Online Marketing Reflections from a Social Media Guru Assignment C

Wow this is is difficult to put into words. I have never done an online campaign before and this was an opportunity for me to see what an enormous undertaking it would be.  As the sole Social Media guru in my office I am more often than not struggling with the misconceptions that people have about social media.  It is difficult to make people see the connection between being a non profit but still having something to sell.  We need numbers for the government to justify our jobs and that is not happening.  Our target audience is getting younger and for us to not offer online registration or even a PDF to print off is insane.  I strive daily to explain that Facebook alone cannot spread the word and increase our numbers.  Our website is consistently behind in its information and often incorrect.  How do you drive traffic to a website that we don't do analytics for. We have a contract person who does our website and we cannot make changes to it.  It could take 2 to 3 weeks for an update.  Responsive  website is not even in our vocabulary.  SEO, keyword search, play no part in our plan.  ( We wouldn't want to hurt the feelings of our computer guy)   I have learned so much and it is stifling at times to continue but slowly I do.  This week I had some successes that I will share.
1. I convinced my boss to use a photo that I had taken in her Facebook ad for volunteers for one of our programs.  It was not the usual wordy, blurby, shouty info ad.  It performed well and people were amazed.  Slow but progress
2.  I was able to convince a business owner in the community to come in so I could demonstrate quickly why I had not opened his email and why others may not have opened it either.   He truly appreciated my advice.  We discussed everything from the large caps in the sender box (a website name) to his lame, for lack of a better word, subject line.  We didn't go further than that because he got it pretty quickly.
I also demonstrated that I was more likely to access the email on my mobile where it actually looked worse.  He asked " Would you have ever opened the email?" to which I responded "no." We talked about the importance of mobile devices and a responsive website.  It was very cool for me to be seen as somewhat of an expert.

3. This last point is built on skills I have learned form all 7 of the courses I have taken so far.  I have had trouble with the PCplus card and difficulty getting their attention.  I did reply to a request they made for me to email them in their attempt to get me off line but when I did not get a speedy (3 day wait) response I again went to twitter and through keyword searches and a hashtag search on twitter I found influencers and the loblaws marketing executive in Ontario and they are now working on my issue and we will be having a phone conversation in the morning.


 I now realize that I have a far reach and the ability to make changes with careful planning and good word choice and visuals.  Never underestimate the power of the pen or in today's world the power of multimodality in an increasingly mobile world.  Thanks for listening.

Assignment C Reflection - Edmonton Bridal Expo

There is always another platform, another avenue to pursue and another metric to hit - The formula, as always is to strategize, try and re-strategize!

Crystal Armstrong, December 15th, 2014

Assignment C - Online Marketing Campaign reflection

I have been involved in creating marketing campaign plans before but never an online marketing campaign plan, and this was quite a different experience. The online marketing campaign plan that I created for Shawn Adams Art differed from 'traditional' marketing campaigns that I have worked on in the past, in that I noticed that online marketing channels (web, email, mobile and social media) are not siloed channels, in the same way that 'traditional' marketing channels could be.

I learnt that online marketing audiences are no longer passive audiences receiving ads/information in a one-way system, they are interactive audiences giving feedback in real-time. These direct audience on social media don't supplant paid media entirely, but they give companies who develop a relationship with these audiences a much faster, lower cost means to reach a larger number of interested consumers. I also learnt that some of our online audiences have audiences of their own! These 'amplifiers' or 'influencers' are the fundamental building blocks of earned-media, and the people who make things "go viral". You can't force anyone to amplify your message, but you can incentivize or build relationships and experiences with your brand of such a caliber that people inherently want to share the experience (and hopefully purchase your product)! 

One should always include the following when marketing in the online environment?

• Research! Lots of research into your company, your product(s) and your targeted audience
• Make the process of navigating your website (and products), choosing a product, and purchasing it as easy and as enjoyable as possible. 
• Compelling and engaging content across all your online channels that can create meaningful interactions with your target audience(s)
• Mobile responsiveness, since most people view and buy on a mobile device.
• A clear, concise and effective CTA (Call to Action)
• Stand out visuals (images and video)
• Measure campaign results by monitoring your campaigns and referring back to analytics. Be prepared to make changes quickly in reaction to the results.

http://theultralinx.com/2013/01/carry-digital-marketing-infographic.html

Thanks for a great course Jess. I really enjoyed it and I hope to put what I have learnt into practice in my marketing of Shawn Adams Art.

