social media tip# 2: How to build your brand simply

Hi readers,
Thanks for all the comments on recent blog posts. I was particularly intrigued by James Mills' participation in www.twitterblender.ca He has created a BRAND of sorts, and that's what prompted this blog post.

Today's post is devoted to creating a brand simply.

Everyday we are bombarded with images of brands, professional, personal and otherwise. In today's media savvy world, brands can crumble as quickly as they are established. So how do you stand out in sea of soi-disant brands, competing for everyone's attention? 

On NBC's today show (www.today.com)  I viewed a segment featuring Martin Lindstrum, author of the book Buyology and Brand Sense.  Our intent in building a brand, is to showcase our uniqueness. However, before we can even begin to communicate that, Martin explained that brands are meant to create trust and relationships. This is a moot point, because we engage in social media to be social first and use the medium second.  How do allow our brand to create trust?  Martin suggests the following:

1. Define who you are and who you aren't. Whether your reputation or personality is fun, cool or just reliable enough to deliver the goods on time, become known for ONE thing. Point final, as the French say. Don't let your reputation be confused with many things at once. That's why brands have a tag line or trademark. (I'm sure you can name three in a jiffy!)

2. Create an air of mystery. Before reading about twitterblender.ca, at the beginning of the post. I sourced the article's origin. The blogger, Antonia Harler,  branded herself as "sassy." That can be memorable in itself!

3. Create a signature look in your brand. Martin referred to unique looks such as black; suspenders; funky socks; or even jewellery. (Think of Lady Gaga who commands the top lists of Twitter followers).

4. Leave a personal mark behind. Whether you are courting new business or landing a valuable lead in your job search, create a business card that stands out or perhaps gives advice. I like the application businesscard2.com Check out my profile at http://melissamartin.businesscard2.com To be noticed, I suggest other cool applications, such as www.sitesketch.com or neat Twitter backgrounds on www.socialidentities.com

In the final analysis, what is one thing that people should remember about you?

If you need to know about branding resources, here's what I recommend:

Branding experts for business: Annemarie Cross from Australia. Her site is annemariecoach.com
Annemarie and I connected about two years ago via social media, and since then, I was proud to be a guest on her podcasts with Keith Keller (the Twitter king, also in Australia) and through their collective site, careercommuniqueradio.com. Annemarie's niche is helping entrepreneurs identify their brand. Keith, specializes in helping businesses promote their brand on twitterintensive.com

Dan Schwabel, a giant in branding, is a force to be reckoned with. If you do a Google search on Dan, he commands rankings as a Personal branding expert, speaker and bestselling author.

And finally, the ne plus ultra  site on personal branding is www.careerealism.com I am proud to be affiliated with that site, which is now in the top 3 career site rankings on the Internet. (And no, I do not receive a commission for mentioning the site. I am simply proud to be associated with all of these experts, all of whom connected with me via social media!)

Need a way for your brand to stand out? I design customized Facebook fan pages for small businesses and job seekers.

Please follow me on Facebook: melissacynthiamartin  and on Twitter @melissacmartin and @ravingredhead
Melissa Martin, bilingual career and social media strategist
www.careercoachingbyphone.com

Catch my webinar, Twitter: tap into the high-powered job search tool on YouTube:
http://you.tube/vwhlk-JrOLO

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Guest post:" 15 female journalists who've paved the way"

15 Female Journalists Who’ve Paved the Way

Erin Lenderts, www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com

Like a lamentable amount of professions before (and even some after), for the longest time "Western" journalism only covered the perspectives of white men. But as society progressed, the field slowly opened itself up to women, minorities — and even minority women. While some catching up still needs doing to sweep away the last vestiges of inequality, one must always pause to acknowledge the contributions of those coming before. Far more than 15 females sent boulders flying through the glass ceiling, so take no offense at inclusions or exclusions. Consider it a very quick, very loose primer on some extraordinary contributors to the journalism sphere, allowing future generations amazing personal, professional and educational opportunities.

