Tell Me You Saw That Photo!

http://technicalseo.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-document-sharing-sites-list.html.html

Right in the beginning of Chapter 7, Dr Luttrell says, “visual content allowing for companies to show, not tell, about their brands, business, and story. I really love this quote because this really sums up how pictures have added that visual pieces that most people need in order to be more informed, loyal, and active with a company. As i was thinking about pictures, it made me realize that they have both a positive and negative side, but yet this could be good either way. The evolution of pictures allows us to do things we were never capable of doing before.

Most people have heard the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words, and I truly believe that. In the modern day of social media, most companies have multiple outlets to reach their consumer. Most companies have Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to share whats happening in the company or interact with customers. The new trend that is happening with companies is that they are picking up on social media sites that are only focused on pictures. The two main sites that companies use to connect on strictly a visual level is Instagram and Flickr, but lets not forget everyones favorite obsession Pinterest. Lets be honest here, most don’t want to admit it but we spend hours on either one of these sites or all of them. Not only is it for personal use but also but for companies as well. This is such an important tool for branding and making a personal impression on your consumer. These sites allow for customers to share things about the company and make a connection. These connections can be made from consumer to consumer about a product, consumer to company, or company to consumer.

Like all good things, there is a dark side. Photo sharing can have its ups and downs for both personal use and company use. But is there a clear argument about whats good and whats bad? As we have talked about in class, with praise comes criticism and that can shine through on photos. When photos are posted to a company site, they are mostly going to be something positive or innovative about whats happening in the company. Then again there are those few instances where trouble arises throughout a company and that could be posted on such sites as Instagram or Flickr. Some issues need to be brought to the surface, and pictures can help the situation or hinder it. All around though, I have come to the conclusion that pictures are one of the most important aspects for a company and an individual to connect.

http://imgfave.com/view/1558026

I think its truly amazing how much pictures effect a company, and how it has evolved over such a short period of time. I don’t even remember the dinosaur days of companies handing out brochures to people to get a better visual look at their company, for a wide variety of things. Seriously, now that I think about it, I don’t think I have ever received a brochure in my 20 years, have you? The magic of a photo is that anyone can take a moment in time, freeze it and use to their endless possibilities. Its a beautiful thing.

Urban Outfitters, is that blood?

As stated by Dr. Luttrell, from Social Media, “We can no longer argue that social media is on the rise or that it is in the early phases of adoption. Social media is here, and it is growing leaps and bounds.”  That statement proved to be true after social media blew up today on multiple sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram when Urban Outfitters launched a vintage Kent State University sweatshirt that had blood splatter on it. This $129 sweatshirt was emulating an infamous school shooting that happened in 1970, when four students were shot by National Guard after protesting the Vietnam War. Both Urban Outfitters and Kent State had something to say after the picture of the sweatshirt went viral. Now where to begin with this clothing disaster, I guess the idea behind the sweatshirt.

Vintage Kent State sweatshirt from Urban Outfitters website.
http://www.businessinsider.com%2Furban-outfitters-kent-state-sweatshirt-bloodstain-

Urban Outfitters has come out with a statement apologizing saying, ” It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such. This one of-a-kind item was purchased as part of our sun-faded vintage collection. There is no blood on this shirt nor has this item been altered in any way. The red stains are discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the whole are from natural wear and fray.” -Urban Outfitters spokesperson.

I guess I see two sides of this argument for Urban Outfitters and the public. First, for anyone who has either shopped in Urban Outfitters or seen their clothing in various outlets know that they have very outside the box clothing. I personally like there clothes and have many pieces from their collections. Although, this certain sweatshirt could be exactly what the company said about it, ” the red stains are discoloration from the original shade.” This certain garment really could just have that certain pattern on it, not meaning to portray a horrific event in American history. Having worked in the retail industry for nine years, I understand that the manufacturing can vary the results of how a clothing items looks. This brings me to my next point, why would Urban Outfitters allow for a garment to be on their shelves that gave customers the idea that emulated a gunshot wound to the arm, with blood splatter. This was a massive event that effected thousand that were involved in the protest, and those around the country. If a retailer wants to selling a college sweatshirt, its probably not in their best interest to sell it with blood stains and bullet holes on it, with a school logo that had a massive shooting.

Now, I am very conflicted on what to think about this sweatshirt. I shop frequently at Urban Outfitters, so much that I actually have a shopper tote. So does this make me a certain type of hypocrite for having so much of their products, but bad mouthing the company at times when no one wants to be associated with them?  I feel that I am stuck in the middle of this trending social issue, but after reading the facts, I think that I am more disappointed in Urban Outfitters than anything else. Again, this is my personal opinion and I’m curious to know what your thoughts are on the matter?

My favorite top from Urban Outfitters, plus my frequent shopper bag

This has not been the company’s first controversial clothing item, as it has battled criticism time and time again. Some of these items include from the week.com, pro-booze for kids, the Holocaust-evoking “Jewish Star” shirt,” Obama/Black” T-shirt, and the “Eat Less” T-shirt. I have a feeling that this will not be the last time Urban Outfitters will be in the news for outrageous and offensive clothing.

Due to the masses that flock to social media, it allowed for this story to be spread quickly to those over a multitude of sites. As an effect of social media being so profoundly used daily, this sweatshirt spread like wild fire. As chapter two stated media allows us to make channels through which we make connections with others in many forums. We can now connect through pictures, websites, and mobile devices. If we didn’t have this great social media source, I don’t think that this news of this sweatshirt would have spread as fast. Today, I saw this link being posted to numerous social media forums. This caused a chain reaction of outcries from a magnitude of people. Another piece that stood out to me from chapter two was, from Barlow saying, ” Internet has created a generation of people accustomed to finding their own answers, creating their own systems, forming their own new communities.” By Urban Outfitters creating this sweatshirt, it left an open-ended meaning for consumers. As a result of their actions, the internet allowed for the sweatshirt to be shared on social media sites and communities of people began to assume that they wanted to recreated something from the Kent State shooting.

From the Circular Model of SoMe for Social Communication, the four components: share, optimize, manage, engage were majorly used by Urban Outfitters today, and by PR practitioners to fix this mixed message for the company. The company shared by rebuilding trust and connection with outside sources such as their customers, news outlets, and Kent State. Urban had to optimizes by reading and listing to authentic conversations that were happening about how customers felt about the sweatshirt. PR practitioners had to manage the media by quickly jumping on responses due to major criticism of the company’s bad choice in clothing making. Finally, PR practitioners and the company had to engage on how they would reach the audiences effectively.