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Supercharge Your Social Media

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Hello, Creatives!  Jay here.  Earlier this month, I held my first ever free social media class in the City of Sunderland; “Social Media 101”.

Social Media

If you live near Sunderland, UK, feel free to join – “Social Media 101” is every 2nd Wednesday of the month, held in Holmeside Coffee.  It’s informal, and a change to learn from each other over good coffee & good food.

I’ve been teaching “Introduction to Social Media” at the University of Sunderland since January this year (given the opportunity to branch out from radio production), and it’s been a really rewarding experience.   I’ve both learned [and taught] a great deal about the theories behind how to increase engagement across your social media platforms.

A very quick Google will help you pick up dozens of skills for getting the most out of services; Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.  Here’s my first contribution to that online conversation.

1)  “Reply All”

If you haven’t heard of internet heavyweight Gary Vaynerchuck, now’s the time.

This talk by Gary Vaynerchuck may be from 2011, but it’s probably one of the most important speeches you can ever watch about social media engagement:

 

If people are talking about you, your creative projects, or your products, social media exists for you to take advantage of that.  We’re at a unique point in history where you can interact with people like never before.  Take advantage of that.  And if they’re not, join in those online conversations.

Continue reading “Supercharge Your Social Media” →

An Insight into Branding

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A couple days ago, I had a creative chat over coffee with a new company called R.Branding.

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“Branding is a process that can help distinguish a company from its competitors, increase customer relationships and create lasting impressions on the minds of your market.”

“We drank too many cups of Joe (in a place owned by a guy called Joe), talked about merging some creative projects, and enthused about logos together.  Specifically, the Olympics logos.

And when I say enthused, I mean really, really enthused.  I don’t think I’ve had a conversation that passionate for quite a while.  All three of us loved how the London 2012 was so divisive, distinct & entirely original.  And I had absolutely no idea that the Rio 2016 logo also looked like a mountain in Brasil as well as three people united in their love of the games.  (Seems obvious now, huh?)

Rio

See the blurry photo below?  Sat opposite from me & my freelance filmmaker friend Robert Carr are two thirds of R.Branding – Charlie Layzell and Ryan Booth.  They’re truly inspiring guys, and you’ll be hearing a lot more from all three them on both the 99% Perspiration blog & the podcast in the future…

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But now, over to R.Branding, and their low-down on why branding is key to any business, and how to make the most out of any brand.

Continue reading “An Insight into Branding” →

Meet Stephanie Chungu.

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I was 14 when I told my parents I didn’t want to do the family route and study science.  I finally admitted them I wanted to write and it freaked them a bit, because they didn’t know how to get me where I wanted to be, whereas in pharmacy/nursing they know people.

You can consider me the black sheep in the family if you will. Myself and my cousin both take media courses – herself journalism and me studying Broadcast Media Production.

I won’t lie, I was scared breaking out in the media industry.  Taking an easy route into a job wasn’t what I wanted to do and I wanted a challenge.  Since joining Spark Sunderland in 2013, I’ve clocked up a whole calendar of hours (I’ve stopped counting since 150) of radio, and working behind the scenes.  I love doing it.  I love choosing the songs for playlist for my Urban Show on a Monday, choosing what content I should put in my daytime show, being in control of all the specialist programming, I just love it.

steph chungu

 

But the one thing that bothers me?  I’m one of the seven ethnic minority in the station. Media is not solely focused on BAME [Black and Ethnic Minority], and many just assume to put us in the Urban setting.

12874276_594724077360426_1486337790_o.jpgSo, when given the chance to go down to London to attend a masterclass held by BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, I jumped at the chance.  It was a masterclass hosted by creative access, a programme committed to providing the best advice, experience and internship for BAME industry beginners.



The first day in London, I panicked.  Well, of course I did, I was in King’s Cross and was about to burst into tears because I didn’t have enough money to catch the tube home.  Oh how stupid I was, thinking that I could be so comfortable down in London on my own.

Eventually, I got to my aunt’s house.  And my cousin was so excited for this masterclass that she wasn’t even going to.  “You’re going to make it, Steph, believe me.” I tried. I really did.

Screen Shot 2016-04-11 at 18.37.26.pngOn the day, I wanted to look really good.  I mean, I’m going to my future workplace, I wanted to stand out.  Before making down in London I went to Newcastle and bought a whole new outfit, that screamed “I KNOW WHAT I WANT AND I’M GOING TO GET IT.” Continue reading “Meet Stephanie Chungu.” →

London-Bound – Ep. 23 of 99% Perspiration

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Hello, Creatives!

Click here to download Alicia Myers' episode of 99% Perspiration

Click here to download Alicia Myers’ episode of 99% Perspiration

Both our guests on this week’s episode studied creative degrees at university, before pursuing creative careers with media companies based in London.

Alicia Myers is currently the Insight Executive for BBC Worldwide.  Alicia’s role involves leading a research team in a creative way; turning figures and facts into stories, to help BBC Worldwide sell their programmes worldwide.

But when we chatted a few weeks ago, she was about to enter her final week in the same role at Time Inc. UK, the magazine publisher behind InStyle, NME, Wallpaper, What’s On TV, and a handful of other well-loved magazines.

Alicia shares with us how she finds creativity, how to develop a thick skin, and why PR and research roles can be ideal if you love storytelling.

And until next time,

Stay productive, stay awesome!