Critical Analysis of Reading Blog #14 - Higher Education

Higher Education

"Measure What Matters" which is written by Katie Delahaye Paine describes higher education in Chapter 14.

Universities and colleges are marketing to alumni, parents, new students, and faculty.


Through this book, she always states the following five steps in measurement.



1. Identify and Prioritize Your Audiences
     You need to understand the psychographics and characteristics of all the various audiences, to get all your various "bosses" to agree on a set of priorities, and to gather the senior leadership team and key communications people and get them to prioritize the audiences.

2. Define Your Objectives and Get Everyone on the Same Page
     If you want to understand why the relationship is improving or declining, it is necessary to understand and quantify all various influence.

3. Establish a Benchmark
     Key: Try to limit the number of entities in any given study to no more than five

4. Pick a Measurement Tool and Collect Data
     Depending on what you are measuring you will either need to analyze your media coverage or survey your students, faculty, alumnae, and other audiences.

5. Analyze the Data, Glean Insight, Make Changes, and Measure Again
By all means look most carefully at the bad news and the failure, because that is where you will learn the most.



In my opinion, forth step, picking a Measurement Tool and Collect Data, is the most difficult, but the most important step.

If you miss this step, you cannot measure anything at all.

ONU Blog #15 - Smile makes you healthy

Smile makes you healthy

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” This is the word by Thich Nhat Hanh, a famous Vietnamese peace activist.




I guess you guys  have a lot of assignment right now. 
However, We should smile in the time of hardships.


According to Benefits Bridge (2016), there are seven surprising health benefits of smiling.


1. Improved mood
2. Lower blood pressure
3. Stress relief
4. Better relationships
5. Stronger immune function
6. Pain relief
7. Longer life


Smiling and laughter are beneficial for your mind, body and overall well-being. Therefore, even if you’re feeling blue, crack a smile and reap the numerous health benefits of smiling! :)

Works cited

Erin, Coleman. “The top 7 health benefits of smiling.” Benefits Bridge, 30 Oct. 2016, https://benefitsbridge.unitedconcordia.com/top-7-health-benefits-smiling/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2018

PR/Social Media Blog #14 - Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

"Her" is a 2013 American romantic science-fiction drama film written, directed, and produced by Spike Jonze.



The film follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a man who develops a relationship with Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), an intelligent computer operating system personified through a female voice.


Official Trailer

I personally like this movie because now artificial intelligence is now being studied all over the world rapidly and I'm really interested in it. 

According to CNBC, there are five scariest predictions about artificial intelligence.

- Mass unemployment

- War

- Robo doctors

- Mass surveillance

- Discrimination

If you are interested in the details, please see this CNBC's article!

In our daily lives, autonomous cars, robots which have feelings are getting more familiar with us.

I'd like to keep paying attention to AI.

References

CNBC (2018). Five of the scariest predictions about artificial intelligence. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/01/five-of-the-scariest-predictions-for-ai.html

Critical Analysis of Reading Blog #13 - Five steps for getting an A in measurement

Five steps for getting an A in measurement

"Measure What Matters" which is written by Katie Delahaye Paine describes five steps for getting an A in measurement in Chapter 14.


Step1: Identify and prioritize your audience
Step2: Define your objectives and get everyone on the same page
Step3: Establish a benchmark
Step4: Pick a measurement tool and collect data
Step5: Analyze the data, blean insight, make changes, and measure again



Through reading this book, we learned a lot of methods to measure your business. Whatever you do, at last, PDCA (plan - do - check - act) is the most important rule for business.

PDCA is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continual improvement of processes and products.

PR/Social Media Blog #13 - What is the most downloaded iPhone app in the world?

What is the most downloaded iPhone app in the world?

According to Lifewire (2018), the total iOS Apps are 2,100,000 in this March. There are tons of apps in the app store so that we use just a mere part of them.

Then,what do you think is the most downloaded iPhone app?
I was curious, so I searched it!


According to Business Insider (2018), here's a look at the top 10 most-downloaded iPhone apps in the world.


10. Google Maps
9. iQiyi
8. QQ
7. WeChat
6. Facebook
5. Instagram
4. Messenger

3. WhatsApp
2. YouTube
1. Tik Tok


I was surprised because I thought Facebook was the number one.

Coincidentally, I posted a blog about the top app, Tik Tok before so that please check my blog here!



