You can find the rubric for the assignment here.
Remember too to include references to what you've read leading up to this face-to-face session. Just below this video is the list of readings you did for this module.
Readings / Resources
Finding Electronic Articles from U of A Extension on Vimeo.
| 1. | Weblink | Kuta, H. (n.d.). Exploring the Pros and Cons of Twitter in Real-Time Events. Retrieved from http://blogs.adobe.com/socialpractice/exploring-the-pros-and-cons-of-twitter-in-real-time-events/ |
| 2. | Weblink: | Commoncraft. (n.d). Twitter Search in Plain English. (Video file). Retrieved from http://www.commoncraft.com/video/twitter-search |
| 3. | Weblink: | Bruns, A., & Stieglitz, S. (2012). Quantitative approaches to comparing communication patterns on twitter. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 30(3-4), 160-185. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2012.744249 (you might find it easier to just search the university library for the title of this article) |
| 4. | Weblink: | Doctor, V. (2013). How to ride on already popular hashtags without turning people off. Retrieved from http://www.hashtags.org/how-to/etiquette-how-to/how-to-ride-on-already-popular-hashtags-without-turning-people-off/ |
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ReplyDeleteFindings for #SM:
ReplyDelete1. I see a few of the #ESMC students have used the #SM hashtag
2. There are a lot of posts about social media tips and tricks
3. More than half of the posts have a link, many are shortened by the bitly.com website
4. Only a few of the posts have photos, mostly graphs or extra information to add to the post
Looking at the 20 most recent tweets with the #SM hashtag, I noted a few interesting observations. 9/20 of the posts (almost 50%) included images, which demonstrates that Twitter users are aware that pictures lead to a higher chance of engagement. Similarly, 9/20 posts were in languages other than English, indidcating that the topic of social media is one that is considered all around the world. Most of the tweets were posted by individuals, although many of them were sharing news (related to Apple unveiling new products, a story on the FBI etc.) as well as content marketing trends. This community is obviously interacting with one another, because several of the posts were RTs of the other ones (trending topics). Links to other sources included an infographic, and a few articles.
ReplyDeleteIf you fish through the unfortunate S&M tweets on the #SM hashtag, you'll find that Apple is in the news lately (aren't they always?). Many seem to be posting updates to OS X and iOS updates using the #SM hashtag and posting images and links to articles from tech blogs about the developments. Seems weird to me to attach the #SM hashtag. Of course, Apple was a huge initial driver of the ubiquity of social media, but at this point they're not doing much to grow or develop it further on their current deveices, and their OS updates don't focus on social media much at all. However, some of these recent tweets are coming from web developers, and with Apple announcing that their dev kit for the iWatch is coming out in November, app developers are likely wrestling with how best to bring social media to our wrists. Ahh, the future.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a tendency to use #SM to increase visibility of completely unrelated images in English posts. I switched to view the top tweets rather than all, because I was noticing a lot of non-English posts & some images that were "adult content". Unfortunate cross-linkage of other definitions of SM. Also Spanish seismology posts were trending as well with their definition of #SM (seismologia mundial).
ReplyDeleteI’m having difficulty seeing any trends beyond marketing. Most of the related content was from #ESMC students! Other marketing “experts” selling social media related products featured heavily.
A lot of links to other sources – 75% feature links. Only a number featured. images (approximately 25%), although image links featured more prominently in the unrelated Anime & adult posts, which I did not open!
I was surprised to see a recruitment ad for the Kurdistan army, but this validates what I have heard in traditional media sources about social media being used as a recruitment tool or the “other battlefield” in modern insurgencies. See this link on CNN regarding the trend: http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/17/tech/social-media/iraq-crisis-isis-social-media/
#Hashtag Activity
ReplyDeleteWho is tweeting? People who are engaged in learning and educating on social media (#SM) platforms. There are a few people from this class using this hashtag. I also noticed @Tweetsmarter who has a large following is using the hashtag.
Re-occurring trends? Trends for this hashtag are people educating others on how to use your platform more effectively.
Are there citations to other sources? Yes I see citations and links to blogs and websites that have educational content.
