As a final project for MKTG 347, I launched an organic social media marketing campaign for Dynasty Nerds. I also happen to be a paid staff writer for Dynasty Nerds, so this project was particularly important to me.
Please view the results of my project below:
Monday, December 7, 2015
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Conversion Tracking
This semester, I created a site on Weebly to test conversion tracking. I figured that it would interesting and potentially insightful to share my experience.
The link to the site that I created can be found here: http://coryevans.weebly.com
For specific conversions/goals, I created a "Thank You" page to see how many visitors submitted a form on my site. Although I did not have actual results, it was still a rewarding experience, as I was able to expand my overall knowledge on how to track conversions on Google Analytics:
The link to the site that I created can be found here: http://coryevans.weebly.com
As you can see from this screenshot, I created "Home", "About", "Contact", and "Thank You" pages on my Weebly site in order to generate clicks and potential forms of conversions:
In addition, I linked my Weebly site with Google Analytics for conversion tracking purposes. The results can be viewed below:
As you can see, I was able to generate insightful information from simply creating a website off of Weebly, and then linking it to a Google Analytics account. For instance, I was able to determine that my website generated 340 sessions and 342 page views with absolutely no paid advertising, but instead organic posting.
For specific conversions/goals, I created a "Thank You" page to see how many visitors submitted a form on my site. Although I did not have actual results, it was still a rewarding experience, as I was able to expand my overall knowledge on how to track conversions on Google Analytics:
After completing this exercise, it is clear to me that conversion tracking is a necessary skill to hone as a business professional. In other words, in order to determine if a company, website, product, or service is profitable or being advertised towards a proper target audience, it is essential to utilize conversion tracking through a service such as Google Analytics to measure ROI.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
WCIYP (A Guide To Dealing With Your Feeling While Out Of Work)
According to What Color Is Your Parachute, there are various techniques to consider in order to deal with your feelings while out of work. Although I have personally never been unemployed, I can very well imagine that it is an unpleasant time. However, after reading Appendix B, I am now prepared to cope with unemployment in the event that I ever encounter such a struggle in the job-hunting process.
In fact, below are ten ways to cope with unemployment or a general struggle in the job-hunting process, courtesy of What Color Is Your Parachute:
1.) We Can Catch Up On Our Sleep
Whether it be in the form of a nap or being well-rested, sleep can go a long way in changing our mood or overall feelings while unemployed. Quite honestly, catching up on sleep is nearly as important as maintaining a positive attitude during the job-hunting process, as each contributes to finding happiness.
2.) Keep Ourselves More Physically Fit
Be sure to regularly exercise, eat healthy, drink water, and keep yourself physically fit in order to deal with unemployment in an appropriate manner.
3.) We Can Do Something About The Physical Space Around Us
Ensuring that the environment around us is clean, neat, and orderly can vastly improve our chances of feeling less upset about being unemployed. This can be as simple as placing clothes in a hamper, or merely cleaning up the dishes after dinner.
4.) We Can Get Outdoors Daily And Take A Good Walk
Taking a daily walk can surely brighten someone's day. Even more, moving around will allow you to feel less down about a situation, even unemployment.
5.) We Can Focus On Other People
If unemployment is truly bothering you, it may be helpful to focus on someone else's problems instead of yours. In doing so, you will alleviate the stress that is surrounding unemployment.
6.) We Can Go On Fun Mini-Adventures
Going on mini-adventures can greatly help you improve your stance on unemployment. This may include visiting tourist attractions that you have always wanted to see, or even re-visiting places that bring you a sense of comfort.
7.) We Can Deal With Our Feelings
Expressing how we feel can help aid with unemployment, but learning something new can also be a sound tactic to dealing with our feelings.
8.) We Can Talk
Talking with family, friends, or close colleagues can be a sound strategy to overcoming the emotions that come with unemployment.
9.) We Can Deal With Our Anger
This may sound silly, but utilizing a punching bag or set of pillows can go a long way in alleviating frustration and anger that is often associated with unemployment.
10.) We Can Make A List Of Things That Make Us Grateful Or Happy
Understanding and appreciating the things that we are grateful for helps put things into perspective, and will allow you to proceed in the job-hunting process.
In fact, below are ten ways to cope with unemployment or a general struggle in the job-hunting process, courtesy of What Color Is Your Parachute:
1.) We Can Catch Up On Our Sleep
Whether it be in the form of a nap or being well-rested, sleep can go a long way in changing our mood or overall feelings while unemployed. Quite honestly, catching up on sleep is nearly as important as maintaining a positive attitude during the job-hunting process, as each contributes to finding happiness.
