"I get by with a little Help from my Friends!"

We all hear the phrases while we're in college but never take them to heart.. "Network" or "stay in touch" or "one day you will need/help each other." But once your not stuck together in a class 4 floors high at 8:30am on a Wednesday morning, then you all start to fall into your own ways and paths.

Over the past years from the start of college to graduation then to early adulthood I have had many friends come & go - some friends I've helped and some have helped me. I want to take the time to talk about the Millennial Mom Marketing Maven: Jessica Avery!

During school we weren't always on the same teams.. We didn't always have the same standards for excellence.. But I did admire her drive, her talent and her willingness to always hear everyone out the first time when it came to brainstorming ideas. Over the years since Convocation I've found Jessica to be one of my biggest fans & inspiration to keep going with the work I do on creative.DUNNING. She has helped me find blogging partners and I talk to her about business advice. We Jessica's have to stick together you know!

When it came to her asking for my help to create a logo I could not have been more honoured. And somehow it is true - it is easier to work with fellow minded people than clients who do not know the process!

I love the graphic design work that I do for people and I love that I could make a design for Jessica that showcases her personality. She is professionally smooth like a well used font & creatively colourful like vast water colours!
And I'm pretty proud of my free-hand paint splatter technique!

As short, sweet and "cheesy" as this post may sound.. The point is that you really don't know where your next friend or business partner will come from. Especially in a business field you need to always be civil if not helpful to each other because that is what makes the business world go round - partnerships & compromise!

So as you continue to show your support for me, please also help me support a fellow IMC grad & friend, Jess Avery.

Another Year.. Another round of Disney ICPs coming your way!

I'd like to give a personal congratulations (full of love) to a fellow IMC graduate, coworker & dear friend.. JJ Tinar! She has been one of the newest Walt Disney International Exchange Program entrants for this year - I couldn't be more proud of her!

After weeks (if not months) of nervous preparation and worrying (and picking my brain for support) JJ picked up the reigns and is now replacing me to show Disney & Florida what SLC, Kingston & Canada are all about!

Everyone should be very excited for this marvelous professional, humorous and cultured ball of fun to join the Cast Member family! I know she will have a breath-taking phenomenal experience like I did.

(And for those of you reading this still wondering how long it will take me to come back.. Don't worry, the plans are in motion - I have not nor will I ever forget! I am coming back! I promised after all. But while I'm gone, please welcome JJ with as much Disney Magic and love that you showed me.)

Just tuning into the DIsney ICP program? Wondering where it all began, or just looking to reminisce? Click here to start at the beginning of my journey!

I'll be checking in with JJ during her adventure so look out for my Details on Disney 2.0 posts on JJ's Journey!

"Everyday I'm Struggling..♪♫♪"

I promised you an amazing new video to start off 2015 and I think this is it. I told you all in my last post I would be giving you a rundown of what I've been up to as of late... since Disney, graduation and such. So here is my video inspired by the tasks & torments I go through daily during my workplace & casual life. For some of you that frequent either of my work, or has previously worked or gone to school with me you may even recognize some of this or laugh at it.

Click here to go to the video!

WARNING: I do not take much or any of this video seriously so please don't either. I just like to make the best of my situation through sarcastic humor and hope that you all laugh along with my creativity.
Pita Pit is an amazing "not so fast-food" healthier place to eat (we are totally better than Subway) and I LOVE working at the Rogers KROCK Centre. You just get a little bitter when you've spent three years and all of your life savings to be working two part time jobs, paycheque to paycheque and no one higher than you willing to retire or take you on as an intent for their position. What a world we live in eh?

Either way if you liked it, great! If you didn't like it.. I've asked before to comment on any ideas you'd like to see and I will again so don't be shy!

Safety in Numbers and at School!

With Halloween coming up fast I apologize for my tardiness of inefficient posting! But I promise a Halloween post and some new videos will be coming soon! Possibly even a new musical addition to the creative.DUNNING production!

In the mean time, a few months ago I started my local starlet debut by helping a fellow IMC alumni with a bit of video work. One of their clients needed a video on health & safety during a school evacuation/threat situation so my friend and I offered a helping hand.. literally our hands.. man do I miss those green nails! Anyways we spent the day pretending to hide from attackers, pushing desks in front of doors, calling the security office (they got tired of it after the 10th time,) taping up windows and tying down doorknobs.

The video isn't flashy or funny (well I think it is in a classic healthy & safety video kind of way) but hey it gives you something to read while I'm busy working away on new stuff for your viewing pleasure. I hope you all have been having a great start to October & the Fall season!

