Sorry Guys… But it’s here to Stay!

For years now we have all heard countless numbers of people and research come out and say that social media is quite simply a ‘fad’, and we will all be there to watch it die out and cease to exist in the not too distant future. Yes, for years. And now? It is stronger than ever and continues to have a monumental impact on the way people of modern society go about their daily business.

Why?

BECAUSE IT IS HERE AND HERE TO STAY

Padraic Flanagan of the United Kingdom based newspaper giants The Telegraph wrote last year that Facebook will lose 80% (you read that right, 80%) of its users within a small three year bracket. According to United States ‘scientists’, during this time we are eventually going to see Facebook (and its not unreasonable to assume the rest of social media) die out “like the bubonic plague”…

Way to make it overly dramatic as always ‘Mr Scientists’. So according to this study, we are half way through this three year period of Facebook’s death. So is it as they expect? On the way to the grave along with Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and all other major social media websites?

Surprise, surprise! The growth, revenue ($7.872 million – $12.466 million) and net income ($1.5 million – $2.940 million) for Mark Zuckerberg’s revolutionary website has in fact doubled during that year Flanagan was speaking of. The year of 2014 saw the rise of not only Facebook as a whole, but along with it came the rise of businesses growing their profile through Facebook and Twitter especially. This shows that not only is Facebook still well and truly alive at this point in time, but that it is growing and developing at an incredible rate. By far Facebook’s most successful year, the year of 2014 saw Facebook grow into more than a way of keeping in touch with family and friends, as said before.

Social media provides businesses with a brand new market for possible revenue, one in which we have never seen before, and the numbers really tell the story

• According to SocialTimes, social media marketing budgets are set to double within the next five years (as of early 2015)
• An incredible 83% of business-to-business marketers are investing in social media as a way to increase their brand exposure
  • 69% to get more clicks
  • 65% to gain additional market insights
• Approximately 83% of marketers believe their social media profiles are important to their business
  • 42% assert that Facebook is critical to their success

That last stat, lets be honest, sits those US scientists back in their seats. The article of which this was found was published in early 2015, and states that social media (and Facebook in particular) is contributing towards the sure growth and development of businesses outside the industry.

If it is not clear enough for you to already process, let me spell it out for you nice and simply.

Social media is a tool which is here to stay for so many reasons. It provides a means which families and friends can keep in contact with people they care about away from home. It allows companies/businesses to promote their worth and gain that ever so important exposure in the market industry. And most of all, it is a social tool which people enjoy using. If sites such as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube were to “die out like the bubonic plague” as the US scientists seem to think so, we definitely wont see it in our time, and maybe not the one after that, the one after that, the one after that….

You get the picture!

Sources: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/10593826/Facebook-will-die-out-like-the-bubonic-plague.html

http://www.socialnomics.net/2014/11/10/4-reasons-social-media-is-here-to-stay/

http://www.statista.com/statistics/277229/facebooks-annual-revenue-and-net-income/

August 6, 2015August 6, 2015 by cmorg152 Leave a comment

Social Media’s Role in Sports in the USA

As I posted before, Australia and the sporting industry as a whole have a long way to go in utilizing social media to its advantage, as it has the ability to expand a league or organisation through positive promotion. However, can the same be said for arguably the most marketable nation when it comes to it sporting industry, the United States of America?

As the internet continues to develop society through new sources of information as well as communication and interaction, sport must adapt accordingly, as it is a microcosm of society. the four major US sports include (from right to left) baseball (MLB), basketball (NBA), American Football or Gridiron (NFL) and ice hockey (NHL). All of these leagues/organisations have considerable social media followings on all platforms. It is approximated that 80% of fans follow sport on social media at the games, while 51% follow teams and/or league, 46% follow individual players, 48% access highlight videos and written sports articles through social media, while 35% access interviews or news bits through Facebook or Twitter. So from these statistics, it is clear that the American public and there sporting enthusiasts have well and truly embraced the full potential social media has in the development and engagement of the sporting industry.

