Broke Blonde Blog

Central Michigan University student studying for a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a major in General Business Administration.

[kelsibwilson-blog]

Implementation: The Final Step

This semester, I have learned how to effectively run a business’s Social Media platforms. Working with Hootsuite, I have gained a good amount of knowledge on how the Social Media process runs. From creating a goal to expanding your online community, there is a lot to be done. After all of this, the final step is implementation. Professor Melton explains this in his lecture video for the week. 

Challenges for Ignite Donuts

I had the opportunity to work with the start-up business, Ignite Donuts. They had created a Social Media platform, but made little effort to build an online community. After helping them, I believe they can bring their Social Media up to par with their competitors. One challenge I think they will face is consistency. Since Ignite’s hours are sparing, they could forget to post for weeks. They would need to take time out of their college student schedules to really work on their online presence. Another challenge they will face is keeping a strong brand in their posts. There are three owners in Ignite Donuts and each of them have a different voice they would like the business to portray. They would need to work together to keep their brand consistent. I hope they will take in all of my recommendations and implement them accordingly.

Personal Reflections

This client project was a fun way to implement the strategies we learned in class. It really put me out of my comfort zone and made me realize how difficult it can be to put out consistent content. I commend the people who do this for a living! I wish I could have worked with my client more closely and make an even bigger impact on them. With all of the craziness of this semester, I’m glad I was able to learn in a hands-on kind of way instead of only reading the textbook. I know this experience will help me in the long run on my way to graduation. 

Thats all for now! Thanks for reading.

[kelsibwilson-blog]

Content, Content, Content!

This week, Hootsuite taught us about the importance of quality content. Content can include anything from GIFS and images, to white papers and blog articles- as well as the accompanying copy in the Social Media post. A business has to make use of the different types of content in order to have an effective social media strategy. Content helps a business obtain objectives such as brand recognition, thought leadership, audience engagement, and lead generation. 

Hootsuite Module: https://education.hootsuite.com/courses/take/social-marketing-education/lessons/2540632-3-1-effective-best-practices-for-sharing-content

Effective Content

There is a big difference between content and EFFECTIVE content. Caring more about the quantity of posts rather than the quality will only hinder your business. The article, “The 9 Types of Social Media Content You Need to Use”, gives us some examples of this.

1) User Generated Content. This is content that followers produce that feature your product. This increases engagement and shows followers you value their opinion.

2) Podcasts. Followers want to hear from you! This makes them feel see your business as relatable.

3) Livestreams. Focus on promoting an asset and answer viewers questions. 

4) Infographics. Catch the viewers eyes! This catches attention rather than long text posts.

5) VR Content. Depending on your business, this can be a key asset in showing off your product.

6) Webinars. Invite people to join you in learning more about your product.

7) Client Testimonials. Hearing how great a business is through other customers is the best way to get attention form other potential clients.

8) Ebooks. Consider paid advertising. Everyone loves to read!

9) Guides. Come up with a marketing strategy to promote the important features of your product.

Article: https://www.postplanner.com/blog/types-of-social-media-content 

Content Calendar

One way that Hootsuite suggested to keep sharing effective content is to create a content calendar. A content calendar is a way to map out a publishing schedule to ensure your content is consistent, balanced, strategic, and relevant each week. This calendar includes what posts will be posted on each day and through each Social Media platform. This should be an extension of your content strategy and should be ever evolving. Ensure that this calendar is flexible with the times and not planned too far ahead into the future. Keeping a larger monthly calendar with general information and a detailed weekly calendar will make the most out of your content strategy. An example of this calendar is below.

Conclusion

Content is key. Becoming a social organization includes creating effective content. Business need to produce quality content to gain the view of potential audiences. You are nothing without your content!

Thats all for now. Thanks for reading!

[kelsibwilson-blog]

Adam Braun and his Promise

This week, we read articles about the author, Adam Braun, and his Pencils for a Promise campaign. His book, “The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change”, explains how he went from an idea to reality. He created a nonprofit organization starting from just $25 to building more than 150 schools across the world. 

