Light at the end of the tunnel

Hey everyone! So I am on my final class for my Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications. For my final project, I’m working on a presentation for the American Red Cross and really need your input on a survey I’ve created. Please take a few minutes to fill it out. Your answers are completely confidential and are greatly appreciated! You can get to the survey by clicking on Click here to take survey”> or by going to this website:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HVRSDNB

Again thank you so much!

A Final Farewell!

Well this is it readers. My last post for my Emerging Media course. I have enjoyed writing about trends in new media and hope to continue writing in the future. I also hope the all of you have enjoyed reading my blog. Thanks to all of you who have left me comments. They have been greatly appreciated. To keep on my same train of though from my last post, I want to end my blog with a little bit more about privacy setting and social media. We talked a bit about Facebook and YouTube, but what are other social media sites doing to keep up?

Facebook has taken off since its launch and continues to grow. Their rival, MySpace, has been trying desperately to keep up with the social media giant, but have started slipping under the radar. Because of Facebook’s current privacy issues, MySpace decided it was a good time reevaluate their own privacy settings. Soon, they will change their own privacy default to “friends only,” going in a completely opposite direction than Facebook.

This is all part of MySpace’s new public commitment to privacy. According to Mashable, “The once-dominant social network’s stated goal is to simplify settings and let users more clearly post updates publicly, to friends only, or publicly to anyone 18 or over.” I guess MySpace decided that if they want to gain back some popularity, they might as well kick Facebook while they’re down. What do you think? Clever move by MySpace or too little too late?

Again, a big thank you to all of my readers! I’ve had a lot of fun and I hope you have too!

New privacy option for YouTube: Unlisted videos

Privacy issues are a hot topic in the social media world right now. Take Facebook for example. Their new “open graph” concept has created quite a stir with consumer groups, members of Congress and privacy watchdogs. According to PC Mag, Facebook has been singled out for “fundamentally changing the default settings on its social-networking platform to the detriment of a user.” These groups also feel that FB “has not done enough to inform users on how their information is being used.” So does this mean that other social media sites need to up their privacy settings to stay out of the spotlight? This may have been one of the driving factors behind YouTube’s new privacy option.

YouTube already has a privacy policy in place for those of us who chose to broadcast ourselves, just not to the whole world. Instead of creating a public video, users have the option of making their video private, meaning that the user can invite up to 25 other YouTube account holders to view his or her video. This has worked in the past, but what happens if you want to share your video with more than 25 people? And what if the people you want to share it with don’t have YouTube accounts? Don’t worry. There is now a new option to satisfy your needs. Meet the unlisted video feature!

Unlisted videos are similar to private videos but with some improvements. Instead of inviting people to view a private video, you can now just send them the URL. Anyone can view the video as long as they have the URL, no YouTube account necessary. Plus there is no limit to how many people can view the video. Other than those who possess the URL, the video remains private. It will not show up on public pages, in search results or on other users channels. This is a great option for teachers and students who want to share their videos, but don’t want to expose themselves to the entire world.

I think it’s a great idea! It’s privacy made simpler. I don’t know many people with a YouTube account which would probably deter me from using the original privacy option. I’m sure YouTube will get a large response from happy users in the near future.

Facebook has spoken!

So by now most of you have probably heard of Betty White and her SNL debut. First let me say, “Good for you Betty White!” I missed the actual episode, but I did catch up on some of the skits on Hulu…and I must say she was hilarious. But, more importantly, it got me thinking about the power of social media. Since Betty’s appearance, more and more SNL campaigns are popping up on Facebook, but SNL is only the start of FB users coming together and speaking up for what they want.

I am a big fan of Comedy Wednesday on ABC and the new popular show Modern Family. The show features a very lovable gay couple, Cam and Mitch. If you have ever watched the show, you’ve probably noticed that Cam and Mitch have never shared an on air kiss. Over 3,000 FB users are looking to change this and grant the couple the power to kiss on the lips. The FB group “Let Cam & Mitchell kiss on Modern Family” has been gaining momentum with the press including a recent shout out to the group on Entertainment Weekly (EW.com)! Will ABC be all ears?

And it doesn’t stop there! FB users are speaking up about more than just entertainment! Parents have began to band together in hopes of a recall on Pampers diapers. Their Dry Max diapers have pushed hundreds of angry parents to complain on the social media site and join groups such as  ”Bring back the Pampers Cruisers, Dump Dry Max!” “Recall Pampers Dry Max diapers!” and “Pampers, Just Admit you made a mistake already!” Investigations have begun, with the numerous FB groups putting increased pressure on Proctor & Gamble.

Social media has created a very powerful outlet for consumers and they are realizing that power as they band together in hopes of making a change. It’s amazing what can be achieved by creating and promoting a Facebook group. Facebook has spoken and SNL and Betty White listened. What will FB users think of next?

Tagwhat: Amazing or too extreme?

There is a new social network in town and it’s different from anything that has come before it. ”Tagwhat“  fuses mobile and location-based social networking services creating an innovative augmented reality experience. After downloading the Tagwhat app, consumers with an Android (and soon, an iPhone) can simply hold up their mobile phone while in camera view and see geo-contextual tags from pre-selected friends and community members. You can also view the Tagwhat as an overhead map (provided by Google Maps) with pins representing places that other members have tagged or commented on.