There are 3 aspects of the sporting culture that emphasise these points especially:

• Player Support and Engagement

– The best example of this is that of the remarkable stretch Chinese-American basketball player Jeremy Lin was able to conjure. During an incredible 12-games streak, the then New York Knicks point guard was averaging 22 points and nearly 9 assists per game, and this was unheard of considering he was regarded formerly as the 15th man on the roster (last). His name seemingly blew up on Twitter during this stretch, with the #Linsanity making rounds not only across America, but the entire world. He may only be forever remembered as that guy who killed the NBA for a month and then never again, but the exposure and support he gained, in my opinion, has set him up for the rest of his career. He is now playing for the Michael Jordan owned team Charlotte Hornets, as well as having played for the Houston Rockets and world famous Los Angeles Lakers.

• Developing the Culture of Sport through Social Media

– In the NFL, the Pro Bowl (equivalent to the NRL All Star Game) teams are selected through three different ways. The coaches vote, the players, and last but not least the fans. The most positive about this however is that all three equate to equal vote weight. In other words, a fans vote accounts for just as much as that of a player or coach. The NFL advertise this and encourage fans to vote through their Twitter page, and with over 12.6 million followers, it allows for a fan to develop the culture of the sport through the Pro Bowl selection, encourages a fan orientated game.

• Overcoming Crises

– After his worst performance ever at the Masters golf tournament, infamous golfing legend Tiger Woods was questioned by his fans and experts alike, wondering what is going on with his once spectacular game. And he responded in one way only, and that was to have a athlete-to-fan Question and Answer (Q&A) through Twitter. He answered a total of 19 questions, and posted a 15-minute video to Twitter. By opting to not hold a press conference to ‘Please Explain’ his last performance which could have been much more dramatic, he decided to make it more personal by interacting one-on-one with his fans. And this was a fantastic marketing move for himself, as it displays the potential an athlete or sporting organisation has to connect with their fans on a personal level. He unfortunately has since deleted the video off of his account, but it was clearly received very well by both his fans and the general public.

The United States’ national sporting industry has brought in social media as a clear marketing scheme, and used it to fantastic effect. They seemed to have realised the benefits it provides the sport itself, the athletes and the fans. Interaction between the sport and fans is so vitally important, and social media is THE WAY to do this, something Australia can undoubtedly improve on.

Sources: https://americansportsaddiction.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/the-evolving-role-of-social-media-in-the-sports-industry/

http://blogs.uoregon.edu/j350tigerwoodsreputation/2013/06/10/tiger-woods-2010-twitter-qa/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Lin

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2359427/

August 4, 2015 by cmorg152 Leave a comment

Is Social Media Really ‘Social’?

As modern technology continues to develop and social media expands and becomes a greater societal influence along with it, it is often questioned whether or not social media platforms actually impact our interactions and communication with other people positively or negatively. Along with this, we must consider the day to day impacts sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have on our social interactions in the work place, school grounds and even the family home.

One question that is commonly brought up is that about social media’s impact on those people who have low-self esteem levels, those who are considered to be lonely. Does social media have the ability to allow people such as these to express them self in a way they don’t see possible in regular social situations? Two students from the Canadian University of Waterloo conducted a studied into this, and the results were damning. Amanda Forest and Joanne Wood found that the results were clear, “those with low self-esteem were much more likely to perceive Facebook as safer than their usual social interactions” resulting in them being far more socially active on Facebook than that of the school grounds or work place. Aspects such as increased social support and attention were linked back to this statement.

However, after conducting a secondary study, Forest and Wood actually examined these case studies activity on Facebook. looking at their status updates, uploaded photos and comments made. They found that despite what these people were saying that social media offers (opportunities to express themselves), they were not really taking true advantage of this. They were not using Facebook or Twitter anymore than that of a person with high-self esteem. However, when they did comment or post, the comments they were actually making were perceived as negative comments.

I however do not agree with this. It is more common than not to see someone who is an active social media user is also a very positive and more importantly frequently uses face-to-face social interaction. A study conducted by the National Institute of Health (The NIH) found that “youths with strong, positive face to face relationships may be those most frequently using social media as an additional venue to interact with their peer”. This means that those who are comfortable in most face to face social situations are also more likely to be frequent users of social media, possibly more so than those with low-self esteem and confidence levels. These people use social media as an extra outlet in communicating with friends, family or even any business or working partners.

I strongly believe that social media is not only a positive way of communicating with the wider community, but that it is going to positively impact future societies. It has the potential to give people of all ages and social class a voice. A voice that is heard by billions of people all over the world. From personal experience, i have seen people who gain greater confidence in social situations after using social media. They seem to come out of their shell and speak their mind, just like they had been on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, whatever! As I have said in previous posts, we ALL need to embrace social media, and it is one aspect of society that is going to move us forward.

