I am a fairly new Instagram user. Being on the site for a year I have noticed the way businesses are really using it to connect to the consumer. We’ve all heard the saying ,” A picture speaks a thousand words”. I have noticed that a lot of businesses are starting to utilize Instagram for the tool it is. Applebee’s is a perfect example of a company that is creating great discussion through Instagram. Currently, Applebee’s is promoting its products by asking the consumers to participate in their Instagram page. Customers can snap photos of their meals and experiences in the restaurant and share them with Applebee’s to post on their newsfeed. I think this is a great example because Applebee’s is linking multiple social platforms in one setting. Their twitter highly advertises their current Instagram campaign and both sites link to each other. I think businesses are starting to get used to the idea of visual advertising through Instagram. It is interesting to see the transition. Instagram allows for the consumers to visually dissect the products or images being posted. Everyone notices different aspects of the images which makes for a very unique social media experience.
Mobile Marketing
I love mobile marketing. I am that girl that signs up for every companies promotional texts and downloads the promotional apps. Mobile marketing allows me to get the information I want without seeking it. I get weekly texts from American Eagle Outfitters and Victoria’s Secret. I have noticed that information is highly accessible to us now. Mobile sites let us get the information we want on the go. I am pretty obsessed with the texts I get from Victoria’s Secret. They always update me on sales and promotions going on. I think what draws me in the most is the way that they offer certain promotions, events, and deals to mobile users. When we download the apps and gain the promotions, we are kind of tricked into spending more money. Who can deny a special mobile only 25% discount on jeans? Let me tell you not that many. Mobile marketing is brilliant because it directly gives us the opportunity to stay up to date with companies we love.
My name is Ashley and I’m addicted to Pinterest…..
I am completely and utterly obsessed with Pinterest. My addiction started a few years ago when you had to be “Invited” to join. It has been kind of interesting to see how the site has grown and changed. I primarily use Pinterest as a way to see what is trending. The site is easy to organize and personalize.
Recently, I have noticed that a few popular businesses have joined. What I love about Pinterest is the way that the posts link to the products, ideas, or recipes that you want. Being a Pinterest addict, I feel like these businesses should have joined sooner. Unlike many other sites, Pinterest is strictly visual. The site itself can directly connect us to the information and ideas that we want from a companies. This site can really change and enhance the way businesses interact with their consumers. I am really looking forward to seeing how businesses start to utilize and take advantage of the opportunities Pinterest brings them.
Social Media Metrics
Over the past few weeks, I have realized that social media is a very intricate tool. What I have noticed is that the successful businesses and people directly communicate with the people they are trying to reach. It is kind of a trial and error process to see what works and doesn’t work for you.
Metrics allows for us to see what is working and not working when it comes to posts on social media. These metrics allow for us to see the posts that engage our audience the most. I have tried to analyze and take into account the metrics from my campus radio show Facebook. These metrics Facebook provides allow for me to see the posts that were the most popular compared to the posts that didn’t reach the audience at all. Metrics helps me tweak and change the way I am trying to connect with my audience. Even though we have a small following, metrics helps me see the ways the audience likes to interact. When it comes to social media for popular businesses, I can see why they are helpful. Metrics allow for you to connect with the specific audience you have and let you post in a way that best relates to them.
Exploring The Blog World
Blogs are a very visual representation of a cause, business or public figure. Good blogging leads to a high variety of content for consumers. Looking more in-depth into the Blog world allowed for me to see what works and what doesn’t.
After looking at various different types of blogs, I realized that the ones that were less “business” based were the most successful. The Whole Foods blog showed a great variety of content. I found navigating their blog fairly simple and easy. Their content consisted of various different recipes and DIY content. Their message was less promotional based and more informative. They know the type of audience that they draw and cater their posts for them.
I find that many look to blogs to gain information that benefits them rather than the business as a whole. These companies are uniquely gaining new customers by giving them the content that they want. If used correctly, blogs can expand the audience. Similar to Twitter, blogs help you build a different type of relationship with your clients.
