This Tuesday, a group of friends and I did something unique and rewarding that tied in with the Halloween spirit. We dressed up in costumes and drove to St. Rita's and Lima Memorial hospitals in order to reverse trick-or-treat. Our group consisisted of a fencer, vacationer, lumberjack, bunny, nerdy weatherman, hippie, bubblegum, and a sleepwalker. The looks we received were priceless. At least I had called ahead to warn the hospitals we were arriving-I didn't feel it would be right to burst in all masked and weird looking.
We took candy and coloring books to the pediatric wards. There weren't many kids in the wards though, which is a good thing for sure. So we trampsed down to the cancer and rehab wards. It was a good thing we did, because they loved it! Most of the patients were older and they enjoyed looking at our costumes as we 'trick-or-treated'. Although most of them couldn't eat the candy we had, they were more than happy to work on some Halloween word searches or crosswords. The nurses loved us too because they got glow-in-the dark stickers and our leftover candy.
The best part involved all of us standing at the entrance of the elevator, waiting for it to open when a man walked out and jumped, completely bewildered. Also, since I'm from this area, I saw at least four people I knew working/visiting someone in the hospital. They should be used to me wearing weird outfits. Whatever, it was a great time. The patients and nurses were ecstatic to see us come and hopefully we brightened their evening just a little bit.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Corn Week 8
Corn is amazing. I've grown up with corn all around me; it's really hard not to considering I live in northwest Ohio. Occasionally though, I'll look out at a cornfield with fresh eyes and realize how beautiful it can be. Despite their creepy reputation thanks to the movie industry, corn fields are something to enjoy. And there are so many ways to enjoy a corn field. Let me list a few.
1. Corn on the cob - Delicious, buttery sweetcorn is a highlight of late summer/early fall. I remember always husking the corn before dinner so my mom could have it ready(somehow my siblings never had to do any labor.) Anyway, Mmmm...
2. Getting purposefully lost/hours of solitary entertainment - If you get angry and don't want to be around people, find the nearest tall corn field and just blindly run into the center. Turn around in a few circles, and there you go, no people!
3. Corn mazes - Great fun for family and friends. Carry a jug of cider and wander around in a maze yelling at friends for leading you to dead-ends. If you want to make it even more fun, when you get somewhere near the center, tear up the map. I can't promise your group won't attack you, but it sure promotes a good bonding experience.
4. Haunted corn fields - Oh man, it isn't Halloween if my friends and I don't get chased by a masked man carrying a chainsaw. In my opinion, my county (Putnam County) puts on one of the best haunted corn fields around. For a few bucks, I get a cheap thrill in the crisp night air, latched onto my friend's arm screaming bloody murder.
These are my top four ways to experience corn fields. If you can't check off this list, I suggest you hurry up and get out there before the farmers harvest it all. And if you have any interesting corn field stories/different uses for corn, let me know and I'll add it to my list!
1. Corn on the cob - Delicious, buttery sweetcorn is a highlight of late summer/early fall. I remember always husking the corn before dinner so my mom could have it ready(somehow my siblings never had to do any labor.) Anyway, Mmmm...
2. Getting purposefully lost/hours of solitary entertainment - If you get angry and don't want to be around people, find the nearest tall corn field and just blindly run into the center. Turn around in a few circles, and there you go, no people!
3. Corn mazes - Great fun for family and friends. Carry a jug of cider and wander around in a maze yelling at friends for leading you to dead-ends. If you want to make it even more fun, when you get somewhere near the center, tear up the map. I can't promise your group won't attack you, but it sure promotes a good bonding experience.
4. Haunted corn fields - Oh man, it isn't Halloween if my friends and I don't get chased by a masked man carrying a chainsaw. In my opinion, my county (Putnam County) puts on one of the best haunted corn fields around. For a few bucks, I get a cheap thrill in the crisp night air, latched onto my friend's arm screaming bloody murder.