Building a Community

The article, “Adam Braun: How He Started Pencils of Promise”, gives us an interview with the author himself. He talks a lot about his book and how he used the community built for his project in order to make it even bigger. He explains that if it weren't for the online community he built, the organization wouldn't be half the size it is today. He made a big bet on social media at the very beginning of the project that took everything to the next level. One big idea he brought to the table is, “Social networks don’t get people to donate, they get people to connect to your mission. And once they’re connected to your mission, they’ll not only donate, their peers will donate to you too because they’ll see how important your work is to their friend.” I find this advice incredibly important when thinking about building an online community. He didn't go into it thinking all of his followers were going to donate; all he wanted was to get followers to connect with his idea. Building a community isn't about the profits made from them, it’s about the connections.

Sustainable Enterprises

It’s not easy creating a business out of nothing, let alone one that becomes so popular. Although Pencils of Promise is nonprofit, they still make a real return. Establishing a sustainable enterprise that is also nonprofit is a difficult feat to say the least. One big reason for this from Adam is prioritization and time allocation. Nothing is going to happen if you don't prioritize the most important aspect of your vision and clear time out to make it happen. A business doesn't start on its own. Social Media played a big part in creating this sustainable enterprise. Braun says he created his own version of a kickstarter page where people could donate. Without the circulation of information from Social Media pages, there would be no donations. He made the best of these pages in order to spread his cause around the internet. 

Article: http://magazine.ivy.com/2015/04/adam-braun-pencils-of-promise/ 

Conclusion

Dreams don't just magically come true without any work put into it. There is a lot that needs to be done in order to have a successful business. Adam Braun is a great example of this. Starting with a dream, building a community, and ending with a sustainable enterprise. We can all learn a lot from Adam and apply his techniques to our own lives.

Thats all for now. Thanks for reading!

[kelsibwilson-blog]

The Rise of a Community

When you think of a community the internet is one of the last things you usually think of. Although social media isn't the first thing you think of, the online community is very important. This week I read chapters 4 and 5 in the Social Organization textbook as well as Hootsuite module 4, that taught me about this online community. 

Textbook: https://www.amazon.com/Social-Organization-Collective-Customers-Employees/dp/1422172368 

Effective Principles

The textbook explains the importance of building an online community for your business but what are some effective principles of this? I found an article that gives you 8 steps to building a passionate social media community. Here are the steps:

1) Admit your mistakes and keep moving forward. You will never get anywhere in life if you let one small thing drag you down. This is a good principle when talking about social media as well. If you admit your fault to the community, you can move forward and build a higher trust with your network.

2) Keep communication lines wide open. Your online community will never trust you if they cannot get ahold of you. Staying engaged with your audience shows the love you have for them.

3) Lead with your passion. If there is no passion, there is nowhere to go. Your community will see this passion and support you.

4) Tell your story and help others connect it with their own. People respond to emotions. If they feel a connection with you then there is a better chance of building trust.

5) Make your business easy to find and simple to join. Being accessible is a big deal for your business. If it is too difficult to find you, there is no way to build a community.

6) Don’t begin unless you are willing to commit to the work. This step is incredibly important for obvious reasons. If there is no commitment then there is no community to build.

7) Focus on solving problems for your people. The community you build needs to be closely observed. Treat them as you would a friend asking for help.

8) Make customer service a way of life. If you don't eat, sleep, breathe customer service then how can you expect to get better? Make it a lifestyle.

Article: https://www.postplanner.com/blog/build-a-passionate-social-media-community/ 

Applying it to the Client

Hootsuite showed me many things to help build a community and how to apply these steps to different clients. The biggest thing I learned from this module was the importance of community roles. Having a community is easy, building up that community can be difficult. You need to respect the audience you gain and have a purpose with your business. Using social media to promote your business is no use unless you work at it. Quality is always key.

Ignite Donuts, the business I am working with, could use the tips from Hootsuite to build their community even stronger. Responding to followers questions in a timely manner, putting out enough material to keep them engaged, and making sure quality comes first are tips to live by. In order to have a consistent voice, Ignite should take these tips to heart. Quantity is not as important as quality and I think they forget that sometimes. Trying to push out content that has no meaning isn’t fair to their community. Make sure to put your audience first!

