Making the Jump

I have decided to make the move from Blogger to Wordpress. I will no longer be posting here but instead will be posting at http://karissamarie.wordpress.com/. Thanks everyone!!

Are We TOO Connected?

Awhile back I read an NY Times article entitled "Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction" about how all of the technology surrounding growing minds can be both a distraction to learning and enable it. Last week Seth Godin presented this food for thought:

http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b31569e20133f423636c970b

This idea that has been rolling around my head for some time. Where would the world be without Blackberrys? I am so dependent on my own beautiful berry that I carry around my charger. For the life of me I cannot understand why places do not have more convenient outlet spacing! Because the world will end if the berry dies. Really. I won't be able to BBM, text, email, or check Facebook and Twitter! Going of the grid these days is completely unacceptable. In fact, I've gotten so desperate that I actually tote my Macbook around at all times just so I can log on at any possible moment. Without the mac, I feel empty. I equate this feeling to leaving my firstborn child behind at Walmart for hours before realizing the house is just too quiet.

These days people have expectations. Instant gratification is what its all about! If you don't respond within 5 minutes, don't doubt that you WILL BE SHUNNED from society. A few weeks ago, I became violently ill. Imagine the episode of Glee when Matthew Morrison becomes ill and is confined to his bed.  This was me. I didn't respond to emails, texts, bbms, or return phone calls. AND I felt HORRIBLE about this. Here I was on my sickbed and I felt guilt because I was not keeping constant contact.

I think it is time for an experiment. Because going completely off the grid during school is just not possible, I've decided to do this for three days over winter break. I am forgoing my computer and my blackberry.  I am turning off the bberry browser, turning off BBM, and lockin up the mac. Note: I am already hyperventilating at this thought. 


I predict that I will probably go into Facebook withdrawal; shivers, sweats, and all. IF you want to talk to me, give me an old-fashioned phone call. Because I would certainly love to hear your voice. I will probably need someone to check Facebook or Twitter for me.

Cyber Monday: Whats the Deal?

Okay, I missed out on some major Black Friday shopping because I was selling some fabulous cupcakes to weary shoppers. Am I a tad bit sad? You bet your butt I am! After spending the past 3 days talking to everyone else about their fabulous steals and wonderful purchases, I am lamenting my lost chance to spend mayjah dough on fluffy sweaters, nifty electronics, and whatever else I could possibly imagine. So I was the teeniest bit pumped to actually do a little bit of internet shopping on what has come to be known as Cyber Monday.

But it's 6:42 on this supposedly fantastic day and I have yet to find the glorious steals that my friends had the chances to find on Friday. I mean while there is no replacement for coming across the most luxurious cashmere sweater at 75% off in store and racing to try it on in the fitting room, only to buy it even if it doesn't fit. Because hey, WHO CARES, when its that cheap!?! However I was at least expecting some glorious cyber steals. I am left disappointed with what I have found today!

To give a little taste of my Cyber Monday experience, here a few of the email offers I recieved:

Aveda: 5 FREE samples
Anthropologie: FREE shipping
J.Crew: 25% off ALL men's and women's sweaters (plus, FREE shipping)
Barnes and Noble: FREE shipping

So the gist of Cyber Monday is FREE shipping. OH MA GOSH!!! Who can believe it, if you spend the regular amount of money per usual you get to save about $10!! Shocking. This is a world changing offer. Mind you this is an offer that is usually offered after you spend $50, depending on the website. Excuse me, but isn't the entire point of Cyber Monday to be the online version of Black Friday. I see very little correlation here.

If I were a company that was going to participate in Cyber Monday, I would offer better deals than just free shipping. Just because you can send me by book for free Barnes and Noble, doesn't mean I am going to order from your website. I could easily walk the few blocks to Barnes annd Noble, pay the same price for the book without having to wait for the shipping time. Unlike the shopping that occurs on Black Friday, there is no instant gratification from online shopping. I bought a pair of L.L. Bean boots two weeks ago and have yet to recieve them!

I wonder if other shoppers are enticed and fooled by the offers of measly free shipping? Am I being to picky here or do people agree that retailers should take more advantage of Cyber Monday and offer better steals to increase sales?

Really, MTV? Reality taken too far...

It seems like everyone is obsessed with MTV's latest batch of reality shows, specifically Jersey Shore. I'll admit that I watch that show, perhaps may even be addicted. In fact, sometimes I find myself making what I refer to as Snooki sounds. I'll leave you to your imagination. However, I have a major bone to pick with MTV's programming. The problem lies with the network's series 16 and Pregnant and the subsequent spin-off Teen Mom.

These two series are hugely popular among not just the younger generation, but I have found that people my parents age also watch these shows. My concerns over this reality series, which depicts young pregnant teenagers and their struggles and triumphs becoming young parents and their lives afterwards, lies not with adults who watch this show (though heaven knows what they think of the world after viewing the antics on national telvision), but with other young teens who think that having sex and becoming pregnant will lead them to reality television fame.