Get this School year in Shape!

After a tedious amount of contemplation, creation, animation & patience... the latest creative.DUNNING video is finished! It's been a while since I sat myself down to do a little stop-motion footage, but I hope you all enjoy it - I enjoyed making it.

This video pokes fun at all the health & fitness nuts that we go to school with, or that get that epiphany once they start school. It's like a pair of yoga pants & dumb bells come as a package deal when you get your books and tuition paid.

Many of my fellow students and friends have heard me complain (and have been victim of complaining themselves) about most of the problems in this video. So why not make fun and laugh at ourselves about them?

I'd like to give a BIG thank you to DJ LuvSik, who I personally think outdid himself with my music this time. (Check out the post here!) I hope everyone keeps their ears peeled this week, he's been hard at work making some awesome videos for me to produce. So his Youtube Channel is going to be busy & buzzing.

Let's Celebrate... College?

It's that time of year for a lot of College (or University if that's your choice) graduates to celebrate their freedom! Or bankruptcy... either way I thought I would celebrate my past three years with IMC@SLC with a video to remember some of the 'everyday college life problems' we've had to suffer through over our educational careers.

For anyone who knows me well you should be warned it is in the style of homage to my favourite Youtube celebrity... JennaMarbles! I will admit the song (and its original) is a bit repetitive but hey, its catchy and gets the point across in a hilarious manner!


Click here to go to the video!

Please click here if you haven't seen the Original video to my inspiration... I Hate being a Grown Up; it's one of the first videos I saw from Jenna and it's been "videographer love at first sight" ever since!

Please feel free to comment on your fondest or 'far from' memories from college/university! And if you haven't graduated yet.. well hang in there?
And if your just starting college... please disregard this post and wait for my upcoming video on "How to be a College Kid"

Inside IMC (Integrated Marketing Communications)

It's taken me some time but I've finally finished another Creative.Dunning production! Why have I been so busy? Between graduating, looking for a job, looking for a place to live in ktown and keeping in touch with friends - old & new.

I decided to make a parody video of what goes on in a business students life. I've explained before that in the world of business you need to learn how to balance all sorts of things like networking, advertising, personal branding, market research, budgeting and of course the newest craze... social media!

So here it is, making fun of rap.. advertising.. and myself.. IMC@SLC 101 thanks to my inspiration: Swimming Pools (Drank) by Kendrick Lamar!

Is CBC's Canada Writes Contest for me?

CBC's Canada Writes Poetry Contest is in full swing again this year. For those who haven't yet heard of it, the contest is open for all writers to submit their unpublished original work in hopes of a grand prize of  $6,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and will have his/her story published in Air Canada’s enRoute magazine and on the Canada Writes website. He or she will also be awarded a two-week residency at The Banff Centre's Leighton Artists' Colony, and will be interviewed on CBC Radio. Your submissions must be between 400-600 words (mine is 407, haha) and you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent Canadian resident to enter.
As my dedicated fans, friends & family I thought I would give you a preview of my work (plus as a broke College student I haven't decided if my work is worth the $25 entry fee as that could pay my phone bill for the month.) Feel free to comment your thoughts - but keep in mind I am a few years rusty with my poetic writing! I hope you all enjoy it.

 

Toronto... there and back again, an IAB Adventure

So off I travelled again to Toronto to take my final IAB Canada course in Interactive Digital Marketing. For those who missed the first part of my adventure please find it here. The traffic was still horrendous, the trains were unorganized, my taxi drivers were eerily quiet (probably because they knew little English) BUT none the less I can say I appreciate Econo Lodge rooms more than Howard-Johnston suites... although their beds leave nothing to compare!

Another full house of eager 'students' of business professionals and students later and we were off on our journey of mobile marketing, video advertising and what the future holds for us all...
The same as before we were welcomed with open hospitality and a spectacular view of downtown Toronto life. Our teacher was marvelous- and it didn't help that the content isn't as ... dry and tedious as SEO. Again the day's survivors were awarded certificates and bid farewell until the next course (I only wish I had the money & time to take more, surely anyone who has either should look into bettering your knowledge with these seminars - they are certainly Creative.Dunning Approved!)

As terms of my 'graduation agreement' I needed to write two "mini reports" on what I learned from each course; I have uploaded them for your viewing pleasure but please don't take them too seriously... They did start our very essay/report styled but as I had to continue through my course content my ambition started to fade quickly. It also doesn't help that the "textbooks" they give you are the thickness of bricks..

 

That being said I would gladly share any more added information on either topics with anyone inquiring. Of course I am keeping all of my seminar material (maybe I will make posts or videos on it so that many will not have to suffer learning on their own as I did.)