These are my top four ways to experience corn fields. If you can't check off this list, I suggest you hurry up and get out there before the farmers harvest it all. And if you have any interesting corn field stories/different uses for corn, let me know and I'll add it to my list!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Buyer Profiling Week 8
The whole buyer persona profiling sounds very effective, but also very creepy. I never realized how much thought goes into every marketing campaign, every commercial, every Web site... If companies or organizations are doing it right, they spend hours and hours researching every little detail about their target customers. I find it weird that before I even visit a Web site, an organization has looked up where "I" go online, what television shows "I" watch, and what phrases "I" use in search engines. "I" refers to myself and the buyer profile that I fit into. I never thought about it before, but I can see how some companies and organizations really do use this strategy in marketing, especially in the US Presidential Elections of 2004 example where marketers targeted groups of people like "NASCAR dads" and "Security moms".
In the New Rules book, David Meerman Scott suggested even naming the persona. He wrote, "This should be an internal name only that helps you and your colleaguees to develop sympathy with and a deep understanding of the real people to whom you market. Rather than a nameless, faceless "prospect," your buyer persona will come to life." I'm not sure about his use of the word sympathy, I would lean towards the word empathy. Sympathy makes me think of feelings of pity while empathy is more of an identification with and desire to understand.
Scott's example of UGOBE's toy dinosaur, called Pleo, that they created seems almost superflous in the amount of work they put into correctly marketing the toy. I had never even heard of Pleo until reading this book. If it was supposed to be such an amazing invention, why doesn't anybody know what it is? Sure, there are probably Pleo fanatics out there, but shouldn't a goal of the company be to gain more publicity for their product after reaching the target groups? Anyway, they must not have finished the job because I never heard a thing.
In the New Rules book, David Meerman Scott suggested even naming the persona. He wrote, "This should be an internal name only that helps you and your colleaguees to develop sympathy with and a deep understanding of the real people to whom you market. Rather than a nameless, faceless "prospect," your buyer persona will come to life." I'm not sure about his use of the word sympathy, I would lean towards the word empathy. Sympathy makes me think of feelings of pity while empathy is more of an identification with and desire to understand.
Scott's example of UGOBE's toy dinosaur, called Pleo, that they created seems almost superflous in the amount of work they put into correctly marketing the toy. I had never even heard of Pleo until reading this book. If it was supposed to be such an amazing invention, why doesn't anybody know what it is? Sure, there are probably Pleo fanatics out there, but shouldn't a goal of the company be to gain more publicity for their product after reaching the target groups? Anyway, they must not have finished the job because I never heard a thing.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Negative Feedback Week 8
Maybe free speech isn't guaranteed online...
After perusing Digg, the site where I get all of my news information, I found an article described a legal case involving libel. Chris Reed bought a phone through eBay recently and when the package arrived, the phone that was claimed to be in "good condition", was chipped and damaged. It was also a different model than he had paid for. Reed, disappointed and perturbed, sent the phone back and logged in to eBay to leave negative feedback on the seller's site. It only seems right that Reed would honestly write about the interaction in his feedback. That is why the feedback option is on eBay in the first place.
Nevertheless, the seller took offense and is now suing Reed with libel action. Give me a break. Reed said: 'I can't believe someone can be so petty. All I had done was left an honest opinion and everything I said was true. I thought that was why the feedback service was there. It's not like I wrote anything malicious or called him a conman.'
The seller is complaining that the negative feedback significantly hurt his business and he is not sure he can bounce back from the remark. Though it's true that the remark probably did lower him on the search engines and undermine his credibility, it is for good reason. He lied online about the condition of the product he sold, he should reap the consequences of his actions.
I don't see how the seller will have a chance if the case makes it to court. If, for some reason, the courts rule in favor of the seller, there will be an uproar in online communities. The court should not be allowed to punish a person for honestly and transparently recording his/her opinions online.
After perusing Digg, the site where I get all of my news information, I found an article described a legal case involving libel. Chris Reed bought a phone through eBay recently and when the package arrived, the phone that was claimed to be in "good condition", was chipped and damaged. It was also a different model than he had paid for. Reed, disappointed and perturbed, sent the phone back and logged in to eBay to leave negative feedback on the seller's site. It only seems right that Reed would honestly write about the interaction in his feedback. That is why the feedback option is on eBay in the first place.