Assignment C (Part 2) - Reflection Karl Kopan

Traditional marketing plans have been part of my past but never have they dealt with the start-up of a online business and all that entails. I kept thinking about the value of 'telling a story' when looking at the various options before me. I believe there is truth in that statement but it differed from past experiences because the online marketplace is for most marketing interconnected with traditional marketing strategies. To me there are vast differences but similarities as well. This article was helpful to my understanding of the basics:  http://www.hausmanmarketingletter.com/16-differences-between-social-media-and-traditional-media/

My greatest learning experience from this is you can never have enough planning. When one idea was figured out it created another five to work through and find solutions for. Online marketing for me will always include a variety of analytics to gauge who is looking, where from, and how they are doing it and more importantly who is buying! It will also help personalize what otherwise could be a very plutonic online transaction while keeping a high level of customer service.

Assignment C Part 2: Reflection

I have created marketing campaign plans previously, but never strictly for online. I noticed how tightly all the tactics are intertwined compared to a more traditional marketing campaign, and also that when you have the right tools it is quite easy to monitor the campaign’s performance.

The most important thing I learned through the readings and this exercise is to monitor results and performance on a more frequent basis and spend more time on the measurements to identify if tweaks are required, as explained in this article: http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/6-habits-of-highly-effective-adwords-ppc-marketers.html

I believe you should always include a great website built for customers as the main point of your online marketing efforts. Websites should be about them, not you. Showcase your products, have clear CTA’s and make it easy to navigate and to find your contact information. If your website doesn’t do the following, what is the point of spending money and directing people there? I think this is a great inforgraphic on web design and layout:

Assignment C Blog Response

I have never had to construct a marketing plan so this has been a true learning experience for me. I found the process quite difficult and had several false starts with the provided template before I decided to do my own thing – which I don’t think was any easier, however, it is complete at last. The thing that has been drilled into me throughout this process is that there are no short cuts and you absolutely must do your research!  Knowing your product / service inside out is a must as well as knowing your target market – again, inside out. And knowing one and not the other will never be effective and is doomed to failure from the start. Similarly, having all the right tools and not using them or not using them effectively will also result in failure.

A Brief Primer on Data Analytics

So, in short, know your product / service; know your target market; use every tool at your disposal to the very best of your ability. My feeling is that analytics are one of the most useful tools to analyze ones online marketing – and for the most part, they’re free!  The following articles both informative and interesting:  Got Analytics?
A Brief Primer on Data Analytics

Reflections

As a final application of what was shared in EXSM 5513 I was asked to prepare an Online Marketing Plan.  I developed a plan to fit the needs of the farm I own and assist in operating.  I was challenged to really critically think about the business side of the farm and what we really want to achieve.  I was also challenged to find out where online do middle-aged male farmers hangout? How do I reach and engage them.  I was a little surprised what a search of Twitter revealed! Farmers spend time on Twitter. My own research has led me to believe that this platform is a news and information source for the farming community.

In developing the plan I also noticed the many applications to my current position.  The organization I work for has a mandate to increase consumer awareness of it's brand and educate people about how to cook and use our product.  I know that I will absolutely apply the knowledge that was shared with me and use it to develop a  plan for my organization.  Lets hope it works so good I get a raise!

Online Marketing Plan, The Afterthought

Wowza, assignment C is a lot of work but it is definitely beneficial. I’ve done a few marketing plans in my undergrad days and a couple after I graduated, but they are nothing like this online marketing plan. First thing I notice is the empathies on web navigation; rather it is for a social media post, direct email or webpage click-through. The plan needs to be written in a way that mixes the proper communication, target marketing and customers’ experience into one form. This is very different with a traditional marketing plan, where these focuses are usually separated by different functions; mass media for communication, then target specific market with promotions and distributions and finally ensure customer satisfaction through direct selling.

