And here is the finale!

Creating a website is a great way to self promote yourself. The website I created for myself shows my creativity, examples of previous works and writing samples. In addition by having links to social media sites, others can connect with you in different ways.

            My website is used to self promote myself in many ways. A simple biography lets readers learn a bit about me, and some things I have accomplished. A resume page is also on my website which lets readers or future employer’s see my actual resume.  A portfolio page is also on my website. This gives examples of my actual work and projects I have completed throughout my college career. This page includes InDesign projects, Photoshop projects and public relations writing samples. The portfolio page lets viewers see what I am can do and the skills I can contribute to a possible job.  Last is a contact page on my website. This page lets viewers get my personal contact information. This page is important to have so it is easy for viewers or future employers to get ahold of me in a professional way.

My website also has links to my Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger profile so employer’s can see my pages. By having my social media sites linked to my website also shows that I am up-to-date on social networking.  On each page at the bottom are links to my social media sites. This makes it convenient for people to look at my social media sites because the icons link you directly to the site in a new page.

            It is necessary to tie in social media sites to my website to further self promote myself.  By making it easy for anyone looking at my website to learn more about me or connect with me I linked my social media sites. The icons at the bottom will take you directly to my Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger site. This will give anyone who is interested an inside look at my life. It was also important for me to have my social media sites clean and appropriate in case employers want to look at them. If these social media sites are not clean it can make employers forget about even considering me for a job opportunity.  By providing these links to employers can either make or break someone’s career.  This is another easy way for me to self promote myself.

            My overall experience with making my website was positive. The Dreamweaver program was very foreign to me.  When I actually started using the program I quickly caught on.  Before I even started creating my website I researched different websites that I thought looked and worked well.  I knew I wanted to make my website very simple and easy to navigate through.  I choose a simple white background and images that went along with my public relations major or directly related to that specific page.  Making every page clean and concise was very important to me. Making different pages and putting the codes in the right place were confusing at first. After I got the hang of it though I flew through creating my website. It is also important with using Dreamweaver that coding is in the proper place and material used within the website is in a proper folder. I didn’t have any trouble with this part of the project. Learning the basics of this program was extremely helpful. In the future if I have to make another website for myself I will have the knowledge to do so. In addition if a future employer is looking to redo or make a website I will be able to contribute.  Overall I am very happy with the outcome of my website. I believe my personality shows through my website without being too messy or confusing. It is easy to navigate through with links at the top to each page and links to my social media sites at the bottom. The images are also very clean and simple. Also on my portfolio page I decided to show examples of my work through smaller images. When you click on the image however they turn into PDF’s and you can view my work in a new page and larger image.

            This website project was a bit rushed and I would have liked to learn more about the Dreamweaver program. I do feel like I am comfortable enough to create a basic website. Before using this program I was very foreign to the idea of making a website. After diving in though I see now that it isn’t as intimidating as it seems. My website promotes me in a positive way with a basic layout and clean pages.

Tweet Tweet

                In the world of social media Twitter is just a baby. Although it has been around for some time now it doesn’t come close to the age of MySpace and Facebook. Also, Twitter has just recently become popular. When I first started using Twitter I had a similar experience to when I first started using Facebook. It took me some time to get used to the ins and outs of the site. After some time now though Twitter seems to be growing up quickly and taking the place of Facebook. Some have argued that Twitter has become better that Facebook because information is quicker and you aren’t bombarded with lengthy posts due to the 140 character limit. So what makes Twitter?

                Twitter started just like any other social media site as a way to connect with others. Twitter has become more than just socializing though. Users use Twitter to promote their businesses and or products, they use Twitter to express passion about an organization or a cause, and finally we have recently seen Twitter being used to reach out to others for help in times of need. Sandy reliefs have been seen throughout Twitter these past few months. People and organizations can truly make a difference with social media sites such as Twitter. Businesses have also turned to Twitter to promote their products. Keeping up-to-date with social media is an important part in marketing and advertising these days. It is very rare that you see a business, corporate or not that doesn’t use some form of social media. In addition non-profit organizations can utilize social media sites like Twitter as free advertising or fundraising. And since the job market isn’t at the greatest point currently people can use these sites to self-promote themselves and be a step ahead of the crowd. Just like other social media sites Twitter has become much more than a way to connect with old friends.

