Perfecting Lea

20. Woman. Science Student. Future Adventurer. Join me as I post my opinions and life journey on this blog.

[perfectingleaxo]

Happy New Years!

I run this blog and another blog (fashion blog). The other one I've been running for over a year. I've decided to shut down both and restart for personal reasons and the new year. Message for new url.

Later!

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 12 - The End!

This will be my last post geared towards the social media course I’ve been taking. It’s been fun and I’ve learned quite a bit. Rather than recap all the posts I have made I want to talk about what I have learnt personally. I have learned a lot about creating an organization and how to make it known through social media. This blog as well as my instagram were used for my analytics report and I must say – it’s harder than I thought. It is quite infuriating sometimes to realize that your readers are more interested in a picture of your snow filled balcony than a post you dedicated a lot of time into typing and editing. But I realized that who am I to get upset when I myself will go through instagram for what seems like hours while only spending 20 minutes on a blog I enjoy.

Prior to taking this course I never thought about having my own business or organization. Truthfully, before this I wasn’t a very creative person. Now I get excited with the possibility of not spending my life working for someone else but using everything I have learned about social media to create my own future.

I am glad I have taken this course and hope my readers have learnt something as well. Cheers!

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 11 - Gaming

This has got to be my favourite weekly topic of all time! Gaming! I’ve never mentioned it on here before, but I’m a huge gamer. I’ve been playing games in online communities since elementary school (Maplestory anyone?) and am the biggest Nintendo fangirl ever. So when I read the title of this week’s post I was beyond excited, how could I forget that gaming and social media are interconnected? Now when I play online games I don’t even blink when my character runs past an ad or a mini commercials plays during my loading time.

When I still had Facebook I have to admit that for a short time I was obsessed with Farmville. Never enough to spend any money on it but nonetheless, enough for me to question life choices. Gaming just isn’t about virtual worlds. Tim Horton’s has their famous ‘roll up the rim to win’ contests which gives them a surplus of customers. Though I don’t drink coffee I know my parents often drink coffee from Tim Hortons and scowl when they (once again) don’t win anything.

What sorts of video games do you guys play? If you don’t play video games, why not?!

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 10 - Mobile Web

This week is all about the mobile web. Smartphones have taken over the mobile phone industry. Nowadays, it’s odd to see someone use a phone that isn’t a smartphone. Even phones specifically for work purposes are smartphones. The reason they are so popular is because it allows consumers to have numerous applications (apps). Creating an app for your organization creates a new level of engagement. Most of the popular social media services (such as twitter and facebook) have mobile versions of websites – this idea is becoming more and more common. When I hear of a new organization or business I immediately look to see if they have a mobile version and download it (more easily if it’s free!).

QR (quick response) codes are also very beneficial as it directs folks to engage with any specific content. Many people see a QR code and will immediately scan, just because it’s there and they want to know what ‘treasure’ they’ve found. I think this is a brilliant idea and an excellent example of technology and marketing working together. Though many complain that technology is turning this generation into zombies I must reject that statement. We are more globally connected now than ever. When someone accuses me of being on my phone too much I want to ask them. What makes me happier? Texting my close friends and family who live miles away or forcing myself to talk to people I don’t get along with?  What about you?

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 9 - Social Media Policies

This week we’re looking at social media policies. Students may find that during lecture, they’re actually flipping through facebook or twitter on their laptop or phone. Employees often do the same thing. I would often find my mother updating her facebook status at work with subjects that had very little to do with her task. Some organizations have banned all social media for their employees, using software services such as firewalls. This doesn’t stop employees from flipping through their smartphones however. It is up to these organizations to create social media policies that will guide proper employee use and engagement.

Social media websites also have policies which prohibit inappropriate user comments. What constitutes as inappropriate depends on the policy makers of the social media site. I believe most policies in work are very effective. Such things such as removing and reporting child porn to authorities (yes, people actually post these sorts of sick things on facebook and twitter) are why policies are necessary. I believe comments that may be offensive to other users are often left up unless reported a number of times. Though I myself have read some pretty hurtful comments I understand the term ‘freedom of speech’. But, there shouldn’t be any tears shed when the user has found themselves in the public spotlight.