Another area that is different is definitely analytics. Online marketing requires the support of immediate reporting, where changes needs to be made as quick as possible to fit certain market. Metrics (ex. bounce rate, dwell-time, etc) need to be in place, and must be monitored constantly. One benefit from such metrics is on measuring conversion; one can almost pin point exactly what is resonating and motivating to buy/act with the target marketing. This is something that traditional marketing cannot accomplish economically.

Other than metrics and easy navigation (aka web or post design), some of the other must have for online marketing include SEO, online advocates or network, a genuine email list, and proper content development.

Image from http://www.eseade.edu.ar

By the way, I found a video that gives a good Coles Notes version of online marketing plan! Check it out!

Thoughts on online marketing campaigns - Part 2 of Assignment C

I've worked in communications for nearly eight years, and I realized when working on the final assignment that I've never designed an online marketing campaign, nor have I been asked to prepare one. I think that many people overlook the necessity of having a solid plan, which is strange since I work at a post-secondary institution. You wouldn't teach a course without having a solid plan (i.e. syllabus), would you? 

In creating this online marketing campaign I've learned many things that will be beneficial to my future marketing projects. For example, you need to examine your target audience and determine the ways that they prefer to interact with your organization--adjust your strategy to fit with your customer, and not the other way around. For this project, my target audience was females aged 30-50 who had a Master of Nursing degree. Where do they spend their time online and how do they like to receive their information? You need to suss out specific information related to your target and create campaigns that they can relate to and deliver it to them in their preferred manner. As well, timelines are incredibly important. Give yourself a deadline for a task to ensure accountability and be specific; the more specific you are the clearer your vision. Finally, examine your analytics! See what's driving people to your website/product (and often!) and don't be afraid to tweak your campaign. 

As I examine what I've learned throughout this course and in completing the final project, I think that when you're marketing in the online environment you always need to track your efforts. Whether you rely on Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics, etc. you need to be able to measure your efforts so that you can analyze the results and make adjustments to the campaign--how else will you know whether you've run a good campaign or know where it all started to fall apart!

Partnering Passion with Promotion

Affiliate marketing was an unknown term to me before I read the article.  I was part of the 14% of his readers who didn't know what it was and while these statistics are interesting they did not appear in my word cloud.  They were the lead in to the article and right away they engaged me and because he aimed the discussion at the 14% who didn't know what affiliate marketing was I knew I would benefit from the blog post.  Besides the obvious words of affiliate and marketing the key words to stand out were promote, publisher, readers, products, blogs, and trust,  This completely aligned with what I understood from the article.   The relationship between publishers and readers is built on trust.  I wish that trust had been more prominent in the word cloud because it is essential in the affiliate marketing.  Trust is what gives you the potential to earn more money but if the product is not great then you have the potential to lose your readers.  That trust takes time to build but is quick to dissolve and I think this is why only 29% of this blog's readers used affiliate marketing.  Other factors, like having a product that aligns with your blog, play a part in your ability to make money using affiliate marketing but trust is the key factor.

Blog with a Passion

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/8384615/Blogging_Business

The article "Your blog can attract millions of followers" listed a few individuals who demonstrated success with blogging. It is interesting that these people blog about something that is total different from their starting career; they blog about their interest and then slowly snowball into become a major part of their lives. Simply put, being passionate about the things one blog about is important, follow by being consistent (even if it is a slow start), and finally be engaging and approachable online. This seemingly is the formula to a become a successful blogger, especially if one want to make a living out of it.

Module 6 - Assignment

Module 6 - Wordle #EXSM5513 

By Crystal Armstrong

I the article What is Affiliate Marketing by Darren Rowse, the concept of advertising on a personal/business blog is explored. Rowse brings great points to light in terms of diffusing the 'Get rich quick' thoughts in relation to partnering with brand/companies while giving some sound terms for thought when managing quality, reputation, desirable skill sets and track-ability as relating to Affiliate Marketing

This article resonated with me as I have clients who are interested in this opportunity and it was a good introduction as to what to consider prior to engaging.

