Michelle Klose

The short form is a term used in social media to indicate a short blurb of information. It’s not horribly detailed, but it gives enough information to start painting a picture in your mind. Probably the easiest way to use the short form that I can think of is via Twitter. Twitter is a fast paced site that allows for transfer of information in 140 characters or less at a time. Other media like pictures, videos, and outside links can also be shared via “Tweeting.” Hashtags (#) are used to label specific words or phrases in a Tweet so that they can easily be searched later. Specific people can be “spoken to” by using the @ symbol. For example, one could contact me directly by placing @MichelleKlose somewhere in their tweet. A particular tweet can be Retweeted as well so that their followers can view it. Followers are people who…

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Midterm Blog: Short Form and Twitter

The short form is a term used in social media to indicate a short blurb of information. It’s not horribly detailed, but it gives enough information to start painting a picture in your mind. Probably the easiest way to use the short form that I can think of is via Twitter. Twitter is a fast paced site that allows for transfer of information in 140 characters or less at a time. Other media like pictures, videos, and outside links can also be shared via “Tweeting.” Hashtags (#) are used to label specific words or phrases in a Tweet so that they can easily be searched later. Specific people can be “spoken to” by using the @ symbol. For example, one could contact me directly by placing @MichelleKlose somewhere in their tweet. A particular tweet can be Retweeted as well so that their followers can view it. Followers are people who can see what you are tweeting by simply clicking the Follow button on your profile. There is no need for confirmation of followers, it just happens. These abilities mean that a short message can be viewed by many people in a short amount of time if done correctly.

This can be used to the great advantage of nonprofits. It allows for the constant, fast flow of information to keep people updated on events, polls, donation requests, and general activity of the nonprofit. Because it’s short form, it doesn’t take hours of preparation and typing to get it together. It can be as simple as letting the Twitterverse know that a benefit dinner is being held on Saturday night with a silent auction afterward. Tweets are meant to be short, sweet, and to the point; giving just enough information to get you interested without giving away all of the secrets.

While Twitter may seem simple because of these aspects, it can be complicated. But there is a sort of how-to guide: 140 Characters written by Dom Sagolla, one of the people responsible for creating Twitter. His book is very insightful and is worth its weight in gold. The endless tips and fountain of information help to decode some of the mysteries of Twitter and make it easier to use.

While working with a nonprofit, I would definitely be helping them to use Twitter to the fullest potential. Using some of Sagolla’s tips, the organization will have a working Twitter account and a good feeling for how to work with Twitter to create harmony.

The first paragraph of 140 Characters is:

“Who is anyone to teach you about style? Style is the sound your words make in the mind. It is the tone taken when you are read aloud by someone else. Style is the ineffable, immeasurable spark of life in the text. Style is a mystery (Sagolla).”

Style is a major factor on Twitter. It’s the way you say things, when you say things, and how often you say things. Style needs to be forethought for the organization because it plays a role in bringing interest to the nonprofit. Style is the way that the organization presents itself to the public on Twitter; so my intention is to help them learn how to speak on Twitter and aid them in finding the voice that will set them apart from other nonprofits on Twitter. On page 8 of 140 Characters, Sagolla writes that “The short form requires not just a new language but a different way of writing (Sagolla).” This is all a part of style and will decide what followers are reached and what followers turn away.

“Consuming too much information can deafen you, but consider the impact on your readers if you correspond too much, too often, or with more abandon (Sagolla).” This, written on page 29 of 140 Characters, is referencing the basis behind Twitter: make a message in 140 characters or less. Not only does this allow for quick messages, but it means that readers, who don’t have a lot of time, can quickly see and digest what is written and make the split decision to find more information. Being limited to 140 characters also gives the ability to appear mysterious. Everyone likes a good mystery, and only having a small part of the story makes one information hungry. This is one of the best ways to get new followers interested and get information out to the public. In working with the nonprofit, my goal is to help them feel more comfortable in using Twitter and show them how to format a Tweet so that it gives the right amount of information hunger and catches the eye of readers.