Public Speaking... Perfection or Peril?

Public speaking is a 'must' in life, whether its a phone call, conference call, public meeting, working lunch, office boardrooms or classroom presentations. Whether it comes naturally to you or your natural reaction is to hide behind the podium (or someone else) we all have to face our fears eventually.

This is why I'm sharing a Prezi presentation I found, about the 10 Most Common Rookie Mistakes in Public Speaking.

1.) Don't be afraid to take up some space. Hesitance  in your movements comes across like an apology and under-confidence to the audience.

2.) Speaking in a very quiet monotone level will always seem uninvolved, uninteresting, and unenthusiastic. If you really want to impress then speak with moderate volume and demand the audience's attention. Make changes in your pitch and speed also so that you don't sounds like a voice recording.


3.) Keep calm and study on! Experienced speakers do plenty of research so that they feel confident in their material and their ability to respond to any question the audience might throw at them.


4.) Practise DOES make perfect; Always practise on your feet - never sitting or laying down gazing at your notes or computer screen. Experienced speakers will often do a dry run of their material with a trusted audience of friends, family, or colleagues.


5.) It's not always about the facts! Make sure you balances facts, data, visuals and real life examples/experiences to keep your audience engaged.


6.) When your presentation content is too safe, it usually comes across as boring. When the most important ability as a speaker is the ability to garner attention, can you afford to avoid taking risks? Keep it entertaining, exciting AND informative!


7.) "Everybody hurts...sometimes!" Use example stories where you make mistakes but learned from the experience in a positive way. This shows vulnerability and less like a plagiarized perfectionist.


8.) My main way to curb nerves is humour, over my 3 years at SLC I've gotten very good at it (so say my professors..) Respect your audience’s professionalism but relate to their humanity informally. By speaking to them more informally, you project that you are equal. They will read that as confidence. Make a joke here or there and don't be afraid to make light of yourself - but not the entire time!


9.) Short, sweet and to the point. Speakers often expand even further on their topic when they see audience’s reactions instead of leaving them curious for more...


10.) As previously stated, use a range of speed and volume when presenting. A range! As in don't continue to speed up and don't continue talking without pausing for breath. Taking pauses can...
a) Increase audience perception as well as your feeling of confidence and ease.
b) Give your audience time to digest your key points and give those points greater impact.
and c) Give you time to formulate your thoughts into more succinct and cogent sentences.

Life after Disney... in Toronto??? An IAB Adventure..

After returning back to college life in Canada after the Disney International Exchange Program I was left with the dilemma of how to graduate on time with the rest of my classmates... One of my professors found a solution in IAB Canada, an interactive advertising bureau that is fully-dedicated to the development and promotion of digital/interactive advertising in Canada.

IAB Canada is the national voice and de facto thought leader of the Canadian digital marketing and advertising industry, and is a not-for-profit association representing Canada’s most well-known and respected advertisers, agencies, media companies, mobile and video game marketers & developers, measurement companies, service providers, educational institutions and government associations operating within the space.

The Game-plan? I take 2 day-seminars (at a thankful student discount of course) in two of the courses I missed during my Spring semester, write a report on what I learned & my experience, all in exchange for the passing grade and certification that I have full knowledge in those subjects enough to graduate properly!

The Solution?
Course #1: Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Course #2: Interactive Digital Marketing

So as much as I HIGHLY distaste Toronto... (Not the city or the people in general... for the most part... just the congestion) off I went on a 2hr 'Escape' VIA train ride at 8:30 at night to arrive at my hotel at basically midnight... I now know I probably should warn the hotel of my overly late check-in... although it is funny to walk up to the front lobby and see the scared looks on their faces when I try to open their locked doors and say "Good evening I have a reservation.." (ugh I distaste Toronto...)

I received a beautifully warm welcome from IAB's head hostess & clerk Amberlea Bruch and indulged in a more awakening breakfast fit for business professionals alike (heaven to an allergy-sufferer!)

There were many big names in the 'classroom' that day, Mercedez-Benz, Canadian Tire, George Brown College and ING Direct just to name a few - and all job positions ranging from account directors, media buyers and financial teams.

I won't get into the details of our long day (plus they gave us a 'textbook' the side of an old desktop computer and twice as thick..,) and I thought college was bad, wait until your in a room with business professionals that for a day get to become college students all over again! But it was definitely interesting to view first-hand how our current industry leaders think, analyze and learn.

