Organizational Uses

Organizational Uses

As most of you are aware, I spent the summer completing an international internship with an NGO (a fancy way of saying non-profit outside the USA) in Pune, India.  While there were networked with many other NGO’s in our area.  The first article I read is about social media and non-profit organizations.  I found it quite interesting how they quickly identified the challenges non-profits face in a very social media minded world. 

“An astounding 97 percent of nonprofits are using social media, far surpassing even the business world,” says Nora Ganim Barnes, co-author of a study released last year by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research.

The article gives tips like don’t delegate a campaign to an intern, measure everything, integrate social media, and get help with content.  Having interned for an NGO, I can say that the tips and suggestions are a 100% spot on.  Social media needs strategic planning to be successful.  You can read the whole article at http://philanthropy.com/article/How-Nonprofits-Can-Use-Social/126402/.

The second article I found on CNN.com.  It details how Iceland’s president is using social media. 

"This so-called social media has transformed our democratic institutions in such a way that what takes place in the more traditional institutions of power -- congress, ministries, even the White House or the presidency and the cabinet in my country -- has become almost a sideshow," Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Iceland's president, said in an interview with CNN on Thursday at the PopTech conference here in coastal Maine.

He continues to say that social media is “transforming” politics in such a way that traditional democracies won’t be able to keep up.  Others say that social media protests are healthy.

“Grimsson, an even-spoken figure with Bill-Clinton hair and a charming Nordic accent, said protests organized by social media and technological developments are healthy for society, whether or not that offers him much in the way of job security.”

It is interesting that there are such opposite views.  You be the judge read the entire article at http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/21/tech/innovation/iceland-president-social-media/index.html?iref=allsearch

The Big Seven

The Big Seven

The first article I read was from the New York Times.  It focused on new magazine publications that focus on Twitter, Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn.  The focus of the magazines is to educate small business owners on social media.

 

Eric Yaverbaum, associate publisher of the magazines, says “he and his partners see an opportunity to use the print magazine format to reach some business owners trying to learn more about the digital world. “

“Small-business owners and entrepreneurs are all trying to figure social media out,” Mr. Yaverbaum said. “Print magazines help make the information accessible to them. There will be great success stories and useful information.”

I think that this is a great forum to help small business owner’s learn more about social media and how they can apply social media to their businesses.  You can read more at http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/a-print-focus-on-social-media/?ref=socialnetworking.

The second article I read discussed how effective social media tools are in the business world.  They mentioned that the larger the company the more imperative social media was for the company’s success.  I really liked how they mentioned the following:

“ ‘you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink'. A business can offer tools and technologies that support more effective collaboration or that try to engage with customers, but it's up to those individuals to take the steps required to interact. So it's important to really think about what you are trying to achieve by using social media and plan your strategies/implement your tools carefully.”

 The article goes on to say how you have to be careful when using social media.  It can be distracting and time consuming, but it can also be proactive and incredibly effective.  I really enjoyed this article because it pointed out the positives and negatives of social media.  You can read the full article at http://www.cmswire.com/cms/social-business/over-half-of-orgs-consider-social-business-imperative-to-success-socbiz-013160.php

Assignment 6

Assignment 5

BEFORE

AFTER- I cropped the pic, changed the levels to make it look kind of dark and then I added some random rain drops

BEFORE- I cropped the pic, made it grayscale, and then I had the flowers "pop" from the rest of the pic

AFTER- 

Assignment 4

Reading #3

Ever wonder what happens to your search history?  If you are using Google, then your search history is collected and store at Google.  This is not a good thing if you are concerned about your privacy.  If Google is issued a subpoena, they have to divulge your information.  The Department of Justice is looking at other providers such as Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL etc to also release private information.  This is a problem with expectation of privacy for many.  There needs to be reform that ensures privacy.  The Electronic Communications Privacy Act was enacted in 1986 and is in desperate need of reform.  A word to the wise, until lawmakers reform the law, don’t look anything up on your computer if you would be embarrassed to have God and your Mother see it.

Online JCOM Reading #2

Why build your resume?  Do you want to be seen by future employers?  Taking six simple steps will help you get your resume seen by potential employers.  First, put everything in a Word Document.  Second, hyperlink all your information to multiple websites such as Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, etc.  Create an html version of your resume.  Write a fabulous introduction.  Introduce yourself as you would to a loved one.  Fifth, attach your word doc.  Lastly, don’t expect anyone to click on your online resume.  If asked for an interview don’t overload the interviewer with questions as to your blog posts etc.