CHARLOTTE MILLAR

This is my blog for my WRIT 240 class at Queen's University. It explores my journey through learning how to communicate online in proficient and effective ways.

[iamcharlottemillar]

Person B - Module 5

PART B

Audience

The target audience for the Queen’s Journal is the entire study body and associated faculty of Queen’s University. Accordingly, this population is fairly well versed with communication technologies and social media and thus demands a strong social media presence from the Queen’s Journal should they wish to be successful in their delivery.

Suggestions

1) Increase presence on Instagram. They can do this by posting more frequently, following more uses and liking/commenting on photos.  Currently, they are posting one time per week if not less. Increasing their activity on Instagram and trying to connect it to Twitter and their other platforms would increase their overall social media presence which is complementary to their target audience.

2) Be more user-interactive. On twitter and Instagram, I would suggest them engage more with their followers by possibly opening up photo contests with prizes, or posting tweets in the phrase of questions to encourage dialogue between them and their audience. Currently, they have a satisfactory social media presence but it could be improved if they reached out to their audience more.

3) I found their website layout was good but the format and spacing was weird. It appeared to be squished. For aethestic, I would suggest making the website appear wider. (See picture below for a comparison to Algonquin College’s newspaper, The Algonquin Times, which has recently one Canada’s best University newspaper for 2015)

(Image: Screenshot of ‘The Algonquin Times Front Page)

4) Get an app in the App store or Google Play. This would ensure more viewer loyalty, as readers would return to the app to get their daily news update. The app could then send notifications on new stories or other updates as programmed by the application, to ensure that their viewers are always connected.

Strengths

1. I really like how they include their Twitter ticker on their webpage. This advertises to users that they have a strong social media presence, encourages people to follow them on twitter and also offers a different form of delivering messages and stories to users (for example, twitter essays about a News story vs. reading a column).

Bibliography

Image:  http://algonquintimes.com/

I. “Algonquin Times Recognized As Canada’s #1 Campus Newspaper”. Algonquin College. May 1, 2015. (http://www.algonquincollege.com/public-relations/2015/05/01/the-algonquin-times-recognized-as-canadas-1-campus-newspaper-for-2015/)

II. https://itunes.apple.com/ml/genre/ios/id36?mt=8

I give The Queen’s Journal an ‘A’ for their good level of social media presence. Thanks for checking out my assessment on The Queen’s Journal. There’s even more details in the Powerpoint and full report. 

[iamcharlottemillar]

Module 4 - Twitter Essay

Make the Internet work for you, with #SEO!

[winterlilycanada-blog]

Review of Google Translate for Android.

[iamcharlottemillar]

Hi Nicole, 

I found your blog review very helpful. I like that you included that it’s good for quick conversations rather than in-depth translations. I wonder if technology will ever get to a point where computer-translations are even more grammatically correct than the average speaker’s language! 

Does the app only work when the user has wifi or data? I’m assuming so. If this is the case then that’s rather inconvenient for the average traveller who, when travelling, probably doesn’t have neither data or wifi at the drop of a hat! Just a thought. 

Thanks again for the review. Maybe I’ll try out the app when I travel next.

Charlotte

[meagosaurus-blog]

Review of “My Asics” for Android

[iamcharlottemillar]

Hey Meagan,

Great app review! I didn’t know Asics had an app for keeping track of running. I have two questions. 

1) In order to use the app, do you need to buy a pair of Asics with a special Asics chip, or does the app solely work through your cell phone?

2) Also, who would you recommend the app to? Novice or experience runners? 

I think it’s really useful that you included how compatible the app is with desktop computers and laptops... I know that’s always an issue I run into with new apps!

Charlotte

[iamcharlottemillar]

Zomato App Review

Do you like restaurants? Do you like food? Do you like trying new cuisines? If so, definitely check out my new review for the ‘Zomato’ app. I hope you find it deliciously helpful ;)

[iamcharlottemillar]

A Diamond in the Rough: Lutenblag

Why Lutenblag: Visiting Lutenblag, located in the Great Central Valley, is a fantastic way to experience rich, European culture alongside the locals. It’s boasts a functional and minimalist society with a love for quality things like fresh air and good food! This is an ideal vacation for travellers looking to enjoy beautiful landscapes, greenery, beaches and walks without sacrificing on other aspects like food and accommodation. I would recommend this destination for vacationers looking to step outside of their comfort zones and experience a local European culture off the beaten path and away from zoos of tourists.

Where To Sleep:  Follow the incredible landscaping of the countryside inside your hotel room! Hotel Zlad boasts incredible views of the surrounding greenery and fields from many of their bedrooms. The rooms are eloquently modern and a more-than-comfortable place to hang your hat after a long day of sightseeing in Lutenblag.

Be sure to check out the following websites to see hotel reviews that other travellers have posted about Hotel Zlad:

 http://www.tripadvisor.ca/

http://www.oyster.com/

Where to Eat: While in Lutenblag, it’s a necessity to indulge in some local cuisine! The quaint city is known for it’s local traditional variety of soups. One in particular that is a definite must-try is called Blag. Order a warm bowl of Blag and you’ll fit right in with the locals.  For those interested in a gourmet experience, try Sprufkil’s Gourmet Hot Dogs, where you’ll go for the Hot Dogs and stay for the incredible view of the ocean and beaches below!

