Why Social Media?

As the Digital and Social Media Coordinator at SAMI, I am constantly on the lookout for the newest and greatest social media research and channels that could aid our clients. Day after day, the planet’s online scene expands and transforms with new trends and platforms, making keeping up a very difficult task. Over time, I’ve heard a question plenty of times phrased in a multitude of ways: why social media?

Social media is loosely defined as applications and websites that allow users to create and/or share content with others as a means of social networking. As an organization, this means that you can actively engage with your audience, respond to concerns, answer questions, and so forth in a way that was previously impossible. Compared to devoting a huge chunk of one’s budget to advertising and looking for a way to talk at audiences, social media is a free way to have a conversation with audiences. And they aren’t small audiences either. According to Facebook’s Earnings Release, there were 1.32 billion monthly active users as of June 30, 2014 (an increase of 14% year-over-year). According to Twitter’s Earnings Report, Twitter had 271 million monthly active users as of June 30, 2014 (a 24% increase year-over-year). So why is it smart to utilize social media? Simply put: free content sharing and conversations with possibly millions or billions of people.

As being on social media can be a great asset to clients, it can also be a great hindrance. When users engage with an organization and attempt to communicate with no response, users may become frustrated and use their platform to spread negativity. Also, if an organization doesn’t commit enough time to keep a social media platform up to date, users won’t see a point in connecting or, depending on how far out of date, might even question if the organization still exists.

This is where your digital and social media coordinators of the world come in. I am here to help clients establish, maintain, and thrive in their online presence whether that be by promoting the upcoming conference, performing crisis communication, or anything in between. Effectively utilizing social media is a huge benefit to any organization and we’re here to help.

See the original post here.

Conversationally,
Christine

2015

2015 Resolutions 

It's odd for me to make a list of resolutions because I don't really believe in conditional life changes ("I'll start working out as soon as I'm less busy with work" makes me wonder, why not start now?) but there have been a few things on my mind lately. I decided to take this opportunity to join the rest of the world in looking forward to 2015 and fleshing out my commitments.

1. Reconnect with Old Friends. I hate talking on the phone. It always seems awkward, there are no nonverbal cues, and I never know when people are in the middle of something. For the upcoming year, however, I hope to get over my hatred of telephonic communication and nurture some lost camaraderie. As much as I dislike it, talking on the phone is infinitely better than any type of text based communication. So, friends, expect some calls (and don't be afraid to call me). I really, honestly, wholeheartedly, do miss you! 
2. Read. Read. Read. I love to read. Unfortunately, I am one of, if not the, slowest readers on the planet. Because of this and life's fast pace in general, reading gets pushed aside. This year, I want to remedy that. I started, and restarted, American Gods last year and am hoping to finish it, and others, in the coming months. Along with novels, I also want to be better informed in the world's current and past events. As much as I've tried to avoid politics in the past, I've accepted that it is extremely important to know what's going on, even if it means upcoming disagreements and the imminent sadness of the direction the world seems to be going.
3. Write. I have binders full of handwritten confessions, promises, dreams, and thoughts dating back to as early as I can remember. Following stints of a mute pencil, I always ended up returning to my journaling ways. There are few better feelings than that of being able to accurately and perfectly convey a thought in written or verbal communication. I want to continue to write, grow, convey, share, and learn. 
4. Fitness Consistency. In the year after leaving college, I started running. The main reason I picked running as my chosen method of fitness? Because there was no other type of workout I disliked more (mostly because I was terrible at it). Thus, me being me, I decided to challenge myself to find the joy in jogging, sprinting, fast walking, etc. In the months after, I lost 20 pounds and was running consistently and uninterrupted for farther that I ever thought I'd be capable. After moving to Milwaukee, looking for a good gym, waiting for my health insurance to go through, and a host of other excuses, I'm working on again gracing the fitness organization with my presence consistently. 
5. Reevaluate Relationships. There is a saying that has always haunted me: you're spineless. I remember my best friend at the time telling me this in early elementary school days. This phrase in its many forms, all I know far too well, has followed me throughout my life. Friends telling me that I let people walk all over me, I'm like a jellyfish, why don't I stand up for myself, stop being a doormat, was a common occurrence for as long as I can remember. When I got to college, something happened. I can't pinpoint a moment or event, but instead of apologizing to people who had done wrong to me, I was now angry. Very angry. Friendship-ending, wall-punching, tear-stained, picture-burning angry. I began to cut ties and stand strong against those who hurt me or my friends. It felt like two decades of anger spewing out on surrounding people and things. People that I absolutely knew would be around forever were hurting me in ways I didn't think possible. But in the midst of all of this bull-headed aggression and depression, I realized something I really wish wasn't true: people will not fight for a friendship. From my experiences, people will not actively apologize. They will not seek you out to make sure you're okay or to talk about what happened. They will accept that you haven't enthusiastically attempted to communicate with them, and they will move on. This is where I find my most difficult ambition of 2015: reevaluate the people in my life. Remember why I cut ties with that person and if appropriate, reach out and talk to them about the situation. Work on my reactions. Control the anger. In some cases, return to the forgive and forget way of life. In other cases, let go of the past and accept that it's a friend lost for a legitimate reason. It's obvious that the years of silence and forgotten time spent together is easily cast aside by most. However, for me, I genuinely miss it. 

