Social Media: Location Based Programs

This is why I love Social Media class. I had no idea about Foursquare or how to utilize other location based systems. The only one that I knew about was Facebook Places. I researched an article that gives a short breakdown of five of the top location based programs. They are Foursquare (and from what I hear it’s the best), Facebook Places (fun to check in and let the world know where you are), Groupon (which allows you to see business that are close and what deals they are offering), Blippy and Loopst (I still need to find out a little more about the last two). http://www.studio1c.com/seo-and-internet-marketing/419-top-5-location-based-social-media-sites.html

The article at http://socialmediatoday.com/trevorjonas/287597/3-tangible-ways-utilize-foursquare-event-marketing, that gives great advise on how to incorporate Foursquare in to event marketing strategies. Foursquare is something that I am definitely going to have to play around with. As someone that will probably be working in some way with social media for the rest of my life, I feel like I am slightly behind the curve.

I work for a company called CityGro and I’m trying to create a social media plan where I can incorporate all of these new things in to our website. Foursquare might be beneficial as far as utilizing the “check in” tool to allow people to show when and where they use a specific deal. If anyone has any ideas on how I can make that work, let me know.

Social Media: Traditional Views

Finding a way to branch out from traditional views of advertising can be difficult. There is so much information available about potential returns through newspaper ads, commercials and the radio. Utilizing these new avenues of social media requires a much more innovative approach. Everyone is tired of hearing gimmicks, sales pitches and clever slogans. While there will always be a place for those, no one wants to see an ad for a new shampoo appear on their Facebook wall. What people want out of a business that is using social media is to be a part of a community. As we learned in class, the most successful business locally that uses social media is Bear River Health Department. That is because they actively take part in conversations that are relevant to their business.

Companies create a Facebook profile with the goal to generate as many “Likes” as they can, but to what end? The only businesses that I have liked on Facebook are the ones that I have a personal connection to, or someone I know does. This is where new ideas are needed. Some companies spend upwards of 20 percent on their annual revenue in advertising. Social media is so popular because it is free. But imagine if a business took some of their advertising budget and poured it into Facebook to create incentives for people “Liking” them. It could go a long way.

It is a fact that people respond to incentives. Everyone enjoys getting something for free, but that isn’t the only way to draw a crowd. There are tons of niches that business harness to help spread awareness or grow their business. People respond to humor, creativity, causes, exceptional people, and the environment to name a few. I like this Old Spice video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE

They were transparent that they wanted you to buy their product but they did it in a humorous way.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2011/09/01/how-social-media-can-mesh-with-traditional-corporate-it/

This article spoke of the impact that social media will have on the IT landscape. Social media sites are saving businesses money. Instead of hiring a whole team of people to keep all of their employees informed about what is going on, employees do it themselves through Facebook.

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2011/01/24/why-social-and-traditional-media-marketers-should-stop-acting-like-fighting-lovers/

This one is awesome, it goes over some of the pros and cons of both traditional marketing and social media marketing.

Blogging

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,650732-1,00.html

I did not realize how important blogs had become until I started reading articles about them. I may still be a bit old fashioned. I didn’t have an email address until I was 19, I never made a MySpace account and I was the last of my friends to create a Facebook. My first blog was created last year, and that was because it was a requirement for my class. Taking a class on social media has really helped me realize how out of date I am.

It is hard for me to understand how influential blogs have become because I don’t really follow anyone’s. But apparently bloggers have become a valued and trusted source of news and other information. They have become the Rottweiler of current media watchdogs. It is a little scary to think that an average ordinary person can have the power that they do through their online presence.

The reason why blogs are so effective is because they are free. People see them while they are going about their everyday lives. Blogs are a way that people can find others with similar interests that relate to their problems. It’s an interesting phenomenon that people will take time out of their days to read about a stranger. I obviously need to start reading blogs to fully understand the potential that they have.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/fashion/07blogs.html

This article was also very interesting; it followed the story of a mommy blogger who had developed a large following, then because of one post lost her entire following. I can’t imagine how many incredible journalists or writers there are out there. It is nice that everyone has a chance to be heard. Blogs make it easy to get started; the trouble is developing a following. They say that the people that do have a large audience do so out of sheer luck. It is just nice to know that dreams can still be reached for all those people who want to reach out through their writing.

Social Media: The Big 7

http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2011/05/14/the-7-social-media-marketing-essentials-for-brands/

As I was researching articles on the “Big 7” of social media, I came across an interesting article about 7 practical uses for social media for businesses. As I have worked with various businesses to assist in advertising, the one thing they never say no to is, social media support. Every business owner knows that social media is important, it affects the way that their business is viewed by others. However, not many know how to utilize social media. I am excited for this class so that I might have a few more answers for them by the time this class is over.