References
Business Insider (2018). The most downloaded iPhone app in the world right now  is one you've probably never heard of. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/most-downloaded-iphone-apps-worldwide-tik-tok-q1-2018-5
Lifewire (2018). How Many Apps Are in the App Store?. Retrieved from https://www.lifewire.com/how-many-apps-in-app-store-2000252

ONU Blog #14 - My Trip to California

My Trip to California

During thanksgiving break, I went on a trip to California to take my mind off my study.


This journey was the best in my life. I took a trip with my friend, but I could travel the way I want. We went to Los Angeles and San Francisco.





In LA, Time goes slowly. People there have emotional leeway in their life, like chatting over a cup of coffee, reading favorite books, or writing down some things that have come to mind.

I thought that the climate has an impact on people's way of living. They all were enjoying the sun.



That was a precious experience I cannot enjoy any other way.



However, at night, the city was dangerous. I could find out new benefit of living in Ada, here is super safe.



I really didn't come back to school, but I did. I'll study hard because I can go to New York and Florida during the next break!



Which one do you like, living in the city or in the country?

ONU Blog #13 - Pikachu!

Pikachu!

Before I came here, I didn't know that Pikachu is now one of the most famous character in the world.

Moreover, on November 12, the first official trailer of POKEMON Detective Pikachu was released on YouTube. 

I never thought that Pikachu will be made into a live-action version because I used to watch anime version of Pokemon when I was young.

However, in fact, Pikachu wasn't voted number one out of 720 Pokemon! The winner was Greninja (ゲッコウガ).

I actually am not a big fan of Pokemon, but it was fun to retrieve Pokemon's information for the first time.

I'm proud of the Japanese character, Pikachu!

PR/Social Media Blog #12 - How is your cell phone affecting you?

How is your smartphone affecting you?

These days, the time people spend their time on smartphone is increasing. On average, people pick up their smartphone 221 times a day to do things with it, according to Tecmark.

There are both advantages and disadvantages about using smartphone. In this blog, I would like to focus on disadvantages.


- Smartphones are giving your fingers superpowers
- Your phone is tricking you to drain your energy
- Looking down at your phone is harming your neck
- You feel obligated to check your phone, leading to stress and unhappiness


Now that we cannot live without smartphones, but they have a negative influence on our body physically and mentally.

We should rethink our relationship with smartphones.

Reference
Tecmark (2014). Tecmark survey finds average user picks up their smartphone 221 times a day. Retrieved from https://www.tecmark.co.uk/blog/smartphone-usage-data-uk-2014

ONU Blog #12 - Culture Shock 3 - Mask Culture in Japan

Culture Shock 3 - Mask Culture in Japan

It's getting cold these days. The lowest air temperature in my home city, Osaka is about 37 degree so that It's already freezing for me.

I had a bit of culture shock again because people here don't wear surgical mask at all. In Japan, many people wear surgical mask to help prevent the spread of colds and flu in winter.


But, with the increasing acceptance of masks, many Japanese have begun to use them for other purposes.

- Fashion Items

There are various kinds of cute masks and surgical masks are also considered as a fashion item in Japan.

Moreover, the main reason why women wear masks is that masks hide their faces so that they don't have to wear makeup. Also, they make the face look smaller.

And maybe guys wear them because they don't shave a beard and want to hide it.

- Influential celebrities and bloggers

A popular Japanese singer, model, and blogger, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu wears masks as a fashion item, and that is one of the source of wearing surgical masks culture.






In addition, Japanese makeup artist, Zawachin was showed with attention for her monomane meiku (imitation makeup) which made her look exactly like popular celebrities, such as one direction.

Critical Analysis of Reading Blog #12 - Seven steps to measure sponsorships and events

Seven steps to measure sponsorships and events

"Measure What Matters" which is written by Katie Delahaye Paine describes seven steps to measure sponsorships and events in Chapter 7.



Step 1: Define your objectives
Step 2: Determine your measurable criteria of success
Step 3: Decide upon your measurement tool
Step 4: Select a measurement tool
Step 5: Define your specific metrics
Step 6: Choose a measurement tool
Step 7: Analyze your results and use them to make your  events more effective


What interests me the most is step 4, select a measurement tool.


In my home university, I am a member of the international organization called SUP! (Show yoUr Potential!) which matches students with a language exchange partner to learn from each other.

To promote the program, I was using Facebook page and posting information about upcoming events. However, Facebook is less likely to be used by students so that I began to use LINE which is the most popular app for instant communications in Japan. Then, the number of people who visit the website and participating in events dramatically increased.


Therefore, choosing the best tool will also leads to succeed in sponsorships and events.

