Yaking!

Yik Yak I very new social media app, it was released November 2013.

It is very similar to Twitter but differs because it does not require you to create a profile or to register with your name. Yik Yak also has a feature that differentiates it from twitter, Yakers are able to vote/rate a Yak and if the it gets enough up votes then it will get put on the "hot" list and if it gets e certain amount of down votes the Yak will be deleted.

Yik Yak is an app that uses your location to decide what yaks you see. It is within ten miles of phones GPS and its focused around collage campuses and high schools.

The problem that Yik Yak is coming across is that with the Yaks being anonymous they are being degrading and harsh. Yakkers are posting things that they would not if their name or profile was attached to it. There have been universities that have banned the app because of this problem.

Ethics in Social Media Marketing

Some user believe that businesses on Social Media sites are gaining access to far to much personal information. I read an article that shared what businesses are able to use social media for and why it is so effective for them. After reading this article I believe that Social Media Marketing is a must in today society. Yes the business has access to more information that they ever have but they are able to use it to better their marketing strategies to the consumers. the consumers want to see the ads and what is new so it helps the consumer when businesses are able to obtain this information.

I also agree that users that are concerned with letting businesses access this information need to be the ones being proactive and not putting the info they want to keep secret off of social media sites. I don't believe that companies looking into what users are looking at and/or liking on social media is a invasion of privacy. I think that it is a helpful tool they are able to use to better market to us consumers, since it is getting increasingly hard to grab consumers attention since we have become immune to the old advertising tactics.

Original Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mateo-gutierrez/social-media-marketing_b_2206357.html



Google+ Hangouts!

I watched the YouTube video that I have embedded in my post and it was a quick how to on Google+ Hangouts!

 

Google+'s Hangouts have two different ways to "hang."

 

The first way is through text chat and face chats with your hangout contacts. This way you are able to chat like you would through text. these can be received via mobile phone or computer. You can also have group chats with up to one hundred people.

 

 

The second way to hang is a "hangout on air." These hangout are recorded and recorded onto a YouTube channel. These can also be streaming live. You can invite people as guest on your hangout on air.

 

Once you have completed a hangout on air it will be posted to your YouTube channel.

Linkedin

According to Laura Shin, writer for Forbes.com, "LinkedIn should show case everything you have done that does not fit on your resume." Since I have made my own LinkedIn account and explored it I still am not sure what I really am supposed to use it for. I understand the professional connections you make on the site and how other professionals can look at your profile and get a better idea of what you have done professionally. I don't quite understand why I would engage in LinkedIn besides looking for job openings and what my connections are doing with their job. LinkedIn is a social media site that I wont be visiting very often, maybe just to update my profile. In the article I read to better understand what the majority of people are using the site for they suggested to stay active on the site to show people you are doing well in your job. To do this they said to share links related to other people within your industry.

Maybe I will use the site more when I have graduated and have industry things to post about but at this point all I plan on doing is keeping my profile up to date so future employers are able to see what I have done and what I am trying to do.

Original Site: http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2014/06/26/how-to-use-linkedin-5-smart-steps-to-career-success/2/

YouTube, more than music videos!

I have always considered a place to find music videos or a website that houses all funny videos people are talking about. When my social media marketing teacher gave us the assignment to explore YouTube to see what company is being most successful on the site. I found it very difficult to do because I knew very little about YouTube. I just thought you searched for the videos you wanted to watch. If this were true how would any business influence users that aren't searching for their videos?

so instead of searching companies and watching their TV ads I decided to do a small amount of research and really learn how YouTube is used as a social media site. I would an article that explained all about what users could do on YouTube when they created their own account. I understand that people are able to comment on videos but I didn't know there really were accounts to follow. I decided to create my own account and see what all YouTube has to offer. I explored what was on the site and followed Chipotle and Moe's. Moe's has some creative videos showcasing their foods while chipotle has more videos on what the company is doing in the background such as the MLS Homegrown soccer program they are a part of. I think between the two competitors that chipotle is doing a better job on YouTube.

I was surprised at what YouTube has for its users but its not a social media site I would use regularly.

Pinterest for small businesses

I read an article on small businesses using Pinterest. It gave tips on how to use Pinterest for small owners. One of the tips was to make their website pin friendly. This way the consumers are able to pin it to their personal boards on Pinterest and share it with their followers. The second tip was to organize your content. Meaning organize your pins into boards. When you pin your own products you need to brand them. Make sure people know where to get the item, make sure your name is seen.
The website also said that users approach the website with a shopping mind set. To capitalize on that the photos need to "shopper-friendly" information, such as a description of the items and prices. The final tip is to engage the community. to engage the community a business owner should spend time on multiple social media platforms daily. Pinterest is helpful to businesses because they are able to link their photos to their websites which makes it easier for users to purchase the items they are looking at on Pinterest.

 

Original Website: http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/marketing-sales/2013/11/01/5-tips-for-small-businesses-to-master-pinterest/

Funny Business Posts to Vine

When Businesses using vine I have learned that when they are funny people are more likely to share or "re-vine" them. This is essential for businesses to spread their products and company brand.

<iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OAAzwYYTEUq/embed/simple" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script async src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It is also a good idea for companies to give their customers a look into the behind the scenes of a brand or company. Pac Sun does a good job with this post to Vine of a photo shoot.

<iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/bP2LLWLlq6r/embed/simple" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script async src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

as a vine user myself I enjoy seeing companies share their new upcoming products. it gives me a before hand look at what will be coming out on the market. Samsung made a Vine post about their new "Gear VR" which made me re post it and then do some research on what the product really is.

<iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OuqW7JOth1p/embed/simple" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script async src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Businesses Rock Instagram

 

The YouTube Video that I watched was a tutorial for businesses trying to use Instagram as a social media Marketing tool. It gave five ways for businesses to do so, one being to promote the products. The second tip was to promote your customers. Post photos of your followers. Third, post photos behind the scene. These exclusive pictures make the customers feel like they are getting extra knowledge. Highlight a charitable site to your business. Show the giving side and more personal side to you company. The Fifth and final tip was to host contests.

 

Being an Instagram user myself who follows companies it always catches my eye when they post followers photos because then I want to take a picture and try to get them to repost my photo. Its a great marketing tactic for companies to post promotional items as well because when I saw that Starbucks was having a buy one get one promotion I planned on going to Springfield Sunday and getting my free Starbucks.

 

Instagram is my favorite form of social media because its very visual and easy to skim through the things I do or do not want to see. businesses that I follow on Instagram are most likely to get me as a repeat customer because it is easier for them to appeal to me through Instagram rather than Facebook or Twitter.



Business uses of Twitter



The article I read said that Twitter is used to meet four major functions within the marketing side of a business. The first major function met is "Inbounding Signals." This function is meet because customers are tweeting about what they are thinking and saying about a brand. By looking at consumers tweets businesses are able to more accurately learn what their customers' value. The second function twitter meets is "Direct Communication." This is businesses communicating with their customers, promoting products, promoting sweepstakes, or just interacting with what the consumers are saying about the company and the products. Third function being met by Twitter for companies is "Indirect Communication." This function is using Twitter to enhance a company's reputation, this is done by having clever and interesting tweets. The fourth and final function is "Internal Communication." This function is allowing employees to communicate via Twitter, informing their coworkers on what they are working on and any ideas they come up with.

"Every time a brand uses Twitter, an opportunity is created for customers to discover or learn more about a brand."

Original Site:
http://marketresearch.about.com/od/market.research.brand.equity/a/Effective-Use-Of-Twitter-In-Market-Research.htm

Facebook as a Marketing tool

http://www.oc-extensions.com/Facebook-Marketing

The article I read conducted five studies. The first was the average time Americans spent on Facebook. The study concluded that the average time spent on Facebook is seven hours, four hours more than Google. The second study was focused on what vehicle was most used for social sharing. Facebook came in first with 44% being shared through Facebook and then Twitter came in second with 29%. The third study was determining what the most popular sites are. In 2010 Facebook took the second place spot from Yahoo landing them right behind Google. The articles fourth study conducted was determining whether people were being truthful about who they really are on social media or if they are more likely to "fake it." The study focused on two social sites, Facebook and MySpace. It concluded that most people are being truthful with who they are on their social media networks. This helps marketers learn about their target market and easier to market towards them. The fifth and final study was looking at Facebook's impact on a companies boost in sales and customer loyalty. the study focused on a Bakery based in Houston, Texas. The bakery emailed customers from a mailing list to gather evaluations and shopping behaviors. They then launched their Facebook fan page where they made weekly posts consisting of promotions and pictures of their treats. after three months they resurveyed their customers and the findings were increases in word of mouth to non fans, increase in store visits after one became a fan, and that fans were more likely to choose the bakery over competitors.

I personally found the fifth study conducted the most interesting. The fact that a simple fan page can have such an impact on a businesses sales, visits, and word of mouth is very interesting. When I thought about that it made since due to the other studies the article conducted. Americans spend a significant amount of time on Facebook and they are using Facebook to connect and communicate their interests with their friends. Facebook has rapidly grown into a successful marketing vehicle for companies and I can only see it growing more in the future.

Original article:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/5-new-studies-show-facebook-a-marketing-powerhouse/

Welcome to my Blog!!

My name is Kelsey Fankhauser and I am a student at Southwest Baptist University. If being a Business Marketing student wasn't hard enough how about we add that I am also on the volleyball team. I am in my senior year, 28 credits stand between me and the real world. YIKES! People often call me a cat lady but I'm just an animal person in general. I have an Australian Shepard named Rex and I also have a 6 month old kitten who's name is Jax'n. I am the youngest of three children in my wonderful family. My oldest brother is turning 25 this month and my other brother who is 23 has down syndrome. I have been born and raised in St. Louis Missouri. One of my many hobbies is reading. If Nicholas Sparks has written it you can bet I have read it. I am also Pinterest addict, if you were to walk into my apartment all of my decoration ideas are found on Pinterest. Vera Bradley is another one of my weaknesses, bags, wallets, folders, I have them all.