Interacting Online

The amount of online interaction has increased drastically over the past few years. When the internet started, I know I used it dial-up connection to play flash games online, which I could only do for 10 minutes at a time because when I was on the internet, our phone didn't work. Now, I have everything I've ever needed in the form of my iPhone. I use my Facebook to connect with family, I use my Twitter to say random thoughts to my friends, I use my Instagram to post pictures of how awesome my life is, and I use SnapChat to try and be funny. One app that I think has really exploded just over the past year is Tinder.

People used to poke fun at the idea of match.com or any other related website, but now almost every single young adult has this Tinder app. Almost all of my friends have been on a "Tinder date" and I've heard of instances where people even get married from meeting on the app. 10 years ago, this is something that never would have happened.

I think that people have become so reliant on their phones that it can take away from actual experiences. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a party where my friend left the dance floor to go to the side and spent 30 minutes editing a photo and posting it on Instagram rather than enjoying the night. Another time, I was with my friends in my living room and we all spent an entire hour playing Flappy Bird trying to beat our high scores.

With smart phones, it's become practically normal to always be staring at a screen. While we're typically on social media, the fact that everyone else is on it gives us a sense of belonging. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was with my friend and we were literally sitting next to each other when he started texting me. Although I thought it was a little weird at first, I quickly dismissed it because we were still communicating, even though it was through our phones rather than just opening our mouths.

Online interaction has become so normal that I think it can replace in-person interaction. Even now, I'm able to attend class even though I have mono because of Skype. The online world allows possibilities that would've been nonexistent before. 

The Online Community

Anyone who says that the world hasn't changed in the past 20 years is lying. Obviously, the technological advances that have occurred and continue to occur as time passes by in incredible and almost mind-blowing. I look at the differences just between a generation gap of me and my mom, and the challenges she faces are problems I could easily solve by doing a quick Google search. We rely on the internet not only to solve our problems, but to interact and to communicate. The communities we create online are extensions of our real-life communities, and they provide ways for us to easily ask and answer questions.

These are the groups I'm a member of on Facebook. Most of them have to deal with BYU - including my ward, my major, my minor, and clubs I've joined. There's also groups for my friends getting married and groups from my mission. These are all extended resources for groups I've made in real life. This allows us to be a community from the easiness of opening up our laptop or pulling up the pages on our smart phone. 

I just moved into my ward this winter, so I don't personally know everyone yet. However, because I am a part of the Facebook page, I can still have my voice be heard to everyone in our ward. We're able to make plans and give announcements that would be extremely difficult to get out if we didn't have to Facebook page. 

Here is the screenshot of the homepage of my ward page.  Our community started out as a group of people who share the same beliefs and are religious, and it transferred to an online community where we can make plans together for the weekend or ask each other for favors. Without Facebook, I don't think either of these people would have gone around to each house in my ward and asked people if they have a mouse pad or want to go on a hike. But because of the simpleness of the online community, it was made possible. 

While we still have the in-person community, the online group is just a further extension of our already-established community that allows for easy communication to everyone in the group. Online communities are almost essential now, and it's hard to function without being able to have a group online. I don't think one limits each other, but rather they build off of each other.

Advertising Westercon 67 through Podcasters

Podcasts...does anyone actually use them? After looking into the podcast audience, the participation is very low and it doesn't seem like podcasters are someone we want to spend time and money advertising on. Podcasts do exist, but I feel like people would be much more responsive to advertisements over the radio or through booths set up at related events. The podcast following is so small that it just doesn’t seem like it’s worth the work that would need to be put into it, and I don’t think the results we would get from advertising through podcasts would be as successful as we’re hoping.

However, although the following isn't as big as some other outlets, there is still a way to advertise to them without going out of our way too much. Here are my ideas:

Tweets:

-Creating your own story isn't as hard as you think! Come to @Westercon67 to learn tips and tricks to improve your skills!