Sources: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wray-herbert/social-networking-impact_b_1079551.html

https://www.hastac.org/blogs/haley117/2013/06/07/social-medias-affect-human-interaction

August 4, 2015 by cmorg152 Leave a comment

How Does Social Media Affect High-End Business/es?

Old fashioned type organisation leaders will always tell you that social media does not impact his or her business in any way shape or form, positively or negatively. The way they believe a business can move in an upward direction is through simple yet effective face to face communication. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that as modern technology continues to advance at rapid rates, so does the success of businesses who take the gamble in using social media as a stepping stone going forward.

As we all should be aware of by now, business grows through consistent and effective communication. As key businessmen continue to ignore social media and deny its everlasting capabilities, they are putting their organisation at a risk of becoming insignificant within the market place. Studies have continuously shown that social media has the potential to (when used correctly) increase annual sales, supply key information and facts to key stakeholders, and more importantly helps to considerably strengthen the relationship between the business at hand and its respective customers. And the more and more frequent a shop, store or brand conveys their messages through social media, the stronger the relationships become, and thus the greater the impact can become! In saying all of this, why is it that huge corporate business consistently become reluctant or completely ignore the idea of growing their business through the use of social media?

Some people believe that social media encourages customers of a brand to behave badly toward the company at hand. Chief cutomer experience designer Jeff Wilson believes that social media makes it easy for the general public (regular customers or not) to bully or speak poorly of a business, promoting bullying.

“Social Media is Creating Bad Customers. Why? It’s simple… because people deep down are bullies or at the very least indifferent to bullying. Add to this how easily the social media public is influenced by a mob mentality and you get recipes for McDStory after McDStory”

The “#McDStory” he is referring to here is a hashtag used on Twitter whereby disgruntled customers told the world about their poor experience/s with the McDonalds franchise customer service.  The fact he says that deep down EVERYONE is a bully is completely wrong, and to be frank ignorant to think so. And this “mob mentality” Wilson speaks of? That is what large businesses such as McDonalds are for. FEEDBACK! Whether it be negative or positive, from one person or a million people. Feedback is imperative in the growth, expansion and most importantly improvement of any franchise, big or small. And this is just one of many aspects which makes social media so effective for small or large businesses.

Social media provides a fantastic platform for the general public to voice their opinions on issues that matter to them. As well as this, it provides a brilliant opportunity for organisations to communicate vitally important information to their customers, whether this be their mission and goals or new and unique products that is now available for purchase. No matter how you look at it, businesses should be utilizing social media and its endless amounts of benefits, as it can significantly improve their business both now, and into the future.

Sources: http://www.forbes.com/sites/julietbarbara/2012/11/11/is-social-media-bad-for-business/

Social Media is Creating Bad Customers

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/highlevel-business-impact-social-media-38816.html

July 30, 2015July 30, 2015 by cmorg152 Leave a comment

YouTube is now a Full-Time Job, No Avoiding it!

When people ask others what their full-time occupation is, the answer that is most often replied with are careers such as a café waiter/barrister, a retail store manager or an intern at a corporate office. However, with the ever evolving industry of technology and more specifically social media, the opportunity for well paid jobs is growing with it.

YouTube is becoming an ever increasing occupancy, with your every day Joe not only capable of earning enough money to live off of, but for them to earn considerably more than the person next to them. Despite this, the general public don’t seem to be accepting of these people in the YouTube industry, and its not difficult to find examples of this. Ask anyone on the street and they will look at you with a bemused expression.

This is evident when you think about how much a content creator earns per 1,000 views. It is believed that they earn around 2-3 dollars per 1,000 views, and I know, hardly anything right? However, if you look at someone such as Swedish video gameplay commentator PewDiePie (the most subscribed YouTuber as of now), the statistics are staggering.

It can be seen here that on average, PewDiePie uploads two videos a day, and on average gets between 2.2-3.5 million views per video, long or short. Now get yor calculators out, and you’ll find that on average (if these $/1,000 views is correct), PewDiePie would be earning a lousy $4,400-$7,000 PER VIDEO. That would then equate to between $8,800-$14,000 per day based on the fact he regularly uploads two videos a day.