Each location serves as an interactive social object. By just pointing a mobile phone at the desired restaurant or hot spot, information such as direct links to email, phone, SMS, photos, URL’s, cross-posting to Twitter or Facebook would automaticly pop up on the screen! You will also be able to view public tags and comments from all members of the network. If you are looking for a bit of privacy, you can opt to only see notes and comments from friends.

By “checking in” to a location, you are able to tag almost anything, including pictures, blog posts and any other digital content. You can also follow businesses and friends in a “Twitter-like” fashion. Users can follow friends and other community members or branch outside of their existing network and search for specific users or content by keywords. This could be a goldmine for businesses. It will create a new way to offer promotions and deals to their “followers.”

So what are your thoughts? Amazing or too extreme? I haven’t tried it yet, but it seems pretty impressive. In theory it sounds great, what if all the comments on your business are negative? It makes sharing a bad review of a restaurant so much easier than before. Instead of calling up your friends to complain, just write a bad review in the form of a tag so that EVERYONE can see. Talk about an increase in word-of-mouth. It is still new, but it’s going to be interesting to see if Tagwhat picks up speed in the near future.

Ideas in Action: Starbucks new However-You-Want-it Frappuccino

One of the things that has always impressed me about Starbucks is the creation of My Starbucks Idea.com. They found a way to use social media to connect with consumers on a personal level, asking them their opinions and requests on everything Starbucks. From ideas about new products to suggestions on how to improve the Starbucks experience, consumers can share, vote, discuss and see their ideas being put into action.  With the summer months upon us, Starbucks consumers are thirsty for an ice cold frappuccino, but they have a special request. Why not make frapps to fit everyone’s individual needs? Consumers on My Starbucks Idea.com asked for decaf, fat-free and sugar-free options of their favorite summer treat and Starbucks has delivered! Introducing the new However-You-Want-it Frappuccinos!

Sales of the frozen beverage have been sluggish for Starbucks, so when consumers starting asking for new variations of the frappuccino, a light bulb turned on. The suggestions from consumers inspired the idea to revamp the frappuccino with new ingredients and a big marketing push. First you select your flavor and then customize with a variety of choices like the size, type of coffee, type of milk and topping.

Their marketing efforts range from ads in Rolling Stone to an online make-your-own-video contest using clips from Starbucks and the TV show “Gossip Girl.” On the new frappuccino website, customers can virtually create their own Starbucks Frappuccino, connect with other fans on Facebook and Twitter, find out the nutritional information and learn about Starbucks newest Happy Hour Event, where Starbucks customers can enjoy half priced frappiccino’s between 3 and 5 pm.

The event runs from May 7th-16th and consumers are encouraged to RSVP for the event on Facebook. They can also sign up for daily SMS reminders on their cell phones. The frappuccino website is really an impressive marketing tool and connects the new campaign across a variety of social networking channels. I love Starbucks Frappuccino’s and can’t wait to come up with my own creation! If this all sounds a bit too complicated for you here are some of the more popular options offered:

• Soy Strawberries and Crème Frappuccino® blended crème
• Extra Coffee Caramel Frappuccino® blended coffee
• Mocha Light Frappuccino® blended coffee

Yum! Bring on Happy Hour!

Smile, you’re on Facebook!

Sharing our Kodak moments with friends and family has never been easier with the invention of social networking sites such as Facebook and Flicker. Consumers spend countless hours uploading and tagging pictures, so why not make this process faster and more convienent? This was the thought behind the new line of Easyshare digital cameras by well known brand Kodak. They now include a share button, which enables consumers to tag their pictures for e-mail messages, Facebook, Flicker, the Kodak Gallery and YouTube.

The share button is just one more way the company is modernizing the “Kodak moment.” The orginial meaning of the Kodak moment was “a special instant that is — or ought to be — captured in a photograph.” Their new campaign uses the phrase,  “The real Kodak moment happens when you share.” The concept behind their campaign is that photos should no longer to be stored in albums only to be looked at years later. The new Kodak moment is the warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you use sharing technologies such as e-mail and social media to make all of your photos and video clips available for friends and family.

Kodak is working on modernizing their products, while still building an emotional bond between consumers and the brand. In a recent NY Times article,  John Roberts, chief strategy officer at Partners & Napier is quoted saying, “Research shows there’s still a lot of equity in the strength of the Kodak brand. The challenge is how to make it more contemporary.” To achieve this, the campaign need to focus on the concept that, ”When you share pictures with people, you build a stronger relationship, a stronger emotional bond.”

The share button is definitley a feature that will set Kodak apart from competitors. It can take alot of time to upload and tag all of your pictures, but with the share button you can have the pictures already tagged right on your camera, plug it in to your computer and PRESTO! the work is done for you! Bravo Kodak! Bravo!

iPad coming to a college campus near you!

