Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Reflection Blog

Electronic Communication is coming to an end tommorrow, so it's time to sit and reflect about what I have learned about CMC.

Over all, I learned the basic definition of Computer Mediated Communication. I had no idea what this term meant at the begining of the semester. All I knew was that I would be blogging a lot in this class...and I did. From learning about CMC, I was able to evaluate myself and my bahavior with CMC. I use CMC, and that's a fact. I enjoy text messaging, emailing, iming, and facebooking.

But thanks to this class, I now realize that I am using CMC. Because I started realizing, now I focus on cutting back. When I am in the midst of a text message I frequently think to myself, "This would be a whole lot easier if I just called this person right now." So, sometimes I call now.

I have also focused on my time spent on facebook. I rarely "creep" on facebook anymore, besides looking at pictures on Sundays from the previous nights rendezvous. But, I do notice that I have been on facebook a little more than often lately due to finals week.

But, everything must come to an end. So I guess it's goodbye blog...and believe me when I say, I will not miss you.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Social Communities and The Business Realm

As the semester is coming to an end, we are all busy with project, papers, presentations and the dreaded finals. So, for this weeks blog, I decided to integrate two of my classes. One, obviously being electronic communication, and the other, marketing. Let me begin by saying that marketing is by FAR my least favorite class of the semester. I don’t know what I was thinking taking it. I decided to see how online communities affected the business world, and surprising, they have a negative effect of businesses.

An article found in the Wall Street Journal, “Why Most Online Communities Fail,” was published this summer on July 16. This title was shocking to read because I have been so use to hearing about how great online communities are this entire semester. So how is an online community not an effective strategy for businesses? The main problem: Businesses are focusing on the value an online community can provide to themselves, not the community. Surprise, surprise, a business is not worried about the community but more worried about themselves? Well that’s a shocker…

Basically, business with online communities don’t know what they are doing when it comes to these communities. Some businesses spent over 6 million dollars on an online community, but about 30 % of the businesses have only one part-time (part-time!!) worker in charge of the community. The other 70% of businesses put a single marketing pro in charge of their sites. A.K.A. someone who doesn’t know anything about online communities.

So maybe online communities should just stick to a social spectrum and businesses should stay away from the online communities.

Social Communities and The Business Realm

As the semester is coming to an end, we are all busy with project, papers, presentations and the dreaded finals. So, for this weeks blog, I decided to integrate two of my classes. One, obviously being electronic communication, and the other, marketing. Let me begin by saying that marketing is by FAR my least favorite class of the semester. I don’t know what I was thinking taking it. I decided to see how online communities affected the business world, and surprising, they have a negative effect of businesses.

An article found in the Wall Street Journal, “Why Most Online Communities Fail,” was published this summer on July 16. This title was shocking to read because I have been so use to hearing about how great online communities are this entire semester. So how is an online community not an effective strategy for businesses? The main problem: Businesses are focusing on the value an online community can provide to themselves, not the community. Surprise, surprise, a business is not worried about the community but more worried about themselves? Well that’s a shocker…

Basically, business with online communities don’t know what they are doing when it comes to these communities. Some businesses spent over 6 million dollars on an online community, but about 30 % of the businesses have only one part-time (part-time!!) worker in charge of the community. The other 70% of businesses put a single marketing pro in charge of their sites. A.K.A. someone who doesn’t know anything about online communities.

So maybe online communities should just stick to a social spectrum and businesses should stay away from the online communities.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The First Puppy


Who doesn’t love a cute and cuddly puppy? I know I do! I really love cats, but who can resist tiny puppy? I have my dog, Molly, a black shiz tzu, who is possibly as dumb as a rock, but I still love her unconditionally. My roommate has a dog that she talks about it as if it is her sister…seriously, ask any of my friends. I think everyone has a little part of their heart that just can’t resist dogs. Well, I think a lot of us know, and most of the country, that Barack Obama loves dogs too!

Obama promised his little girls a puppy to have in the White House. Of course, as soon as he said this, the entire part of the country that is for animal rights jumped all over this. They began texting, emailing, blogging, and Twittering that the presidential pup must be from a rescue shelter. If you don’t know what puppy mills are or what happens in them, I dare you to google them. I don’t think I am brave enough to even do that.

But, we have some hope from Obama’s endorsement for the Human Society Legislative Fund (see posted picture!) Obama certainly knows how mend the bi-partisan divide by bringing everyone together ogle over a little helpless one legged dog. But on a more serious note, Obama campaigned to stop puppy mills, and we can hope that he carries this campaign with him to the White House.

