You're Gonna Need a Ruler For This One

As the new media intern at my current internship, one of my responsibilities is maintaining and updating our social networking sites. But at the end of the day, how does my supervisor know that I'm not just doing my job- but doing my job well.

How do we put a number on the human interactions that take place on Facebook or Twitter? There is no cookie-cutter answer to this question, but there are tips and guidelines that companies can follow in order to measure their ROI relating to social networking.

These measures can be divided into two areas: qualitative and quantitative.

Qualitative measurements give insight to the quality of the connections that are occurring on your social networking sites. For example, it's not just about how many Facebook fans you have, but how many of them are commenting, engaging in discussion, re-tweeting, or posting to your site. Have 137,560 fans or followers means nothing if they aren't actively involved!

Yesterday I met a girl in Pennsylvania at an anti-human trafficking lobby day that said to us, "I found out about this information through the Facebook invitation that you posted [on your fan page]". It felt good to know that my posts were not falling on deaf ears, and even better to know that my supervisor was standing right next to me!

Quantitative measurements are where these numbers, like Facebook fans, start to matter. I am constantly looking at our Analytics page to see how many people read our blog, and more importantly- how many new users read our blog. Obviously, our dedicated readers are extremely important to us, but we also need to know how to attract new readers and bring in more traffic. Measuring the amount of Facebook friends or Twitter followers you have helps you recognize what you're doing well and should continue doing OR if you lose friends, what you need to stop doing.

If my post doesn't make sense- it's not my fault. There's no easy answer to this question, right?

Social Watch:Trends to Look Out For

All of the articles I came across listed similar trends related to social networking to look out for in the year 2010 and beyond.

For the most part, the ideas were the same: Social media is growing! yes. The audience is in control! duh.

There were two trends, though, that really caught my eye.

Trend one.

To the marketing team:

Have you considered creating a Social Media Protocol? A policy that sets "rules of engagement" for multiple networking sites. This is a trend that will soon be implemented at your company, if it hasn't been already. It'll probably look a little something like this:

1. Don't be mean to our followers, friends, or foes - it just makes us look immature

2. Don't curse and definitely DON'T TYPE IN ALL CAPS. It offends some people..unless of course you're being nice like, "THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT JENNY! WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT! In which case you should add a smiley face because, well, it looks nice. ;)

3. Don't be an idiot.

Trend two.

To the Corporations:

Try as you might, it is harder than ever before to control your employees. The reason being because social media is now able to reach behind corporate firewalls. I had some no idea that 70 percent of organizations ban social networks. SEVENTY!? With the rise in sales of smartphones, employees are now taking their social networking off their computers and on to their iPhones.

But, there is a solution: take their cell phones away. It's easy and it works! Just put a little bin at the entrance of the building where cell phones and any other distractions go. But I can't take all the credit for this wonderful solution. I got the idea from a sorority. Not really a corporation, more like kindergarten- except you have to pay for it.

Kudos to me.

221B Baker Street

Very rarely do I get writers block. Actually, it has only happened twice in my entire life. Usually, when I sit down to write the ideas come flowing from my brain, through my hands, and onto the paper (or in this case..my keyboard, laptop, or what have you).

But as I lay here, trying to write this blog, my mind is preoccupied with only one thought- bread, and it's not as random as you think.

I recall someone once telling me a "fun fact" (I am quite fond of random fun facts)- that grocery stores purposely put the bakery near the entrance so that when a customer walks in they immediately smell the delicious baked goods and are thrown into a shopping frenzy. She may have put it more eloquently. But neither here nor there.

Albeit deceptive, I remember thinking how ingenious this concept was. Get into the customers head, make it easy to guide them towards the things they like, and keep them coming.

The rise of the internet and technology has simplified the manner in which businesses are able to do this- to predict what we need, what we like, and what we want. They are able to cater to these needs by tracking our every move.