Chapter five of 140 Characters is all about reach: reaching your audience, and identifying what brings them to your site. This is also important. This is the key for a nonprofit to decide what interests a reader and what turns them away. Measuring the stats of a website will help keep everything in perspective and give a clear idea of what is working and what isn’t. HootSuite is a great tool for this. It can keep all of the social media sites connected, not just Twitter. So it can watch over Facebook and the nonprofits blog as well as monitoring Twitter to give a holistic set off data. I’ve never used HootSuite before, so my hope is to learn with the nonprofit through this process. My intention is to stumble with them until it is figured out and we have a working end result that benefits them.

“For all of the talk about social networking as a force for viral marketing, guerrilla messaging, revolution, et alia, in the end we are just talking about words strung together in sequence. At a certain point, one must examine one’s own vocabulary, literary style, and approach to form word-by-word (Sagolla).”

This passage, found on page 74 of 140 Characters, alludes to the way in which Tweets are composed. You have to know how to say what you want to say. For a nonprofit, it has to be said in a way that will maximize its effectiveness. This goes back to the previous topic of analyzing the organization’s stats. Observing what tweets containing what kind of information and in what format will help to optimize composition. My job would be to implement a systematic analysis to keep the information flowing in a way that benefits the nonprofit.

“We don’t always consider text to be a powerful medium (Sagolla).”, is a statement that Sagolla writes on page 102 of 140 Characters. Text is extremely powerful when used correctly. I want to work with my nonprofit to make it powerful and meaningful. It all starts with Twitter. The mastery of Twitter opens up an entire world of viewers that can become a part of the nonprofits voice. Having a strong presence on Twitter can ignite an interest in people worldwide; and, my goal is to help the organization to do just that.

Midterm Blog: Blogging, Facebook, and Twitter

I have always been rather wary of social media. I’ve never really used them all that much. Originally, someone had signed me up for Facebook as a birthday present because she was going off to college and wanted us to stay in touch. Facebook, for me, was always about staying in the know about my friends both near and far. Of course, as soon as I started using it my mother was always hovering over my shoulder asking me who I was talking to, what we were talking about, and reminding me to change my privacy settings and to never agree to meet up with strangers. She acted as if I was seven, and not a senior in high school. I, being a naturally more reserved, have a hard time writing something on Facebook. I don’t feel like anything that I write is worth reading. I found that I used Facebook more like an Instant Messaging platform than anything else. I like Facebook, don’t get me wrong; I just don’t say much.

Twitter was another foreign concept to me. At first I thought it was strange that you don’t have to “confirm” a follower… they just follow. It made it seem much less safe for that reason. Then there was the thought that what I write can be read by almost anyone, not just the people that I pick and choose. So, naturally, I researched it. I looked at online forums and whatnot that talked about Twitter and learned quite a bit. But most of my readings lead me to think that it was more for corporation, organizations, and celebrities. So I stayed away from it. Or at least I did, until my friends Krista, Melissa, and Jamie kept pushing me to try it out. So, I signed up for Twitter one night. I opened it up twice, wrote a couple tweets to my friends and then my account lied dormant for a few months. I wasn’t really into it and I never had anything that seemed important enough to say.

Then, I signed up for this class and I’ve been “forced” to tweet. I’ve found that I actually like using Facebook and Twitter. I still don’t use them as much as my friends or classmates, but I do use them. It’s more fun than I originally thought. I especially like that with Twitter, everything is more fast paced. So if I say something stupid, it’s overshadowed by everyone else’s words before too many people see it. Facebook is more protected, so I can choose who sees what I write and when, so I still don’t write very often. But I’m beginning to open up with Twitter. It may seem less private, but I’ve realized that it doesn’t really matter as long as I don’t do anything too stupid or tell the Twitterverse my home address.

