Looking for a career move? Brand yourself

When I first graduated from college back in 2012 with my degree in criminal justice and fresh out of an internship with the Department of Forensics, I truly believed that landing a job would be the easiest part. My resume felt complete being able to list this accomplishment alongside the skills that I had learned along the way. The only thing that seemed to be lacking was experience in the criminal justice field. Most of the positions I was seeking required 3 years minimum of police training. It did not keep me from applying for various positions in the field. However, I did not get many interviews and that was discouraging. Reflecting on this, I think of what I could have done differently to make myself more appealing as an applicant. You know the old saying, 'it's all about who you know.' While this may be true to some extent, when it comes to marketing yourself to prospective employers it is also about how you brand yourself. Not just on your resume, but also on the internet.

Branding is central to customer recognition of a product or business. For instance, if someone were to say to me, "Just Do It", I would automatically think Nike. Or, "What would you do-oo-oo with a Klondike Bar?" Now, I have never actually had a Klondike bar nor do I know what I would do for one. What I do know is, that is some good branding and it instantly makes me think of that product. Plus, the slogan is catchy! When there are so many other options, it is important for companies to make their brands stand out from the rest. Likewise, when seeking employment in this job market, you must think of yourself as a product that you are selling. What is going to make you stand out among the rest of the applicants? What value can you bring to that business?

Having a solid resume helps but you want to make sure you are highlighting accomplishments and skills that relate to the job you are applying for. When I was applying for jobs in the criminal justice field, I did make sure to list my internship but I made the mistake of not listing any of the knowledge and skills that I gained from it. However, in today's digital age, it is not just your resume that employers are looking at. Employers are, also, considering your online reputation. They are Googling you, checking out your social media pages, and anything else they can find to get an initial impression of you.

If you are looking to build your own personal brand, then you might be wondering where to start. LinkedIn is one of the first places I would recommend starting to build your brand. If you were to view my LinkedIn page today, you would see, alongside my job history, that I am affiliated with various groups and organizations in my community in which I volunteer my time along with my list of knowledge and skills. On my Facebook page, you would see that I manage a business page for a university, and if you were to go to that page you would be able to view some of the content that I have created for that page. You would also find links to my professional blog. These are just a few of the things I have done in the past three years to brand myself in my current position that could later be used to set me apart from others in an applicant pool.

According to Business Insider, your personal brand is your reputation and it is not something that happens by accident. Rather, it is something that you intentionally invest in and manage to market yourself to the job market. Think of it as a way to display your personal qualities and traits that are not often found on one's resume. Glassdoor, a prominent job board site, gives some great advice to those looking to build or revamp their personal brand through their online presence. One of the best tips was to show your expertise by creating your own content and sharing it on your LinkedIn, Facebook, and twitter. Or, creating a personal website to display your portfolio.


It is also important to note that even though social media is a great way to express our opinions and share our interests, what you say and share publicly on social media can also be used against you in the prospect of employment. If you have a tendency to post a lot of politically framed and/or vulgar content, then please be aware that the could be a possible deterrent for employers who may not share the same views as you.



Whether you are fresh out of college or have been working in a field for 10 plus years and looking to switch careers then I encourage you to use the tools available and build your own personal brand online. It is not going to happen over night so start small with a LinkedIn account then go from their. Are you attending industry events to grow your knowledge? Share it! Are you writing content to display your expertise? Share it and maintain it. Also, make sure all of your social networks are linked together and accessible. The job market can be a dog-eat-dog world and that is why it is so important to show what makes you stand out and building an online reputation can help you do just that.


Thank you for taking the time to read this weeks post. As always, please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences.



  
 

Are you Crowdsourcing? You might be!