The day's survivors got a beautiful certificate to show their knowledge and strength! I'm sure in the near future I will post a blog about my understanding of SEO and Google Analytics... (whether it will be factual or funny I have not yet decided..) In any case, for a day I suppose Toronto was fun... if not tolerable. And although I distaste Toronto I was thoroughly impress with my Interactive Digital Marketing course!

Job Interview Jitters...???

I was recently reading this article on LinkedIn about job interviews and how to answer particularly trick (or relatively stupid) questions that you may face on the spot.

"A job search is a test of your fortitude. The struggling economy doesn't make it easy, and an even bigger challenge is the dysfunctional recruiting process used by nearly every medium-sized and large employer."

We've all been in those nerve-wracking interviews, after staying up all night practising your monologue long answers to every scenario possible. But what really gets me is after all of the rehearsing, and worrying - they start asking foolish or irrelevant questions just to throw you off your game and waste time. Almost like they're using a script or just don't know what to ask for the job description...

The article is quite long and in-depth but I thought I would share the jist of it for you.

First off the article explains various ways to turn the tides on the interviewer and merge in your own questions - this throws them off and sometimes even into a panic when they know their script is disrupted. Many interviews have two clear roles... the interviewer & the victim; many don't like to switch roles or turn the interview into a casual or pleasant conversation (those are the people that should consider switching jobs, companies or retiring...)

1. If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?
Hmmm, probably some kind of wild cat, like a jaguar - I enjoy the hunt.

2. With all the talented candidates, why should we hire you?
I love this field and I'm excited to keep growing muscles in it. That being said, I haven't met the other candidates and I'm sure there are smart and capable people in that group. That's going to be your challenge, to consider what's ahead for you and which person can best fill that role. I have total faith that if we're supposed to be working together, we'll figure that out.

3. What's your greatest weakness?
I used to obsess about my weaknesses when I was younger. I took classes and read books like you wouldn't believe, and then over time it occurred to me that I should be focusing on the things I do well, like designing financial reports. Other things like graphic design, for instance - aren't for me, so I steer myself toward the work that jazzes me and where I can make the biggest impact.

4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
I love Finance, and I don't have plans to move out of it but then again you never know what influences will hit you. I'm interested in getting my MBA, so five years from now I could be one year out of school and I may think totally differently at that point than I do now. The things I can say for sure are that if I'm alive five years from now, I'll be working hard at something I love and supporting the people around me. For me, the team is as important as the work.

Reading the full article is a bit more comical and it even gives examples of better questions to ask whether your the interviewer or victim.
How do you handle tricky or irrelevant job interview situations? What are some of the craziest questions you have had asked upon you?

Do you know the 'Big Five' of your Workplace?

I briefly discussed the importance of learning your personality colours in order to better contribute of efficiency and effectiveness within the workplace, but I recently attended a workshop that dealt even further into personality examination.

The Workplace Big Five Profile is a personality assessment that is used to help better understand and problem solve through...
- Team building
- Leadership development
- Performance coaching
- Job Selection and hiring
- Succession planning
- Management/supervisory training
- Career development
- Sales training
- Conflict management

The five 'Supertraits' of the WorkPlace in this assessment are:
1. Need for Stability: Explains how people at work respond to and handle stressful situations, a critical aspect of today’s successful work environment
2. Extraversion: Defines how people at work tolerate and deal with sensory bombardment or the lack of it, as when people work alone at home, which can come in the form of people, situations, and sensory experiences such as a three-day senior management off-site strategy meeting
3. Originality: Illustrates how open and accepting people at work are to new experiences, ideas, and change
4. Accommodation: Measures how easily or uneasily people defer to others—this Supertrait relates directly to power and how to use it effectively
5. Consolidation: Explains the degree to which people at work focus on their work, goal accomplishment, and needs for achievement and success

When you can reflect on your own personality and learn how to benefit it to your advantage in life you can be a very powerful and inspirational asset. It can help you relate to others and understand why you act or react the way you do to specific situations. As with Dr. Stephen Covey's work it can help you to become a better person and a better leader.

Think about what each subtrait involves and how you think you would score in each? Would you consider yourself with a very high or low sense of sociability or humility? Would your family or peers think the same?

If you're interested in learning more about the Workplace Big5 Assessment, or my results, feel free to comment :)
 

Agency Additives

One of the most important things about working on a team is collaboration and cooperation. No matter what team you're working on it is always important to make sure that you can communicate and work proactively.
In many business settings leadership and teamwork is concluded by using the Four Colour personality system. Each colour represents your morals, values, work ethic, communication, interaction...etc.