These shows glorify both the negative and positive aspects of becoming a teenage parent. I heard awhile back that the show was created to portray the struggles of being a teen parent. The purpose of 16 and Pregnant was to supposed "prevent" kids from becoming teen parents. But since the show has blown up, the stars have become regular covers on weekly tabloids and news on gossip sites.

Prime example: Teen Mom star Amber Portwood. Her violent antics and short-fused temper have not only garnered attention for the show but have brought attention to her personal life of the show. She has appeared numerous times on gossip blog Perez Hilton, concerning not only her violent ways but her latest outing to a local Walmart with her latest boyfriend. A positive aspect of Amber's popularity is that attention has been brought to her daughter's living situation and authorities have intervened.


But my argument is this: Young teens are watching kids just like themselves achieve some fame and fortune through a tv show about becoming pregnant, which in my opinion doesn't focus on the true struggles of teen parenting. There is no way to prevent young, impressionable minds from watching what is supposed to be pure entertainment, and think that they can achieve success by landing on such a show.

Would you let your children watch 16 and Pregnant or Teen Mom?

Internship Battling

It is around this time of year when it seems that college students really seem to lose their minds. Not just because of finals, group projects, and the usual hustle and bustle, but for juniors and seniors, it's time to finalize your spring schedule. Which means one thing: securing a great internship. Usually I wouldn't find this to be so stressful. But as a senior, I hope that an awesome spring internship will lead to either amazing recommendations or perhaps securing that ever elusive fantastic full time job after the impending doom of graduation. Can you tell that I am freaking out about becoming an actual, full-time adult?!?

After going on many. many interviews over the past few years, you would think that I would have the interview process down pat. But it never fails, I always get incredibly nervous which I am ashamed to say, leads to sweaty palms. And this means that when the inevitable handshake occurs, the situation becomes quite awkward.

In fact, one of the best bloggers that I know recently posted about getting an internship!! If you haven't ventured to Ramblings of a Redhead, I suggest you drop everything, whip out the Blackberry and get there now. 

At this point in time, I am proud to say that I have secured a fall internship! But now all of the focus is turned towards doomsday, a.k.a. graduation. It's time for this little girl to find a big girl job and not return to school in the fall for the first time in my 22 years of life. Am I in denial? Yes sir, you better believe it.

At this point, I am welcoming all suggestions for my job hunt. In fact, how does one even start planning their future beyond college? Do I pick a city I want to live in? Do I make a list of all the agencies that I would like to work for? Any and all help is all welcome!! Perhaps this is like deciding what colleges to apply to, just a thought. But for now, we college seniors, must focus on getting through the next two weeks of our lives.

Going beyond the Communications Industry

 Whenever I tell people that I am graduating with a degree in public relations, I can almost guareantee that the follow up question is not going to be the typical "and what do you plan on doing with that?" but rather "uhhhh, what is public relations?" I am ultimately always disappointed with my response because I feel like I can't adequately describe all the facets of public relations. The common person automatically brings up the term "spin doctor." Or better yet, "hack." Which let me tell you really really drives me insane. Public relations goes beyond simple media relations, "spinning" reputations, and at times, crisis communications. Today with the addition of the internet and social media, public relations is about building and sustaining relationships with core audiences and bridging the gap between the corporate banner and the commonplace customer. These are among the reasons why I am so unbelievably excited to enter the public relations industry at such a critical time.

This semester I have learned many important lessons by taking what I have learned from my professors and books and using the information in my everyday life. In fact I have Joseph Jaffe's book, Flipping The Funnel, to thank for landing me my second job at SWEET Cupcakes. At SWEET, part of the mission statement is not only to provide the best cupcake possible, but also to provide the best customer service possible to gain the respsect of the customer. In my interveiw I was asked what the term customer service meant to me. Ironically enough, I had just read the chapter in Jaffe's book about the customer experience. In short, customer service is just a component of the entire customer experience. Naturally, being a public relations major I managed to pull out this term and win over the interviewer. Now I love my job and am proud to call myself a "Sweetie."

Side Note: Jaffe's book is a must-read. Click your way over to Amazon to purchase!

Moral of the story: public relations isn't just for those working within the communications field. The lessons that I have learned in the classroom, at internships and reading books have managed to get me part-time jobs that I depend on to live my champagne lifestyle on a water budget. I haven't gotten the memo that I am supposed to be leading a broke college student lifestyle.

Email is Not Dead. Nice Try Facebook

Ok, everyone. Calm down. E-mail is not dead. We've seen ideas like this before that were supposed to revolutionize the way we communicate (i.e. Google Wave, Google Voice. NOTE: these are all Google Flops). Yes, Facebook is the end all be all of social networks. The introduction of "f-mail," for those of you not in the loop this is Facebook "e-mail," is Mark Zuckerberg's evil plan to become the "King of the Internet" and challenge the behemoth that is Google. See the recent launch of Facebook Places and even more recently the incorporation of Deals in order to edge over competition from FourSquare.