#FF
I never really realized the intricacy of social media. Good social media pages are really the key to promoting yourself and your ideas. In class we are asked to participate in #FF (Follow Friday). Researching and watching how these successful businesses operate their social media is very interesting. Watching companies like Applebee’s and Cover Girl reach out to their audience is a very unique concept. These companies are successful because of their popular relationship building skills. Learning how to utilize these social media skills is really important for future success.
In class we were asked why we were choosing certain sights to follow. For #FF I try and look around and see who is practicing good PR.I love it when I see large companies directly chatting with consumers about One Direction. It is a personable way for these brands to be recognized. I am starting to see that promotion is not the key to social media. These sites we are choosing for #FF participate in the daily popular trends instead of promoting sales and events. I find this a really unique concept only social media has to offer.
#FF
I never really realized the intricacy of social media. Good social media pages are really the key to promoting yourself and your ideas. In class we are asked to participate in #FF (Follow Friday). Researching and watching how these successful businesses operate their social media is very interesting. Watching companies like Applebee’s and Cover Girl reach out to their audience is a very unique concept. These companies are successful because of their popular relationship building skills. Learning how to utilize these social media skills is really important for future success.
In class we were asked why we were choosing certain sights to follow. For #FF I try and look around and see who is practicing good PR.I love it when I see large companies directly chatting with consumers about One Direction. It is a personable way for these brands to be recognized. I am starting to see that promotion is not the key to social media. These sites we are choosing for #FF participate in the daily popular trends instead of promoting sales and events. I find this a really unique concept only social media has to offer.
Relationship Building and the Twitter Train
Over the past couple of weeks I have really taken what we have learned in class to heart. I have always had a twitter account but I never really used it. Since my recent activity on twitter, my tweets have been acknowledged by some of my favorite brands and people. As soon as I received a notification from Alan Carr (Chatty Man), I was fully addicted to the twitter train.
Watching the relationships being built between brands and consumers is very interesting. 4 years ago I never would have thought I could have a twitter conversation with Applebee’s. The amount of excitement I got from tweeting Applebee’s showed me the true importance of relationship building.
Relationship building is becoming a strong factor for success. The businesses that fully utilize twitter are the ones that we tend to discuss. When we are having conversations with these companies, it puts personality into their reputation as a brand. These simple tweets and favorites on twitter help us see the face behind the business as a whole. Social media allows for these companies to be seen as friends rather than stiff business folk. The companies who are utilizing this new tool help drive the customers to take action in learning more about them.
These businesses and brands are creating a great example for a producer and consumer relationship. It will be very interesting to see who else hops on the Twitter train in the near future.
-Ashley
Hi! I’m Ashley.
Hi!
My name is Ashley Handy and I am a communications major here at U of M Dearborn. I transferred over to UMD a couple of years ago from Oakland University. I always had an idea that this career path was for me but I never had the guts to pursue it. As soon as I transferred to UMD I immediately declared my major as communications and I don’t regret it. I love my classes and the great people I have met along the way. I am looking forward to learning more about social media and how it can be used many different ways to promote information to the audience. I have always found social media an interesting field. Over the past four years I have been creating Facebook pages for my family’s businesses and friends. I am most proud of the Facebook page I created for my WUMD campus radio show AM in the PM. Social media is a creative way to reach the audience. So far the discussions in class have really opened my mind up to the various ways social media can make or break you. The discussion held today in class really had my mind thinking about the societal problems the fuel social media scandals. The Ray Rice situation is shining light on a problem that occurs in many households. The interest and discussion in the conversation show that people are interested in the way we can change this negativity from occurring. It really is a sticky situation. When celebrities or public figures create these scandals they allow for us to discuss and see how the rest of society views those scandals. These “scandals” are also happening in our daily lives. When we see how the public reacts to and “fixes” the problems it also has an impact on society as a whole. The public’s negative views on these situations allow for us to see how society wants to operate and change. Our culture is constantly changing. Social media allows for the discussions to occur and are the first step to making a societal change.
-Ashley
aehandy 