Assignment B - Mobile Strategy and Psychology

After tracking my mobile usage for one day I was surprised at how often and for how long I actually do use it. I originally thought that my usage was extremely limited and that I only used it for texting and calling friends and family but I have learnt that I use it so much more than I thought!

Here’s how my daily mobile use breaks down:

Use	% Time Used	Personal / Work	Where am I?
Facebook	50%	personal	bus / LRT or waiting somewhere
Facebook	5%	work	anywhere
Twitter	2%	work	anywhere
My Fitness Pal	5%	personal	anywhere
Weather	2%	personal	anywhere
Games	30%	personal	bus / LRT or waiting somewhere
Texting	5%	personal	anywhere
Phone	1%	personal	anywhere

I suppose I use my mobile more to escape the boredom of waiting or using public transportation more than anything else and Facebook and games are a great way to do that. I enjoy being able to lose myself and escape the hustle and bustle by either connect with family and friends or playing a game. Of course an added joy of Facebook is that, with family and friends all over the world I am able to connect with them as and when I have time, and unlike a phone call, I don’t ever have to worry about time zones and how many hours difference there are or are they home - I am able to connect and in the same light they can respond as and when they choose.

In my case, as I mentioned above, I was very surprised at just how much I actually use my mobile and I believe that it quite accurately reflects my current use. While tracking my usage was surprising it did not raise any questions for me, but perhaps gave me a greater appreciation when I switch everything off and step away from it. Although this is a part of my life and I would miss the convenience if it was taken away completely, it is not, to date, such an integral part of my life that I feel I can’t step away. I truly enjoy actual in-person interaction far more than any other form of communication.

Mobile Strategy and Psychology (Assignment B) #EXSM5513

I use my mobile a lot during the day for personal usage. According to my records I used my mobile device in one way or another at least once or twice an hour from 6:00am to 10:00pm on the day of the mobile monitoring experiment. It has become second nature for me to use my mobile devices instead of a wristwatch, a calendar, a camera, a diary, a map, a mailed letter, a newspaper and so on, in both my personal and work life. The below is an account of how, when and why I used my mobile device on the day I was monitoring and tracking my usage.

•  Time: On the day of the mobile usage experiment I used my mobile device (iphone) for telling time throughout the day and as an alarm clock to wake me up in the morning. Can't be late for my Online and Mobile Marketing and Commerce course at the U of A Faculty of Extension! For three years I did not have a wristwatch as I relied on my iphone to tell time and to look at what date/day it is. Even now that I have a wind-up watch, and only because one was gifted to me, I still reach for my iphone first to check the time. In winter time I like not having to try and roll-up the multiple layers of selves (coats, jackets, long sleeved tops) to look at my wristwatch! It is so much easier to click my iphone and VOILA I know the time!

• Reading and catching up: I am quite a social creature, particularly with my friends and family. On the day I was monitoring and tracking my mobile I checked my Facebook, Twitter and texts throughout the day to read newly posted/tweeted/texted messages from friends and family, and posted/tweeted/texted my own posts and/or images. I checked my mobile device for these actions at least once every two hours throughout the day! I replied to emails and text messages, and created new texts and emails, the latter via my Gmail app. I no longer have to go to my computer room in my basement at home in the morning to check my emails or social networking sites, or have to sit on the bus not being able to access my emails or social networking sites until I get to work or home, as I can access them on my phone. I like having the choice to check my emails and social networking sites when, where and how I want to. I find it useful to receive e-alerts and notifications as I tend to be absent minded, and use the iphone Calendar app plus the Gmail app calendar to input meetings, classes and social appointments so that I don't forget. I tend to check my mobile calendars each morning, as sometimes I miss the alerts that I receive on my phone. Again this has taken the place of a physical calendar that I used to carry around with me with all my meetings and events listed. (PS: Don't be ashamed of toilet texting, more people do it than you realise.! This Slate blog article opens up the murky world of toilet texting.)