Not only is the iPad a fun new gadget, but it is also being seen as a valuable resource for college students. Many universities are jumping on board offering incoming freshman a chance to own the new device. I was shocked when I read on Seton Hall’s website, “An iPad for Everyone. Seton Hill University will give a new Apple iPad to every full-time student in fall 2010.” How awesome is that? And they aren’t the only ones. George Fox University gives their students the choice, iPad or MacBook? The catch is that the cost is included in tuition, but overall I think it’s a great idea! Each student will leave school with a better understanding of the latest and best technologies, a knowledge that they will carry with them into the professional world.

Beyond learning how to use Apple’s advanced software, the introduction of the iPad may change the way students attend college. Computers with swiveling tablets have been around for years, with the hope that students would use them to take notes in class, but they never really caught on. With the iPad creating such a buzz with Apple’s young loyal fan base, this may become a different story. With more and more professors using technology in the classroom, universities are beginning to understand the significance of the iPad for students. It would create a way for students to access the online components of their classes, such as PDF files and Power Point Presentations, without ever leaving their desk.

One of the main questions that the iPad raises for Universities is how it will affect the sale and use of textbooks. The concept of digital textbooks isn’t new. Barnes and Noble has been selling digital textbooks since the early 2000′s, but there was never a great deal of sales or interest. The popularity of the iPad may start to change those numbers. Textbooks are extremely expensive for the average student, especially if they are in a science based major. If the iPad sold digital copies of textbooks, the overall cost would drop substantially. But we still have to wonder, will textbook producers embrace the new digital format? Will there one day be an app for college textbooks? It seems as though only time will tell.

The iPad could potentially revolutionize higher education and the textbook industry! Think of the possibilities if there was digital store for textbooks, similar to iTunes for music. Students could buy individual chapters instead of an entire book, or could rent a book for a few weeks for a fraction of the cost to purchase. Being a recent college graduate, I love the idea of the iPad on college campuses and feel that it could drastically improve students academic careers!

    

Zoka Coffee celebrates Earth Day

For many, it is impossible to start the day without a cup of coffee. Ever stop and wonder where your coffee comes from? In honor of Earth Day, Zoka Coffee wants to show consumers the rich landscapes where their high quality coffee is produced. It is because of great, knowledgable farmers and smart farming practices that Zoka can produce their famous brews. As a buzz marketing effort, Zoka decided to hold an entertaining photo contest on their Facebook Fan Page to show fans of the brand the farms and vibrant communities that makes Zoka Coffee possible.    

Consumers are asked to comment on travel photos taken from one of the many growing regions and guess “Where on Earth is Zoka Coffee?” The six winners, commentors chosen at random, will receive a Zoka Coffee Organic Gift Set. The gift set included  12 oz. bag of Zoka’s Organic Quatro Espresso, a 12 oz. bag of Zoka’s Organic Tatoosh Blend and a Chambord 4 Cup French Press. The contest took place April 22, to coincide with Earth Day. It was a created as way for the company to bring more consumers to the Fan Page and get them to be part of the ongoing coffee conversation. The Fan Page is award-winning, recently honored as on of the Top 40 Facebook Fan Pages by Buzz Marketing Daily.  

Coffee beans come from many exotic places around the world including South American, Africa and Costa Rica. The founder of Zoka Coffee, Jeff Babcock, travels to all the farms that produce Zoka Coffee. He wants to make sure that they are supporting the farms that use techniques that Zoka believes in, such as reasonable living conditions and farmer’s wages. The contest is a way for Zoka to take consumers on that adventure with them. Zoka also plans to promote the contest on Twitter and their Zoka coffee blog.

McDonald’s goes mobile

Working hard to promote their new Dollar Menu at breakfast, McDonald’s has decided to tap into the evergrowing mobile market. Their new mobile marketing campaign includes an expandable banner ad that runs within the Weather Channel iPhone application. Now, when consumers check their Weather Channel app before their morning commute they are reminded that “The Dollar Menu is now at breakfast.”

Once a consumer clicks on the banner ad, they are taken directly to the McDonald’s webpage to learn more about the breakfast Dollar Menu. They can also enter their zipcode to find the closest McDonald’s currently offering items off the breakfast Dollar Menu. The Weather Channel app is extremely popular, with almost 10 million downloads. It was also the number one free app of 2009. This has proven to be the prefect place to market their new Dollar Menu at breakfast. While McDonalds is new to advertising within iPhone applications, they are not new to the use of mobile marketing.

Back in September of 2009, McDonald’s created a SMS poll where consumers  could vote for their favorite burgers. The poll was held at the Sprite Step Off, a nationally televised step-off competition. Held on the Sprite Step-Off’s main stage, they also launched a competition called Flavor Battle, where the audience voted for the favorite burger via text message.

McDonalds has also used mobile marketing to go after the growing Hispanic demographic. According to Mobile Marketer, “Customers who visited a McDonald’s restaurant on Mondays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. were able to get a free seven-ounce Iced McCafé Mocha or an eight-ounce Hot McCafé Mocha. The campaign ran through Aug. 21.” McDonalds has succesfully been able to expand their mobile marketing and are hoping to see an increase in the sale of items in their breakfast Dollar Menu.