Grinder in the Media

Brittney Griner is the first ever men or women's basketball player to score over 3,000 points and block over 700 shots and after being the #1 draft pick in the WNBA draft, and signing a major contract with Nike, she has decided to officially announce that she is a lesbian. She recently revealed that during her college career at Baylor she was told to keep her sexuality quiet. But now that she has gone pro she has made it her mission to help people live as individuals and in truth. She is now dedicated to the "It Gets Better Project" which helps lesbian and gay kids survive harassment and bullying.

Griner after winning NCAA Title

Griner wants to be a "be a light who inspires others" and even told kids to tweet her and send her a DM because she would help them find help if they are being bullied. With close to 40,000 followers on Twitter Britney Griner has already built a brand of her own. I love the way that she is using her platform to show others that it is okay to be different. She is breaking down barriers and proving that there is so much more to life than just being a great basketball player. She is using social media to make herself accessible to the public. There use to be a time when athletes did not have a way to reach the public unless they were doing an interview. This leaves room for misinterpretations and third party applications. But through platforms like twitter and the blogosphere athletes can endlessly express themselves first hand. This may not always be the best thing for athletes or people in the spotlight but it is definitely better than always having your life open to a third party interpretation. And now that Griner has come out to the public...I think it is time that we stop using her sexuality as a major topic of discussion and let the girl play ball because she has more records to crush and championships to win!

Comparing Express and The Limited

In class we were asked to do a brand comparison between two companies using social media platforms in their marketing plan. I found that all though the following clothing companies are marketing to similar target audiences they have distinctly different ways of utilizing Instagram as a social media platform....

INSTAGRAM EXPRESS

Express is still gaining speed on the Instagram platform. The company currently has 21,000 followers and 205 pictures. The EXPRESSRUNWAY Instagram name is accompanied by the description “Style at the speed of life”. This mantra is not also found on its  Official Twitter profile, so customers may be a little confused as to whether or not this is the Official Express Instagram. This account does do an excellent job of engaging followers in liking and commenting on different Express looks and fashion trends. The company posts about two pictures per day to Instagram that generate hundreds of likes. Majority of the pictures feature scenes from different stores across the country, advertising photo shoots, Express fashion on the runway, and expertly placed scenes of New York cityscapes. The Instagram account seems to capture a lifestyle, one that represents what it means to rock Express fashion, live a vibrant city life, and have “style at the speed of life”. 

  

THE LIMITED INSTAGRAM

The Limited Instagram has posted 52 pictures and has accrued just over 2,000 followers. The Instagram profile is very behind in posting, because the last picture uploaded was 3 weeks ago (at the time of writing). There should never be a period when a fashion retail store has not posted an image for three weeks. Usually a new shipment of styles and trends have debuted online and in stores before 3 weeks has passed. The Limited could be using its Instagram account to present the newest trends to consumers. Some of the current posts do not even have an accompanying written description. Most of the posts on their Instagram feature the actual Limited offices or people that work in stores or at headquarters. It is a little strange that there are not a lot of posts featuring the actual clothing that the company sells. This social media platform only seems to serve the purpose of letting the public get to know the workers behind the scenes at The Limited. 

I personally enjoyed Express's take on how Instagram should be used to market to young 20-30 year old adults. They did a great job creating a lifestyle that many young people would love to enjoy. It includes great fashion, friends, a vivacious city and interesting career. The Limited Instagram gives you more of a Mom and Pop down home feel that reminds you that the people behind the magic are just like you and me. Which takes away some of the mystique if you ask me. I do not really want to know how The Limited office have been redecorated, I want to know how I can integrate The Limited apparel into my life!

 

PAY FOR PLAY?

While I was working the Alabama Spring Game about 3 weeks ago, I couldn’t help but wonder exactly how much money the Crimson Tide’s current student athletes were producing for the University. I stood on the sidelines and glanced around Bryant-Denny stadium in admiration at the over 70,000 fans that made the trip to Tuscaloosa just to watch their beloved team participate in a glorified inter-squad scrimmage. Although admittance for Bama’s spring game is completely free, during football season the average price of a ticket is $205 according to TiqIQ.