                Twitter can also be used as a journalistic or political tool. In a journalistic sense you can access and display information within Twitter. Twitter consists of millions of users who tweet information every second. In addition from a journalistic point of view you can express short bursts of information or feelings to the public within seconds.  From a political sense Twitter can be a great tool. Just from the most recent presidential campaign you can see how much social media, especially Twitter was utilized. Both the democratic and republican candidates used Twitter as a political tool in their campaigns. In addition celebrities and other organizations used Twitter to support the candidate of their choice. Both sides used Twitter to urge people to vote. With the use of social media sites such as Twitter in a presidential election is truly unique and shows where our society is heading in the form of social media and technology.

                The five subjects or topics I decided to follow on Twitter were, MTV, People magazine, Bethenny Frankel, Women’s Health magazine, and Adweek. I thought these five pages were diverse and I was interested in following all of them. I decided to follow MTV because they are current and are up-to-date on pop culture. They are also giving back with organizing Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. People magazine is also a site that is up-to-date with current pop culture topics. They don’t only give gossip but they inform us about what people these days seem to be interested in. I know we all think these types of magazines are silly and sometimes untruthful but we all know that they are also guilty pleasures. When it comes down to it Hollywood and pop culture magazines like this one generate revenue. I also decided to follow Bethenny Frankel because she is a strong woman who runs her own successful business. She is very smart and makes products women want. I look up to her and would only dream of being as successful as she is one day. I also decided to follow Women’s Health Magazine. I am very interested in living a healthy lifestyle and find the articles in this magazine very helpful and interesting. Last I decided to follow Adweek on Twitter. This is the Twitter for the website that gives breaking news in advertising, media, and technology. Since this topic and site relates to what I want a career in it is very interesting to follow them on Twitter. Their tweets direct me to the website where I can read more about stories I’m interested in.  I found that all the people or groups I decided to follow were very different and tweeted in different ways. Some were used to promote themselves and others were used to give information. I did notice one thing that all of the Twitter pages had in common though. This was that they all were constantly using Twitter and tweeting multiple times throughout the day. When you are a well-known person or organization I guess it is important to be up-to-date with current situations and news.

                This experience using Twitter has been very different from blogging. The main difference I think has been that with blogging you have no word limit. You can share and express yourself and ideas with how many words you’d like. With Twitter you are limited to 140 characters. This can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Another difference is that you can follow and tweet more people and it is much faster than blogging would be. This experience with Twitter has also been very different than other social media sites. Take Facebook for example. Once again you are not confined to 140 characters in a post of Facebook. Using Facebook however was very difficult and the site was very sketchy or questionable. I basically had no technical problems with Twitter and doing the project went much more smoothly than the Facebook one. I also recognized that with Twitter everything was much faster. I could Tweet and instantly get tweeted back or see other classmates updated tweets. Twitter to me is much more instantaneous and is the future of social media.

So tell me about yourself...

How do you plan on self-promoting yourself?

 

I plan to self-promote myself in a positive way through my website. I want to showcase pieces of work I have completed and show my strengths.

 

Name three goals you have between now and graduation.

 

1.)  I would like to successfully complete an internship in my desired field.

2.)  I would like to add more work to my portfolio.

3.)  I would like to take more classes that aren’t in my field but that I am interested in.

 

What employment goals do you have after graduation?  Name three of them.

 

1.)  I would like complete multiple internships within the communication field.

2.)  I would like to get a job in advertising to see what that’s like.

3.)  I would like to get a job where I am able to travel and see the world.

 

Name three best case scenario jobs you would like to have and why.

 

1.)  Event Planner- This was my first major choice when coming to Buffalo State College. I am a very organized person and I have a lot of patience.

2.)  2.) Marketing director for the Buffalo Bills- I would love the opportunity to work for a NFL team to gain experience in the sports field.

3.)  Advertising company- I am very interested in how the advertising business works and I believe I would learn a great deal from a job such as this.

 

Do you prefer to work professionally with a group or on your own and why?

I prefer to work in a group because I work well with others. It is easier for me to bounce ideas off of other people before sharing them with a boss or higher up. I work well in teams and think more things get done when more people are involved.

 

What contributions can you make to a group dynamic?  Name three things.

 

1.)  I get along with others well

2.)  I am a great listener

3.)  I can give positive feedback

 

What contributions can you make working independently?  Name three things.

 

1.)  I can concentrate better and be more efficient with my work.

2.)  I can have one strong idea and run with it.

