Small - Post 2: Expedia

If you are a busy person like me who looks forward to the opportunity to wind down and take a few days off of work, but who doesn’t have time to plan the vacation, then you are in luck.

Expedia.com is a full service vacation planning website that helps you to book air travel, hotel stays, car rental, cruise ships and even has package deals that will accommodate your every need.  Formed in 1996, the company has managed to stay on top of the on-line travel business.  The convenience of booking your vacation through Expedia takes the stress out of shopping online for individual hotels, car rental or airline websites, and makes travel planning stress free.

 Through its social media efforts, Expedia reaches thousands of customers through Facebook ads and their Twitter accounts.  Weekly specials for vacation packages are posted on Facebook page every week, encouraging people to take the time off and travel.  Who would want to resist some of the loveliest and most beautiful places on earth like San Francisco, Vegas, Houston, Florida and Mexico.  Feedback from customers is also found on Facebook and Twitter, some positive while others are complaints.  Expedia addresses these comments in a personal and professional manner.  It definitely has my vote as a company who is utilizing the tools of social media to attract customers, while also saving money on big box advertising.  I will continue to use this site in the future, especially since I am planning to take a big trip next year and look forward to the discounts that Expedia will help me to find.

Chloe & Isabel . . . reinventing direct sales

On Thursday, July 17, 2014, the Wall Street Journal featured an article entitled, "Direct Seller Crafts Its Own Sales Model."  Since taking this course, my eyes jump directly to anything newsworthy that relates to establishing a business presence through the Internet.  You might find the story of Chloe & Isabel an interesting, and encouraging one. Below are excerpts from the article.

"Chloe & Isabel" was among the first of a recent wave of startups using technology and social-media tools to reinvent direct sales, a $32.67 billion-a-year industry according to the Direct Selling Association.

Named for hypothetical best friends with oppposite tastes--trendy versus classic--today the company has 80 full-time employees, including a team of jewelry designers who source and produce hundreds of styles, such as $42 cushion-cut cocktail rings or $28 "retroglam" crystal earrings.

The New York-based direct seller built proprietary software that allows its independent sales associates, known as "merchandisers," to create their own customized Chloe & Isabel Web boutique and tap their social networks for customers.  The company currently has nerly 5,000 merchandisers who start by purchasing a starter kit, comprised of 18 pieces of jewelry for $175.

The sales associates earn commissions, typically 30% of their own sales.  Chloe & Isabel collects 60% to 70% of the merchandisers' earnings.

For Chloe & Isabel, every single boutique is entirely unique and every single Mechandiser creates her own collection.  She's a micro-entrepreneur." 

Second Post

Good news for all the people living in the Chicago area. There is a new way to pay for parking in the streets of Chicago. A new app that can be downloaded to your smartphone called Park Chicago. Customers would need to to set up an account and link it to a major credit card.

Chicago first launched a pilot program to ensure its popularity and it sure has not disappointed. 1, 600 drivers have signed up for ParkChicago within the weeks of the pilot program. Park Chicago is expanding to other areas.

I am thrilled Chicago made this app called Park Chicago. Having to get out of the car, walk to the paying meter then walk back to your car and put the paying sticker in the cars dashboard was time consuming. I will definitely take advantage of this new technology once it is available in my neighborhood.

Blog Post 2

The Ruth M. Rothstein Community Awareness Program (C.A.P.) is using Web 2.0 technology to showcase their work in the community and help raise awareness about HIV and other STIs.

The C.A.P. program provides free rapid HIV testing and health related community workshops throughout Chicago. This program is using Web 2.0 technology like Instagram and Twitter to promote community events and broadcast healthy messages regarding safe sex and accessing reproductive health services.

@corecentercap shows the world first hand what community based work looks like. The Instagram feed provides a colorful and proactive message of safe sex and self care to the receiver. These posts are continually shared throughout the social media networks, allowing the message to be received by an even bigger audience.

For more information about the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center: Community Awareness Program look them up on the Twitter and Instagram: @corecentercap

Juan Ortega

Blog Post 1

Social media apps like Twitter and Instagram have allowed the public health industry to spread their message. 

Recently, I was part of a national collaborative called “Step Up. Get Tested.” Our goal was to raise awareness about HIV and encourage people to get tested. One of the key objectives of the collaborative was to host several mobile testing events throughout Chicago. 

The collaborative launched www.stepupgettested.com which includes a list of participating agencies, an events calendar, and can link users to local public health facilities. The collaborative used Twitter and Instagram to promote mobile testing events in advanced and encouraged people to share the post with their own social network. Social media posts were tagged with the hashtags: #sugt14 and #nhtd. During the mobile testing events the collaborative would also use social media apps to check in “live” at neighborhood health facilities that were offering free testing services. These social media posts were an easy way to gain exposure for the events and draw traffic towards the testing event. 