With methods such as split testing, conversion funnel analysis, and click tracking, companies are able to understand how we view their sites. Did we like it? Which page did we visit most often? What turned us off from the page- when did we exit out? With this information they are able to customize their pages, rearrange the layouts, the formats, all so that we stay there longer and (hopefully) by their product.

And it's not just what buy..oh no! It's what we watch, how we got there, the flow of traffic. What page did I click on that led me to this video? What exact words did I use in the Google search that sent me to their site? They want to know these things. So that they can position themselves more favorably. So that they can get inside our heads.

Tricky tricky, me likey!

Resumes: Pictures and (Some) Color Welcome!

Just last week I updated my resume. I was bored, applying for a summer internship, and felt that my current one lacked umph and pizazz!

So, after hours of editing, modifying, and moving text boxes around I finally had a resume that I felt (slightly) better about. I kept asking myself, can I use colors? What about pictures?

Why are resumes so boring?

Don't employers get it? If I happen to have hott pink or orange headings in my resume it's not because I'm childish or incapable of "getting the job done", it means that I'm excited about the possibility of working somewhere great, that I can walk into an office and light up the room while still maintaining that level of professionalism that is necessary in work space.

Get a clue! Resumes don't have to (and SHOULDN'T) be boring! Which is why I love the idea of virtual resumes and blogs for listing accomplishments! They're easy to edit and you can spice things up a bit!

I myself am thinking of creating my own little website-resume where I can add pictures and all the colors I want. I think it will go well with my IT specialization, don't cha think!?

Elle Woods had it right, pink scented paper all the way.

Job Recruiters..Here I am!

Whenever I think about my blog, my facebook profile, my (old..very old) myspace, and other profiles I have floating around the internet (ehhh?) I wonder..what future employer might see this? And if they did happen to stumble upon one of my profiles, could it keep me from getting a job?

These are the things that our generation really needs to keep in mind. With it now being easier than ever to find out information about someone else, it really is important to think about how we are representing ourselves, and how others are interacting with us. I'm sure we've all heard professors and parents alike warn us of the dangers of social networking sites and how they might one day hamper our job search, but I think that as long as you act responsibly and monitor what you post as well as what OTHER post on your sites, it'll all be okay.

Remember, what you allow others to post and what you keep on your wall is also a reflection of what you will (or will not) tolerate. Like I always say, never do anything you wouldn't want on the front page of the NY times! (In this case..the Washington Post?)

Come on people, common sense!

From LGB, With Love

Group meetings. There really isn't much to say except, no thank you. 

I dislike having to be at group meetings at a certain time (what if I get hungry and want to eat instead!). I dislike having to wait around or plan accordingly so that everyone can come to an agreement as to when is a good time for everyone. And above ALL I dislike getting to kogod lab at 8pm only to find that there's a class in there and I won't be able to finish my group powerpoint..ugh.

Which is why virtual groups make the top of my favorites list! As a business student we all know what it's like to constantly be working in groups and having to meet..and meet..and re-meet. But now, through the use of gmail ands skype working in groups is easier than ever!

Of course, people feel that virtual groups are less personal then real face-to-face meetings, and that it is harder to really get to know your peers. For those of you who don't get non-verbal cues (text-wise) here's a hint:

IF IM TYPING IN CAPS I'M PROBABLY ANGRY.

If I'm giving you one word answers. Like..yeah.

...I'm probably angry.

And if I'm currently stuck in Long Beach California, had my flight delayed by Jetblue, won't be in DC until 7am, and have a class at 8:30.


I'm probably..ugh.


Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Take Those Linden Dollars and Buy Yourself a Life

What is it about the virtual gaming that we find so enticing? Is it that we can be anything and everything that we've always wanted to be? That we can do and say things that we wouldn't normally do behind these avatar masks without anyone ever finding out? Whatever it is, its changing the face of how we communicate today and creating another world where we really are free to be what we want to be.