2.) Keep Ourselves More Physically Fit
Be sure to regularly exercise, eat healthy, drink water, and keep yourself physically fit in order to deal with unemployment in an appropriate manner.
3.) We Can Do Something About The Physical Space Around Us
Ensuring that the environment around us is clean, neat, and orderly can vastly improve our chances of feeling less upset about being unemployed. This can be as simple as placing clothes in a hamper, or merely cleaning up the dishes after dinner.
4.) We Can Get Outdoors Daily And Take A Good Walk
Taking a daily walk can surely brighten someone's day. Even more, moving around will allow you to feel less down about a situation, even unemployment.
5.) We Can Focus On Other People
If unemployment is truly bothering you, it may be helpful to focus on someone else's problems instead of yours. In doing so, you will alleviate the stress that is surrounding unemployment.
6.) We Can Go On Fun Mini-Adventures
Going on mini-adventures can greatly help you improve your stance on unemployment. This may include visiting tourist attractions that you have always wanted to see, or even re-visiting places that bring you a sense of comfort.
7.) We Can Deal With Our Feelings
Expressing how we feel can help aid with unemployment, but learning something new can also be a sound tactic to dealing with our feelings.
8.) We Can Talk
Talking with family, friends, or close colleagues can be a sound strategy to overcoming the emotions that come with unemployment.
9.) We Can Deal With Our Anger
This may sound silly, but utilizing a punching bag or set of pillows can go a long way in alleviating frustration and anger that is often associated with unemployment.
10.) We Can Make A List Of Things That Make Us Grateful Or Happy
Understanding and appreciating the things that we are grateful for helps put things into perspective, and will allow you to proceed in the job-hunting process.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
WCIYP (The Blue Pages: Appendix A)
In the Blue Pages of What Color Is Your Parachute, Appendix A is devoted to understanding and finding your mission in life. Richard Bolles, the author of the book, takes a religious approach to explaining how to find your mission in life, which actually blends quite well with understanding the job-hunting process.
Before jumping into the details surrounding how to find your mission in life and apply it to the job-hunting process, it is first important to pinpoint exactly what a mission in life should entail.
According to Webster's Dictionary, a mission is defined as "a continuing task or responsibility that one is destined or fitted to do or specially called upon to undertake". Two synonyms often associated with mission are calling and vocation, both of which imply the presence of God. In fact, in Appendix A of What Color Is Your Parachute, it is stated that 89% of people in the United States believe in God, further demonstrating that there is a distinct relationship between job-hunting and finding your mission in life.
I personally am Catholic, and found the relation of job-hunting to finding your mission in life to be a rather insightful comparison. This is especially true when the author offers three main parts to finding a mission in life, which I will list below:
1.) "To seek to stand hour by hour in the conscious presence of God, the One from whom your Mission is derived"
2.) "To do what you can, moment by moment, day by day, step by step, to make this world a better place, following the leading and guidance of God's Spirit within you and around you?
3.) "To exercise the Talent that you particularly came to Earth to use-your greatest gift, which you most delight to use, in the place (s) or stetting (s) that God has caused to appeal to you the most, and for those purposes that God most needs to have done in this world"
Clearly, finding a mission in life is an important step in the job-hunting process. It can become an even easier process if you allow your faith to be a driving force for it.
Before jumping into the details surrounding how to find your mission in life and apply it to the job-hunting process, it is first important to pinpoint exactly what a mission in life should entail.
According to Webster's Dictionary, a mission is defined as "a continuing task or responsibility that one is destined or fitted to do or specially called upon to undertake". Two synonyms often associated with mission are calling and vocation, both of which imply the presence of God. In fact, in Appendix A of What Color Is Your Parachute, it is stated that 89% of people in the United States believe in God, further demonstrating that there is a distinct relationship between job-hunting and finding your mission in life.
I personally am Catholic, and found the relation of job-hunting to finding your mission in life to be a rather insightful comparison. This is especially true when the author offers three main parts to finding a mission in life, which I will list below:
1.) "To seek to stand hour by hour in the conscious presence of God, the One from whom your Mission is derived"
2.) "To do what you can, moment by moment, day by day, step by step, to make this world a better place, following the leading and guidance of God's Spirit within you and around you?