• Navigation: I used my Google Maps app to plan my travel via public transportation to and from the Faculty of Extension. I find this very useful as it takes the fear out of missing a bus or train, and that I can reach my destination. I used to always carry a paper map but no longer have need for this. I love being able to use the Google Maps app to guide me as I walk to a destination that I have never been to before, with the dot following along in real time on a map so I know where I am and where I am heading to. It is reassuring as a woman alone in a new area of the city or a new city or country to know that I can navigate the terrain with confidence and all with the click on an app on my iphone.

• Connecting with friends and family (both near and far)
  At the end of the mobile monitoring day I managed to Skype  (using the Skype app on my iPhone) with a friend in Australia even though I was not in my house (thus not near my desktop computer). My mobile device has increased the sense of connection that I feel with friends and family who live far away.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Researching (jobs): I checked for jobs on various job sites at least three times on the day of the mobile usage experiment. I am not working at the moment and so I tend I to use my mobile device on a daily basis to check for job openings in my sector of communications/media relations/social media . I can see immediately what jobs are available as they are updated hourly, daily and weekly, and I can check them no matter where I am. This replaces searching the newspaper for jobs. 

Taking images and posting them to social networking sites 
I had put up our Christmas tree and decorated it the night before my monitoring and tracking of my mobile usage - Martha Stewart eat your heart out - and the next morning I wanted to share it with friends and family far-away and so posted it to my Facebook. I am an avid photographer and mobile devices are growing in leaps and bounds in the realm of photographic quality and potential. I tend to find that I do not carry my camera with me as much as I used to and just use my phone. As I am planning a wedding next year I can find myself easily getting immersed in Pinterest on an almost daily basis, checking out what wedding colour schemes might look good together, what bridesmaid dresses my maid of honour (who lives in Greece, might like, flower arrangements and so much more (that until know I had been very happily unaware of in relation to the wedding industry)! On the day of my mobile monitoring and tracking I checked Pinterest at least four times on my mobile device, looking at wedding related images and sending images and links to my maid of honour.

Checking my bank account - On the day I was tracking my mobile usage, I accessed my bank account once, via my BMO app on my mobile device, as I had a bill to pay. Being able to access my bank account via mobile device and e-banking is co convenient. I no longer have to take time out of my busy life to visit a bank, which is only open on certain days and at certain times. I no longer have to take a bus or lrt to the bank as my bank account are now accessible 24/7 via my mobile device.

Music: As I got ready in the morning, and when I was getting ready for bed, I brought my mobile device into my bathroom and I listened to music via the Spotify app. This has replaced my radio that I used to own and keep beside my bed. I enjoy being able to be my own dj, choosing the tracks that I want to listen to and in what order. The Tech Blog (Future Shop) describes Spotify as being "among the best" of the music streaming entities that are available out there.

I think tracking my use for one day gave a pretty accurate reflection of my current use of my mobile. Though believe it or not I do use it less now than I would if I was working in my sector of communications and media relations. When I was working as the communications coordinator at the U of A Faculty of Law I would check my mobile often for work emails on my way to and from work, post tweets related to the Faculty of Law, and check how stories and images that I posted via my computer looked when they were viewed on a mobile device as studies have shown that most students accessed information first via their mobile devices.

This assignment has shown me that I am a daily and regular mobile user and that my usage is quite varied. Maybe I could do with putting down the mobile now and then and do something else, but I enjoy the convenience that the mobile device gives me, plus most of what I use my mobile device for I was already using other items/devices/options for this - print maps, wristwatch, email via desktop computer, etc. For me, in relation to my life and work, my mobile allows me to organize my life using one device rather than having to wear or carry all the physical items that I used to, a watch, a diary, a calendar, a map and so on. Checking my mobile is quite addictive, always wanting to be up-to-date with what is going on, to be reading the latest news, taking and sending information and images to friends, and using it for work. It can indeed be hard to not automatically click on my mobile when I hear/see the notifications, email alerts, etc. But as my career is related to communications and media relations, and I like to personally keep in touch with friends and family who live faraway, the pros of using a mobile device far outweigh the cons.I find my mobile and what I can use it for to be a blessing rather than a curse, as I can use my mobile device whenever, wherever and however I want.

