3.18

As an Information Systems major in the throngs of my last few weeks, I must admit I have become accustomed to the teaching style of Information Systems professors over those who are not.

I like graduating Senior have to take Business Policy which is offered by a variety of business professors as practically everyone in the colleges of business are required to take this class.

It is this fact that reminds me that not every teacher is as technology savvy as your standard Information Systems professor.

Most notably and the one that most affects my ability to learn is the differences in organization between an information systems professor and one who is not. Almost all the IS profs I have had teach using the use of powerpoints. Powerpoints make note taking much easier on the student, and do one even more important thing, it keeps the teacher from drifting to other topics.

I have a teacher in my business policy who is completely opposed to the use of powerpoint or even D2L. His lecture style is best described as disjointed. He lacks the order and organization that I as an IS major demand of my professors. To be completely honest, I have pretty much stopped taking inclass notes out of frustration due to his teaching methodology.

Now, just to attempt to prove that I am not acting like a spoiled brat, I do keep up with the lectures in class by reading the book chapters, which is what his exams are based off of as well as making sure I meet all the requirements for the two papers he assigns in the class. I'm not stupid after all.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

Isn't it obvious I can't think of anything to write for these blogs at this point?

3.17 - St. Patrick's Day - SFW Edition

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone of Irish descent like myself and to those who believe that they can drink themselves to that state.

Please enjoy this day of feast responsibly and for the love of coffee, please refrain from saying "I'm going to drink until I'm Irish."

Cheers,
Eric Summers

For those of you who have befriended me on Facebook, you can find a more amusing and NSFW version in my notes.

3.16

Today and next week I will be taking my major field study and general education exams. So long as I take them, these exams will have no bearing on whether or not I'll graduate or will impact my transcript, so why take them?

Because the campus MAKES us take them. I'm sure that this rule probably comes from a higher power than the campus (my guess would be the Board of Regents). They are used as a statistical evaluation of the campus's effectiveness and efficiency in their training of us students. They use the rhetoric that our involvement is important because our involvement will help strengthen the power behind our diplomas.

The process is not something that I agree with. I am not a fan of tests, because I feel that they are an inaccurate evaluation of the taker's skill. I have known extremely intelligent people who are extremely skilled in a certain area, yet they fail the tests they are required to take for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, I've watched fools who could memorize a list of terms make high scores on such evaluations without understanding the subject matter.

But to get the information they need, they must create standardized tests. Like it or not, they're a necessary evil. But at least, we the students are not being graded upon it.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

3.15

The quest for graduation is a long and arduous process or so the college would like you to believe.

It's amusing the amount of fear "The End" inspires in my fellow students.

We are all (particularly students though one would logically assume that the same fear applies to teachers) pressured to fear the graduation.

There are off the top of my head three different forms I had to turn in to graduate. One of them was due two semesters before you graduate, the other three semesters before you graduate. I turned mine in THIS semester, the semester I intend to graduate, and I have had absolutely no problem with getting closer and closer towards "The End" despite the tardiness of my paper work, namely because I am of the mind that realizes the uncertainty the future represents. Think about it, life is unpredictable, one serious illness and you might find yourself having to graduate a semester later than you intended. Therefore, I bided my time and waited until I was positive I would graduate, and it has paid off.

Ultimately, I have proven what I set out to prove at the start of this semester when I looked over the graduation requirements last semester. No matter how much trouble the graduation paperwork seems to suggest, you have absolutely nothing to fear. Keep your head held high and your mind alert, believe it or not, this college really does want you to graduate if only so you can come back for your masters and Ph. D.


Cheers,
Eric Summers

I will however suggest that you make copies of all your paperwork after it gets signed or before you turn it in to the administration just in case they lose your information or forget they approved it.

3.4 - Weekday Update

This blog has absolutely nothing to do with the SNL segment...


The midterms are over now *confetti and streamers shoot out from unexpecting areas as multiple Hollywood esque explosions of flaming joy rip through carefully placed pyrotechnics* and after we present I will be done with school for the break.

Only to have a large database, a complete website, and two papers to do by the end of the semester...

At least I won't have any more presentations.

Hopefully during the break and over the next few days I can get back into a routine blogging schedule since my cramming days are now (temporarily) over.

