Blog Assignment 3 - Web Interactivity

4 RULES FOR CREATING INTERACTIVE CONTENT FOR A MULTI-PLATFORM, MULTI-DEVICE WORLD

http://www.fastcocreate.com/1681446/4-rules-for-creating-interactive-content-for-a-multi-platform-multi-device-world

The article I found outlined the importance that companies have begun to place on their ability to develop multi-platform user experiences that are similar across all devices. Users have moved away from using traditional desktop viewing methods for web content, so in order to combat this changing trend in the way content is being consumed, companies must be prepared with regards to their design efforts. Web Designers must understand how their site's interactivity, ease-of-use, and aesthetic continuity must all be present regardless of the viewing platform. Users pay attention to the way websites are displayed on their different devices, and companies must realize this. This article is related to Internet Communication in multiple ways. This article mentions certain companies like Sony and Starbucks have recently made efforts to ensure their mobile platforms are consistent with their web platforms, in order to foster a more fluid and more interactive user-experience. Web Designers and corporate executives should do everything in their power to keep users engaged on all platforms. Lack of continuity and lack of interactivity in any or all platforms of a company's web identity would see negative results with regards to user statistics. If users have trouble viewing a website, or if they aren't pleased with the amount of interactivity that a website provides, then they're going to turn their attention elsewhere. Interactivity and accessibility are crucial to running successful web or mobile platforms.

We can measure interactivity in web design by the mere user-interface, for example click through interface, where users are forced to click on something to proceed further into the website as opposed to having multiple links available instantly. Another way we can measure web interactivity is whether the website allows for a place for user comments. Users enjoy being able to comment and actively participate in the websites they are viewing, so comments are a great way for users to feel connected with the website as well as with other users if there is a platform for group discussions/comments. A poll is also another way to measure web interactivity. By allowing users the opportunity to vote and participate in a poll, the web designer allows the user to feel a sense of community and a sense of importance. Users enjoy voicing their opinions on subject matter, especially when they are able to do so with other users. Customization is another huge way that users are able to interact with a website. For consumers, customization is a major factor in their buying behaviors. For example, Nike's interactive NikeID customization platform enables users and potential buyers to be fully interactive with Nike products by offering a 360 degree customizable viewing platform for shoes, etc. Interactivity is a major way to keep users on your site for extended periods of time, which only leads to more positive outcomes for a company and their branding image. 

Blog Assignment 2 - Networks

Blog Assignment 2

Aaron Conner

October 1st, 2015

1. I agree with multiple network laws. One of which is Reed's Law, which describes the value of a network as (2^N - N - 1). This formula is used to describe the ways that the users in a network can grow, connect and multiply by connecting one another. The amount of users in a network have the possibility to make connections with each and every member of the network. Group membership and group interactions have the ability to expand very quickly given the structure of the network. I also agree with David Sarnoff's law that describes the way network's value is directly related to the amount of viewers that are engaging with content. This law seems relevant today as companies use quantitative statistics to determine the success and ultimately the value of their content. TV shows' success are measured by the amount of people that watch at a given time, and the same process is used with the continuing development of the digital age and content made available to users through the web. Users/viewers are becoming increasingly more important in today's day and age, so Sarnoff's law is relevant in the way it places the key value of a network on the amount of people using it. Criticism of this law could come from the amount of emphasis put on individual numbers, that individual numbers used to generalize on a large scale can be invalid.

2. I believe in 5 people will get their information much like the way we do currently. This involves receiving information from various outlets and mediums, on a wide range of devices. For example, I get my news and information from tuning in to the news on TV, as well as social media platforms I access from my smartphone as well as my computer. I believe the technology trends will stay the same for the most part, although there will likely be improvements made to connectivity and speeds. I also feel there will be new players that try and get into the market of providing users with new platforms and/or devices to use in their daily information intake.

Blog Assignment 1 - Generation Like

"Generation Like"


1. Engagement means occupying someone's attention to the point that they are aware of a certain particular message, they are thinking about the message or piece of content. They are listening, sharing, etc.

