Media 275 – Module 10 – Social Media Marketing Assessment

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When it comes to being a metaliterate prosumer and a good digital citizen, I feel I have learned how to be responsible, respectful, and accountable in my methods of delivery and engagement on a social media level. I have learned how to do this using a variety of tools such as Facebook, Instagram, Blogging via WordPress, and so on.

https://www.hermannbros.com
www.facebook.com/hermannbros

I was already using WordPress to build and maintain the website for Hermann Brothers Logging & Construction. However, during this class, I have increased my knowledge and skill with the platform tenfold. I built my own personal blog with WordPress and incorporated some widgets into it as well as linked social media accounts. Now, I can write about something and share my feelings with my audience there as well as my audience on twitter. I can do this with the click of a button!

www.instagram.com/hermannbros
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hermann-brothers-logging-&-construction-inc./

I am proud to say that since beginning this class, I have enriched and strengthened my social media marketing strategy and have created ads for Facebook, Instagram, and more, and had unbelievable results from it. I am directly and effectively interacting and engaging with a community of commercial truck drivers who may potentially be interested in coming to work for Hermann Brothers thanks to the insight I have gained from this course.

Hermann Bros. Facebook Ad

Media 275 – Module 10 – Weekly Essay

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What Has Changed For Me?

I can’t say that a whole lot has changed for me since I started this course. I feel like I had already put in a lot of the work in my social media effort before this class. However, I feel that my knowledge has been expanded and my skills have been refined. I have learned how to use new social media platforms that I had no idea how to use before. Learning how to use these new platforms will help me expand my social media presence and audience.

During this course, I have also learned how to engage my audience and connect with them on a more effective level. I have learned new tools and techniques when it comes to my social media endeavors. I have learned that there is a difference between marketing and advertising, and what that difference is. I learned the importance of creating meaningful content for my audience instead of always trying to sell them something.

I must say that I learned a lot from the required textbooks for this course. I still have lots of reading to do in them both, but I have already learned how to use a template when creating a social media marketing strategy and how to build a unique blogging site with the power of WordPress. I am very thankful for all that I have learned in this course from the instructors, the classmates, and the readings!

Media 275 – Module 9 – Weekly Essay

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Hermann Brothers & Community Events

As the social media manager for Hermann Brothers, there are some types of community events that appeal to me and the company. I will cover three of them.

The first is parades. The parades give us a chance to showcase our equipment. It gives the community a chance to see that we keep our equipment updated. It’s helpful for potential new drivers to see what kind of a truck or trailer they might be using if they were to apply with the company. If it is a newer, faster, cleaner, and well taken care of truck, they are much more likely to apply.

Secondly, job fairs! Job fairs are a perfect place to not only hope to encounter current CDL holders and educate them about the company. Of course, most people attending the job fair will likely not have a CDL. This is perfectly okay, though! This gives us an opportunity to educate people about how to go about obtaining their CDL. This could be looked at as an investment on the company’s part.

Lastly, an open-house type of event. We could host an event where we use social media to advertise and invite potentially interested individuals to come look at our equipment and speak with company representatives about working for Hermann Brothers. We would also have current drivers there to share their testimony with attendees.

Media 115 – Module 8 – Weekly Essay

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Red Dawn’s Motives

The propaganda piece I chose is John Milius’ 1984 film, “Red Dawn”. This fictional film is about a hypothetical invasion of the United States by Russian and Cuban soldiers. While the events that take place in this film are not completely impossible, the chances of them actually happening are slim to none. This film was used to incite fear of Russians, Cubans, and anything or anyone who was affiliated with communism in right-wing conspiracy theorists.

The creators of this piece obviously had a biased view and agenda when making the film. This becomes apparent in a variety of ways. One of these ways is how the invading soldiers are portrayed. We definitely see the invading Russian and Cuban soldiers being cast as unprovoked villains. There is also a part of the film where captured American civilians have been put into a detention camp inside a drive in movie theater where they are shown a propaganda piece themselves in an effort to convert them.

It is obvious that the director had hoped to stoke the tensions and fears of individuals who were already scared due to the Cold War era, and prey upon this with every opportunity in this unrealistic and purely fictional film. I feel that they probably succeeded with their targeted demographic, but flopped with others.

Media 275 – Module 8 – Weekly Essay

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“My Perception of Social Media”

My perception of social media has not changed much since taking this class, for the most part anyway. I was already well aware of the benefits and capabilities of having a strong social media presence and marketing strategy. However, I have learned of new various tools and methods to employ in my own personal strategy. I very much plan on using these tools in my management and strategy when it comes to the professional business accounts of Hermann Brothers.

Two main things I’d like to touch on. The first is blogging. I had no idea how useful of a tool blogging could be, or how it really even worked in the first place. Taking this course, along with Intro to Digital Video, has forced me to utilize WordPress and become an amateur blogger. By using this feature, in conjunction with the reading of the required textbooks, has taught me a lot and given me the drive and desire to keep blogging, even after I am done with the college courses.

In this class, I have also learned of many new social media platforms that I was not previously aware of. I have also learned about how they work and the benefits of using them. I am particularly interested in a few of these applications including, but not limited to, Twitter, Flipboard, and Pinterest. I am very excited to play around with these a little more once I have some more free time on my hands.