3.)  I can also take the credit for the ideas I come up with.

 

What are your pet peeves in a work environment?

My pet peeves in a work environment are laziness and people not being on time. I am always 15 minutes early for everything I do. I think it is very important, especially in a professional environment to be on time or early.

 

Name three things you feel passionate about professionally - this could be school related, current job related, group or organizationally related - and outline why you feel passionate towards them.

1.)  I feel passionate about my current job. Even though it is a hair salon I want every customer to have a great/positive experience. I care about how they feel when they leave.

2.)  I feel passionate about my grades and the classes I am in currently. I am always striving to do my best in school. I want to graduate on time and that means passing and completing the remaining classes.

3.)  I am also passionate about cancer awareness. Several people in my family have battled cancer and it is a cause I feel strongly about. Whether this be supporting breast cancer with walks and such or donating to them to support cancer research.

 

How do you handle stress and pressure?

I handle stress and pressure with stepping back from the situation and taking a deep breath. It is very important to not let my emotions get the best of me and to handle everything with calmness.

 

Name the last three jobs you had, and the best success and the worst failure you experienced at each of these jobs.

1.)  On the Fringe of Euphoria salon- Best success- Always being on time and helping customers change their day around or feel better about them. Worst failure- Having customers leave unhappy with themselves or image.

2.)  Victoria’s Secret sales associate- Best success- Helping customers find what they were looking for and making their day.  Worst failure- Having customers leave with nothing or being unhappy with their experience.

3.)  Embassy Suites Hotel (Hostess) Best Success- Having customers come up and tell me how great their experience was. Worst failure- Having dissatisfied customers

 

 How do you handle criticism?

Outline three strengths you have in school.

I believe I handle criticism well.

1.)  I have pretty good attendance

2.)  I take notes and listen well

3.)  I speak up when I have a question and participate in group discussions

 

Outline three strengths you have in your workplace.

1.)  I am always on time

2.)  If someone asks me to do something(boss) I do it right away

3.)  If someone needs me to stay late or work for them I will always do it

How has creating a WikiPage strengthened your communication skills?    Name and elaborate on three things:

1.)  It gave me knowledge in creating a site that other people can change and see.

2.)  I can communicate with others better through this project because of their comments and such.

3.)  It also gave me insight to other forms of communication, for example digital.

 

How will Facebook be used to promote yourself?

Name and elaborate on three things:

1.)  You can basically self- promote yourself with the information posted on your Facebook.

2.)  People can see what you are all about before even meeting with you.

3.)  You can showcase you are up to date with social media.

How would you promote an organization on Facebook?

Name and elaborate on three things:

1.)  You can give events that are going on and suc.

2.)  You can tell more about the organization through social media( which is important because our society is heavy on this subject)

3.)  You can also give people a chance to leave positive comments and such on your page.

 

How will Twitter be used to promote yourself? 

Name and elaborate on three things:

1.) Twitter is used to promote myself because I can show that I am familiar with social media and know how to use every part of it.

2.) I can also use Twitter to express certain passions I have with tweets and tweeting other groups and organizations.

3.) I can also showcase my writing skills with Twitter.

 

Graphically what do you want to have on your website.

Name and elaborate on three things:

1.) I would like to have YouTube links on my page.

2.) I would like to include links to my social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and linked in.

3.) I would like to include eye catching graphics that showcase my ability with programs like InDesign and Photoshop.

And the winner is...

                There are pros and cons to both YouTube and Vimeo. When it really comes down to which is the better site of the two for video uploading there really is no answer, only opinions. After reading the articles about YouTube and Vimeo I personally am more attracted to Vimeo and here’s why.

                Let’s start with YouTube. Some of the pros of YouTube include a larger community which turns into more exposure and it’s a more well-known site. Millions of people visit YouTube on a daily basis to check out new videos or post their own. The YouTube community is very large and is constantly growing. In addition YouTube is very well-known. There aren’t many people out there today who haven’t heard or visited the YouTube site before. On the other hand YouTube also has some cons. One con is that videos can only be a maximum of ten minutes long. In addition when teachers or employers use YouTube to share content viewers can get distracted. I know that when an assignment for a class include a YouTube video I do watch the video but instead of going back to doing the assignment for that class I start surfing YouTube links and watching other videos. Let’s face it people get distracted easily.

