Vlog ’till you drop into practise: Creating your own vlog (2)

In my previous blog I mentioned a list of the benefits that vlogging contains and as promised, it is now time to put that into practise. That’s is why Group 17 of Business and Information Technology proudly present you: Martijn Goudbeek and his opinion about non-verbal communication and social media.

First let me introduce Martijn Goudbeek. He is an assistent professor at Tilburg University and his expertise lies in the field of emotions and non-verbal communication. We wanted to know what influence social media has on non-verbal communication. Is non-verbal communication still present online? And how has non-verbal communication changed over the years? You want to know the answer? Find out and start seeing this vlog!

The vlog is about non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication is always present, when shopping for groceries, going on a weekendtrip and even while chatting with your friends (want to know how? Please read further!). You use non-verbal communication unconsiously and there is more to draw from than from verbal communication. And even the decisions you made are probably based on non-verbal communication. Telling a lie for your own good? Be aware of the tone of your voice and your gestures, posture and facial expression, because otherwise you’ll ‘fall through the basket’.

I think non-verbal communication is fascinating, because you can’t even control it. You can play a role for a while, but eventually you will fail and everyone will notice. But the lesson I’ve learned today is just to remember: “If you are playing a role, for example at work, maybe this ain’t the right job for you, because eventually it will break you emotionally.” Stay close to yourself and everything will be fine.

The emotional cues in everyday life are visible and you can interpret them and anticipate on that, but in the digital era everything goes via the computer and social media. Can we express our emotions behind the computer screen? Goudbeek has the answer and will tell about that in this video.

Vlog ’till you drop; Creating your own Vlog (1)

This picture is from sparkplugging 

Probably a lot of you will know, but for the ones who doesn’t know what vlogging is: a vlog is the abbreviation of video blogging. And at this moment I think vlogging is much more powerful than blogging, because the visual view is more powerful than the written word. So businesses keep your eyes open and make a vlog to promote your company! Differentiate yourself by the rest by placing a movie on your website instead of writing such a boring press release, which is nothing more than a grey blur, nobody wants to read...You need to attract your visitors and show them you are accommodating the digital revolution and Vlogging is one way to do so!

When you look at a video blog you'll see someone gestures, you hear the tone of the voice and this is how you interpret what someone is saying and what he means by that. Therefore, in my opinion, the visual sight costs less energy to interpreted instead of the written words, because when you read something you have to read it, the things you have read must be translated in the brain and also interpreted in the right way (is the one who is writing this angry, happy, cynical etc.). After that transition you are able to anticipate on the things you have read about, unfortunately this costs effort. Besides, you can interpretate the same sentence in a different level than someone else does. So your brains perceives and interpret the written words differently than your neighbour does.

In fact, I think, the visual view is more universal and you can interpret a lot of non-verbal cues of information that aren't available when reading an article. When someone is angry, you’ll hear the anger in his voice together with seeing his facial expression (for example raising his eyebrow). There is no other way you can interpret the things he says based on his appearances.

Let me give you an example. For instance you want to be up-to-date about today’s news. You can read the written traditional newspaper, which will takes you hours to read it properly or you can watch the newsflash on television which takes you about a quarter of your time and after this you'll probably remind much more from the newsflash than from the newspaper. Because when reminding something, you think in visual chuncks which will helps you to link experiences to the things you have seen (visual support).

But there are some disadvantages about vlogging which makes vlogging less favourable. The disadvantage of vlogging is, in my opinion, the time it actually takes to make the vlog. You’ll probably write what is on your mind in a couple of minutes, but when vlogging you’ll have to transfer the information you want to tell in images. It is time consuming to first make an appointment with the one you want to interview, second make some covershots to keep the video versatile, diverse and attractive and third the most time consuming is editing the movie into something understandable for everyone but also express your view. And in the end, let’s face it, the pictures shown in nowadays videos moves smooth and fast and loads of covershots are recommended, because it is boring to watch to the same face for 5 minutes...over and over again.

In the early days people weren't that critical, they only had a few shots, which were combined together. In that time it was fun to see, but nowadays they do not meet the requirements of the viewer. We want everything to follow up fast...*bam*, *bam*, *bam* and another shot.

I am enthusiastic about vlogging, what about you? Time to put theory into practice!  For my next blog, my group and I are going to make a Vlog about social media and non-verbal communication. Did I just triggered your interest? Then I would like to say: stay tuned!

For now you’ll have to watch one of the first movies ever made! See you next week!

What do you prefer the most: the like-button or the +1-button?

