Experiment and Win: What Motivates You to Like, Tweet, or Pin?

Posted on September 19, 2012 by joe

Mad Mouse rollercoaster night panorama — by Joe Reifer

Over the next two weeks, my company is doing a social media art experiment — each employee can post something creative to the social networks of their choice. The person with the most engagement wins an iPad 3.

If I win the contest, the person who helps generate the most buzz gets a free 32GB iPad 2 in excellent condition.

Yes, I’m going meta with a contest-within-a-contest. I get an upgrade to an iPad 3, and you get a free iPad 2. There’s no catch. No strings attached. This contest is open to anyone in the U.S. and runs until October 5th.

Here’s how to enter — choose as many social networks as you’d like!

My advice is to focus on sharing the image, not on the contest.

Facebook: Like the post, share the post.
Twitter: Tweet or RT. Include the tag: #SellPointPinIt
Pinterest: Like or Repin the Mad Mouse image.
Tumblr: Like or Reblog the image.
Flickr: Favorite the image: http://flic.kr/p/dcgds1
Google+: Share this post. Include the tag #SellPointPinIt

If you’re in it to win it

Posting on all of your channels is great — the more you spread it, the better your chances. However, I’m hoping the potential contest winner will take this contest to the next level. Think outside the box. Really harness the power of their network to do something creative. The mad mouse image has proven to be popular — What can you do to get a lot of people to see it?

What’s my motivation?

Even if you’re not a super connected social media maven, I hope you will participate. The best reason to share the image is simply because you like it! I’m interested to see where people will take this experiment. Feel free to pontificate about how photographers are using or not using social media in the comments section below!

What makes the moon shine is not online

Posted on July 29, 2012 by joe

A cryptic diptych tale: The eagle has landed

Posted on April 3, 2012 by joe

: The eagle has landed.

: Slipping on the ladder until your teeth fall out.

: An owl in the tree. A precarious perch.

: I retreat to nature. To natural times.

: I believe in individual freedom throughout the galaxies.

: Everybody drives a used car. Every salad needs a friend.

: Keep your nose to yourself, and hands off the goods.

: Look for signs.

: Stay with it.

: Every day is lucky.

Fire, psychic powers, scattered remnants, and worldly transport

Posted on March 24, 2012 by joe

: The biggest fire in more than 20 years.

: This was predicted, but they didn’t take me seriously.

: I turn over a card. I leave my mark.

: I exit my box and enter a small transport vehicle that takes me through this strange world.

What makes the list? Desert trips and panoramas

Posted on December 23, 2011 by joe

Burning Tire Swing

I went through my blogposts for 2011 with the idea of making a top 10 list of photography adventures, and ended up with two lists. I suppose that means it was a good year. I use Goodreads to keep track of my reading. I suppose I could sort iTunes chronologically to see what music I’ve been listening to. Before I started blogging I used a paper calendar to track my activities — everything from photoshoots to concerts to bike rides. But Google Calendar or iCal aren’t the place I want to store this information. Online calendars feel mostly like work-related tools to me.

Deadpan monologist Joe Frank had a great episode about how you determine what makes your list of memories, and what almost makes the list. I wish I could remember the name of the episode. What tools do you use to capture the highlights of your year?

Part I: January through June