Numbers can add up quickly.

Numbers are an important part of our lives and the internet.

We use numbers to keep track of items, assign value to items we produce, and much more, including measuring the effectiveness of a message on the internet.

Now, since you are reading this blog post, you probably know how to use the internet, and have watched videos on or from YouTube.

Did you know you contribute to a metric just by watching videos?

There are various metrics and numbers that are collected by websites and analyzed, but we'll focus on views of YouTube videos.


Each individual view of a video adds up to a tangible number that brands and individuals can use to gauge their success, popularity, reach, and other useful statistics.

Let's look at the video United Breaks Guitars.

Now, that may seem like a normal, kind of dorky song to find on YouTube. However, this was really the first video of its kind on the internet.

The main singer in the song is Dave Carroll. He was flying with United Airlines and his guitar was broken. 

United, which was used to one-way communication with its customers did not take Carroll's claims seriously and just ignored the whole situation.

After 9 months of this, Carroll created and uploaded this video in July 2006. After about a week, the video had over a million views. It was a viral sensation and was shared on Twitter, blogs, and even mainstream media.

Suddenly, United found itself with a problem. 

Instead of going away after some time, this customer's complaint and the way United handled it had exploded and was getting national attention.

Beyond having the vague idea that people around the world were watching this video, United was faced with a metric: the continually growing number of views highlighted just underneath the video on YouTube's website.

This number was a measurable guide showing how many times potential customers saw or replayed a reenactment of how United mishandled the baggage and consequent complaint. 

Today, over 15 million people have watched the United Break Guitars video and 85,000 individuals have liked it.

The number of views attached to a YouTube video is an important metric, especially when accompanied with shares, likes and dislikes, comments, and so on.

Don't underestimate the power of a number.

Off to contribute to YouTube metrics,

The Purple Writer

Why can't I use your content?

In a world where "google" is a verb and you can find just about anything on the internet, the line between using and misusing content can be difficult to understand.

Individuals and organizations around the world use access control technologies for digital rights management (DRM). 

To clarify, DRM allows owners to protect their content and keep other people from using it without permission.



This concept extends to everything from hardware developments and patents to intellectual property such as art and even jokes.

There are several different, widely-held opinions about DRM. 

-> Some say it is necessary and helps protect people's rights and creations.

-> Others say DRM doesn't actually work and only inconveniences the people who would follow the rules anyway.


I understand the frustration of wanting to use a piece of content, because it perfectly fits a presentation or blog post, but finding myself blocked by a huge watermark or pay wall.

However, I would say it is important to protect original content. 

Someone took the time to code a layout, take a picture, write down their thoughts, etc., and it wouldn't be fair to the original creator if everyone could take that product and claim it as their own.



Beyond being selfish and untrue, claiming other people's work as one's own devalues original creativity and hard work.

Why should people take the time to create something new if there was no reward or credit, and if they had no say in how their product would be used?

Yes, many people create unique things because they enjoy the process and want to share their creativity with other people, but if professional photographers were not able to charge for the use of their photos, they would soon need to look for another profession to pay the bills.

So, I say DRM is generally a good thing. 

It can be frustrating to work with and make using content more complicated, but DRM helps protect original content and maintain the value of genuine creativity and hard work.

Why should I listen to you?

In general, everyone has something they want to say or communicate.

People tend to think their comments are important, sometimes more important than what other people are saying.

But what's the point of talking if nobody listens?

Here are some simple, yet important, rules to follow when communicating with the people around you, whether face-to-face or through social media.

1. Listen

You need to understand the current thread(s) of conversation before you try to jump in with your own thoughts.




Not sure what to pay attention to when listening to a conversation?


My infographic here may help.



You don't want your contribution to be redundant, unnecessary, or maybe worst of all, a conversation-stopper.



Don't bee that person who keeps talking without having anything to add.




The other members of the audience will be more likely to appreciate your opinions if they seem well thought out and relevant.

2. Engage

Now that you have a good grasp of what the conversation is about, you can share your opinions, right?

Slow down!

You should never blurt out your opinions and then walk away from the conversation. 

To begin with, you spent the time to understand the conversation, so you should be interested in where it goes and what conclusions are arrived at.

Secondly, people will lose respect for you and your opinions if you don't respect them and what they have to say.

Give the other members of the conversation a reason to listen to you by listening to them, processing what they said, and responding thoughtfully.

A little common courtesy goes a long way here.

Let's look at an example: The McWhopper.

Burger King recently wanted to enter the conversation centering around Peace Day, which is the United Nations' declared day of ceasefire and non-violence.

Now, engaging with an event like this can often be costly for companies, especially if their products do not directly relate to the main theme of the event.


