Interesting, educative, informative and entertaining are mild synonyms for what I have experienced these past 15 weeks of blogging and ITEC 335 in general. Looking back, I have wondered if there was anything I would love to change through the course of this class and I would say maybe one or two. On the other hand, I am wondering that if those times were not present, I might not be feeling the way I am now (happy...definitely). I have decided that I would start blogging when I get back to Nigeria. This is far from over for me. Instead it’s a beginning.
Back to the thing(s) I would have changed in the course. That will be the 14 days of Twitter. The only reason would be that I was not really interested in twitter because I didn’t see its use and effectiveness. That doesn’t mean that other people don’t have a use for it. Just me!!!
My highlights would be when I did the blog about employers recruiting through Facebook. It seemed like someone had unleashed a strange person inside of me. I just couldn’t seem to get past the idea. Maybe because where I come from, we are not even close to that kind of snooping. Hearing some classmates confirm it was surprising not because the employers checked their potential employees Facebook profile but because everybody who had gone through it see it as a norm… Well I still think it is an invasion of someone’s privacy (Just my opinion) Also, there is the measurement of social media ROI where there was the underlying question about how this is done. I found out that it’s not just monetary compensation that is gotten but personal gratification and (of course votes) when a goal is met. The best example of recent that I could think about was the president elect, Barack Obama.
I’m running off again. So sorry but hey what can I say? Anyway, if I was given an opportunity to do this course all over again knowing about it, I most certainly will!!! I was given the best professor anyone could ask for and wonderful classmates who made this experience of ITEC 335 worthwhile. As I go back to Nigeria, I would go with a truckload of memories(the lateral puzzles which I attempted just once, first class, the guest speakers, blog discussions, debates…I could keep going) I can say that I have achieved the purpose of this course which is social networking…connection!!!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Social Media and ROI……Way to go!!!
The 21st century has given birth to a new evolution of media usage. From the traditional mode of advertising like newspapers and television to web 2.0. Companies ROI is being measured by the effectiveness of their social media message. Brand name is of utmost importance to a company. The best way to deliver a brand name to the hearts of your customers is through advertising and web based advertising has an added advantage according to experts. Gary Vaynerchuk in the article Vaynerchuk on Social Media ROI by Peter Bihr says
Speaking of Brand names and the efficiency of Social media, the last guest speaker in class, Alison Byrne Fields talked at length about how the president elect Barack Obama has been able to use social media(blogs, twitter, Facebook, etc) as a tool to sell his brand (personality and product). He was able to convince the American people and the world at large that he was the right candidate to take the US to the next level. Also in her post, Alison talked about four reasons why Obama should keep using social media in the future. This is to say that the returns from his campaign has been great and his customers(the people)want more connection. Specifically,the people have expectations to be met by the brand(Obama)
ROI measurement isn’t just about money for individuals and companies. It’s about what the party set out to achieve before embarking on the use of social media tools. Barack Obama did not set out to get money. He wanted to make a change from the normal status quo using social media and web 2.0. In the article, What is the ROI for Social Media? By Jason Falls, Joanne Puckett sums up my points by saying
“Traditional media advertising is incredibly expensive and doesn’t provide nearly the rate of return you can derive from intelligent web-based marketing campaigns in 2008 and beyond.”
Speaking of Brand names and the efficiency of Social media, the last guest speaker in class, Alison Byrne Fields talked at length about how the president elect Barack Obama has been able to use social media(blogs, twitter, Facebook, etc) as a tool to sell his brand (personality and product). He was able to convince the American people and the world at large that he was the right candidate to take the US to the next level. Also in her post, Alison talked about four reasons why Obama should keep using social media in the future. This is to say that the returns from his campaign has been great and his customers(the people)want more connection. Specifically,the people have expectations to be met by the brand(Obama)
ROI measurement isn’t just about money for individuals and companies. It’s about what the party set out to achieve before embarking on the use of social media tools. Barack Obama did not set out to get money. He wanted to make a change from the normal status quo using social media and web 2.0. In the article, What is the ROI for Social Media? By Jason Falls, Joanne Puckett sums up my points by saying
“If your goal is to participate in the conversation, to enhance your relationship with your audiences and become a trusted member of the community that surrounds your brand, then your measures should prove you’ve done those things. Your ROI is what you got out of the conversation, not what you got out of their checkbook.”