One of the ways stated in this article that social media could be beneficial to a company was through internal communications. They listed a few websites apart from the Big 7, but also talked about how companies could use Facebook groups to help organize and keep employees in the know about things happening in the work place. The article also spoke of utilizing sites such as YouTube so help promote branded content.

Customer service can become outstanding through social media. Companies can use it to receive instant feedback about products and services. This can go good or bad for a company. The article talked about how the world is becoming more transparent through social media. If a company is lying or hiding something, it is easy for the world to catch wind of it through a simple Facebook or Twitter update.

People seem to be concerned that Facebook membership is slowing, they are taking it as a sign that the world is moving on to the next great thing. However, I feel that as people are becoming more competent with computers, there is only room for more growth. The article compared Facebook to MySpace. ” Many think Facebook will have a similar fall from grace one day and that we will move on to the next big thing but to think like that would be foolish. You need to think of Facebook not as a website but as a platform which will become as important as the internet or Google itself. Facebook is starting to force it’s way on to websites, it’s being built in to the core of mobile phones and soon you’ll be buying stuff through there and it will influence search results. Facebook is not going away any time soon.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/opinion/sunday/if-im-on-facebook-it-must-be-over.html?_r=1&ref=socialnetworking

This article was not related at all to the other one. I just thought it was interesting to see that even the people who were originally against Facebook and finally making a profile. Facebook and social media are becoming a way of life. Those who do not get on board will be left behind.

Final Proposal

Jim Laub
875 North 1000 West
Logan, Utah 84321
Phone: 435 752 6405
Fax: 435 752 9111

Dear Mr. Laub,

My name is Jackson Cozzens. I represent BlueCache.com, a revolutionary way to advertise and build better relationships with employees and customers. We wish to extend you the opportunity to implement BlueCache in your company. It will enhance the working environment you provide, and also cement your company as a valuable contributor to the community. We offer BlueCache cards to companies at a discounted rate. For example, when bought in bulk, 1,000 cards or more, we discount the cards to 10 each (regularly valued $35). With each membership comes access to hundreds of deals throughout the community and a personalized home page on our website where members select businesses they would like to receive deals from through text and email.

Cache Valley Electric has been a major part of Cache Valley for nearly 100 years. In our efforts to reach out and improve the community through a wide-spread notification system, our first thoughts were of your company. We know that CVE employs and extensive number of Cache Valley residents and that it is a company founded on family values, such as your “Tradition of Excellence.” You have a lot to offer the community through your special projects and furthering technology advances.

Even in successful companies, managing employee morale can be challenging at times, especially when you want to let your employees know that they work for a company who cares about them. BlueCache offers an exclusive innovation that allows employers to directly send SMS (text) messages directly to their employees. These messages can be tailored to provide motivation, encouragement, or even just a small word of gratitude.

BlueCache makes this easy. CVE would have your own profile where you can manage all the users who have decided to accept messages from you. This gives you the ability to send group messages to all of your employees, or to specific managerial groups. This system also gets them connected to the community, so they can hear from the businesses they like and begin to save money.

The BlueCache communication system has already been implemented by Utah State University. They bought 3,500 memberships, one for every student that lives in on-campus housing. They utilize BlueCache as an incentive to live in student housing. Also, they have implemented the communication system to give Resident Assistants the ability to quickly inform their students of activities or emergencies. These same communication tools would empower your company by helping to provide relevant information to your employees that they will actually read. People like to feel involved in the organizations that they participate in. BlueCache is the easiest way to make that happen.

The cost of a membership is negotiable depending on the quantity that you desire. The specific budget that we are proposing is $10,000. This would give you 1,000 memberships that you can give to employees or customers as desired. With the purchase of 1,000 memberships we can personalize cards so that your logo appears first and foremost. This makes it appear that CVE has taken the time to acquire exclusive deals at hundreds of businesses just for their employees. BlueCache will shortly be the card you see your children’s athletics teams or clubs selling as fundraiser. These memberships will help to unite the community by providing an incentive to spend money at local businesses. We plan to lower advertising costs for the businesses we work with and lower the expenses of those who spend at those businesses.

If you would like more information about the successes and possibilities of BlueCache, contact:

Jackson Cozzens
Jackson@gmail.com
888-888-8888
Thank you for considering working with BlueCache in the future. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

HEAVY WEIGHT

Proposal Letter DRAFT

Jim Laub
875 North 1000 West
Logan, Utah 84321
Phone: 435 752 6405
Fax: 435 752 9111

Dear Mr. Laub,

My name is Jackson Cozzens, head public relations officer for BlueCache.com, a revolutionary way to advertise and build better relationships with employees and customers. We wish to extend you the opportunity to implement communication tools in your company that will enhance the working environment you provide, as well as, cement your company as a valuable contributor to the community. We believe it would be in your best interest to purchase a minimum of 1,000 BlueCache memberships at $10 each (regularly valued $35). With each membership comes access to hundreds of deals throughout the community and a personalized home page on our website where members select businesses they would like to receive deals from through text and email.