ONU Blog #11 - Racism of myself

Racism of myself

※This is not so heavy topic, but my opinion, and I want you guys to know!


There are a lot of racists in the world. I am in a minority here and I have discriminated by racists, but in a sense, I think I am also racist of myself. 



For example, there are lots of students from around the world in my home university in Japan, and a majority of students are native English speakers. Many Japanese students doubt that what bring them to Japan and the reason why they want to learn and speak Japanese. 

Moreover, a TV program titled “why did you come to Japan” is broadcasting and it is very popular. This is an interview program with people from different countries.


Japanese think that English is the global language so that people who speak English do not need to speak Japanese. 


In other examples, if tourists speak at least simple one word in Japanese, like “Hello” or “Thank you” in Japanese, Japanese people appreciate them speaking Japanese, minority language. I have never been appreciated speaking English from native English speakers when I say “Hello” or “Thank you.” 


The truth is, minority language speakers, such as Japanese, are aware of being minority in their heart so that in a sense, they are also racist.

PR/Social Media Blog #11 - Read receipts

Read receipts

Read receipts, the small flags that pop up below texts to signal to the person texting you that you’ve read their message, can be used for good or bad.


In my opinion, I do not like read receipts because I hate to be rushed. I want to spend a moderate time to reply carefully, however, because of the function, I cannot do that.

Moreover, it often causes a problem in a romantic relationship. Many of my friends are annoyed with that.


On the other hand, thanks to the function, for example, in disaster you can know that someone is still functioning and breathing.

Critical Analysis of Reading Blog #11 - Levels of Engagement

Levels of Engagement

"Measure What Matters" which is written by Katie Delahaye Paine mentions that engagement comes in a variety of levels and intensities, and illustrates levels of engagement in Chapter 5.

Level 1: Lurking

Level 2: Casual

Level 3: Active

Level 4: Committed

Level 5: Loyalist

In my case, I am usually in the second level of engagement, casual.

I have my account on each social media platform, and I often subscribe YouTube channels, follow someone on Twitter and Instagram, and press the like button on favorite posts.

However, when I lose the interest I have had in something, I immediately unfollow some accounts and keep my timeline simple. 

PR/Social Media Blog #10 - Live Tweet Assignment - Homecoming Parade

Homecoming Parade

This past weekend was homecoming and I had my first live tweet at Homecoming parade.

I was very nervous because I hardly use Twitter and tweet for the first time in over three months.
Moreover, all of my followers are Japanese so I know that nobody is interested in the event in America. I was also afraid they think I am totally Americanized.


To do the assignment perfectly, I posted promotional tweet a day before the parade with a link of ONU homecoming site.


During the event, I was too busy to enjoy the homecoming parade. I had to tweet what is happening now all the time, take nice pictures, and care about my follower's reaction.


After the event, as a result, I did not lose my friends. It seems like they just scroll their timeline on Twitter and ignore my tweets.


This experience was goo practice for social media marketing.

Critical Analysis of Reading Blog #10 - How to leverage your measurement results

How to leverage your measurement results

"measure what matters" which is written by Katie Delahaye Paine illustrates tips for how to leverage your measurement results to get what you want in Chapter 3.

You have to reflect the results from measurement you get. When you present your results to your bosses, Katie recommends to plan your presentation according to these six points.

- Ask for money
- Get commitment
- Manage timing
- Buy influence
- Get outside help
- Just say no.

I thought the last tip, "just say no" was most important in business, but at the same moment, it is difficult to make a direct denial of the manager's suggestion, especially for Japanese.

ONU Blog #10 - Japanese English

Japanese English

I have been studying English since I was in junior high school. Still now, my English is not perfect and sometimes I am confused with "English made in Japan."


There are many words which seem to be English to Japanese people, but English speaker do not understand what they mean.



- "salaryman" (office worker)
- "American coffee" (weak coffee)
- "American dog" (corn dog)
- "all back" (swept back hair)
- "baby car" (stroller)
- "ball pen" (ballpoint pen)
- "sharp pencil" (mechanical pencil)
- "bed town" (commuter town)
- "cheer girl" (cheerleader)
- "consent" (electric socket)
- "cooler" (air conditioner)
- "freeter" (a permanent casual worker)
- "guardman" (security guard)
- "hello work" (job center)
- "jet coaster" (roller-coaster)
- "paper driver" (a person with a driving licence who rarely drives)



Maybe these words look weird to English native speakers, but they are very useful for Japanese people!