Facebooks like-button is just a button that you need to press when you've read an article of your interest, to show the world you have read this. Personally I have never used the like-button before, but it seems to be needed to show everybody you’re still alive and kicking and that you are involved with everything that is happening on the internet. I think it is attention seeking. I really don’t see the use of sharing your content with friends on Facebook through the Like-button. When the user clicks the Like button on your site, a story appears in the user's friends' News Feed with a link back to your website. I can send them a link if I want them to read an article?

Although looking at the marketing process, I think it is really clever to install a like button beneath your article if you want to grab attention. As you all may have read previously, the Like-button played a prominent role in the marketing process, for example during the promotion of the new Oscar de la Renta perfume. Also the snowbal effect this button creates is major in several campaign like in the Love Life, Fight campaign. It stimulates the social networking process, because maybe people are not interested in the article about Cancer, but when some of your friends, the people you trust on opinions, values and taste, finds it an interesting article, you are more inclined to read it. You reach a lot of people and this kind of campaigning is still for free! As an organization you are robbing your wallet if you don’t use this type or social media as a campaign strategy.

Google is competing Facebooks like-button with the +1 button (plus one). Google says: “The +1 button is shorthand for "this is pretty cool" or "you should check this out." Click +1 to publicly give something your stamp of approval. Your +1's can help friends, contacts, and others on the web find the best stuff when they search. Sometimes it’s easier to find exactly what you’re looking for when someone you know already found it. Get recommendations for the things that interest you, right when you want them, in your search results.” Still this +1 button is still an experiment. Google has lauched the button first in America, but soon the button will be introduced in other countries. 

What do you think about this kind of buttons? Do you use Facebooks like-button and are you willing to use the +1 button?  My opinion is that the button is only useful seen from marketing perspective for creating your own publicity. But using these buttons for personal use? I don’t think so, I am not convinced yet, but maybe you can!

Fight Cancer marketing stunt “Love Life, Fight Cancer”

When promoting your business or campaign, how do you ensure your ad is seen more than 100.000 times on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or other social media? Especially when there is only a small budget (or even no budget)? 

The Fight Cancer Foundation certainly knew how to get attention in the recent months by manipulating social media to anounce their new “Love Life, Fight Cancer”-campaign by taking advantage of the success of the social networking sites. They must have thought: when there is no budget to launch the clip on national television, then we have to be creative by using YouTube, a free social media website, were we can broadcast our ads gratuitous.

They introduced their “Love Life, Fight Cancer”-advertisement on YouTube (the one minute video is attached to this blog, you can find the video below) and if they succeeded to get over 100.000 views, Dutch television channel SBS was prepared to broadcast Fight Cancer’s campaign on World Cancer Day for free.

Directly, Fight Cancer putted the public relations mill in motion to ensure the 100.000 views. The bet with SBS was on. Still, nowadays it is hard to lure 100.000 unique viewers to your page, because there is many information on the internet. It is hard to spread the message and also to get the attention of the viewers who needs to be prepared to visit your website.

According to public agency The Gardeners (who did the publicity of this campaign) Dutch digital newspapers such as telegraaf.nl and NRCnext.nl and also magazines were contacted to write something about the campaign. They wrote about the unique way of campaigning “Love Life, Fight Cancer” and the bet that was involved.

The next step was sending messages on Twitter and Facebook, to make the target group aware of the one minute video made by the Fight Cancer Foundation. This because twitter can make a significant contribution to a rapid buil-up area and its snowball effect would get activated. Tweets and retweets were rapidly distributed across the Netherlands. Dutch celebrities, like Georgina Verbaan, Sylvie van der Vaart and Jeroen van Koningsbrugge, also replied about the campaign on Twitter to watch the video on YouTube and finally the Dutch TV-show De Wereld Draait Door gave attention to this ad. It sounds like enough publicity to me to win the bet....

You probably all want to know if they goal of 100.000 views was reached in time. Unfortunately they didn’t, within an inch. But the fact is that the Fight Cancer Foundation  generated an enormous amount of publicity with this campaign. Although Fight Cancer didn't had 100.000 viewers, they still won the price because the Dutch television channel SBS was willing to broadcast the commercial on prime time for free to reward the thousands of people who supported this campaign.

Oscar de la Renta: Free fragrance samples via social media

More and more companies are exploring the possibilities that social media has to offer. Nowadays we know that Social Media is a handy tool for your company to promote your products and services. But how can social media be used to promote your company succesfully?

First of all, one of the most important things is to develop a catchy marketing strategy. Preferably something playful and radical that responds and takes advantage of the social networking trend that is now prevalent.

An example can be taken by the public relations manager behind the brand Oscar de la Renta. I think their campaing can be seen as one of the most interesting examples of social media marketing: Oscar de la Renta launched his first fragrance in ten years via social media site Facebook!

