Module 8- Blogging Measurements

Choose a company that has a blog, or evaluate a blog in your company's industry. Looking at a couple of months’ worth of posts, calculate their Raw Author Contribution in Posts per Month and Content Created.  Also, calculate the Conversation Rate and look the blog up on Technorati for an Authority rating.  In a blog post:

    Post the name and link to the blog you are evaluating.

The Blog I am evaluating is Quicken Loans Blog website called ZING! http://www.quickenloans.com/blog/

    Report on your metrics for the blog:

        Raw Author Contribution: Posts per Month & Content Created

Due to the high volume of posts on the particular quicken loans blogging site, I only observed a 4 month time period under the category “zing zone” blog posts. 

November (so far) = 3 post

October= 18 posts

September= 10 posts

August= 19 posts

40 blogging posts / 4 months= 10 

        Conversation Rate

For the conversation rate, most of the blogs have been tweeted, posted on Facebook, or posted on Google plus which shows that the blog has been given attention. No one really commented on the actual zing website. The total social media responses are totaled as followed:

505 FB likes, tweets, Google plus all together/40 post= 12.63

        Technorati Authority= There was nothing available for zing on Technorati for Quicken Loans Zing.

    How might they measure the cost & benefit of their blogging?

Quicken Loans Business IT & Operations department has methods and strategies for keeping track of cost & benefits of blogging. Most of the time people are asking questions about mortgages, giving loan tips, and posting event information. It seem that they are benefiting from its high volume blog posts. 

    Do you have any recommendations on how they might improve their blog?

The only recommendation I have is for Quicken Loans to archive there blogs in categories by month and how many posts were posted, that way it will be easier for people like myself doing an analysis and people of the company itself to keep track and count of the blogging post for measurement purposes. Other than that, I have no other recommendations, it seems the quicken loans blog is very active and a useful tool.

Module 8- Mobile Measurement

 My chosen company for this assignment is going to be Kroger. I have decided to change it up this time around. I have compared Kroger using the website off of my phone and using the website on the computer. 

 How would a user on a mobile device use your company's website differently than a user on a laptop or browser?  What tasks might they want to accomplish?

You can pretty much do the same on your mobile device as you can from your laptop for my company unless you download the actual Kroger app. The Kroger app is more concise to your favor. You can customize your app to your liking. With the app you can organize directions to your favorite store, get updates on items you buy on a regular basis, keep track of your Kroger card account, you can organize a grocery list and keep track of medicine you order at the Kroger pharmacy. I think it is so useful. Some people might want to download digital coupons for a few sales that are going on in the store from they’re phone some might even want to create an user account. These are all tasks someone might want to accomplish to see and have thing more organized.  This comes in handy for someone that is always on the go and need to get to their information quickly.

 Has your company done anything to improve the mobile website experience?

  How might your company measure the mobile experience on their site?  What tools or data should they look at? I think load time is measure they should look at because if I was a customer I would want efficient load time, visibility and content clarity is also a measure that should be taken. They can measure traffic through using online analytical tools or measurement tools the company may have established already.

    What are your recommendations for how they might entice more mobile traffic and make the mobile user experience better?

I would say improving or adding more to the apps. Even though the apps have great features already, I am sure there can be something to add that will make the app more valuable to the costumer.  

Module 8- Measuring Local Community Influence

 How would you recommend they measure their influence with their local community?

Kroger’s should keep track of how many Kroger cards they give out and keep count of the customer’s card information through the surround area zip code. This will measure the effectiveness of the card, sales add, and the usage of the coupons all in one for the stores surrounding area. I think one of Kroger’s largest influences is the sales paper and the coupons they send in the mail to users of the Kroger card. I am a customer so I know what influences and motivates me to go in the store. When I get sales ads in the mail and an envelope full of coupons, with in the next few days I am at Kroger’s shopping. I will say that is the most effective because Kroger’s know their customers will always want to save money and that will influence them to use their Kroger card more which produces more discount and sales ads.

 What tools and techniques should they use and why?

Kroger’s should obtain a data base system that measure influence and usage of cards and have it organized through zip codes. Just to see how many people are making use of it from the local area, how many people are traveling to this specific store, and set a goal for how many they want to distribute. That is the same technique Target used to use when I worked for them. Each store in a community can research reviews about their own store just by typing in the zip code. So how many reviews you get about the card, ads, and sales. Also see what they are saying about the service the customer is receiving in the store.  Kroger Cards are a big influence.

Module 8- Content Consumption

How has your consumption of content changed over the past 5 years?

I don’t find it different from anybody else but I think now I only look for specifics on any information I need.  How I spend most of my time on the internet as oppose to over 5 years ago I used to look through encyclopedias. In my house we have a whole book case full of encyclopedia. I used to love looking through those for any kind of content of information. Now I feel they are just out dated. I feel that internet gives you more relevant and up to date content I like to get straight to the point and find exactly what I am looking for.

    Do you still read paper books, magazines or newspapers? If so, which and why?  If not, why not?

I still look through certain types of magazine like I have a credit account with Macy’s so they are always sending me catalog magazines with men’s clothing and cologne etc. That is the only reason why I look through Macy’s magazines is because of my credit account. I also look through a variety of celebrity or music magazines because the thing they put in those magazines sometimes you can’t find online and plus it’s my way of entertaining myself. The only time I would rather read a paperback book then a book that’s on a kindle because I like things to be printed out just in case I have to highlight or make any kind of markings. 

    When you read online content, is it on a laptop, tablet or on your phone?  Why?

When I read online content it is on my iPhone or laptop, but more so my iPhone. I do this because both devices are reliable to me. My phone load time/buffer time is efficient, It has good quality, and I can use it anywhere. My phone just comes in handy because technology is always improving and they make so many useful apps.