Social Media Tools

The three Social Media Tools I chose to use are Twitter, LinkedIn, and a Blog. Here are the links for each site:

• Twitter: twitter.com (my twitter handle is @Eve210)

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com (find me under Desiree Torres)

• Blog: http://newmediainmymind.blogspot.com  

Out of all of the social media tools listed on the aids.gov website, I believe the following are the best ones to reach audiences most effectively: blogs, mobile, photo sharing sites, podcasts, social network sites, text messaging, twitter, and video sharing sites. Each of these engines can be very successful in reaching the masses because of the speed, accessibility, and simplicity of each tool. Think about it…all of these tools can be created, edited, and used on your smart phone which means a person can have access to the community with one simple device. As with any media site, people need followers and or a group of people with whom they can reach out to and share their tweets, videos, and photos; however, all it really takes is a small group of people to share your information with their friends and families. If the material you want to share is interesting and eye-catching enough, more and more people will share it with their circle of contacts.

I think each tool can be used differently depending on what type of audience you are trying to connect with. For example, I use my Twitter account solely for current events. By signing onto Twitter, I’m able to get updates on my favorite magazines and celebrities, while also staying up-to-date with the happenings of the world through CNN, USA Today, and President Obama’s administration. While completing this assignment, I wondered why on the aids.gov website, Twitter isn’t considered a ‘social networking site’. It’s similar to Facebook in that a person can post their status and people can choose to respond and follow them. I wonder who defines ‘social media’ and if I’m alone in my thinking about Twitter. My LinkedIn account is used for professional reasons. I have over 100 legitimate business connections. These contacts were made through years of managing volunteers, collaborating with co-workers, and building a reliable reputation throughout my career. I truly think a site such as LinkedIn can help people who are trying to relocate to a new state and need to find work or even if they are simply going into a new career where they currently reside. Remember, the more people you know in different professional fields, the better access you can have within these fields. Obviously a person would need the knowledge and experience to get the job they seek, but knowing someone in a company may allow you to get your foot in the door for an opportunity you may not have normally had.

As far as blogging, I’m still very new to it. I only created a blog for this class and I’ve really enjoyed sharing my opinion with others. Will I continue to blog once this class is over? I’m not sure. I’ve never thought of myself as very creative, so I honestly wouldn’t know what to blog about. On the other hand, if you are a person with a lot of knowledge about different hobbies or information you want to share, then blogging is the way to go. I think it’s a very comfortable and informal way to share your thoughts and opinions without crossing over too many professional boundaries. If a person has a blog that others don’t agree with, it’s okay because people who don’t agree do not have to read the blog in question. However, at least the blogger has an outlet to get their thoughts and ideas out there. Sometimes it’s just want a person needs. Either way, all three of the social media tools I use are a great way to get a message across to many people at one time. This definitely beats the old days of having to write individual letters to friends and family. Now, one post/status update says it all!