Conclusion

Community is the make or break of a business. Whether this is online or in person, making sure your audience comes first is incredibly important. Quality should always come before quantity. Follow the tips from attached article to build a passionate online community. And, most importantly, be passionate about your business. You won’t gain followers if they don’t trust you.

Thats all for now! Thanks for reading. 

[kelsibwilson-blog]

Big Data, Big Threat?

I recently watched a video about the legal side of big data. Doug LaLone, an attorney, presented his experiences and knowledge on the subject. For those of you who don't know what big data is, Doug LaLone loosely described it as, “the methods producing volumes of data being collected and deducted to produce certain human behavior and predict an outcome”. Although there is no determined definition, this was the best he could come up with. He shared all that he could on the subject and posed a lot of questions. 

Video: LINK

Business Awareness

Big data can effect more than you know. Hackers can use big data to steal customer information. Businesses need to be aware of the risks of having a company card compromised. They could use millions of dollars if big data is not protected properly, as shown in the image below. Businesses also need to prepare for the event of misuse of big data. Risk assessment is important for each organization in order to know how likely information could be hacked. They need to think ahead to how much it will cost if their data is stolen. Not only paying to get information back, but also the loss in revenue due to not trusting a company after a hacking. These things are important for a business to be aware of in order to protect their big data.

Consumer Awareness

Big data may seem scary, but it really isn't all bad. Consumers need to be aware that although big data can be stolen, it can also be in our best interest. The proper use of big data can make things much easier. When Amazon recommends a product to you based on your purchase history is an example. If businesses take time to regulate it, there would be no problem with our data being stolen. For the most part, big data is supposed to be there to help us, as shown in image below. We, as the consumer, need to be aware that big data can be hacked but 99 percent of the time it is only there to aide in our internet experience.

The Balance

We know the opportunities and threats of big data, but how do we balance these? I think businesses and consumers need have trust in each other. Consumers need to trust that a business is doing all that they can to protect our information and businesses need to trust that consumers aren't afraid of big data. We all need to accept the good that big data has done in the world and look forward to seeing what will come next. Only then will we have balance.

Thats all for now! Thanks for reading.

[kelsibwilson-blog]

Junk News Giving You the Blues?

This week I read the article, “Three reasons junk news spreads so quickly across social media" from the Oxford Internet Institute. The article explains why junk news always appears on social media. Junk news is defined in the article as, “the tabloidization, false content, conspiracy theories, and political propaganda”. The three reasons described are Algorithms, Advertising, and Exposure.

Algorithms

Algorithms are, “A unique set of technical elements, intricate logic, and usage analytics that make up the algorithm that delivers content to its users” (https://www.skyword.com/contentstandard/marketing/this-is-exactly-how-social-media-algorithms-work-today/). These algorithms change the way social media is used depending on each person. They make it easy to sort through massive amounts of information but also are known to leak junk news to your social media. 

One algorithm I have noticed change in the last few months is the one having to do with the Instagram feed. Instagram has now started displaying the “things you would most like to see” at the top of your feed. The feed used to display the pictures from most recent to least recent but one day it had changed completely. This algorithm takes what you like, share, and comment on the most and decides what you would like to see first. Honestly, Im not a huge fan of this change. I have noticed that the things I like to see are closer to the top, but also the junk news advertisements are up there as well. This is a big reason I am not surprised algorithms are one of the reasons for the spread of junk news.

Advertising

Advertising is taking the information from social media users and selling it to companies wanting to collect population data. This is obviously the biggest reason junk news is spreading quickly online. When our information is sold to companies, advertisements directed towards your views are placed on your profiles. This means that people interested in these advertisements will aide in spreading the information. Before long, advertisements are just about everywhere, whether they are true or not. 

The biggest example of this right now is the entire Facebook scandal going on. Facebook has been selling our personal information to companies for years, even without our knowledge. “Facebook likely knows far more about you than you may suspect, and the data may be in the hands of more advertisers and app developers than you realize”, according to an article on cbsnews.com. Without known consent of users, Facebook has taken all of our information and given it to advertisers. I have noticed this when I log on and see advertisements specifically to me, even if I haven't searched for anything of the sort. This is honestly pretty scary since nobody knows exactly who has our information. The junk news has started to spread like wildfire, especially thanks to Facebook advertisements.