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Are you a tweeter?
Twitter was not a tool/service I was familiar with before coming to the US. Since the evolution of the different social networks, I would say that I am not surprised that such an invention is available. Personally, I don’t really have anything against people using twitter. I especially found the article 25 Twitter tips for college students by Laura Milligan an interesting read. The educational hack part was the one that got me. Sometimes, a professor’s office hours might not be the convenient time for you. Having online real time to ask questions and generally brainstorm is not such a bad idea. Also, there is the collaboration for a project where you get ideas form fellow classmates and other students around the world. “Tweeting” would be really helpful here.
James Karl Buck’s story is one where information was passed on at the right time. But I ask, what if his friend didn’t see his message or he couldn’t connect? That would have been a different story but it wasn’t so Twitter wins the day. As I said earlier, there is nothing I have against this service but I think I draw a line at updating my status message and telling the whole world what I am doing every time(even using the bathroom...just kidding) . Suppose if this message gets into the wrong hands? Well social networking is important but at what cost?
James Karl Buck’s story is one where information was passed on at the right time. But I ask, what if his friend didn’t see his message or he couldn’t connect? That would have been a different story but it wasn’t so Twitter wins the day. As I said earlier, there is nothing I have against this service but I think I draw a line at updating my status message and telling the whole world what I am doing every time(even using the bathroom...just kidding) . Suppose if this message gets into the wrong hands? Well social networking is important but at what cost?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Team Brainstorming....Tangible or Virtual?
Virtual means of communication has been making itself known through all the evolution of social networking. From the Virtual network sites where “some individuals” feel more comfortable expressing themselves, to the Virtual team where diversity plays a role to enable better and efficient working relationship. When I read the article The Strange Beauty of Virtual Teams by Jessica Lipnacks and Jeffrey Stamps, I found out about the research done to determine the more effective way of team brainstorming. According to this article,
The advice given from the 6 ways to build trust with your virtual team by John Butler pretty much covers the important fears or issues lots of people would want addressed. These were availability, Competence, Consistency, Fairness, Openness and Promise of fulfillment. These factors have to be present for trust to grow. Still I ask, is it enough? From what I observed from my sojourn into second life, you can be anybody that you want to be in there. How would you know that a certain person is giving a fair contribution? Is this person who they portray? Give me your honest opinion….
Instead of regarding the lack of face-to-face as an impediment, our teams found it advantageous. Many projects came in under-budget, ahead of schedule, and with breakthrough results. The outcome of one such project, conducted at what was then Boeing-Rocketdyne, was so successful that our HBR co-authors, along with the project’s managers, published it as a case study under the title, “Radical Innovation without Collocation.”
The advice given from the 6 ways to build trust with your virtual team by John Butler pretty much covers the important fears or issues lots of people would want addressed. These were availability, Competence, Consistency, Fairness, Openness and Promise of fulfillment. These factors have to be present for trust to grow. Still I ask, is it enough? From what I observed from my sojourn into second life, you can be anybody that you want to be in there. How would you know that a certain person is giving a fair contribution? Is this person who they portray? Give me your honest opinion….
Monday, October 20, 2008
Citizen Journalism!!!
Citizen Journalism! Citizen Journalism!! Citizen Journalism!!! In a way, this is what I have been doing these past seven weeks of blogging. A definition of citizen journalism would be journalism by non journalists (people like me).I don’t think I can imagine myself writing a story for a magazine because sharing my thoughts on my blog is scary enough. Watching the clip from YouTube about Citizen Journalism has helped me understand this particular concept. John Tobbin, Boston City Councilor has reached his audience through his video blogs which I think is a very creative idea. More and more, there is an audience building up to get information from blogs, online news and online advertising. The days of the printing press according to the video clip are numbered.
Robert Scoble made the same point in his article Scobleizer: What Newspapers can learn form the Tech industry about him being someone that gets his news and information online. According to him
He is trying to give an advice to the newspaper business to take a leaf from the technology world and I think he is right. Social networking has been all about connection. And the ultimate connection would be able to reach different people on different platforms. From the old fashioned (newspapers) to the More technology oriented crowd.