Nevertheless, the seller took offense and is now suing Reed with libel action. Give me a break. Reed said: 'I can't believe someone can be so petty. All I had done was left an honest opinion and everything I said was true. I thought that was why the feedback service was there. It's not like I wrote anything malicious or called him a conman.'
The seller is complaining that the negative feedback significantly hurt his business and he is not sure he can bounce back from the remark. Though it's true that the remark probably did lower him on the search engines and undermine his credibility, it is for good reason. He lied online about the condition of the product he sold, he should reap the consequences of his actions.
I don't see how the seller will have a chance if the case makes it to court. If, for some reason, the courts rule in favor of the seller, there will be an uproar in online communities. The court should not be allowed to punish a person for honestly and transparently recording his/her opinions online.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Into the Wild
I watched an amazing, inspiring film this weekend. It was so phenomenal that I must share. Into the Wild --the true story of Christopher McCandless, a 24 yr old college graduate who burns up all of his money and ties to his life and abandons society in search of something more. It's a beautifully sad and unbelievable story. Even from an artistic point of view, I could watch it over and over. Which I will, I am sure. Check it out.
May I take your trash? Week 7
We are constantly pressured to conform to the 'norm' of life. But can anyone really define what the 'norm' is? In my interpersonal comm class we were discussing social norms. Dr. North said that she makes her nonverbal comm class violate social norms for an experiment. Maybe some of you have even taken the class...
Anyway, her description made me want to run off of campus, into civilization, and test people's reactions to social norm violations. Then I realized that I actually participated in a small violation of the norm earlier this week on campus.
Some friends and I attend a small group that is linked to northern christian fellowship. We decided to use our meeting time primarily for service. We're planning to rake leaves, serve at soup kitchens, visit nursing homes, trick-or-treat with kids in the hospital...just normal service activities to bring us together with people that we love. Anyway, last week we didn't have anything set up to do so we spontaneously came up with the brilliant idea to walk through lima complex and ask people if they had trash we could take out for them. You should've seen some of the crazy looks we got. It was worth it just for that fact.
A lot of people were really nice and were willing to give us their full trashbags, but it wasn't without an initial awkward look at our offer. Roberts hall was the best though. Most guys jumped on our offer right away. One guy asked if we lost a dare. Most others just asked why. We didn't really have a good answer, basically just b/c we felt like it.
So, to tie this into the social norm situation, I feel like we violated a little bit of the norm with our random door knocking/trash taking. People don't normally come to your dorm door and ask to take your garbage with a smile on their face. Oh well, I do. If not just to see your reaction...
Anyway, her description made me want to run off of campus, into civilization, and test people's reactions to social norm violations. Then I realized that I actually participated in a small violation of the norm earlier this week on campus.
Some friends and I attend a small group that is linked to northern christian fellowship. We decided to use our meeting time primarily for service. We're planning to rake leaves, serve at soup kitchens, visit nursing homes, trick-or-treat with kids in the hospital...just normal service activities to bring us together with people that we love. Anyway, last week we didn't have anything set up to do so we spontaneously came up with the brilliant idea to walk through lima complex and ask people if they had trash we could take out for them. You should've seen some of the crazy looks we got. It was worth it just for that fact.
A lot of people were really nice and were willing to give us their full trashbags, but it wasn't without an initial awkward look at our offer. Roberts hall was the best though. Most guys jumped on our offer right away. One guy asked if we lost a dare. Most others just asked why. We didn't really have a good answer, basically just b/c we felt like it.
So, to tie this into the social norm situation, I feel like we violated a little bit of the norm with our random door knocking/trash taking. People don't normally come to your dorm door and ask to take your garbage with a smile on their face. Oh well, I do. If not just to see your reaction...
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Going Viral Week 7
I loved reading about the successful and unconventional viral marketing campaigns companies have been experimenting with. The risk in going viral is in itself intriguing. Since marketing costs are so low, there is no good reason for a company not to at least try launching a viral campaign.
I believe the primary factor that plays into the success of a campaign is creativity. At first, anything interactive on the web between companies and customers was exciting. But now, since viral marketing is becoming more common, and consumers are constantly bombarded with info, it takes a very creative approach to get people involved. In my opinion, people's response rates will start to decline if companies rely on the same old commercial video or photo contests to spread their brand. Right now that form of marketing is a hit, but creative innovations are sure to surpass the norm.
