Viral Videos

So let’s talk about viral videos, wooohooo! A fun and interesting topic in which pretty much everyone (including your grandma) has taken part in at what time or another, and that’s what makes viral videos so fascinating. People enjoy sharing videos with others that they think others will enjoy, and thus we create the viral video. When something goes “viral” the content is “famous” so to speak. People know about it, it’s everywhere and people want other people to see it because they think they'll enjoy it too. There is a ton of research out there that has looked into what makes a video viral. These 8 common traits I found according this article, however seem to be the most universal reasons I could find:

Common traits of viral videos

1.Extremely funny (i.e. Rebecca Black- “Friday”) 

2.Something we can all relate to (i.e. Shiz nobody says)

3.Exposing the truth (i.e. Dove “Real Beauty” Campaign)

 4. Emotional (i.e.Dear 16 year--old me)

 

5. Completely unexpected (i.e. Man with the Golden Voice)

  6. Something you've never seen before (i.e. OK Go- Treadmill music video)

7. Interactive (i.e. Zombie Attack)

8. Right place right time (i.e. David after Dentist)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs

Now the big question is, is it possible to PLAN for a viral video? The majority of the above videos just happened and therefore they became viral spontaneously, however according to this article the author states, “...It can be said that if the product or service is good enough and is relevant for the market, it is possible to plan a successful viral campaign if we as marketers are willing to apply our minds in leveraging the power of online social media.”

I think when a viral video is unplanned or unexpected, that is when the best videos are made. However, a viral campaign can be put together if it has any of the 8 characteristics that makes a viral video viral and as the article states, it’s “good enough” for the targeted market.

And just for fun here is one my favorite viral videos:

 Enjoy!

Applebee's Crisis

The Applebee’s crisis…. What a mess and what to say about it?? Well for starters, we’ve all heard the story that went viral. A waitress was left a note on her receipt by a customer because the customer felt it was unjust that there was an automatic gratuity put in her check. She stated, “I give God 10% why do you get 18?” and didn’t leave a tip. A fellow waitress took a picture of the receipt signed by the customer and posted it on to Reddit, which then went viral, and the waitress was then fired from Applebee’s on account of violating customer privacy.

So why is this a big deal?? Well it’s a huge deal from several standpoints and the point I’m going to take is from a public relations view. First of all Applebee’s had to release a public statement which they did on their Facebook page to try and put a band aid on the issue letting people know that the person who posted the receipt received disciplinary action for it. However, after firing the waitress Applebee’s received harsh criticism for doing so. 

While Applebee’s was posting on Facebook, however the person controlling their page was arguing with fellow users in the middle of the night via several comments and posts on the issue. This made Applebee’s look unprofessional but more than that, it was horrible crisis management for trying to avoid making a bad situation worse.

And additionally although this waitress was fired for abusing Applebee’s customer privacy policy a similar receipt had been posted on their page of a positive message from a customer with their signed name. This also violated customer privacy and yet, the person who posted it wasn’t fired for it, once again putting Applebee’s under fire for the double standard they had set.

According to an article written on ragan.com this reporter states 6 steps that should have been taken to avoid Applebee’s major public relations crisis.

1. Have a communications expert on speed dial.
2. Think before you react. This is emotional. It's hard to be objective, but don't let your emotions take control.
3. If you hold a position on something (e.g. "it's against our policy to post a guest's name") and you're proven wrong ("when it's good feedback, it's OK to post his name"), reassess your position.
4. Empower people to communicate via social networks, but have a strict policy when it comes to a crisis. There is no reason on Earth this Applebee's person should have been posting in the middle of the night, tagging people, and arguing with them. Yes, crisis control said a team had to work the weekend, but not in this manner.
5. Remember, two little words go a long way: "I'm sorry." Use them and mean it when you say it.
6. Did I mention you should have a communications expert on speed dial?

It would have been in Applebee’s best interest to reassess the way they handled the situation, especially from a worker’s standpoint. Yes, it’s important to make the customer happy, but at what cost and at what risk? Applebee’s enraged more people because the situation was not handled how it should have been and they will have to suffer the consequences because of it.

http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/6_steps_Applebees_should_have_taken_to_manage_its_46171.aspx#

http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/Applebees_CEO_weighs_in_on_PR_crisis_over_receipt_13738.aspx#

Blogging

I recently read a couple of blogs that dealt with blogging and how people should manage and create their blogs. Mommcomm.com is a blog completely devoted to critiquing other people’s blogs with tips and tricks on how to get more viewers. Mommcomm is specifically geared toward women bloggers however and they must fit a certain criteria. If one wants to receive criticism from Mommcomm you must have a blog with more than 10 posts, and you must comment on Mommcomm’s blog continuously.

The other blog is more of an informational blog with the basics of blogging, how to create them and how to make your blog effective. This blog gave 5 basic tips for critiquing your own blog. These 5 tips included:

1.What is your blog about?

2. Do your colors match what your blog is about?
3. Are your social media profile buttons easy to find?

4. Is your “About” page doing it’s job?

5. Do you write compelling content?

These are only a couple blogs out of several that offer similar services for critiquing other blogs, the big question I have though is what makes these blogs more qualified to critique than others? What gives one person’s opinion of your blog more clout over another person? Is it because they have more viewers than you or more feedback on their own blogs? Mommcomm’s blog for critiquing is conducted by a mom blogger with experience in marketing. Likewise, bloggingbasics.com is conducted by woman with experience in marketing and has been nationally recognized for her site that provides tips to beginner to intermediate bloggers.

