Social Media Tools

There are two social media tools that I have not used before and decided to try them out. The first social media tool is Blogger. I have never created a public blog before, nor have I visited or followed a site dedicated to blogging. I was introduced to Blogger, and blogging, at about two months ago at the beginning of this course. The concept seemed straight forward and easy to use. This social media tools provided a neutral space that I could personalize by design and content. Even though my entries are related to this course right now, I do see the potential and opportunity that I have to voice other interests and views that I have with others. The second social media tool I tried out for the first time is Google+. I recently upgraded my Smartphone, being a long standing loyal Blackberry user, and switched to the Samsung Galaxy. Google+ was a social media tool I had never heard of or used before, and as of last week tried it out for the first time. It is very similar to Blogger in the sense that I also have a free space to personalize with photos and various posts as I see fit. The one thing that was, and still is slightly confusing to me, is how interconnected Google+ is with other social media networks. It would frustrate me when I would log into Gmail or YouTube that I was automatically signed in to Google+ and other apps simultaneously. After exploring the site, I realized there was added convenience to a certain extent. While I am logged into to Gmail or Google, my searches, frequent sites visited, favorites, music, friends, and photos, are organized in a space set aside for me. Google+ makes it easier to navigate the Internet and do things more quickly because of how it organizes my social life. Of the two social media sites, I would say that Google+ offers me that extra special something that would allow me to reach audiences more effectively. Not only do I have the ability to streamline the personal interests, sites, music, photos, and people that are close to me on one site or page, I can stay tuned in to a wider variety of topics and happenings that are related to me or related to people I am connected with. Also, even though I can always log into Blogger and do almost the same thing, Google is the heartbeat of my Smartphone. So many other people like me also have this phone and use of Google social media; therefore there is a greater audience that I have access to and them to me. In the end, Google+ has a greater power to connect emotions (via pictures, music, friends/family), personality (leaving free spaces for opinions, interests, and blogs, and broadens communications with others by continuously updating your friends about what you doing, saying, and like), as well as, suggesting and introducing you to others that potentially share your same interests. I think Google+ increases my chances of reaching audiences most effectively.