Exposure

Exposure takes the sorting of information from algorithms and advertising in order to show, or “expose”, users to the things they want to see. The article explains this more, saying that the things you have been proven to want to see will show up more and more often in order to strengthen your interest in it. This is a big tactic when it comes to the Presidential election. If you show an interest in one candidate, advertisements will increase your exposure to that candidate. This proves how exposure is a direct advocate of the spread of junk news.

During the election two years ago, I noticed my exposure to candidates I was interested in increased significantly on Twitter. I read and “liked” one article about the Democratic Party on Twitter and started to notice more tweets about different Democratic candidates appear on my feed. I am not really a big political person, so this was not normal. Not only was I seeing tweets supporting the Democratic Party, but also I saw a lot of tweets dissing the other side. My exposure to this junk news increased tenfold just because I showed interest in one article. 

All in All

Junk news is real and it’s here to stay. These three factors keep it alive and make sure it continues to spread to all social media. Business and individuals need to know that there is no real stop to the junk news predicament but there are ways to deal with it. I would suggest not clicking on any of the advertisements displaying this news. The best thing you can do is ignore it! Even if this is difficult, junk news is always two steps ahead. Do your best to ignore it and it won't get the best of you.

Thats all for now! Thanks for reading. 

[kelsibwilson-blog]

In the Eyes of a Consultant

Important Qualities

From what I have learned about social media consultants and my own experiences of being one, it takes a lot of creativity. From thinking of what to post, to beating your competitor, creativity is key. Another important quality for consultants is patience. The person you work for is going to have a lot of questions and may not hand over the reigns completely. It’s important to be patient with everyone you work with in order to be the best social media consultant you can.

Social Media on a Personal Level

If I had to consult myself on my personal social media, there is a lot I would implement. I am so busy helping other people with their social media that mine has been slacking. I am on just about every social media platform but that doesn't mean they are doing well. I rarely post on Facebook, my Instagram posts are sporadic, and I have very few Twitter followers. If I really wanted to expand my social media presence, I would have to structure my posts on each platform. There is a lot I could do, but honestly I’m too lazy. 

Past and Future

Like I said, I at least have most every social media platform. That is one thing I really have going for me! I have a decent following of friends and family on each of them. If I were to suggest a big thing for me to do in the future, it would be getting myself out there. My pages are very safe and don't really show my true personality. If I get myself out there, I could have more opportunities arise in the future!

Thats all for now! Thanks for reading.

[kelsibwilson-blog]

Big Data, Big Problem?

This past week, I watched a 60 minute segment about Data Brokers. This brought the term “Big Data” to my attention. Data Brokers use this Big Data to analyze and sell our personal information on social media. It’s easy for them to get whatever is posted online to whomever they want. 

This is honestly pretty scary to me.Does this mean there is no more privacy on the internet? Will something I posted during my early social media ages come back to haunt me? Its a powerful tool to hold. Personal information can get out to the wrong people, and if abused, can destroy careers. There could easily be something you did at a young age that can get back to an employer.  

After reading the article, “The Internet’s Original Sin”, I became even more afraid for my personal information. There is so much the internet holds and so much that people can take from you. Internet business models take surveillance to the next level. Anything in your internet history can be found. You are never safe from the world of big data.  

In order to limit the harm done from this Big Data, you have to take the right precautions. Never put anything too personal on the internet! Phone numbers, and addresses can stay with you and your loved ones; not the entire internet. There is no going back from what you have already posted, but getting rid of what you can now is a big help.

Links! 

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/08/advertising-is-the-internets-original-sin/376041/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAT_ina93NY 

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!

[kelsibwilson-blog]

Escape the Internet

My Plan

I knew this experiment would be extremely difficult for me. On an average day, I am probably on my phone for at least six hours. I have family in different states and friends in different countries so I like to be up to date with my messages and notifications. Due to this, I structured my experiment around my life. I decided to do two six hour stunts with an hour break in between. This seemed like a plan that was doable for me.

The First Round

I started the first round when I woke up at ten o’clock. This round would go until four o’clock; when my hour break would begin. The first few hours were relatively easy since I could distract myself with lunch and laundry. I ended up going to my boyfriends house to watch football with family, which made the first round pretty easy for me. I found the hardest part was when everyone else would be on their phones. I started to have some serious FOMO but still stuck it out. 

