Social Media: the New Way to Better Your Business

Social media platforms continue to grow, adding new, fun features that both maintain its users and attract new ones. These new and old features make it easier to connect, engage, and be informed. Best of all, it’s absolutely free.

Given its zero cost and opportunities, it’s essential for businesses to be active in social media. Businesses have the opportunity to emphasize their brand, voice their values, promote items, and provide better customer service.

If you’re a business owner who still relies on word of mouth, you’ll probably (hopefully) reconsider after reading these facts below:

• ·       Social media is the number one activity on the Web
• ·       53 per cent of people recommend products on Twitter
• ·       90 per cent of consumers trust peer recommendations
• ·       Only 14 per cent trust advertisements
• ·       34 per cent of bloggers post opinions about products and brands
• ·       83 percent of consumers exposed to a brand’s social media presence would try the brand’s products
• ·       78 percent of participants found that website traffic increased with as little as 6 hours per week invested in social media marketing
• ·       More than half of marketers who have been using social media for more than 3 years say that it has helped them increase sales

Word of mouth can still get you far, but social media will surely get you further.

Make This Summer Count

If you’re a PR student, creative thinking and strong writing skills are necessary. Though, what use will they be if you’re not given the right opportunity? Sometimes despite what you know, who you know is what will help you.

I’m sure your professor has told you this many times before, along with the suggestion that you should go out there, get involved and be seen. Though, you probably had little to no time, if you were a full-time student and working like me.

And now that its summer, all you want to do is make up for lost time with friends and family. Anything school related is the last thing on your mind, even that book your professor recommended, and you love reading. When it ends, you’ll find yourself not only struggling school and work, but finding opportunities to explore your career options. Meeting the right people can offer you valuable experience and narrow it down for you.

So make the most of your summer, while lessening next year’s stress. Committing at least one day a week to either volunteering or attending a local event, will still allow time for whatever your heart desires. After all, summer break is four months long.

Here are a few tips on how to get started:

1. Social media: It’s essential you connect on at least Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Social platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest are a plus!

2. Twitter: If you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity in Ottawa, you can follow @VolunteerOttawa, or search both hastags #Ottawa #Volunteer. For events, follow @Ottawa_Events, or search hastags #Ottawa #Events

3. Ottawa Kijiji: Aside from the volunteer section, look in the tv, media, fashion section. PR internships can be found there sometimes.

4. Local blogs: Read local blogs to stay updated with local events, news and possibly an internship. Check out 613 Style and Apartment 613.

5. Business cards: You never know who you’ll end up meeting by chance, so always have business cards in hand to exchange.

 Last, but not least, don’t be afraid to volunteer or attend events by yourself. Others will find you more approachable and it’s better to step outside your comfort zone.

Good luck!

-Lisa Tanh

What the heck is an Open Device Lab?

Those were my very first thoughts when I heard on Twitter that digital creative agency bv02 was launching one on July 11th. I immediately investigated and soon discovered that an open device lab is, well, pretty self explanatory. It is a lab, with devices, that is open to the public. Simple enough, right? The more I pondered on this, the more I came to the realization of what an incredibly innovative idea this indeed was.

Targeted towards startups and entrepreneurs, the Open Device Lab (ODL) gives businesses access to test out their website or software on a wide range of devices free of charge. Every cell phone model imaginable was there, as well as tablets, e-readers and laptops. I have to admit it was a pretty fabulous feeling to see our website simultaneously loading on over 20 different screens. The ODL does a lot more than solely allow you to admire your business's own handiwork; another entertaining game to play is to see which device loads the fastest (and the slowest).

The ODL is actually the first one in the country. There are currently 64 ODLs spread across 22 countries, that can now include Canada.

Kudos to the team at bv02 for not only a fantastic idea, but an even better execution. This is exactly what Ottawa needs to support the ever growing startup community. We will definitely be bringing our clients by the ODL. Good PR definitely includes knowing how clients are viewing your product/service digitally and adapting accordingly.