In my opinion while F-mail will undoubtedly become hugely popular among Facebook users and social media savy types, but color me old school, I do not believe that e-mail is going to become extinct. While you do not need a Facebook account to use f-mail, I know many people that just refuse to have anything to do with Facebook. The "social inbox" as Facebook is calling it belongs only to friends and not to your bank, mass e-newsletters, etc. While this is a great feature, I love the excitement I feel whenever I long into my gmail account and discover what is awaiting. Will it be a business email, a personal anecdote, or the latest Groupon? If I am not alone in the world here, this is a major reason why the e-mail account is here to stay.

My point is that when Facebook chat launched, AIM and iChat did not disappear. People still use these to communicate among the office or at work and socially. Most professional environments block personal Facebook use. Meanwhile there is no way to block your work e-mail. While I do admit that yes I will probably use f-mail, my g-mail account is here to stay. 

In my opinion while F-mail will become hugely popular among the younger demographic and social media world, it will not replace e-mail. E-mail is just too ingrained in the professional world. E-mail will not go way of the fax machine and a good old stamp letter, because f-mail is just not that different.

The Power of Youtube

Social Media truly has revolutionized the way the world works. Back in the day in order to spread the word, public relations professionals went straight to traditional media. But going beyond the public relations and business spheres, social media has changed other industries remarkably. In this case, I want to bring attention to YouTube. There is more to YouTube than just cute, fuzzy cats and lyric videos. This is a way for any person to create an account and establish an outlet for their talent beyond the shower. According to the YouTube fact sheet: "Founded in February 2005, YouTube is the world's most popular online video community, allowing millions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small." I think this puts it quite nicely.

YouTube has launched several huge names in the entertainment industry. Today, the biggest name popping into mind is Justin Bieber. "The Biebs", as I so affectionately call him, just won AMA's Artist of the Year award. This just goes to show the power that thousands of preteens posses. Bieber got his start on YouTube with this lovely video. He got so many views on his videos that he garnered the attention of music industry folks and promptly blew up. Now he is the fantasy of millions of teenage girls worldwide. I am not one of them, though his tunes are quite catchy.

While YouTube has become so incredibly huge now, according to the site people are watching 2 billion videos a day on YouTube and uploading hundreds of thousands of videos daily. In fact, every minute, 24 hours of video is uploaded.

My all time favorite YouTube story is about a little boy named Josh Sacco. Josh's father uploaded a video of him reciting the Miracle speech.

Yahoo's Puck Daddy does a fabulous job explaining the story behind the video and the resulting outcome for four-year-old Josh. But perhaps the best result from this adorable, inspiring video is that Josh performed an edited version of this speech at the 2010 Red Sox Home Opener. Which as any die-hard Sox fan will tell you, is a dream come true. From your living room to Fenway Park, life can't get any better than that!

Budding artists can utilize YouTube to launch careers and gain the crucial following in order to make it in today's dog eat dog industry. What I love about all social media is that it allows anyone to create a unique online voice and be heard, or not. Social media allows a creative outlet whether in the form of a microblog, Facebook, videos, what have you. People can for relationships and make friends from all over the world through social media. The power that lies within your keyboard is amazing and revolutionizing.

Personal Branding. What's the issue?

The business card is dead. Who cares about a 3x2 inch piece of card stock that gets lost in the shuffle and eventually thrown into the garbage? I may be thinking a little drastically here, but the idea holds true. My new media professor has told this anecdote a million times and I think its genius. Here it is: When David Meerman Scott takes the stage at speaking engagements he introduces himself by handing out his "business card." What is his business card? Google. Its a lot more engaging when its told in person.


If you'e been following this blog the slightest bit, you hopefully have gleamed two things. 1) I have a slight obsession with all things Starbucks. 2) Google amazes me. In this crazy world of SEO (search engine marketing, for those of you not in the COM world), digital marketing, and new media, developing a relevant online presence is mandatory whether its for a corporate or personal brand. As a matter of fact, Todd Defren, a principal at SHIFT Communications and a social media thought leader, recently blogged about personal brand conflicting with corporate brand.

As a future public relations professional I am working hard to establish some sort of online presence. I am not afraid to Google myself. To be honest, its one of my favorite activities. I swear I am not conceited. In fact, I openly ask my friends to Google me in order to see what comes up. Because for some reason in my head, the search results are not the same that I see on my own mac. (I have yet to figure out my own brain.) I blog, Twitter, Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, interact on other blogs, and created a Google profile all in the name of optimum SEO.

