As term 1 of Humber College's PR certificate program comes to an end, our social media class held a #FutureCamp to discuss how we will stay connected.
Led by Jenna Stothers and Zack Sandor-Kerr, the event was a great success but at times a bit Camp Nowhere-Ish (which is totally awesome if you know what I'm talking about!!)
The room was separated into sub-groups according to industry interests. I sat in the arts/media relations section between Brian and Deb.
Several ideas came up that we'll use to stay in touch:
Using a new twitter hashtag (#YnotW - which stands for Why Not Wednesdays)
Continue using our facebook page to stay updated, post job opportunities and discuss what's going on in the world today
Hold bi-monthly get-togethers just because we'll miss each others faces
And just because we love the other PR class too, we'll use the certificate group on linkedin and have tournaments to prove the 2C class is just a wee bit better (JOKES!)
I would hate to say I'm only going to call upon anyone in my sub-group (arts/media) because I really believe the entire Humber PR 2C class is unbelievably talented and will be a strong network moving forward.
This class has been a true inspiration and I am thankful to have met everyone.
Look out Adam Samberg – we ain’t on boats anymore...we jumped ship and hopped on a horse.
Yes, Old Spice has brought new blood to the viral video realm and this made-for-superbowl ad is like no other.
For those of you who are like me, Canadian, we aren't privileged to the brilliant million dollar ads created for this annual sporting day of worship. So, luckily for us...we have, drum roll please...YouTube.
And boy oh boy has Old Spice kicked it up with some delicious flavour this time around.
So why exactly does Old Spice have us gallivanting around on horses?
Their ads achieve greater reach and allow the North-of-the-border folk (and everyone else for that matter) to watch their genius ad campaigns...so we too can convince our boyfriends to stop smelling like Dove bodywash and man-up!
The company has started speaking directly to WOMEN – let's face it, we’re likely the ones going to the store to buy these products for our men anyways.
@therealoldspice has created a solid twitter following and actively engages in two-way communication (this is the key to online success).
Now that they've tweeted me (@gingy007), I'm always visiting their YouTube channel to see what they’re going to come up with next.
I know one thing’s for sure, unless some company can get me on a bull – I’m on the Old Spice band wagon and I’m on a horse.
My colleagues have also been horsing around. Be sure to see what Eva, Ben, Pat, Jaymes and Laura have to say.
You name them, we love them (and we want them too).
But why are women so often seduced by these occasional torture devices?
I have a stemming theory.
Drop the stereotype that women are supposed to like fashion, shoes and makeup. HELLO! Welcome to the 21st century. Men like these too.
My mother would slap you sideways if you ever implied that I was predisposed to this outlandish assumption.
So here I sit as my mother’s inner voice constantly reminds me to:
get good grades
write a book
become a doctor
Yadda, yadda, yadda...
Go figure, I, Ginger A. Bertrand, fall in love with shoes and live to write a blog about it.
Sorry mom.
Like many women, I have a fluctuating weight problem. From a thin dancer, to a fat choreographer, to a vegetarian, to an Atkins follower, to an LA weight loss believer to a see-food-eat-food dieter – you name it, I’ve tried it and have gone from a size 14-to-8-to-10-to-6-to-14-to-10 time and time again.
Buying clothes is an agonizing task. I never know what size I am going to be next week let alone for the event coming up next month. So I buy shoes (and find the outfit to match later). I buy black shoes. I buy brown shoes. I buy flat shoes and I even buy cheap shoes because no matter what time of the month it is…MY SHOES ALWAYS FIT! Myshoes.com helps you find the perfect pair.
People think I’m completely backwards but someone has to put the shoes first. Shouldn’t they get preferential treatment sometimes? Shouldn’t I be able to source a great pair of kicks and coordinate the ensemble (that fits) later?
Well whether you like it or not – that’s what I do!
My shoes make me feel confident, strong and as though I can take on the world. That is why they are important to me.
Insider tip: Wearing a heeled shoe actually elongates your leg making your figure look slimmer. Yippee!
I embrace the variety, stability and friendship that my ‘sole’mates provide because I know they’ll always be harmonious to my proportions.
In a world that is social media centric, if you're not saying what people want to hear, be prepared for an early burial and digg.com can do just that: BURY YOU!
The site is designed to let your likes and dislikes flourish in a virtual realm. With little to no censorship, one can post almost anything to the digg.com site allowing its users to be an integral part of the editorial process. Should your post receive enough diggs, it could eventually be promoted to the homepage where millions of other digg users will see it.
