Social Media and the Long Tail Theory

Last semester in my Public Relations Methods class, we discussed the concept called the Long Tail Theory of PR. The basis of this theory is that companies can market to niche audiences opposed to trying to capture the mass. It seems that companies are catching on.

Paull Young, director of digital engagement and strategy at charity:water, is speaking to other companies and industry executives about harnessing the power of social media.

Young advises companies to make sure that their social media platforms are in alignment with their integrated communication plan. By doing this, companies can ensure that the messages being put out can yield germane results.

Companies also want to know what tone they should adopt online. Is it OK to use informal speech or should you always write in the Associate Press style? Young says that it depends on the brand and will vary from company to company.

As social media continues to grow, no longer can companies ignore the importance of being a part of the conversation. The Internet has made the physical world smaller and more interconnected. There is now a more collective public online, and they are voicing their opinions about products, companies and services.

Social media is an opportunity for companies to gauge the satisfaction of their customers and to improve their products. By refusing to participate companies will only hurt themselves.

Time to Leave Florida

Rick Scott's quest to run poor people out of Florida continues as he has just approved the overhaul of the state's unemployment system.

Currently, business owners pay a special tax that goes into a unemployment fund for the state. About a year ago, Florida and several other states depleted their funds. As a result, the federal government has given loans so that unemployment benefits can still be paid.

To date, Florida has a $2 billion I.O.U. to Uncle Sam. The state has one of the highest tax rates for the fund at 5 percent.

In an attempt to appease business owners Scott has allowed the Finance and Tax Committee to make changes to the rules to unemployment benefits.

Some of the changes are a decrease in pay-out weeks from 26 to 20 and a cap on the weekly amount. However, the most alarming is a proposal from Rep. Kathleen Passidomo R-Naples, Fla. She is suggesting that all unemployed persons perform four hours of community service in order to receive their benefits.

Disgusted is the only word that comes to mind. Why should people who pay taxes through one form on another be forced to do community service for a fund that they have paid into?

Somewhere in our government there is a vast disconnect. It is ever-present in the current leadership of the state. There is a growing gap between the wealthy and the poverty-stricken, and from my side of the aisle it appears that the governor has no intentions of trying to close this gap.

Why Being Connected Enables Stalking

Social media applications continue to push the boundaries of mobility and increase connectivity. However, with tweens, and young adults' insatiable need to be included, they are giving up something much more valuable, privacy.

As the social media market continues to grow, so does its outlandish capabilities. Last year Twitter was outfitted with GPS, which enabled users to add their exact location to their tweets. To some, it was a great addition; however, I don't see the benefits of letting the entire free world know where you are whenever you post.

Twitter was not alone on the combined GPS and social media forefront. FourSquare, using a GPS-based network, allowed users to check in at various locations around their city. The application also lets you create hotspots for others to check into. The idea is that people checking into various locations it create a map of cool places for sightseers and townies to hang out. In addition, users could see where their friends spend time.

This is lunacy at its finest. Since when was it cool to socially stalk your friends and potentially put yourself at risk from various characters. Imagine how a typical break-up with someone can become complicated with GPS-enabled social media. A simple break-up can easily turn into an uncomfortable situation. Imagine being out with friends and your ex storms into the venue, making a scene for the patrons and your friends. This could happen to you all because you thought it was fun to enable GPS on your Twitter.

In other news, Droid has an application called Layer, which uses your phone's tweets to track your location. It can even see through walls and approximate the distance from the user to that specific person.

No thanks.

It's only a matter of time before there are crimes committed from GPS-enabled programs. I'm not trying to sound morbid, but it's just common sense. Would you post your phone number on a bathroom wall if you didn't want people to call? Then why would you post your location on the Internet for the next "Craig's List killer."

Color Wheel Photo

Here is my first attempt at color photography. I know what the terms mean but I think the pics suck. But here goes.

Warm Colors

Cool Colors

Analogous Colors

Complimentary Colors

Symmetrical, Asymmetrical and Single Point Perspective

Here we go again, let me know what you think.

Single Point Perspective

Symmetrical

Asymmetrical

Front, Back, side

Front, Back and Side light... Now keep in mind I'm and artist and I'm sensitive about my ish.