Many organizations form their agencies or groups specifically so that at least one of each colour personality is represented. That way there is someone to organize, lead, focus on the facts, make sure that everyone's opinion can be heard and shared & finally brainstorm the creative ideas.

For my I am predominantly gold, then my green and blue are matched, then shortly after is my orange. Although I am a very highly creative person, more so in my youth when I had more free time and disposable income... I am the spitting image of a military Type-A organized, authoritative, optimistic worker. Someone goal oriented with the task always at hand and determined to give 120% at all costs.

Client's for Agency IMC

Our client is The Boiler Room Indoor Climbing Gym; and like all good ad agencies my team (classmates) and I spent a Friday afternoon getting to know their products/services. Yes, that means that I, Jessica did indeed attempt to climb a few walls, in a harness, a rope and safety lock for protection... expected to fulfill some sense of accomplishment and challenge by hauling and crawling over grades/rocks no bigger than a computer mouse.

I'll have to admit I was scared for my life, I don't like the idea of a rope keeping me save, having to climb up stubs fearing slipping and dangling by a harness wedgie & finally when your ready to come down u have to lean back and let yourself dangle by your harness wedgie after all! I'd rather go back to karate competitions and getting kicked in the stomach...

I will say despite having to actually climb myself, I did have fun getting to know the members of my team and doing some team building/bonding. We were one of the first teams to do so and I'm sure that once my initial de-stress-ification wears off we will continue to have more fun and produce amazing work - we already have so far.

Welcome to the Agency of IMC

Welcome to the world of paperwork, stressful deliberation and rewarding sense of accomplishment!

Although it is apparently hard for me to re-integrate myself back into IMC society after my abroad adventures... I have been trying my best to explore our new semester project.. Advertising Agencies.

"Ad agencies execute marketing campaigns that cover a broad range of media. Ad agencies employ a broad range of advertising strategies to create marketing campaigns tailored to their clients’ needs. Ad agencies can range from small, home-based businesses to corporate franchises with departments for market research, account management and sales, copywriting and graphic design. Ad agencies work closely with the client to gather information and pitch their campaign ideas followed by the creative process of actually making and distributing the ads."

It all sounds intimidating... but if you focus on the fact that you would have a nice comfy desk,
in a cubicle,
on the 4th floor of a 10 floor office building,
owned by one big corporation,
and the only thing you have to stress about is one report/presentation/design in department A-2,
and the other 8 floors around you focus on their departments,
and once all the departments have finished working/collaborating/arguing together then you give your final product(s) to the head floor... (yes, like in all the movies you watch) it all doesn't seem THAT bad... does it?

The big agency life isn't for everyone, personally I'm not sure its completely fit for anyone. I'd rather work for a small business, or freelance my services to many companies versus wearing a suit everyday and 100+ lines of communication to manage. In any case, this is what the highly coveted 3rd Year of IMC@SLC is about; and to give a better view on what I'm explaining, our professors showed us this video... I WILL warn you it's definitely rated PG-20 with a high need of self-humour.

Many people in the industry themselves feel this way about their jobs but are able to create videos like this to make light of their situation or make themselves feel better... Or just to give themselves a laugh every once in a while to keep from having an anxiety attack.

