Allegra Giorgia's Blog (9)

Engagement, social media, conversations, Web 2.0. In my work and through my classes I find myself swimming in the latest digital buzz words. Recently, I’ve been yearning for anything but these words, so when I get a chance to pick up a book or go to a museum – I’m re-reading In Cold Blood (awesome!) – I am ecstatic. I think my enthusiasm about reading my book is for several reasons: it's a break from the computer, blackberry screen, work,… Continue

The changes in the economy and the administration are causing major shifts across industries. In communications, corporations are shifting their budgets to digital strategies (yea, Kellog has it right!) and demanding ROI, and the new administration is fully embracing the power of technology to distribute messages and change the way governments h… Continue

What does appendicitis feel like? What is a fibroid adenoma? What are the stages for someone who has colon cancer? The quick answer to all those questions is: Google it. Google is not only a resource for people trying to identify what certain symptoms might indicate but also a “defacto second opinion” for patients looking for information after a diagnosis. In August, the Pew Internet and American Life Project report, “The Enga… Continue

Online communities and social networks are now an inherent part of communicating on the Internet. Whether as “observer, a newbie, an author, an employee [or] developer” as O’Reilly categorizes users, we are likely participating in online communities on a daily basis, even if it is simply by logging into Facebook to check a status, or reading a forum… Continue

Can you make us something that will go viral? Why certainly, let me just dig out my magic viral potion, sprinkle it on widget, video and Web site and abra ka dabra…you are viral. Or maybe we should do a widget? Or a Micro-site? I know, let’s build a blog! These requests are common in today’s web driven communication world. In class, I hear (and will admit that I am probably a culprit of this as well), “lets make a program with a viral video that will boost their presence o… Continue

We are in the midst of bleak economic times and if my daily dose of NPR each morning weren’t making that clear enough, all I have to do is dive into my Net Vibes account to notice that every single feed in there has a blog post or article related to how the economic down turn will affect our lives as social media and marketing prof… Continue

Twitter is all the buzz lately. Over 1 Million users are on twitter streaming thief life moments across their networks. Communications professionals are talking about using the tool to enhance customer relationships and customer service and these discussions are only growing. Twitter fans will rave about how the tool has helped them connect with peop… Continue

The college search process is evolving along with the evolution of the Internet. How did you search for your undergraduate University? Personally, I – or rather my parents – bought the Princeton Review guidebook and forcefully encouraged me to read all the “ratings” for each school to help me make a decision on which schools I might like to visit. The review book and the U.S. News & World Report on Colleges have dominated and influenced the college decision-making process for years. If a c… Continue

This video called The Machine is Us/ing Us was created by Cultural Anthropology Professor Michael Wesch. It is a visual representation of the evolution of the Internet and Web 2.0. It takes the Web 2.0 concept that we discussed in class, including participation, social software, collective intelligence, mash ups and much… Continue