Dancing and Interactivity

Corporations and organizations have been working hard to provide consumers with interactivity through social media.  Companies go through countless board meetings to calculate how much time and effort needs to use in these social media tools effective.  After the decision to use social media is agreed upon, their hard work doesn’t end.  This process is important to ensure that the company is all in an agreement and updated on the development of these tools.

What if a person isn’t working for a major corporation? What about the individuals that are searching for information unrelated to a company brand or service?  Don’t they deserve the same capabilities and ease of social media as company stakeholders and consumers? 

Most people think of social media as a place to form or join forums about a company or brand.  This is not always the case.  These forums absolutely do exist, but what about the other form of social media that allows users to meet one another and share information?

Groups of people have the opportunity to communicate with one another on topics of similar interest.  Does this necessarily make the social media interactive?

As a matter of fact it does! As a double major with dance and media arts and design, I have grown increasingly interested in how to use social media to benefit my second major.  I began by searching for dance forums and blogs to communicate with fellow dancers.

I came across an interesting blog called A Time to Dance.  Maria the writer, wishes to keep her last name personal, is currently working on balancing her career and family with her passion of dance.  Recent posts consist of master classes she has taken and exciting things she has encountered with other dancers on the Internet.  Did you know that America’s Best Dance Crew, Quest Crew, has a MySpace and Face Book page?  Their rivals Beat Freaks have their own blog.  This is a great way for dancers to learn about and support one another. 

Along with blogs there are countless social media sites to join.  As a member if Twitter I was notified as being followed by Dance Plug.  Immediately, I became intrigued and wanted to learn more about my new follower.  Their Twitter site is way to update their followers and draw them into their own website.  This website requires free registration, and provides dancers with more information than they could imagine.

Dance Plug incorporates interactivity and social interaction design to draw in users, as well as, valuable information to keep dancers up-to-date in the dance world.  Dance Plug was set-up by several choreographers as a way to teach people how to dance online.  However, this site also includes forums, upcoming audition listings, choreography videos created by the developers of Dance Plug, lists of upcoming master classes, and the ability to post information of your own.  For example as a member of Dance Plug, I can advertise my own auditions or event dates for other dancers to view.   The Dance Plug website also provides a link to their blog.

From the unique videos and navigational designs, to the amazing information and collaboration among dancers.  This site is one of the top social media tools that does not relate to a corporation or specific brand.  It is a community for dancers, choreographers, teachers, and those affiliated with the art of dance to share their knowledge with one another.

Interactivity in the White House

In previous posts we have looked at the importance of interactivity in social media, and the companies that have worked so hard to implement it.  Companies that have established their own forms of interactivity are prospering in consumer relations are constantly learning new ways to improve their products and services.

Companies are not the only people using social media.  Other organizations and individuals are jumping on the Web 2.0 “bandwagon”.  One major individual has entered the social media world.  He is none other than President Barack Obama.

Since the beginning of the election race President Obama has used social media through his Twitter site.  This was used to keep followers updated on locations of his speeches and other updates on the road to Election Day.

Since the inauguration in January there has not been a tweet from the webpage.  That is until March 25.  The tweet explained President Obama’s new social media idea called Open For Questions.  This will become a forum for people to ask President Obama about his new policies and their concerns for the economy.

Karen Travers on the ABC News blog wrote about the new social media tool.  In her post, “President Obama is ‘Open for Questions’ Online” she explained the Obama campaign was the first in history to use the internet to the best of its ability.  She sees it as no surprise that they would continue using this tool to communicate with the public during the president’s term in office.

In a previous blog by a fellow student of mine, Mandy Smoot, she discusses the effects of President Obama’s blog found on the White House website.  This blog is clearly written by employees that work for Obama, and are providing readers with up-to-date information about the whereabouts and procedures of Obama’s meetings with other politicians.

The major difference between the president’s blog and the new Open for Questions tool is that President Obama himself will be answering the questions directly to the public.  This is a great form of interactivity and it is also a great way to gain trust from the public.  President Obama is truely committed to rebuilding the public’s trust in the government, and with the growing popularity of social media this is one of the best ways to start.

For more information on the Open for Questions campaign here is a video explanation from President Obama.