Do many tweets include images? No I don't find many pictures. Could possibly be the demographics searching this hashags are not looking at pictures and are more interested in content.
We are flooding the Tweeter feed with #SM! #ESMC domination!
DeleteInteresting mix of re-occuring topics such as Apple announcements, HBO unbundling from cable, and references to what I assume is anime and/or porn. Links to articles on these topics (from Mashable, GIAGOM regarding Apple & HBO), a photo of the NSFW anime. It's interesting how some links to external articles include images from the articles and some do not. The tweets come from a variety of accounts (@SuccesfulEndvrs, @BlkPhoenix66 seem to just retweet and push content with little engagement). Some are in characters but tagged with #SM. I don't see anything trending which is surprising, as I assumed the Apple tweets would have contained #AppleEvent as it is trending.
ReplyDeleteSearching the #SM led me to notice a few interesting insights.
ReplyDelete1. I noticed that the people tweeting were from all over the world and most likely to be marketing people.
2. The trend seemed to be sharing ideas and articles about how to be better at tweeting and creating good content.
3. There were several posters who had citations and links to articles and pages in their tweets. I noticed most of them had been shortened.
4. Once I clicked the tab for "All" tweets for #SM, there were a number of images that appeared in the feed. The content of these pictures were of no particular theme and ranged from fashion to memes.
Although the majority of posts I saw directly related to social media (Snapchat, web design), there were a few 'extra' posts that had no relation to social media at all. Some tweets with the #SM hashtag were in another language, others (unfortunately) related to anime porn.
ReplyDeleteThe 'tweeters' were very diverse. They included: a business consultant (Shelton Ivey), who tweets out social media articles, a web designer (Alinda for now) who tweets about current events, and a number of teenagers from Japan who are tweeting anime photos.
Trending topics included: Apple's unveil of the iOS 8.1, a recent announcement about HBO, and an article related to content marketing trends in 2015.
Most of the posts had links/citations to other sources but only a few of them had mentions. I estimate that 80% of the posts had links to an article, image, or video.
Overall, there doesn't seem to be consistency in the usage of #SM. The hashtag appears to be tweeted for a number of topics, around the world. As result, it's difficult to 'hone in' on the content that would be relevant to someone who is only interested in social media content.
I searched #SM last night. I generated all the tweets that have used this hashtag. The tweets are organized by most recent time stamp. I know searching by hashtag helps filter and aggregate providing the most “up-to-date” material on the subject matter requested. What is surprising are the tweets on seismological updates linking back to the U.S. Geological Survey, but the company’s name is Sismologia Mundial.
ReplyDeleteThere are few Twitter users that dominate the feed @GaryHyman, @TweetSmarter and @BradBennett. They appear to be experts in the field of Social Media: “broadcasters.” They also go by “powertweeters”; aside from their large followings (over 1000 followers), their postings are original and frequent. The tweets are also catchy, short, not saturated with too many hashtags, and provide links to original content or interesting curated material relevant to the audience. For instance @GaryHyman’s link take you directly to his blog. The tweets are crafted to be easily retweetable and shared.
There are recurring topics about social media, marketing and advertising. Mostly, there are tips and tricks on social media. They offer free yet unsolicited advice on social media: how it to use it, what it is, why you would want to use it are just a few questions they offer to answer. The tweets are great for amateurs or seasoned professionals that want to keep on top of trends or new material about social channels. It’s also interesting to see people talking about the "“same topic internationally.”
There are many links to other sources. @TweetSmarter is good example of a brand that’s showcasing its ability to provide excellent resources to all those interested in the #SM hashtag. They see the value in using the hashtag on Tweeter; they “target thousands of users in a short amount of time and having the ability to communicate directly with customers.” After they capture the reader’s attention with the tweet with the hashtag, they offer more value with the link.
In the first few 10-20 tweets on the feed are mostly links to other articles on social media. There is a focus on sharing information. The ledes are focused, clear and interesting with just the right amount of hashtag usage. They definitely provide relevant material that targets their audience.