By the time it was my hour break I had accumulated the following:

3 Texts

28 Facebook Messages

12 Facebook Notifications

40 Emails

The Second Round

The second round proved much more difficult for me. This round went from five o’clock to eleven. I made the mistake of looking at the time on my phone and noticed some messages from my mother. It was hard for me to not immediately respond. That night went more smoothly since I ended up having some friends over. I found it was much easier to be away from my phone when I had people to talk to. The rest of the night went well, although I did have to apologize to my mother for neglecting her!

By the end of the night I had accumulated the following:

2 Texts

16 Facebook Messages

3 Facebook Notifications

8 Emails

The Result

All in all, my social media experiment went fairly well. I think the most important factor for me was my hour break. The first part of the experiment went much better since I was looking forward to this. I am glad I planned this experiment according to my schedule. One thing I will get out of this would be the appreciation of friends/family time. I filled my day with events so I would be distracted and honestly it was just nice to talk to people without my phone in the way. I wont be getting rid of my social media but I will remember to put the phone away every once in a while to appreciate people a bit more. 

That’s all for now! Thanks for reading. 

[kelsibwilson-blog]

Social Media and Me

Social media has always been a big part of my generation growing up. We were the generation where Myspace started the addiction to Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter. I barely remember a time where the internet wasn't a big part of my life. 

It’s really interesting to hear what Sherry Turkle and Emma Rathbone had to say about all of this. The article was a fun read since I do remember the days when I didn't have internet. Since I am the youngest in my family, I was always the last to have access to the one computer in our house. I also grew up without a phone until high school. So, Emma’s article struck a bone with me. Looking into the fridge time and time again just to pass the hours by. All of it was too real to me. 

As for the interview with Sherry, the videos showed me how real our internet addiction is. The feeling of being with someone but each of you are in your own internet world is something I go through every day. I don't usually see this as a problem but it is absolutely a problem in a lot of cases. The idea of keeping zones to not use your phone, like the kitchen, dining room, and car, would be good for new families but is difficult to enforce for our generation. I think our generation has to realize our addiction and slowly fix it in our own way. 

Social media has a big influence on my life. I’d say I am on a social media app at least 1/4th of the day. To get through awkward situations or even if I’m just bored, I will always pull out my phone. The internet is a great help when I have a question nobody can answer, but obviously has it’s affects in my life. I find myself with a headache more days than not and my phone is a a big reason for them. 

There have been a few times in my life where I have been without internet. During my three trips to Japan, I had extremely limited use of my phone and only could use social media when I was connected to wifi. It was a bit of a hassle when I was stuck in places and needed help, but all worked out well. Looking back, I’m glad that I didn't have the distraction and could enjoy myself to the fullest. I would spend the whole day in the moment and get to unwind with social media at night. 

All in all, social media is a great way to communicate at the right time and the right place.

Thats all for now! Thanks for reading.

[kelsibwilson-blog]

Introduction

Hello, everyone! 

My name is Kelsi Wilson and I am a Senior here at Central Michigan University with a major in General Business Administration. I will be graduating in December of 2019 hoping to land a management job at a large company. 

I have lived in Mount Pleasant for the last 16 years although my parents have been living in Montana for 2 years. It has been a strange adjustment to say the least! Other than business, I am also very interested in Japanese culture. I have taken 2 years of Japanese and recently returned from Japan for the 3rd time. My ultimate goal is to work my way up to a large company in Japan. 

In this blog, I hope to accomplish 2 things. 1: I hope to learn more about technology in order to prepare myself for my job in the future, and 2: I hope to show you all a little more about myself.

One company that I think is an exemplary social media presence is Disney.

With over 50 million likes on their Facebook page, Disney is honestly rocking the social media game. They are a really good example of using the overlap of  purpose and community. Clearly displaying why they post each post and always getting direct feedback. Whether it’s for a new movie, or an attraction, Disney uses social media to get the word out. 

Here is a recent post on their Twitter:

98 comments, 1K retweets, and 3.3K likes is no easy feat. Clearly, Disney knows what they are doing.

Thats all for now! Thanks for reading.