3.) "To exercise the Talent that you particularly came to Earth to use-your greatest gift, which you most delight to use, in the place (s) or stetting (s) that God has caused to appeal to you the most, and for those purposes that God most needs to have done in this world"
Clearly, finding a mission in life is an important step in the job-hunting process. It can become an even easier process if you allow your faith to be a driving force for it.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
WCIYP (How To Start Your Own Business)
Becoming an entrepreneur is no easy task. You have to posses a certain personality for it in order to be successful. You have to be willing to take risks, be your own boss, and be prepared to fail before you ultimately succeed. Nevertheless, What Color Is Your Parachute offers tips and a thorough explanation on how to start your own business, that is if you have the passion and determination to do so.
To begin, the book suggests that there are four main steps to consider if you plan on starting your own business, which are to write, read, explore, and get feedback.
1.) Write
Writing in order to determine if starting your own business is a sound idea involves understanding what it is exactly that you enjoy doing. This can be achieved by completing the aforementioned Flower Diagram exercise that I have mentioned in previous blog posts. Upon completing this exercise, you should be able to clearly identify what you like to do and who you are as a person.
2.) Read
Before you take the step of actually starting a business, be sure to read about the industry that you plan to enter first. By doing so, you will be able to determine if your passion towards a specific brand, product, or idea will actually be successful when launched as a business.
What Color Is Your Parachute recommends the following websites as important to read if you are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur:
To begin, the book suggests that there are four main steps to consider if you plan on starting your own business, which are to write, read, explore, and get feedback.
1.) Write
Writing in order to determine if starting your own business is a sound idea involves understanding what it is exactly that you enjoy doing. This can be achieved by completing the aforementioned Flower Diagram exercise that I have mentioned in previous blog posts. Upon completing this exercise, you should be able to clearly identify what you like to do and who you are as a person.
2.) Read
Before you take the step of actually starting a business, be sure to read about the industry that you plan to enter first. By doing so, you will be able to determine if your passion towards a specific brand, product, or idea will actually be successful when launched as a business.
What Color Is Your Parachute recommends the following websites as important to read if you are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur:
- Free Agent Nation
- Working Solo
- Small Business Administration
- A Small Business Expert
- Business Owner's Toolkit
- The Business Owner's Idea Cafe
- Nolo's Business, LLCs & Corporations
- Home Businesses
3.) Explore
The book offers three areas to consider while exploring how to start a business, and are characterized as "A", "B", and "C".
- "A" involves exploring the skills, knowledge, or experience that is required to make running a business work.
- "B" relates to developing a list of the skills, areas of knowledge, or experience that you have
- "C" is derived by subtracting "B" from "A", and will help you determine the skills that you lack, or need to improve on
4.) Get Feedback
Asking for and receiving honest feedback about yourself is a critical step in starting a business. For example, if you plan to start a business that is based off of selling goods, but you have no accounting background, then you will likely need to hire someone to help you with the financial aspects of your business.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
WCIYP (The Five Ways To Change/Choose Careers)
Contemplating a career change or actually pursuing one can be an exciting journey. However, being cautious of common obstacles involved with a career change is nearly as crucial to consider. Moreover, the following list identifies eight cautions to be aware of that relate to choosing or changing a career according to What Color Is Your Parachute, and I believe that each offers valuable insight to topics that are often overlooked in the job-hunting process.
1.) Go For Any Career That Seems Fascinating Or Interesting To You
It is always a good idea to follow your dreams and desires, but make sure to actually interview or question people who are already in the line of work that you plan to pursue, at least to make sure that it is something worth investing ample time into. Also, do not be afraid to ask those in a specific industry the best techniques to secure a position, as it could be very valuable information.
2.) In Moving From One Career To Another, Make Sure That You Preserve Constancy In Your Life As Well As Change, During The Transition
Basically, don't change everything about yourself, especially the values and beliefs that define you as a person. These may include your character, faith, values, or skills.
3.) If You Can, You'll Do Better To Start With Yourself And What You Want, Rather Than With The Job-Market, And What's "Hot"
In other words, adopt the "Parachute Approach" to job-hunting in order to demonstrate your passion towards potential employers. If an employer notices your enthusiasm or drive to succeed, it becomes that much more likely that you can earn a position.
4.) The Best Work, The Best Career, For You, The One That Makes You Happiest And Most Fulfilled
Below is a list of traits that are most commonly associated with happiness in the workplace. Usually the traits involve using or understanding:
5.) The More Time And Thought You Can Give To The Choosing Of A New Career, The Better Your Choice Is Going To Be
There is no need to rush into selecting a career path. Take your time, and be sure to find something that you are passionate about. There is nothing worse than taking a job simply to say that you found work. It is better to extend the job-hunting process as opposed to being miserable at a place of work that does not match your skills or interests.