Here is where the difference lies between generations. My friends and I realize that drunken Facebook photos are not to be seen by potential employers, but when you're trying to establish an online presence where do you draw the line? Facebook has so-called "privacy" settings and laws that help prevent non-friends from seeing photos of you and yet when I Google myself some of these photos show up. This is NO BUENO. I can't tell you how many times I hear from my parents not to put anything on Facebook that could potentially harm my career...thank you Mom and Dad, I get it. I am a self-proclaimed social media master, thank you.


What I find so interesting is my parents do not understand anything about developing an online presence. I want them to read my blog. In fact my family is one of the reasons I started this blog. I wanted to share thoughts about the public relations and communications industry and to help them understand my future career. One night, I asked my dad to google me. Harmless, right? He refused. "I don't want anything to do with that bullsh*t." Direct quote.....ummmm, excuse me? Apparently he has not been reading my blog. THANKS FOR THE LOVING SUPPORT FATHER. He then handed the phone to my mother who was slightly more understanding. But this is when I had to explain what the act of googling is. My parents apparently have no idea what they're paying Boston University to teach me.

The question I want to throw out there is this: Are older, more experienced communications professionals having the same troubles as my parents? In class we are taught that entering the job market as young, fresh students will give us an advantage because we "get" this new social media. But as far as I was concerned, Google was rather self-explanatory. I am interested to see what sort of challenges lay ahead upon entering the full-time work force.

Inspiration. 2.0

Because sometimes we all need to take a moment. Take a deep breath and remember that everything is going to be all right in the end. Shout out to my brother for providing this beautiful quote.

Ode to the Red Cup

It's that time of year folks!! Halloween has just ended, November has commenced, and people have broken out the Christmas tunes (or in my case have upped the ante by publicly singing All I Want For Christmas Is You). I don't know about anyone else but every year I countdown to the day that Starbucks releases their annual holiday cups. For some reason, these festive red cups bring an unparalleled amount of joy into my life. If you're judging me for this statement, may I fondly suggest you go purchase a peppermint mocha and proceed to reevaluate. 

Last year's holiday cup was absolutely spectacular. But Starbucks has decided to blow away expectations and incorporate their loyal customers into the festivities. Yesterday, I anxiously got my paws around my first red cup of the season and was even more excited when I read the copy on the cup. As I sipped round one of my pumpkin spice latte, I read this "Our friends think of us as an odd couple, but we only think it's odd when we're apart. www.starbucks.com/share" WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET IN THE GIVING SEASON then to have your customers log onto a unique landing page all about your brand and the sharing and giving of the holiday season. Even better than the quotes on the cup are the "coffee cozys" that have "Stories are gifts. share" printed on them. It's sentiments like these that make me a sucker for the Christmas season.

http://www.starbucks.com/share/

Now even if I didn't have a heavy handed love affair with all things Starbucks, I would think this campaign tapped into what most consumers feel at the start of the holiday season. Even if by mid December you want to poke out the eyeballs of the every blown up Santa Claus storefront, the beginning of November finds most people breaking out Andy Williams Christmas carols with holiday fervor.

Starbucks has always had an interactive social media campaign that takes customer service to the next level. The MyStarbucks Idea campaign takes the best of online marketing and relationship building and creates a hub of online activity unique to the Starbucks brand. With the release of the red cup and the "share" campaign, Starbucks is taking the festivities beyond the usual Peppermint mochas, Gingerbread lattes and Eggnog lattes and creating a space where customers can share stories, interact via Facebook and learn more about what Starbucks is doing to make this holdiay special including "the 12 days of sharing." I think that in the future Starbucks will be one of the case studies to look to when  studying success stories about creating online conversations and building online customer relationships using new media.
As @LaurenB tweeted yesterday "When your customers are annually excited about the release of a red cardboard cup, you are probably doing a good job branding." And I couldn't agree more!


Oh and has anyone else heard about the new Trenta size? This sounds to good to be true!

GleeGate: A Step to Far?

By now I'm sure that most people have heard about the recent controversy surrounding the Glee GQ photos. In case you have been living under a giant rock or perhaps been vacationing in North Korea, here's a little rundown for you:

• About a week ago GQ made public racy photos taken by Terry Richardson
• The photos featured Glee castmates Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron posing in "hyper-sexualized" versions of their characters
• The Parents Television Council denounced the spread saying it "borders on pedophilia" and is a "near-pornographic display"
• The fever reached a boiling point when Katie Couric, The View, and The Talk all uttered the same sentiment, expressing disappointment in the choices the actors made in posing

While there are clearly several things wrong with this photo shoot and the ideas behind it, the fuss that has been created over these photos has become quite hysterical. Now I realize that as a young adult,  I might feel a little differently about these photos if I were a parent. But the point is not to argue about whether the actors made a good choice in agreeing to take the photos. What bothers me most about this scandal is the fact that these photos would not have been a huge deal if The Parents Television Council had not released statements. The photos might have garnered a small bit of attention because they are pretty steamy, but since words such a "pedophilia" and "near-pornographic" were used, the media jumped on board, broadcasting the photos across the Internet, television, and other print. Because who isn't intrigued by young, hot Hollywood stars and scandal? 