Now blogging was a whole other galaxy of uncomfortable. I’ve written essays in the past. I’ve even written short stories in high school for English. One of them was published in the school literature book my Freshman year. But I have never written anything with the intent of it being completely online and open to whom-so-ever should stumble upon it. The idea was a little bit freaky. My writing skills are not the greatest, and I have a hard time being satisfied with anything that I write up. But, I’ve come to find that blogging is really fun. As soon as I finally get an idea in my head on what to write and how to write it, it’s easy; and, as soon as I realized that the people who are reading it have never met me and, realistically, there aren’t many readers, it became less scary. The words flowed easier and I found myself enjoying writing up blog posts.

The second half of this semester comes with a BIG project. We (the students) have to work with a Non-profit organization. We are to help them with their social media efforts. This is sort of our chance to implement, show off, and improve our social media know how. It will act as a growth and explorations kind of project. So, I’ll detail some of the things that I plan to do.

Facebook, though strange to me, is an important aspect of a Non-profits social media reach. Heather Mansfield, author of “Social Media for Social Good” (SMSG), writes on page 73 that:

“Almost every nonprofit can now argue that it needs to have a presence on Facebook because that’s ‘where our supporters are.’ To take that a step further, increasingly, if your nonprofit does not have a presence on Facebook, then it does not exist to hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and it’s through Facebook pages that nonprofits can best tap into the power of Facebook and make themselves available to the Facebook masses (Mansfield).”

Facebook should be a staple in any nonprofits social media agenda. Twitter has become increasingly popular, but Facebook is still a must. My plan is to utilize Facebook as a starting zone. Everyone needs that first stepping stone to open up the door and Facebook is it. I even go to a Facebook page when feeling out a nonprofit. If they don’t have Facebook, they will when I’m done. If they do, I will work help keep them up to date and give them guidance to continue in that direction. Facebook is kind of an intermediate form; more detailed than Twitter, but less wordy than blogging. You really can’t ask for a better starting place.

Twitter is an amazing tool for quick little updates. If you have just a few words to say or maybe a picture or a link to share, Twitter is the place to post it. On page 92 of SMSG, Mansfield states that: “Communicating messages in short bursts of information, even if they are sometimes grammatically incorrect, is an acquired and valuable skill that is useful in today’s society and economy (Mansfield).” Twitter is one of the best ways to keep followers of what is happening without overloading them with information. Dr. Kristi Jean, NDSCS NanoScience program coordinator, has told me countless times that we live in a world where people don’t read anymore. Not for lack of wanting to, but for lack of time. Twitter is the perfect place to drop off little tidbits of information that followers can read. Facebook supplements it in the fact that it can elaborate on that information more than Twitter. So, what I would do is work with the organization to make a working Twitter presence that works hand in hand with Facebook. The basic idea is that when something is posted on Facebook, it also reaches the Twitterverse to encompass everything. With that, I would also help them with HootSuite. I don’t know how to use it myself, but I think learning with someone else makes it easier.

Blogging of course won’t be left out; I told you I think it’s fun, so why exclude them from that fun? On page 156 of SMSG, Mansfield explains that:

“If a blog is designed and written well, it can transform your nonprofit’s online brand recognition. In fact, for many nonprofits that are struggling to build their e-newsletter lists, online donations, and social networking communities, blogging is often the missing piece in their online communications and development strategies—they just don’t know it (yet) (Mansfield).”

Blogging is important. In the hierarchy of social media, Twitter is the catchphrase; a little piece of information to get you interested. Facebook is what gets you hooked and wanting to read more. Then, blogging is what reels you in. It gives the most information per square meter and really outlines and details what is happening within a nonprofit that day, that week, that month. My goal then would be to help that organization get a blog going on a (semi) regular basis and keep it going. Blogging is interesting. It opens up the door between the reader and the organization and will show people that the nonprofit means business. I would help to show them that and give tips and training on how to write, when to write, and what to write.

