The answer to this question is of course it does. It gets boring to read a bunch of text and the internet has definitely shortened our attention spans. So to have blocks of text interrupted by pictures and video is definitely a relief on our eyes and our brains. With the rise of social media networks like Instagram, Pinterest, and Vines, multimedia is becoming a more important component of our messages.
With all the tools out there, the question becomes, so which tools are the most effective?
Well, there is Powerpoint. This link shows how to create dynamic Powerpoint presentations. But Powerpoint has become cliché. Personally, it reminds me of boring, stuffy business meetings or my time in the military when our superiors would use Powerpoint to demonstrate key points or safety briefs. It has become the modern version of the slideshow. I think Powerpoints have become dreaded. Sure you can use multimedia in Powerpoint slides, but things like audio are only confined to one slide; you cannot carry it on to the entire presentation.
Before this lesson, I've never heard of Animoto, but looking over at the site, I feel this would be one of the best ways to convey a message. It seems more fresh and light-hearted than using Powerpoint. Instead of just going slide by slide like in Powerpoint, Animoto allows you to add your own personal style to your presentations. It makes presentations seem less business-y and more fun. Sure, it's the same concept as a slideshow, but there is more detail to it, like the animations.
Overall, if I had an excuse to use Animoto, I would definitely use it. You can add your own personal touch to your presentations, especially if you are marketing to consumers.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Blogging
I actually like to write so I've tried blogging a few times. I started with a blog called Do I like Writing? 30 Days to Find Out where I gave it a shot. Then, I continued with blogs called the Social Media Rook and Vacilando. However, I just couldn't generate momentum and find my voice. I really liked doing it, but I didn't know why I was doing it. But since I started my social media/PR internship at the National Veterans Art Museum, I am about to start a blog about PTSD called Shell Shocked and I finally feel like I have generated some interest about it.
So what makes good blog practices? I actually subscribed to a course called Start A Blog That Matters run by Corbett Barr, who is in charge of Think Traffic, to learn how to blog. I actually learned a lot from it and I'm using these principles to hopefully succeed with Shell Shocked.
The most important part is to have great content. But not just great content, EPIC content. As Corbett Barr says, "Write Epic Shit." Mediocre and good writing is just the price of admission nowadays; anyone can publish a blog. However, to have a good blog, you have to stand out from the crowd. The internet is all about evoking emotion. We are exposed to many things on the internet, that you truly have to do something to captivate us. And we have the memories of goldfish, what is hot one minute will start to fade away in a few months. Take a look at Gagnam Style or the Harlem Shake. Those were the hottest things and, in just a matter of weeks, gone. So you truly have to stand out from the crowd and get people's attention to have a great blog. With Think Traffic, the blog posts are all relevant in how to get more people to pay attention to you. As bloggers, we definitely don't want to be writing just for ourselves and a handful of friends; we want to make an impact on the world.
Also, targeting a niche is important. If you target a niche, there is a purpose for the blog. If you just write for everyone, then no one will come. Just imagine if Think Traffic was also writing about fantasy football. It would get very confusing and it wouldn't garner as much traffic as it does now. Identifying a niche can help develop a brand as well. I also like to read the Art of Manliness and the Art of Non-Conformity. Both these blogs have a specific theme to them. They do attract the general public, but it started off with just a specific niche; Brett McKay of the Art of Manliness decided to write about men's issues, but not the superficial and shallow style that you'll find in Maxim or Men's Health and Chris Guillebeau of the Art of Non-Conformity just started by targeting those who like to travel and wanted to step away from the status quo.
There are debates whether design is important as well. I mean, you don't have to have flashes and amazing graphics to have a successful blog. But I feel the most successful blogs have the simplest designs. But you could have the most eye-appealing blog in the world, but if the content is not there, who cares? You could have pictures of attractive people holding kittens on every post, but if your blog is all about what you ate on a daily basis, I'm really not going to care. But then, some people would care, if it is well-written. Or I could just stop by the blog for the pictures of attractive people with kittens.
Also, a great blog is easy to share. There should be links for readers to share on their Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. I still don't mind copying and pasting the address to put on my Facebook status, but making it easy to share just makes it convenient for the readers and could even make it easy for your stuff to go viral.
Overall, I feel that it is content that should be king. You could have all the bells and whistles with fancy graphics and design, but it would mean nothing if you had crappy content. Think about the blogs you read today and why you read them. What if they had a $5 design template? Would you still read them? In my personal opinion, if the information was very valuable, I would keep coming back and I'm sure many readers would as well.
So what makes good blog practices? I actually subscribed to a course called Start A Blog That Matters run by Corbett Barr, who is in charge of Think Traffic, to learn how to blog. I actually learned a lot from it and I'm using these principles to hopefully succeed with Shell Shocked.
The most important part is to have great content. But not just great content, EPIC content. As Corbett Barr says, "Write Epic Shit." Mediocre and good writing is just the price of admission nowadays; anyone can publish a blog. However, to have a good blog, you have to stand out from the crowd. The internet is all about evoking emotion. We are exposed to many things on the internet, that you truly have to do something to captivate us. And we have the memories of goldfish, what is hot one minute will start to fade away in a few months. Take a look at Gagnam Style or the Harlem Shake. Those were the hottest things and, in just a matter of weeks, gone. So you truly have to stand out from the crowd and get people's attention to have a great blog. With Think Traffic, the blog posts are all relevant in how to get more people to pay attention to you. As bloggers, we definitely don't want to be writing just for ourselves and a handful of friends; we want to make an impact on the world.