Ad Agencies are competitive, fast-paced, tedious and exciting. If you're in the market for any time of agency jobs, here is a list of all the possibilities that agencies have...
Account Planning
Account Planner, Strategic Planning Director, Senior Account Planner    
Account Service
Account Coordinator, Account Executive, Account Group Director, Account Supervisor, Assistant Account Executive, Group Account Director, Group Management Supervisor, Management Supervisor, Managing Director--Client Services    
Administrative
Administrative Assistant, Administrative Assistant to the Chairman, Executive Administrative Assistant, Mailroom Clerk, Receptionist, Travel Supervisor    
Analytics
Analyst, Digital Marketing; Associate Director of Analytics; Associate Director of Analytics, Social Media; Director of Analytics; Manager, Analytics; Senior Analyst, Social Media; Senior Interactive Analyst    
Broadcast Production
Associate Director--Commercial Production, Broadcast Administrator, Broadcast Editor, Broadcast Production Manager, Executive Producer, Traffic Coordinator, Traffic Manager, Talent Payment Coordinator    
Chief Officer
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Operations, President    
Creative
Art Director; Creative Coordinator; Creative Director; Creative Manager; Graphic Designer; Studio Manager; Vice President, Creative Services    
Financial
Accountant, Accounting Supervisor, Biller, Controller, Junior Accountant, Vice President, Finance    
Human Resources
Assistant Director, Director of Human Resources, Human Resources - Recruiting, Human Resources Manager, Manager Training & Development, Payroll Supervisor     
Information Technology
Application Development Manager, Business System Manager, Database Developer/Data Analyst, Director of Information Technology, Senior Database Administrator, Software Developer    
Interactive/Digital
Digital Designer; Flash Developer; HTML Programmer/ Developer; Interaction Designer; Web Architect; Web Designer; Interactive Designer; Senior Interactive Art Director; Quality Assurance Engineer    
Marketing
Associate, Marketing Services, Director of Marketing, Director of Marketing Services, Manager, Marketing Analysis, Manager, Marketing Services, Senior Associate, Marketing Services, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Strategic Marketing Director
Media
Account Director, Assistant Media Buyer, Associate Media Director, Executive Director - Media, Local Broadcast Buyer, Media Supervisor    
New Business
Coordinator of Business Development, Director of Business Development, New Business Coordinator, New Business Director, New Business Manager
Print
Art Buyer, Director of Internal Print Controls, Print Buyer, Print Producer, Production Coordinator, Traffic Manager    
Project Management
Assistant Project Manager; Creative Operations Manager; Director of Project Management; Project Manager; Senior Project Manager    
Public Relations
Corporate Communications Specialist, Director / Public Relations, PR Assistant Account Executive, PR Management Supervisor,Public Relations Assistant, Vice President, Director of Public Relations    
Research
Associate Media Research Manager, Associate Research Director, Media Research Associate, Media Research Director, Media Research Project Director, Research Analyst     
SEO/SEM
Group Search Director; Search Engine Marketing Manager; Search Engine Marketing Strategist; Search Engine Marketing Supervisor; Search Planner; Search Engine Marketing Account Director    
Social Media
Associate Director, Social Media; Community Manager; Content and Community Specialist; Social Media Coordinator/Community Manager; Editor-in-Chief; Digital Strategist/Planner

Details on Disney! How to prevent Heat Stroke?

It's hot at Disney Land & Disney World and no one wants to suffer from heat illness or stroke while your working or visiting Florida or California. I've given you tips on what to pack, now let me give you some tips on how to stay cool - the Disney International Exchange Program IS the coolest experience, after all!

click above to go to the video!

It's easy to get caught up in the magic & pixie dust and want to try your hardest at being the best cast member ever! But your health should always come first. Take the time to have a rest when you need it and always drink plenty of water. To learn more tips please click the picture and go to my video.

Again PLEASE feel free to leave comments here or on my videos about anything else you would like me to answer during our 6 month stay in the program. As always I will be posting more blogs and videos during my stay in America, so please continue to visit :)

Details on Disney! What to pack for Florida State

For anyone who has been accepted into the Disney Exchange program, or anyone who is going to study at Florida State university (in beautiful Tallahassee, Florida) I have made a video for you explaining what to expect.


click above to go to the video!

Let me remind you that it is only for 10 days so be lenient with your packing. Your meals are all provided along with bedding. You receive supplies for class and towels. There's a small walk-in closet for anyone who cant live out of their suitcase and a full desk with wifi. Please watch the video to find out more!

Again PLEASE feel free to leave comments here or on my videos about anything else you would like me to answer during our 6 month stay in the program. As always I will be posting more blogs and videos during my stay in America, so please continue to visit :)

Details on Disney now on Youtube

It's taken longer than expected, with orientation, check-in, training and getting to know Disney World (yes I'm a first-timer) but I have finally finished my first video about the Disney Exchange program.

click above to watch the video!

For those of you who read my first post 'Why Disney...Why' and have been dying to know more, I hope this sheds a little more light about what's going on...

The initial cost of the program (not including groceries, thing you need to buy once you get here, plus you DO have to still pay for your current year of school even though you won't be there..) housing, job opportunities and other things to do!

Again PLEASE feel free to leave comments here or on my videos about anything else you would like me to answer during our 6 month stay in the program. As always I will be posting more blogs and videos during my stay in America, so please continue to visit :)

'Care to partake in some Networking Etiquette?'

Especially when heading into the world of advertising, marketing or business/entrepreneurship in general you will constantly hear the word... NETWORKING. But what does networking really mean?

Dictionary.com describes networking as... 

1. a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest: Working mothers in the community use networking to help themselves manage successfully. 

2. cultivating people who can be helpful to one professionally, especially in finding employment or moving to a higher position: His business lunches were taken up with networking.

Basically networking means that you go to various business gatherings (like your local Chamber of Commerce MEGAMIXER) and shmoose ('talk idly or casually and in a friendly way') your way into professional friendships - primarily with the exchanging of business cards, to be called upon at a future time. These relationships can be future clients, partners, investors or just supporters.