-Do you have great ideas but don't know how to get them down on paper? @Westercon67 is here to help! Come learn how to be a better writer!

-Your fantasy story can be a reality...@Westercon67 will improve your writing skills one workshop at a time!

-Podcasts don't have to be strictly online! Come to @Westercon67 to meet fellow podcasters and gain tips to improve your writing!

-You've heard the podcasts...now it's time to start your own! @Westercon67 will teach you how to write your very own podcasts!

-Don't just be a listener, be a creator! @Westercon67 is here to improve your writing skills!

-You've talked the talk, now it's time to walk the walk. Come to @Westercon67 to learn how to create your own stories!

-That brilliant idea of yours doesn't have to stay cooped up in your brain any longer...come to @Westercon67 to become a better writer!

-Are you up to date on the latest podcasts? Come interact with other podcasters at @Westercon67!

-It's time to act on your instincts and produce your own podcasts! Come to @Westercon67 to learn how.

FB Posts:

-Now that you've heard the different podcasts, it's time to create your own! Westercon 67 will teach you writing skills and give you the motivation to become a creator! 

-Love interacting with podcasters online? Why not make those online friendships a reality? Come to Westercon 67 this July and meet other podcasters just like you!

-Being a writer isn't as hard as you think. Come get started and learn new skills at Westercon 67 this July!

-Do you have a prize-winning story idea stuck inside your head? It's time to get those creative juices flowing! Visit Westercon 67 and sign up to attend this July!

-You've been a fan long enough...it's time to be the creator! Come to Westercon 67 to learn tips and tricks to become a better writer.

EDIT:

Here's my spreadsheet (finally!)

Keyword	Total Pages	Avg. Monthly Searches	Pages per Search	Competition
writing workshop	62,000,000	1,600	38,750	Medium
creative writing exercises	11,500,000	3,600	3,194	Medium
writing prompts	16,100,000	40,500	397	Low
creative writing ideas	101,000,000	1,300	77,692	Low
writing tips	352,000,000	3,600	97,777	Low
writing practice	649,000,000	1,000	649,000	Medium
creative writing workshops	14,900,000	210	70,952	High

Marketing Through Social Media

Social media has changed the way all businesses advertise. While you can buy a commercial for thousands of dollars, you can also just create a Facebook page and advertise there for free. A big part of advertising through social media is how many likes you get, so companies will also come up with ways to get other people to like their pages. A popular way to get people to like your page is by starting giveaways or contests.
                                             

In both of these examples, the company made the customer "like" and "share" the picture. By doing this, it will pop up on the feed of the friends of the participator, and hopefully lure in others to like the page. Before social media, giveaways like this didn't exist. There's no way that a company could get to so many people in such a short amount of time before Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets. 

As far as the entertainment industry goes, I feel like it's harder to keep fan engagement, especially for movies that have a certain time of being popular and then blow over. One Facebook page I've liked for years now is for the movie 500 Days of Summer. I still enjoy their posts, even though the movie is old now. They take things from the movie and find ways to make them modern.

In this example, the page takes the main actor and uses other movies he was in to interact with the fans. This allows fans to remember their movie while also being modern and relevant, rather than using the same quotes and pictures from the movie over and over again.

This picture was a success because it admits that it's an old movie, but it brings in a question to make fans interact and be engaged, even though it's something of the past.

Another company of entertainment that advertises through social media really well is ESPN. I hope to be a sports reporter, so I follow ESPN's social media accounts very closely, and I've noticed how successful they are at interacting with their fans and allowed them to get involved.

This simple post has almost 5,000 comments. By creating a "fill-in-the-blank" status, it allowed fans to comment and interact with the company. 

Overall, social media has had a huge impact on advertising, marketing, and creating valuable relationships with fans and consumers. It has allowed those who are interesting in a product of piece of entertainment to truly immerse themselves and get involved with the companies. 

