I redesigned the website so it was friendlier and easier to navigate and also made use of the Twitter account already in existence. In addition I created a Facebook Page for the CU.

Over Summer 2011 I redesigned the logo and created a new brand. The website was updated with the new colour scheme and logo.

To give ourselves a more physical presence in Welcome Week (Freshers’ Week) I designed a 2ft x 6ft banner, an A6 leaflet, designs for hi vis vests and A4 posters to put around the campus.

Previously the event has been called ‘House Party’, but this year we wanted to give it a fresh start and a brand new image.

It was my role to help decide the name and then create all the publicity and graphics to go with it.

I’ve designed a poster to go to all the participating CUs and also designed a website where all the information can be centrally displayed.

I read an article by The New Web about how their users are saying they would leave Facebook to use Google+ instead. You can read it here: stke.info/lfzsq

I have a Google+ account but I won’t be dropping Facebook or Twitter to use it. Here’s why:

1. Yet ANOTHER social networking site I need to convince people to join

For me that’s the biggest problem. I have problems trying to convince my friends to use Twitter. Plus will my Mum really want to use Google+? I don’t think it’s as friendly enough for my mum to get along with it. I got in just so I could see what was going on but I don’t think many of my actual, IRL friends will want to use this.

2. What information so I post in which circle?!

So I’ve got friends in my circles, but now I’ve got to decide which circle I post to! I like Twitter and Facebook because I can share the same information with everyone. If I didn’t want certain people to see it, I simply don’t post it. If you don’t want people to know about it, simply don’t post it!

3. What do I focus on posting?

I’ve got my friends on there and put them in circles and decided what I’m going to post, but what stops me from getting distracted? I like Twitter because those 140 characters keep me to the point and make sure I can’t waffle (unlike this post!). I just think that if I’m going to post on Google+ it’s going to be complete rubbish and irrelevant.

4. Will Google+ become a platform for companies?

I don’t think so. A company will then need your Google email address and permission for you to be added to a circle, whereas on Twitter & Facebook users don’t have to give any permissions! I might be wrong here but I don’t think it’s a good platform for this kind of interaction.

So if you hadn’t guessed, I’m not massively into Google+. I just don’t think that the ‘regular, non geeky’ internet users will migrate.

The ONE feature that I might use on Google+ is the Hangouts. I like that you can have up to 10 people with webcam and voices! This is something which Skype currently charges for! (Even then you can only have up to four.)

For now, I will be sticking to Facebook (which I’m using less and less) and Twitter.