6.) If You Are Young, Or Relatively Young, It's Okay To Make A Mistake, In Your Choice
The only way to learn from your mistakes is to inevitably make them. So, do not fret over the past, but instead learn from your past mistakes to improve on them in the future.
7.) Choosing And Then Finding Employment In A New Career That You Find Really Fancy, Should Feel Like A Fun Task, As Much As Possible
Although the job-hunting process can be frustrating at times, it should ultimately be a fun experience if you are doing it correctly. After all, the whole goal of finding a job is to locate a company that matches your interests, beliefs, or skills.
8.) One Final Caution Here: If You're Just Graduating From High School, Don't Go Get A College Degree In Some Career Field Just Because You Think That This Will Guarantee You A Job! It Will Not
The book stresses this point greatly. Instead of going to college to merely earn a degree that is known to land a job, its is more beneficial to find something that you are passionate about. For me, that passion is marketing. More specifically, I have a strong passion for sports marketing and wish to find a job with a professional sports organization or agency.
1.) Go For Any Career That Seems Fascinating Or Interesting To You
It is always a good idea to follow your dreams and desires, but make sure to actually interview or question people who are already in the line of work that you plan to pursue, at least to make sure that it is something worth investing ample time into. Also, do not be afraid to ask those in a specific industry the best techniques to secure a position, as it could be very valuable information.
2.) In Moving From One Career To Another, Make Sure That You Preserve Constancy In Your Life As Well As Change, During The Transition
Basically, don't change everything about yourself, especially the values and beliefs that define you as a person. These may include your character, faith, values, or skills.
3.) If You Can, You'll Do Better To Start With Yourself And What You Want, Rather Than With The Job-Market, And What's "Hot"
In other words, adopt the "Parachute Approach" to job-hunting in order to demonstrate your passion towards potential employers. If an employer notices your enthusiasm or drive to succeed, it becomes that much more likely that you can earn a position.
4.) The Best Work, The Best Career, For You, The One That Makes You Happiest And Most Fulfilled
Below is a list of traits that are most commonly associated with happiness in the workplace. Usually the traits involve using or understanding:
- Your favorite transferable skills
- Favorite subjects, fields, or knowledge
- Preferred environment and people
- Preferred working conditions
- Preferred salary
- Preferred goals and values
5.) The More Time And Thought You Can Give To The Choosing Of A New Career, The Better Your Choice Is Going To Be
There is no need to rush into selecting a career path. Take your time, and be sure to find something that you are passionate about. There is nothing worse than taking a job simply to say that you found work. It is better to extend the job-hunting process as opposed to being miserable at a place of work that does not match your skills or interests.
6.) If You Are Young, Or Relatively Young, It's Okay To Make A Mistake, In Your Choice
The only way to learn from your mistakes is to inevitably make them. So, do not fret over the past, but instead learn from your past mistakes to improve on them in the future.
7.) Choosing And Then Finding Employment In A New Career That You Find Really Fancy, Should Feel Like A Fun Task, As Much As Possible
Although the job-hunting process can be frustrating at times, it should ultimately be a fun experience if you are doing it correctly. After all, the whole goal of finding a job is to locate a company that matches your interests, beliefs, or skills.
8.) One Final Caution Here: If You're Just Graduating From High School, Don't Go Get A College Degree In Some Career Field Just Because You Think That This Will Guarantee You A Job! It Will Not
The book stresses this point greatly. Instead of going to college to merely earn a degree that is known to land a job, its is more beneficial to find something that you are passionate about. For me, that passion is marketing. More specifically, I have a strong passion for sports marketing and wish to find a job with a professional sports organization or agency.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
WCIYP (The Five Ways To Choose/Change Careers)
According to What Color Is Your Parachute, by Richard N. Bolles, there are five main ways to consider for choosing or changing a career. In order, the five ways include the internet, tests, using the flower exercise, changing a career in two steps, and finding out what the job-market will need. In order to gain a better understanding of each technique, I will list and explain them below in greater detail.