Overall big picture, my goal would be to help the organization to implement and understand social media as a whole. I want them to be able to sufficiently use social media to get word out to the world about what their purpose is and what they are in need of at that moment. I will explain to them how to use each of the three forms and keep it all connected and organized so that they don’t miss any readers, friends, or followers.

It’s Not the End of the World. Srsly.

Social media has slowly been infiltrating all aspects of our lives.  It’s used to stay in touch (Facebook, Twitter), share cool craft ideas, recipes, and tutorials (instructables, Pinterest, YouTube), and keep us up to date on the world around us.  I can wake up at 6am, tell the Twitterverse about my new found love of caffeine, write a quick message to my friends in the Ukraine who have just had lunch, then head off to class.  After 8am calculus, I can sit in the Bison union and read through Tweets and Facebook updates, congratulate a friend on their upcoming wedding, stalk a couple celebrities on Twitter, watch a tutorial on how to make realistic flowers out of duct tape and search Pinterest for this weekends menu.  When I’m done with Organic Chemistry then I can get back home, Skype with a friend from Barcelona, congratulate another friend on their new bundle of joy, and then send an email to a colleague to let them know I’ll be at the lab at 10am the next morning.  All of this, from the convenience of my computer.  While simultaneously writing this blog essay, texting yet another friend and writing a letter to my grandparents.  Neat, huh?

This is the beauty of social media.  But, with all of these wonderful abilities, come the drawbacks.  Dom Sagolla, author of 140 Characters, writes about the need to “Practice Self Defense” in the virtual world.  It’s all fun and games until someone gets hacked.  It can be a scary world out there, and the need for self protection is greater now than it ever has been.

Of course, there is also the ages old question: how will all of this affect the real world?  It’s hard to imagine a time when cell phones didn’t exist; and, while I am older than Google, it’s almost unfathomable to think about not having the ability to do a quick Google search.  The children of today will have a hard time understanding that the Earth will continue to turn if they don’t have a phone in their hands and internet access.  English teachers are continually fighting the battle to preserve the proper use of English and grammar thanks to the ever increasing use of Internet Shorthand, and schools are cracking down on punishing plagiarists.

I remember when I was in Middle school, I would use MSN Messenger with my friends on a regular basis.  I used to have to ask one friend, Ariel, what all of the abbreviations were every time she would send me a message.  I had no idea that “Lol” was “Laughing Out Loud” or that “IDK” was “I don’t know.” I was so embarrassed by my lack of knowledge that it was a regular habit for me to Google internet shorthand.   But it seemed like when I’d have one figured out, someone would make up a new one and I gave up trying.  I still write all of my emails in paragraph form.  My friends like to tease me about it.

Then came High School.  I was still in the days of sharing a phone with my two younger brothers, so we didn’t have texting yet.  But that didn’t save me from Mrs. Fugelstad’s daily lecture on texting.  I don’t think there was ever a full week that we didn’t have to hear her tell us that texting would be the downfall of proper English, writing, and grammar skills.  She would dock points from our grades if we sent out emails containing abbreviations or that were not properly structured.  She would remove five points for abbreviations, two points for improper format, six points for grammar errors, and four points if the punctuation was incorrect. Even if we were just sending it to another classmate; and don’t even get her started on allowing us to use the internet for essay references.  Two words: Failing. Grade.  It was like sitting in on a Gryffindof potions lesson with Professor Snape.

My senior year, my parents decided that it was time for each of the kids to have their own cell phone.  Then they decided to upgrade our family plan to include texting.  The first text I ever sent was to my friend Katie, telling her that I would be at the basketball game to play flute that night.  It took me 40 minutes to get it all typed out; I was so proud of myself that I had used good grammar and punctuation and had figured it out all by myself.  Three minutes later she sent me a reply that was full of internet shorthand.  It was MSN Messenger all over again, and I facepalmed.

