Getting on the Digital Bandwagon

Lately I have been finishing up my portfolio and basically have all of the campaigns closed to being "finished". (read earlier post "Messin with Fire" to understand the quotes)

So recently I have been on a hunt to upgrade my knowledge of the digital world, Social Networking Sites, SEM, RSS feeds to give myself a leg up on everyone else entering the job market. Thanks to Alex "The Boss" Munro (gotta give a little shout out), I have been tracking a few websites that have done wonders for me, but I'll get to those later. First I will start with the basics. Please get on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. These are the basic social networking sites that are necessities. I repeat, NECESSITIES!

Then there are sites that organize information on the web to the most viewed, searched and commented.

Digg.com and Buzzfeed.com are both sites that update real time what is going on currently on the web. They organize what people are liking, disliking and "digging". Of course they also stream onto Facebook and Twitter so if you like something you can press a button and wham bam thank you ma'am, you can show everyone and your mother.

There are other sites coming out like Hookk.com that allow you to look at reader's comments on news articles before even reading the articles. So I get to see Carrie's reaction to the article on the new flu epidemic before I even look at the article. iMapWeather.com is doing the same thing with weather. It not only gives you impressive "weatherman" maps (got really technical there, sorry) but it also links user generated content to that area, like pictures from Peter in Boston and videos from Natalie in Cleveland. Weather just got a whole lot more interesting.

The next category starts getting a little more confusing. I am still researching this currently but it centers are RSS feeds, so try and stay with me. I won't go on defining what it is but whatisrss.com does a better job than I ever could.
RSS is becoming more and more common on sites because everything is becoming real time oriented. As we start getting attached to the internet through smart phones and constantly updating material, everyone is going to want the most recent info right now, like a screaming child demanding for frosted flakes (that used to be me, now I am more mature). So when you like a website you look to see if it has an RSS feed like this one http://www.ecogeek.org/ and boom you can follow it and your other favorite sites pain free. An RSS reader like googlereader.com accumulates these sites, receives all of the newest articles from your favorite sites and organizes them for your reading pleasure. Kind of like a daily newspaper for the internet.

There are tons of crazy sites coming out as we speak but this is where the internet and technology is going. The internet is becoming so vast that no one can keep up with it themselves so these sites will help you, along with other people.

What's funny is that this article is probably "so 5 years ago". But I feel it hasn't hit the mainstream yet so there is still time. While people are still getting acquainted with Facebook and LinkedIn, we have to be one step ahead.

To stay one step ahead I have been reading Mashable.com. They are the gods among mortals of social media and I would be living under a rock without their posts. I have also been following a lot of social media "masters" on Twitter who post in depth articles on new technology and the power of these sites, "Use the force Luke".

I'm still researching this stuff and half it maybe wrong but I'm still on the goose chase, trying to gather as much knowledge and understanding as possible, like a nerdy Rocky. Cue soundtrack.

The Power of a Picture

So in my search through LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and everything else on the web, I have realized that having a profile picture and avatar goes a long way.

(This is from my own accounts of going through these sites. I'm sure there are books on Neuroscience and statistics about this, but I am not aware of any of them.)

I enjoy a picture because there is something nice about seeing the person you are connecting with. When there is no picture the trust level plummets because a gray silhouette could be anybody, sometimes my imagination goes wild.

Going through LinkedIn, I would say over 80% of the profiles I viewed in a search didn't have a picture and I never clicked on them. Facebook doesn't have this problem because a lot of people have 1,000 pictures of them. I won't lecture about keeping Facebook safe because that's all I hear nowadays.

So being a student in search for a job, get a picture up. Who knows maybe someone will take a gander and hire you.

Brought a Portfolio to a Gun Fight

So in these past few weeks I have been getting anyone and everyone to look and comment on my portfolio. I have realized some interesting things and made some rules for myself to stay positive and stay productive.

Rule Number 1:
Don't take anything personal.
There are some harsh people out there who can say some harsh things about your book. And it hurts sometimes. That's your baby, they're slandering. But most of the time, it's truthful criticism. It probably is a hard pill to swallow, but you gotta do it. So keep your chin up and be ready.

Number 2:
Take everyone's comments to the bank, but don't deposit everything.
If you are given good honest feedback on your work. Take every word seriously and be genuine and thankful to person who gave it to you because you can buy a compliment but you can't buy honesty. There are a lot of subjective opinions in advertising, so someone may love a piece or campaign you did and another person may loathe it. You are the final decision maker when it comes to your work. Don't just blindly follow every comment and criticism.

Number 3:
Change your book!
There are tons of students out there that think once they're done with a campaign, they are done. This is the worst mentality anyone can have. The work should always be evolving. You can't just plant a bulb and expect it to grow, you gotta water it, mulch it and weed around it. And don't be afraid to go completely back to the drawing board. Although painful at first, it will put hair on your chest and prepare you for what really happens. It is also nice to show someone who gave you feedback, that you listened to them and took them seriously.