 

PR/Social Media Blog #9 - Instaworthy

Instaworthy

When a picture is good enough to be posted on Instagram, the picture is "instaworthy."


These days, Instagram is really popular mainly among young people. And when people take pictures to post on Instagram, they care about whether the picture is instaworthy or not.


I have my Instagram account, but I hardly post something because I do not know how to take intaworthy pictures.

I looked into that a little bit, so today I am going to share the way.


Firstly, there are some items which are good for instaworthy pictures.

1. Books and magazines
2. candles and scents
3. The bigger pieces (like furniture)
4. The accent pieces (like pretty perfume bottles)
5. Fresh flowers


Secondly, motherly (n.d.) describes some secrets about how to take beautiful photos.

1. Use your iPhone camera instead of the Instagram application
2. Always take iPhone photos in "square mode"
3. Get down to the subject's level
4. Try and get the subject in decent light
5. Select your instaworthy image in Instagram
6. Use a consistent filter
7. Click on the tool icon and sharpen the image
8. Post away!


Enjoy your life with Instagram :)

Reference
motherly (n.d.). "Instagram secrets: How to get swoon-worthy photos from your iPhone." Retrieved from https://www.mother.ly/life/instagram-secrets-how-to-get-swoon-worthy-photos-from-iphone

ONU Blog #9 - Corn Maze

Corn Maze

On October 20, I joined the fall event held by international student services and went to Suter's Farm which has a corn maze.





The weather was cloudy after fine. At the farm, it was windy because there were no high buildings. I really enjoyed the weather which I cannot experience in Japan.



Corn Maze is also the thing I cannot experience in Japan. There were a lot of sweet children and they all were having a great time there with their parents.



These days, it has become a serious problem that children do not have enough places to play outside because of urbanization and spreading digital devices, and that it has harmful effects on their healthy development of children.


However, by playing outside, like the farm, children can communicate with their parents more and can develop physically and mentally. I think this is a great way
which they can do only here, countryside.



Through my experiences, such as the Annual harvest & Herb Festival and Corn Maze, I have come to like American countryside!

Critical Analysis of Reading Blog #9 - Five reasons why Pinterest can be used in marketing effectively

Five reasons 

why Pinterest can be used in marketing effectively

Pinterest is a web and mobile application company mainly using images, GIFs and videos.


Actually, Pinterest is not popular in Japan so that I researched the reason why the application is more popular in America and five reasons why it can be used in marketing effectively.



First, more people in America use Pinterest that that in Japan mainly because they do not know how to use it. Also, there are few eBooks which explain the way to use the application.



Second, I will describe five reasons why Pinterest is good for marketing according to ferret(2017).


1. It is supported by women who quickly catch the latest information
2. Each posts makes a strong impression
3. It is easy to connect with EC sites
4. It is easy to take measures which users can join
5. Analytics is provided


From these reasons, Pinteret is effective in marketing.

Reference
ferret (2017). "Pintaresuto ga maketingu ni katsuyou dekiru 5tsu no riyuu [Five reasons why Pinterest can be used in marketing effectively]. Retrieved from https://ferret-plus.com/7443

Online Video Project - Introducing Yourself in Japanese

Introducing Yourself in Japanese

YouTube URL:
https://youtu.be/celz2BPxjM4



I made a video about how to introduce yourself in Japanese and uploaded to YouTube. Today, I would like to give you my impression of preparing and editing the video.


I shot my first YouTube video. I decided on how to introduce yourself in Japanese as my theme because there are about 20 Japanese students in ONU so  I want people to know about Japanese more.


I am watching YouTube in everyday life so that I have been feeling an affinity with YouTubers. However, once I tried making a video, I discovered they were actually making great efforts to do that.



First, speaking about shooting, it was very difficult to lighten my tone of voice, decide what clothes to wear based on the background, modulate lightening, wear heavy makeup to make my face and enrich my facial expression.

Second, I was really surprised that there are many applications that allows even a beginner to edit videos easily. I could attach music and some words freely by using "iMovie" and "VivaVideo."



I tried my best to make my first video, so please check it out!
https://youtu.be/celz2BPxjM4

PR/Social Media Blog #8 - 【! I NEED YOUR IDEA !】 The cultural difference of how to use hashtag

The cultural difference of how to use hashtag

A type of metadata tag used on social networks, hashtag, first appeared on Twitter on August 23, 2007. Thanks to hashtag, people became able to connect with others easily on social media.