                There are also some pros and cons to Vimeo. Some of the pros are that Vimeo has overall better quality than YouTube. Vimeo is also a more professional site and can be helpful to people who are passionate about videography.  In addition when talking about embedding video into blogs and other pages Vimeo is the key winner. If I wanted to upload a video for this blog and put it in the middle of a post I would choose Vimeo instead of YouTube. This is because when the video is done on Vimeo there are less distractions and pop-ups for viewers and they are more likely to return to reading my blog post. Vimeo also has some cons. Vimeo is not as well-known as YouTube. Before this class I had no idea what Vimeo was and was not familiar with it. The community as a whole for Vimeo is definitely smaller than the YouTube one making exposure less for videos. In addition there are some restrictions for Vimeo and users would have to pay for an upgraded system.

                One thing is certain though, both sites are our future and a direct image of Web 2.0. Having the ability to post videos and get instant feedback from the number of views to actual comments is what Web 2.0 is all about. These two sites fit into our generation and those to come. I do however believe that like other social media sites Vimeo will become the new YouTube just like Facebook became the new MySpace. Everything has a lifespan, even social media sites.  Society outgrows sites and new visually appealing ones take their place.

In the end there are both pros and cons to YouTube and Vimeo. Both can be useful for different purposes and types of videos. For me in my career now I would favor Vimeo just because of its professional sense. I do enjoy surfing YouTube every once and awhile thought to get a laugh or to see a new music video.  

Let's make a movie!

This was my first time using IMovie. The whole program was very foreign to me. It was a rough start trying to navigate through IMovie. For this group video project our topic was separation. I was nervous at first about this topic but after brainstorming about ideas my creativity started to flow.

            With having the theme of separation I choose to shoot my portion of the video about the separation of my work and free time. In my free time I like to go off road in my jeep. This is something I enjoy and at times can get a bit messy. Going through muddy pits or rugged roads is not the more glamorous hobbies.  On the contrary I also work at a hair salon. Even though I just work the front desk it is still pretty glamorous in my mind. I can get my hair and makeup done whenever I’d like and I am basically talking about hair products all day. The separation of these two parts in my life is what makes up my part of the video.

            Now that I had my two topics down it was time to start shooting footage.  Getting video footage from my work was not a problem. I am there all the time and my co-workers were ok with me taking video of them. Getting video footage from my off road adventures were a bit challenging. I did not have any videos from my adventures, only a few pictures from a vacation where I was driving on the beach and through the sand dunes.  This made me have to go searching around Buffalo for some off road spots. I finally found a path and was able to shoot some workable footage.

            Now that I had workable footage shot I began to start editing in IMovie.  I really struggled at first and didn’t know what I was doing or what the best way to put my video together was. It took me awhile to learn how to add music, pictures, and transitions into my video. Working with IMovie was challenging for me and was also very frustrating at times. Sometimes IMovie would not be working properly and my video would disappear or close unexpectedly. In the end, however, I feel pretty confident about how my video turned out. I also am more knowledgeable about IMovie and feel much more comfortable working with that program.

            Now it was time to put our self-portrait videos together to make one video. Before we put our video together we shot some footage of the group. Since our topic was separation we didn’t shoot any video of us actually together in one frame. We decided that by showing the separation within our group footage would be appropriate for our overall topic. As a group we worked very well together. There were some issues with time restrictions within our video but as a group we got through it. We needed more group footage and to work on our transitions. From watching the other videos from previous semesters transitions were a main thing that killed the video. As a group we tried our best to make them flow but to also show separation when needed. Our video as a whole turned out very well. The separation of us as individuals is shown throughout the film and even though we are all Buffalo State communication majors, we are all very different.  Each of us did, however, incorporate our work lives into the video.  We each agreed that we spend a majority of our time at work and that it is separate from our personal lives. This common group theme is shown throughout not only our personal videos but the video as a whole as well.

            Using videos as a form of communication can sometimes be better than photographs or writing because you can convey messages or feelings in a different way. When someone sees a video they can visually get a sense of what is trying to be shown and they can also use their own interpretation. Watching movement can not only be more stimulating but it can show a lot more than a piece of writing could. Videos as a form of communication can also be more interactive. When someone sees and hears a video they can get a better understanding of what the author was trying to convey, rather than just reading it. Videos can also translate from different cultures and bring people together. Take a popular music video for example.  The Thriller video by Michael Jackson is known around the world. By viewing a video and also listening to the music other cultures can form bonds to this specific artist better than if they were to just listen to the song or read the lyrics.