Also, targeting a niche is important. If you target a niche, there is a purpose for the blog. If you just write for everyone, then no one will come. Just imagine if Think Traffic was also writing about fantasy football. It would get very confusing and it wouldn't garner as much traffic as it does now. Identifying a niche can help develop a brand as well. I also like to read the Art of Manliness and the Art of Non-Conformity. Both these blogs have a specific theme to them. They do attract the general public, but it started off with just a specific niche; Brett McKay of the Art of Manliness decided to write about men's issues, but not the superficial and shallow style that you'll find in Maxim or Men's Health and Chris Guillebeau of the Art of Non-Conformity just started by targeting those who like to travel and wanted to step away from the status quo.
There are debates whether design is important as well. I mean, you don't have to have flashes and amazing graphics to have a successful blog. But I feel the most successful blogs have the simplest designs. But you could have the most eye-appealing blog in the world, but if the content is not there, who cares? You could have pictures of attractive people holding kittens on every post, but if your blog is all about what you ate on a daily basis, I'm really not going to care. But then, some people would care, if it is well-written. Or I could just stop by the blog for the pictures of attractive people with kittens.
Also, a great blog is easy to share. There should be links for readers to share on their Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. I still don't mind copying and pasting the address to put on my Facebook status, but making it easy to share just makes it convenient for the readers and could even make it easy for your stuff to go viral.
Overall, I feel that it is content that should be king. You could have all the bells and whistles with fancy graphics and design, but it would mean nothing if you had crappy content. Think about the blogs you read today and why you read them. What if they had a $5 design template? Would you still read them? In my personal opinion, if the information was very valuable, I would keep coming back and I'm sure many readers would as well.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Crafting a Press Release: Joe Paterno Passes Away at the Age of 85
Hypothetically drafted before the Freeh Investigation conclusions and vacated wins:
STATE COLLEGE, PA (January 22, 2012) - The Penn State University family tragically reports that long, beloved football coach, Joe Paterno, has passed away today at the age of 85. He passed away due to complications from lung cancer. He is survived by his wife, Sue, and their five children.
Joe Paterno, or "JoePa," as he is known by the Penn State faithful, was born on December 21, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York. He was drafted into the Army in 1944 and discharged a year later. He attended Brown University where he played both quarterback and cornerback. He became an assistant football coach at Penn State in 1950 and eventually became head coach in 1966.
During his time at Penn State, he led the Nittany Lions to two national championships in 1982 and 1986, five undefeated seasons in 1968, 1969, 1973, 1986, and 1984. He is the only coach to have won all four major bowls - Rose, Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar. His overall bowl record is 24-12-1. Paterno won the Big Ten championship outright in 1994 and had two shared championships in 2005 and 2008. Joe Paterno's overall record is 409-136-3. He is second in the all-time college football wins list and ranked #13 out of the 50 greatest coaches according to Sporting News.
Outside of the football world, he worked to make sure that his players were also successful in the classroom, along with the football field. Penn State's players have consistently performed higher academically than their counterparts in Division 1-A football. Four-year graduation rates under Paterno were 78%, well above the 67% average all over the NCAA. He and his wife, Sue, have also donated $4 million to various departments around the university.
Facebook post:
Today, the Penn State family sadly announces the passing of Joe Paterno. He has easily become the face of Penn State football and one of the most recognizable names in college football. We at Penn State are grateful for the decades of service that JoePa has given us and making Penn State one of the premier football programs in the country. Thank you, JoePa.
STATE COLLEGE, PA (January 22, 2012) - The Penn State University family tragically reports that long, beloved football coach, Joe Paterno, has passed away today at the age of 85. He passed away due to complications from lung cancer. He is survived by his wife, Sue, and their five children.
Joe Paterno, or "JoePa," as he is known by the Penn State faithful, was born on December 21, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York. He was drafted into the Army in 1944 and discharged a year later. He attended Brown University where he played both quarterback and cornerback. He became an assistant football coach at Penn State in 1950 and eventually became head coach in 1966.
During his time at Penn State, he led the Nittany Lions to two national championships in 1982 and 1986, five undefeated seasons in 1968, 1969, 1973, 1986, and 1984. He is the only coach to have won all four major bowls - Rose, Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar. His overall bowl record is 24-12-1. Paterno won the Big Ten championship outright in 1994 and had two shared championships in 2005 and 2008. Joe Paterno's overall record is 409-136-3. He is second in the all-time college football wins list and ranked #13 out of the 50 greatest coaches according to Sporting News.
Outside of the football world, he worked to make sure that his players were also successful in the classroom, along with the football field. Penn State's players have consistently performed higher academically than their counterparts in Division 1-A football. Four-year graduation rates under Paterno were 78%, well above the 67% average all over the NCAA. He and his wife, Sue, have also donated $4 million to various departments around the university.
Facebook post:
Today, the Penn State family sadly announces the passing of Joe Paterno. He has easily become the face of Penn State football and one of the most recognizable names in college football. We at Penn State are grateful for the decades of service that JoePa has given us and making Penn State one of the premier football programs in the country. Thank you, JoePa.
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