Meet Josalyn McMillan

Hello! I’m Josalyn, a second year Media Arts and Technology graduate student at Duquesne University.

Why Social Media & Digital Marketing?

I’m taking this class to develop a better understanding of how to engage audiences via social media and digital platforms, which has always been a challenge for me as I am somewhat of a ghost online.

The way that I approach projects begins with a detailed information outline. For me, the first step in creating something valuable is to understand what I want to get across to the audience. I need to organize all of my thoughts before I begin to create. Then, my favorite part, is the creative vision. Once I know what I’m working with, I can begin to design a look and make something that will visually engage viewers. This method is something I plan to implement throughout this class.

What I would like to get out of this class:

1. Portfolio projects - I would like to finish this semester with tangible proof of my abilities.

2. Technological knowledge - Don’t let my major fool you, I’m not nearly as technologically savvy as I’d like to be. I am hoping this class will help me improve my skillset.

3. Understanding of the industry - I wish to have a clear picture of what it is like to work in the field of digital marketing and how to connect with that community.

“I burn, I pine, I perish.”

— Lucentio, The Taming of the Shrew

I think this quote sums up how I feel about my passions. For the people and things I love, I live and die.

Do you wanna know something fun about me?

No…?

Too bad!

I love to paint! For a while, I sold custom pet portraits. People will always justify spending money for their furry friends. I think this is a skill that has helped me quite a bit in the creative aspect of my studies.

Some of my favorites:

What 2024 taught me…

The more I see, the less I know. The world is a crazy, crazy place. I want to do whatever I can to make my time here worthwhile and meaningful.

See more of my work here:

End of semester update

Now that I have completed Social Media and Digital Marketing, I can look back on all I have learned and be proud of the work I have created. The most important thing I learned about my work was that it is hard to be noticed in an ocean of content. Posts do not easily gain traction, so there has to be something about them that sets them apart from the rest of the similar content online. I learned that some of the most important things that a post can have are graphics, hashtags, and humor (or at least some sort of eye-catching content). With my social media audit of Liquid Death in particular, I found that advertising can really affect public perception of a brand or product more than anything else.

I also learned that Google Analytics is a very valuable tool in determining the success and failure of a marketing campaign. The group project specifically showed me that without data or primary research, marketing can be a sort of shot in the dark. I struggled with using Google Analytics, and it affected the quality of my research. When used correctly, technology can be an amazing tool at our disposal. Understanding how your content is reaching your audience can tell you a lot, including if what you did works or if it does not. It can be a sort of trial and error, but analytics tools can help you learn from and correct past mistakes.

My blog posts from throughout the semester:

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Social Media Strategy

Google Analytics: Josalyn McMillan

Costs and Benefits of Citizen Journalism

Social Media Audit: Liquid Death

Let's Connect

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Let's Connect !