Anytime I have a problem or need advice, I call my mom first. She always seems to have the answer I need. Most of the time it's questions about cooking and how to fold fitted sheets. Other times its to brainstorm for ideas for the next do-it-yourself project that I'm never going to start. Hey, I'm an adult in progress. Though my mom is a great source for information and general know-how, I am always eager to know more and seek new ideas and opinions. This is where the internet comes in. If I want to look for new crock-pot recipe's, I often find myself looking to Pinterest. Pinterest is like the Wikepedia of dream boards as all of the content is published by its users. All I have to do is enter in my search and I instantly have an endless supply of crock-pot recipe's to sort through. On Facebook, I can also illicit suggestions and recommendations from friends about some of their own recipe's or even home health remedies. If any of this relates to you then it is possible that you have contributed to crowdsourcing. Albeit, on a slightly smaller scale.

Wikepedia is probably one of the most known examples of early crowdsourcing on the internet, but the concept itself is far from new. An early example of crowdsourcing before the internet is the Planters Peanut contest. At the time, the company was seeking a new logo to help market their brand and took to the public to illicit some design ideas. I'm sure you are all familiar with the Mr. Peanut logo with his top hat and cane. This trademark was the result of that contest and the original sketch was drawn by a 14-year old boy. Til this day, Mr. Peanut is still the face of Planters Peanut's.

A lot of fast-food chains illicit customer reviews of service in a similar manner. Taco Bell, for instance, has monthly drawings for its customer's to win $500 for completing their customer survey. Unfortunately, I have never won but it's a great incentive for gaining customer input.

Through my job as a recruiter and promoter of higher education, I know that my students are my greatest resource. I take the time to get to know my students not just about their goals and aspirations but also about their challenges (work, family, etc.). If I have done my job well then there's a possibility that one student may refer a friend to our university. Because we have established partnerships that benefit those working in the community, I am always asking prospective students where they work to determine if I can save them money through one of these partnerships. To take it another step further, after building a relationship with them I will often illicit their help in trying to get a meeting with their employer about possible speaking engagement opportunities. This may be considered more of a progressive type of crowdsourcing, but it’s crowdsourcing nonetheless.

While it is beneficial to gain new ideas through external crowdsourcing, businesses and organizations should also look to gain insight internally from their employees. At the end of each term or recruitment period, the upper management will reach out to all the area support centers and staff within the university for new ideas for marketing and outreach. Since we are usually the initial face that a student interacts with, we are able to provide a unique insight into what brings a student to our institution.

Where else can we expect crowdsourcing to develop? In politics of all places. Since the democratic upset that landed Donald Trump in the presidential chair, many liberals have taken to online platforms to crowdsource a resistance of other like-minded individuals. Several experts came together to create an online handbook, now called Indivisible Guide, to help liberals take action the right way. According to one of my sources, this guide has spawned over 4,500 lobbying groups that are actively creating awareness to local members of Congress. Had this been initiated during the election instead of after makes me wonder how this type of lobbying could have affected the results of the election. No matter what your political opinions are, the internet has greatly changed the way we communicate and get information. Today, many people feel helpless in their pursuits to ignite change when it comes to politics and democracy and it appears crowdsourcing has given us the answers.

As history has shown, voices are better heard in mass and some of the greatest ideas come from the general public. Not only can crowdsourcing be used to seek new innovations and designs, but it can also be used to seek solutions. One of my friends recently took to Facebook to ask for help seeking furniture items for a veteran who had just moved to our community but didn't the means to furnish his home. Many people stepped up to offer what they had. GoFundMe is yet another crowdsourcing source that can be used to illicit monetary help from the community on a massive scale. With all that said, if you didn't know you have been participating in crowdsourcing I'm here to tell you that you might be and it's a good thing. Knowledge is priceless and crowdsourcing is free.

Thanks for taking the time to read this weeks post. Feel free to share your crowdsourcing experiences below.