In my opinion, The Parents Television Council did Glee and GQ a favor by increasing attention that would otherwise not have been paid to the magazine. While Glee is an immensely popular show and guaranteed press no matter the issue, more attention was brought to these questionable photos than necessary because of those statements. The photos would not have been posted anywhere other than print and online GQ, but now the chances that children are going to see them are upped considerably. 


What would more than likely have been a small issue was blown out of proportion because the media got ahold of the story. Dianna Agron responded in a recent blog post, "If you are hurt or these photos make you uncomfortable, it was never our intention. And if your eight-year-old has a copy of our GQ cover in hand, again I am sorry. But I would have to ask, how on earth did it get there?" Well now because the story has appeared on several news stations, talk shows, and every corner of the Internet, it nearly impossible that children have not seen the photos.

The case I am making is The Parents Television Council should have left the photos alone. GQ's target demographic is older men for whom seeing scantily clad women is nothing new. At the end of the day, is you look closely at the content of Glee, the plot lines are certainly not G-rated and constantly push the envelope. I am not gonna lie, I have often thought about parent's reactions to some of the show's dialogue. But when one examines the audience of the show, most of the avid watchers are college age students and adults. Most certainly young teens are watching the show too, but seeing a few racy photos  is not going to epically harm a growing mind. If you take a look at past magazine covers, it is nothing new for young starlets to appear on covers such as Rolling Stone or Vanity Fair, hardly dressed. Take a look at Britney Spears when she was barely 18 and appeared dressed in underwear on the cover of Rolling Stone. Most recently, at the time 16 year old Miley Cyrus wrapped in a blanket in Vanity Fair. There comes a point in every career where boundaries are pushed, people will not always be child stars. Miley Cyrus will not always be Hannah Montana. Just take a look at Lindsay Lohan, former Disney Star or Vanessa Hudgens and the requisite nude photo scandal. People must come to the realization that Hollywood stars are actually adults and go beyond the roles they play on television. 


What do you think? Are these photos pushing the boundaries or have they gone a step too far?

There's A Reason for the Season

Beautiful snow covered Beacon Hill

I'm not sure what is going this year, but it seems Mother Earth has made the decision to jump from summer straight into winter. I have never been a huge fan of fall- please just give me snow, Starbucks holiday cups, and festive cheer- forget about the changing of the leaves and apple picking. Unfortunately what comes with psychotic Boston weather is the onslaught of holiday marketing and advertising. Every year it feels like stores, both big and small, feel the need to put up their holiday displays earlier and earlier. The onslaught begins with Halloween and ends with New Years. Before we know it we'll be buying Halloween costumes mid-July and purchasing Christmas gifts and baking Christmas cookies dressed in tank tops and shorts.

Now usually I am in agreement with most of the universe in believing that stores are celebrating these holidays way too far in advance, but this year I find myself listening to Christmas tunes before the leaves have barely started to change. I am eagerly awaiting this years Starbucks holiday cup and cannot wait for Halloween to be over so that stores put up there Christmas trees and start playing Christmas carols. Even as I write this, I find myself listening to Mariah Carey's single Oh Santa.

Perhaps I am experiencing this sudden turn in feelings cause I feel the distressed and depressed world pressing down around me and hope some Christmas cheer will plaster a smile on your face. Even if its a fake cheery atmosphere, I love the holidays. Some people find the overall cheeriness depressive. I on the other hand, can't wait to wish random people on the street "Merry Christmas and Happy Holdiays!" It is the season of giving after all. During the two or so months of infectious cheer, the world is in a generally happier mood. It isn't until the realization that another year has passed and New Years resolutions start breaking, that world sets back into an overall gloomy atmosphere.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

All I'm saying is that the world deserves a much needed break from incessantly worrying about the economy, job market, and general life craziness. This is what the holidays are all about. This is why I'm beginning to realize that it doesn't matter if your local Macys decides to put up their Christmas displays on November 1. In the end, I believe, this is all about spreading cheer.

Perez Hilton: The Queen of All Media??

All hail the Queen of Media! Or so this is what the banner of Perez Hilton's famous gossip blog says. I would venture to say that he is the Queen of gossip blogs, but most definitely not of all media in the world. That's a bit of a big claim, don't you think? Yes, I am one of gossip hungry types, who check his website several times daily when there's time. But over the years and after spending some time in Los Angeles, I have come to realize just how hypocritcal his blog is.

Disclaimer: This post is not meant to lambast Perez Hilton or his site because his entire career is evidence of how much influence bloggers can have. And also how blogging can become a launch pad into so many different opportunities that were not present before blogging or social media.