Mobile Strategy and Psychology - Assignment B (Gary)

Personal Profile Summary

Average Smartphone Usage

I notice my mobile usage is very similar to the average listed at the on the Average Smartphone Usage by Pew Research Center’s Internet & American life Project back in 2011.

I like to leave me phone turned off at night, so my day begins with turning my phone on first thing in the morning and check the weather in preparation for the day. And then immediately after that, I check my 3 linked emails on my phone, 2 personal and 1 work-related, to see if there are any important emails I missed overnight and remove what I consider as “junk” out of my inboxes.  I’m fairly consistent with these 2 actions in the morning to a point it almost became automatic.

As I mentioned before, I have my work email setup on my phone and I can’t help it to look at it every time my phone vibrates for attention; for I receive quite a bit of email communication with my colleagues, clients, and suppliers daily. This then take up most of my usage on my mobile device. Another major area that I use my mobile device for is entertainment. Throughout the day, I jump in and out of my phone to check on Facebook and Instagram for status updates, as well as occasionally reply to text messages as they come in. I also take a few minute here and there to check on some the games that I installed and apps that prompts me with notifications. Reading on the feeds from the Flipboard App also is one of my daily routines. That goes on for the remaining of the day until I shut it off at night around 10:00pm.

Personal Assessment:

Although I don’t keep my phone on all day long, but I do feel like that I’m extremely attached to it when my phone is within my reach; especially with the work email connected to the phone. As a rough estimate, I would say I’m on my phone at least 20 minutes of any given hour, 90% of it would be work related and the rest (10%) goes to personal activities. The demand for attention to the work email was so overwhelmed to a point that even having time-off doesn't necessary steer me away from checking the work email. Apparently, I was not the only person who experience that. The article from iPass “MobileWorkforce Survey results: Section 2: To Connect or Disconnect?” shows that people stay connected to work even during their scheduled vacation time.

Do you connect to technology when on vacation for work or personal reasons?

Just to put everything in context, my mobile usage focuses mostly on email and messaging; communication related activities makes up most of my mobile usage. I like the idea of instant connection and I don’t have to delay my respond regardless of the content. Tracking my usage in one day does give me a “full picture” and help me realise how attached I am to it. It leads me to understand how much time I spent on work related item compare to my personal usage. I also notice that I rarely use my cell phone for buying and shopping purposes.

Just for fun though, it is hard not to compare what the actual statistic on messaging, and I found this image on “Toilet Texting”. Do I do that? (…maybe!?!)

Toilet Texting

With that being said, I'm a prime target for email marketing given the fact that I'm on that function all the time. I'm open to the idea and I don't feel bombarded because I'm always very careful to them, I do clear up my email all the time, things like unsubscribe to irrelevant or poorly design emails, keep the one that capture my attention and interest - things that are tailor to my need. My experience with email marketing is actually very similar to those who got interview by BlueHornet. here is their video for "Consumer Views of Email Marketing 2013: On-the-Street Interviews".

Consumer Views of Email Marketing 2013: On-the-Street Interviews

Finally, I think I'm too prominent to notifications on my phone. Every time the phone vibrate is like a “call-to-action” for me to pick it up, both mobile notifications and received emails. I’m just glad that I turn my phone off at night just to have a break from all of these notifications. But if you ask me, are you using your mobile too much, I don’t think my answer is a definite “Yes”; maybe because I’ve already gotten use to the way I use my mobile device and the amount of time I spent on it. I have never consider turning off all the notifications because I like to stay on-top with things, and have a timely response for both work-related and personal messages. 

Day 2 - Classroom is a wrap

Two days of learning in EXSM5513 has provided me with numerous tangible ideas to try and implement as part of projects underway at work and many others to consider with future projects. It has been an introduction to some tools to help put together analytics and research to consider when putting together a marketing plan. Although this is my first class, I think with review and further time to connect the dots I will have a greater understanding of Online Marketing.