What do you think about social media policies?

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 8 - Tagging

8 weeks in! Last week I dedicated time to my ‘organization’ – this blog and instagram account for the analytics assignment I have to do.

This week’s topic focuses on something we can no longer live without – tagging. The tagging system is a ‘folksonomy’ (a combination of folk and taxonomy) which has been used academically for many years. Now tagging is very commonplace, commonly used on twitter and blogs so people can be able to find your particular posts. I often use tagging for this reason, a way to reach out to a large audience and encourage conversation. Some examples include www.delicious.com, which will tag and store your bookmarks while www.citeulike.org is used for academic purposes.

Tagging has grown increasingly important for organizations as they fight for space in social media. Twitter posts local and worldwide trending tags for people to discover.

I always tag all my posts on this blog. I encourage my readers to check out my tags and find similar posts and people whom discuss social media.

Come back for more social media talk next week!

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 6 - Microblogging

This week’s topic is all about microblogging platforms – posting information about your life on social network services. Most common are simple updates, seen on facebook or twitter.

 Twitter is exclusively microblogging, where you can often find similar topics through hashtag searches. This site, tumblr, is also considering a microblogging platform.

Though I seldom use my twitter account, I see the value of it for organizations wishing to interact with the market. When I have a quick question about a brand’s product I can easily tweet them a question and receive a quicker response than if I was to have contacted them through their website page.

This week’s post was pretty brief but I wanted to get my readers thinking about microblogging the next time they signed onto twitter or tumblr!

[perfectingleaxo]

Finals are fast approaching and NOW I choose the time to rediscover trashy reality television?

Oh boy.

[yagazieemezi-deactivated2022030]

My favorites of our Mighty Giant.

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."

"It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership."

"Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement."

"Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose."

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 5 - Analytics

This week’s topic is all about analytics. How to measure the successfulness of your social media’s campaign and if necessary, make changes to improve the campaign. I have decided to analyze this blog as well as my instagram page. In such, it has become an organization – me as a blogger. There are plenty of successful bloggers online, specializing in a wide range of topics from fashion to technology. Quite a few people have been discovered on instagram as well. In fact, a show about the rich kids of Beverly Hills was started because these kids had such a large following on instagram.

My ‘organization’ – me as a blogger encompasses my life. The life of a female science student and her drive for adventure. Trying to make life more interesting and reaching the personal goals she has set out for herself. The beautiful thing about being a life blogger is you get to post ‘outfits of the day’ as well as post your opinions and rants to generate discussion.

The Basic Outline for a Social Media Plan:

Determine Goals

Define Strategies and Tactics

Define Metrics

Measure

Monitor and report

[perfectingleaxo]

Might as well finish this lab report with all this snow. #snow#firstpost

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 4 - Platforms

Hello readers. This week’s blog post and topic focuses on the various platforms used for conversations. Social media has been rapidly evolving and has formed a complex ecosystem. Now, it is more common for organizations to provide links to their facebook or twitter pages instead of their website.

Facebook business pages can generate more interest and buzz than websites. The business page offers analytics to help organizations understand how their consumers are interacting with their content. I deleted my facebook this past summer for personal reasons (it is good to remember there are cons with social media) but the one thing I miss was interacting with organization’s business pages and being notified of special campaigns and deals. A lot of companies will offer coupons and deals to only those who like their page or post – which will be seen by anyone who is friends with that particular person, reaching an even larger audience.

The organization I currently volunteer for (Girl Guides of Canada) uses various platforms – facebook, twitter, linkedin, pinterest, flickr and youtube. Facebook and twitter are effective in particular to promote conversation among those in the organization. All these platforms create an ecosystem within the organization with each platform inhabiting their own niche. For example, twitter is often used for discussion with girl guiders around the world while youtube displays videos of different guiding groups around Canada.

What platforms do your favourite organizations use? How effective are they?

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 3 - Cluetrain Manifesto

Hello, readers! Welcome back!