Then in college, my algebra teacher explained that short messages are good.  Why would anyone want to write “The product of 3x and 7 is greater than 12,” when they could write “(3x*7) > 12”?  To this day I have never had to text math equations to anyone, but it has its merit.  My horizons were also broadened when my English instructor told us that Internet resources were our new best friends.  Score!!

Let’s take a look at a couple of non-profits and how they write for their audience.

Example, the first:  Hospice of the Red River Valley! (Surprise, surprise)  On their Facebook page, one can read through their posts and updates.  The first thing to notice is their lack of internet shorthand being continually used.  Their posts are written out and contain very few contractions.  For example, they continually write out ‘Hospice of the Red River Valley’ instead of abbreviating it ‘HRRV.’  While some may find this tedious, it creates a more formal style to their writing and gives it the flow that they desire.  It also helps to make them sound more professional, which is important.  Presentation is key.  No one will want to donate to an unprofessional looking organization  because it screams of a lack of caring and attention to detail.  In this case, the use of shortcuts would be like giving the One Ring to Boromir: counterproductive.

Now, if you take a look at their Twitter feed, there are obvious similarities… Bonnie Oelschlager, HRRV’s Public Relations Specialist writes out most of the words.  There are some things that are abbreviated, like HRRV, to fit within the confines of 140 characters.  In cases like this it is necessary; but Hospice still  steers clear of the overuse of shorthand that can be found all over Twitter.  Mrs. Fugelstad would approve.

A second nonprofit that I really like is Lend A Hand.  They too have Facebook and Twitter and if you take a few moments to read through some of what they write, you’ll find abbreviations.  But, the abbreviations are obvious: things like GFC (GoFarCharity), DMF (Dakota Medical Foundation), and MD (Muscular Dystrophy).  The refrain from the use of Internet Shorthand to eliminate confusion and keep it looking nice.

What’s the moral of all of this?  Internet shorthand has a proper time and place.  It’s all about finding your own tone and style.    There is nothing wrong with the use of internet shorthand; and it will not lead to the corruption of the English language, grammar, or society as a whole.  It’s the ability to determine when to use it and when not that has been compromised.  Be able to switch from casual, informal Facebook chatting and into the role of someone who knows how to get important information across effectively.  This is the key to surviving in these risky waters.

Srsly, the short form won’t hurt anyone.  “Learn to compress.”, is a line from 140 Characters that has stuck with me.  Less is more, so you need to find what works best for you.  But it is best to keep in mind not only what you want to say, buy to whom and why.  Think before you act. Srsly.

So keep Tweeting and blowing up my Facebook page with updates.  I look forward to it.  TTYL!

Cheers.

Lend A Hand and Giving Hearts Day

Since I talk about Hospice of the Red River Valley so much, I’ve decided not to use them as the basis for this blog post.  It doesn’t mean that I love them any less though.  Instead, I present to you Lend A Hand.  This organization helps families to raise funds in times of a medical crisis.  Cancers, diseases, hereditary illnesses, etc.  They help put together events like spaghetti feeds, silent auctions, dances and entertainment.

Lend a Hand got in on the action for Giving Hearts Day by posting to Facebook, Tweeting, and making a short (30 second) video for YouTube.

The video that they put together, (which can be found Here) was smooth flowing and interesting.  It contained the Lend a Hand Logo as well as advertisement for Giving Hearts Day.  There was also the url for the Lend a Hand website and the url for impactgiveback.org, which was the site to go to todonate on Giving Hearts Day.  So that looked very professional.  The video was narrated by who I assume to be a volunteer for the organization.  She explained that by donating on Giving Hearts Day , all donations $10 and up would be matched by Dakota Medical Foundation.

It did contain pictures of children who have benefited from their aid, but didn’t give an explanation as to how they helped or really what the organization does.  I like testimonials, so I feel that it would have been more effective if there had been a short story to explain how Lend a Hand works to help others.  I feel more inclined to donate if I see that the organization is making an impact in the lives of others.