Blogging for Profit: A New Blogger's Perspective

Blogging can be very rewarding both personally and professionally. Just like social media, blogs give any and everyone a voice to share their knowledge and experiences, except blogging is more in-depth and has been compared to journal writing. Those of you who have been following me in my first attempt at a blog will know that I am doing this as a part of graduate class. However, I realized even before starting this blog that it would provide a great opportunity for professional development and it has the potential to lead me to my next career move. As someone who enjoys a good read, both in novel and blog form, I have thought about writing a lot lately. My dreams of writing my own science fiction novel like the authors who have captivated me over the years, J.K. Rowling and Bella Forrest just to name a couple, seem to drift further and further away as the demands of life always seem to great to manage it all. It has got me thinking about what it would take to be a full-time blogger and actually make a profitable income to support myself and my family. So I did some research, and this is what I found:

Persistence is Key

It is totally possible to make a profit from blogging, but it is not going to happen overnight. A lot of today's most successful blogs were launched in the early 2000s. Forbes provides 10 great examples of blogs that have grown to generate millions of dollars' worth of revenue per month. Taking the #1 spot was none other than HuffPost, better known as the Huffington Post, which was launched in 2005 by Arriana Huffington. After a 6-year period of providing content on politics and life from a liberal standpoint, Huffington was able to sell her site to AOL for an estimated $315 million. The site now generates upwards of $14 million PER MONTH.

I say all this to point out that if you are interested in starting a blog for profit then you better be in it for the long haul. It could take several months, or even years, and a ton of content production before you begin to generate any kind of livable income. LifeHacker blogger, Melanie Pinola, says the easiest way to make an income from blogging is by becoming a freelancer or employed blogger. Otherwise, you will be starting from the bottom and will need to take the necessary steps to monetize your blog which usually starts by having ads placed on your site.

How do bloggers generate revenue?

Bloggers can generate revenue in a variety of  creative ways. Blogging Basics 101 does a great job of breaking down some of these options. For the beginner, however, there are several networks that you can partner with to have ads placed on your site which will pay you for the cost per clicks (CPC) or cost per 1,000 impressions (CPM) when readers visit the ad. AdSense from Google is one of the more widely known networks with this service. Once you have established a growing audience then you could also have the option of selling private advertisements which gives you the power to set your own rates.

According to LifeHacker, there are many factors at play that will determine how much you could make with your blog. These factors include how often you post, the quality of your content and the sources used to back your statements, the competitiveness of your chosen topic, and your ability to build an audience and generate traffic. The truth is, from what I've read, very few blogger's are able to
generate a full, livable income from blogging alone. This can be a little discouraging for someone who is just starting a blog, but I wholeheartedly believe that if you are passionate writer and can add value to the conversation then it will translate in your writing and people will read it. There are so many other benefits to blogging that making money is just an added bonus.

After the slight discouragement, I needed a little inspiration and encouragement so I stumbled upon another blog called 'Create And Go' which gave insight into how much bloggers actually make. The writer's admit to making upwards of $50,000 a month through their blogs. The blog points out the importance of having a niche that the blogger is well versed on or are at least passionate about learning it. The biggest takeaway, though, was execution which was said to be the #1 important aspect of income variance in blogging. This really resonated with me because in my professional life, I am always having to come up with new and creative ideas to reach new people in my target market and I have experienced enough failures to know that execution is everything. If I were to start a blog for profit, then this site is probably where I would start.

Other benefits of blogging

While it takes a great investment to build up a reputation for your blog (and monetize it) that will allow you to see any kind of income from it, there are many other benefits of blogging. Not only does it give you a creative platform to share your discovery's, but it promotes self-growth and helps build relationships. Plus, it's fun! It can be used as a tool to market your business and bring traffic to your website. And, it can also be used as part of a professional portfolio. Whatever reason you have for starting a blog is, my advice to you is be passionate about what you write, make sure that it adds value to the world, and don't stop!

The prospect of becoming a full-time, professional blogger is enticing with its flexible work hours and potential income opportunities. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be quitting my day job anytime soon. But, what I do know is that I will continue my blog pursuits no matter where it may lead. Maybe it will inspire others to start blogging. Or, maybe, it wont. Later down the line, I may try my attempts at monetizing my blog just for giggles. There is a possibility that nothing will come from it and I never see a dime. But, there's a small slither of hope that I could turn this thing into something great and even add something meaningful to the world. That, alone, makes this experience entirely worth it!

Thank your for reading! Do you have a blog? Feel free to share some of your thoughts and experiences below in the comments.

Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertadams/2017/03/02/top-income-earning-blogs/#77bd0ead2377
https://lifehacker.com/can-i-really-make-a-living-by-blogging-1537783554

https://www.bloggingbasics101.com/how-can-i-make-money-from-my-blog/
https://createandgo.co/how-much-do-bloggers-make/

 

Social Media: A Land of Controversy

Social media! The digital landscape where our voices can be heard (or read) across the world. Individuals are using these social platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, in a variety of ways. Many use it as a way to document their life adventures and hardships through photos/videos, share inspiration and know how, entertain, and run pyramid schemes among other things. It pains me to admit being guilty of that last example but it was just the one time. Social media is also being used to get news, share our opinions, and have discussions on a limitless amount of topics. From movies and books to politics and global warming and everything in between. Businesses and organizations use social media as a tool to market their product brands and engage with their consumers. As pointed out in one of my previous posts, social media is even used to influence our purchases through targeted ads. Controversy is inevitable, though, as seen with the recent social media stir revolving around the new Nike campaign starring NFL player Colin Kaepernick. It definitely has social media roaring. And, apparently it even has some burning and cutting up their Nike gear in boycott of Nike and their new brand ambassador alongside the hashtag #NikeBoycott. Nike isn't mad, though. After a small dip, their online sales have increased by 31 percent according to Global News. The other half of the population has been getting a good laugh out of it through an onslaught of memes like this one here:

Nike has been known to choose brand ambassadors that have spoken out about important controversial issues, such as social and racial justice, which includes the likes of Serena Williams and LeBron James. They knew there would be some political backlash and were prepared to take a stand, (or a knee if you prefer) behind Colin Kaepernick and move forward with the ad campaign. The ad itself sends a great inspirational message which is partially being overlooked by this social media controversy. Nike makes no apology (as they shouldn't) for their choice of brand ambassador, and the brand will likely not lose any sleep, I mean money, over the destruction of their products that have already been purchased. Nike, obviously, has a grasp of who its consumers are, enough to take such a calculated risk. Whether or not this will develop into a public relations nightmare with Nike shareholders remains to be seen.

It will be interesting to see how Nike responds to those boycotting their brand and where the conversation goes. When it comes to social media from a communications standpoint, what we say and how we say it does matter. It will be important to monitor and understand the negative commentary coming from this controversy.

Pepsi had a slightly similar situation over one of their ad campaigns starring high profile celebrity, Kendall Jenner. However, in this situation it wasn't the brand ambassador that was causing backlash but the content in the ad itself. The video shows Jenner joining a street protest and handing a Pepsi to a police officer. One source says the advertisement was harshly judged for "trivializing demonstrations and serious social issues." The uproar that ensued put Pepsi in what is called a "reputation crisis" and their market value suffered. Pepsi was quick to respond by taking down the video from its social media platforms and making this statement:

Pepsi did do the right thing by admitting to their mistake and being transparent about the intended message of the ad. However, I do agree that the crisis could have been prevented had they taken the proper care to test the ad to a small group of consumers before launching the campaign. It is far better for brands, such as the ones mentioned above, to be the first to address these types of controversies head on before they become breaking news. Not doing so could spark even more negative criticism by giving the impression that they don't care what consumers think. Social media users are quick to tarnish brands for publishing ads they find offensive. Once content is out there, there is no turning back.

It is important for businesses to have a social media plan in place to address potential reputation crisis. Most businesses already have some kind of crises communication plan to address the media and general public. Having a plan in place for social media relieves some of the added stress that comes a conflict and prepares a business to be swift in its response. Yulia Dianova, a public relations professional with Axia Public Relations, suggests three key ways to use social media for crisis communication:

1. Delivering your message

2. Monitoring

4. Addressing concerns

By being transparent and honest in notifying audiences of a crisis or mistake made in your organization, you can really make a difference in how people react to it. It is important to engage your audience not just by posting content, but also by looking to see what is being said about your business and responding appropriately to negative commentary and crisis situations. I, once, made a negative comment about a skin care product on social media because it did not give me the advertised experience. But, the way they quickly responded to my comment about the way the product works changed my perception. The company also sent me a private message about the product. I appreciated the concern that they showed for my personal experience which engaged me and turned my negative thoughts about the product into positive thoughts about the brand itself. If you are marketing a product or business that you truly believe in then you shouldn't stand idly by as people slander its name. Take the time to understand their concerns and learn something from it. Then, move on. Having a plan in place could reduce the need to learn the hard way.