It's a concept that we've been drilled with since child hood: be yourself, do what makes you happy...but at the end of the day how realistic is it? We have to worry about "real" things like school, bills, careers, relationships. And what if being super hero, zombie-killing warrior or blue native on the island of pandora just isn't...within reach? If that's the case, then you can always turn on your laptop and escape into this fantasy land where you are free to exist in whatever way you'd like.

But how does this affect us in the real world? Kogod student by day, virtual gaming junkie by night, it just seems odd. And what do these games tell us about ourselves? If you enjoy playing Grand Theft Auto every night and stealing cars and killing women..does that mean that deep-down you're a cold hearted murderer?

What about being a second life junkie? Does the fact that you're willing to spend real money to make fake houses and live in a fake world say something about your social life? It seems to me that there might be better ways to spend that money, like taking a real person out to dinner.

The fact of the matter is that we all enjoy the idea of creating a better, more perfect version of ourselves. And if plastic surgery isn't for you, then maybe second life is.

PS. Get excited for our SL class. If you aren't already, then watch this.

Don't Be a Networking Tool

When you hear the word networking, what do you think of? Do you envision a schmoozy, desperate, big-talking social climber?

I know I do, sometimes.

I think of the desperate-for-fame college students who actively look for cool or trendy events in DC where they can meet the city's socialites and shakers-and-movers. Then I think about them bragging to their friends over a cup of coffee about how they attended Capitol City Ball (tickets available for purchase) and other events that don't require personal invitations, membership, and aren't really that exclusive.

All these reasons and more and why I enjoyed this article on Myths about Networking. What so many people tend to forget is that networking is another word for building real, personal relationships. It's not how many people you know, but how well you know them and how well they know you and would be willing to help you. You can go to all the parties, events, and galas that you want, but all you're looking for are superficial relationships then you will soon find that you are out of luck and a networking failure.

Networking is about listening and caring and fostering relationships of mutual goodwill so that people will want to lend you a hand when you need one. It can be done online on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn but you also need to take these conversations offline and into a coffee shop or a restaurant for lunch. Remember, just because we're all online doesn't mean we have to stay there.

Networking is a great tool, just make sure that you aren't acting like one.

My Personal Valentines Day Concierge: Meet my Blackberry.

A few minutes ago marked the end of Valentine's Day 2010, the reason why my blog this week was later than most other weeks.

As I think about everything that I did today, I realize that it wouldn't have been possible with my best friend, my Blackberry. Ok, that's an exaggeration. It wouldn't have been impossible (and my BB isn't really my best friend) but it did make planning, which was my responsibility this year, a lot easier.

So what did I plan? We went to the Museum of Crime & Punishment where we were handcuffed together as we toured the "Valentines Day Crimes of Passion Exhibit", got dinner at Rosa Mexicano, devoured cupcakes at Red Velvet, and saw Valentine's Day in Friendship Heights. And believe it or not, my Curve played quite a crucial role.

With my phone's GPS I was able to get directions to the museum, and then find an open parking lot near by (street parking was IMPOSSIBLE). Then, I used Google mobile to find an open restaurant accepting walk-in's which led me to Rosa Mexicano. From there, I used movietickets.com to find a theater that wasn't sold out of tickets to Valentine's Day. I pre-ordered the tickets, ate dinner, but wasn't really feeling the desserts the restaurant was offering. My next Google search? "Chinatown DC cupcakes" which led my feet, heart, and stomach to Red Velvet cupcakery. Everything within walking distance! It was perfect, and quick, and most importantly- easy!

I enjoy having that kind of power at the tip of my fingers. But I get it, it does raise some safety issues (maybe buying tickets from my cellphone isn't the greatest or brightest idea) but it gets the job done. And in a fast-paced world like this, who has time for planning ahead?

MoSoSo, you are so so cool.

"Listen, Learn, and Engage"

Those three words sound more like rules to live your life by then guidelines for a successful blog, yet they ring true nonetheless. Paul Boag's "10 Truths About Corporate Blogging" and Don Martelli's interview, "On Corporate Blogging" both outline the do's and don'ts of blogging for corporations.