While drafting the right post might take a little time and effort, if executed correctly, social media posts can help any organization to spread their message without spending a dime. 

Tweeting all potential employees (Greg's second blog)

Countless companies have been using social media to increase public’s awareness of their brand in order to generate more sales of products and services. However some companies, such as Zurich Insurance for example, have recently started to use Twitter as a tool for recruiting potential employees. By increasing the company’s social media presence and communicating with individuals who wish to follow the company, Zurich gives insurance professionals an opportunity to interact with the corporation and to learn more about it. Additionally, its recruiting department uses Twitter to find new talent by advertising available positions and for communicating with interested job candidates.

However Zurich is not alone in finding new talent through social media networking, because according to www.mediabistro.com 92 percent of companies use outlets such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook for hiring purposes. 

Post 2: Vegan Cuts

Vegan Cuts is an online marketplace that delivers monthly snack and beauty boxes. They aim to help people discover great vegan products. Although I am not a vegan, I am trying to be more conscious about buying cruelty free and vegan products, such as cosmetics, cleaning supplies, etc. I think Vegan Cuts does a great job of informing people about how to become vegan. Even if people don't become vegan, they try to at least make consumers aware of their cause.

Vegan Cuts uses many social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, their website, and others. On Facebook they host giveaways on vegan goodies. They offer recipes, benefits of certain foods, etc. They always want to hear what consumers are liking and feedback about their boxes. On YouTube, they give consumers sneak peaks about what they can be expecting in their beauty and/or snack boxes.

I have good impressions about this company. They always seem upbeat, well informed, and fun. They want you to be conscious of what you buy and eat. They want you to be a conscious consumer even if you don't become a vegan. If you start purchasing items that are cruelty free, where animals weren't harmed in the process, then you are becoming a conscious consumer. Vegan Cuts does make me want to be a better consumer. Through their blog I have become aware of what I'm buying. I am taking small steps towards only buying cruelty free and vegan products. They are a helpful source if you ever have any doubts. There are many websites and blogs dedicated to cruelty free and vegan purchasing. But I find that I get great ideas and recipes through Vegan Cuts.I think they are doing a great campaign and I will continue to support them.

Second Blog - S. Pelletier

I saw a bebe ad at a bus station stop while I was walking to class from Ogilvie train station in Chicago last year. While I was walking, the ad caught my eye and made me slowed my pace. It was a picture of a young woman dressed in classy outfit. At the bottom of the ad was the web-site that one could visit. I went to the web-site and saw a short clip of the spring 2013 collection. I liked what I saw and the next time I go clothes shopping I plan to stop by a bebe store and check it out. I liked this campaign in that it combine both forms of marketing, social media and traditional. The traditional was used to perk my interest and the social media was used to allow me book mark the bebe site so I could visit at a later time. What would have happened in the past is that I would have observed the ad at the bus station and thought nice but probably would have forgotten as I got caught up in my daily routine for the evening. But with the social media aspect, it allowed me to be more interactive with the ad; I was able to store the web site on my phone as I continued my walk, which allows me to go visit the site when I had more time. This promoted me to remember bebe clothes to the point that I plan to go to the store in the near future.

Post 1

Weight Watchers has one of the best Marketing Plan out there in the marketing business. Weight watchers marketing include many commercials and billboards. It even includes overweight female celebrities spokespersons. The most recent and popular spokesperson is Jennifer Hudson.

Weight Watchers also launches a very popular marketing plan called "Loose for Good" which helps feed hungry children and families in need. The more customers loose wight the more weight watchers donates to families in need. This is similar to Tom's marketing plan.

I believe the two marketing plans are great. People look up to celebrities and believe what they say. Having an over weight celebrity loose weight and promote weight watchers will make people trust the program. The marketing plan "Loose for Good" is also very good because people do want to help the less fortunate but do not know how to help. Having people help others while helping themselves, will make people want to join the program because people do want to help but have no time or do not know how to help.

Personally I would not purchase the product because even though I do have weight issues I know I can do it on my own and I do not have to pay a company to help me. I also do not have the extra money to participate in this program. There are free apps like "My fitness Pal" that track your calorie intake for free. Even though these marketing plans are great and successful I would still not participate.

First blog

I am posting this because I would like to see a company offer this service.  I am not aware of a company that currently offers this but I think it would be a great thing to have.

Loving Memories Offer

 

As the world of photography continues to evolve with social media we at Loving Memories realized a gap.  Losing a love one is devastating, but losing access to pictures of those love ones is irreplaceable.  We at Loving Memories understand that most photographs are just posted on social media, and rarely ever printed out.  Therefore once that social media account is gone so are their pictures.  Loving Memories also understands that some individuals would like to create a memory book in private and not necessarily share it on a social media account. 