The guerilla marketing tactics of NightAgency are impressive. They use their brains to think outside of the box when trying to reach the public. I would love to work for them. They work in dynamic capacities and employ existing surroundings to promote their clients' products. Their efforts may not succeed 100% of the time, but they are willing to test out different strategies and explore new marketing frontiers. NightAgency is a great model for viral marketing promotion.
I believe the primary factor that plays into the success of a campaign is creativity. At first, anything interactive on the web between companies and customers was exciting. But now, since viral marketing is becoming more common, and consumers are constantly bombarded with info, it takes a very creative approach to get people involved. In my opinion, people's response rates will start to decline if companies rely on the same old commercial video or photo contests to spread their brand. Right now that form of marketing is a hit, but creative innovations are sure to surpass the norm.
The guerilla marketing tactics of NightAgency are impressive. They use their brains to think outside of the box when trying to reach the public. I would love to work for them. They work in dynamic capacities and employ existing surroundings to promote their clients' products. Their efforts may not succeed 100% of the time, but they are willing to test out different strategies and explore new marketing frontiers. NightAgency is a great model for viral marketing promotion.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Death isn't the end... Week 7
I love Digg.com. I check it evey other day or so when I have a free minute and desire some interesting info. Tonight when I looked at the site, a top article caught my eye. The title was, "What happens to your web stuff after you die?"
I never pondered that question before and it is weird to think about. When people die, part of them is still living on--perhaps in their Facebook profile, Flickr account, or personal Web site. Does the account last forever? Do you want it to still be out there once you're gone? Apparently some people think it is necessary.
I'm sure there are cases where a Web site should continue after the creator dies, like in business situations, or if they want to keep photo galleries online for friends to have access to. But otherwise, I don't think people should be worried about making sure their online presence outlasts them.
In the article, Struan Robertson, Legal Director with Pinsent Masons and Editor of OUT-LAW.com explains, "You can bequeath your copyright to others. So I can say in my will that I'm leaving all my rights in my photographs or website to a friend. If I don't do that, the copyright will belong to my estate - and in most cases it will survive for 70 years after my death." Most online accounts are terminated if there are extended periods of inactivity. For Web sites, if the domain name isn't renewed every couple of years, someone else can purchase it. If people really want their sites and accounts to continue after they don't, the article says the best thing to do is to leave their log-in information and passwords to a trusted source and let the source take over. It doesn't have to be in a formal will, it could just be a mutual understanding.
I know when I'm gone, I would rather my online presence be gone too. It is creepy to think of people visiting my sites, or me visiting theirs, after knowing they have passed away.
I never pondered that question before and it is weird to think about. When people die, part of them is still living on--perhaps in their Facebook profile, Flickr account, or personal Web site. Does the account last forever? Do you want it to still be out there once you're gone? Apparently some people think it is necessary.
I'm sure there are cases where a Web site should continue after the creator dies, like in business situations, or if they want to keep photo galleries online for friends to have access to. But otherwise, I don't think people should be worried about making sure their online presence outlasts them.
In the article, Struan Robertson, Legal Director with Pinsent Masons and Editor of OUT-LAW.com explains, "You can bequeath your copyright to others. So I can say in my will that I'm leaving all my rights in my photographs or website to a friend. If I don't do that, the copyright will belong to my estate - and in most cases it will survive for 70 years after my death." Most online accounts are terminated if there are extended periods of inactivity. For Web sites, if the domain name isn't renewed every couple of years, someone else can purchase it. If people really want their sites and accounts to continue after they don't, the article says the best thing to do is to leave their log-in information and passwords to a trusted source and let the source take over. It doesn't have to be in a formal will, it could just be a mutual understanding.
I know when I'm gone, I would rather my online presence be gone too. It is creepy to think of people visiting my sites, or me visiting theirs, after knowing they have passed away.