When I use the term hypocrtical I mean this: when the whole Taylor Swift/Kanye West debacle occured, there was no one who lambasted Kanye West more than Perez Hilton. And for several months afterwards, Hilton continued to carry a grudge and negative attitude towards West in all of his related posts. Example here. Yes, I think what West did was completely inappropriate and the negative fallout was much deserved. But people including Hilton continued to harp on the matter until the most recent VMA performances by both artists. Both of their performances dealt with the subject matter. But it seems like Hilton has decided to switch sides. Yes, he still doesn't approve of West's antics. But now he seems to think that people need to let it go, forgive the guy, and move on. Excuse me, Mr. Hilton but why are you so suddenly changing your tune? I don't understand.

Kanye West is not the only celebrity that Hilton flip flops on constantly. I feel like at one point or another, he has lambasted each celebrity or called them out on some sort of ridiculous notion. Like looking not so fresh in public, or acting like a semi normal human being. I just wonder when Hilton decided that he was the supreme source for all things celebrity. A reality check is much needed in this situation. Or at least pick a side and stay on it. Perhaps, maybe even admit you are wrong once in awhile.

"Yes, I Googled"

Google. This little idea born in Larry Page and Sergey Brin's Stanford dorm room (sound like Facebook much?) has become much more than just a simple search engine. In my New Media class, my professor often refers to Google as a person itself. Some PR and marketing professionals now spend their days trying to figure out how to get their clients to the top of search engine rankings. What exactly composes the Google Algorithm? I don't think us normal folks will ever find out.

What really got me thinking about Google, is this story: the other day I had to explain to my lovely mother what exactly "Googling" someone meant. She was trying to find out information about a person, after I did the requisite Facebook stalk, I suggested performing a Google search. Mom's response? "WHAT IS THAT?" I was flabbergasted. Did my mother really not know that you could basically find out a person's life story simply by typing their name into a search bar? This situation needed further exploring.

I knew that there are differences between what Gen Y and Gen X do with the Internet. But I hadn't really thought about the differences between how people use Google. Everyday I learn that there are differences in this ever changing world of Web 2.0 that I will come to understand in the work place.

What did we do before Google came about? I personally have a hard time remembering when the Internet was not such an integral part of my everyday existence. I can't pinpoint a time when I first started using Google or when the word Google became a verb. I'm willing to bet that this holds true for most people that are part of Generation Y. You don't know what the capital of Zimbabwe is? Google it. (The answer is Harare, btw.) Just writing this blog post, I've googled about 5 times so far. Google is a part of our everyday lives, so much so that without it, I think the world would be a lot dumber. Google provides the answer to every question we could ever come up with. What or who would we turn to with all of our random questions? Its a portal to the vast unknown world...this is what makes Google exciting.

Inspiration.

For the Love of Marc Jacobs

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

Its a tough world out there for college students. We study hard, we work hard and we play hard. We do all of these things so passionately that most of the time we find ourselves so strung out and stressed that we end up singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at 11 p.m. during the last minutes of the work shift. Well, this was me last night and let me tell you, this is not an isolated incident. I don't know if this impromptu performance was inspired by the horrific, gloomy Boston weather or because I want the holiday season so badly that I am consuming Pumpkin Spice Lattes at an extremely alarming rate. Anyhow, the life of the college student is a constant struggle. A daily battle between Father Time, the dreaded bank account, and the urge to throw my hands up and surrender to my over-stuffed comforter. It is in these desperate times that I have to remember the beautiful pleasures in life. The small things that I don't often get the chance to do because I am so focused on graduation and the impending (and yet very exciting) doom of real life. This is where my love of all things Marc Jacobs enters.

As a broke joke college student, I don't really have the luxury to go purchasing designer items whenever I am feeling down and in desperate need of retail therapy. But thanks to Marc Jacobs and the launch of the brand's new e-commerce site last week, I can now drift off into a fantasy world from the comfort of my own Macbook. What makes this site so exciting is that it goes beyond the ordinary website that merely show the fall or spring runway shows. It actually enables the consumer to purchase items without having to venture to Newbury Street to visit a boutique. When I find myself with a few extra dollars to spare, I can simply log onto www.marcjacobs.com and shop till I drop without actually getting my lazy self out of my bed. Or in the middle of class when I find myself drifting into the far reaches of my mind. Admit it, we all daydream more than we'd like to.

The storefront of marcjacobs.com

E-commerce sites are the latest trend in  the fashion industry, a lot of brands have realized the potential growth available through a direct online store instead of being sold through third party sites like Net-a-Porter, BlueFly, or Gilt Groupe. E-commerce sites make it that much easier for the suburban woman or college student to make a personal connection with a brand. A brand's site provides a unique experience that one like BlueFly cannot provide. It offers the ability for the customer to truly grasp the core ideas and beliefs behind the brand. The Marc Jacobs site was designed to look like a miniature dollhouse complete with sales representatives to guide you through the store and answer your every question. The store is unique to the Marc Jacobs brand. You certainly would not find male "sales associates" dressed in a woman's clothing on the Chanel site.

