Analyzing Facebook Posts

This week, we were added as administrators to our professors Facebook pages, NPOEx and These Songs of Freedom.

We were to do an analysis on NPOEx's post impressions. You are able to tell who saw the post by looking under each post where it says "People Reached," and how many viewers clicked on it where it says "Post Clicks." Some of these posts were what Facebook calls "Boosted," where Facebook asks if you would like your post to reach more people you normally would "Organically." Of course it comes with a price. For example, one post had a YouTube video about how stock exchange for non-profits could work. By paying $20, the post reached 10,200 people and achieved 20 clicks to the link. That's a dramatic difference compared to the organic reach which was 16 people.We assume that once we post something on our Facebook wall, the whole world is able to see it once it gets a few likes or shares. Most of the time, that's not what happens. There's so many posts and pages that are trying to expose themselves on social media that it's kind of overwhelming. That's why Facebook asks if you'd like to pay them to boost your posts. So chances are if you make a page, word won't spread as quickly as you'd like.

Boosted Facebook post results on NPOEx

Our next page to analyze was These Songs of Freedom, which is a song our professor wrote "for people everywhere who hope for freedom," as it is mentioned in the page info description. We were to look at the insights and tell who visited the page. I first noticed a lot of posts are written in English and Arabic. It looks like Egypt is the #1 country that visited the page with 1,536 fans. Insights also shows what cities fans are from and what language they speak (top languages are English then Arabic) so we know exactly where they are coming from. The page has reached close to the same amount of men as of women, which is 53% men and 46% women. Most of these men and women are between 18 and 24 years of age. This insight information is helpful in the fact that we see what posts work in gaining those fans as well as what may not work to keep them.

Statistics about fans for These Songs of Freedom page

Creating a Facebook Page

Today, our professor wanted us to create a Facebook page. I've never done this before, so I wasn't sure where to begin. It only took a few minutes to set one up. I never knew that you could still be logged in your own personal Facebook account and just create a page so quick and easy.

I decided to make a page about my dog, Bailey. I set her as a public figure under the Pet category. I also was able to change my URL to BaileytheShibaInu. I made the page for her because I wasn't sure what I'd make a page about that didn't already exist. So I thought it would be a cute idea to just make one for my dog. I take way too many photos and videos of her anyway, so I know I would be able to have enough posts for her page. I also have photos of her including my other dog Rex, who is a flat coated retriever, and my cat Pogo, who is a 3 legged rescue we found in our neighborhood when he was a kitten. I will make the main focus on Bailey, but the other animals are included to show how well they all get along together.

For now my page doesn't have much exposure. I don't have any likes just yet, but once I share it on my personal Facebook and Instagram, I think Bailey will start to build up some fans!

Visit Bailey's Page

Ch. 3

Bolles compares finding a job to finding someone you like and then questioning yourself if you should date them. If they end up liking you, do you really like them? It's hard to know based on first impressions (an interview). Then, once you quit a job, it's almost like breaking up (maybe because you're not satisfied with either the work or pay). I can see the relevance when Bolles makes that comparison.

"You are not powerless during the job-hunt." It sure can feel like you are, but Bolles mentions that "the employer does not hold all the cards," and apparently, that will never change. I sure hope he's right about that. I guess what he means is that a business has the power to hire you. They have to decide if they want you on their team or not, and if they do, you have the power to agree or decline their offer. You might have the skills that they are looking for in a new employee. It could be traits as simple as speed, efficiency, and excellent interpersonal skills.

Bolles then leads into the subject of unemployment. If you go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, they report "news about the unemployment rate" every month, and the numbers can get a little depressing. "The month of December 2014, only 252,000 jobs were added to the economy. With some 21,733,000 people wanting work that month- 8,688,000 fully employed..." What people are not aware of is on the same website, if you look at On the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, "December 2014, 5,148,000 people found work, and even so, 5,028,000 vacancies remained unfulfilled at the end of the month." Now that number gives us a little more hope, doesn't it.

Ch. 2

This chapter beings by saying that resumes aren't what we should be too concerned with anymore. "91% of U.S. employers have visited a job-hunters profile on social networks, and more than 69% of employees have rejected some applicants on the basis of what they found."Can you believe that? That statistic really surprised me. I always thought it was a myth, just to scare people so they don't post any offensive posts or pictures. Even though we do have the option to edit our privacy on social networks, there are ways around it and we have no control of what people see online anymore. I don't think that I post anything bad on any of my social accounts (for the most part), but it scares me to think that employers actually look at those things to get a sense of who you are, what you like or dislike, and who you know, even before you meet! Bolles mentions employers might like what they see online and will offer an interview or the job. I guess it just depends on the person, right?