Aside from all the adult content... when I click "Top" this is what I notice:
ReplyDeleteWho is tweeting - I have noticed there are a couple of common names - Brad Bennett, Carly Ekstein, Gary Hyman. I think these are people who call themselves experts and even though they may work for a company, they use a personal profile for tweeting. There are also some companies. They seem to just be throwing out alot of posts and links to their own websites in many cases. Most of the tweets do not include added opinions.
There are some people "riding" the #sm. There are many posts with adult content using the same hashtag.
Are there any re-occuring (trending) topics - Not any noticable re-occuring themes. Most posts just seem to be links to other pages discussing some sort of sm practice. It's a little jumbled!
Are the citations/links - Many links to other sources. Citations to other sites don't seem very prevalent. I found one post that links to an article in Harvard Business Review but the post did not actually say this in the tweet. I believe linking to a credible website/source gives your post more credibility and I personally would be more likely to click on a post that mentions the source.
Tweets links to images or video - some of the tweets lead to infographics but I don't see many videos or images. Most posts seem to link to a website.
For this assignment I see a few people that seem to be at the same social media conference. Unfortunately all of their links go do dead pages. I also see a lot of "gurus", "experts" and "strategists" in social media. #SM seems like a hashtag for people selling "how to" info for social media. I'm also seeing a lot of S and M type spam from Japanese bots. Most of the social media tweets have links to different top 5, 10 or 21 lists of "best practice" advice about social media. Surprisingly, very few of the tweets include photos and none have videos (with the exception of the S and M tweets. I feel like I need to sanitize my eyes).
ReplyDeleteI've found that quite a few of the #SM Tweets have a great photo, but nearly all of them have a link. They link to articles, courses being offered, and ads for marketing services. The Tweets are posted by Marketing Consultants, Content Marketers, B2B Marketers, and SEO Specialists from companies and individuals; it seems to be a universally used hashtag, and not just in English. The recurring topic I came across is, are you reaching your audience correctly? The how, what, and where to reach them is all available by professionals sharing their knowledge and the places to go to get it.
ReplyDelete#Hashtag Activity
ReplyDeleteAfter some research on Twitter I found numerous individuals and organizations that offer help and support for twitter and preparing tweets. Examples of hashtags are #tweetsmarter and #twitter tips.
I found a Real Estate Investor offering training advice on how to incorporate #socialmedia into a sales and marketing strategy and many hashtags and links to sites that provide information on “Being effective on Social Media”.
I am positive as I dig deeper into the “Twitter” realm, it will be no different than any other social media platform, where some of the “top” tweets in a search are paid for tweets used for advertising and when you go to a link, web pages offering products and services that you can purchase is the goal.
The re-occurrence, and popularity of tweets which brings these to the top of a search are not necessarily about relationships and sharing, it’s more about frequency with hollow content.
The #SM stream is full of users from different backgrounds. There are individuals who are simply just curious about Social Media linking the hashtag to other individuals sources or their own blogs. There are individuals who are selling a service by linking to outside sources such as downloads and other webpages to promote a product. There are also company pages that are using the hashtag to connect with users interested in Social Media by providing interesting web content on the matter and also selling their service or product. These individuals you will find in the #SM "top" stream.
ReplyDeleteBut if you switch to the #SM "all" stream most of the users tweets have nothing to do with Social Media, they are spammers. They are using the hashtag to create spam and get their tweet viewed by as many users as possible. Unfortunately, this is the majority.
If we use the #SM "all" results there is nothing really trending at all. It is a bunch of tweets coming from sources all over the place trying to get your attention. But if we filter it by "top" tweets Social Media is obviously trending, as well as Twitter and our #ESMC.
Almost all of the Twitter posts (besides our classes posts which seemed to have taken over the "top" stream - haha) have links to other sources both in the "all" and "top" streams.
Almost all of the tweets in the "all" stream contain links to videos and photos because as "spammers" these tweeters know that images and videos get more retweets. However, in the "top" stream you will find more tweets without photos and videos. These tweets are more focused on sharing ideas and thoughts then trying to get retweeted.