Interaction means someone is physically and emotionally invested in something to the point that they make a decision to act upon their awareness or engagement with the topic.

Reach describes the total amount of people or users that your message is distributed to in total, the total number of people who your message is sent out to at any given time whether or not they are engaged or interact with it.

Target describes a type of demographic that has been researched and conceptualized for companies to try and send specific messages to.

2. Liking someone's post on Facebook to me means that by liking their post I am letting them know that a) I am aware of what they have posted and b) support or agree with the content that they are sharing in the post. Liking someone's post on Facebook is a way of staying socially active and letting that person know you're engaged with what they have going on in their life.

3. Knowing others "like" what I "like" helps identify the things that bring us together, that make our friendship stronger, that give us a sense of togetherness in our lives.

4. Influencer means someone who has the platform and the ability to have an impact on people's attitudes and actions based on their own actions. Celebrities and personalities like Tyler Oakley from the documentary have the ability to influence not only the lives of consumers, but even corporate marketing decisions. Tyler's ability to get Taco Bell to support him based on his YouTube following displays the fact that he has major power and "influence" in the digital world we live in today. People with a following like Tyler's possess valuable influence on many aspects of our culture.

5. Oreo's already prevelant marketing presence saw an increased spike in popularity and support on social media during the current issue where they released a social media post in support of the LGBT community. This motivated people to stand by Oreo and show their support for their decisions. Their post received a tremendous amount of likes and shares which helped their brand reach many, many people solely from their decision to support the LGBT community with their post.

6. Companies use social media in a variety of ways to advertise. Social media is designed to be used with short, personal ads that are often very witty and engaging. Social media allows companies to stay current and up-to-the-minute with their advertising, as well as for companies to target personalized demographics of people.

7. Brand trust is being developed through social media by implementing the companies image into people's everyday lives through ad content and reviews. Then when people are in the grocery store or need to make some sort of consumer decision, they can recall the clever M&M's ad that ran on TV or the great review they read about a product or business that will help lead them to make that buying decision. This decision would be based on their trust in the brand that has been instilled in their minds through social media ads and through online platforms.

8. Celebrities use social media schedules and plans to advertise what they have going on. They often hire agencies to come in and handle their social media platforms to better control their social media presence. Celebrities don't have time to make sure their social media is constantly updated, so they hire people to research and strategically post content that helps promote their lifestyle and keep people informed on the latest news and trends with what the celebrity is doing.

9. Corporate Sponsorship is where businesses often give someone free merchandise, goods, or services in exchange for the subject being a face for the company to help promote the companies products and brand identity. The skateboarding kid in the documentary received tons of free skateboarding gear in exchange for promoting the companies to the thousands and thousands of online followers and subscribers he had. This is beneficial to both parties involved. Corporate Sponsorship can ultimately lead to a subject being paid to wear certain clothes, use certain accessories, or drink a certain drink when the opportunity arises for that person to share the company's image with potential consumers who will see what is going on. Everyone involved benefits from these type of sponsor relationships.

10. Marketers are often trying to be very invisible with the type of marketing strategies they used in the documentary. They do not want consumers to know how much data and research is being collected on them in order to help drive advertisements their way. Marketing is a very private, strategic industry in which people's information is used perhaps more than they would like to know. Marketers do a lot of grunt work behind the scenes that help make their marketing campaigns successful, and the fear of people knowing how strategized it is is scary to the marketing firms.

11. The Hunger Games plot is a lot like advertising using social media because it's a constant competition in which large marketing operations have their hands in what goes on on social media, but it is done behind the scenes without much transparency about details. Today people use social media and are engaging with ads that corporate companies spend tremendous amounts of time and money on, while the social media users are usually blind to the fact that they are playing a role in their grand marketing scheme as pieces of valuable information, data, and clicks. The social media users are playing the games created by the marketing giants of the world.

Video Post - September 9th, 2015

In honor of my first blog post, and equally as important, the fact that it's finally football season, the video I chose to post is the Motivational video my staff and I made for the football team before the Howard game this past Saturday. Stay tuned for the Pre-Clemson Motivational we make this week.

Week One Motivational - "We Ready"