With spring break in the past, did you travel somewhere sensational? Eager to share your opinion on a destination, such as where to shop or what others absolutely must do? Visit NationalGeographic.com’s Travel Favorites feature to share with ease. Others can comment, tweet, post or share with Google+ or email your musings on a certain locale with a simple click.
Social media is a dominant component of NationalGeographic.com. There is a social media section on the homepage that displays a Twitter feed alongside a prompt to “find” National Geographic on Facebook.
Every article features a social media section directly to the left.
Social media even makes an appearance on the small, pop out factoids featured up and down the measurement graphics on the DEEPSEA CHALLENGE feature page. Click on a couple blue question marks and share facts of interest.
Another clever, yet discrete social media plug on the DEEPSEA CHALLENGE page is found at the very top. When you select the lone “stay connected” tab it drops down a line of social media options, such as YouTube and email in addition to the social media powerhouses, Facebook and Twitter.
Besides the Travel Favorites feature and the standard comment sections there is minimal user input visually showcased on the site. I would love to see NationalGeographic.com display social media content from its followers and users. A feed of user input on major features is an advanced social media integration technique to consider. Similar to that is the DEEPSEA CHALLENGE Facebook and Twitter components that run on the right side of various pages, such as the expedition and technology pages, accessed by navigating from the feature’s homepage. James Cameron’s tweets dominate the Twitter feed.
This model could be a successful addition to other main features of the site, and could enhance user engagement.
Sydney Brianne Carter 