The ODL is now open for business, so swing by and see how your business is being viewed today!

613Style.com hosts Degrassi Star Melinda Shankar

It’s a Sunday afternoon, but the ByWard Market says otherwise. The market is as lively as the night before, filled with pre-Canada day celebrators. They show their enthusiasm by dressing in white and red, while waving a Canadian flag. Amongst them, are women and men dressed completely different. These women are in bold colors, contrasting the rest of their ensemble, while the men are in perfectly tailored suits.

Needless to say, there was a fabulous event going on, hidden in the heart of the market. It was the pre-launch of Miss Conception, founded by Degrassi star, Melinda Shankar. Miss Conception will be offersing services from image consulting, personal styling and shopping, to hair and makeup. 

Accompanying Shankar, were more favorites of Degrassi, Samantha Munro and Lyle O’Donohue. 613 Style hosted this event at Kinki Restaurant’s patio. It was a beautiful, Miami-like version of a patio belonging to an Asian-Fusion restaurant. There were comfy red couches you could plop down on, two private tables at the back with curtains flowing, and faux bamboo sticks on the wall, separating the event from the chaos outside.

Celebrating Shankar’s pre-launch, besides her friends, family, and co-stars, were fans, designers, photographers, and bloggers. That explains their noticeably great sense of style. Hosts made sure each of us had a chance to mingle, and take pictures with the Degrassi stars.

During Shankar’s speech, she shares her first experience with beauty. “I started competitive ballet when I was three-years old, so you can imagine how much makeup I’d have on.” Eventually, Shankar preferred to do her own hair and makeup for competitions. Through word of mouth, her talent was in demand, which influenced the start of Miss Conception.

Miss Conception’s dolls will not only offer their services in Ottawa, but Toronto, Los Angeles and New York City. They are set to launch in the fall and will work with any budget.  It’s the perfect time, considering many will need assistance for their new back-to-school look or first party of the year.

Shankar, both flawless and fabulous, will surely make Miss Conception a success. Aside from her many talents and sense of style, she’s sweet, amiable, and won’t make others feel intimidated by her stardom. It will be a dream come true to many, helping them discover their inner sense of style and confidence.

Shankar’s dress was both sophisticated and flirty. I love how her coral lipstick matches her eye shadow, yet it’s very subtle. Her sleek, high, ponytail emphasizes her youthfulness.

-Lisa Tanh 

The Irony of Exceptional Businesses: Getting Back to the Basics

As a budding entrepreneur, I have recently taken to analyzing and dissecting businesses, companies and projects that I come across along my way. Mind you, I do this from a distance and usually in my head. But I especially do this with successful ones, because well, bluntly put, I want to be successful too. Gotta keep your eye on the prize, right?  Not only that, I have begun thinking about various brands or organizations I like and actually pondering the reasons why I do have such an affiliation and affection towards them.

The common denominator that was first to jump out at me was a simple one, but it was present in almost every single successful company I could think of and really managed to set apart the ordinary from the extraordinary.

I'll sum it up in a phrase for you: the truly exceptional businesses get to be so exceptional by doing some not so exceptional things. Pretty normal things, actually.

It's not necessarily about offering an amazing product/service or having a genius idea. That is an important part of the process of course, but there are millions of ingenious ideas and products out there, and those can make great companies, but to push the envelope and get your company to the next level it requires more than just that. Here is where we get back to the basics.

What do I mean by this? Well, perhaps I'm a tad idealistic and optimistic (my personal blog is entitled "The Eternal Optimist" after all), but I like to think that these traits tend to be rather, well...simple and standard. To me, they should be common sense. That is what I mean by basics. It doesn't take a rocket science to figure them out, but apparently it does to apply them.