Cache Valley Electric has been a major part of Cache Valley for nearly 100 years. In our efforts to reach out and improve the community through a wide-spread notification system, our first thoughts were of your company. We know that CVE employs and extensive number of Cache Valley residents and that it is a company founded on family values, such as your “Tradition of Excellence.” You have a lot to offer the community through your special projects and furthering technology advances.

Having so many employees may be difficult at times. Especially when you want to let your employees know that they work for a company who cares about them. How great do you think those people would feel if they received a text message from the president of the company with words of motivation?
BlueCache makes this easy. CVE would have their own page where you can manage everyone who has decided to hear from you. This gives you the ability to send group messages to all of your employees, or to specific managerial groups. This system also gets them connected to the community, so they can hear from the businesses they like and begin to save money.

The BlueCache communication system has already been implemented by Utah State University. They bought 3,500 memberships, one for every student that lives in on-campus housing. They utilize BlueCache as an incentive to live in student housing. Also, they have implemented the communication system to give Resident Assistants the ability to quickly inform their students of activities or emergencies. These same communication tools would empower your company by helping to provide relevant information to your employees that they will actually read. People like to feel involved in the organizations that they participate in. BlueCache is the easiest way to make that happen.

The cost of a membership is negotiable depending on the quantity that you desire. The specific budget that we are proposing is $10,000. This would give you 1,000 memberships that you can give to employees or customers as desired. With the purchase of 1,000 memberships we can personalize cards so that your logo appears first and foremost. This makes it appear that CVE has taken the time to acquire exclusive deals at hundreds of businesses just for their employees. BlueCache will shortly be the card you see your children’s athletics teams or clubs selling as fundraiser. These memberships will help to unite the community by providing an incentive to spend money at local businesses. We plan to lower advertising costs for the businesses we work with and lower the expenses of those who spend at those businesses.

If you would like more information about the successes and possibilities of BlueCache, contact: Jackson Cozzens
Jackson@gmail.com
888-888-8888
Thank you for considering working with BlueCache in the future. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

HEAVY WEIGHT

Memo

To: Suzanne Yergensen
From: Jackson Cozzens
Date: April 7, 2011
Regarding: Online Reputation
_____________________________________________________

Research has been conducted to verify the overall standing of your online reputation. You should be pleased to know that you are in good standing. However, there is room for improvement.

When I typed your name into Google, there was little information about you returned. The only links that provided any relevant information were from Facebook and the blogs you created for Preston Parker’s and Brenda Cooper’s classes. If I were an employer I would have been impressed to see that examples of your writing are available to be seen in a search engine. This would work out to your benefit if you feel that you are a good writer. However, if in the future your writing improves and you do not want your blog to portray you in a less positive light as a writer, it would need to be deleted.

I found that you were once a part of a group called “”Nothin Proper” Bout Your Propaganda.” You were associated with Whitli Godderige, Nicholas Larsen, Ashley Miller, Kaylee Mitchell and Jacob Norr. As long as none of these people become a terrorist, you should be ok. I found that in this group you researched topics such as, same sex marriage. What I found led me to believe you are pro same sex marriage.

Guatemala 9-1-1 was another project you appeared to be involved in. If so it would definitely reflect you in a positive light. It would be to your benefit if you could somehow show your involvement in the Facebook group. Any employer would want and employee that has been involved in humanitarian efforts.

It was not hard to find your personal information. I know that you are from East Brunswick, New Jersey. You went to East Brunswick High school. You have naturally red hair but it is dyed most of the time. I can tell you care about your physical appearance due to the places you have worked in the past (Tanning Studio, Workout World, Charlotte Russe). I know that you are public relations major, so I assume that you like writing. From the pictures on Facebook I can tell you like to go to parties and have a good time. One of your idols is Chelsea Handler.

Although from your Facebook I could tell you like to go to parties where alcohol may be involved, I couldn’t find any evidence of you actually drinking. It is up to you whether or not you allow people to see pictures of parties but keep in mind that employers are quick to judge in the application process. I would recommend not allowing any business associates to view some of your pictures so that you are constantly viewed in a professional light.

Overall I feel like your online reputation is in good standing. I would like to see more about you in the future. As a public relations representative, experience counts. If I were able to log on and see a list of things you have accomplished on the internet it would be very impressive. Utilize your time in college and try to get some of your press releases covered in a newspaper, or make sure you stay up to date with your blog and continue to post projects that you undertake there. It is the best way to let someone who is researching you, know what you are capable of.

I hope you take this information and manage your online reputation so that it may be found in excellent standing.