Mac Miller- Social Media Sensation

Since I was 17 years old I have watched Mac Miller grow and transform into the artist he is today. Four years later I’m truly impressed and intrigued with him as a rapper, singer, businessman and friend. Mac has appeared two years in a row on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List, gained 2 million followers on Twitter and earned $6.5 million last year. He sold 144,000 copies of his first independent album, Blue Slide Park and quickly became a social media sensation. I’ve been fascinated with Mac Miller since I was a sophomore in high school and it has been interesting to watch him develop as an artist and a person. He has sculpted himself by independently producing many mixtapes including K.I.D.S, Blue Slide Park, Macadelic, and more. With the help of his friends, Mac is slowly producing and taking on new artist, who are very much appreciative of him. The “Most Dope” crew demonstrated a strong bond from the beginning of Mac’s career and it was made evident on his MTV2 show, Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family.

Without question, Mac Miller and his friends successfully used social media as a free marketing tactic. From the start, they made their friendship known over Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. When I was 18 and Mac was touring with Wiz Khalifa, I grew a strong interest in his interactions over various social media platforms. Not only did I learn a great deal about Mac but I learned about his friends too. I think this was when I really got into social media- the behavior behind how they all acted on the web and how people related to the “Most Dope Crew”. They made their friendship clear over social media and that has played a dominating factor in Mac’s success. When Twitter and Facebook started getting popular they were sharing videos from Tree Jay’s YouTube channel, TreeJayTv, and from there it was easily to click along the pages to see what type of music he had to offer. Coming from a city like Pittsburgh and working with an at the time up coming artist like Wiz Khalifa, his friends and close fans were promoting the shit out of him. That’s what it’s all about, right? This generation is constantly skimming the web and as an independent artist, he used that to his advantage. 

Additionally, what really intrigued me with Mac Miller was his willingness to give back to his friends. He constantly promoted driven locals from his city and I quickly learned about his relationship with his girlfriend, Nomi Leasure. It was amusing for me to watch their interactions in music videos and through her blog. Being associated with Mac’s name recently helped her gain over 3,000 Tumblr followers, something that is strenuous to achieve. Funniest part is, I met Nomi on a snowy Friday night at McFaddens Pub in Philadelphia. She was one of the most appreciative, kind hearted drunk girls I have ever met and it just added to my faith in the entire, extended Most Dope Crew. Today, he is associated with rappers like Tyler, the Creator, ChooJackson, and Pharrell.

This video examines an interview with Forbes and Mac in a business aspect- another thing I have always been interested in. Opening up with a new song off his album, the interview elaborates his idea of an album starting from scratch. “Everything about this is based around the music… It’s not doing too much extra stuff, not pushing anything super crazy.” With so many albums coming out this June, he’s going up against some “heavy hitters” like Kanye West and he explained that took some pressure off the album. He’s not about the marketing tactic and stayed with Rostrum Record as an Indie artist because he knew no other label would let him do what he did on his newly released album, Watching Movies With the Sound Off. 

Undoubtedly, this interview assures all of my questions about what Mac Miller is really going to do next- He revealed he wants to gain his revenue by producing and writing music. This has been made clear by his current promotions of Ariana Grande, Casey Veggies, SchoolBoyQ, Ab-Soul, and Jay Electronica. He’d rather produce records and write because it gives him the freedom to do what he wants, something I can truly respect. Watching Movies With the Sound Off is creative, trippy, and much more jazzy compared to his previous album and demonstrates his ability to be himself while selling records. 

All in all, I can go on for hours about Mac Miller’s success as a young artist. I’ve been captivated by him, his friends, and his business for years. I’ve watched him grow from rapping about Kool-aid and Frozen Pizza, to producing an independent, chill album that is actually very satisfying to my ears. I’ve seen him cultivate with his friends- producing just about anything from clothing lines and photographs to music videos and faux rappers like the Duck Hunters. His lifestyle has aided and confirmed my interest in social media and success and is a prime example of making something happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pfhcJjKCpA

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intothegloss:

1960s lipstick ad.

Pretty cool to see how advertisements have changed over the years. It’s also interesting to see fashion and makeup re-evolve in today’s society. For example, a few years ago I would never consider adopting the model’s nail shape, but today, stars like the Kardashians and J-Lo are rocking the claw-like look and it has easily become chic.