These sites provide the much needed escape from the everyday grind. It just so happens that one of the pleasures in my life is shopping- a pleasure that I do not get to enjoy often. But with the launch of e-commerce sites like Marc Jacobs, I find myself taking comfort in the world of Marc Jacobs with just a click of a button.

Live. Love. Music.

Today a friend asked me what I thought the most meaningful song is to me.  Seems like an easy question, right? Well I thought so, too. But I sat there for a few minutes, racking my brain for a song that I thought had the most profound effect on my life. Believe it or not, I was stumped! And not because music doesn't affect me. In fact, music has the ability to profoundly influence every moment of my life. There have been songs that have gotten me through the best and worst of life's moments. How is it possible to choose only one song, let alone artist or album that has had the most effect on me? Quite frankly, its not. I just love music way too much. I listen to it from the moment I wake up to the moment I fall asleep, literally. It guides me through my daily movements, providing me with a comfort that I can't really get from anything else. Whether it's the particular lyrics to a song or the melody, music has a way of soothing my soul.

Now I wonder if I am the only one like this? I've grown up in a musical world; I sung and danced my way through my adolescent years. Most of friends did the same, we're all musically inclined. But my question is, is the rest of the world just like us? Music has the ability to deeply transform one's life. It has enabled be to make the tough decisions, provided me with comfort, reminded me that there is more to life than what is just in front of my face, all the while offering me with an escape in the most needed of times. Music really is my everything. Do other people out there feel the same things when it comes to music? Do people feel the need to cling to music to provide a soundtrack to their lives?

So upon these thoughts I want to offer not just one song that has changed me, but give you the music that is providing the soundtrack to my life right now. And a few of my greatest hits too.

Sara Bareilles - Kaleidoscope Heart

Sara Bareilles - The Light

Lets begin with my latest purchase. I honestly didn't know how Ms. Bareilles was going to top her debut album, Little Voice, because it was so epically amazing. Yet, here she is and every song on the album is like its own little gift to my life. These songs fit so well into my life right now, I find myself asking if Sara took a little sneak peek into my life and wrote the lyrics. Sometimes, you just need a good song to belt to in the morning to get you ready for the day.

John Mayer - Continuum

John Mayer - Belief

Truly Extraordinary. These words come to mind whenever I think of John Mayer's music. I choose the song Belief because for some reason this is the song that sticks to me the most off of the entire album, though Slow Dancing In A Burning Room comes in very close. John always amazes me with his music, their is something about his songs that have the uncanny ability to put me in a better mood. For some unknown reason, I find that his music can be applied to any part of my life. Whether it's a rainy or sunny day, hot or cold, I find that his music applies. Despite his personal misgivings, John Mayer just keeps getting better with time. 

O.A.R. - Any Time Now

O.A.R. - Black Rock


This is one of those songs that make me instantly happy just thinking about it. Not just because the song is just plain amazing, but because of the awesome times that I associate with it. I also think the message the song conveys is a great one. As my favorite lyrics in the song go "i said the world is run by love and absolutely nothing more"
It was so hard for me to choose just one O.A.R. song, I've decided to share my other all-time favorites. 
Crazy Game of Poker (My favorite version is the live Madison Square from 2009)
Love and Memories

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

Mumford & Sons - White Blank Page


This band is another recent discovery whom I absolutely love. A friend recommended them to me a few months ago and I've been obsessed ever since. Lately they've been growing in popularity due to a lot of exposure through internet music sites like Pandora and Grooveshark and a lot of placement on tv promos and shows. Their music is something I imagine iTunes would categorize as rock folk music.....click on the link and you'll see what I mean. Another of my favorites is Little Lion Man. It is an epic jam song...especially in those moments when you need an energy pick-me-up.  

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra - My Way


If I were to forget ol' Blue Eyes on  the list of inspiring music, I could never forgive myself. I am a major fan of the classics. Give me some Frank, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole any day. My Way is by far my favorite Frank Sinatra song. If there is one song I want played at my funeral (as morbid as it may be), it is this one right here. While there are many classic Frank tunes, nothing can compare to standing in your room and belting this tune or as I have done many a time, singing it with your friends before you get ready to go on stage. 




I want to leave you with one of my favorite songs of all time, of course it's a love song. A song that has been performed countless times. Anytime I hear it being played, I get the chills. It's hard to decided which version is my absolute favorite. I will never forget the first time I heard My Funny Valentine (Frank Sinatra link) being played. It was one of those rare, monumental life changing moments. There is something so haunting and yet, lovely about this song that I cannot get over. I know it is the hopeless romantic in me but I think the entire world needs to appreciate what My Funny Valentine  (Chet Baker link) has to offer, no matter who is performing it. It is with this song that I ask you, do you remember where you were the first time you heard a life changing song?

Have a Comcastic Day!!