This week the discussion is about social media and the public marketplace – particularly how social media impacts consumers and their relationship to organizations.

The Cluetrain Manifesto  is a work that was published in 1999 by Rick Levine, Christopher Locke, Doc Searls, and David Weinberger. It contains a set of 95 theses put together as a manifesto for all businesses operating within a newly connected marketplace. The authors state that the internet allows for ‘human-to-human’ interaction. Though the theses do not refer to social media, it is largely inferred.

The second theses of the ninety five resonates with me the strongest. ‘Markets consist of human beings, not demographic sectors’. This thesis encompasses universal morals that companies must remember as the social media world and their consumers get smarter. A common example of this is typically products marketed at young women. These products typically involve some ‘flaw’ that this products claims to fix, making you tremendously happier. As a result of natural processes being described as ‘flaws’ the self-esteem of young women is at an all time low. With social media and more global conversation there has been a large outcry and rejection for products aimed at lowering the self-esteem of young women so many companies have instead worked at giving out a positive message with their products. A popular example is Dove, which has many workshops and campaigns aimed at raising girl’s self esteem. Though Dove simply does what is convenient as outside North America they are known for their skin bleaching products (including deodorants).

Levigne et. al’s overall argument is that companies mustn’t treat their consumers like mindless drones, especially with the internet widely available. Now consumers are becoming aware about products and what they choose to spend money on. I agree with this. As someone who was raised with the internet it’s very common practice for me to look up information about a product and a company before I go and buy that product. Companies who value human to human interaction and have social media campaigns are much more inviting than those who do not. I perceive markets as connected to social media. A lot of new organizations become very popular because of social media – a newer and more effective method of ‘word of mouth’.

For those who want to run their own organization one day, I suggest you read over the Cluetrain Manifesto (linked above). See you next week!

[perfectingleaxo]

Week 2 - Organizations

Last week, I created this blog in order to discuss social media from the perspective of a woman in her early 20’s – often the target audience. Though I do enjoy taking ‘selfies’ and following celebrities on instagram I am a very conscious person and thus decided to enroll in this course in order to discover more about the growing impact of social media.

This week’s discussion revolves around organizations. To understand social media and how organizations use different techniques we must first look at the structure– the focal point of companies.  Organizations are driven by a common mission and vision. When the employee shares these traits with the company they are motivated and satisfied, resulting in a higher value of service. Shown below are the  organizational structures of well known companies.

  Structure does affect creativity. Organizations that leave little room for flexibility will also have little room for creativity. Social media and creativity go hand in hand, especially when trying to attract consumers and increase sales. This is why understanding organizational structures and goals helps to understand and deliver social media campaigns.

Though having been primarily a student all my life, I have worked and volunteered shortly with companies that had dissimilar organizational structures. One company I often work for during the summer is a factory setting – where DVD’s and video games are produced and distributed. This was a hierarchal structure where employees were not driven by a mission and vision. Unfortunately, most were new immigrants and had no choice but to work there. The same was seen in the office settings, where I worked – often working with excel and providing data for the people who worked on the floor. There was very little creativity and drive, which I believe clearly affected the company as it was very slow and many people were laid off.

On the other hand, I currently volunteer for Girls Guides of Canada which follows a more matrix structure. There is a stark difference between both organizations. With a matrix, there is more flexibility and room for creativity. The Girls Guides of Canada is profitable (not just because of their cookies!) and my particular unit has been able to move away from the guide book a little bit and come up with our own activities which the girls and parents love. Just recently, we talked about space and women in space which they really enjoyed.

In the future, I look forward to working with (or owning) an organization which allows for flexibility and gives employees strong passion.blogg

[perfectingleaxo]

First Post!

Hey there!

Thanks for checking out my blog. As noted in the sidebar, this is a blog for academic purposes looking at social media from the perspective of the 'target'. I'm a third year science student so I'm a bit more left-brained but nonetheless pretty clothes on pinterest and posting selfies on instagram are things that none of us can escape. This is what my posts will be centered around and I hope you enjoy.