Power Moves screen recording

http://youtu.be/JWcwd9DPQaM

Class Reflection

Overall, I found that both the structure of the class and the content of the lessons were productive and well designed. Although I was initially reluctant to accept some of the structures and affordances in this course, I was surely mistaken.

I like that we were responsible for our own learning more so than in classes I have previously been in. There were multiple tools that we had access to (ie. lynda tutorials, the production lab…) that really enhanced our learning. Some of the skills that I cultivated in this class will be extremely important in my future as a professional. Designing websites and blogs is becoming increasingly more prevalent in todays world.

By experimenting with WordPress.com, I learned far more than I had expected I would about the internet. Overall my expectations within this class as to: what material would be covered, what I would learn, and how to apply this information-was completely exceeded.

Lynda tutorial: Wireframing

In this Lynda tutorial, I was able to gain a lot of insight into the electronic universe behind web pages. I had never known how to access the html format view until now. Seeing how the encryption is so succinct and uniform was not surprising however the lacking amount of characters was. More specifically to what I wish to discuss, is the actual wireframe and layout of a website.

As the video progressed I became more clear in why web developers create websites to look the way that they do. At one point, the rhetor in the video made a very interesting statement: “we see, then we read.” This was interestingly put, and was something that clearly makes a lot of sense. When a website or other image is put in front of us, our eyes go through a series of passes over the image. As each subsequent pass is completed, the information that is noticed becomes less general and more specific. At first the reader will only see shapes and colors, until their eyes have focused.

Web developers are sure to utilize sound wireframing methods for other reasons as well. This assures that the page is aesthetically correct to illicit the appropriate perception from the reader. The way that each component of a page is structured will have a significant effect on how the page is read. A good web developer will organize their material such that the reader first sees the most important content. As in all marketing and public relations practices, it is imperative that you keep your target audience in mind when all of the wireframing decisions are made. If this is not executed properly, the designer’s effort will not achieve the desired outcome.

Sites and setup

Nbc.com
NBC.com had very effective layout. The alignment was all uniform and the fonts effectively designed. Everything within the site looks consistent although the rhetoric involved lacked a level of depth you would expect.

Wpwa.org
The official website behind the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association. Although the rhetoric is sound and credible, the site’s layout lacks consistency and effectiveness.

Espn.com
This is a great example of a good overall site.

Honing your resume and interviewing skills

 

Hello again everyone! I have been doing some thinking lately in regard to the weight a cover letter and resume carry during a job interview. In light of that I thought it prudent to provide a list of useful tips to consider while drafting these two important documents. If you keep these suggestions in  mind, you will have a pruned and perfect resume ready to  confidently slide across someone’s desk. In no particular order:

 

1.Be specific- Do not be vague in any of your accomplishments. Being concise yet forthcoming with your experience may not be easy to perfect although by doing so you will garner credibility. One’s ability to concisely convey an idea completely via writing is a strong reflection on the individual. Use this to your advantage!

 

2. Keep your audience in mind- A common mistake made by interviewees, is drafting a cover letter and resume that are overtly self serving. For example, a person whom is concerned primarily by their own personal goals or how they benefit from the hiring will most likely not be hired. All organizations function as a group of people working together for the greater good of their cause. No hiring manager is concerned with how the job will benefit you because their job is not to appease you. It is to better the organization. Job creators are looking for new people with new ideas that pertain to their mission. Learn their mission.

 

3. Never hand in a document with an error- There is no excuse to have any grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors on a resume or cover letter. Not only is this a reflection upon your level of interest but also calls your work ethic into question. It is commonly preached to re-read any document multiple times, but it is important to take it a step further. No person is able to effectively proofread anything unless it has been printed out. Unless you print a hard copy and correct it with a pen you will be bound to glance over errors without seeing them. When referring to documents that are designed to sell yourself, there are no excuses for submitting a less than perfect copy. 