Now that I am a big girl with my own big girl apartment and bills to pay, I have my own cable and internet service...thank you, Comcast. When my roommates and I debated what service to use, there really wasn't much of an option. Verizon doesn't service Allston and Comcast seemed like the next best option. So off I went, taking one of the many steps towards becoming an adult and ordered my very own cable/internet package. This growing up process is beyond daunting...it scares me. shhhh, don't tell! I had my doubts. I've heard the horror stories - waiting for hours on end for the installation guy who never even shows up, arguments with the billing department over some insane charges - it seems like there are a never ending amount of problems when it comes to customer service and cable companies. Comcast especially, just after I ordered the service I was hearing stories from my professor about how awful Comcast and Verizon are when it comes to customer service. So when the day finally came to have everything installed, I woke up that morning and put on my battle armor, ready to take down anyone trying to scam me.

But shockingly, everything went swimmingly. What problems I've had with my internet and cable have been easily solved and I couldn't be happier with the service. My experience with Comcast customer service has been surprisingly positive. They offer numerous ways to help solve your problem. By far the best, in my opinion, is the live chat with a representative-  it couldn't be easier.

I've had two major issues with getting started. The first being that I didn't have a wireless router for my apartment to have the evercomforting wifi. But that was easily solved. As soon as I realized my dilemma, I logged onto the Comcast website and choose to do a live chat with a customer service representative. It was so simple, I couldn't believe it! The lady who answered all of my questions was helpful and was beyond willing to solve all of my problems for me. No wireless? Simple, I'll send you the router for free! All I had to cover was the $5 shipping cost. Nbd.

Next came the real challenge. This past weekend I discovered that I didn't have any HBO or Showtime as promised!! How is a girl supposed to survive without her daily dosage of Ari, Vinny, Turtle, Eric, and Johnny?? Let alone get her vamp on without any True Blood. Despite the easy handling of my previous problem, I was a little nervous about my upcoming chat with a Comcast representative. Premium channels are a whole different ball of wax than wifi. I nervously logged on and explained the situation. In no other terms, I declared that I wanted my HBO and Showtime as promised or this girl would be having a major fit. After telling me how great a person I was just from the few words I had exchanged with the chat guy, he explained to me that these channels were not a part of my service. UMMM, EXCUSE ME SIR BUT I DO NOT THINK SO. I promptly explained that this was not true because I had the physical flyer and confirmation that I was getting both of these channels. But before I could even break out the big guns, Comcast dude told me he had already given me both channels and was sorry for the inconvience. Color me shocked. I had prepared to enter battle with all guns ablaze and was kind of upset that I had to retreat so quickly. But before I could even comprehend what had happened, Comcast dude told me that I was his best customer all day long and that he wished all customers were just like me.

Exhibit A: Toby > Thanks a lot! I really appreciate your kindness. Just by chatting with you, I know that you are a good person. You are so cool!

Toby > Thank you so much for patiently waiting, Karissa.As I have checked, HBO and Showtime is not included to your packages. 

Karissa_ > When I searched my area online and talked with the numerous comcast people who were handing out fliers in the area, it said the package that I was signing up for inlcuded HBO and Showtime for the first 9 months at a discounted price. The package that I purchased specifically said HBO and Showtime were included. I'm pulling up the package at the moment. Just one second.

Toby > Thank you so much for the details. 

Toby > Let me check further. 

Karissa_ > I have the concrete flyer in front of me. The xfinity double  play packege and it blatantly says HBO and Showtime are included. In big bold print. 

Karissa_ > It was the university of more deal adertised everywhere in the local area. 

Toby > Thank you so much for patiently waiting, Karissa. 

Toby > Please do not worry. I have already added your free HBO and Showtime.

Karissa_ > Yes thank you!! You were very helpful!

Toby > It has been a pleasure chatting wiht you today. Thank you so much for your time. Is there anything else I can assist you with? I will be glad to assist you further.

Karissa_ > Everything is all good. 

Toby > Thank you so much. You are the nicest customer that I have chatted with today. i hope all my customers are as kind as you are. I thank God for having customers like you.For any other concerns, please chat with us again or please call us at 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278) 

We value your business with us. 

Have a Comcastic day!

Thank you so much!

Now, at first I was kind of creeped out by these statements. But soon I came to realize that these were compliments and not only by telling me these things and giving this happy girl her fill of Vampires and drug addicted actors, Comcast had truly won me over with their excellent customer service.

In this day and age, companies need to realize that customer service is a major part of their brand. As we have talked about in my New Media class, customer service is the new public relations. With the invent of social media such as Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare, YouTube and blogs, every consumer has their own voice and are hungry to take part in a conversation whether good or bad. When someone is displeased with something, where do they go to vent? The internet.  As seen with numerous brands, in this day and age it is hard to escape the far reach the internet can have on your business. SO listen up and learn that when it comes to business, customer service truly does matter and will profoundly affect your business. After all when it comes to public relations, we are in the relationship business.