So…

Hi Tumblrs.  I’ve been thinking a lot lately.  And I really want to start getting into filmmaking.  Obviously, I’m just 14.  and, yes, obviously I’ve got 4 years left before I have to decide what I want to major in, in college.  But filmmaking really interests me, and I think it’s something I should start delving into… more than I am currently.  I know I’ve been doing YouTube videos for the past however months, but I want to start to get into… film, film.  I’ll obviously keep my YouTube videos continuing, but I want to create, or try, some type of short-film or something and upload it here to Vimeo.  This is something I’ve been interested in for, well… forever, and I’m interested and excited to try it out.  So, that’s that.  Stay tuned through the next few months, and my Twitter, and be sure to keep watching, every week on my YouTube channel for my normal content. 

Get Your Users and Customers to Advertise You

So; I just got back from vacation, so I have an excuse for being off social networks recently.  Anyways, If you dont know already I’m someone who is really interested in marketing.  aka how a company constantly markets their brand to get a sale; or new user, or whatever.  

So as I was on vacation I was able to go to a few baseball games; one of my favorite things, alongside tech, filmmaking, etc.  This time, more than previously, I continually observed the team’s “in this case the Orioles” marketing, and how, as a consumer, I would want to buy merchandise or another ticket, or whatever.  They’re marketing was strong, and powerful… and good.  Wherever in the stadium I went, I would see colors, logo, branding, colors, logo, branding.  The tables were orange, the stands had logos on them, the security wore jerseys, the FLOOR was Orange.  I mean, seriously, nonstop branding.  The thing I found the most interesting is how much of a majority of the fans had Orioles merchandise; it was a lot.  Bare in mind we are in Florida; not Baltimore, aka the home of the Orioles.  This means…

1. Baltimore had gotten previous spring training attendees to buy more tickets.

2. They were able to sell merchandise; to what, I would have to imagine are first time Orioles fans, or at least a good part of them must have been.

The fact of the matter is; in sports specifically, people are willing to pay money to promote YOUR product, for you.  aka merchandise.  I find this interesting; and as a “marketer” of my channel, or whatever, this is something that you want to do.  When you can make advertising your brand “cool” than people will do it.   Without you even asking.  I feel like this kind of almost happened with #KONY2012.  For those unaware (for some reason) Kony 2012 is a viral ad campaign, headed by a 30 minute film that campaigns for the end of Joseph Kony; an insane leader in Uganda, Africa.  It’s gone viral; as the goal of the campaign is basically to let as many people as possible know about Kony.  With so many people doing it, It’s almost began to become “cool” to support it.  When you see your friends share it; and then you watch it; you will likely go on to share it; because it’s almost became “cool” to do it.  If you had seen it through Google, or not through your friends, you would probably have a lower possibility to go on and promote it.  So that’s my little marketing rant for today.  

Bottom Line: If you can promote your product to the point where your users will want to advertise you; it can make a huge difference in the sales of your product.

“The Bieber Effect”

Before we get started; this post doesn’t necessarily talk about technology… but something that still really interests me.  And if your into social media, promoting a brand, or just online marketing in general, this should interesting to you.  

So I would like to start by introducing you to someone named Carly Rae Jepsen.  Have you heard of her? No?  I didn’t think so.  She’s a Canadian artist who just recently signed with Justin Bieber’s label last week.  (Yeah, I had to do a lot of research for this post.)   Anyways, “to celebrate” Bieber and some of his friends made a video, to promote Carly’s single.  However; here’s where it get’s interesting.  This wasn’t a “music video” like you would expect from them.  It was a YouTube video, recorded on webcams, using Photo Booth effects, and very simple editing.  The video, here, was uploaded to one of Bieber’s friends’ channels.  The video, since, has gone viral, with 5.7 million views after the 4 days it has been up.  Also; at writing this, the song is #77 on the iTunes Charts. Dang.  That’s what I call “The Bieber Effect”.  So; what happened here?

1. Justin Bieber was in it.  His presence can make anything viral.  It’s funny, but it’s true. 
2. The video didn’t seem as professional as a “music video”.  Fans of him want to know more about him (as weird as that is) and so even something as silly as him and his friends just playing around is interesting to them.  It “simplifies” the stars for them.

This is really interesting; especially from a marketing point of view.  A video just with some of Bieber’s fans dancing makes a song from a person nobody has heard of skyrocket on the iTunes charts.  The simplest things can make millions of dollars.  It also shows how powerful a Tweet from the Biebs can be.  HA!

My Thoughts on Mac OS X Mountain Lion

So, I know I haven’t been posting on here that often; but I’ll try to be posting more.  I know the standard “personal blog” format may be dying; but I think having one, unfiltered, blog is really important.  Not to mention I’ll be able to come back and look at my thoughts in my past; so I really think it’s important (at least for me) to keep a standard blog.  

Anyways, this morning Apple announced 10.8 Mountain Lion; aka the latest version of OS X.  I uploaded a video on it; which you can check out here.  If you dont know all of the features; check out Apple’s official page on it, here.  I want to keep this post exclusive to my thoughts; and not as much a description on what 10.8 is.  Anyways, I really feel like this is a solid upgrade.  Now that Apple plans on yearly OS updates; it’s expected that each upgrade may not necessarily be as big of an update as the previous version.  The only main updates are the insertions of iOS apps into the Mac.  aka when I create a note on my iPad, it will automatically sync with my Mac.  Same goes for the new Messages app, Reminders app, and Game Center apps.  Honestly, I dont care too much for these apps, as I’m using Clear for to-do’s, Evernote for notes, and my XBOX for gaming (who uses Game Center?) not all of these apps are important to me, but I think the point is what these mobile apps means.  Apple has slowly started making OS X more like iOS, which I think is good.  I like the fact that I can do something on my iPhone on the go, and pick it up at home on my Mac.  I think that’s an incredib

Social Networks

I think I made a post about this a long time ago; but I think it’s appropriate to be made again.  We live in a time of the internet; and how much it’s trying to help our social lives, through these things known as social networks.  Facebook, of course, is designed for connecting you and your close group of friends.  Twitter, although is used for the same use, is also used for companies; or people with “followings” around the web.  YouTube (my personal favorite) is designed for sharing video content, and allowing anyone with a webcam to have a “voice”.  Obviously, I could continue on and on about these social networks, and their purposes; but I find this interesting.  I must admit; these sites have helped us as a society A TON.  Protests being created through them,  stars being found, point of views being shared; but I always wonder: If there wasn’t a YouTube, Twitter, Email, etc. how much more productive would I be?  I spend tons of time reading Tweets, watching videos, chatting with friends… would I be more productive?  I think the obvious answer is yes.  But honestly; I feel like if learned, gained, and have been able to socialize so much as well with social media.  And sites like YouTube and Twitter are some of the coolest sites since sliced bread.  If that makes any sense.