 

4. Avoid a passive voice- You are not being interviewed by a friend, or by anyone who wants to be your friend. Treat the interview and interviewer with professional courtesy and respect their intelligence. If you write in a passive voice, or in a less than professional tone it will be noticed immediately. This is as important in your interview as what you in fact say. Remember that the interviewer (regardless of their age or background) cannot be a peer in this environment. Don’t make the mistake of assuming a casual feel will win them over, this could be a deal breaker. 

 

5. Simplicity is the key- Maintaining a concise tone is crucial in grasping an interviewers focus. Long boring and convoluted sentences are sure to derail any interview. If you can make the interviewers job easier, it will leave a strong impression.

 

6. Show some courage- All employers are looking for the best candidate, however it is difficult at times to sort through a stack of innumerable candidates. Considering the scarcity of jobs in Rhode Island, as well as in other regions, most positions have many candidates applying for them. It is imperative to make a lasting impression on the interviewer. By having energetic and enthusiastic new ideas for he organization and by being bold enough and confident enough to offer them you can greatly improve your chances of being hired. 

 

7. Scrap the traditional summary and objectives sections- These are silly and outdated according to a top Forbes recruiter. This goes back to the idea of writing for your audience. If you are hired by an organization then their mission becomes your objective, and any real summary information that is relevant will be subsequently provided. The rest is fluff. The average resume is actually read in ten seconds, remember this when writing and write economically. 

 

8. Pick appropriate terminology- Know the industry you are entering into, and use the proper verbiage. By describing terms that already exist in more wordy forms only takes away from your ethos. If you are applying for a position it follows that any experience you had in the past is something you are proficient in. Instead of saying, “I have utilized people skills and deal often with customers,” list that you are experienced in customer service. Most actions can be broken down to one word, and finding that word can prove to be a useful skill.

 

9. Lastly, do not take yourself too seriously- Self explanatory, but anyone who is too serious generally is not taken as seriously as they act. If the organization was looking for a robot they probably would have bought one. You are being interviewed to be a human and thus it is okay to be yourself, and learning where to draw these lines will prove vital. 

College Humor’s “Oh the Places You’ll Actually Go”

Lynda.com

Lynda.com was a very useful tutorial resourse. The options for which are practically limitless.

I was able to view almost the entirety of the Twitter/Facebook video from the production lab although my computer has been out of commission lately. Learning the difference between the importance of “Most Recent” vs. “Top News” feeds on Facebook was crucial.

Also important was the introduction to Twitter. I was not very familiar with this medium prior to the video, although this was a great introduction to let me learn the basics. I found that Lynda was very knowledgeable and understandable in her breakdown of Twitter and the explanation of how to use at mentions as well as hash tags effectively.

One strategy that I will be sure to utilize is the incorporation of the social plugins on Facebook. I need to enhance my blog through Facebook integration in an effective manner to ensure that my efforts are not futile. I learned how to add a “Like Box” for my blog to help attract and track my blogs readership through the metrics associated with Facebook. This allows my blog to be available to the public as well as free marketing on a 24/7 basis.

I am not sure what my other social media engines will be, however I assume I will be returning to Lynda for help once I decide (or to help in my decision).

Reflection of Project 1

I am experiencing difficulty in a number of my blog entries. I understand that there is a large focus regarding the audience, and the aim is to continually write for them. My largest issue comes with a lack of a voice or position to which I can actually isolate a particular audience. In meeting with yourself we had narrowed down my exigency from addressing broad economic and societal issues, to a discussion dealing with the economy of Rhode Island (specifically people of my age group). While I do fit into this demographic, I am finding it difficult to spark the conversation in a way that I believe will in fact draw an audience.

In regard to strengths, I believe that there are numerous. Firstly, there will never be a shortage of topics that are important to Rhode Islanders. Secondly, there are no shortage of Rhode Islanders of my generation, thus there exists a large amount of people with a potential interest in the conversation I am starting. Look, to put this most simply, Rhode Island has issues that will not fix themselves. My generation is going to need to step up, I am just here to give them a push.

