Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/series/social-media-influencers-2017/)
An in-depth reporting project of the Spartan Newsroom
Matt St. Germain strives to bring some positivity into this world and others’ news feeds
St. Germain is a master’s student at Michigan State University. He makes it a priority to inspire and influence others. Spartan Newsroom: Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, interests and goals?
Think about how many times you go Facebook a day. It happens so frequently that sometimes we don’t even realize we log on or click on the app. “Let’s face it. When we wake up, the first thing we usually do is check our Facebook,” said Jomer B. Gregorio, who runs a startup digital marketing business and is a professional Internet marketer in the Philippines. “No matter who you are or what you do, social media is a part of your life whether you realize it or not.”
That fundamental change to people’s routines is driving big changes in how companies market themselves to consumers. Digital technologies — and the massive amount of data social media services and websites collect about their users — now allow companies to target potential customers based on their demographics, including location, income, age and occupation.
Being on social media is about more than “beating” faces and “fleeking” hairstyles for MSU students who are building their beauty businesses. It’s also a chance to connect directly with customers by helping them feel beautiful. “A few women have reached out to me and told me how they admire how I am slowly starting my business and that it is motivating for them,” said makeup artist Devinnia Moore, a journalism senior at Michigan State. “I use social media to promote my creativity. I post makeup videos that I make myself along with pictures of my clients,” Moore said.
Michigan State University senior Juwan Clarke created the Black MSU Snapchat story to bring that community together. Nearly 600 students are a part of the story. They are able to post, watch information about campus organization activities, find out about social activities and get advice.
Consumers today want companies to do more than just sell products. They expect businesses to be leaders of positive change on social and environmental issues. And companies are turning to social media to make sure those potential customers know about their efforts.
The days of beat cops patrolling the streets alone are long gone. Instead, increasingly police departments across the nation are using social media to connect with their community.
Visual social media platforms like Facebook Instagram and Snapchat are bringing new attention to issues surrounding body image. Women aren’t the only ones feeling pressured to have the perfect figure anymore, either.
Magdalena Urbaniak is the author of Forbes’ “How To Become A Social Media Influencer In Ten Simple Steps.” She discusses how to build and maintain a social media following, who is most easily influenced, and how to keep your followers interested.
When you hear the phrase “social media influencer,” what comes to mind? For some it’s someone with a lot of followers, for others it’s someone who is fighting for a cause. What comes to mind for you?
Michigan State University’s communications team considers a variety of factors as it manages the brand via its social media profiles.