2014 Accomplishments

I've noticed over the years that I'm not the best at giving myself credit for the things I do. Thus, in addition to the above list of what I hope to improve on, I would also like to look back on 2014 and make note of my successes. 

1. Blog. I've started and (mostly) successfully maintained my blog. Although I do struggle with how I want it to be perceived (personal, educational, humorous, etc), I've decided that as long as my writing is improved and there are people that enjoy reading it, it's worthwhile. 
2. Website Building and Online Presence for Myself and Others. Built a website for myself (although now I'm working on rebuilding one), for my brother, and for another client. I've also worked on strengthening my online presence and knowledge while also increasing client's presence. 
3. Fitness Milestones. Although my original intent was to lose weight (surprise), I've discovered multiple other benefits to all of the running and dieting I did which has overall caused a paradigm shift for me towards health and not just wanting to be skinny. So far, my farthest run was 6 miles in 65 minutes (because treadmills shut down after that period of time), something I perviously believed impossible for me. I've succeeded at making and eating half a dozen new healthy recipes or meal alternatives, I can walk up numerous flights of stairs without getting winded, all my vitals check out perfect every time, my future looks brighter, and my muscles are actually getting more toned. What started out as an avoidance of future health problems has grown into a passion to accomplish previously unattainable goals. 
4. Career Change. After college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. An Organizational and Professional Communication degree can take someone in an innumerable amount of directions. I had previously worked for a lawyer and decided to take an opportunity as a family law paralegal (without any law education). After a few months, it was clear that the mounds of menial paperwork, constant flareups of drama, and egos of those I worked with weren't for me. In my experience in the law industry, I had the chance to work with some of the most ethical and honest people I've ever met, and unfortunately a few of the exact opposite characteristics (do you sense a Difficult Dwight post coming because it is definitely in the works). From there I worked hard and did some soul searching in which I found my current position: Digital and Social Media Coordinator. I am infinitely more happy in this career and line of work and am excited to see what the future holds. 
5. Ken. This may seem like a weird accomplishment but my intention isn't to say "I've scored a man." Instead, my point of listing my significant other is that I have successfully removed myself from an unhealthy relationship and ended up finding someone that is more kind, knowledgable, passionate, and caring than I had ever dreamed possible (and who is, in my opinion, extraordinarily out of my league). I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and found someone I can see growing old with. I think that's something worth mentioning. And yelling from rooftops. 

To the new year: welcome. Cheers!  

Christine 

Boolean Searches

Have you ever heard of Boolean Searches? If you've done any research or taken any classes about the internet within the past decade, you most likely have. These advanced searching tools are key to successfully navigating the expansive world wide web to find exactly what you're looking for. They are simple rules that all search engines, like Google or Bing, use to help you find exactly what you need. I LOVE knowing these rules, so I thought I would share!