However, Burger King wanted to use its large presence to help increase global awareness for Peace Day, and proposed a day of peace between its own brand and the the competing brand of McDonalds.

[ The official proposal and design for the "McWhopper" burger can be seen on this beautiful Tumblr website -> http://mcwhopper.com/ ]

McDonalds turned down Burger King's proposal, and that could have very easily been the end of this campaign.

But Burger King listened to its audiences and where the conversation was going, and realized there was a huge base of support for this idea of peace between competing food brands on Peace Day.

They have since opened the invitation up to all restaurants and brands which are interested in joining the conversation.

Whether a Peace Day burger is created and sold, or remains an idea, Burger King did a great job of spreading awareness of Peace Day and opening the conversation up to more global brands who otherwise may not have even considered taking part.

Communicating is a two-way street.

Remember to listen actively so you understand how to best interact with the conversation, and then stay engaged until the end.


Hungry for a Peace Day Burger,
The Purple Writer

What's the point of a public relations strategies class?

*written for PR 3315: Online & Digital PR

I took PR 3311: Strategies at Texas Tech in the spring of 2014.

It’s been a little over a year, but looking over my notes, briefs, and reports from that class, I was struck by how important that class really was in preparing me to enter the field of public relations.

You may think that public relations is all about spinning stories to make companies or entities look good.  I’m here to tell you that’s just not the case.

-> First of all, just like the majority of other fields and focuses, public relations has many different forms, methods, and kinds of practitioners. 

Don't judge an entire field based on a few bad examples you've seen in movies or on TV. 

-> Secondly, there is generally a surprising level of strategy and planning which goes into public relations, as it has a lot to do with monitoring how people perceive brands and how to improve those perceptions. 

Things often change in an instant without warning, so having a solid crisis plan in place and knowing how to respond is essential.

Whether you’re curious about what one would learn in a public relations strategy class or you simply don’t remember much from when you did take such a class, here’s a refresher on what I think are the most important points.

Five things I learned from my PR Strategies class:

1. Always analyze an issue or crisis in depth before doing anything.  

If you don’t know what you’re dealing with, you can’t respond to situations well. Don’t choose speed over quality.

2. Pay attention to your positioning. 

Know how your organization is unique and don’t lose sight of that while engaging your internal and public audiences.

3. Make use of available tools to make your job easier. 

 For example, it’s practically impossible to catch every mention of your brand or area of focus without help, so set up Google Alerts for whatever you’re monitoring.

4. Listen to other opinions. 

Your audience(s) will have different perspectives than you, so a message crafted just for yourself may not reach very far.

5. Keep your goals and objectives obtainable. 

Impossible dreams will set you up for failure, so figure out where you want to end up and outline simple steps to get there. You’ll be better equipped to see progress and catch issues before they get too big.

A lot went into the public relations strategies class I took, and while I may not remember all of the details or guidelines, I am very glad I took it.

It helped me understand how to analyze organizations and situations, create strategies and work on crisis plans, and to be prepared while knowing that I may never know what’s going to happen next.

I highly recommend a strategy class or webinar to anyone in the public relations field, as well as any communications or business students.

Feeling a little more prepared,

The Purple Writer

What's the Cinemark App About?

* This is written as a "Connect the App Challenge" project for my content development class at Texas Tech University (PR 3345)

What is Cinemark Theatres?

What: Based in Plano, TX, Cinemark Theatres has grown from a small chain to be the third-largest movie theater chain in North America, with a presence in several countries across the globe. 

(It is likely that you have seen or passed by a Cinemark theater, even if you haven't watched a movie inside one.)

How: Cinemark's mission statement is to provide unsurpassed safety, respect, care and concern for employees and customers. 

Why: The reason for Cinemark's mission statement is their stated, number 1 goal: "Total and complete customer satisfaction."

They want to be known as the best, and have been working towards that by treating people well. It seems like a pretty smart idea.

Target Audience: Cinemark's primary audience is made up of teenagers and young adults who are likely in school or recent graduates. This group is generally able to afford watching movies semi-regularly, often hangs out with groups of friends at the theater, and enjoys midnight releases and other special events.

-> Cinemark does have a secondary audience of parents who will bring their children to movies and enjoy a family-friendly environment. This group often looks for discounts on multiple tickets as well as coupons for buying large snacks to share, to make a family outing more affordable.  

Cinemark has an app?

Yes, Cinemark has a mobile app, and you can do a couple things on it.

