Now what?

So now that the course is about to end I wonder what have I learnt? Well I know it pays to be early to Mr. McDaniel's class as you get lots of free snacks. But seriously has the course been beneficial?
    I must answer this with a resounding yes. I think that this course is timely as the UWI pushes to create more distinctive graduates. With the state of Caribbean economies and more students graduating and looking for jobs, it is time that we help mold job creators rather than job seekers.
    I was impressed by Uncle Gerry's (yes we call him Uncle Gerry in class sometimes) network and how it has proved useful for us in class. From David Mullings whom I followed on Twitter since my 1st year at UWI to Skyping with Alison Hinds to trips to the Jamaica Stock Exchange and the Bob Marley Museum, this network has afforded the students of this course a great opportunity to not only learn but to grow their own network.
     I am also pleased with the model of the course. It is not restrictive as we were allowed to tweet in class, take pictures and of course blog. This should equip us with some good multi-tasking as well as social media use skills that we can take out in to the working world. Imagine being asked by a company to cover an event via Twitter for their customers  This  should be easy now as we have done it in class.
    I think the most important lesson though was taking an idea and making it into a reality. We have been given articles, tips from real life entrepreneurs and have even pitched ideas to potential investors. All we need now is the courage to go do it in the real world. Now I know we may be afraid but what the reward with out  the risk. So here's to becoming an entrepreneur!

Can We Fill The Need For Social Media Gurus?

With the progression of social media, there is a need for persons who can guide the less than tech savvy persons in the world. And with this class on entrepreneurship, why not become a social media guru and use it as a way to make money? The only problem is that there will be many people who can set up a Facebook page or a blog or have a twitter account. What makes you a guru? Here are 4 ways to become social media guru:

1. Listening: One of the most important lessons is listening to what people want. You can just up and post and think that will attract likes on Facebook or followers on Twitter. So you have to filter out what people are saying. A good way to do this is to look at the influencers in your field or industry. This will give you a good idea of the course you want to chart. You don't want to be a copy cat but you do want to see the trends and how you can add to that.

2. Adding your own two cents: There are so many people in the same field and industry and what will make you stand out is how you differentiate yourself. You may ask: How do I do this? Well now that you have listened to the industry leaders and detected the trends it’s time to figure out how to put your own unique view on this. Use facts and figures to remain credible but add flair. E.g. If your industry is only dominated by serious faced experts add a bit of humour. In this way persons will see that while you are serious with a light hearted approach that distinguishes you from your peers.

3. Creating good content: Now that you have listened and found a way to add your own two cents you now have to create the content that will attract the followers and readers. Take a specific news item, issue or trend and write about it. When you have created your posts promote it over the social media networks. With the right kind of promotion, you can attract the followers. Remember that when you have attracted them that you want to keep them so keep your content current and interesting.

4. Understanding the difference between networks: Now that you have published you also want to understand that there are subtle differences between networks on social media. If you use Twitter there are only 140 characters, so you would need a short captivating tweet to attract followers where as Facebook gives you more characters so you can be more descriptive. Twitter will display just a link while Facebook will give you a window with a picture from your blog posts. Understanding these differences can help you attract more followers and raise your status in social media.

By using these steps you will well be on your way to being a social media guru. This will present the opportunity to grow your network and ensure that you have followers on social media. How far can you go? That question can only be answered by you and the amount of effort you are willing to put in! So go conquer social media and become a guru! 

Inspired from ideas from http://blogs.imediaconnection.com/blog/2011/07/23/3-step-social-media-guru/

Could Your Tweet Be Loved?

So yesterday we celebrated the birthday of reggae icon Bob Marley. Brother Bob as he is still affectionately known has been one of the greatest icons of Jamaica. Through the medium of music he has reached out to the masses. But what if Bob was alive? Would he be in social media? Here's 5 looks we think that Bob Marley would have if he were alive today and used social media (These are actual social media accounts):

1. Facebook

2. Twitter

 3. Tumblr





4. Pinterest

5. Blogging

 Brother Bob may be gone but his music lives on and the Marley clan is into social media. Who knows if Bob would sing "Could Your Tweet Be Loved?"