While many of their points were one and the same, there was one "tip" for blogging that really caught my attention, and it was the idea that people like talking to people, and therefore corporate blogs should aim to build relationships with their readers, and use the blog as means of communicating with them and exchanging ideas rather than simply informing them about the company.

Corporate blogs should be run similarly to customer service, it should be a platform for readers, consumers, and potential consumers to ask question and get answers, provide commentary and feedback and feel like they are being listened to. I know that there is nothing that gets my blood boiling like large corporations thinking that they can walk all over me and that I'm not going to try and get at least one good punch in there. If that's what they think- then they are oh so wrong.

Individuals who are willing to open their mouths and comment and tell big corporations what they think need to be embraced- not shut out. They need to be given the time of day, because whether they like it or not, corporations have a lot to learn from consumers. And I don't think I need to remind you, Mr.Thom Ryan (CEO of CVS- my current irritation for reasons I will not get into), that the reason that you're sitting on the BIG BUCKS is thanks to your consumers. Without them...where would you be? My guess, nowhere.

New Additions to my Dislike List: Andrew Keen and Doris Lessing

The only reason I use the word "dislike" rather than "hate" is because hate just seems too harsh, and I want to save that word for someone even more ignorant and elitist than these two fools (you have to pick and choose your battles- right?)

"Blah blah blah" was all I got from Andrew Keen's article about incredible (as in not-credible) amateurs using the internet to voice their opinions. Keen, who seems to have some twisted Napoleon Complex (yeah, I went there), fears the internet, its power, and more importantly, the power that the internet takes away from people like him. Does it scare you that I no longer have to look to pompous smarty pants like you for answers?

Now I cn jst Wiki frm my Blkberry!

Does that bother you, little man? I don't need your snuffy Professor friends or a print version of the Wall Street Journal (which I do read..every single day). I can read my newspaper just fine..from my Kindle!

What about you, Miz NoBeL PrIzE WiNnEr? Think the internet makes us dumb? How does it make you feel that I just reduced you to a Wiki Article?

I attribute the lack of appreciation for the internet and all of the wonderful things it has done to a general ignorance and fear of change.

Can I have my Nobel Prize now? K thnx.

Crowdsourcing..Like Crowdsurfing, But Not.

Crowdsourcing, as defined by Wikipedia, is outsourcing a task or problem to a group of people via an open forum, which (depending on who you ask) is exactly what Wikipedia does. But not everyone would agree with this term.

Dan Woods, for example, would argue that what we define as crowdsourcing is actually more like virtuoso search, because when these problems are sent out to the masses, they are usually answered by experts not "average joes".

The people who fill out the articles on Wikipedia, for example, are usually experts (self-proclaimed?...maybe) who are motivated to answer Wikipedia's call. The most I've ever published on Wikipedia was adding my birthday to the list of important things that occured on May 23rd and it was deleted 5 minutes later.

What about the people who answer problems using Blue Gene, IBM's super computer. They're actually super geniuses. These are highly educated individuals who use the computer center to solve extremely difficult problems like Influenza Virus Mutations. They're not in there making scrapbooks or putting together a travel guide.

Which is why I've got to agree with Woods. People need to understand that when you put emphasis on the word "crowd" it leads us to believe that it's ordinary people who are figuring out these complex algorithms or writing articles about Benedict Arnold, when its not. It takes someone educated (or slightly obsessed) in these topics to answer these questions.

My next big Wikipedia move will be adding this blog to the list of The Best Blogs Awards (otherwise known as the BOBs).

Have a great night :)

Manipulation and Tweaking of all sorts!

Recently, I read an article called “Six degrees of Lois Weisberg” by Malcolm Gladwell. Weisberg, dubbed a “connector” by Gladwell, was born in 1925 and has devoted a large part of her life to fundraising and philanthropy in the Chicago area. The article, which highlights all of the great (and not to mention exciting) things that Weisberg has done credits her accomplishments to her effortless ability to make friends from all walks of life.