Now these 3 rules shouldn't be the end all be all of things to do, but they are my three cardinal rules. If anyone has another, I would love to hear it.

If There is a Hand, Grab It and Don't Let Go.

Recently I have been trying to get my name out there in ad world, which is a lot like swimming across the Atlantic on an empty stomach (that doesn't make too much sense, but I'm keeping it).

Well it's safe to say it's tough, brutally tough. But I have come across a lot of helping hands. Some from my university, some from my family and friends and some from god knows where. LinkedIn has been an incredible resource. People on LinkedIn who comment on forums and blogs care about helping out others. Twitter is another great place to saddle up and beg from some criticism. It may not get me a job, but it gets me valuable comments that will help better my book and get my name out there.

You can't expect to just announce your name the day after graduation and have people come begging to have you come work at their shops. No. You gotta put some leg work into it and build your stuff to be the best it can be, which means to not only hear the opinions your classmates and your professors, but everyone in the industry. Then you will see if it will float or sink like the titanic, without the Celion Dion song.

Colin the Hipocrit

Advertising is my life right now. Looking for a job, emailing people I know, sending out my portfolio, fixing my website, fixing my portfolio, redoing my portfolio, creating new camapigns, writing a blog are all things I have been doing for the past couple months. Especially this past week, I have been chained to my desk. But that's who I am.

I am a huge dork and I thank my father for that.

But I also remind myself that all work and no play is not the person to be. I'm in college. These are the last few years of my life I can enjoy time off, drink on the weekdays and watch Jack Bauer save the world with my best friends. It also is important pertaining to advertising. It is the one industry that you need to be a people person. I need to know pop culture. I need to know who people are and how they act. I need to be a 21 year old kid in college because this is the one time I can be.

But I'll be the first one to say that I do work too hard. So in this blog I have been preaching "DO THIS, READ THAT, LOOK AT THIS..." But in this post I'm telling you to be a student and live it up, not only because you should, but also it will make you a better ad person, which is kind of dorky way to look at it.

There are a lot of people out there that don't relate to this post and already live it up. If so, then it's another excuse to have an extra beer.

If you have any spare time.

List of the best Advertising books that I have read:

1. Where the Suckers Moon, by Randall Rothenberg

This book is probably the best book to read when entering the industry. It gives a full on look at how a campaign comes to be, from the new business pitches to finally seeing the spot on tv. It is very well rounded because it speaks from many different POV's, the account side, the creative side, the client side, the agency side. Truly, in my opinion, the best.

2. Hey Whipple Squeeze This, by Luke Sullivan

I have a soft spot for this book because it was one of the matches that lit the advertising fire for me. I feel it is the best book if you're just starting out. Learn how to think, how to write, how to design, how to get your name out there... I could go on.

3. The Advertising Concept Book, by Pete Barry

Pete Barry was one of my professors at Syracuse University, but from a non biased view this book is up there with Luke Sullivan's book. It is a great start-up guide to being a creative in the ad program or school. The best part about his book, is that he put in work, as examples, of what his students did. So as a beginner in the ad industry your not only looking at the best ads ever made, but your looking at great work that students made.

4. Lovemarks, by Kevin Roberts

Kevin is the CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi and has had every prestigious job you possibly can in the ad industry, including the client side, but in his dialogue he doesn't preach. This book is chalked up with great stories of how campaigns came to be and what it is like to be a part of one of the biggest ad agencies in the world. I'm currently halfway through it right now.

5. Advertising Now. by Taschen

These books are my MUST BUY books. I have the print version. They are a collection of some of the best of the best in advertising. There is always the One Show and CA and all of the other annuals, but this one is a well rounded compilation of ads.

I do have biases when it comes to reading because I was never a heavy book worm as a kid. I actually hated reading. So take it from me, that every single one of these books is an easy and entertaining read.

Lego Their Ego

So last week I saw Nina DiSesa come speak.

A little background to her ascent up the Mt. Olympus of Advertising. Nina started at a small ad agency writing radio spots in Virginia and yadda yadda yadda she is now the first female chairman of McCann Erickson.

So now that you're caught up. Nina came to talk about survival in the ad industry. Specifically she spoke a lot about being a woman in an industry filled with men, but there were a lot of things that apply to everyone.

The biggest thing I took from her talk was how to deal with everyone's ego, because honestly there are a lot of people in the ad business who like to eat at their own buffet. And ironically she said the way to deal with these types of people is to not fight it but turn the other cheek. I find this interesting but it makes sense because the ad industry is a "relationship" industry and as long as your own image isn't affected it doesn't hurt to be supportive and smile even when it hurts.

So beware of the chest pounding, lords of the ad business.

I highly recommend seeing her speak or read her book "Seducing the Boys Club". I skipped over a lot of important things she said because you just have to here how she says it.