Additionally, this ad is straight forward- Go ahead, try Coty lipstick, because some how Mother Nature forgot to give us gold lips. After researching a little more about 1960’s makeup, it’s evident gold lipstick was in. High fashion models like Twiggy wore gold frosted lipstick, and this ad is without question getting people to follow the trend. “You know you’d love to try it.” 

Similar to today’s world, it takes guts to rock something like gold lipstick, especially when your pounding on black eyeliner and mascara. However, there was no better time to experiment than the 60’s and I look up to those people who are able to embrace their creativity in today’s society.

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Kindness goes a long way.

(Source: love-and-balloons, via screams)

“Are you getting this honey? It’s going viral.” And that it is; Awesome commercial by Pepsi and the clip demonstrates a “sticky” advertisement. Sticky ads are unexpected and concrete. No one expects the baby to start doing the worm, frolic around and then jam out on the guitar. Meanwhile, this is an effective ad because the parents are able to give details about Pepsi Next, the product they’re advertising. This ad is sticky because it was simple- dad comes home, mom is playing with the baby- a normal night for many households. Finally, this commercial displays emotion. The parents are so enthusiastic and intrigued with their new soft drink, they don’t notice their son doing extraordinary things. Overall great commercial.

fastcompany:

To raise awareness about ocean pollution, the Surfrider Foundation is using surfing shots filled with plastic debris. 

Did you know that almost 90% of all material floating in the ocean is plastic, and every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of the stuff?

More photos

Save the ocean! Drink out of reuseable water bottles and RECYCLE!

This dress is perfect for Khloe Kardashian’s frame and hugs her curves in all the right places. The shoes give her the lift needed to really emphasize the sexiness of the dress and her selection of accessories are on point. I love everything about this ensemble. 

The real question is where can I get that dress?

(Source: kylieskj, via kkjenners)

“Bill Cunningham, the original street style photographer, has it right. Taste does not equal style.” 

Creativity makes style fun and engaging- it’s not how much you paid for your new Michael Kors purse or what celebrity was seen wearing your new top, it’s how you rock it and make it your own. I’m not into buying high quality brands because of the label: I find no satisfaction from purchasing a $100 dress that I may only wear a few times. That’s not to say I don’t envy those who can drop wads of cash on a new wardrobe, but I find it more fun to examine those top designers and make my own look from their ideas. That’s what creativity is all about- getting ideas from others and imitating them into your own, for your own price.

A recent post I read from the University of Pennsylvania Gazette, discusses why imitation is good for consumers, businesses, and the pace of innovation. I was in awe over “The Copycat Economy”, as it discusses how copying designs is entirely legal in the fashion world, just as copying recipes is in the culinary world. This is how retail copycats like Forever21 manage to knock off so many designs each month. 

“This kind of copying and tweaking often leads to more choice—many variations on a theme—and more competition, which is good for consumers.”

Non the less, copying can drive to new inventions, new ideas, and ultimately new outfits. Copying can be productive and major industries like fashion thrive as a direct result of it.

I get lost in my own mind sometimes.

8 Ways to Create Social Content for the Web

Creating content people love and want to share is the key to success. According to Jonah Peretti, there is one important rule for content, “You need to spend 50% of your time on the idea and 50% on how you spread it. Not 95% and then only a tiny portion on how to spread the idea.” Quality alone is simply not enough to make something spread; you need a strategy. How are you going to get people to read and share your story?

1. Have a heart. The formula for success, in regards to social media marketing, begins with showing your fans and followers that you genuinely care about them. Focus on starting a conversation, not advertising your services. Listen and pay close attention to what your customers have to say.
2. Discover what drives them. People share content that expresses their identities. Your product enables them to do or express what they find important. Tap into these insights and tailor your social content to speak to unique personalities of your customers.
3. React Fast. Like Oreo during the Super Bowl blackout, it’s important to be simple because it’s timely and subtle. React to an unexpected event and create a powerful ad, for free! When your posts are timely, they feel more authentic and genuine.
4. Walk a mile in their shoes. Put yourself in the shoes of your fans and followers. The best content is emotional; Use perspective of your audience to shape the nature of your community.
5. Make them laugh. Humor is important when it comes to connecting with people socially.
6. Use nostalgia socially. People use social media to express themselves and share their past experiences- therefore, content that your customers might miss or may have forgotten creates social chatter and engagement.
7. Take a stand. Let the passion you have for your organization shine through and show customers the ways your business gives back. Don’t be afraid to share positive causes you stand behind.
8. Keep it classy. If you have any hesitation about posting something socially, don’t post it.