up on the right side and a link to my Facebook page on the left. I also added a Search bar to the top my blog. These were easy tools to add within the blog environment which will enhance the user experience... and hopefully drive more traffic to my online Social Media accounts. Feel free to "like" my page and friend me!
Paul,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is so professional looking and stylish. Nice job.
Now, social media; I struggle with it. I’m taking the course “Communications thru New Media” this term so I’m learning about all the sites, as well as signing on with them, but the jury is still out on how I feel about them. Thank you for pointing out the usefulness of them for the purpose of professional portfolios (something I’m in the process of working on and did for my blog) as well as for businesses. I wonder if businesses like Mountain Dew have to pay a fee to use these sites. It seems like a really sneaky way to get around the advertising budget! Perhaps that’s what bothers me; the loss of jobs due to Web 2.0. Tower Records is one such fatality.
In any event, your post really got me thinking and offered another perspective that I will certainly give consideration.
Thanks!
Patricia Fitz
Hi Paul,
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with Patricia that your blog looks very pleasing and professional! I know almost nothing about the social networking sites--maybe I should take that course Patricia is taking after all.
How did you get the Google toolbar at the top? Is that because you a Google account holder?
I clicked on the link to your Facebook page. Yes, I see how we all could better utilize these sites for professional purposes, though I am not sure how to KEEP the site "professional" if you know what I mean.
Best of all, I LOVE your logo! It's perfect incorporating the initials of the title baker-design into a clean, understandable icon.
I only have one criticism which I hope you take as helpful and not mean. I see two or three misspelled words in the body of the text. It's just a pet peeve of mine. I am one of our class's writer/editors and typos just come glaring out at me. Just trying to be helpful so your advertising reflects your inner creative person in the best possible possible light!
Now let's see if I can actually post this comment.
Sincerely,
Ann Marie from class
Your blog is very pleasant to read. It is very friendly, clean and easy to understand. I never thought about how useful these Social Media Tools can be when it comes to portfolio display. Logos are to be unique defying branding, yours is. Good job.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Victor
Thank you for the heads-up on the spelling errors Ann Marie. I need to get into the habit of spell-checking before I submit my posts. They should all be fixed now.
ReplyDelete