Media 275 – Module 5 – Weekly Essay

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As the person who currently represents the company of Hermann Brothers, I feel that I have already begun attempting to engage with the trucking industry community, not only on a local level, but on a regional level as well. I have only been doing so for a couple years, and I don’t get as much time every week to focus on it as I would like, so I feel I still have a long ways to go in this department. Hence, why I am taking this course!

I can’t say that I have built some good, solid, online relationships with partnering companies yet, but if I were, which I do plan on doing, then it would be with companies such as Kenworth, Freightliner, Peterbilt, Love’s, Pilot, and Flying J. The first three are semi-truck manufacturers. They have repair shops and driver lounges all over the country. Having a good online relationship with them could lead to some positive PR and assisted advertising on their part at their locations. The same thing goes for the other three I named off. However, these are truck stops. These are also all over the country and truck drivers stop at them all the time. If I fostered positive relationships with these big name truck stops online, and engaged with them online, these drivers who are their loyal customers might start seeing the Hermann Brothers name pop up and be attracted to it.

https://kenworth.com/

https://www.peterbilt.com/

Media 275 – Module 3 – Essay

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The product I am advocating today is being an employee for Hermann Brothers Logging & Construction. I have been an employee here for 6 years now and I must say that this is the best job I have ever had. I would highly recommend working here to anyone else I came across. The Hermanns are very nice people and I have really enjoyed working for them over the years. They treat their employees like they are family. That is a hard quality to find in this industry these days.

They make sure that the drivers are comfortable, well-taken care of, and have the luxury of using new equipment. They also recognize when an employee goes above and beyond. As a current employee of Hermann Brothers Logging & Construction, I receive a full benefit package consisting of paid health, vision, life, and dental insurances, along with a 401k, and paid time off that is available for use at my disposal.

In my 6 short years of working here, I have already advanced into a hybrid office position. Not only do I still drive part time, but I also train new drivers, develop training videos, manage their social media accounts, design graphic advertising for hiring new drivers, and manage their website for them.

The Hermann Brothers have kept me very happy during my employment with them and I don’t plan on leaving any time soon.

https://www.facebook.com/hermannbros

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Media 275 – Module 6 – Weekly Essay

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Storytelling in Social Media

A company’s social media presence and branding efforts thrive on storytelling. I would have to say that the most important reason for this is the fact that storytelling allows a person to get up close and personal with the company or brand. This can create a sense of transparency and authenticity. This is what the consumer wants. They want to feel like they are communicating with a real person in real-time. Telling a story consists of three parts: an introduction, a problem, and a resolution. A good storyteller knows how to regularly create engaging content that intricately interweaves all three of these elements.

I will use an example from the Hermann Brothers Facebook page. I use this page to market the company to potential new drivers. I do my best to sell the company to them and make it seem appealing. More appealing than where they currently work, if I can.

Introduction:
“Dry vans, chip trailers, live bottoms, flatbeds, and more! Hermann Brothers operates a rapidly growing and diverse fleet to the service the needs of customers all across the Greater Pacific Northwest.”

Problem:
“Are you tired of not being home every night or every weekend at the very least? Are you tired of not being paid by the hour? Are you tired of messing with freight, curtains, and tarps?”

Solution:
“Here at Hermann Brothers, you don’t have to worry about any of that. Here you will have hourly pay, home every night (if not more), full benefits and 401k, no-touch freight, and more. Join the team today!”

I consistently create ads for Hermann Brothers using this format, or something similar. I have had amazing results and returns from it. I feel that the problem section of the story is the most important part. I feel that is where the company-consumer relationship is established. It is stating, “this is how and where we know you are struggling.” Then the solution section says, “This is how we can help you fix that.” In reality, the ads are created to benefit us as a company but the idea is to create them in a way that they seem like they are there to benefit the consumer.

I read three articles about storytelling in social media before I wrote this. The links are below:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jiawertz/2021/09/29/storytelling-and-the-power-of-social-media/?sh=147ec1296da3

Social Media Storytelling: How It Works
https://www.socialpilot.co/blog/social-media-storytelling

Media 275 – Module 4 – Weekly Essay – “Join the Team!”

Posted on by jesse

Chip trucks, flatbeds, live bottoms, dry vans, you name it! Here at Hermann Brothers, we operate a diversified fleet to service customers both locally, and regionally throughout the Greater Pacific Northwest.

Are you tired of being treated like you are just a number? Are you tired of being treated like a statistic? Are you tired of staying out on the road for weeks at a time? Are you tired of tarping your loads?

Incorporated in 1968, Hermann Brothers started as a small family-owned logging company based in Port Angeles, Washington. Over the years, Hermann Brothers has also developed a large and rapidly growing commercial truck fleet that can service a wide variety of transportation needs in the Greater Pacific Northwest. Locally owned and operated, we believe in a strong commitment to the environment, to our community, to our employees, & to our family.

Here at Hermann Brothers, we run a very family-oriented business and treat our drivers with the respect they deserve. You ARE more than a number or statistic. We will make SURE you get home every weekend to see your family, if not every night. We will have your back. Join the team today. More importantly, join the family.

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