       NCAA data shows that during the 2011-12 season the University of Alabama Football Program was third in the nation in revenue generated ($82 million) and 5^th in highest profit among all football programs ($45.1 million).  I love the fact that college football programs are able to generate the funds to support their athletic association and University. In fact I probably would not have been able to attend the University of Georgia on a full volleyball scholarship without the massive success and revenue generation of the football team. But I am still torn by the NCAA by-laws that prevent Division I athletes from profiting from their athletic skills and likeness. For example, a collegiate football player cannot go back to their hometown and operate a children’s football skills camp that possesses their own name because they would resultantly generate an income based on their athletic skills. While in the mean time not only do their head and assistant coaches make an annual salary, but they also earn money on the summer camps run on campus in the name of the University's athletic program.

          It was only 3 years ago that former Georgia wide receiver AJ Green received a 4 game suspension from the NCAA for selling his own bowl game jersey for $1,000 in order to have some extra spending cash for spring break. My question is if student-athletes do not have time to get a part time job during the season due to their athletic and academic time commitments, why shouldn’t they be able to sell their own paraphernalia, or operate an “AJ Green” summer football camp to generate spending money? 

         I believe that if a student-athlete possesses the athletic skill to secure their own licensing deal, they should be able to market themselves to the public. And maybe limiting the ability to market athletic skill and likeness to collegiate juniors and seniors would make more student-athletes want to finish up their college careers and degrees instead of instantly fleeing for a professional league and the prospect of generating income. I think players should be allowed to promote different businesses on their social networking sites. Players like former Notre Dame women’s basketball star Skylar Diggins had close to 400,000 followers on Twitter when she was competing on the collegiate level.  And if Nike came along and wanted her to tweet on their behalf, she should be allowed to make money off of that transaction. I am convinced that there are better ways to handle the big business of college athletics. 

         I am not going to place sole blame on Universities, Coaches, Athletic Associations or even the NCAA but I can't help but recognize that there is a problem. And with the growing use of the internet and social media, student athletes should be able to build their own brand and make a profit off of it. People who believe that getting a full scholarship should be compensation enough, are simply kidding themselves and devaluing the revenue generated by college athletes, as well as, the hard work dedication and effort these athletes put into their craft in hopes of turning it into a career and foundation for their families.

Tweets for Jesus

Trying to stay one step ahead in a hectic world makes it difficult to create time for the things we should be doing to keep ourselves well rounded and healthy. Working out, eating right, taking a daily vitamin, and even going to church seem to be a nuisance and unofficial after thought in our chaotic lives. And although I do not have a lot of advice and motivational speak to get you up and going at the gym…I have noticed that churches and pastors are using social media more and more to engage their congregation and get the general public running towards the church.

            I spent much of the fall and spring on the road and found that even if I could not make a Sunday service at my home church that I could literally watch the sermon online or “listen in” as my church live tweeted the service. And from the comfort of a crowded airport I often found myself trying to make sense of the points and scripture presented in the Tweets. Although it is not my ideal Sunday morning service, it was definitely better than nothing and made me feel connected to my church while I was hundreds of miles from the altar. But sometimes I wonder is this what the Bible meant when it instructs believers to come together and encourage one another.

            Did you ever think you would see a day when a Pastor has as many Twitter followers as your average celebrity?  Joel Osteen is well on his way to 2 million (I became his 1,645,637th) and Bishop TD Jakes of the Potters House Church in Dallas is hovering at the 1 million mark. Now multitudes of people are turning to social media for scripture to study, inspirational thoughts, as well as information on church activities. Do you think there is a line that can be crossed by churches and pastors looking to gain members or do you think that social media marketing presents the ultimate marketing platform for the Gospel of Jesus Christ? I am sure that there are many people that are torn on what qualifies as a legitimate use of social media in spiritual matters, but I definitely plan on enjoying my Live Tweet Sermons whenever I can't make it to a service. LIVE TWEETS FOR JESUS!!!