I did a fast research on the last 50 tweets about #SM, and I found the following:
ReplyDelete-Who is tweeting: Individuals and companies are tweeting about Social Media. 34% People with original tweets and 24% companies with original tweets (58% of these companies are Agencies or marketing companies). And 42% are just RT.
- Re-occurring trending topics?: Yes, there are. The most re-occurring trending topics are: How #SM is transforming the world 4%
Learning about #SM 16%
#SM trends 4%
#SM tools 5%
People talking about new products and launches: 55%
Politics 5%
Artist or events 2%
Other topics: 9%
Here we can deducted that Tweeter is a strong tool for brands and companies.
-Are there citations, links to other sources? Yes, the 85% of the tweets have links from and to other sources and links.
-Do many tweets include links to image or videos? Yes, but only 5% of the tweets that I analized have pictures. But I noticed that these tweets tend to be more commented and shared.
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ReplyDelete#SM Twitter Search
ReplyDeleteI noted that most of the tweets included a link to a website or article, there was one tweet in particular that I found very interesting. "Research shows that <100 characters gets +18% more engagement" I found this to be very interesting,however it did not link to any website verifying the research, so I was immediately suspicious about the value of the tweet. This shows me that I'll need to link tweets to verifiable sources.
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ReplyDeleteWow, the 20 most recent tweet using the #SM hashtag revealed a plethora of content that I was not expecting. Numerous tweets non-relevant to social media, often in languages other than English, and a great deal of 'adult' content. "Fail of witches", who knew?! I digress.
ReplyDeleteSo what did I notice?
Once you weed through the spam you find that the tweets are coming from Marketing and/or Social Media professionals, mostly individuals. If you do a deeper dive into their profiles some are likely to be “bots” based on the sheer number of tweets they send and the lack of followers. Advice = steer clear. Many classmates have used the #SM hashtag is well, and those that use it correctly are mainly disseminating information and tips and tricks for the benefit of other #SM nerds – like me! Apple, HBO and Snapchat were featured quite frequently, though I am not sure in this particular list I would classify them as “trending”.
Linkage – yes, I would say that the vast majority of these #SM tweets have included links. Some work, some don’t and some you wish didn’t! Photos were also a very popular tool used for attracting re-tweets and favoritism amongst followers.
Overall I would not likely recommend following the #SM if you are looking for valuable social media content and relevant people to follow. You are much better off to search #ESMC and follow the likes of @JessL and my fellow students!
What I noticed is that anyone and everyone was using the #SM hashtag. There were tweets about relevant content, such as social media webinars and marketing, but also tweets that had anime porn! My poor eyes. I did see quite a lot of tweets that included the hashtag #tweetsmarter, which appeared to be used by a group of people discussing the same webinar. There were some links, which were mostly shortened, but surprisingly very few images, other than the freaky cartoon. I think some people are just jumping on the bandwagon and using the #SM to get others to notice their tweets. Bad Twitter etiquette indeed!
ReplyDeleteChecking the #SM I found out that the RECURRING TOPICS are relationated with Social Media, of course. However, some sport event was happening during my research and some people was using the same hashtag to support an specific team. As the article "3 keys hashtags strategy" says "the more specific you can get with your hashtag, the more targeted your audience will be", which means more connection, more engagement. So we need to use specific hashtags to be more effectives.
ReplyDeletePeople WHO WERE TWEETING more #SM were specially Social Media experts, Social Media researchers, Twitter experts, Social Media coach, which means a specific online community.
About LINK TO OTHER SOURCES, most of them had links, specially addressed to blogs or websites to expand the information. This is really important because, as John Rampton says in his article we need to "Provide a Benefit to Your Audience". The link could add value to your tweets and also connect your social media platforms which is a good strategy for a good social media plan.
Finally, the most of TWEETS HAD INCLUDED IMAGES, which make tweets be more attractive and arouses the interests of the followers.
Related links:
http://blog.wishpond.com/post/62253333766/3-key-hashtag-strategies-how-to-market-your-business
http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnrampton/2014/09/29/25-ways-to-grow-your-social-media-presence/