Bolles says that we can do a few things with our "Google resume." We can edit, fill in, expand, and add. He tells you how to make a Linkedin and what information to put on your profile (similar to what we discussed in class). Our profile should consist of everything that we know and whatever experience we have that will give a great first impression. Bolles also tells you to create a blog, like this one I am typing up here! Even though your Google resume has a huge impact on how you represent yourself, a job resume is still an important piece to keep. He explains what would be good information about yourself to put down. Any achievements that you've made, school-wise, work-wise, or even volunteering does the trick.

My job resume

Linkedin

Linkedin was introduced to our class last week. My professor said that we should make one because it is a great tool to have when searching for a job or getting in touch with managers from business we might be interested in pursuing.

I never really ever thought I'd need a Linkedin. I just thought applying online and submitting my resume was the thing to do, but I guess we should be expanding ourselves on the internet in case employers Google us (according to the book What Color is Your Parachute we are reading for class). More like when employers Google us. My professor also suggested to the class that we add skills to our profile, which immensely improves our chances of finding a company to work for, as well as a company searching for individuals who have those skills.

How you express ourselves on the internet can either land you a job you wanted or give a bad impression on an employer. I see now why I should have created one years ago when I was applying for a job I'd like. Where I work now, I know nearly every department and almost everything about the company. My managers know that I am eager to learn more and more about to the company so I can improve my skills and knowledge as employee. Although I am content where I work now, I do want to expand my "online resume" so that after I graduate from school with my Bachelors in Marketing, I will have a higher chance of being recruited to a new company involving work with my major.

Check out my Profile

Ch.1

For each week, we are asked to read a chapter from What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles. So each week, I will give a brief summary of what I read and throw in my thoughts about the book as I go.

The book begins by giving a dozen examples of why the book would be useful to the reader. Whether it be to find out what you have to offer in this world, to figure out what you want the next step to be in your life to be, or figure out how to start up a business of your own. Apparently, employers have changed their ways of finding and hiring new people since the Great Recession of 2008. The problem is that job-hunters have not changed their ways of searching for a new job. What really surprised me is the percentages of employees ages 18-24 don't stay at a job very long. "69% last less than 1 year and 93% last less than 5 years." Those numbers are staggering to me. I currently work at a TJ Maxx Homegoods. I am 21 and have been there for 2 years now. I guess I'm part of the other 31% that stayed at their job for over a year. I will mention that I do notice a lot of the high school aged kids ranging from 16-18 don't seem to last very long at my work (probably a good 6 or 7 months at most). Even though the 16 and 17 year old kids aren't part of that statistic, I'd expect the percentage to increase of they were a part of it.

Bolles talks about how higher paying jobs require people to go to college and it gives a list of careers that have the highest paid salaries. According to Bolles, "41% of middle-class jobs require a college degree today." I have a feeling that percentage won't stay under 50 for much longer and that number is most likely to only rise as the years go by. He then continues by giving a list of 18 ideas for "Successful Job-Hunting in the 21st Century." They explain about how you must realize your passions and what you're good at, so you can go looking for an employer confidently. Once you find an employer who's interested in you for an interview, Bolles lists the top 5 questions they might ask and how to answer them. What I found interesting is at the end of an interview, ask for the job, and you will almost always get hired!

Social Monitoring Activity

What does the public really think about certain celebrities? How can we find out?

We can agree that in our society today, surrounded with constant access to the internet, opinions can swing every which way. Especially since social media makes the public's opinions easier and faster to communicate. Last week in class, Social Mention and Google Trends was introduced. I decided to research Kanye West.

I wanted to research Kanye West in socialmention.com because of all the controversy he had created recently by stating at the VMA's that he will run for president in 2020. I mean, the guy is a great musical artist, but I wouldn't want him running our country.

On Social Mention, his average score of being mentioned at 6 o'clock at night on social media is every 35 seconds. That is a dramatically different number comparing to 10 o'clock that Thursday morning (being mentioned every 3 minutes). He seems to be talked about pretty positively with a 7:1 ratio, which is really surprising to me. According to Google Trends, West reached his peak of interest from the public in September of 2009 after he grabbed the microphone and took over Taylor Swifts speech when she won an award for best female music video. He claimed Beyonce had the best music video and he reached 100% on the Google trend chart. Through the years he has teetered between 15-40%. Within 3 days, he has risen that number from 21% to 74% and still rising. We'll see if he can repeat that record back in '09!

Kanye's score on Social Mention
Kanye's score on Google Trends