Assignment B - Mobile Strategy and Psychology

Mobile devices have become an integral part of our daily lives and provide more than their 'non-smart' predecessors ever could, but at what cost? We hear about traffic accidents being caused by drivers who use them without a hands free device while driving but I would argue this is only a small sliver of their use in our daily lives. They do more good than bad when the bigger picture is taken into account.


I was recently travelling to Edmonton and decided to use this day as a “tracking and monitoring” day. It was more eventful than I imagined at first but having that smartphone at my side did help me get through all that happened and safely to my destination.

When I looked at the stats from my day it showed the following:

• I communicated with a total of 7 people throughout the day via my mobile device.
• There were a total of 8 occasions, or sessions, in which I responded or engaged in work related topics through the day.
• There were 17 sessions of engagement with family throughout the day. These involved several messages sent back and forth, as well as social media engagement.
• I did access some video via Facebook and You Tube on one occasion and did look at some photos in some posts.

In looking at the profile of mobile use for the day, is showed that outside of checking on details of the trip to Edmonton, it allowed me to tie up some loose ends before I departed, both for personal and work purposes. I was able to set up my day and part of the week ahead by touching base with others to ensure they weren’t stuck while I was gone. Co-workers knew that I would have a phone by my side even though I would be away at training and if something important came along they could call me.

Keeping in touch with friends and family is a very important part of having a mobile device for me and is the source of ‘joy’ I get from having it. Since purchasing a smartphone several years ago I certainly notice a great difference in my ability to keep track of what is going on in the lives of others via Facebook, Twitter, email, text, and BBM messages. While I do engage with them more often now, I find our communication by telephone happens less and it feels less personal than an old fashioned telephone call. Even though my smartphone plan includes free calls within Canada, many friends and family tend to use text messages because of their low cost and ease of use. Although my device is Skype enabled, the costs of data can be a deterrent for use if there is no WiFi connection available. (Graphic - Mobile Phone Usage - source:  dontgetcaught.biz | Pinterest)

Does this one-day snapshot of mobile device use give a true picture of how I normally use it? I would have to say the day outlined is busier than usual for me. I do work in an office setting during the week and most people either come and see me, send me an email or call my office number. My mobile device mainly comes into play when I am away and is used for short messages about non-work related topics or for urgent matters which usually come in the form of a telephone call.

Tracking my use on this busier than usual day was interesting and did show the value of having a device, particularly a smartphone, in keeping the wheels of life turning. There were a couple of occasions where I was conscious of others in using it. I turned the volume off while eating in the restaurant so I wouldn’t ruin the meals of others sitting nearby.

Perhaps tracking use on this day was a testament to how mobile devices can add to one’s productivity. It would be hard to argue that I didn’t get much use out of it. In fact, I was thinking use of Google maps on the way to the hotel helped my focus on the icy roads and less looking for road signs.

Would I go back to life without a smartphone after looking at this day? Even though I was one of those people who held out on the decision to purchase a smartphone until about five years ago now that I have one I don’t think I could go back. The personal and work value it provides me is worth the cost of having it.Can I go without using my mobile device? Absolutely! There are occasions on weekends when I limit the number of times I check my phone. Sometimes it only gets checked once, proving I am not yet “mobile addicted” but am well on my way down that path.

Reflective #Selfie

It has been an intensive two days with much learnt that hopefully I can put into practical use in the my work and personal life. I learnt to look much more closely at the various forms of mobile and online markerting that we are bombarded with on a daily basis, to figure out what works and what doesn't from the view-point of the seller/business/organization and the buyer/customer/viewer, and most importantly why.

Selfie day 2

I appreciated all the practical tips and best practices, especially on effective email campaigns. I can start applying this knowledge at my work immediately. Reviewing other companies' emails will help me to take a more critical look at the emails that I am sending. Thank you Jess!

Selfie Again

WOW! The last two days have been really intense and nerve-wracking! I haven't been a student for quite some time and have never blogged before so I've had a few stumbling blocks to overcome. However, I have learnt so very much and I have enjoyed and benefited from my fellow students' points of view and experience. I have also enjoyed the energy in class.

I am most looking forward to being able to put all the new knowledge into practice!

Jess, thanks for all of your patience, I truly appreciate it!