Spreadable Media

Our book focused on the spreadability of media and how things go viral. The main focus of the book was "If it doesn't spread, it's dead." For our presentation, we wanted to prepare you by familiarizing you with some of the content that was in the book and also examples you can look up and research on to better understand the ideas the book gave.

Question #1: Why does media spread?

-Example: Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle was a huge example of how viral videos can create fame. Someone who was a nobody turned into a common household name overnight just because of a video that was shared by everyone. Why was this video so viral? What are other examples of viral videos and why did they become so popular?

Question #2: How can media engagement be valuable?
-Example: Comic Con
Comic Con is a convention that allows the customers to participate and build a relationship with those in charge of the event. The people who run it provide opportunities to communication with their customers and listen for ways to improve their event. How does engaging in a personal relationship lead to better attendance? What are other examples of companies who engage with their customers and how is this valuable to the overall success of the company?

Question #3: What constitutes meaningful participation?
-Example: Lays Chip Contest
Recently, Lays created a contest in which anyone can submit ideas for the newest chip flavor. People are allowed to be as creative as they want. While some people take the contest as a joke, others take it very seriously and come up with great ideas that could potentially win. Fans can participate and the company ends up with creative ideas, so both sides win. How is the participation of others helpful for the Lays company? What are other examples of companies who have allowed their consumers to participate and what makes the participation so meaningful?

Question #4: What is the most effective way to spread media?
There are many different ways of how to spread media and how to get people to share content. Find an example of where media was spread effectively and explain your reasoning as to why it was so successful.

Question #5: Is humor simply a matter of taste or is it a vehicle?
-Example: Old Spice Campaign
The "I'm on a Horse" advertising campaign became viral almost instantly and increased the sales of Old Spice by 30% in the months immediately following the release of the commercial. The company used this campaign to have the audience connect with their content. How was this campaign used as a vehicle and not just a matter of taste? What are other examples (successful or non-successful) of companies who have used humor?

Question #6: How is “timely controversy” a factor in spreading media?
-Example: John Tyner
In November 2010, John Tyner had an experience at a checkpoint in San Diego where he wasn't fully comfortable with the process of TSA, and stated that he would have them arrested if they touched him. He ended up filming the experience and posted it, which eventually became viral. Why was his experience with the new law spread so quickly? What are other examples of timely controversy that have become spread quickly?

Professional and Accurate

What makes a professional...actually a professional? Let's take the given example of photography. For some reason, the idea has been brought up that having a fancy camera instantly makes you a photographer. I would say a good quarter of my friends have a "side photography business" where they just get their expensive camera and take pictures. 

Let's look at three different photographers. This is a high schooler that I am friends with, who has an album dedicated just to her photography. The album has around 40 likes.

This is the Facebook page of a woman I know who got her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Photography, and has been highly demanded by people needing any type of photos done. The page has 1,069 likes.

The last page I'm showing is a young boy who got a camera and decided to experiment. He hasn't had any formal education in photography. His photos were shared on Buzzfeed, and his page now has over 248k likes.

So, which of these three is a photographer? Is it all of them? Is it none of them? Is it the one with the most likes, or the one with the most education, or the one with the most photos on display? What do you have to do in order to earn the title of a "photographer"? 

I think social media has changed our perspective on professionalism because anyone can claim to be anything. If you just make a Facebook page for yourself, you can post your work and anyone can see it and like it. If I wanted to make a Clara Goodwin Photography page, I'm sure my friends would like it, mostly because they want to support me, not because they care about my photography. 

On a completely different note, I believe I'm the only person in the class studying broadcast journalism. The question of how instantaneous news affects quality is something that is very big in my division of study. We are all fighting to have the "Breaking News" and to have people tune into our channel. 

One example of this took place last June. CNN started reporting straight from the Supreme Court that President Obama's health care law had been overturned, which ended up being an extremely embarrassing error. 