Monday, October 13, 2008
RSS Week 6
Due to this class, I have really delved into the whole RSS concept. I always saw those three letters on Web sites but they simply annoyed me because I had no idea what they meant. I always considered myself pretty Web-savvy too; guess I was mistaken. In the New Influencers, Paul Gillin says that earlier versions of RSS were confusing and difficult. I think it just hasn't recovered from it's bad reputation yet.
Gillin writes, "RSS is an extremely powerful but somewhat clumsy technology that is central to the blogging movement." After playing around with it, I definitely believe it. Since the other week when I started subscribing to feeds of some of my favorite sites and blogs, I've been amazed at how efficient and easy RSS is. I save an adequate amount of time since I only need to click one button to get to the feeds and choose the one I want to read. Then I receive the instant info! I find myself searching for the little orange icon at the top of the pages I visit.
In the same chapter of the book, Gillin says that, "Most blog search services also let you save your search terms as RSS feeds." I find this technology to be extremely advanced. Right now I don't have a need for it, but I'm sure someday I will. Corporations have got it made with these media tools. And they are free! There isn't any reason why every organization shouldn't start tapping into these resources.
Gillin writes, "RSS is an extremely powerful but somewhat clumsy technology that is central to the blogging movement." After playing around with it, I definitely believe it. Since the other week when I started subscribing to feeds of some of my favorite sites and blogs, I've been amazed at how efficient and easy RSS is. I save an adequate amount of time since I only need to click one button to get to the feeds and choose the one I want to read. Then I receive the instant info! I find myself searching for the little orange icon at the top of the pages I visit.
In the same chapter of the book, Gillin says that, "Most blog search services also let you save your search terms as RSS feeds." I find this technology to be extremely advanced. Right now I don't have a need for it, but I'm sure someday I will. Corporations have got it made with these media tools. And they are free! There isn't any reason why every organization shouldn't start tapping into these resources.
Txt b4 Tlk Week 6
Cell phone users have finally done it! We have exceeded the limit of texting more than we talk.
I'm due for a phone upgrade and I've been keeping my eye open for what I like. There are so many styles out there, it's all about finding the most functional style for me...and it has to be pretty too. I think I've settled for the 'text fiend' genre in the cell phone realm. I want a phone that has a full keyboard to make texting significantly faster. I've found that my cell phone standards are similar for many people.
Many phones these days are hardly used for their original purpose. Since the phenomena of texting has been revealed, it has taken over. Through Digg.com, I found an article on cnet news that claims Americans text more than they talk. The article says, "For the second quarter of 2008, U.S. mobile subscribers sent and received on average 357 text messages per month, compared with making and receiving 204 phone calls a month, according to Nielsen." These 2008 texting statistics exceed the same statistics from 2006 by 450%. Marguerite Reardon, the writer of the article, also says, "On average, American teens send and receive 1,742 text messages a month." I know that I send more than that. I was talking with some friends the other day about our monthly amount of texts, and a few of them said they normally send and receive at least 10,000 a month! I don't have the time for that amount of texting, but apparently some people do.
Texting can simply be more convenient than calling, and noone can deny the fun factor of intimate, constant contact with people. I even got my mom hooked on it this summer. Whenever I'm shopping by myself and am unsure of an outfit, i'll snap a picture, send it to her, and receive her opinion in a few minutes. Definitely useful.
This article proves another way that social media is rising to replace traditional actions. With a 450% texting increase in only two years, new forms of communication are rising faster than we can imagine!
I'm due for a phone upgrade and I've been keeping my eye open for what I like. There are so many styles out there, it's all about finding the most functional style for me...and it has to be pretty too. I think I've settled for the 'text fiend' genre in the cell phone realm. I want a phone that has a full keyboard to make texting significantly faster. I've found that my cell phone standards are similar for many people.
Many phones these days are hardly used for their original purpose. Since the phenomena of texting has been revealed, it has taken over. Through Digg.com, I found an article on cnet news that claims Americans text more than they talk. The article says, "For the second quarter of 2008, U.S. mobile subscribers sent and received on average 357 text messages per month, compared with making and receiving 204 phone calls a month, according to Nielsen." These 2008 texting statistics exceed the same statistics from 2006 by 450%. Marguerite Reardon, the writer of the article, also says, "On average, American teens send and receive 1,742 text messages a month." I know that I send more than that. I was talking with some friends the other day about our monthly amount of texts, and a few of them said they normally send and receive at least 10,000 a month! I don't have the time for that amount of texting, but apparently some people do.
