Social Media - Essay Example

? Social Media Norman Donald. (2004). Emotional design: why we love (or hate) everyday things. In his book, Norman D. (2004) “Emotional Design”, modern cognitive scientific research findings have demonstrated that good design principles have both cognition and affective processes worked out together to achieve some priorities. As Norman addresses the impacts and primacy of affective reactions towards emotional designs, some knowledge that all things have cognitive constituents purposefully for assigning meanings and affective modules for value assignments is passed. Fundamental issues that have led to the drift from objective Scientific approach to subjective scientific approach in the design of user design interfaces are the need for designers to analyze and foresee how such products are likely to used, and to check for the validity of their design pre-assumptions with regards to the intended user behavior when it comes to the real world test of actual users. Objective approach is developed within the major domain of Science itself, while subjective approach is based on mental processes and some influencing factors that may be derived from observation. Therefore, the subjective aspect of experience is considered to be more user-centric as compared to objective aspect of experience which only works through observations. The current exploration of usability design or experience design that requires subjective, post-positive, and experiential mental attitudes are actually emotional designs. This argument is explained in the sense that subjectivity in design ensures incorporation of the key user-design-centered principles which include user involvement throughout the design and development processes; user-centered evaluation which sees into design refinement; explicit understanding of users, knowledge on the tasks and environments upon which the design is based; iterative process of development and implementation; and address of the whole user experience. In addition, Norman states that user-centered designs should involve simplification of task structures, making entities visible, mapping appropriately, intensively exploiting the immense powers of constraint, and finally coming up with a design that accepts errors. Wittkower D.E. (2008). (Ed.). IPod and philosophy: iCon of an ePoch. Wittkower D.E. (2008) explains philosophy as a concept that is all about the study of philosophical ideas and their related concepts as applied within a timeframe. In the current times, philosophical perceptions have changed as influenced by the rapidly and ever changing transition in the social media industries. History has proved that initially, artistic/ design merits were largely independent of functionality and productivity. This, with events, has been sidelined as attractive designs are currently perceived as working better and are easier to use. The varied aspects of iPod device, a portable audio player as Wittkower describes it, has philosophical characteristics that creates very close link and therefore greatly influencing the cultural practices of its users in the sense of a new venue for philosophy electronic books, a device of community or isolation among its users. In his book, Wittkower expresses that the new technological inversion used in the development of iPod is a symbolic improvement and creation of change as is and will ever be experienced in the media industry. Inductively, the use of iPod is seen and experienced to unanimously present both the old and young minds as equal in its use by considering such an invention in design and an innovation in technology as a resultant of rapid information, communication, and entertainment technologies to them (users) as individuals, technologically advanced society, and the unique cultural practices in this twenty-first century. The concepts of philosophy and iPod are intertwine with a core relationship of mediation that explains the extent to which this technology together with its users-everyday’s lives and the general economy are dependent; a true significance of change. IPod technology has to its highest levels exploited the application of emotions in engagement of its users' experiences, and the seemingly intensified interplay that exists between non-purposeful and purposeful interactivities. In summary, the sole reason of ensuring all the three design aspects is that aesthetically well done designs help users to work even better. Evans A. Liana "Li." (2010). Social media marketing: strategies for engaging in Face book, Twitter and other social media. As Evans A. L. (2010) explains, Social media marketing is the methodological practice of marketing that is done through the social media/ network topologies. It provides a relatively low cost or cheap way for individuals and businesses to reach a greater number of users and thus gaining brand recognition as may be the desire of organizations’ or business’ managers. Social media networks have greater advantages to business organizations using them. For instance, social networks already have established user communities, businesses and organizations that readily give exposure and become customers to the joining and already member organizations. Considering virtual stores or personal blogs, the aspect of neglect to the crucial importance of engaging in a social media for its advancement is a grater plus in the current days of e-marketing. Worth noting is that the current population spends their quality time on the internet, particularly with the social media; hence making it to be the safest and best source of income together with visitors for businesses. As accepted by most prospering institutions, people on the social media can be attracted and money generated through the use Ad Sense integrated programs of Google, banners and commercials, and by selling products to the interested individuals. Almost all the different media devices have their characteristics on how they ensure full engagement of their users in their different ways. A social network compared to other organic traffics depicts a very big difference in terms of marketing advantages. Immediate responses are obtained for messages sent in the networks via the social networks with people reading the posts or articles and at times responding instantly. The same is realized with the placement or posting of new products on the social networks. These are contrary to individual websites whose performances largely depend on their general reputations. For instance, face-book promotion provides a platform which offers several techniques of promoting any page as intended by the user community. One of the options is the free advertisement method, which helps to save advertisements’ cost though it comes with a weakness of limited categories of clients that may be reached through it. Paid advertisement is another option that allows for reaching targeted population(s) only i.e. college students or women. However, the paid out money is sufficiently recovered in form of high numbers of visitors and sales rate as promoted by the social media. A number of Social Media have laid down strategies and techniques that help them in marketing. Such techniques involve the application of social networks, eWOM and COBRAs to effectively make online advertisements. Additionally advertisers are provided with more information on the likes and dislikes of their clients regarding their products or services, besides comments that are drafted by the products’ or services’ readers. Likes, dislikes and comments are deemed very important to the businesses as they provide useful information regarding users’ or clients’ taste, feel and attitude towards the provided goods and services. These eWOM and COBRAs (Consumer’s online brand related activities) are criterions used majorly by advertisers in the event of promoting their products or services. Although there are numerous and lucrative advantages that come with social media advertisements to business organizations, limitations and risks also involved. Every factor or issue influencing and coming up during social media operations have to be taken seriously and with a lot of caution. Mistakes such as not having written down operational strategies, drafting wrong strategies, operating under limited or no executive support, working with staff who do not embrace the use of social media, give poor indicators regarding the performance of the strategy, unwillingness of the staff and organization/ business as a whole to experiment on different ideas that may lead to success, quicker expectations, slower response to the concerned community, and neglecting or underestimating concerns raised by any one person. On legal regulations, among the practices considered illegal in line with Social media networking practices include adverse publicity, uploading misleading advertisements to the social network communities, uploading unvented postings, undisclosed endorsee connections, and illegal employment practices among others. Evans further accepts the fact that social media has over time transitioned extensively. The current position is clearly different from the ancient/ traditional/ industrial media with respect to output quality, range of reach, frequency, usability, immediacy and efficient permanence in its services. A part from marketing, social media is also known for its performance in documentation of memories, learning and exploration, and socialization. References Norman, D. (2004). Emotional Design: Why we love (or hate) everyday things. New York: Basic Books. A Wittkower, D.E. (2008). (Ed.). IPod and philosophy: iCon of an ePoch. Evans A., Liana "Li". (2010). Social media marketing: strategies for engaging in Face book, Twitter and other social media. Read More