Lend a Hand advertised on Twitter, and their Twitter feed can be found Here.  They tweeted for most of that week about Giving Hearts Day to advertise the cause and to ask for donations.

  Of course they didn’t leave Facebook out of the equation.  They posted a few times that week about Giving Hearts day.  They also have many posts about benefit dinners and whatnot to help raise funds for people in need.  Their Facebook page can be found Here.

Overall they seemed to do really good with spreading the word of Giving Hearts Day and encouraging people to donate.   The organization made it widely known that they were looking for donations on Giving Hearts Day and made it clear that donations were being matched.  This also extended to outside of social media; there were fliers for Lend a Hand at my workplace as well.  They’re hard work paid off: in a status update on Facebook they stated that “Due to the generosity of your contribution and DMF matching funds, were are able to help 5 additional families this year!”  They definitely hit their mark.

 

 

Move Over Facebook, Mobile is Stealing the Show!!

The world we live in is extremely fast-paced.  We have high-speed internet (because no one likes waiting for their videos to load), fast acting pain medication (for those pesky migraines), fast cars (vrooom-vroom), and even fast food (seriously, who cooks anymore?).  So, naturally, we have fast updating to social media sites. If I may, I’d like to take a moment to make a comparison.  Web 1.0 would be like Middle Earth, they’re still using the Pony Express and watch lights to get word out.  Web 2.0 is Hogwarts, using owls and floo powder to send messages.  Web 3.0 would be like Star Trek; why send messages, when you can just beam yourself to your audience and hand deliver it?  This social media hierarchy may seem dorky, but it’s sort of true; and, with the rise in mobile social media, it’s going to become faster, bigger, and more complicated.  Because sending yourself through space is WAY more involved than saddling up.

Being the social media manager for a non-profit can’t be easy.  Especially now, when things are moving evermore toward mobile.  This means that he/she has a job that goes with him/her everywhere.  Taking the kids to the park? Updating Facebook on the phone.  Making dinner?  Multitasking by coming up with new slogans and eye-catching graphics.  Grocery shopping?  Tweeting on the tablet while simultaneously crossing items off the list.  It’s a big job.  This brings a whole new meaning to taking work home with you.  But it does offer some perks.  The office is always with you as long as you have a smartphone/tablet and internet access.

I personally do not do anything on my phone, so I can’t imagine what kind of workload that would entail.  I would imagine it to be much more demanding.  It can be done anywhere and at almost any time.  The expectation would be that it is constant and routine, without being terribly rigid.

In chapter 8 of SMSG, Mansfield states that “…a report released in 2010 by Morgan Stanley predicts that based on the current rate of adoption, the Mobile Web is likely to be bigger than desktop Internet use by 2015.”  More and more people are using smart phones, so, statistically, the amount of time spent on a non-profit website reading messages, looking through photos and videos, and donating to the organization is going to be proportional.  If non-profits don’t go mobile, they will be left behind.  Simple as that.

As with all new social media movements, there is the issue of privacy.  Is anything ever really private on the internet?  Not if you know how to find it.  It’s a little bit scary that you can type someone’s name into a Google Search and the results will bring up Facebook pages, phone numbers, and, in some cases, directions leading straight to their front door.  So privacy is an understandable issue.  Obviously the best advice that can be given is to be smart about what is being posted.  Those pictures of you falling all over yourself at last year’s Christmas party probably shouldn’t go on Facebook.  Those angry words you want to say to the mouthy guy from the cubicle across from yours do not make a good Tweet.  Especially if your personal accounts are being used as the non-profit’s accounts.  Representation is huge, and you want to make the organization look good.

Big Picture — social media is going mobile.  This brings the game to a whole new level and can have serious benefits.  It’ll take a little time, but will be well worth the extra time invested.  Keep your phone at hand and be prepared for this new fast-paced experience.  Next step: Intergalactic Space Travel. There’s an app for that.  Cheers.

