Websites that Work

During the final few months of New Media, we were each asked to construct a blog post, to which each of our classmates would respond with their opinions. The topic I chose was websites, including the ways in which they work for us, and the criteria that must be met for them to be successful. This is the blog post I created:

Websites are an interesting and incredibly useful tool in the world of technology. They can be utilized for a large number of things, pertaining to almost any topic imaginable. They can be created to feature news about a local band, to teach people how to cook or repair their car, to follow the life and works of a celebrity, to keep people up to date with the world around them, or even to warn the world of the ever-so-dangerous dihydrogen monoxide. Websites use various types of media to express news, opinions, and facts in a creative and interesting way. Not only do websites present useful (or sometimes pointless) information to the people visiting them, but they often do this in a way that encourages audience interaction and participation. Many websites feature links which visitors can click to view more or different information, videos and images for visitors to view, a place for feedback and comments, and a place for visitors to submit their own content. Some websites even allow for users to edit the content and adjust the look of the website for their own viewing pleasure.

Websites have become increasingly easy to access, and even own, as technology races forward. It is safe to say, in today's world, that we all use and/or view websites on a daily basis. In fact, it is hard not to. From the Saint Rose website and Blackboard to online banking and shopping, much of our daily routine is ingrained into the world wide web, which results in a inevitable connection to the internet. A good portion of our leisure time is often spent on websites as well. Many people spend their free time reading the updates on news websites, listening to music on a band fan page, or checking the scores of the most recent game on the ESPN website. Because of this connection to websites and the internet, most of us probably have a favorite site that we visit on a fairly regular basis. No matter what the topic might be, our favorite websites all have one thing in common: something that keeps us coming back for more.

If possible, please come up with a specific example of a "website that works" and share the link below. What exactly is it about this website that holds your interest and keeps you coming back for more? Is it the content? Are their any key elements, such as pictures, music, links, etc., that make it interesting? Or does the overall success of a website depend on something else entirely? What do you feel are the essential elements that a successful website must have, if any?

Engaging Fan Pages

A few months ago in  New Media we were discussing fan pages and the effectiveness of Facebook in gaining a following for a certain band, celebrity, organization, etc,. Our assignment was to "Post an example here of an effective Facebook Fan page: it doesn't matter if it's for a business, televisions series, celebrity or whatever. Choose one that you think is effective and explain *why* it is? How do they engage with those who "like" their page? How do they try to win the good opinion of their community? Think of Jenkins' discussions of investment in a shared community: in what ways do these fan pages seek to develop the relationships?"

One of the fan pages I believe is very effective is the page for the band Evanescence. The page is organized and breaks things down easily, rather than having a confusing layout. One of my favorite parts about this page is that it features a discussion board section, similar to this one. This allows for fans to talk about their favorite songs, vote on certain questions, and get to know other fans of the band. Fans can also start their own thread of the discussion boards, where they can ask what people think about a certain song or just share their love of the band with other people. There is a place on the page for news regarding upcoming music and touring information, although the band is not currently on tour. The main information page features links to the Evanescence website, their Twitter and Myspace, the artist page, and a merchandise website. Another one of the aspects of this fan page that I find effective is the fact that it allows you to listen to band's music right through the Facebook page. It also includes a page for photos and videos as well. This page definitely seeks to develop a relationship with those who like it. By providing a place where Evanescence fans can go to talk about the music or the band members, they are allowing for those involved to feel a stronger sense of contribution and to feel as though they have a say in something involving the band. The Evanescence fan page is definitely successful in being engaging and holding the attention of its fans.

Podcast

About a month ago in New Media, we were asked to make a podcast about something we are interested in or have opinions about. Due to our group not being able to think of something we all wanted to talk about, we decided to make an informative podcast about squirrels.



Squirrels by ENG 252 New Media

Twitter

 This week in New Media, we have been discussing Twitter and its role in social media. I am extremely new to Twitter, so this week's blog post was interesting for me. It reads 'Mashable.com offers a shocking statistic. Only 7% of Americans are on twitter; while half of Americans are on Facebook. With the recent protests in Egypt and the unrest in Libya, social media sites including Twitter have gained a lot of global attention. How are the numbers for the up and coming social media site Twitter so low? I found this to be shocking. Why do you think Facebook is a lot more successful than Twitter? Are you on Twitter? If you are, how would you describe Twitter to someone who doesn't use it? What is your purpose on Twitter? Who do you follow? and How often do you tweet? If you are not on Twitter, what has kept you from joining? Has the recent media attention made you consider joining Twitter? What do you think the purpose of Twitter is? Or are you confused about the purpose behind it?'

