Thing 15: Discover Podcasting

1. Podcast chosen from America.gov
Podcast on Handwashing and Sustainable Development
http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2011/January/20110125090834nerol0.6792414.html#

2. How might podcast be used at my Post

• Can be used for interviews, speeches, remarks made by the Ambassador.
• Can to used to teach or a guide on how-to-do.
• Can be used to announce new arrivals like current books or products in the IRC or upcoming programs and events.
• Can be used to upload newsletters

3. How do you think this medium is in engaging your audience?

• Will be an effective tool to engage most youth audience that technology incline.

4. Describe types of events, interviews or others for podcast

• Talk shows on global topics like HIV/AIDS, conflict management, drug abuse
• Discussion sessions on topic of interest to the youth
• Musical shows like the Jazz Ambassador's program, and American Music Abroad
• Interviews like the U.S. visa procedures, If You Want to Study in the United States.

Thing 23: Virtual Worlds

Question 1: Discuss some potentials uses for using a virtual world for public diplomacy.

Answer:

• Virtual world as a computer-generated universe it can be used to reach out to those who hang out in the online community like the youth.
• Discussions on topic of interest to the youth can be on virtual world.
• Real life programs can be moved into virtual world so that people who are unable to attend the real life session can get some information as those who attended received.
• Interactive billboards on real life presentation could be left in the virtual world for follow up and comments.
• IRC can market products and services in virtual world
• Social Networking can also take place

Question 2: How might academic institutions and libraries use virtual world in a different way than real life?

Answer: Information and services about the academic institution and library should extend beyond print format but digitalized so that such information will go beyond the shore.

Question 3: How might my Embassy use a virtual world environment for program?

Answer: To reach out to a larger audience not just to the community where my Embassy is located, digital online program like webchat; Web CO.NX should be adopted if fund is available.

Thing 12: Mashups

1. The link below is to my Google Maps.
http://http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=211729821263141733016.00049e3148552937ef1de&ll=9.058268,7.488998&spn=0.000652,0.001011&z=19&iwloc=00049e315d02b6106c0bf

2. Potential use of Google Maps and my thoughts on Google Latitute includes:

• To enable one trace his/her route from one destination to the other
• As map
• As a business directory

Thing 5: Social Networking

1. I have sign up for a personal Facebook account and have adjusted my privacy setting depending on who views my private information.

2. I searched friends and colleagues on the Facebook by searching on the right hand corner "Search Box" and was able to find so many friends and family members.

3. I have joined "The 23 Things" group.

Thing 22: The Mobile Web

Question 1a. Make a list of items that are especially important to display on our mobile web site.

• Visa information
• Studying in the United States
• Scholarship and funding opportunity
• IRC services and new products
• Program opportunities
• Jos opportunities

Question 1b. Decide what is of most interest to a mobile viewer of our site.

• Visa information
• Studying in United States
• Scholarship and funding opportunities

Question 1c. Content to be remove from our regular web site.

• Regional News
• Embassy Publications (because of broad bandwith problem in Nigeria, it will be difficult for cybercafe users who are the majority of the internet usage in Nigeria to download publications with photos because of cost.)

Question 1d. My Eeperiences with the mobile site.

• The site was very difficult to navigate on the computer and it was very slow. I doubt if it will work faster than this on mobile phones.

Question 2a. Write down ideas on how web-enabled phones will change my services.

• Information will be easily accessible to anyone in any location around Nigeria that has a smart phone.
• The number of people that hit the Mission web site will increase.
• More people will be reached with out services and products.

Questions 2b. How will public diplomacy change in the future.

• More people will be well informed.
• More people will get to know the good works American Embassy is doing in Nigeria.
• More people will have first-hand information on the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.
• More people will be able reach us not going through touts.

Thing 21: Short Message Service (SMS)

Exercise 1: Write about some approriate uses of SMS in reaching out to your target audiences.

Answer

1. Program invitations can be sent through SMS.
2. New arrival of books and other products can be announced through SMS.
3. New interesting web sites can be announced using SMS
4. News such as IRC closure for holidays, events can be sent via SMS

Exercise 2: I sent invitations to 20 guests I want to attend our Women History Month Program for March 9, 2011. I called up 5 guests and asked if they received my message. The message was instantly received, and they all agreed that it was useful but asked that I send a print copy of the invitation.

From my findings, the message got to them immediately and got to those I was aiming at reaching. Becuase I had only 160 characters to use in writing, I have to abbreviate so many words, used signs and other jargons to accomodate my message. I wondered if everyone that received my message understood what I meant. My guests requested a print copy of the invitation as a follow up to the SMS. With a print copy, it will remind them of the program and date.

Thing 20: Search Engine Optimization

Exercise: Note on your blog which keywords or keyword phrases searched for, and note your thoughts on the exercise. Suggest keyword that might drive more users to my site.

Answer: I searched keywords like "election and Nigeria." I got search results like Nigeria, election; election 2011; INEC and election in Nigeria.

My choice of keyword was based on the latest happening and thoughts in my country which is election malpractices. My thought on the exercise was to see what term(s) other researchers are looking out for this coming election. I noticed that most researchers searched for election in Nigeria, INEC, election rigging, tallying with my thoughts.

Keywords that will drive users to my site during the election period will be election rigging punishment, voters rights.

Thing 19: Web Site Usage Statistics

1a. At Alexa's Top Sites by Country, I browsed the 100 top sites in my country Nigeria, and the 5 top 5 are: Facebook, Yahoo, Google, Blogger.com and YouTube (broadcasting yourself)

1b. The top social networking platform on same site were Facebook, Twitter and Nigerianbestforum.com

2. I have signed up for the Google Analytics.

Thing 18: What's New with Search Engine

1. See link to my Google Custom Search Engine below

http://www.google.com/cse/manage/all

2. The Google's search option I like best is "Collaboration" because it enable you to invite other users for collaboration.