At first, all of the things that she had done and all of the famous and interesting people that she had met made me think, “wow, this woman really is a connector, a socialite in her own right”. But then I realized something. All of the things she’s done and people she’s met arent simply because of her ability to meet people and be charistmatic, she is also an affluent woman. Daughter of a judge, wife of an attorney, ex-wife of a dug store owner. She isn’t exactly the homeless woman walking down the street.

But she also isn’t miss popularity. In fact, I’m curious as to how many people actually know who Lois Weisberg is. Because, and I'm making an assumption here, the only reason that Gladwell knows who Lois Weisberg is is because he was her son’s roommate in college. Lets say my roommates parents were Ambassadors, or Diplomats, and I decided to look at their social network. Would it not be similar to Weisberg’s? And would writing an essay about them not be the very same thing that Gladwell did?

Lois Weisberg-affluent white American woman, born and raised during a time of political, social, and economic unrest. Did all of these factors pave the way for her? Is she a so-called “connecter” because she had time to socialize with the best of the best? I bet its a lot easier to raise money privately when you’re attending “power lunches” with Chicago elite. And what about her hitting up billionaire John D. MacArthur for money to fund a festival? I mean, she was eating at the Pump Room. It’s not like they ran into each other at Fridays (as if.). For those of you who don’t know what the Pump Room is check it out here (they refer to themselves as having attracted Hollywoods greatest- go figure).

Hmmm, all of the pieces are starting to come together now, aren’t they? As the saying goes, all of the stars were just perfectly aligned to make it all work for Weisberg. Now, I do think that everything that she has done for her community is wonderful, but it’s definitely no coincidence. And I wouldn’t say that her ability to communicate with others is the only player in her game of Life.

With all that said, I think that while this article really pinpointed the importance and power of communication, Gladwell was able to manipulate reality. He took a concept, communication and its role in society, and then found a story to make it fit. Not the other way around.

On that note, another article I read looked at researchers at MIT and reality mining. Measuring real-life data, and using it to predict communication patterns and gain insight as to how people communicate in the real world. What they found was that groups are more efficient when the team members know each other well and feel more comfortable around one another.

This leads us to the importance of tweaking reality. If two employee’s in an office don’t know each other well then perhaps it is in the best interest of the company that they start getting to know each other. Even if they work in different departments, you never know when a vital piece of information could be exchanged between the two of them that otherwise may have never occurred. The ability to map out this kind of information, who knows who, who is going out with who, can be of tremendous value to companies big and small.

Then again, these are the kinds of things that Lois Weisberg has been doing for years, tightening networks and whatnot. Why has it taken us so long to get on board, could it be that social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are making us impersonal recluses?

Doubtful, I think that the advances in social communication thanks to these sites have increased our ability to make new friends as well as rekindle old relationships. Life is about balance people. Talk to your friends on facebook, but once in a while go out for lunch or coffee, too.

Check out the articles I mentioned here and here

Well, I'm on my way out now. Going to Five Guys, maybe I'll run in to the Obama's and ask them to give me money for a little party I'm throwing.

Just kidding, Haiti is way more important right now, and you can do you part by donating to Haiti relief funds.

Some big ones are the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and more recently created, the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Awkward, but ANYTHING for a good cause ladies and gents!

Have a great day :)

Oh ya know, the FIRST!

Welcome everybody to my new- and FIRST blog! My name is Vivian and I am a student in Washington, DC. For the next few months I'm going to be using this blogging for my social networking class. Exciting, no? No worries though, just because this blog is for class doesn't mean it's going to be boring (you're just going to have to *trust* me on this one).

Oh, and speaking of trust...

On my honor, all posts on this blog are my own.

;)

I'm off now, but I hope to see you back here REAL soon!

la de daaa,

Vivi