Blogs base their success off of how many people view them as well as the comments and feed back they receive from those views. What I think makes these blogs/sites qualified to offer criticism is their own success and “know how” regarding blogging. However, I don’t know if these sites necessarily would help all blog descriptions, which is why Mommcomm is for women bloggers. In my opinion, not everyone that can have a blog should. There are some blogs out there that should be more personal blogs rather than public and are not meant for the public eye. However, knowing these tips and tricks for blogging before hand would be in the best interest for everyone wanting to be successful in the blogging world. Everyone could use some sort of critique on his or her blog and there are so many overly opinionated people willing to do so that we should let the qualified ones do so.

http://www.momcomm.com/blog-critique/

http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/2011/09/five-ways-to-critique-your-blog/

Life, It makes ya think.

It has been nearly 2 years since I updated my blog and the thing is I'm not even sure why I randomly felt like doing it! Blogging is a lot like keeping a journal and let's be honest, I can't remember the last time I kept a journal so it makes sense that it has been so flipping long! I had started using this blog for a class last spring and ya know, I thought that's just silly to put class stuff on what's supposed to be a personal blog so I did away with those posts. Sorry for any of you were all too disappointed to no longer hear my gender rants and the like.

I don't even know how many people see this. The fewer the better though probably because then not as many people will see this crazy side of not-so-put-together Sarah Beth. Ha but for the purpose of today's blog I really just want to talk about me and some thoughts I've been having lately. I think I've discovered something about myself and that is I really wish I was a more positive person. Hence, the renaming of this blog.

I think as humans it so dang easy to get wrapped up in the craziness of life. I had one of those "AHA" moments as Oprah would call them when a friend of mine whom I am working on a class project with told me he was having a bad day. He brought it up in the middle of the project so I didn't want to press the issue but when I later asked he told me he found out yesterday that he has brain aneurism that his doctors can't reach. It will continue to grow for the next 20 years until he'll eventually die.

This man is in his late 20's. He has a wife and a daughter and has already been put on a time-table for his life. I didn't really know what to say other than, "Wow, I'm so sorry. I hope you can really live up the next 20 years." Right after I said that though I just thought about what that meant. Will I ever be put on a time-table and not know if this is it and I still have so much more I want to do?

In writing this blog it's helped me sort out some thoughts and feelings I've had about this. Even though I'm still young and, as far as I know, (God willing) I have plenty of time left in life it made me think about the cliche "Not taking things for granted." But honestly, there really is far too much I do. My house, my family, my friends, the town I live in, the school I go to and my own health, are only a few of the many things I take for granted every single day that anyone else would kill for.

Carpe Diem ya'll is all I have left to say. Until next time, hopefully sooner than 2 years.

Welcome to my blog!

Well everyone my name is Sarah Beth Stephenson if you haven't figured that out by now and this is my newly created blog! So here's a little background on me for all that are interested. First of all my name, I have recently discovered there are almost over 800,000 girls named Sarah just in the United States. Therefore I include my full name when introducing myself and tell people to call me Sarah Beth to differentiate the many Sarah's and hopefully set myself apart from every other Sarah in the world.

I am currently a first year sophomore at Utah State University. My major is Journalism and my original point of emphasis was going to be Broadcast Journalism... however, because I'm a girl that changes her mind on a minute by minute basis I will now be switching my emphasis to Public Relations. Same major, different emphasis. Makes things a little easier. I am hoping to minor in Interior Design just kind of as a hobby to have if I ever need it. It could be fun... we'll see. :)

I am from Twin Falls, Idaho so not your average Utah girl like most around here... just a little farther north with slightly smaller hair :) hehe jk I do recognize that not ALL girls from Utah have big hair. In case one has trouble remembering me based on looks a slight description may be in order other than what you'll see in my pictures. I am slightly above average height and I have blonde hair with brown eyes, however ask those closest to me and they'll inform you that I'm the tall blonde with baby hands and baby feet. Weird. I know.

I have done a number of things to find what I'm good at... unfortunately many have failed. I did soccer for 7 years...I still am terrible at it. I did gymnastics for 3... still can't do the splitz. I i learned sign language for 3 years and all I remember is how to sign "I know little sign language". I attempted basketball for about a day and a half at basketball camp before getting hit in the face and going home. I played piano for 8 years, I still remember chopsticks! However, amongst all the things I failed at, I attempted voice lessons and thus far it has been the only thing I've stuck with for the past 7 years now. So yay for finally not quitting something I've started!

So things I enjoy doing other than singing are being with friends :) If I didn't have a social life I would not know what to do with myself. My world is my friends. I have to be around people all the time or at least for the majority of my day or I feel all too alone. Yes, it is kind of sad that I'm that reliant... but it's true. I love movies and TV probably a little too much... I do love sports, watching that is. My favorites include basketball and football, and of course I'm a die hard Aggie basketball fan! I love dancing and going to dances although I'm a terrible dancer... I still try :) I am in a sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and I have been enjoying all the people I've met and the fun things I've been able to experience there.

For the purpose of my Media Smarts Class my main source of entertainment news and information is hands down the internet. Unfortunately I am not as up to date on current events as I would like to be but when I do browse the news it's via internet through my lap top or phone. As sad as this may sound I have found Facebook to be quite informative through others posts on current events that I then look up and research myself.

I'd love to hear your comments and any questions you may have!