Thus, the designer tries to give his new perfume Esprit d'Oscar a boost of attention, which worked out well. But that’s not all, De la Renta also divided 5,000 samples to those Facebook users who 'likes' the Oscar de la Renta Facebook page. Meanwhile, the page has almost 145,000 followers.

With this playful action, Oscar de la Renta knows how to get attention for his brand, while taking advantage of the success of social networking sites such as youtube.com and twitter, which plays an increasingly important role in contemporary life, both business and private area. Let this be an example for us. Chapeau!

Social media is like snakes and ladders

Tilburg - Now these days, is it not surprising or original anymore; more companies use social media to advertise as it is cheaper. And also we are helping them to promote their brands. How? Just take a look at your own pictures placed on your social media site, do you see any product placement? No? Take a clear look, they are definitely present.

And this probably even happens unconsciously, for example think of a party on the hockey club or taking pictures of each other on a terrace in the summer. These videos and pictures contains a lot of differential brandnames without even knowing. An innocent picture can show clothingbrands, shoe-brands and also what type of soda or beer people are drinking. A short, simple movie, gives the big brands the opportunity to make commercials for free. 

It is unbelievable to see that so many brands are present on one single shot or even in a picture. My opinion is that the ordinary man helps companies to promote their brand, unconsciously.

Alterian, a social media monitoring company compares this to the Snakes and Ladder game, that you all probably well known. They think it is all about seeing and to be seen, and named online. Alterian have looked at the Social Media Reputation (SMR) of different brands, which examines how often a well known brand is called by the users of social media. Here is the top 50 brands in social media revealed.

Now this article made me start thinking: what is the benefit for companies to have money to spend on advertising in the time where YouTube and other major networks to produce free advertising? I am not so sure, what do you think about this? Tell me about it!

Let me introduce to you: Tommy Parker, artist and entrepreneur

Social media can be very useful to make yourself known to the world, just look at Esmee Denters. She was discovered by an American record label after she put video’s of her, singing populair songs on YouTube.com. Social media could also have benefits for the promotion of your company. But could it also have benefits for entrepreneurs? What do they think of social media and what are their underlying reasons to use them?

I asked Tommy Parker his opinion about social media. Tommy Parker is TV journalist, who also works as an artist. He sings, acts, directs and even had an interview with Mr. Bean, John Legend and Cameron Diaz.

Name: Tommy Parker

Social media since: 2005

Favorite social media: Facebook

1. Why did you start using social media?

"First, there was an absolute hype. I’ve never been someone who directly jumps and participate in a hype, but if anyone has it, then why not. I started my own YouTube and Hyves profile. In 2005 I did get my first television assignments and I’ve putted my first song on YouTube.com, but I wasn’t an artist at that particular moment nor was it clear what impact social media could have for artists. It just was a fun experience to put video’s on YouTube and to know what people thought about it. To be honest, it is about to see and to be seen. By using social media you can promote yourself to the rest of the world. I think that is social media’s big success, curiosity about others and share your information with anyone."

2. Why is social media so important for artists?

"Social media and the Internet is at this stage important, perhaps the most important for artists and performers. Now, you can show your work, video’s and music, to the rest of the world. Via Facebook you can be in touch with millions of people, and you can create a big scaled network with all people across the world. This wasn’t possible ten years ago. Yet, so many people put things on the internet it is hard to reach a large audience if you are not world famous."

3. What was your biggest social media benefit related to your work?

"Since social media I’ve contacted the last couple of years many talented people. It is nice to keep in touch with people who share mutual interest. Thanks to social media I’ve got in contact with a famous Dutch singer. She heard my songs and was blown away. Now, we are making plans for a duet. I also got in contact with Netherlands biggest casting director. We got along so well, that I am going to be represented by that office for film, theater and television work. Furthermore by social media I like to show the people what I do for a living. By getting responses I can improve myself, even if they are negative."

4. How dependent is an artist of social media?

"With social media artists can create a bond with their fans to keep them close. I am not a big fan of (Dutch) artists who describe every second of their day on Twitter. Like: “I am eating chocolate” or “I went to the store, but I forgot some cookies, I’ll have to go back..”. Maybe that is typical Dutch, because I haven’t seen this yet by the international artists. I think it is nice to place a private photo of yourself or a message on social media occasionally, to attract visitors to go to your site. But that is all, it must be related with work. However, I think that artists nowadays are dependent of social media and its effects. I believe that almost every artist agree with me and have their own social media website to promote themselves."

See below: music video clip with Melody Klaver and Mike Weerts directed by Tommy

For more Tommy Parker look at: http://www.tommy-parker.com/website/ or

http://www.youtube.com/tomstarnl