A Convention Dedicated to the Blogging World

I knew blogs were becoming more and more popular everyday, but I had no idea that they were making such a big impact until taking this class...and until I heard that there was a convention dedicated to the sole purpose of blogging!

The second annual Blog World and New Media Expo was held this past September 21 & 22 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This convention was a chance for individual companies that offer products or services for new media entrepreneurs and content creators to be put on display and reach new potential customers and help others improve the looks and functionality of their blogs. The convention futured over 200 expert speakers. There were thousands of vendors that consumers and visitors were able to make face to face contact.These vendors specialized in numerous subjects of the blogging world. Some of these included Blog Publishing Software, Designers and Communities, Podcasting, Internet TV & Radio Services, Equipment and Networks, Social Media Technology and Communities, Widgets and Plug-ins, RSS Services, Advertising Networks, Mobile Blogging and Vlogging Technology and Devices, and much more. The audience included bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, internet TV and radio broadcaster, social media experts and producers of all forms of new media content.


According to the Blog World Expo homepage, "It was the first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media. BlogWorld features the largest blogging conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business."

Hear from CEO of the Blog World Expo, Rick Calvert at the November 2008 show and how/why he started it.

Gmail Web Chat

Google has made new innovated changes yet again. Googles email accounts, known as gmail, has a new technology. Gmail has created a voice and video chat. You can now video chat with your friends, family, and business associates through gmail, unlike AOL where your buddy list pops up and you can IM others through the email only via text. You can now see you IM buddies face to face.
Gmail voice and video chat was created in Sweden. Thecreators collaborated with the U.S. making this technology available for us as well. This viral video shows quick and easy instructions on how to use it and different functions it can help you with. All you need is a web cam, to watch the video below, and you are good to go!

Web Video. Stop Smoking.

Our last big project in our social media for public relations class consisted of creating our own web video about a current social issue. While the options were endless, I decided to produce a web video about the dangers of tobacco and smoking cigarettes. As a college student, many of my friends smoke. While I can't stand the smell of it or being around it, they think that it is just a phase, they can quit whenever they want, and that it is no big deal. Hopefully the texts, graphics, and music of this video will help change their minds about this social issue.

The video was produce with Jumpcut and you can view it here:



After doing the research, and editing for this project, I actually enjoyed making the video. I want to learn more about the editing process, because there were a few things I was unsure of how to do. But overall, after creating an amateur video, I realized what dramatic impact a few pictures, texts, effects, and music can make on the viewers. It's pretty cool.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Will.I.Am's "Yes We Can" Still Topping the Viral Video Charts

Celebrity endorsed videos have been very prominent in popular social issues. During the begining of the Presidential campaign around the end of January this year, Will.I.am led one of the greatest boosting efforts to the campaign with his song "Yes We Can." He worked with director Jesse Dylan to put together and release the music video. In an article published on MTV's website, Gil Kaufman says, "The Bob Marley-like anthem turns the Illinois senator's January 8 New Hampshire primary-night address into lyrics performed by Will, as well as almost 40 other actors, celebrities and athletes, including John Legend, Kate Walsh, Aisha Tyler, Amber Valletta, Taryn Manning, Nicole Scherzinger, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Herbie Hancock and Nick Cannon." The video premiered on ABCNewsNow's "What's the Buzz" at the end of January. Inspiration for Will.i.am to do this video began after hearing Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign speech he gave after the New Hampshire primary.

Will.I.Am says:

He said Obama's speech made him think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln and "all the others that have fought for what we have today ... what America is 'supposed' to be ... freedom, equality and truth."

"touched [his] inner core like nothing in a very long time," [The New Hampshire Speech]

"I produced this song to share my newfound inspiration and how I've been moved," he wrote. "I hope this song will make you feel love and think and be inspired just like the speech inspired me."

After the video's release, it had more than a million views on YouTube and 10 million on the host site, YesWeCanSong.com. Even though the election is over and the video was created and posted almost a year ago, "Yes We Can" is still humming in millions of peoples heads. I even saw Will.I.Am interviewed by popular news stations a couple days after the election. The morale for Obama is at its all time high after he won the Presidential election of the United States of America and the video is still heavy in circulation. The song is still toping the viral video charts this week at number two. Social Media is keeping it going and the message is continuing to be passed on.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Be in the loop for viral videos

One of the many topics discussed in our Internet and Social media class are viral videos. I recently came across Viral Video Chart, created by Unruly Media that tracks the current top viral videos. And can you guess what all of them had to do with? The website sorts the videos by "top 24 hours," "7 days," "30 days," and "365 days." Within the last 24 hours, every single viral video that is in the top twenty has to do with the presidential election.

This site goes beyond Youtube, Google Video and others by sorting what is the most popular. It gives you updates of the videos with the top hits and the best of what is "now." The site also has its own personal blog. It's entertaining and keeps you in the loop of viral videos.

By signing into the RSS feed, you in turn are consistently updated with the top 10 viral videos each day. It is very handy and informative. The site is helpful for bloggers as well.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Facebook Status Updates of Suspence and the 2008 Election

While the countdown is on for the 2008 election, my friends facebook status updates are out of control. While on a normal basis, there are few updates every now and then, now every minute there are countless updates concerning the election. Everyone is tuned in to the election and voicing their opinion through social media outlets. They are using facebook as a their voice.

As the electoral votes are being counted, the updates are saying swaying both way and saying things like, "cant believe socialism is coming to the USA... here is to four long terrible years under the reign of Obama bin Laden"; "is moving to Europe...far away from Osama"; "ready for our new pres obama"; "is completely disturbed by the comments made by the people who i grew up with in Houston... Ignorance is not necessary... be happy you're witnessing HISTORY!"; "is contemplating about moving to Mexico..."

Also, personally watching the election coverage on abc news right now, they just showed a clip of live facebook feed. Facebook is so large, that its even being shown in the live election for the President of the United States. This form of technology is aiding in the history of the United States of America. It almost seems surreal and unbelieveable. I don't think the creator Mark Zuckerberg would ever have imagined the extent of facebook and impact it has when he created it.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Social News Websites at Your Hand

Up through now, in our social media class, we have discussed countless social media sources. I recently came across this post on doshdosh.com that is a great resource to check out some of the most popular social news ones used today. The post is called 48 Social News Websites: A List of General and Niche Social Media Communities. In the post, author Maki, offers a great compiled list of differnet popular social news websites you can use to get information and web traffic. After digging through hundreds of different sites, Maki's list delivers those that are the most comprehensive, useful, spam-free, respected and resourceful. They all give the freshest news. Some of the sites included on the list are Reddit, Digg, Propeller, Newscloud, Stirrdup, Stumbleupon and Hubspot.

After reviewing the list myself, I found several mentions that we discussed in class. Each time Maki mentions a website, she gives a desciption of their purpose along with a picture to identify it with. This is a great site if you are looking for specific categorized news sites or topics. It can be used for blog topics, research...etc.

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