Pay close attention to any spelling mistakes, broken links or any such items that could potentially harm a thrilling read – other digg users can bury your post and ultimately the message you want seen and heard.
Yes, this social networking site can be pretty embeddingif you’re not careful.
***Beware of being "dugg to death" as this can happen if too many users submit too much information at one time.***
Digg.com grants you access to loads of potentially useful information that other users post as well. Your homepage lists the articles most dugg worldwide and you can add (or subtract) to their popularity by digging (or burying) them as well. Doing so will create a profile history so that your friends can see what you’re digging (and digg it too).
Digg is a powerful tool if you’re trying to increase traffic volume on your website and even though the digg logo seems to be popping up more frequently, i’m not sure it has the staying power as other social media applications such as StumbleUpon, Wikipedia and Twitter. With a lack of censorship and top posts rated only by the site’s users – the reliability and validity of the content is something to question. What happens when people are digging the wrong information? Who rectifies the situation?
Aside from its practical uses, the really great thing about this site was its “connect to facebook” link eliminating the need to register for yet another social media site.
Examine how important your social reputation is and whether or not DIGG will be a good fit for you. My classmate Jade wants to know: Do You DIGG It?
If you do decide to use this application, be smart and avoid finding yourself six feet under.
So you're probably thinking: "I know what an RSS feed is and I know how an RSS feed works...but I don't know how to get all of my RSS feeds in ONE spot...grrrrrr!!"
H1N1 was enough virus for us all. Not needing to download software reduces your risk of infection. Simply sign in using your Google Account. Don't have one? Click HERE.
Singley describes how to add the blogs you already follow. He also lists some useful keyboard shortcuts so you can quit wasting your time on the tedious stuff. Check it: Using "J" while in Google Reader will automatically skip to the next unread item. No Rockstar has time to spare so "J" stroke all the way baby!
Need something to read? No problem. Follow "Browse for stuff" and search away.
Too much to handle? Create folders to keep your information under control.
If you really want to get fancy, Singley addresses customizable options and even shows you how to share your impressive webbified duds with your friends.
If you still need convincing, check out some other interesting takes on the site. Brian, Karolina and Catherine all want to win you over.
Still technologically NOT-inclined? Let us help. We've compiled a long list of "how to" resources for people like you and me.
Has this blog been helpful? Has it really not helped at all? Let me know.
You've seen it in your "other requests". You've seen it in your news feed and you've even seen it on your FB profile page. World, it has arrived and it's here with a plowing desire to seed your daily needs - FARMVILLE, likely on a computer near you.
Sure, it's been around the block a couple of times but this impressive social gaming network has more than doubled its active daily users in only three months. I dare you, no I double dare you to look at the computers around you to see if your neighbour is harvesting their crops right this minute. YES? NO? MAYBE SO? I mean, the probability is high - a one in five chance that there is an active user right beside you!
Yup, that's right, a recent study claimed that there are over seven million Canadian virtual farmers - just over half of the voter turnout numbers in the 2008 federal election. Sure, not every farmer is of legal voting age but these numbers are pretty telling of a growing phenomenon that doesn't seem to be on the out anytime soon.
FarmVille now boasts an impressive 73 million monthly users. With a number like that, I'm left scratching my head as to why multi-million dollar companies haven't jumped on the bandwagon.
Why hasn't Maple Leaf Foods branded the pigs and the cows?
Ohhhhhhh, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Ok, well why in the world are the tractors not marked with a big "JOHN DEERE" logo?
HELLO!!! You'll know you've made it once you own a JD.
What better way to fertilize your neighbouring crops than with a dynamite piece of equipment. Surely, your "friends" are destined to be green with envy and you'll get some extra coin for the deed. That's right folks, FarmVille rewards you for your good doings and perpetuates the average user's competitive spirit.
"What's in it for you?" Nahhhhhh... "What's in it for me?"
FarmVille presents users with an opportunity to escape from reality and the possibility of reaching a personal euphoria on the world wide web. And really, what human being doesn't have the innate desire to accumulate wealth and status? Whoever coined "money can't buy happiness" didn't necessarily get that one right.
After giving in to its seducing pull, succumbing to its addictive strength and reaping the rewards of its capitalist effect - this tool allows its users to achieve social greatness without the woes of reality. It is only natural to want to be a part of such an ideal network and so, as fame seekers and power competitors, we are contributing to it's viral spread.
Here a MOO. There a MOO. Everywhere a MOO MOO! Stop avoiding the inevitable and join today!
Several ideas came up that we'll use to stay in touch:
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