In my case, I hardly use social media so that I hardly use hashtags. That is why, I have always been paying attention to the movements objectively.

And I was doubtful about the difference of how to use hashtag between America and Japan.

In Japan, at the end of the year, "#今年もあと少しなのでいいねしてくれた人に一言" become in fashion. Translating into English, the hashtag means that because we have only a little bit of time left this year, I will tweet for you guys who liked this post.

【! I NEED YOUR IDEA !】

Is there any hashtag like this in America?

【! I NEED YOUR IDEA !】

When I saw this hashtag for the first time, I thought the hashtag reflects Japanese characteristic because a person who used the hashtag can deliver his message with conviction that a person who liked his tweet wants your message.

In other words, the person who tweeted can get in touch with a person who definitely wants to do that with him.



On the whole, it is said that the Japanese are conservative. Therefore, I think the hashtag reflects Japanese nationality.


My major in Japan is international communication so that I really want to know my idea is correct or not.


🙇 PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENT! 🙇

ONU Blog #8 - Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki

On October 13, I went Columbus again to go shopping in Tanger Outlet as an event held by international student services. After the shopping trip, we also went to Asahi Japanese Steakhouse.




"Teppanyaki" was first introduced to the United States after World War Ⅱ, and is popular overseas as Japanese cuisine now. At first, it was not popular, but the restaurants became more popular because they started to provide excellent performance, such as stacking onion slices to produce a flaming onion volcano.


I cannot explain the performance verbally, so please check this movie out!

↓"Hibachi Chef Does Tricks at Japanese Restaurant" from YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HHxrmxe3JA



However, Steakhouse in Japan, actually, do not do such performance so that I was very surprised. The restaurant we went was totally Americanized "Japanese" restaurant. However, I enjoyed my new experience in America :)

References

mdsmemories (2009). "Hibachi Chef Does Tricks at Japanese Restaurant." Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HHxrmxe3JA

Critical Analysis of Reading Blog #8 - Instagram Marketing

Instagram Marketing

There are over 800 million Instagrammers across the globe so that Instagram is one of the best application for marketing.



According to HubSpot(n.d.), there are five reasons why Instagram is good for marketing.


- Instagram has over 800 million active monthly users
- 60 percent of adults online use Instagram
- 80 percent of the application's user base is outside the U.S.
- There are 25 million business profiles on Instagram
- 50 percent Instagram users follow at least one business, and 60 percent say thay have learned of a product or service through the platform


These information could be a guide to promote products and also be a advice to succeed their promotion.

Because it is becoming popular among young women in their teens and 20's, Instagram marketing is recommended for companies dealing in apparel, cosmetics, and foods.


Companies should think whether their products suit to Instagram or not first before doing Instagram marketing!

Reference
HubSpot (n.d.). Instagram Marketing: The Ultimate Guide. Retrieved from https://www.hubspot.com/instagram-marketing

PR/Social Media Blog #7 - Tik Tok

Tik Tok

Tik Tok is a music video platform which was launched in 2016. It was the most popular in free application ranking in 2017, and in July 2018, the monthly number of active users was more than two hundred million in the world.


Within this application, users can watch music clips, shoot short videos, and edit them with built-in special effects and filters.

These days, many providing information deliverers (influencers) are posting Tik Tok movies so that people, especially high school girls, want to share these posts and imitate them.


However, it also would be dark posts which they want to forget because high schoolgirls post them without thinking deeply.


Tik Tok is expected to continue growing from now on.

ONU Blog #7 - My Trip to Chicago

My Trip to Chicago

During fall break, I went to Chicago with my friends. This was my first experience visiting a large city in America. I have been through a lot, so I just pick up some events.

- Traditional Foods

Of course I ate Chicago pizza, hot dogs and popcorn in Chicago, but I went there with my international friends, two Japanese, two Korean, one Taiwanese, and one from Saudi Arabia, so that we went to each country's restaurants.

Eating traditional food is one of the best way to experience different cultures.

Not only the taste of foods but also the atmosphere of the restaurant itself and staffs tell me the cultures.

I was so happy to go wonderful restaurants with people from each culture.

- Night View

Secondly, I was surprised the beautiful night view from John Hancock Center. The scenery from there was very beautiful and it was like a jewelry box.
In addition, we tried "tilt," Chicago's highest thrill ride. It was not too scary, so if you ever go to Chicago, you should try it!

When I was seeing the night view, I thought I was proud of the fact I am in America as an exchange student. I could look back through my life there.

I highly recommend you to go to Chicago!