1. Nellie Bly: Elizabeth Jane Cochran, better known as Nellie Bly, famously endured one of the most courageous, brutal acts of undercover journalism ever. Ten Days in a Mad-House chronicled the squalid, abusive plight of the mentally ill interred in asylums — atrocities she witnessed firsthand after faking instability and landing in the women's facilities on Blackwell's Island. After publishing her discoveries in 1887, the United States government launched a formal investigation and subsequently called for significant mental healthcare reform. Even beyond that, Bly also reached out to other charitable and social causes, traveling the world and reporting back the politics and culture of all the peoples encountered.
2. Marion Carpenter: Thanks to this photojournalist's passion and drive, one of the industry's glass ceilings received a nice little breaking. After launching her career with Washington Times-Herald in 1944, she joined International News Photo and worked on special assignments involving federal politicians. But her biggest contribution to women in journalism came when she became the first female member of the White House News Photographers Association. This honor bought Carpenter daily interaction with President Harry S. Truman, with whom she also traveled, and resulted in some famous portraits.
3. Katie Couric: Broadcast journalist Katie Couric, known for her work with NBC and CBS, paved the way for others in her field when she became the first woman to solo anchor a weekday evening newscast. She began her stint with CBS Evening News in 2006, continuing to participate in specials on a wide variety of subjects. But today's audiences know Couric for her political commentary and interviews with everyone from Sarah Palin to Shakira, though the majority of her more memorable ones involve current and former heads of state. And, of course, the 15 years she spent co-anchoring The Today Show with Tom Brokaw.
4. Evelyn Cunningham: Pittsburgh Courier played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, with Evelyn Cunningham's sterling, fearless efforts front and center. As both a correspondent and, later, the editor, she tackled social injustices — most especially lynching — the mainstream media never bothered touching. Cunningham also enjoyed the honor of profiling Civil Rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Her absolutely amazing accomplishments, which also stretched into a radio career, earned her prestigious positions on several human rights organizations and even a special assistant gig with Nelson Rockefeller.
5. Dorothy Dix: Love them, hate them or indifferent them, advice columns eventually became a permanent element of newspaper and magazine journalism. Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer worked under the pseudonym Dorothy Dix and reached an audience of around 60 million in her prime. Dorothy Dix Talks began life in 1896, publishing marriage and homemaking advice on the pages of New Orleans periodical Daily Picayune. After Public Ledger Syndicate picked it up in 1923, her readership expanded to 273 papers around the world, earning her a swath of dedicated fans and a few book deals — not to mention the honor of being the most widely-read female journalist during the era.
6. Betty Friedan: Betty Friedan's journalism background revolutionized women's rights from both a rhetorical and professional standpoint. 1963's The Feminine Mystique helped kick off Second Wave Feminism thanks to her painstaking investigative research delving deeply into the disturbing psychological realities of American housewives. Friedan herself had been previously fired from her journalist position at UE News for no reason other than pregnancy — an incident that ended up sparking a significant cultural shift. These firebrand actions paved the way for many, many more women than merely those in her industry.
7. Margaret Fuller: As a voracious reader, it makes perfect sense that the vibrant Margaret Fuller would go on to become the first full-time, American, female book review journalist. Her transcendentalist leanings inspired good friend Ralph Waldo Emerson to offer her an editorship position with The Dial in 1839. From there, she joined up with New York Tribune and secured a lauded literary critic spot, though Fuller also covered the visual and performing arts, social justice and political issues on occasion. Two years after that, the newspaper named her its first female editor because of her column's great success.
8. Mary Garber: For nearly 70 years, heavily decorated Mary Garber enjoyed preeminence as the veritable First Lady of sports journalism. Her career launched in 1940 as Twin City Sentinel's society editor, but snapped up general assignments once World War II started leaving holes in the staff — and it just so happened that sports coverage needed a warm body after a while. After that, Geaber's knowledge, passion and tenacity earned her a litany of awards, honors and critical acclaim. Most importantly of all, though, such a success challenged preconceived notions of women and journalism.