My largest limitation within my blog is that I am attempting to engage in an adult conversation with a demographic that largely doesn’t want to have an adult conversation. Until I am able to find an angle that allows me to discuss somewhat boring topics in a light-hearted and casual manner, then I will not have an effective blog. It will be almost instant whether someone decides whether they want to continue reading my blog or if they think its dribble. To avoid being sorted into the useless and unveiled reaches of the internet, I need to excite an audience. 

To improve my blog, I simply need to perfect my voice. My stance cannot be only backed up by facts but by anecdotes, metaphors and occasionally hyperbole. I am in no way an expert on garnering followers although I do realize to succeed in the blogging assignment I must treat my forum as though it is a discussion at a dinner party. Casual, practical, concise and humorous are all qualities I aim for my blog to exhibit.

Annotated Bibliography

Davis, Jenn. 5 Easy Steps to Measure Campaigns. 2012. Photograph. Entrepreneur.comWeb. 5 Oct 2012. <http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223437&gt;.

This initial article details an outline of how to organize your goals to increase the success of the social media bundle. The five largest criterions to their argument are:

1.     Determine your goals
2.    Create metrics to measure your goals
3.    Measure
4.    Monitor and report
5.    Adjust and repeat

            These guidelines are often forgotten and this results in dissonance between the encoder and the audience. A breakdown of the process described above hinders an organizations ability to effectively maintain a positive social media presence.

Fidelman, Mark. How One Defective Social Media Campaign Spawned Millions in Overcharges. 2012. Photograph. Forbes.comWeb. 5 Oct 2012. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/markfidelman/2012/08/15/how-one-defective-social-media-campaign-spawned-millions-in-overcharges/&gt;.

Interestingly, this Forbes article details not only certain social media efforts, but it also deals with the components to good marketing in social media. It gives tips more than it does examples however there are also a few anecdotes and real life connections to the material. One concept that is heavily emphasized is finding what makes your organization unique from its competition and then set it totally apart via that aspect. For example, when Southwest Airlines reached 3 Million Facebook followers, they realized that they were the only airline in the industry to do so. To thank their friends on Facebook, they used a pull marketing strategy by offering sales of ½ off flights and other deals. This not only showed the friends their appreciation, but it also stimulated their sales by convincing more buyers to purchase tickets than would have without their campaign.

Sorenson, Lauren. 5 Awesome Examples of Engaging in Social Media Campaigns. 2011. Photograph. Hubspot BlogWeb. 5 Oct 2012.http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/29272/5-Awesome-Examples-of-Engaging-Social-Media-Campaigns.aspx

In Sorenson’s blog, we are presented with a  number of other very interesting and creative social media strategies. The most effective was said to be a scenario in which the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel provided a “resorter” with a room for two months in the summer in exchange for the resorter writing a review/electronic diary detailing the exploits that they experienced throughout their stay. This is very savvy because in addition to being a cheap form of advertising, it is a very credible and interesting way to provide potential guests with a view of the resort through unbiased eyes. It also shows the vast array of potential activities as well as accommodations in a more interesting way than simply listing them.

Tobin, Jim. 10 Social Media Marketing Examples You Can Actually Use. 2010. Graphic. IgniteSocialMedia.comWeb. 5 Oct 2012. http://www.ignitesocialmedia.com/social-media-examples/10-social-media-marketing-examples-case-studies/

In this page, not only were there 10 separate instances in which details describe the processes behind campaigns, but also it takes it a step farther. The most useful part of this page is inclusion of an explanation of why. Why did this work in this instance and could it be applicable across genres. By providing a clear reason as to why the strategy was successful in its given context it allows the audience to understand further why it was chosen and where the principles could be applied elsewhere. This page also details the introduction of various common social media practices today, and how their origin was reached.

            One example that was particularly interesting was the documentary a Powerful Noise. Through sponsorships and twitter this organization was able to garner support as well as raise money. Encouraging people to become active in their social media campaign by donating $to the organization Care (an organization that has humanitarian aid in mind) for every tweet that followed them. 

aspirations