So what does all of this have to do with CMC? Animal activists are using all forms of CMC to get to the President-elect about this issue. Obama who has been labeled as the Internet President, must take notice of this upraise and concern about the poor treatment of dogs in puppy mills. So lets hope that Obama makes this “change” for innocent puppies!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

FAD

Due to recent class discussions, I am focusing this blog on facebook addiction. I wasn’t in either of the first three groups, so I figured some more research would be beneficial. I stumbled upon a blog titled the ‘Marketing & Strategy Innovation Blog.’ I believe this is a professional blog, but I am not completely certain.

The blog title, "“Are you suffering from Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD)?”" A main section of the blog is based around steps that lead to facebook addiction, and according to the authors, a person must have 2 or 3 of the criteria below for diagnosis.

1/. The first thing is tolerance. This refers to the need for increasing amounts of time on Facebook to achieve satisfaction and/or significantly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of time. They often have multiple Facebook windows opened at any one time. 3 is usually a sign and over 5 you're helpless. 2/. After reduction of Facebook use or cessation, it causes distress or impairs social, personal or occupational functioning such as wondering why your Vista is so fast and improved etc. These include anxiety; obsessive thinking about what is written on your wall on Facebook etc. 3/. Important social or recreational activities are greatly reduced and or migrated to Facebook. Instead of sending an email you post a message on your friend’s page about canceling a lunch appointment. You now stop answering your phone call from your Mom and insist she should contact you through Facebook chat. 4/ This is getting serious if you start kissing your girlfriend's home page or a VRML virtual walk through a park is your idea of a date.5/ Your bookmark takes 20 minutes just to scroll from top to bottom or 8 of 10 people in your friend's list you have no idea of who they are. 6/ When you meet people you start introducing yourself by following "see you in Facebook" or your dog has its own Facebook profile. You invite anyone you've met and any notifications, messages and invites reward you with an unpredictable high, much like gambling.

I know that we have discussed a lot about facebook addictions and such, but it never ceases to amaze me when a new topic is discussed about addiction. I also find it humorous that it is called social networking, but when the addiction is serious, a person becomes completely anti-social.

But, the author of this blog makes a positive statement about facebook addiction. “Call it Facebook addiction or fetish, I see this as progress of enlightenment for the modern life…The people's need to connect, along with the growth of social connectivity, would raise the quality of the social whole to a new and higher level.The organic composition of our social networks is growing. That determines networks as means of finding self-identities and not only as resources. Addiction may not be such a bad thing after all.”

Sunday, November 2, 2008

VOTE!...but for who?

So as most of us know, Election Day is quickly approaching. We have all seen the advertisements for Obama and McCain, but my public relations side (my major) couldn’t help but think about these advertisements.

Times have changed…so it is time for a new campaigning strategy for Presidential candidates. You would think Obama would catch this because he wants you to vote for change (that was my stupid joke trying to make this blog funny). But in all seriousness, why not use more internet advertisements? Computer Mediated Communication works with a myriad of subjects, so why not the upcoming elections, and the ones in the future.

Recently, a main demographic for Presidential candidates is people between the ages of 18 and approximately 25. But, where is place to reach this age group? I think we all know this answer…facebook. We all have seen the little side advertisements, or gotten invitations to groups, so I think an effective way to reach young people is through these mediums. I have seen a few things here and there about voting…but not about a specific candidate.

On facebook, above the advertisements, a hyperlink gives a person all the information they could possibly want for advertising on facebook. There is pricing, sections for targeting certain demographics, content integration and etcetera. This is the perfect opportunity to get a Presidential candidates name out there to a certain key audience.

Overall, television commercials work for Presidential candidates for a certain crowd, but to reach a younger age group, a more planned advertising effort must come into play. And that is as simple as clicking a hyperlink!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Deadly Texting


Last month, one of the worst railroad crashes in U.S history that killed 25 people is under speculation. It has been said that the conductor crashed the train because he was receiving and responding to text messages. According to msnbc.com’s article, "Americans still texting dangerously," people text during dangerous situations despite the risk. According to a survey released last Tuesday, 77% of American’s have texted while driving a moving vehicle.

Furthermore, the survey found that 41% of Americans have texted while skiing, horseback riding, and bicycle riding. If this isn’t Computer Mediated Communication taking over our lives, I don’t know what is. Surveys have also found that half of teenagers frequently text while they are driving.

In February of this year, NBC investigated the dangers of teenagers texting while driving. Ashley Freitas, from Waterbury, was tested by driving around cones with and without texting. Without texting, she did fine, but when she opened her phone, she completely missed one cone. To further the inspection, a police officer was tested and narrowly missed 2 cars and did not see a pedestrian.

There has been much talk about banning cell phone use in vehicles, but like every other law, it is going to be broken. I am guilty of texting while I am driving. I have never narrowly missed hitting something, or completely missed a stop sign, but who is to say that I won’t in the future. The texting aspect of CMC can be a fun thing to do during a non moving activity, but it is a seriously dangerous hobby while driving a train!