Communications Tool No.2: Social 'Media' Butterfly part2

The last entry to the Communications Tool No.2: Social 'Media' Butterfly part1 was all about Twitter. This entry I will be talking about the new social media craze called Instagram.

Instagram is the new online social networking site with a difference. It is still very new and not a lot of people know about the new fad just yet, so I'm here to fill you in on it. So you can maybe use Instagram as a way to promote yourself or your business.

So how does Instagram work?
Instagram is a creative way to share your photos to your friends and family and those other 'randomers' you meet on Instagram. It allows you to bring out your inner photographer, by having a series of filters to allow you to put a twist or a mood on your photo.
It is similar to Twitter in the way you follow people and they follow you. The more followers you get I suppose is depending on the popularity, creativity and quality of the photos you share on the mobile site. It also resembles Twitter in the way you can hashtag your photos to the Instagram users in the world.
You can download the app for free on your iPhone or Android phone.

Instagram was set up by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, after the quick success of the application, Facebook wanted in on the action and purchased the app in April 2012.

Having Instagram in the hands of Facebook can only mean huge popularity with the site, which has already begun.

I think it was inevitable that they would soon create an online site for Instagram. Just recently created, users of the app can now sign in on the web and browse photos from there. In my opinion I don't think the online version of Instagram was the best idea. I think maybe it has taken away the novelty of having it just on your mobile, but that is just my opinion, they have only just started up their online version and it may well be a success.

Facebook nor Instagram have announced anything yet, but the web page has a lot of room for advertisements. It is something companies should be keeping an eye out for, especially as the site is becoming very popular.

There is also no surprise that celebrities are obsessive Instagram users. It has an edge over Twitter I think because celebrities are taking more and more personal photos and sharing them with the world, bringing to light a more intimate relationship with their fans.

Masses of online clothing brands are promoting new trends and sales via Instagram and it seems to be proving very successful, so it is definitely a new way to promote your business, if that is the target audience you want to reach. It's a new way to market and Instagram is showing that social networking sites can still be a successful marketing tool. Once again you can involve your followers on instagram and have a personal relationship with your customers.

As a communications tool, I think Instagram has a definite edge on other forms of social networking sites. Keep an eye out for when they will allow room for advertising on their web page, because they more than likely will!

Thanks for reading :)

Vanessa x

Communications Tool No.2: Social 'Media' Butterfly part1

Online Communications Tool No.2: Social 'Media' Butterfly will be in different parts. 
This entry is all about Twitter


Social media has become a way of life, whether we like it or not. Too many mothers are on Facebook, and it's just getting a little bit weird! Although for the average person, social media sites are just a way to 'creep' on ex- boyfriends/girlfriends on Facebook, or go on Twitter to follow your celebrity crushes every movement.

PR professionals use social media every day to get the word out about clients, to communicate with customers and to respond to questions or problems. Social media has become one of the most important tools to have in a PR professionals toolkit. 
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and many more are some of the biggest social media sites in the world, and every PR professional has to take social media strategies into account.

Twitter
I haven't totally understood the whole Twitter craze, but I can see that is a very successful way to market.

Twitter has over 8 million visitors per month and over 50 million messages posted everyday. There is a useful method to research the productivity of your business via Twitter. Twitter has it's own search engine, so enter your name or your companies name and it will tell you if there is any positive or negative comments about yourself/company.
Tweeters/twatters, or what ever the correct word is, love a red faced rant, so if they are not happy with your company, they will more than likely want to let the ever growing world of Twitter know about it.

Twitter is great for promoting your company, product or service. Remember when posting any promotional tweets that it must be conversational. This is the best way to get people tweeting, so it will generate more interest and hopefully more followers.
That is why connecting to your followers on a personal level is important, Twitter is all about conversation, so make sure to interact with them as much as possible. 

I think the average person enjoys Twitter as they can follow their favourite celebrities. Celebrities have a very personal relationship with their fans on Twitter and let's be honest it's always fun to watch a celebrity Twitter argument!

Singer Jason Mraz had a very creative way of using Twitter, a way that has never been done before. I'm not sure who his PR team is, but a pat on the back I think is deserved! Jason Mraz asked his millions of followers last summer, "What does 'The Woman I Love' mean to you?" with hashtag #MrazingTheVideo. He received over 10,000 answers, some so good he rewarded them by having their twitter replies shown in his music video.

Mraz has not stopped there, he has created another competition with another social media site Instagram. Jason Mraz has the most followers on Instagram and is making use of it.
The song-writer wants Instagram users to translate his new song, "I Won't Give Up," into one image. The contest asks fans to tag their photograph with #IWONTGIVEUP. He has already received 3,000 images , including one from Selena Gomez and American Idol judge Randy Jackson.

Mraz has shown the intense speed of the social media world, and it's snowball effect is incredible. No wonder it's so important for PR professionals.

Do remember you can only have 140 characters in your tweet, so be creative!!

Thanks for reading :)

Vanessa x

Online Communications Tool No.1: Phone Bill Shmone Bill!!!

Maybe the days of dreading your Dad's words after he has seen the phone bill are over??

VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol, is something I've only started to get to know. It's been around for a little while actually, as Skype is a form of VoIP.
It's basically a voice conversation that takes place over an internet connection instead of a traditional phone line and it's so good that you wouldn't even realise you were having a conversation using just the internet connection.
Businesses are loving VoIP, they are migrating from the conventional phone line to the VoIP world to reduce their monthly phone costs. Why wouldn't they take interest in decreasing their communications costs, and at the same time making use of a reliable and good quality service?
It's a new communications tool that will definitely take off really quickly.

Skype was an idea initially marketed for a way to keep in contact with friends and family, but now it has begun to cater to businesses, providing free-of-charge connections between any users on the Skype network. It began in 2004 and now has millions of users world wide.Skype is a great way for small businesses to expand their potential client pool, cut massively on long-distance calls and Skype also allows you to instant message and share files.
Skype was getting so much interest from businesses, they wanted to design a package and adjust some features and make it more designed for business use. Businesses can now receive Skype calls through their office phones!
So should we all jump on the VoIP bandwagon?

I actually have been on the bandwagon for a while I just didn't realise.. You could be more familiar with the VoIP application called Viber? I use it religiously!! I never have to pay for credit, just my internet data every month and i can call anywhere in the world as long as they too are on the Viber network.

VoIP is definitely keeping my piggy bank alive!
Viber used to be a "Nokia Only" app, but Windows wanted in on the action and so is now available on most Windows phones! So I don't think anyone will be complaining about phone bills in the near future!

So from me i think the whole VoIP idea is a thumbs up!

Thanks for reading :)


Vanessa x