Blog - DIGITAL MEDIA GHOST

DIGITAL MEDIA GHOST

12 Months of Standout Social Posts - 2014

12/31/2014

by Kim Niemi

As another year draws to a close, it’s time to take a look at the ways that social media drew us closer together and made the world a little smaller in 2014. Amidst the typical viral vids and silly memes were serious conversations about racism and rape culture in America, forcing us to look deeper at ourselves and recognize the power of social media to effect change. While this list is hardly comprehensive, it’s a good snapshot of what went down this year on the various social networks. Will our standout picks match yours? Time to find out.

Make 2015 the Year You Publish Your First eBook

12/31/2014

by Will Viharo

Need a New Year's Resolution? Here's one: finish writing that book, then publish it. The writing part is up to you, and will take as long as you need in order to tell the story or convey the information properly. But the act of just getting your work out in the world is, or should be, the least of your worries. Here are the basic steps you'll need to take on that pending pathway to self-publication...

2015 & Social Media: What to Expect

12/30/2014

by Geoff Gillette

The end of the year is always a good time for lists. Lists of things that were the best of 2014, things we’re going to do in 2015 (usually stuff we didn’t end up doing in 2014) and predictions of what is to come. Social media has seen exponential growth in the last two years and more and more companies are jumping on board and pushing the evolution of this communications medium.

So what do we have to look forward to?

Snapcash: Will It Flop? Or Will We Get Used To It?

12/26/2014

by Olivia Collins

Snapchat’s most recent feature is leaving many confused. With Snapcash, users connect their bank account to Snapchat and can transfer funds to another user simply by typing in the dollar sign and however much cash they’d like to transfer. Frankly, I don’t understand why they thought this would be a good idea.

The average age of a Snapchat user is eighteen, according to Forbes.com. Truth of the matter is, most eighteen year olds don’t have much money to throw around. And I’m sure the older users would know better than to give their credit card information to an app that has a history of getting hacked.

4 Holiday Posts We Won’t Miss After Tomorrow

12/23/2014

by Lily Bradic

While the holiday season is generally a lot of fun, it’s also a time of repetition — the same songs, the same movies, the same conversations with elderly relatives. And it’s no different online. If your news feed has been filled with memes, elves, and Christmas countdowns, here are four holiday posts you won’t miss after tomorrow:

The Numbers Game: Do "Active Users" Mean Anything?

12/23/2014

There was some buzz among tech journalists earlier this month over the announcement that picture sharing powerhouse Instagram had reached 300 million active users/month. That puts it at 16 million users above its closest competitor, Twitter. Is that cause for concern among the Twitter elite?

Not according to Twitter co-founder Evan Williams.

Why Your eBook Needs a Trailer

12/21/2014

by Will Viharo

Let's face it: it's hard getting people to read anything these days, much less buy books by unknown authors. We live in a culture dominated by visual media. This is why if you're planning to publish any kind of book (yes, even an ebook), you should start thinking about promoting it with a trailer. Yes, just like a movie, exactly!

5 Ebooks For Your Virtual Holiday Stocking

12/18/2014

by Will Viharo

Writing

The year is finally winding up, and you're still wondering what to give that one special (or even random!) person on your gift list. Or you're wondering how to enjoy your vacation without spending too much money once the presents have all been unwrapped. What better (cost effective) gift than one that keeps on giving – a great ebook! And what better way to spread holiday cheer than by sharing the work of a self-published author, even if you're only treating yourself?

Web 301: Social Media Tips for the Holidays

12/17/2014

Digital Marketing

Whether you’re prepared for it or not, the holiday season is upon us. A lot of people are in vacation mode already, even while at the office — in the run-up to Christmas, every day is a Friday. While your mind is probably on the personal (and perhaps professional) events that you have to attend over the next few weeks, it’s as important as ever to keep yourself out of trouble. Here are five ways to keep your eye on the ball without ruining the festivities (or working TOO hard):

Looking Beyond The "Like"

12/15/2014

by Geoff Gillette

For even the most casual Facebook user this scenario has happened at least once. One of your friends has posted something negative or upsetting. Loss of a pet, a personal struggle etc. You want to support your friend, but clicking on the “Like” button feels wrong somehow, like you’re saying you’re glad that Fido is gone. So what do you do?

Facebook says they may have an answer to that conundrum, but it's not what users have been asking for.