Introductory Statement
Introduce yourself: What is your familiarity/experience with social media as you enter this class? What do you think or wonder about social media, writing, professionalism, or intersections thereof? What do you expect from this class, and what are your goals for the semester
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My experience with social media before entering this class comes from my personal use of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr. I would say that I am the most familiar with Instagram and Twitter, because those are the platforms that I use the most in my personal circle. I have been using these platforms for a while and although I don't necessarily consider myself an expert, I would say that I am definitely well versed. One thing that sparks my curiosity about social media is analytics. I would be interested to learn more about how businesses and organizations track their social media presence and use that data to develop strategies that increase their profits. In this class, I would like to learn more about LinkedIn. As an almost graduate, I'm recognizing the impact that LinkedIn has on the professional world and the benefits of creating a professional profile. I would also really like to create a portfolio of my coursework to show employers when I start applying for jobs. Also, I expect to theorize about social media and its impacts in the professional sphere. While I'm looking forward to the hands-on experience we will gain through the creation of content, I would also like to discuss and chat with the class about our social media questions, concerns, and just anything else that we may notice. My goals for the semester are to have a memorable one! Since it's my last semester at Pitt, I plan on living it to the fullest and getting the most out of the city before I leave.
Midterm Reflection
Since the beginning of this class, I feel that I have a better understanding of how exactly businesses handle their social media platforms in order to promote their brand. As a writer, I realized that it is sometimes difficult to create content that has the same voice throughout. Through my interview with a social media professional in the beginning of the semester, I learned that a career in social media isn’t just about posting to platforms for fun. I came to the realization that a career in social media is actually pretty difficult and involves a lot of pressure. I know that social media is always changing, but I also found it interesting to see how one day a social media professional needs to evolve in order to keep up with these innovations.
I think that the process doc and group work is helping me the most. I like how the process doc is split up into a bunch of different parts, so I can take it slow and really think about the big picture that is the final social media plan. I enjoy the group work too because it allows for a more intimate discussion about our projects, rather than discussing as a class where some ideas may get lost.
The most challenging part of this course for me has been building a connection to my brand. It’s especially difficult for me because they don’t have much for me to work with by just doing a Google search. It’s hard for me to learn about what they’re doing and what they have done when there’s nothing official to work with. However, I do enjoy creating my own voice and personality for the brand. It’s been bittersweet.
I feel like I connected a lot to the course material because it helped me bridge the gap between personal and professional social media. Before this class, I did not have much knowledge on the professional uses of social media because I had only used those platforms for keeping up with friends and family. I find it interesting to learn about how a popular personalized tool can be used for professional purposes. This course is also helping me in my current internship, where I am in charge of the social media platforms and creating content for them.
The learning environment, for me, is beneficial. I enjoy having discussions with my classmates rather than robotically listening to a lecture. I enjoy hearing other people’s opinions and opening my thoughts to topics that I may have not known much about. Overall, I am enjoying the class and am excited to put my final plan together and to see those of my classmates!
Final Reflection
My portfolio is a compilation of all of the work I have done this semester in my Professional Uses of Social Media class. In this portfolio, you will find the "story" assignment detailing a collection of posts promoting Gucci's commitment to abandoning fur products in their clothes. You will also find the "op-ed" assignment where I discuss LinkedIn and my opinion of the popular professional networking website. The "process doc" assignment has guided me through the semester to develop my strategy for Gosha Rubchinskiy, where you will find under the "strategy" page.
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I am excited to unveil my final portfolio on this website because I believe that I will be able to utilize this in interviews as well as in my future career. My final social media strategy is something that I am very proud of and will be able to show to prove that I am competent and capable of creating an extensive plan for an organization or company. Before this class, I didn't have a portfolio, so I'm happy that I will have something to show when the opportunity arises in the future.
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What's next? That's a great question that neither you nor I am able to answer at this time. I am finishing my undergraduate career at the University of Pittsburgh which makes me sad and also very scared, but I am pleased to have spent the past 4 years in a wonderful city surrounded by fascinating people. For now, I am moving back home to Centerport, New York, where I will live with my parents until I find a job or until they kick me out of the house all together. I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me, no matter how uncertain it is!