            The last thing to be down with this video project was to upload it to either YouTube or Vimeo. I am very familiar with YouTube as many of us are, but I had never really heard of Vimeo before. When I checked out the site for Vimo I was very impressed. The process of uploading personal video to this site seemed very easy. After looking around the site a bit I got the sense that Vimeo was a version of YouTube but in a more professional sense. You will find so many crazy video on YouTube these days whereas Vimeo was a bit more creative and higher quality. The main difference I could see was that YouTube gets more views and is more well-known. This can be seen because I had never even heard of Vimeo until this project. Personal videos are on both sites but Vimeo almost contains work that is of better video quality and they promote no ads throughout their site. This is a very nice touch for most people because we are usually bombarded by advertisements on every other site we visit. They also push the idea that it is very simple to upload videos which is also good to know. After looking at both sites I think that Vimeo would be the best choice to upload a video at, especially when this video was a school project and is a bit more personal. The number of views our group video gets doesn’t really matter in a situation like this so Vimeo it is.

Commentary

Justin's Posts:


First time using internet

I agree with you that it is very convenient to be able to connect with friends through the internet and internet on smart phones. When you said, “Most of my friends use one of the various social media websites so if I run across something that’s thought-provoking or hilarious, I can instantly share that moment with them,” I can relate. The idea that emails and comments on posts have taken the place of actual hand-written letters is true but I sometimes miss the excitement of not knowing when you will hear back from a friend. This does make it less likely for friends to loose contact like you said, but it also shows how technology has advanced. I also agree with you that it is important for these changes and advances because society and businesses are changing and growing. By having such capabilities we are making it possible for people to communicate faster and more efficiently. It is also crazy to think like you said that we used to relay on a good connection to be able to “dial up” to our internet. We are now able to access the web and all that it entails within seconds. And if we have a mobile device that has internet capabilities we can access the internet basically anytime and anywhere.

Web 2.0

Your personal opinion about Web 2.0 was relatable. The way the Internet has changed throughout the years is due to technology and increased demand in a faster, better Internet. I agree with you that it is hard to see what is next for the web. With so many available options already most of us can’t even imagine what could be in the cards for the Web. I agree with you when you said, “In the future, I think we're going to get to a point where every person has a smartphone instead of having basic phones with limited capabilities.” You are already seeing more and more people who have smart phones and are being able to access the Internet through their mobile device. Being able to use your phone to access GPS, YouTube, and other social media sites just shows how far we have come and that the end is not near. When you are talking about the key concepts of Web 2.0 I agree with you that the Internet is constantly changing to fit our needs. The idea that social media evolved from and makes up Web 2.0 shows that social media as a whole is not going anywhere. The Web is and will be forever changing.

Social media Pros and cons

When you call social media a way of life I can directly relate and agree with that statement. The way social media has grown and what it has become there are due to be both positive and negative effects. I agree with your positive effects. When you make the point that social media is a tool that can help people meet other people much easier than in person is understandable. This however leads to your negative effect that says that by using these social media sites as often as people do we lose the face-to-face time. When you give the next positive effect of social media as being exposed to new and different viewpoints I also agree. When you are able to see comments and post comments yourself you instantly gain new outlooks on topics. I also agree with the negative effects that you talk about that come with social media. When you are talking about the way people are spending too much time on social media sites and becoming disconnected with the world I agree wholeheartedly. This overuse of social media can also lead to bullying and other abuse like you said. In addition I couldn’t agree with you more that social media is a cause for poor grammar. People are abbreviating so much that they are forgetting how to spell and use proper grammar. Even with positive and negative effects, you are right, social media is here to stay.

Video Review

Your comments about these videos were very brief but well written. The intro to life is a ride was short but also made me want to read more and discover what the actual video was about and what your opinions were. The second paragraph was also brief and didn’t give readers a sense of what the video was. Although the topic was very clear more descriptions about what was actual going on in the video would have given readers who didn’t see the video a better understanding. I can relate to you when you talk about your life being a ride. The constant non-stop schedule that most working college students have can be exhausting. The next video you critiqued, color and black/white is relatable due to the fact that you didn’t completely understand it. Although self-portrait videos can sometimes be hard to understand they can show meaning and deep feelings within a person’s life. I agree with the way you are using positive criticism and actually coming up with suggestions that could have made the video better. Your final comment on this video was very brief and a stronger ending would have been better. The last video about an overuse of text was hard to follow. Although you explain that the video had too much text you don’t go into detail about what the actual video was about. You did not have many positive things to say about this video which is ok but not describing actual content in the video makes it hard for readers to get an idea of what the video was all about.