Networking can be done in person or online through social media like Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn (I call it 'business facebook.') But with all this new networking availability, do we really know the proper formalities to use it? In a world of abbreviations and lack of grammar due to technology fads and fast-paced lives are we really being as polite with our networking as we should be as 'business professionals?'

Here are some of my rules for proper Networking Etiquette;
Some of you may practise these already and some of you may think or do other tasks that I haven't listed - if so please feel free to leave a comment :)

IN PERSON NETWORKING

1. Always give a firm but NOT bone-crushing handshake when giving a greeting, introduction or salutation. No one feels overly confident about a persons leadership (or possible insecurities) if their shaking a hand as limp as a spaghetti noodle. That being said, no one wants to become partners with a person that needs to try to prove to you how good a leader they are by how many of your knuckles they can crack.

2. It goes without saying to always be polite when introducing yourself. If you have trouble making small talk then canvas the patrons once or twice to see their displays and booth, that way you have a conversation starter. I purposely go to booths that are busy so that it doesn't look awkward when I'm 'waiting to introduce myself' when really I'm checking out their booth.

3. Always shake with one hand and accept business cards in the other (unless that hand is full) like when you have to do that silly pose while your standing on stage at graduation - holding your certificate in one hand and shaking your principals hand with the other while everyone takes pictures... Anyways its important to at least skim the front side of the card when you get it and NEVER put it in your pocket or wallet and DO NOT fold or crumple it up.

4. Always make eye contact; no you don't have to look creepy and never blink... when you take the time to nod your head, laugh, agree, or move out of someone's way behind you take the advantage to blink (or remember to breathe if your nervous.)

5. To keep the conversation going, ask them about their business, not about their benefits or income, but about their skills, experience, insight, products/services, placement opportunities, contributions to society..etc.

6. Always exit with thank-you's and handshakes; thank them for their time and for giving you such insight about themselves or their company.

7. I probably should have stated this one earlier... but when conversing try to say their name at least 3 times. Our teacher explained to us the more you repeat something aloud in your head hte more likely you are to remember... "Hello, ___ it's nice to meet you..." or "So ___ I seen on your website a few days ago that... could you explain that to me please?" or "It was very nice to meet you ___ thank you again for your time."

8. Do not wait more than 2-3 days before sending a thank-you email (or card if your feeling really ambitious) to the new connections you made via business cards. Remind them again who you are, what you do and how you met. It helps if you thank them for some big piece of knowledge or express what a great conversation you had with them about a specific topic. Thank them again for taking the time to talk to you. Also if you talked about a placement opportunity or anything else of a business-nature thank them again for considering you for the opportunity (and also to remind them so they don't forget.)

ONLINE NETWORKING

When connecting with people you may or maybe know online you must always remember SPELLING AND GRAMMAR. That being said if you know the person from past events or chapters in your life it's easier to virtually introduce yourself.

 

1. As you greet them and introduce yourself (or re-introduce yourself) job their memory of who you are, what your doing now, and where/when they would remember you from. If you have any mutual friends or connections than it would be a good time to remember them that it was that friend that introduced you both together in the first place.

 

2. This is the MOST important. WRITE YOUR OWN MESSAGE! For example LinkedIn offers it's own connection invitation messaging with your signature added at the bottom so all you have to do is click 'send.' If you have enough time as a 'busy business professional' to be browsing online in the first place than you have enough time to customize the phrase "I'd like to add you to my professional network. - Jessica Dunning." Even if its only adding in a personal greeting and salutation, or just change the sentence each time... "Hello, my name is __ and its an honour to meet you. I was wondering if you could like to become business connections?"

 

3. If you don't like to write emails, create databases or send cards/letters after going to a networking event in person, use this opportunity to connect with them online (then you kill two birds with one stone.) Now a days everyone's business card comes with their online presence so find them and type your thank-you email into your invitation message.

 

4. When someone decides to follow, like, or subscribe to you online, take the time to view their profiles and do the same back (even if they don't introduce themselves or answer you when you introduce yourself first - at least you can feel like the bigger person because you did so.)

5. Finally, (this is the HARDEST I find to practise) keep in contact with your connections. Even if it's a tweet asking how business is going, or an email about an article you think they would like. Or browse through their websites..etc (most developers/profiles have trackers to see who exactly look at their page anyways, so it's better than nothing right?)

The 'Challenge' of Marketing

At the end of this school year our Direct & Integrated Marketing teacher told us about an annual competition hosted by DMEF the Direct Educational Foundation.

