Lessons from The Art of Social Media

After reading the first few chapters of Guy Kawasaki’s “The Art of Social Media,” I realize I need to do a lot of profile building on my own accounts before I can start to focus on what matters. Managing a professional presence on a variety of platforms takes a lot of work. Kawasaki talks about how profiles are like resumes. I really like the analogy, because it pushes me to think about how my actions or lack of account management over the years could change the perceptions of people who encounter my page. Here’s some of the advice I think I’m going to take.

Profile pictures are extremely important. I need to update my current accounts with a more recent photo of myself. Each profile should have the same main picture so that the consistency of my media puts off a more competent image of my social networking capabilities. I should also increase the quality of the photos I use. The only decent camera I have access to is my iPhone, which doesn’t have the best quality as my model becomes more and more dated.  Dr. Aggie mentioned getting headshots last week in class so I could take that opportunity when it arises.

Part of college is figuring out who we are or at least what we want to represent. If I don’t communicate my goals effectively on social media, I could actually be a detriment to my success. If people look at a lackluster account, odds are that they will pass over any actual information I try to put out. I need to “tell my story” as Kawasaki says in chapter one. Bolstering a bio and becoming more active in my posts would be a good place to start.

Does anyone else have these issues? I think a big reason that I haven’t kept up with accounts is that I find it hard to manage everything. Last week we looked at a few sites that could help me restructure my presence online. Maybe it’s time for building.

The Future of Streaming Entertainment

The evolution of media platforms and technology as a whole are responsible for a shift in the ways people consume information. Today I’ll discuss my personal experiences with some of these modern methods and what I believe the future of these services could look like.

I primarily use YouTube as a means of getting news and entertainment. The combination of subscriptions and the variation of context is appealing to me. If I want to binge a web series or just check up on the events of the day, I don’t have to go very far. Ad blockers also push the website further than Hulu for example, which has the same ad frequency as television.

Netflix or HBO are much better alternatives. Access to tailored shows and the ability to watch at your own pace are much more appealing than paying for hundreds of channels that you’re never going to use (I’m looking at you, cable). Unfortunately, free services and mediums like the aforementioned are becoming more like the cable business model.

I started thinking about how prices have changed over the years and it’s almost as if companies are shifting the platform, but turning into the villains they claim to be better than. How long will it be before some of the same streaming services we know and love begin to offer “packages” like the golden days of Time Warner?

Let me be clear, I love some of these companies. It makes sense to charge more money for better content or offer free versions of a stripped down website to encourage more consumers to buy into useful extras. What troubles me is the path that this model can lead to if we’re not careful. The reason that these companies have been so successful compared to the now waning broadcasting networks is that no one wants to pay for things that they don’t use. As long as the shows are good, business will continue to grow. The second the status quo changes, the whole mission of streaming could be at risk.

What do you think? I wonder how much other people would pay for Netflix or HBO if the price went up.

 Maybe it doesn’t matter whether it cost 15 or 20 dollars a month to watch shows. Either way, I’m sure that customers will ultimately decide how far things go before another source of entertainment wins the day.

Starting on the Right Foot

The start of a new semester brings mixed emotions. First comes the thrill of getting out of the house and away from the routine of work, plaguing summer. Next, the realization classes are starting brings back the annual anxiety of homework and studying for those pesky quizzes. One of the greatest challenges any student can face though is finding the motivation to get the gears turning for a productive start to the school year. Here are a few tips to help you get moving in the right direction:

1. Stay organized.  This goes for work in class, dorm space and most importantly, in your head. Keep a planner updated with homework and section off classes so papers don’t have a chance of getting mixed up. If you keep your laundry folded and your living space clean, you eliminate an excuse to procrastinate. Above all, take baby steps each day towards goals. Working hard has more to do with how well you manage time instead of how much you can cram into one night.
2. Get involved.  Take time to join a club or a team. Try something unfamiliar; the more adventurous the better. Some of my best times in college have come from being a part of things I never thought I could do. You don’t see my social anxiety getting in the way of the events I host through the Student Planning Committee. I have a blast meeting new people and being weird (something my younger-self would dread). None of this would have happened if I stayed in my comfort zone.
3. Have fun.  Any student knows how overwhelming school can be. Try to have a good time when you can. See what’s going on around campus instead of sitting in your room on a Friday. There are always fun things to do, especially early in the semester. If there isn’t something you’re interested in, find a friend and get some food. They most likely need a break from studying too!

If these tips sound obvious, remember what it can be like to be drowning with work. That’s the time to take a deep breath and either hunker down for the storm or take a quick break before diving back in. As Dory always says, “Just keep swimming” until one day, you may just look back and miss the time you could have been living to the fullest.

Theta Chi's Rally in the Alley 8/24/2018