• Find movie theater locations, and favorite them for easy access
• See which movies are playing, and their showtime at individual theaters
• Read reviews, ratings, synopses and watch trailers
• Edit your Cinemark account
• View your past purchases and gift cards
• Use CineMode to dim your screen and earn coupons

Calls to Action (in the app)

• Buy movie tickets
• Be courteous to fellow movie viewers
• Earn rewards
• Return to Cinemark so you can use your coupons

Calls to Action (for the app)

• The app is featured next to social media icons on the website

• A spot runs before movies, telling viewers to use CineMode during the movie 

Is the app even needed?

So, sometimes mobile apps seem redundant when they offer the exact same product as a website. The thing is, Cinemark's website is not particularly mobile friendly. 

It's not "unfriendly," but everything is the same as on a computer, so all the images and options are tiny and you have to zoom to read anything.

Beyond the convenience of being able to read content, the Cinemark app's main feature is the CineMode, which is probably the driving factor in the app's usage.

Do people like the App?

1. I talked to a Cinemark employee who said she has the app, but rarely uses it.

Because she spend so much time with the food in the concession stand, she doesn't have a strong desire to eat that food in her free time and doesn't feel a need to use CineMode.

However, she does recommend it for movie lovers who like to buy food each time they visit.

2. Myself, I might go to Cinemark  a couple times a year. 

While I love the idea of earning rewards and saving money, I end up not returning to Cinemark soon enough to use the coupons I earn. 

For that reason, when I run out of space on my phone, the Cinemark app is on my list of expendables

3. One of my good friends is an avid movie lover, even more than I am. 

She sees every movie coming out, whether good or bad, and almost always watches them at Cinemark.

She loves using the app and CineMode, and seems to always have a reward to redeem when she goes to see a movie. 

Recommendations

1. I would recommend that CineMode offer discounts on future ticket prices, instead of just food coupons. That is something I would absolutely take advantage of! 

I love seeing movies but my preferred movie theater [Alamo Drafthouse] is a bit on the pricey side, so if I can see the same movie at Cinemark for even less money than usual, I would be more likely to spend my dollars at Cinemark.

2. I would also say that CineMark put a link to a download page for the app in their social media description or "about" sections, next to the link to their website. 

That way, people using their phones to look at Cinemark's social media pages can have an easier line of access to the app (rather than going to the website and having to zoom and look for the download buttons).

Mini Content Plan

This is the exciting stuff. 

This is suggested content that Cinemark could use on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts to promote their app and CineMode.

*I created these images using Canva, my brain, and a lot more time than necessary, thanks to a computer crash.

Sunday

2:00 p.m. - Facebook, New Profile Image

4:30 p.m. - Instagram 

Use our app to fade out distractions and better enjoy your movie. Start earning rewards with #CineMode today!

Monday

1:30 p.m. - Twitter 

Fade out distractions so you can focus on your movie with #CineMode. Download the app today!

3:00 p.m. - Facebook

Use the #CineMode within our mobile app to fade out distractions and better focus on your movie. Download the app and start earning rewards today!

Tuesday

2:15 p.m. - Twitter

Here are some easy reasons why you should download our app and use #CineMode in our theaters!

3:00 p.m. - Facebook, New Cover Image

Wednesday

2:00 p.m. - Facebook

Why should you use our Cinemark app? This infographic explains all. Download the app today! #CineMode

5:00 p.m. - Instagram

This image explains why you should use our Cinemark app. Download the app and start earning discounts with #CineMode today!

Thursday

2:30 p.m. - Twitter

Have you been using our app's convenient features like checking gift cards and #CineMode? Try them out today!

Friday

12:00 p.m - Instagram

There are several convenient features on our app, including movie reviews and trailers, and a showcase of  your #CineMode rewards. Try it out for yourself!

1:30 p.m. - Facebook

There are several convenient features on our app, including movie trailers and ratings, an easy way to check your gift card balances, and a showcase of your #CineMode rewards. Download the app and try it out for yourself!

Off to tweet this post to my professor,
The Purple Writer

I could be a smart phone photographer.

It seems pretty easy to take a good photograph these days.

Especially with the fancy cameras inside our smart phones and the convenient filters on sites like Instagram.


Although sometimes the ease of filters can make posting photos more difficult.

It can be such a struggle to choose between Valencia, X-Pro II, or just going with maxed-out Lux.

It turns out several people were curious about the most popular filters so Noisey created this breakdown showing several top musicians and which filters they use.

So now we know.

Thanks Noisey.

But what does it really take to be a good photographer, beyond filters? 