9. Ayala Hasson-Nesher: This news correspondent with IBA is considered one of Israel's foremost political commentators, earning the very first Queen of the Desert Award celebrating female empowerment. Ayala Hasson-Nesher's career unearthed some incredibly shattering conspiracies, most notably the Bar-On-Hebron controversy of 1997. Today, she hosts the news magazine show Yoman on weekends and continues to cover the hard-hitting political stories garnering her initial renown. In addition to being seen on IBA, Israeli citizens can hear her "Hakol Diburim" radio program on its Kol Yisrael station.
10. Marguerite Higgins: Female war correspondents today owe a debt of gratitude to Marguerite Higgins for her pioneering work in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. She launched such an illustrious pedigree with New York Herald Tribune, eventually covering such momentous historical events as the liberation of Dachau, the Nuremberg Trials and the first few days of the Korean War in addition to interviewing notable names like Jawaharlal Nehru, Francisco Franco and Nikita Khrushchev. General Douglas MacArthur declared the ban on female war correspondents because of Higgins' tenacity as the Korean War broke out. Among her myriad other awards and accomplishments, this influential woman was the very first to ever receive a Pulitzer Prize.
11. Nancy Hicks Maynard: The Maynard Institute of Journalism Education leaves a wonderful legacy for its stunning, groundbreaking co-founder. Nancy Hicks Maynard paved the way for women and minority journalists alike when she became the first African-American, female reporter with The New York Times, working on education, science and healthcare stories. After that, she served as president of the MIJE, which she co-founded with husband Robert C. Maynard. Together, they also purchased the struggling newspaper Oakland Tribune — thus making it the very first entirely African-American owned and operated daily in a major metropolitan area.
12. Ethel L. Payne: In 1972, Ethel L. Payne made history when CBS made her the very first African-American female commentator at a major news organization. Her blend of journalism and activism during the Civil Rights Era garnered the nickname "First Lady of the Black Press," and she started out covering the lives of black soldiers stationed in Japan. While working for the Chicago Defender, Payne stood at the forefront of racial equality, with stories about the 1963 March on Washington, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, desegregation of the University of Alabama and plenty more. She even famously interviewed President Dwight D. Eisenhower and asked him point blank about the desegregation of interstate transportation.
13. Pearl Stewart: Oakland Tribune once again played an integral role in equitable journalism when it hired Pearl Stewart for its editor position. Though it only lasted seven months from 1992 to 1992, she still became the very first African-American woman to edit a major city's newspaper. Over a decade after departing to make room for original chair holder David Burgin, Stewart took up editing for Chicago Defender, although she ended up resigning two months after. Most of her legacy goes largely unsung, however, as she served in several roles at Florida A&M's School of Journalism and Graphic Communication.
14. Barbara Walters: These days, most think of Barbara Walters as a celebrity first, journalist second, with many completely unaware of her earlier gender breakthroughs. In 1974, NBC named her the first female anchor on a major network's evening news. Walters co-anchored The Today Show and, in doing so, opened up the floodgates for other women journalists wanting a spot on local and national programming. It probably comes as no shock to anyone, but she encountered considerable sexism from the men with whom she shared desk and studio space — and boy howdy will she remind everyone at any given opportunity.
15. Oprah Winfrey: Oprah Winfrey, regardless of opinion, undoubtedly shapes a not-insignificant segment of pop culture with her juggernaut media empire. The very definition of a self-made billionaire, her traumatized, impoverished childhood ended when she landed a position anchoring the local news at age 19. From there, she climbed her way up the professional hierarchy — no easy feat for a minority woman — and completely revolutionized the daytime talk show format into something viable and (to tens of millions of viewers) relevant. Today, her worldwide acclaim and personal and financial successes inspire many female journalists hoping for even a molecule of what she's earned.
Bachelors Degree Online