Thanks for reading! I hope you will come back for next weeks topic.

We are living in a digital world and I am a digital girl

The trend we are seeing as we progress through our weekly readings and discussions is that our digital future has become the digital present. Our cell phones and devices have quickly become a part of our daily routines. From the time our phone alarms wake us up in the morning to the time we lay down at night we are always connected. People have become so attached to their cellphones that there is actually a study evaluating the acceptability of cell phone use in public places. Just so you know it is generally acceptable to use your phone while walking down the street, but I would not personally recommend it.

It has been said that at least 90% of our mobile use is spent in apps which sounds about right in my case. Like most, my daily app consumption starts from the moment my phone alarm goes off. I get up and fix my morning cup of coffee and spend a few shameless minutes going back and forth between Facebook, Snapchat, and my Outlook app. And I definitely can't forget to take the daily morning selfie before work to show the world that I've got it all together, right? Mobile banking and bill-pay have also become a part of my monthly routine and I have most recently divulged in the Walmart Grocery Pickup app. It is a priceless treasure to not have to use my lunch hour to pay bills or step foot inside the grocery store after an 8-hour day. Also, I don't think I would make it through day to day life without music so Pandora is a must. Mobile is definitely in and I am all for it!

While managing the social media pages at work, I have discovered a couple of useful apps that have made content development much simpler. Canva is a free app that can be downloaded in the Apple Store. The app gives you access to millions of photos, graphics, and fonts which allows you to create and design your own graphics and presentation for various purposes. I use it specifically to create unique content for our Facebook and Instagram pages. While the desktop version is better for creating, the app allows me to make easy edits and share with my collaborative team. Below is one of my most recent designs that details the benefits of one of our local community partnerships.

Boomerang from Instagram is another fun app that allows you to take a quick burst of photos and turn it into a cute mini video. The one below features me with a Trojan 'T' t-shirt. This particular post was used to promote our referral system which is refer a friend and we will give you a free t-shirt if your referral signs up with us. I like how this app inspires creativity and it is a fun way to engage your following. The possibilities are endless.

(Click on the link in the photo to see the full mini-video and post)

I'm sure many of you are also finding that your app usage is becoming a part of your professional lifestyle. The concept of being mobile is nothing new. Businesses and organizations alike have long taken notice of this trend and made the transition through mobile optimization and apps. If you are new to the game, then the road to mobile is not going to be easy for you. But, if you are up for it then the benefits far exceed the risks. I'm a millennial and I am still playing catch-up because there is just so much out there in the digital sphere that I have yet to discover. How can life simultaneously get so easy yet so complex? I say complex, mainly, in reference to businesses who are not currently on the mobile train. I believe it is important for even small business to have some sort of mobility to their websites even if it is not in the form of an app. Let's face it, if your not mobile then you could be losing business. Recent statistics show that 62% of smartphone users have made a purchase online using their mobile device in the last 6 months and 40% of user will go to the competitor after a bad mobile experience.

As a consumer, I like to shop around to compare products and prices before committing to a purchase. I even go so far as to read through the reviews which is often the deciding factor. Before downloading a new app, I go through a similar process.

On another note, while the U.S. and several other countries appear to be dominating in the mobile universe and app innovation, Africa shows us that you don't actually need an app for that. If you check out this Ted Talk, you will be amazed at some of the innovations that have come from Africa that we use today like the pay as you go phone sim card just to give an example. It really puts the concept of mobile innovation in a different perspective for me. Will the use of mobile apps one day fade out? Probably not anytime soon. New apps are being developed and added every day and that trend is showing no signs of slowing down.

Let me know some of your favorite or must-have apps in the comments below. Thanks for reading!