Here are some tips from Tonja Hagy, a professional photographer and the marketing manager for LHUCA:

• Nothing sells a product better than a good photograph

• A picture really is worth a thousand words
• Don't be lazy

My photo, with a little bit of depth

• Set the scene and be aware of your fore-, mid-, and background

• Keep your photo simple
• Show depth in your photos
• Shoot from a low angle to bring the foreground closer to you
• Align your subject diagonally to add movement and energy, and to provide natural lines for eyes to follow

• Show the subject

My photo: an uncluttered fountain!

• Don't lose your subject in its environment or clutter
• Show what the world looks like from your subject's point of view
• Zoom with your feet; auto-zooming will pixelate the photo and emphasize any shakiness
• Either line up every element precisely or don't try to shoot a symmetrical photograph

My photo: lots of texture/patterns

• Set the mood with extra details

• Capture textures and shadows to get the best out of your subject
• Use repetitive patterns to create interest
• Use negative space (but not blank space) as an element
• Be sure that what you include reinforces your photograph

My photo: I lost the ground

• Be prepared

• Invest in small gadgets like tripods and lenses 
• Keep your phone charged and always carry an extra mobile battery
• Avoid taking pictures on sunny afternoons as most smart phones can't handle bright lights and will lose the details and textures

Most photography techniques can be easily translated into taking photos with your smart phone. 

There is always be more to learn, but as with most things, the best way to figure out how to take the best pictures is to go out and experiment.

There are also lots of resources on the internet giving advice and tips. One example is this blog which focuses solely on learning how to take the best pictures with smart phones. You can also go on YouTube and find lots of videos with photography tips.

With all these resources, your well-equipped smart phone, and a desire to document the world around you, there is no reason why you shouldn't become a fantastic smart phone photographer!

Heading out to experiment with photography,
The Purple Writer

Who is Ant-Man?

I'm going to see the Ant-Man movie tonight at the midnight 10:30 release tonight, and I'm pretty excited. 

Why am I excited? Well, I love comics (both Marvel and DC and indie), I love movies, and I've been loving the recent (and epic) Marvel movies. 

Also, Ant-Man is a pretty cool character; he's like the Marvel version of Atom, who you may know from the Arrow and The Flash shows on CW, if not from the DCcomics. 

They're both smart guys who use cool suits to change size and be awesome.

(image from Boxden)

But really, who is this guy, and why does he get an origin movie? 

Well, Ant-Man actually plays a pretty big role in the Marvel universe, being a founding member of The Avengers, creating Ultron, and appearing in numerous comics and storylines. 

Like most comic characters, the Ant-Man name/suit has been passed on through a few generations of heroes.

Ant-Man the first: 

Hank Pym is a genius with a bipolar disorder, who was chosen over all other geniuses and designated Earth's Scientist Supreme by the extra-dimensional being Eternity. He discovered Pym Particles which he could manipulate to alter the size of people and things, and began to fight evil alongside the other, original Avengers. As his mental condition kept changing, Pym changed sides and identities several times, so beyond Ant-Man, he was also Giant Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket, and the male Wasp (to honor his ex-wife who was the first Wasp).

Ant-Man the second:

Scott Lang was an electrical engineer who turned to burglary to support  his family. He stole Pym's suit to rescue a doctor who could help with his daughter's fatal heart condition. After saving his daughter's life, Lang was willing to turn in the suit and return to jail, but Pym let him keep the suit if he fought for good. During his career as a hero, Lang helped the Avengers, worked for the Fantastic Four when Mister Fantastic was believed dead, joined the Heroes for Hire team, and then eventually rejoined the Avengers.

Ant-Man the third:

The current Ant-Man in comics first appeared in 2006 and will probably be ignored in the Marvel movie universe. Eric O'Grady is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who was selected to test a prototype Ant-Man suit that Pym was developing, but ended up stealing it from the base and using it for his own purposes. Steve Rogers chose to add him to the team of Avengers, hoping to redeem the world's most unlikable super hero. 

The cool thing about this movie is that it will establish a consistent version of Ant-Man who will exist in the rest of the movies, and that should be much easier for the public to understand. The movie will include an older Dr. Pym who helps Scott Lang obtain the suit. Beyond that, it will be interesting to see what changes and what stays true to the [confusing] comics.

Obviously, some more interesting aspects of Ant-Man will need to be left behind, such as creating Ultron (as Ultron already exists in the Marvel movie universe).

Critics have been saying lots of good things, and Ant-Man has a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (while Jurassic World is at 71%). 

Brandon Davis, over at ComicBookDotCom, says the movie "stands on its own two exoskeleton feet as one of Marvel's most unique films to date." 

So... a guy in a size-changing suit who fights evil and talks to ants. What's not to love?

(Like, you really should buy a ticket and see it today. You may regret ignoring this advice.)

Off to watch Ant-Man,

The Purple Writer