They work to attract, educate and place college students in direct/interactive marketing careers, thereby expanding and enriching pool of trained, market-ready marketers. 

The DMEF brings direct/interactive marketing instruction to the college campus, while helping students learn about marketing career opportunities. The DMEF publishes teaching resources, career information and the academic research publication, Journal of Interactive Marketing®. 

The DMEF Collegiate ECHO Direct/Interactive Marketing Challenge was started in 1986 in the name of Leonard J. Raymond, the 'founding father' of direct marketing agencies. Over the years they have had clients sponsors such as Ford Motor Company, American Express, Hallmark Cards, Microsoft and Mazda just to name a few.

This year our client was dELiA*s Inc. an American retail store focused on direct and traditional marketing. The point of the competition was to create a campaign that focused on dELiA*s' objectives for 2013-2014...

1) Target potential new customers and drive them to our web or store channels and entice them to make a first purchase.

2) Target existing customers and entice them through various marketing methods to buy more.

The campaign required a written proposal including:

• an executive summary
• market research
• marketing strategy
• media plan
• creative strategy
• budget
• visual summary (of your proposal)
• appendices (creative samples, campaign forecast results, consumer video advertisement & a strategic summary chart)

All of this within a 10-page double spaced report (excluding title page, Strategic Summary Chart, bibliography/references and appendices.)

Our strategy was to have roughly 1-1 1/2 pages per section, See our full report here...


Our campaign is called 'Snip to be Cool' and to sum it up, consumers receive or download a cut-out 'model' and use pictures (from online or catalogue) to dress their model. They glue her onto a contest entry form, fill it out and either mail it to their local dELiA*s or upload a picture online. Twice a week a draw for prizes will be held and judges will pick one winner per select store (1-2 stores per state.) Prizes include free items, discounts and coupons or exclusive new items not advertised yet.



Check out our Creative Samples (advertising and promotional posters) on my Facebook Page, or our Television Commercial and Campaign Visual Summary on Youtube!

The hardest part of competing in this challenge was time management.

I worked with one other partner (and our teacher could be our 'Faculty Advisor' only.) Not only did she work full-time and couldn't start any work until 5:30pm every night while I worked from 9am-12pm every day, but we were only 3 weeks to complete our entire campaign while other teams had been notified of hte competition when at the beginning of the year!

While the three of us did collaborate on the research, campaign concept and creative ideas... I ended up completing all of the creative samples, half of the company research along with writing the entire report and developing both videos.
My partner focused on the other half of company & competitor research, our budget, consumer data (research) along with our strategic summary chart.

I was also in charge of spelling/grammar check for all our work, editing my partner's work, fixing any revisions our teacher suggested along with keeping track of our bibliography/references.

For any group of 4 students this wouldn't seem so daunting, but for 2 people when one is 50% more available to work than the other it is 3 weeks of hell. And WHY would I put myself through all of this trouble?

• 1st prize is $2000 to be split between the partners, a gold place trophy & $5000 to be given to the school's marketing department to be added to their award/bursary funds.
• 2nd prize is $1000 to be split between partners, a silver place trophy & $2,500 for the school's award/bursary funds.
• 3rd prize is $500 to be split between partners, a bronze place trophy & $1000 for the school's award/bursary funds.
• Not to forget the Honourable Mentions for...
  - Most Innovative Marketing Strategy
  - Best Media Plan
  - Creative Execution
  - Smartest Budgeting Approach
  - Best Market Research

My advice for anyone who wants to compete in this campaign next year would be to START NOW so that you have time to properly allocate tasks, workloads and give yourself enough time to think of a good strategy. Our team started our 50/50 and with time running our and my partner more concerned about research and fully understanding the consumers I had to take initiative completing the report and creative so that we wouldn't run out of time.

Another piece of advice I would give is to keep at LEAST one of your school textbooks, even if it is the one you paid for and didn't use at all... *ahem* It has proven to be the most useful outside of school giving us the examples and definitions we needed to complete this competition with our heads held high.

Also, even through splitting $2000 seems nice with only two people, I would have LOVED a 'third wheel.' The work would have been divided more fairly and hey, $666 as a reward with a lower stress level would be better than $1000 and a mental breakdown any day...

My last pieces of advice are the most obvious, but the most important (other than taking one class in Accounting couldn't hurt your budgeting skills,) pay attention to your teachers and don't take their wisdom for granted. Take the time to become friends if not 'more than aquaintences' with them. It's because of this 'acquaintship' with my teacher that compelled her to tell me about the competition and help me. She knew how high my professional standards are and that I would work hard to try to win Canada (and our school) that first place trophy.