Giving Hearts Day and More

In honor of Giving Hearts Day, I would like to promote a few non-profit organizations.  First off is my common theme.  I seem to talk about Hospice of the Red River Valley quite often, so here is a link to HRRV’s Facebook page.

The second I would like to bring to your attention is Prairie Harvest Mental Health.  They have created a GHD Video, that can be found here: PHRH GHD. They are also promoting it on their Facebook Page.

All donations $10 and up can be doubled today.  To donate visit www.impactgiveback.org

Also, I was informed that I didn’t have any pictures of the Pumpkin Lady, Cheryl Erickson, or her pumpkin patch on my video blog.  That’s because i might have (totally did) forgotten to add them.  When I tried to go back and add them later, I found that they were not on my computer.  It was a very sad day…. But!!!! I did find an interview where she talks about her pumpkin patch and some of the volunteers.  The Lutheran Church she talks about is the one I went to in Jamestown and her neighbor is Linda Perleberg, who was my Confirmation Mentor.  Linda is the one who told us about Cheryl and really go us into this project.  So, you can certainly wander over to the interview if you would like.  It can be found here: God’s Pumpkins.

Thank you kindly for your time!

Video Blogging

Video Blog

This is my first video blog, just go ahead and click on the “Link” above and start the slideshow.  Listen as I talk about a couple of non-profits, The Hospice of the Red River Valley and the Pumpkin Lady and how they use video image and still image blogging.

If you like what you hear, feel free to click the links down below and see more for yourself.

Hospice – Providing Comfort at the End of Life’s Journey

Hospice – Volunteerism

Pumpkin Lady – Bismarck Tribune

Pumpkin Lady – Adventist.Org

Media Ecology: Studying the Melting Pot of Social Media

My brain is wired to be inclined toward science and scientific terms; so when I saw the word ecology, I of course got excited thinking ‘I know what that means!’  Ecology is basically a studying of relationships. (Please Note: This will not be a discussion on the proper use of the Relationship Status on Facebook.  This is a different kind of relationship study.)  Most commonly, ecology is tied back to biology: the study of cells in relation to each other, or species in relation to each other and so on and so forth.  But for this purpose, MEDIA ECOLOGY is the study of how social media sites relate to each other, and how they can each be used in turn to work toward the common goal. 

I think that it makes the most sense for me to begin with the most popular social media site among my age group: Facebook.  Since this is my blog, that’s what I’m going to do.  Just try and stop me, I dare you.

Facebook has been known to cause feuds, keep friends in touch, and allow for those candid photos to be seen by anyone you are “friends” with.  This is normally done in what is known as a status update.  Status updates are the primary mode of information transfer on Facebook.  One simply types up what they have to say and it shows up on the news feed of other Facebook users who you have friended.  Then, it will show up on their feeds and other people that are friends with them can see it if they like or comment on the update.  This can create a snowballing effect that musicians, authors, celebrities, elected officials and even whole organizations can use to their advantage.  A non-profit organization that I have had the privilege to sort of work beside and that I “Like” on Facebook is the Hospice of the Red River Valley.  You can see a direct link to their Facebook site below.  I encourage you to look them up and see what they’re about.

https://www.facebook.com/hospicerrv?ref=ts&fref=ts

This is the Hospice Timeline.  On their timeline they have photos, videos, and information on events and their mission.  Along with these features, there is the ability to “Like” the page.  This brings popularity to the site and allows your friends to see that you’ve “Liked” the page and they can check it out if it catches their interest.

Facebook is even such a big hub, that it has an entire chapter in SMSG.  In the chapter, Heather Mansfield gives tips on how to make your Facebook work for you.  Among these tips is the one to only post a status update once or twice a day.  No one wants to log into Facebook and have to filter 100 status updates that are all basically going to say the same thing.  Unless there is something big that you are trying to rally for or desperately need to get the word out, keep it limited.  Facebook is really meant for intermediate updates to announce an event or show off some awesome photos and videos. 

