Spark USER Examples AUGUST 2016
What are spark users creating?
We use social media to curate UGC for the Spark site and our branded social channels. It allows us to interact with the users who want to promote their work and to more easily discern their intentions.
The following Spark-made project examples from our five key Deliberate Communicator personas are representative of the work that crosses our social media newsfeeds everyday. We also added a “just-for-fun” category to show how everyday consumers are using Spark for personal expression and to interact with friends and family on social media.
Personas highlighted:
- Class Standout
- Digital Social Marketer
- Knowledge Worker
- Bloggers/ Aspiring Influencers and Thought Leaders
- Creative Solo-preneurs and Small Businesses
- Just-for-Fun Consumers
1. Class Standout
10-year-olds use Post to ask a guest speaker questions:
UCLA student @seifuratani contributes content for @uclaathletics social accounts with Page:
A recent college grad puts together a visual resume with Page:
Members of Project1324 create a report with Page:
A teacher tweets this thoughtful student Video project as a stellar example of an assignment:
Interesting Observation:
The edu community continues to be active on our social media channels as evangelists, indicating that there’s extensive use of Spark in the classroom though examples may not be as highly shared compared to other personas.
2. Digital Social Marketer
A company highlights a promotion on Instagram:
A Columbia Records social media exec creates content for social media pages about new bands and tours:
A content marketer creates a visual story with Page on behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles:
Change-makers for non-profits drum up support for causes through video:
3. Knowledge Worker
A salesperson from CMO.com recaps AdWeek 2016 for his team with Page:
A VP shares Q1 highlights in a Page presentation
Online Learning Manager from Royal Mail UK creates Videos for internal communications
Interesting Observation:
7 of of 10 of the most-viewed Spark Videos in May were created by this user for internal company communications and not shared on social media.
Director of a small community theater recaps the year for employees and investors:
4. Bloggers, Aspiring Influencers and Thought Leaders
Beauty blogger @cchandreyeee posts her nail designs on Instagram:
Independent journalist @nealaugenstein promotes an article with an accompanying photo journal in Page
@QuickGermanChef shares a recipe to promote her brand and blog:
Interesting Observations:
Anecdotally, the quality of content shared seems to have gotten better since launch, likely due to increased awareness causing Spark to get into the hands of creative entrepreneurs, storytellers, and high-profile influencers who raise the bar of Spark content.
Also, not surprisingly, self-promoters like entrepreneurs, bloggers, and change-makers are the best producers of content that feed the viral loop.
5. Creative Solo-preneurs/ Small Businesses
Filmmaker Jim Cummings sends Kickstarter updates to backers with Post:
(Note: He's also releasing his Sundance-winning short using Spark as main mode of promotion.)
A boutique creative agency uses Page to highlight a customer example and showcase services
The ShareFlo app generates buzz before the launch on Instagram
Uniquely Made for More creates a commercial to reach customers online
A consultant builds his brand through content marketing teasing his services:
Interesting Observation:
Creative entrepreneurs are an important subset of the solo-entrepreneur category and produce some of the best Spark stories. These people, like filmmaker Jim Cummings noted in the presentation, have the design and storytelling skills for Adobe pro tools (and are often CC users already), but they still see value in using Spark for marketing purposes.
These users might not be our target audience, but they’re extremely valuable for setting the Spark storytelling bar high and providing a through-line between Adobe pro-tools and Spark.
These artists also share some of the same challenges as our target audience in that they are novice marketers who know they need to communicate effectively on social media, but want to do so quickly and for less money.
6. Just-for-Fun Consumers
Instagram user @jenn_raya posts a personal Father's Day greeting on her feed
@funantes creates a meme with Spark Post
@three60five shares a photo journal of a recent trip with his wife:
An artist describes her creative journey in a Vlog:
A family recaps their road trip:
Ed. Note:
Examples here meant to be representative of users' intentions. For the best Spark storytelling in all personas and verticals, check out the "Week in Sparks" column on the blog and #SparkMade inspiration galleries.