I'm talking about the nitty gritty, elementary traits of humanity. I'm talking about getting back to the basics of social conduct, folks. Things like customer service. Great customer service these days can be thought of as simply acknowledging and answering a client's question or concern.  The standards have lowered and the technologies have improved. This should equal a recipe for social success, but in today's day and age it can too often be virtually impossible to track someone down in a company to talk to. And in my eyes that is inexcusable. What goes hand in hand with customer service? Politeness. In today's world of email and emoticons sometimes politeness seems to be a thing of the past, and because of that, it goes an even longer way when done right. There are many more basics I could list off that include but are not limited to: being on time, being prepared, listening skills, etc. These things should be a given in the business world, but I am realizing more and more that they unfortunately are not.

So, what does this mean for you and your business? Don't underestimate having an amazing product, but don't overestimate it either. There are so many (too many) wonderful ideas out there that don't make it past the startup phase and this is usually because all of the effort is spent perfecting the product and not enough on the business end. If this isn't your forte, find someone who does enjoy it and does it well. This is essential because it will create the reputation of your company and you can never take back a first impression, right?

This may be cliché but the most relevant quote that comes to my mind is simply the golden rule "treat others as you would want to be treated". This is almost even more applicable in business than in real life. You are a client of something after all. Turn the tables on yourself and think of what kind of treatment you would expect/like to receive from businesses.

What is your stance on this subject? Do you think it takes ordinary actions to create an extraordinary company? Do you think there is a lack of these logical traits in companies today?

Salut Social Media!

A few weeks ago I introduced my baby to the social media world. No, I was not with child, but I have been nurturing, creating and growing something over the past 9 months or so. This baby is Bowda PR, Communications & Consulting; a, scratch that, MY, brand spanking new PR agency. Bowda is a boutique PR agency offering a variety of services that range from social media management, media relations and content creation, and more. Bowda will be specializing in fashion PR, as well as working with startups and fellow entrepreneurs.

Why Bowda? Why now? The better question is why not now. I'm at a point in my life that I don't really have much to lose (other than time, which I don't even really consider a loss because every experience is a learning one). I'm pretty much a free agent and feel like I had to take this chance now, before the heavy responsibilities of life overwhelm and tie me down. You don't know unless you try, right?

Now, what everyone has really been asking me...what on earth does Bowda mean? The name Bowda actually arose from a separate dream of mine. First of all, if you know me at all you are well aware that I have a borderline unhealthy obsession with bows. They are just my thing. They represent everything that my style leans towards; femininity, polish and overall loveliness. I really wanted a name that represented and reflected who I am and my personal tastes. So, back to the first dream. A little fun fact about me: I am actually a certified wedding planner. I took the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada's (WPIC) wedding planning course a few years back with the intention of turning that into my entrepreneurship dream. After much though, I realized that is something I would want/need much practise and experience before being able to pursue it as an entrepreneurial endeavour and would have to immerse myself completely in that world. I still adore the idea, but was not able to give myself up to the world of weddings just yet. Although it is something I would still like to pursue, that dream is currently on hold to reach a few others first. The name I had came up with for my would be wedding planning business was indeed Bowda. The Spanish word for wedding is "boda" and I thought it to be a nice little play on words that also implemented my passion for all things bowed. When I started working on my PR agency and spent many an evening humming and hawing over a name, the boyfriend spoke up and said he liked the Bowda idea and suggested I stick with it. For whatever reason, I actually took his advice for once, and voila. Bowda PR, Communications & Consulting was thus born.

So far the support I have received is beyond incredible. It is an extremely scary thing to take a more or less blind jump into the risky and uncertain world of entrepreneurship and the warm support I have received is without a doubt the cushioned pillow at the bottom of my fall that ensured for a safe landing into the unknown.

Although it has only been mere weeks, I have already discovered and absorbed so much that if I were to close down shop tomorrow, it would have already been an extremely worthwhile experience. But don't worry, if I have anything to do with it that won't be the case anytime soon.

Stay tuned for more musings and ponderings from us as we embark on this winding ever-changing road that is the PR world as we know it of the 21st century. I'm not sure what to expect, but I sure am excited to find out and see where this road leads me. If you have any trouble finding us, just look for the girl with the bow.

www.facebook.com/bowdapr
@bowdapr

Darcy
xxx