I feel that Facebook is more effective and popular as a form of social media because it gives users more options. On Twitter, you have the option to follow people, create a tweet with less than 160 characters, and re-tweet something that another person posted. On Facebook, you have the option to upload photos and videos and store them in an album, talk to your friends directly instead of through tagged posts, create notes if you have something to say that is more than 160 characters, display more personal information, and 'like' certain movies, people, groups, books, and music. From what I have experienced, this makes Facebook much more user friendly, and it appeals to a variety of people. Rather than appealing to only the people who wish to communicate in a limited number of characters, Facebook gives its users access to new media in a multitude of different ways.

I actually just started a Twitter account last week, and so far I am indifferent about the whole thing. I do like being able to see what my favorite celebrities and public figures have to say, and being updated on the news is a nice bonus. But at the same time, I find myself having a hard time keeping up with it. Most of the time I feel like I have nothing noteworthy, or even remotely important, to say. So far I have not tweeted more than five or six times, and I only follow about five people. I would say that the purpose of Twitter is to briefly interact with people who share your interests, as well as to keep updated with what's going on in the world. And to be honest, I would probably have a hard time explaining Twitter to someone who is unfamiliar with it, as I am still relatively unfamiliar with it myself.

New Thoreaus?

During the next few weeks of New Media we started discussing social media and networking sites, such as Facebook. The following questions were raised: Do you consciously unplug from the digital world? Would you benefit from being forced to do so? Is this just a gimmick like pretending to live in the past, or are we really "addicted" to our gadgets and instantaneous feedback?

   While I do not consciously unplug from the digital world, I think I would benefit greatly from doing so. I also do believe that people can be addicted to Facebook and other social networking websites. And unfortunately, it is incredibly easy to develop these addictions.
   I have to confess, I used to be addicted to Facebook. I was constantly online, whether I was talking to someone, looking back at my friends' pictures, or just reading through the news feed. And since I have the iPhone, I would constantly be refreshing the Facebook app even after I logged off of my computer. It took something important to get me to put my phone down and give it a rest. Fortunately, I now only use Facebook to keep in contact with family and friends, and have greatly reduced my time online. My most recent addiction, however, is Tumblr. Tumblr is a micro-blogging website which connects bloggers from all over the world. My favorite part about this site is that the feedback is instantaneous and most blogs are updated far more frequently than Facebook. There is always something interesting to read, look at, or watch on Tumblr. Currently, I have a hard time going one day without logging on, even if it is only to read what's new.
   The times where I am forced to unplug from the digital world, such as when my the battery on my phone dies or my laptop needs to be charged, are difficult. But they are probably the times in which I accomplish the most. Unless my phone is dead and my laptop can't be used, it takes me far longer to do homework assignments or papers than it should. I have been trying to get myself to take one day each week and stay off of the computer and the internet on my phone, but it has yet to happen. Part of this is because of the emphasis we place on technology, especially in the college community. Most of the things I need to do for my classes are posted online, such as assignments, the syllabus, quizzes, readings, and discussion boards. My downfall is that once I get online, it is usually hard for me to restrain the urge to check Tumblr or Facebook. And as much as I love being able to log online and see something new every few seconds, I would really love to break free of these habits soon.

What Makes for an Effective Blog?

During the first few weeks of Writing for New Media we discussed blogging and what makes for an effective blog. Our first blog assignment was to find an example of a blog we would consider "effective" and to talk about what that meant to us.

 

   In preparation for today's class, I brought the links to a few blogs that I read regularly. In our discussion, I realized that the blogs I had chosen were almost nothing like the blogs we viewed in class. They are more of personal blogs, and therefore are less focused on publicity and more focused on the writing and pictures on the blog.
   The first blog I would recommend is PostSecret. PostSecret is a blog run by Frank Warren that features, as one would imagine, postcards. These postcards are sent in by people wishing to share a secret anonymously through the web. Those interested write their secret on a creatively designed postcard, which is then mailed to Warren and, more often than not, added to the blog. PostSecret has also published books, which feature many of the secrets that are not published online. I chose this blog simply because I love the idea of it. The concept that someone can get something off their chest while still remaining anonymous, yet people all over the word can see it, is something that fascinates me. Personally, I have yet to submit to PostSecret, but I plan to in the future. PostSecret's only official author is Frank Warren, as the postcards are sent in by various people from all over the world. The blog is updated every Sunday night, and unfortunately the last week's postcards are not visible after the following Sunday. The visual layout of PostSecret is appealing because most of the postcards featured on the blog are vibrant or feature pictures that would capture the reader's attention. PostSecret really only offers links to their Facebook page, as well as the events they are hosting around the world. Currently, the PostSecret exhibit is set up in the Performing Arts building of the UAlbany campus. Frank Warren will be at the college talking about the postcards and his creation in early February. I would definitely recommend checking out PostSecret and possible going to the event in February!