It is important that, although we have these sources to make things so instantaneous, we take the time to gather the facts and report with evidence and truth. It is important to be first, but it's more important to be accurate.

Social Pressure Influences

Regardless of what anyone says about individualism, the truth is that the people who surround us do have an impact on the choices we make and the actions we carry out. While being in a group can be beneficial, it also can be degrading depending on how things play out.

Many times with businesses and companies, people will have meetings where they discuss new ideas that could be successful. Many times, the ideas are thrown around and tried out based on feedback from other members of the group. If everyone in the group hates a new idea, but one person loves it, that one voice becomes dwindled down because they don't want to be the odd man out. Many times, their peers will influence them to the point where they completely change their mind about a product.

This idea of social pressure can relate to anyone about any topic, from young girls in high school to old men in businesses. The idea of fitting into the social norm has become something that people idolize and work for. This can be for something as simple as looking up reviews on what to eat for dinner. A few years ago, there was an experiment done. This involved asking people which couch they preferred, but telling them the number of people who had voted on each before receiving their vote.

While it appeared some people were first favoring the white couch, after hearing the high number of people who liked the blue couch, they changed their mind to that. Is this because they have a fear of sticking out or being different? 

As far as being in a group goes, both large and small groups have their pros and cons. Large groups allow for more diversity and a wide variety of opinions. However, small groups allow for you to be heard more and feel a sense of bonding that is stronger because there is a fewer group of people. Both can have an impact and it just depends what you're dealing with and what results you want to receive. 

Cooperation via Social Media

Social media is full of cooperating with one another. Whether it's with friends and family or with businesses and cooperation, there's a large amount of trust and hard work that involves "holding up your end of the stick." I know, for me, businesses that are active on social media are more appealing to me. That includes answering questions, promoting, and overall interacting with customers. I feel like the Prisoner's Dilemma is similar to interaction. When a social media company isn't interactive with it's customers, it's essentially "locking itself in" and not exposing itself in the fullest way possible. This directly applies to Westercon. Because it's social media sites aren't appealing, potential customers don't want to like it. When customers and businesses are on the same page, that's what creates a tighter bond and likelihood to spread. A good example I stumbled across was from Digiorno pizza.

Digiorno knows that it's customers are people who like pizza. Therefore, they took this platform and used it to their advantage to tweet something funny. I do not follow the Digiorno Twitter page, but this tweet popped up on my news feed multiple times throughout the past few weeks. They took out the serious aspect of it. Nobody wants to follow a Twitter page that only posts unentertaining content. This is cooperation because they gave their customers what they wanted, and in return, received a lot of free advertising out of it.

Another cooperating company that came to my mind was Walmart. They have been using their Facebook page to interact with customers and provide the best support possible.

In both these pictures, we can see Walmart interacting with customers who are obviously trying to be funny. Walmart figures out how to deal with these customers in a helpful manner. They establish a relationship by dealing directly with their problems and cooperating with questions that may be "silly."

As far as a more personal level of friends and family goes, cooperation works the same way. Here is a screenshot of a recent post by one of my Facebook friends.

This girl is obviously "making a deal" with her friends. Not many people are fond of the game request notifications we receive on Facebook. She figures out a way to cooperate with the people sending them to her and make it a win-win situation for both ends. 

When people are not reciprocating online, it should eventually die down to nothing. We can use the above example of Candy Crush for this. I'll admit, I was pretty addicted to this game last year when it first came out. I made a deal with all my friends who played that we would give each other lives whenever we ran out. However, there was one person in our "pact" who never gave me lives, so in return, I quit giving her lives. It may be a silly example, but it can be seen in a larger aspect as well. It all goes back to the Prisoner's Dilemma. If you can make a "you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours" type of deal, you both end up winning. Rather than having 5-20 years in prison, you only have one. Or, in the terms we're discussing, if you cooperate with me via social media, I'll cooperate with you. If not, we all end up losing.