However, while reading Eric Schonfeld’s article Citizen “Journalist” Hits Apple with False (Steve Jobs) Heart attack Rumor, I was able to look at the other downside of Citizen Journalism. Someone decided to post a story in CNN’s iReport about Steve Jobs having a heart attack which caused the stocks of Apple to drop by 10%. Questions would asked about how to solve this problem. I would agree with Eric. He says that
That would be the best way. Don't you think?
Robert Scoble made the same point in his article Scobleizer: What Newspapers can learn form the Tech industry about him being someone that gets his news and information online. According to him
“I say that not as someone who's willfully ignorant but as a news junkie who subscribes to more than 600 feeds in Google Reader, including those from The New York Times, San Jose Mercury News, and USA Today. What's killing the newspaper business -- with thousands of jobs lost and even the Washington Post Co.'s reporting its first loss in 37 years -- is its inability to reach people like me.”
He is trying to give an advice to the newspaper business to take a leaf from the technology world and I think he is right. Social networking has been all about connection. And the ultimate connection would be able to reach different people on different platforms. From the old fashioned (newspapers) to the More technology oriented crowd.
However, while reading Eric Schonfeld’s article Citizen “Journalist” Hits Apple with False (Steve Jobs) Heart attack Rumor, I was able to look at the other downside of Citizen Journalism. Someone decided to post a story in CNN’s iReport about Steve Jobs having a heart attack which caused the stocks of Apple to drop by 10%. Questions would asked about how to solve this problem. I would agree with Eric. He says that
“Let’s not let one bad apple ruin the whole experiment, though. Obviously, there are a lot of smart people out there who can contribute to general news gathering. There needs to be a better truth filter on iReport and other sites that allow the anonymous reporting of news. A better reputation system for contributors would help. They should be encouraged to use their real names. And maybe a bigger disclaimer needs to be placed up top saying: “Read At Your Own Risk.”
That would be the best way. Don't you think?
Monday, October 13, 2008
When do you know which DOTs to connect?
From the beginning of this semester, it has been one talk or the other about social networking. This includes the various ways that social networking has been helping organizations and people in general to connect. This weekend, I met some classmates from high school. We had lost contact for about 8-10 years and we only got to hook up through Facebook. Reading Business Networking Advice by Josh Hinds has made me better understand the question he asked Ryan Mapes, one of the people behind GoBigNetwork about mistakes made in business networking. According to Ryan,
This to me doesn’t apply just to the business world. It is an important part of the social network concept to bring people together to share ideas, thoughts and interests.
Social Networking has opened a lot of doors for people. There have been a lot of successes recounted by people. An instance would be the article Six Degrees of Cooperation by Yasmine Ghahremani where Andra Marx a senior account at Intralinks strikes a deal thereby making millions of dollars for the company. According to her
My question then is, how do you know which dot to connect? As in whom out of your social network group should you keep as a serious contact or not? Writing this post has made me remember my experience on Facebook which I posted on my first blog post when talking about stalkers and privacy. Can a person like the one mentioned be a dot for me?
the biggest mistake I see is a lack of follow-up after meeting someone. If you meet an important contact and exchange business cards, be sure to send a quick email when you get back to the office. This can help solidify the relationship and open up the doors for further correspondence down the road”.
This to me doesn’t apply just to the business world. It is an important part of the social network concept to bring people together to share ideas, thoughts and interests.
Social Networking has opened a lot of doors for people. There have been a lot of successes recounted by people. An instance would be the article Six Degrees of Cooperation by Yasmine Ghahremani where Andra Marx a senior account at Intralinks strikes a deal thereby making millions of dollars for the company. According to her
“the deal involved some fortuitous timing, but it certainly wouldn't have transpired if I hadn't been able to connect the dots”.
My question then is, how do you know which dot to connect? As in whom out of your social network group should you keep as a serious contact or not? Writing this post has made me remember my experience on Facebook which I posted on my first blog post when talking about stalkers and privacy. Can a person like the one mentioned be a dot for me?
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