How are you learning to communicate?

During this past week at Radford University in Virginia, Communication Week took place.  The Coms department had several key individuals, in various communication fields, to share their experiences and insight the to RU students.  These wonderful people took time out of their busy lives to help us out. I have to say it was awesome to see so many fellow communication students out this week to hear everyone speak!

Of all the wonderful guest speakers I was able to attended these three:

Joanne Rae – Demonstrated  how to be a professional in the workplace and during interviews

• She gave tips on what to and what not to wear
• What is appropriate during an interview.  
• You have 7 seconds to impress –  Go! 

Abby Grace – Discussed the importance of promoting yourself and small or large businesses through social media.

• She was able to build her business from social media.
• Tips on how to keep yourself current and professional in the world of social media
• “Social media is completely unstoppable.”

Shelly Whitaker – Talked about how to improve and create a professional Resume.

• Tips and tricks on building your resume
• What an employer might look for – specifically

I really enjoyed what these powerful women had to say! The speeches were  insightful and makes me want to get my professional life in order.  It is always nice to learn how to dress professionally and gather tips to improve my resume but  Abby Grace was my favorite.  This amazing person was able to keep my attention and move me through her personal experiences.  Her story is very similar to my story in some ways and just moves me.

It gives me hope for my future endeavors.

MG.

Where did you go?

Have all the good ideas been taken?

Well, like history a lot of ideas have been repeated in advertising.  Some are copied, some similar, and some just have a newer twist.  But you have to admit…while brainstorming for ideas, as different as you really think they are, majority of the ideas have been done before at some point in time. Don’t feel alone, everyone is guilty of not having complete original ideas.  So how do you come up with original ideas? What a great question?  And who has the answer to this?

One should take those great ideas and some how mold  and make them your own. I know that things start to sound like something else to some degree, but take those ideas and create a new twist.  Here are some methods I take to be more original:

• Come up with your own world and how you could do things there.  What would your rules and regulations be?
• Listen to music
• Sit outside
• Write down all ideas for 2 minutes
• Write down some objects that remind me of the subject (15)
• Go through the dictionary
• Try to stay off the net
• Draw ideas
• Close my eyes and relax

So here are some methods of mine…What are yours?

MG

Fall in Loft all over again.

Connections at the Loft!

One of my favorite brands, and one I currently work for, is Ann Taylor Loft.  This is the sister store of the original Ann Taylor.  The brand represents what it means to be a “real woman.” They believe “best relationships are built on trust. Well, that and an amazing wardrobe. We became a trusted personal stylist by connecting with women on a genuine level – equal parts expert, confidante and friend who tells it like it is. We give her fashion advice, ideas and inspiration that make her style aspirations attainable. We believe in offering versatile, accessible and affordable fashion with undeniably feminine appeal, special and unexpected details and a flattering fit.”

Frogs who never get old

The third chapter of The Idea Writers, Teressa Iezzi touches on the importance of storytelling in advertising. She uses as an example of a branded entertainment campaign for BMW, called “The Hire.” Fallon created a successful series of online films that people went out of their way to watch.  This advertising style is one that motivates people seek the ads themselves verses the type that just yells at them.

Iezzi later mentions how the copywriter’s job description expanded along with the range of mediums they had been assigned to write.  She makes an excellent point in stating that it is not just the marketers goal to make the brand stand out in the ad, but to really earn the audience’s attention.   If the marketer is able to understand the product and the brand, then give a great story, they are on track to a successful idea.

Great ideas do not change

Robert Bly once stated the question “Has the internet changed copywriting?”  His answer – “no.”  The reasoning behind this is that there have been minor changes brought out by the Internet.  The Internet gives more overloaded information to the consumers.   Teressa Iezzi believes this answer is unfitting.  She states that it cannot just be viewed as just another “channel “ medium.  The Internet is more than just an instrument of change.