Texting can simply be more convenient than calling, and noone can deny the fun factor of intimate, constant contact with people. I even got my mom hooked on it this summer. Whenever I'm shopping by myself and am unsure of an outfit, i'll snap a picture, send it to her, and receive her opinion in a few minutes. Definitely useful.
This article proves another way that social media is rising to replace traditional actions. With a 450% texting increase in only two years, new forms of communication are rising faster than we can imagine!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Homecoming Week 6
This week I've really been feeling the ONU love.
Firstly, I was nominated a while ago for homecoming court by my NCF comrades. Actually, I was basically forced into the nomination. I thought I would go along for the ride to appease my friends.
My fine running mate, Jordan Rowsey, and I did the whole picture taking/sign making fiasco. It was slightly stressful. It's not like I have enough to worry about without making tons of homecoming posters... Anyway, we hung them up as soon as we could and I didn't expect anything more to happen. We got a few compliments about our attempted humor with "The Office" theme that we chose. Jordan just happened to significantly resemble Jim from The Office, so I had to put on my best Pam persona.
Voting was the beginning of this week and only five ladies and five gentleman were to be chosen out of the massive amount of nominees. I was completely shocked Thursday when I got the call that I had been elected as one of the five! I know it's not a big deal, but I'm excited nonetheless. I'm proud to be selected as a possible representative of ONU. Besides, we get treated pretty well all homecoming weekend. :)
I wouldn't trade our small school atmosphere for anything. I'm constantly impressed by the attention we receive as students. Most faculty and staff make an effort to know our names and show interest in our lives, we can delve right into our course of study and gain practical experience, and it's not uncommon to pass twenty friends on the sidewalk on the way to our next class. Even though I occasionally crave the excitement and diversity of big college towns, I'm content right now, right here.
Firstly, I was nominated a while ago for homecoming court by my NCF comrades. Actually, I was basically forced into the nomination. I thought I would go along for the ride to appease my friends.
My fine running mate, Jordan Rowsey, and I did the whole picture taking/sign making fiasco. It was slightly stressful. It's not like I have enough to worry about without making tons of homecoming posters... Anyway, we hung them up as soon as we could and I didn't expect anything more to happen. We got a few compliments about our attempted humor with "The Office" theme that we chose. Jordan just happened to significantly resemble Jim from The Office, so I had to put on my best Pam persona.
Voting was the beginning of this week and only five ladies and five gentleman were to be chosen out of the massive amount of nominees. I was completely shocked Thursday when I got the call that I had been elected as one of the five! I know it's not a big deal, but I'm excited nonetheless. I'm proud to be selected as a possible representative of ONU. Besides, we get treated pretty well all homecoming weekend. :)
I wouldn't trade our small school atmosphere for anything. I'm constantly impressed by the attention we receive as students. Most faculty and staff make an effort to know our names and show interest in our lives, we can delve right into our course of study and gain practical experience, and it's not uncommon to pass twenty friends on the sidewalk on the way to our next class. Even though I occasionally crave the excitement and diversity of big college towns, I'm content right now, right here.
Monday, October 6, 2008
People's Choice Podcast Awards Week 5
In chapter 6 of The New Rules book, the People's Choice Podcast Awards were mentioned. In 2006, Diggnation apparently won as the best tech podcast. I thought I'd research what the Podcast Awards are exactly, and what their stipulations are. Listeners and podcasters nominate and vote for the best podcasts. The winners then receive various awards and prizes as well as recognition. Last month was the nomination period and over 281,000 listeners submitted nominations and the website had over 2.2 million page views during the nomination period. Once that period has ended, all the nominated podcasts enter the reviewing process.
I have pasted the site's review process.