Blag

Sprufkli’s Gourmet Hot Dog

What To See: As has been highlighted in this post, Lutenblag boasts some incredible scenery. From rolling hills, lush fields, the ocean and beaches, it’s hard to run out of things to see outside of the Metropolis. There’s not shortage of incredible walks leading to even more beautiful sweeping views of valleys and coastline. Staying inside the city, you’ll wander along the lovely cobblestone streets before you stop for an afternoon coffee at Sprufkil’s. But wait – there’s more! Lutenblag has a great music scene. Be sure to check out the hip and vibrant Club Zlad in the heart of the city.

When To Visit: Anytime is a great time to visit Lutenblag! It hasn’t yet been discovered by the main tourist traps, which makes it an ideal place to visit undisturbed European culture. So really, Lutenblag is waiting for you! 

Before you fly out, be sure to do your research on the city of Lutenblag: 

http://www.jetlagtravel.com/molvania/index.html

Bon Voyage!

[iamcharlottemillar]

Module 2 Person C

Titles:

 Finding Luxury in Lutenblag

 A Tourist’s Guide to Lutenblag

 A Diamond in the Rough: Lutenblag, Molvania

Feedback for Person B:

1. Don’t be afraid to use exclamation marks! Reading your blog post, I think some of the language you use and your tone would be nicely accompanied by the use of exclamation marks.

2. Try to engage with a specific type of traveler, as Tiffany (Person A) asked in her question. Try to find a theme that the original author is constructing with their choice of words, experience of the trip etc.,. Use this theme to make a more targeted and coherent blog post that shows a distinct purpose with its reader.

3. Use multimedia. I don’t think it was expected for you to include multimedia in this forum post, but in your final piece I would definitely recommend using multimedia.

Blog Strengths/Weaknesses:

Strengths:

1.    The blog did a good job of summarizing the highlights of the trip.

2. The way in which the blog was composed I found to be very engaging. The casual tone made me feel closer to the author, and to the trip rather than being very formal like some travel blogs. 

3.    The author was concise and to the point. They didn’t include too many details that distracted from the purpose of the post. They briefly described things that they would consider highlights very efficiently.

Weaknesses:

1.    The blog has quite a few grammatical errors.

2.   The blog lacks a distinct purpose. It seems more informative than actually serving a persuasive purpose like most travel blogs. The blog informs us about the highlights, but doesn’t appeal to any particular type of traveler.

3. Using subtopics and subheadings would help organize the thoughts of the blog, and would most likely encourage the author to include more useful information.

[iamcharlottemillar]

About Me

Where did you come from in your online communication experience?

I was brought to this course because I was looking for courses at Queen’s that gave me practical knowledge that would pertain to my professional life after I graduate. I’ve been drawn to an interest in pursuing Marketing/Public Relations after I graduate, and have spoken to professionals in the industry and as some of my fellow Arts & Science peers about their experience in the Public Relations industry. One thing particular that I learned from them is that the method of writing I have been trained to write in during my Sociology degree is not well suited for the professional and business world. As a result, I felt this course offered a practical education on how to write effectively for the business world, and specifically in the online world, which is beneficial for my goal in public relations.

Check out the link below for some background on how using social media effectively can up your business game!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwynne/2014/04/28/winning-social-media-strategies-for-public-relations/

Me!

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Where are you now?

Currently, I feel I have a good understanding about social media and conversing on the web as I am a frequent visitor to blog sites such as Tumblr, LiveJournal, and regularly use and moderate Facebook pages. I get a lot of my daily information from user-generated blogs. I love getting recipes for healthy meals and do-it-yourself personal products (e.g. body scrubs) from blogs that I follow! In my first year away at University, I used a blog on Tumblr to keep my family members, including grandparents, family-friends, uncles and aunts etc., all up to date on my life. In that experience, I learned how to create a user-friendly blog keeping my audience in mind.

Click this link to check out one of my favourite bloggers: Ex-Bachelorette, Jillian Harris.

http://www.jillianharris.com/

Jillian Harris, Blogger.

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Where do you want to go?

Despite the fact that I grew up with the Internet and am an avid Internet user, I feel that I have much to learn in the area writing professionally and effectively on the web. I feel this will help me greatly and give me skills that I can use in my professional life in the area of Public Relations. By becoming confident in my ability to create a cohesive and well-designed blog, or presence in social media, I believe I will be well equipped with my own Unique Selling Proposition (USP) when in the workforce.

Typically, the term USP refers to a unique key characteristic that companies use to make it stand out from the others. While this is true, I believe the same concept can be applied to employees on the job hunt. By taking this course, I hope I will be able to add having expertise in writing on social media and the web as my USP.

https://fizzle.co/sparkline/10-examples-of-killer-unique-selling-propositions-on-the-web

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What’s the point of social media?

I believe the point of social media is to facilitate connections. I use the term ‘connections’ here very generally because the term can be used to describe a variety of avenues that people connect in. Reasons for connecting can be for personal reasons on Facebook, professional through Linked-In, self-help on a diet & exercise blog, or forums for help trouble-shooting your new computer. Regardless of the intent, connecting with people has never been more demanded, or as essential to daily life as it is today.

By being well educated and understanding how to use social media to your advantage, I believe social media can be a fantastic tool to stay relevant and participate actively in today’s media and society.

[iamcharlottemillar]

My dear friend, clear your mind of cant.

Samuel Johnson