Now obviously, we cannot 100% trust these statistics, as the facts stated may not be absolutely correct, because YouTube does not publicly disclose these numbers or facts. But even taking this into account, the amount of money that any person living on your street could potentially be earning is incredible, clearly! As well as this, not everyone earns this much money, as not everyone has 38,000,000 subscribers as PewDiePie has. So lets look at someone with around the 1,000,000 subscriber mark?

ChrisMD is a British teenager currently going through university, with YouTube being his main source of income, creating content primarily from soccer/football video game FIFA. He has around 915,000 subscribers as of this post, and averages between 500,000-850,000 views per video (uploads around 2-3 videos per week). Going back to the figures before, if he gets $2-$3 per 1,000 views, Chris would be earning around $1,000-$2,550 per video. So he could potentially be earning around $2,500-$5,000 per week. Now for an 18 year old in university, that is unbelievable money, and I would know.

And these stats aren’t even considering income such as sponsorships, YouTube ad’s, outside YouTube part time jobs to go along with it. Accounts can get paid by YouTube to have a 30 second ad inserted half way through their videos, as well as being paid for their subscriber count, their possible monetary earnings are through the roof, even for someone who has a channel with 100,000 subscribers.

As social media grows over time, so does the capacity for people to gain life time careers with it. Yet we as a society don’t seem to believe or accept this. YouTube is, right now, a full-time job for anyone who becomes successful enough to live off of the money earnings, and I have no doubt that as technology continues to grow, there will be endless amounts of career opportunities such as this.

Sources: http://www.quora.com/How-much-money-can-an-average-user-on-YouTube-earn-from-a-video

https://www.youtube.com/user/Sirhcchris2010/videos

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmj45idjl/most-common-jobs-for-gen-y-workers/

https://www.youtube.com/user/PewDiePie

July 28, 2015 by cmorg152 Leave a comment

The AFL and all Australian Sports should be Embracing Social Media

Within today’s contemporary society, people within the sporting industry often discourage athletes from using social media, as we have seen time and time again players falling from grace as a result of poor social media antics.

A fantastic example of a sporting league or code encouraging their youth players to embrace social media is the Australian Football League (AFL). In Janurary 2015, the AFL conducted a two day course for the newcomers, the rookies. This course encompassed everything that a professional athlete (or more specifically an AFL player) will go through during their career. They were educated on vital life lessons, such as financial planning, time management, media obligations just to name a few.

However one aspect taught which is extremely important for people of such a high public profile is that of their activity online.

What is wrong and what is right? What are the rules when speaking of league officials? What are the ramifications or possible consequences of poor or indecent behaviour? All of these questions are questions which many if not the majority of incoming talent have when entering the national or global sporting arena.

Member of the AFL Players’ Association and former player Ben Johnson explained the reasoning and thoughts behind these teachings.

“We’ve talked to them about their personal brand, so maximising the opportunities that are available to them… I think we used to talk to lots of players about what they can’t do, whereas now we really want to empower players”. This is a pivotal point in understanding why professional athletes must learn to absorb themselves within the world of social media, as the benefits of it can be monumental.

Ben Johnson goes on to speak about the course, of which 120 rookies took part in. A big emphasis was placed upon positive personal branding when speaking about the course and the social media teachings. This is an incredibly important aspect as players in the past have not been able to enhance their public image or brand through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram because of advancements in modern technology, so players across all codes should definitely be taking advantage of this.

New Melbourne Demons draftee Angus Brayshaw said that through participating the course, he discovered that the lines and boundaries were now clear.

“The one thing I’ve sort of taken from it is that people – regardless of whether we like it or not – sort of put us up on a pedestal based on being AFL footballers… I think it’s just having an awareness and being a bit more careful about the sort of stuff we put up.”

However this goes for all sporting codes around the world. Being a professional athlete means being in the spotlight, and being in the spotlight means the public watches your every single move. When being used in the right way and manner, social media is a brilliant way for any code, club or individual athlete to enhance their public reputation and brand. We need to start teaching our young children that using social media can be used for the betterment of your career, rather than telling them that nothing good comes from it, as we risk damaging there career potential in the future.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-12/afl-draftees-urged-to-embrace-social-media/6012918

July 14, 2015July 14, 2015 by cmorg152 Leave a comment

Hello world!

This is your very first post. Click the Edit link to modify or delete it, or start a new post. If you like, use this post to tell readers why you started this blog and what you plan to do with it.

Happy blogging!

June 2, 2015 by cmorg152 Leave a comment