• "Quotations"
• These are used to find exactly phrases. For example, if you're looking for information on irish whiskey and type that phrase alone into Google, it will not only search for both words together, but also both words separately leaving you with pages of unhelpful information to muck through. By typing "irish whiskey" you will come up with only results that pertain to the entire phrase. 
• AND
• Using this tool, you are able to search for multiple things at once and your search results will contain only material with both of the words or phrases you've chosen. For example, typing dogs AND cats, your results will all contain both dogs and cats. This also works with quotations to combine phrases. Searching for "irish whiskey" AND "bars in Wisconsin" will come up with those very specific results. 
• OR
• This is used to find topics with at least one of the words or phrases included. It comes in handy when there are multiple versions of words or phrases. A good example is VP OR "Vice President" OR "V.P.". 
• NOT
• This is nice to know when you keep coming up with extra words that you don't want to include. For example, let's say you're looking for the top social media channels other than Facebook. You could type something like "Social media" NOT LinkedIn. 
• Parenthesis 
• Finally, we have parenthesis. Use these when you're trying to combine multiple tools above to find something. When you start looking for very specific information, these are extremely convenient. An example would be Account AND (executive OR coordinator). 

I hope this helps! Happy searching! 

Love AND knowledge, 

Christine 

For more information, click here or here. 

Why?

When I was younger and I imagined going to college, I had a pretty clear picture in my head of what it would be like: new friends, random afternoon naps, a sporadic class schedule, and constantly being surrounded by knowledge. I thought about the mountains of books I would pore over, the thousands of pages of notes I would take, the long hours into the early mornings spent making every last word of my essays perfect. Looking back on my experiences I realized that there was something much more important that I learned; something that will always be with me and always serve me well. Not only did I fill my head with every last bit of information about the Expectancy Violations Theory, I also learned to never, ever stop seeking knowledge. I learned to always ask: Why?

The biggest mistake of an assumption that I made about college was then when you’re done, you know everything you need to know to be successful. That pretty piece of paper that is mailed to you a few weeks after moving back into your parents’ basement was proof that you were qualified to get a career and start your life.

I’ve been out of college for over a year and I think I’ve learned more since leaving than I ever did while inside its concrete walls. Don’t misinterpret; I will never regret how much I acquired and wouldn’t change my days or newly gained knowledge for the world. I think, though, that it’s easy to forget about life after.

I’ve started to not just accept the world around me, but to question it.

When I was told that living on my own in Milwaukee was a bad idea, I asked why. I was given answers about it being dangerous. In response, I looked up crime rates and statistics, which enabled me to make a conscious decision of where to live and how to stay safe.

When I was told to save all my money in my bank account for when I needed it, I asked why. I heard that keeping that money there was a security blanket. While keeping some safe in case of emergencies, I also learned about investing and have joined the money market.

When I was told that I shouldn’t apply for jobs that I wasn’t 100% sure that I would get, I asked why. I was told that I was never going to be hired. I decided that that was up for the employer to decide and have gained a job that I love going to every day.

I think one of the biggest mistakes that I feel people make is to feel content. Being content with the way things are now means that one no longer questions, challenges, or seeks. Nowadays, we have an indescribable amount of knowledge at our fingertips. I think it would be the worst shame to waste it. Always ask why because when you don't you accept the way things are. This is when we stop pursuing. This is when we stop moving forward. This is when we become stagnant. 

Onwards and upwards!
Christine

5 Rules

Out of school for a little over a year, my learning certainly hasn’t stopped. Throughout my daily experiences in an office setting I’ve developed 5 rules that continue to help me stay sane, productive, and professional.

1.     Don’t promote stereotypes.

As a new addition to the work force, it is wise to be aware of the negative stereotypes associated with being a Millennial. However unfair or wrong it may be, it is human nature to compare and judge other people and I can guarantee you that you will also fall victim. Being young is associated with foolishness, mistakes, immaturity, and inattention. But, by knowing these assumptions, it is easier to proactively avoid them. For example, I have heard numerous people older than myself talk about how youth seem to be constantly glued to screens (computers, cell phones, tablets, etc.). One could counter this complaint by explaining how prevalent technology is becoming in our everyday lives and that knowledge spreads like wildfire through these means but most of the time you can’t even tell when someone is thinking that about you. Instead, I try to always shake a person’s hand and look them in the eye. I turn my phone on silent when I know I’m going to be conversing or spending time with someone. While in waiting rooms, I tend to get lost in my thoughts instead of my newsfeed. These are small changes that make big impressions.