Lauren's Posts:

First time using the internet

I can relate to the first time you used the Internet. When children were first introduced to the Internet parents had their eyes glued to the screens making sure everything was kid friendly. When the Internet first came around none of us really knew what the future held. Just being able to do things we couldn’t do before was enough for our 12-year-old minds. When you say, “Flash forward many, many years and I am still in awe about how far we have come with the internet and all the fun and exciting things we have the privilege of doing,” I agree completely. We are now left with a faster, smarter, and more tech-savvy machine. In addition most phones these days come with available Internet packages. The stats you give about the number of Internet users rising from the year 2000 to 2009 really show how much society as adapted to using the Internet. I also agree with you when you say, “It’s amazing how much school work and life work I do online. Now, I don’t know where I would be without the Internet.” Students these days rely so much on computers and Internet usage. It would be crazy to think about a life without both.

 Web 2.0

The image you use at the begging of this post sums up Web 2.0. Although Web 2.0 is difficult to actual define I agree with the way you explain it. I agree with you when you say, “Many websites back in the day were very bland and didn’t have that much going for them but now because they have evolved in to being more interactive people can give their feedback whether it’s about a product or about a sports team and people can send messages on forums or through video.” Web 2.0 involves more participation from users and lets people instantly get feedback from products, restaurants, and many other businesses. I also can relate to the idea that you bring up about the Web running our lives. With so much information at our fingertips we can get consumed and distracted easily. Aside from being exposed to an endless amount of information we are also being exposed to new ideas. These ideas come in the form of social media sites. Sites like Facebook and Twitter are the face of Web 2.0 and they don’t seem to be going anywhere. The fast pace generations that keep up with these sites are only demanding more. We will just have to wait and see what the future of the Internet brings us.

 Social media pros and cons

I agree with the positive effects social media you give. The fact that we can connect and meet new people basically instantaneously is a positive. Staying in touch with old friends or family members is also a positive aspect of social media. In addition the way we can receive news and updates from all around the world through social media sites such as Twitter can be considered a positive. On the flip side there are also negative aspects of social media. When you say, “Also because of social media and social networking we are isolating ourselves from the real world and living real lives outside of the internet,” I can agree. Social networking sites have seemed to take over our lives. We are becoming addicted to constantly being in the current of flowing information. It is hard for us to jump out of that current or become detached from social media. It is also very hard like you said to keep anything private through social media. Sometimes changing privacy settings isn’t enough. When you put something on the Internet or a social media site you should expect it to be there forever. With these pros and cons of social media one thing is for certain, that it is here to stay

Video Reviews

For the self-portrait videos you critiqued were well written. The first one about the bike accident gave a strong visual sense of what was happening in the video and what the main character was trying to tell the audience. I can agree with you when you said, “This narrative is very strong because it can really grab everyone’s emotions seeing how this person’s life was drastically changed; also it might hit close to home for some viewers and have the same similar story of having a normal life one day to being completely different the next.” You didn’t just explain what was going on in the video but you interpreted it as well. The second video you critiqued was about a man going through his journey of extreme weight loss. I did not see this video but by your description I got a great visual sense of what was happening. You discussed his use of black and white imagery and the stop action draw imagery. These both were ways to interpret the video aside from just explain what the man was doing in it. The last video you talked about was, “The art of motion.” I also picked this video to talk about. You gave a detailed idea of stop animation and also what the video was about. I agree with the way you interpreted the video and also about how well done it was.

Status Update

The social networking site referred to as Facebook is one of the top social media websites today. Born in 2004 Facebook is ever changing and improving with time. Many have their opinions about this site but most will agree that the way we communicate in today’s society has greatly been affected by Facebook.

This was defiantly not my first time using Facebook.  I first started using this site when I was in high school. When I first got my Facebook I had mixed feelings about it and didn’t think it was going to last. MySpace was the current popular social media site that I had familiarized myself with before Facebook.  When Facebook came about I was not so convinced on the idea. I found it confusing and was not a fan for about a year. Then suddenly a volcano called Facebook erupted. MySpace died out and it died out quickly. Everyone I knew soon found themselves attached to the hype of Facebook. It has been that way ever since and is now considered a social norm in society.