Cheers,
Eric Summers

3.2 - Groundswell, Chapter 6 Summary/Outline

Marketing funnel
- Awareness – Consideration - preference - action – loyalty = buyers
Talking with the groundswell
1. Viral videos
Best utilized when using an interesting approach and/or niche specific advertising methods.
BlendTec uses a unique approach to display just how effective their blenders are in their series, Will it Blend?
Will it Blend, iPhone: Will it Blend, iPhone

Tibco, a software company created its own viral miniseries called Greg the Architect.

Tibco, Greg the Architect

To be most effective viral videos must allow people to interact. Optimally they should direct people to a social network, a blog, or community with they can form further relationships with each other or with the company.

2. Social Networks (pre existing)
Statistics: 25% of online adults in North America, 21% of Europeans, and 35% of South Koreans are members of social networks.
On Facebook, 85% of all college students (America) have a profile.

Case Study: Ernst and Young
- E&Y are a global accounting firm that has to hire thirty-five hundred college grads every year to meet their client’s needs.
- E&Y uses Facebook as a means for connecting with college students and potential future employees allowing them to not only communicate with these users but also allow the users to interact in an environment that also encourages student to student communication.
- When Brands should use social networking:
o Use the Social Technographics Profile to verify that your customers are in social networks.
o Move forward if people love your brand.
o See what’s out there already
o Create a presence that encourages interaction.

3. Blogosphere
Blogs are most effective for companies who have complex issues revolving around their products.

Case Study: HP
- HP sells hundreds of different electronic and software based products to almost every type of marketing group from small consumer to large businesses.
- Most of their products are very complex, and therefore many buyers want to have more details available to them before they commit to a purchase.
- This is where HP’s blogs help their company.
- HP has nearly fifty executive blogs; each blog is targeted to a specific area of their business, allowing HP to respond to their consumer’s questions and concerns.
- Blogs generate trust in the consumers because of the fact that these are personal statements from the executives of HP.
- HP has used these blogs in the past to help consumers resolve compatibility issues (ex. A problem that occurred between Windows Vista and HP printers) and even to avert PR distractions (ex. Sun Solaris’s attempt to goad HP into starting an advertising feud).
Tips for successful blogging:
1. Start by listening.
2. Determine goal of the blog
3. Estimate the ROI
4. Develop a plan
5. Rehearse
6. Develop an editorial process (have someone proofread and review the blog)
7. Design the blog and its connection to your site
8. Develop a marketing plan so people can find the blog
9. Remember, blogging is more than just writing
a. Blogging is a form of communication, make sure to respond to comments, but be sure to use moderation
10. BE HONEST

4. Create a Community
Case Study: Proctor and gamble’s beinggirl.com

-P&G was tasked with marketing feminine care products to young girls (preteen-adolescents), a topic most people do not wish to discuss and then an age group that is extremely uncomfortable discussing such topics.
-P&G created a community site, beinggirl.com, which is about everything young girls deal with.
-The site was created based on categories young girls would be interested in, rather than those that would sell their product.
-The site allows the users to communicate with one another, share embarrassingly humorous stories, and ask questions to a psychologist who will answer their questions.
-The site features subtle branding rather than direct marketing, instead of advertising their product they attempt to help the users and then mention the company as the sponsor of the site.
-It attracts more than 2 million visitors a month worldwide.

When communities make sense:
1. Figure out whether your market really is a community or could be one.
2. Check for already formed communities before you create one. It’s cheaper to sponsor such a site than build your own.
3. Once you’ve figured out whether your can form a community and what the central attraction will be, ask yourself:
a. What are we going to get out of this?
b. How will talking with this community benefit us?
4. Do not continue unless you can support the community for the long term.


Talking with the groundswell, what it means to you.
When is it best to use each method?
Do you have an awareness problem where people don’t know about you?
If so, then viral videos are the best way of getting your consumer’s attention.

Do you have a word-of-mouth problem where you need people to talk to one another?
If so then social networks are the best solution.

Do you have a complexity problem where you have complicated messages to communicate?
Then the blogosphere can help you solve this problem.

Do you have an accessibility problem where your consumers are insistent on depending upon one another rather than listening to you?
In that case, create an environment in which they can do that in the form of a community.

3.1

Due to the amount of school work taking place this week in my life, there is the distinct possibility that there will be days that I will be unable to post blogs.

This is what's on my academic plate at this very moment:

Two midterms

Several projects in various classes

A presentation for this class

All of that must be completed by Thursday.


Cheers,
Eric Summers