The next topic is going to be the slightly more enigmatic Twitter.  Whereas, with Facebook there has to be some sort of relationship between the writer and reader for the reader to be able to see a status update, (even if it’s your best friend’s, ex-boyfrined’s estranged third cousin) Twitter is much more open.  You simply have to Follow someone to see specifically what they are Tweeting, but a quick search of a person, organization, #hashtag, or even a phrase can yield results from the entire Twitterverse.  Again, organizations, celebrities, and others are using this social media site to their advantage.  One of the nonprofits that I recently started following (brought to my attention by Kevin Brooks) is the ARTSpulse here in the Fargo-Moorhead area.  It’s basically a blog that follows arts programs in the area.  ARTSpulse’s Twitter site can be found below, and it’s a great site to follow.

https://twitter.com/ARTSpulse

Here you can find individual tidbits of information and then there are links to photographs, and other websites.  This is really what Twitter is for.  It’s just little bite-size pieces of information that are meant to be super easy to understand.  There is an entire book written by the Co-creators of Twitter entitle “140 Characters.”  This book is kind of a Twitter for Dummies.  There are the Do’s and Do Not’s as well as little tips on how to find your own voice and style within the Twitterverse.  This is really where non-profits are going to be Chatty Kathys.  It’s a little more free form; and, because you only have 140 characters to work with in a single Tweet, it’s meant to be smaller in comparison to a status update.

Though the both of these are different, they lend to each other.  It’s all about finding the flow between the more informative status update versus the shorter tweet.  This is the true ecology in social media.  However, with great social media skills comes great responsibility; remember your manners, keep it within acceptable limits, and don’t spam someone’s Facebook timeline or Twitter feed.  So find your flow, be creative, and have fun with it.

 

 

Who Do I Want to be Online

Well, ideally, I’d kind of like to be something cool, like an elf or a ranger.  Maybe even a wizard, but this is neither Dungeons and Dragons, nor a fantasy novel…so I guess I’m just me this time.

But seriously, that’s a really loaded question.  I’m not even sure who I want to be in real life some days.  I do know that I want to be able to present myself and any organization I may be in in a positive manner.  Which is where this class enters the timeline.

Obviously, if you read my very first post, I made it very clear that I don’t share much on social networking sites.  I’m more reserved than that.  I’ll start to type something up and then look over it thinking, “No one is going to want to read that.”  So 99.8% of what I type up is scrapped.

I see websites, Facebook pages, etc, all the time that are just amazing.  They balance professionalism, aesthetics, and knowing just what to say and when to say it; and the things that are written are done so in a way that makes me want to read through them.  That’s what I want to be able to do.

One of the Facebook pages that I have visited a few times is the YWCA USA page.  I think it’s very well put together.  There are not only short updates and notifications, but videos and stories and photos.  There is something written on their timeline almost every day and it’s balanced.

A website that I frequent is the Nanoscience Discoveries page of the National Science Foundation.  Having graduated from the Nanoscience program at NDSCS this is fascinating to me.  This site helps me stay up to date with what’s going on in the  world of nano and it’s so easy to navigate.  Every article has an avatar to give a sort of teaser of the content that can be found under that link.  It doesn’t seem like there’s much going on with the site, but my father always told me that looks can be deceiving.

Compared to my Facebook page, which can be viewed here (at your own risk), the YWCA USA is much more interesting.  I have so much room for improvement and the most interesting thing that I’ve done with it is keeping in touch with a Ukrainian friend.  I need to work on this.

Hopefully this class can help me with that.  I’m off to a horrible start though, I won’t lie.  This was supposed to be written in Week 1 and it’s now Week 4.  I’m not even half way done with the semester and it’s already kicking my butt, haha.