We at Loving Memories will be introducing at app which will be available for Smart Phones and tablets that would allow for individuals to access social media pictures of their love ones who are no longer with us.  With this app, individuals can download all the pictures from their love ones site and create a memory book.  Once the memory book is created, individuals can customize the book to suit their needs.  As well as print it out to share with others if so desire.

It our goal at Loving Memories, to ensure your family’s heritage continues to remain a living story.  Our app will be free to all and we welcome comments to improve our service.

Suzette

Let's huddle at the Huddle 2.0

As more and more corporations outsource their services, and working on business projects with team members across the globe becomes more of the norm than an exception, several software companies have started to offer web-based platforms to make communication and remote project management easier. One such Web 2.0 business development tool is Huddle. It is a software platform that allows for cloud-based file sharing, file storage, content management, as well as improved communication and collaboration by by providing virtual conference and storage rooms.

The main idea behind Huddle is to provide a virtual central workspace that allows employees to work more productively by freeing them from reliance on email, improving communication flow, and eliminating the need to download files by providing access to everything at one central online location. Also, since team members across the globe get a chance to collaborate on projects in real-time by utilizing a virtual conference rooms, Huddle increases a sense of community among employees who otherwise may never meet each other face to face. The platform’s simplicity and ease of use for communication purposes allows employees to stay in contact, share information, discuss ideas, and efficiently work on joint projects.

According to the company’s website, over 100,000 organizations worldwide have used Huddle since it was introduced in 2007. And it is popularity is only likely to grow as the realities of the new business world call for cooperation of employees who work from several locations at the same time.

Also let’s not forget that humans are social creatures, and the element of social interaction is necessary to maintain our psychological wellbeing, so Web 2.0 tools like Huddle not only make the online communications easier but they humanize them as well. 

MIND MAP ONLINE TOOL

Mind Map – is a wonderful online tool to help you get your ideas, focus or goals out of your mind and onto paper in a logical way.  Using a simple theory, to write down your main goal and then use branches to record your lesser important tasks, and continue to branch off of these stems to lessor tasks.  Mapping out the concept of your goals and thoughts on what you are thinking and how you would like to complete your task.

I have used this idea when mapping out my plans to complete undergraduate school.  Listing school as the main idea and branching off to the different classes I wanted to take, resources required, dates of completions, study material, books that I need to purchase, vacation and business trips that would affect my time. 

This tool allowed me to see what was expected for this goal and I was able to continue to add to the mapping to help me organize and streamline this goal.  This is a wonderful tool to use to help with problem solving and organizing your thoughts.

introducing iHEARTRADIO

I am introducing iHEARTRADIO.  This APP is an internet radio, owned by Clear Channel Broadcasting, streaming both live states and selected artist.    This APP is a life saver for me.  I use it every single day for sanity.  While I work, I stream different station for live radio from around the nation.  The APP functions as both a music recommender system and streamer the radio network.

The APP allows for the selection of different types of radio shows and personalities.  The user can select from local to nationwide stations.  There is a wide selection of different genre of music or news, talk and sports stations.  I listen to the comedy 24/7 station while at work. 

I work in a high-paced, highly pressured job, have this APP available allows me to relax, while completing my tasks.  Having current, live station available nationwide, available at any time, makes my job easier.  If I am currently visiting another state I have my local news radio available on all mobile devices. 

Let's be and get healthier together

Let's be and get healthier together

Hi, my name is Stella, I have started this blog to help me and others with their goals to be and eat healthier and support with weight loss challenges. I plan to post exercise routines, healthier recipes, exercise routines and equipment, my personal goals and expect to see your personal goals, selfies, daily plans, daily mantra and inspirational quotes, gardening tips, green life tips....anything you think that would help bring about a healthy body, mind and spirit.

Way - Post #2 Peapod

Peapod joined the internet boom in 1996, this company has revolutionized the grocery buying experience for busy professionals, elderly individuals, and working mothers by offering delivery of produce via the internet.  That same year, the company made the Inc. 500 list of fast-growing privately held US companies.

The business has expanded its offerings in alignment with the current web 2.0 technology by capitalizing on the social media explosion.  The “Peapod Delivers” page on Facebook allows Peapod to build within its environment a community.  They are expanding the way they want to communicate to current and potential customers streamlining the client customer experience.  They are able to engage users by advertising new products, service offerings, special promotions and ways to use them while allowing the customer to tag their own experiences via pictures, blog posts, YouTube.  They invite consumers to join a community.  

 

Peapod advertises physically on billboards and train cars.     They have apps for your handheld to facilitate ordering and they offer free delivery.  I never thought of using this type of service because I like to “touch” my produce.  However, I had my in-laws in from out of town one weekend and didn’t have time to shop, so I tried it.  I was sold on their service – it was easy and they exceeded my expectations.  I would definitely use the service again