Being a long time user of Facebook I utilize the site in many ways.  Being able to catch up with friends who I haven’t seen in a long time or family members who live out of state is extremely nice. I also am constantly using Facebook to connect with students from school to talk about projects or homework assignments. I also use Facebook for my job. Our salon has a Facebook in which I help update to market our business.

There are however many other ways people utilize Facebook. One of those ways is to self-promote themselves. Facebook can give employers a good sense of who you are and skills you may have.  In an article about social media for public relations Top Rank Online Marketing said, “A majority agree that knowledge of social networks is either important or very important when it comes to PR and marketing hiring.” Making companies aware that you are knowledgeable with social media can give you a better opportunity for landing a job. Companies in today’s society do a lot of promoting and marketing through online sources making it a good idea to become familiar with sites such as Facebook. A second way people utilize Facebook is to show their creativity. By allowing members to upload personal pictures and videos people can use Facebook as a creative outlet. The third way people can utilize Facebook is by being able to find and research a business with the click of a button. You can obviously use Google or any other search engine to get reviews or directions to somewhere, but Facebook gives you much more than that. By having a Facebook members can instantly see where their friends are dining, drinking, or shopping. They can also get feedback and comments about places of business they are interested in.

When starting our Facebook project we were urged to create a new Facebook even if we already had an existing one. This was because it is very important to keep your professional and personal lives separate. What we as students do on our own time should remain separate from our school and work lives. Keeping the boundary between these two is an important tool to learn and carry out in our future.

The choices we have on Facebook regarding making certain things public or private might not be what you think. Although we do as Facebook users have the choice to make pictures or certain statuses private there are still ways for employers to see them.  When Facebook became so popular the act of being more aware of what employees are putting on their Facebook’s became popular as well. Bigger companies now have programs in which they can search current and future employees Facebook’s to see material they have put on the web even if it’s under private settings. So to answer the main question anything you put on the web isn’t private and if you don’t want anyone to see it, don’t put it online.

Regarding social media sites and etiquette there are some rules to follow.

#1 Avoid posting anything when under the influence. This goes for posting images from the night before as well that showcases you in a way you wouldn’t want a boss or future boss to see. Even if you post something inappropriate and delete it in the morning the information is still out there to find. In the article, “Examining Students’ Intended Image on Facebook: “What Were They Thinking?!”,”questions arise on why people, particularly students post certain pictures on Facebook.  College students post inappropriate pictures that can and do hinder their search to find a job.

#2 Avoid posting every little thing that you do in the day. Over usage can be just as bad as posting inappropriate things. Your news feed does not need to know when you are going to the gym, walking to class, are bored in class, or what you’re having for dinner.

#3 Do not use social media sites to bad talk other individuals. This act has serious consequences and in some cases can be fatal. Avoid discrimination of any kind because people will see it and there will be consequences.

#4 Don’t be-friend, follow, or accept anyone you do not know. Stranger danger people, the Internet has turned into a scary place where there are people lurking around every corner. Be very cautious in who you accept because they are then instantly capable of knowing your every move.

#5 Be careful when posting on your friends walls or pages. Just because the picture or words aren’t on your page doesn’t mean that it won’t affect you or your friend in a negative way. Your name is attached to the picture or words and can be traced back to you. In addition bad pictures of your friends can leave a negative trail for them as well.

Personally I have not encountered any awkward situations on Facebook. I did however briefly deactivate my Facebook because I was extremely annoyed with what it was doing to me and my friends. When I would go out to dinner with friends or family members everyone had their face buried in their phone. When it came down to having a real-life conversation with someone social media such as Facebook took first priority. Facebook was running my life and I felt like I was almost addicted to checking my news feed. After taking a few weeks to detach myself from Facebook I feel like I got my sanity back and my friends now know when we are out for dinner their phone stay in their pockets.

Even though I haven’t encountered many awkward situations there are many others who have. Social media sites like Facebook can be beneficial in many ways, but can also have serious consequences on lives.  In the article, “A World I Don’t Inhabit: Disquiet and Identity in Second Life and Facebook,” the idea that we create all of these social media sites to promote the real us and we end up with trying to fit in so bad we lose who we are.  By having the ability to be whoever we want to be and put any information about ourselves on these sites we can forget who we really are and put false information about us online which misleads people.