2.     Be kind.

Burning bridges early in your career could lead to ripples of bad outcomes later in life. Unless time travel was finally invented by the time you read this, it is impossible to know what action or words may come back to haunt you. More importantly, networking is an essential skill that could lead to previously unheard of opportunities that you may miss out on. In every professional setting, the best idea is to act like you’re meeting your significant other’s parents for the first time. Be polite and on your best behavior. I doubt being kind has ever cost someone his or her job.

3.     Always take the high road.

This goes along very well with the “Be Kind” rule but I thought it was important to separate, mostly because it’s something I’ve run into and I did not come out on the favorable side. People can be very difficult to work with but that never means that doing things such as spreading rumors, talking back, or complaining about coworkers is ever an appropriate response. If a problem does arise, talk to a superior and do not try to handle it yourself.

4.     Remember that they are paying you.

The next time you find yourself with an urge to log on to Facebook at work, instead think about how much company time and money that would be wasting. Even if it’s just five minutes a day, that time adds up! If you spent 5 minutes on Facebook everyday at work, that would average out to about 22 hours a year. Your company thinks that your time is valuable; don’t forget to show them the same respect.

5.     Always ask questions.

No matter how long you’ve been on the job or what you think you’re supposed to know, always ask questions if you have them! When beginning a new position you may find out that tasks are done a very specific way. How are you supposed to know unless you ask? Unless you lied on your resume and aren't trained as you've portrayed, asking too many questions is never a bad thing. In multiple jobs, people have assumed that another coworker had taught me a certain task, or they didn’t know there was a different way to do it, or just forgot to tell me, or sometimes were testing me to see if I would ask for help when I didn’t know how to do something. It’s much better to be a little embarrassed asking for clarification than to do an entire assignment wrong.

Of course there are many more things to know while on the job but these are a great way to make a good impression and kick start your career. Define your professional self in the best possible way to ensure close connections, a great work ethic, and an ever-evolving professional course.

Love and coffee,
Christine

What NOT to discuss at work

7 topics to avoid at work at all costs and why.

1. Past Jobs

This is a very common trap to fall into. Saying things such as “This job is so much better than my last job because…” seems innocent enough. But at this point in your career, how well do you know your new job to assume it won’t be any of the things your last was? It also leads your new coworkers to wonder what you will say about your current job when you leave. No matter how bad a job is burning bridges is never a good thing to do.

On the flip side, if you start talking about how great your last job, it leads people to wonder why you are no longer employed there or if you’ll ever be happy in your current position. It’s best to avoid the topic altogether unless asked.

2. Politics

Everyone has different political views and work is not the place to discuss them. One simple statement can very easily be misconstrued. Saying something like “Obama sucks” could be interpreted as you are unpatriotic, uneducated, misinformed, naïve, immature, and a whole host of other judgments, all depending on that person’s beliefs. Remember, you have to see these people everyday. Tainting your relationship with them is not advisable.

3. Religion

Similar to politics, everyone has different views. Unlike in other situations, people can be avoided after heavy discussions about beliefs. However, at work, to maintain employment, you will have to see and work with these people. Remove phrases that take any religious figure’s name in vain from your vocabulary.

4. Stereotypes

The word "stereotype" means an oversimplified idea or image of a group of people. Instead of telling you why to avoid it, I’ll just list a few. I think you’ll get the picture.

• Men are messy. 
• Women are bad at sports. 
• Skinny people have eating disorders. 
• Blondes are unintelligent. 

One of my best friends joined a sorority when she went to college. She seemed so much happier and outgoing than how she was in high school. We got together one day and I started a sentence saying something along the lines of “I see that you joined a sorority! That looks-” and here she interrupted me with a frustrated groan. She started to explain that they don’t just party all the time and that they do some great volunteer work. I told her that I was just going to say that it looked like fun, that she seemed very happy, and that I’m excited that she found something she enjoyed so much. This is a perfect example of stereotypes and the negativity they can portray. 