"The Review Process:
There will be approximentally a 18-19 day period in which Podcast Connect and it's volunteer reviewers will review all of the nominations. The review process will include the following and those shows nominated should pay attention to some of the things we found in grading in the 2006 and 2007 event details can be found at PodcastConnect.com
Verification Podcast fits in Category Nominated
Verification that the Podcast has 8 Shows Produced
Verification the the Podcaster has been creating shows on or before 1 August 2008
Verification that the Podcaster has a visible RSS 2.0 feed with Enclosures
A confidential non-releaseable grading sheet has been created , nominated podcast will be graded:
Number of Nominations 40%
Quality of Website Design 15%
Quality of Sound 15%
Quality of Podcast Delivery and Show Format 10%
Relevance of Content 20%
Once the top 10 nominees in each category are selected by the review committee and added to the website, voting will commence."
The People's Choice Podcast Awards are a great incentive for podcasters. Obviously it is effective because the people determine the winners. When researching podcasts to subscribe to, I will definitely keep the winners of these awards in mind. Especially since October 19th the 2008 winners will be announced! Tune in!
I have pasted the site's review process.
"The Review Process:
There will be approximentally a 18-19 day period in which Podcast Connect and it's volunteer reviewers will review all of the nominations. The review process will include the following and those shows nominated should pay attention to some of the things we found in grading in the 2006 and 2007 event details can be found at PodcastConnect.com
Verification Podcast fits in Category Nominated
Verification that the Podcast has 8 Shows Produced
Verification the the Podcaster has been creating shows on or before 1 August 2008
Verification that the Podcaster has a visible RSS 2.0 feed with Enclosures
A confidential non-releaseable grading sheet has been created , nominated podcast will be graded:
Number of Nominations 40%
Quality of Website Design 15%
Quality of Sound 15%
Quality of Podcast Delivery and Show Format 10%
Relevance of Content 20%
Once the top 10 nominees in each category are selected by the review committee and added to the website, voting will commence."
The People's Choice Podcast Awards are a great incentive for podcasters. Obviously it is effective because the people determine the winners. When researching podcasts to subscribe to, I will definitely keep the winners of these awards in mind. Especially since October 19th the 2008 winners will be announced! Tune in!
Who's Your Daddy? Week 5
Through Digg.com, I found a shocking blog post. A blogger named Amy who is part of The Garage Sale Blog Network wants to have a baby. And she is turning to blogging to make that happen. Her story reminded me of the lady we talked about in class last week...the one who was selling her virginity online. Amy has a slightly different request. On her latest blog post, she states that she is "looking for some good, hearty seed." She discarded the idea of sperm banks or asking friends, so she decided to turn to her blog's readers and commenters for their sperm contribution. Weird, but true. Her blog's network is helping her finance the baby and she just needs a male to become her sperm donator aka have sex with, no strings attached. The screwed up part is that a ton of people commented and are willing to do it! All they have to do is contact her and send their picture, then she'll supposedly choose one and have at it. I suppose that is one way to get people to read your blog. She is putting absolute trust in her readers and letting random people play a huge part in her life. What will social media be used for next?
I do feel bad for the baby. Where is his/her choice in the matter? "Little Billy, who's your dad?" "Oh I don't know, some guy who commented on my mom's blog once." Right. Some people take things just a little too far.
I do feel bad for the baby. Where is his/her choice in the matter? "Little Billy, who's your dad?" "Oh I don't know, some guy who commented on my mom's blog once." Right. Some people take things just a little too far.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
tweet tweet Week 5
I attended Billy Fischer's talk about social media at PRSSA last week. The students at the meeting must be crazy if they weren't motivated to jump into the social media realm after hearing him speak. His enthusiasm for what he was talking about definitely impacted me. The next day I created a twitter account and started checking it out. It is confusing. I need to spend more time using it, but so far I am lost. With the little "@" symbols everywhere and sentence blurbs, I'm not sure where to go or what to look at. (I did find some new ONUers on the site who also jumped on the twitter bandwagon after PRSSA.) I soon foresee myself becoming a twitter addict and knowing the site inside and out considering I went through the same process with xanga, myspace, and facebook. At first, all of the gadgets and technology are intimidating, but once I break it down and dig into the site, I realize how simple and straightforward it can be.
Now I need to visit LinkedIn and SlideRocket...
Now I need to visit LinkedIn and SlideRocket...
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