1.) The Internet
As you may have guessed, the Internet has become arguably the most prominent resource for finding a career or job. There are countless options to choose from online in terms of finding information about a potential job, but O*Net Online is recommend from the book, and I have to admit, it is extremely helpful. The site allows users to search for an occupation by industry, which usually relates to a set of interests. Once an occupation is narrowed down to a particular list of companies, O* Net Online offers a Content Model, in which bundles of information are available for each position. Nevertheless, the Internet is an essential resource to utilize during any job-hunt or career change, as it offers invaluable information that is difficult to locate without the assistance of search engines.
2.) Tests
The type of tests that you take to find a career path are not necessarily similar to the ones that you would take while in school, mainly because they are considered instruments or assessments instead. A large majority of career tests will involve the identification of personality traits, which will pinpoint interests and skills. Personally, I have taken the Myers Briggs test and can safely assert that it does an excellent job at funneling questions to determine what job or industry match my personality traits. All in all, tests can be a helpful tool in the job-hunting process, but are best served as a resource for identifying individual characteristics, as opposed to actually finding a job.
3.) Using The Flower Exercise
I briefly touched on the Flower Exercise that is thoroughly explained in the book in a previous blog post, but it is relevant to revisit for the purpose of choosing or changing a career. In short, the Flower Exercise provides you with the necessary steps to identify and hone transferable skills. Once you identify the skills you are capable of performing, it is then easier to match those skills with the a company or field of interest that you are passionate about. After the Flower Exercise is complete, you will then be able to confidently express your skills and abilities articulately during an interview, which will hopefully allow you to earn a desired job.
4.) Changing A Career In Two Steps
In order to successfully choose or change a career, it is vital to grasp that a job consists of two components: a title and a field. Basically, a title is a symbol for what you do at a job on a daily basis, whereas a field represents where you complete your work at a job. Being able to distinguish between the two career components provides lucidity in the form of paving a clear path to locating an occupation. For instance, if you have worked as an accountant for ten years, and wish to become a marketer, it is important to define what kind of experience you have in relation to marketing in the event that an interviewer questions you about it.
5.) Finding Out What The Job-Market Will Need
The final way to change a career involves using projections to find out what the job-market will need in the near future.
According to a list from Forbes, the following industries are expected to have the most openings, or at least are projected to:
1.) The Internet
As you may have guessed, the Internet has become arguably the most prominent resource for finding a career or job. There are countless options to choose from online in terms of finding information about a potential job, but O*Net Online is recommend from the book, and I have to admit, it is extremely helpful. The site allows users to search for an occupation by industry, which usually relates to a set of interests. Once an occupation is narrowed down to a particular list of companies, O* Net Online offers a Content Model, in which bundles of information are available for each position. Nevertheless, the Internet is an essential resource to utilize during any job-hunt or career change, as it offers invaluable information that is difficult to locate without the assistance of search engines.
2.) Tests
The type of tests that you take to find a career path are not necessarily similar to the ones that you would take while in school, mainly because they are considered instruments or assessments instead. A large majority of career tests will involve the identification of personality traits, which will pinpoint interests and skills. Personally, I have taken the Myers Briggs test and can safely assert that it does an excellent job at funneling questions to determine what job or industry match my personality traits. All in all, tests can be a helpful tool in the job-hunting process, but are best served as a resource for identifying individual characteristics, as opposed to actually finding a job.
3.) Using The Flower Exercise
I briefly touched on the Flower Exercise that is thoroughly explained in the book in a previous blog post, but it is relevant to revisit for the purpose of choosing or changing a career. In short, the Flower Exercise provides you with the necessary steps to identify and hone transferable skills. Once you identify the skills you are capable of performing, it is then easier to match those skills with the a company or field of interest that you are passionate about. After the Flower Exercise is complete, you will then be able to confidently express your skills and abilities articulately during an interview, which will hopefully allow you to earn a desired job.
4.) Changing A Career In Two Steps
In order to successfully choose or change a career, it is vital to grasp that a job consists of two components: a title and a field. Basically, a title is a symbol for what you do at a job on a daily basis, whereas a field represents where you complete your work at a job. Being able to distinguish between the two career components provides lucidity in the form of paving a clear path to locating an occupation. For instance, if you have worked as an accountant for ten years, and wish to become a marketer, it is important to define what kind of experience you have in relation to marketing in the event that an interviewer questions you about it.
5.) Finding Out What The Job-Market Will Need
The final way to change a career involves using projections to find out what the job-market will need in the near future.
According to a list from Forbes, the following industries are expected to have the most openings, or at least are projected to:
- Software Developers
- Accountants and Auditors
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations Specialists
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Sales Representatives
- Mechanical Engineers
- Industrial Engineers
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