5. Sailor Talk

Turn on your filter in the workplace. The new “f” word can be fiddlesticks. The new “s” word can be sugar. Using George Carlin’s seven dirty words could be seen as offensive or immature. Do everything you can to portray yourself in a positive light.

6. Money

When money gets brought up in the workplace, it reminds me of the ancient Egyptian caste system. People start ranking themselves based on how much they make. When this comes up, you have to remember that there are multiple ways salary is determined and that you are most likely not fully aware of them all. If you do believe, however, that something unfair is happening, set up a meeting with your boss. Do not be accusatory or angry, just seek information using phrases such as “I am really looking to reach the next step in my career; what can I do to get there?”

7. Coworkers

Remember the telephone game? One phrase is whispered from person to person in succession. When it reaches the last person, they say what they heard followed by the first person saying what the original message was. If you’ve ever played, you remember how the two phrases are usually barely related. Keep this in mind.

At some point during this, I’m sure most of you wondered what to do if someone brings up views that you don’t share. Usually, I go with the smile and nod technique. Remember, you aren’t at work to spend hours discussing these things. Smile, nod, and go back to work. If it’s something that is very offensive to you, however, sometimes it is worth saying something along the lines of “I would prefer that you not say things like that with me around.” Coworkers don’t have to be your best friends nor do they have to share any of your views. You do, however, always need to find a way to successfully work together.

Much luck,
Christine

Alone.

Solitude. Isolation. Loneliness. Seclusion.

Words like these seem to always be associated with negativity and other synonyms including: emptiness, confinement, wasteland, abandoned, detached. But why? Why can't they be associated with freedom, flexibility, leeway, and resilience?

If you would have asked me a year ago what my greatest fear was, I would have said ending up alone. Since then, I've spent much of my time surrounded by people. For a good chunk of it, I was living at home with my parents and brothers. I spent most nights with friends or family, soaking up the calamity. Just over three months ago, I moved out of my parents and into my own apartment; the first time I've ever been the sole name on my lease.

I, Christine Piela, am here to inform you, faithful reader, that being alone is awesome. In the past three months, I have:

1. Built and designed my brother's website (with zero previous html experience);

(Still a work in progress)

2. Tried out at least 3 new delicious recipes, and made plans for a dozen more;

3. Learned the recklessness of coming home and immediately taking my pants off;

4. Further explored personal interests without any concern for what others may think;  

ALL the coffee

5. Added at least 5 new scrapbook pages and did a host of other crafty things; 

6. Enjoyed the selfish moments of A/C on with the windows open or playing my music way too loud;

7. Pondered my strengths, passions, and how to best combine the two; 

8. Learned more about myself than I have within the past full year; 

I really enjoy kittens.

9. Began blogging and writing more while looking for ways to best utilize my creativity;

10. Taken a breath and a step back. 

If I can leave you with anything today, I want it to be a paradigm shift on the notion of being alone. Don't fear it; embrace it! It has even been called the No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People. It gives you the chance to clear your head and think completely for yourself, by yourself, about anything and everything you'd like without distraction or judgement. It allows you to do what you want, when you want, without having to explain or answer to anyone. Are you tired and want to go to bed at 8:00pm? Do it. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to decorate a birdhouse with tissue paper and Modpodge? I now know. Do you ever see a really interesting show or documentary that you've never been able to watch because you share a TV? I've been there. Do all those things and more!

I am not advocating for you to throw your phone out the window and cut all ties (I know I wouldn't be where I am without friendship and collaboration), but I am telling you to not be afraid of it or to run from it. In the past month I've sent 4 emails to someone I was working with to achieve a mutual goal with no response, I've tried to contact multiple people I had previous plans with to follow through but to no avail, and I've felt neglected by the individuals that I was most hopeful to begin to work with. And that's okay. If they can't or don't make time for me, why fret? I think there are a few people out of the 7 billion out there that do think I'm valuable and that want to make time for me. But for now? I'm okay with being alone.

Solidarity in solitude,
Christine