social media tip #1: hashtags on Twitter

Hi job seekers,
I am introducing a new series on social media. Stay informed on this blog for some tried and test tips on using social media, as well as the latest trends in social media. The tips are not necessarily ranked in order, but are vital to infusing your online digital presence, often known as your "digital footprint."

Have you ever been on twitter and your intent is to maintain a smooth, focused conversation, but you are sidetracked or distracted by other tweets? Start using hashtags or the # sign on your keyboard. Hashtags are meant to funnel down your preferred area of concentration. For example, #jobsearch, #jobhunt or #career change. If you are still unsure of how to use a hashtag, check which is a dictionary service called http://www.tagalus.com/, which provides a definition of hashtags. You can sign up for tagalus on Twitter.
Currently, tagalus.com is in beta, however, more people seeing the value of narrowing their hashtag chats and searches on Twitter.

What hashtag has brought you the best results (i.e. job leads, contacts, finding influential people, getting job search advice) in your job search?

For a limited time, I will send you a FREE copy of my ebook, How to use social media in your job search if you comment on this blog no later than May 31st.

Melissa Martin, bilingual career and social media strategist
@ravingredhead and @melissacmartin (bilingual)
http://www.careercoachingbyphone.com/

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Guest post: 10 big businesses that started in a garage

Thanks Liz Nutt for submitting the following article:

10 Big Businesses That Started in a Garage

Every big business had to start out somewhere, right? Some have come from more humble beginnings than others, launching with no more than some basic equipment, a couple employees, a garage space and a big idea. Whether you’re a business or finance student hoping to follow your own path to entrepreneurial success or already working in your own garage on the next big thing, these stories of companies that rose from obscurity to be multi-million (or billion) dollar industries can be a big inspiration. They may very well help you finally realize your dream of getting out of that garage and onto bigger and better things.

1. Apple: Today, consumers will wait in line for hours just to get their hands on some of Apple’s latest products, but once upon a time this electronics giant was a mere blip on the technology industry’s radar. Back in 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniack and Ronald Wayne started a business out of a garage in Cupertino, CA, putting together one of the first prototypes of their personal computers. Over the next decades, the company would introduce several more models, including their Macintosh line in 1984, arguably what turned them from a struggling startup into a fully fledged business. Today, the company manufactures much more than computers, has almost 50,000 employees and brings in revenues of over 14 billion each year.
2. Google: Google might be a household name today, but back in 1998 the search engine giant was just starting out. Their corporate headquarters? A Menlo Park, CA garage. For the next five months, Google’s staff of three would work out of this garage, perfecting their search algorithm, indexing web pages, and raiding the refrigerator of their friend’s attached home. By the next year the company had outgrown the garage and eventually moved into what is today known as the Googleplex. To celebrate their 8th birthday, Google purchased the garage and intends to preserve it as a lasting legacy to the humble beginnings of their business.
3. Mattel: Mattel wasn’t always the toy maker we know it as today. When the Handler’s got their start in the 1940’s in a Southern California garage, they were making picture frames, not toys. Ruth Handler began taking the scraps of wood from those frames and making doll furniture, a side business which proved quite successful. Because of this, the entrepreneurs decided to change their focus to toys instead. In 1959, they introduced the first Barbie, and afterwards became a household name. Today they’re home to big names in the toy business like Fisher Price, Hot Wheels, American Girl and a number of board games.
4. HP: Back in 1939, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard decided to establish their own electronics manufacturing company. Based out their garage in Palo Alto, CA, with an initial investment of only $538, the two helped establish the technology hub that would become Silicon Valley. When they started out, they made everything from high-tech electronics to agricultural products but by the 60’s were homing in on the tech market exclusively. Today, the company is an electronics giant, with some of the highest quality personal computing products on the market. They have opted to preserve the garage where they got their start, making it into a museum.
5. Amazon: In 1994, Jeff Bezos laid the foundations for what would be the online retailing giant Amazon in his garage, hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow garage entrepreneurs HP. With a strong foundation, the company grew very quickly, and before long was in need of a much bigger space to house their operations. Today, there are few people who haven’t shopped with the online retailer, buying everything from food to televisions to electronic media. This small business had become one of the leading retailers in the world, with billions of dollars in sales each year.
6. Disney: While he would go on to build an animation and entertainment empire, Walt Disney’s first studio was a tiny, one car garage in Hollywood. There he worked on a variety of animation products, setting up a makeshift studio in the space, while he waited to see if his Alice in Wonderland pilot would be picked up by any major distributors. It was, and the company quickly moved out of the garage into a proper studio. These days, Disney is an entertainment giant for kids and adults alike with movies, theme parks and products around the world. That tiny garage was almost torn down, but the dedication of a few interested citizens helped to save it and interested visitors can go there today to see where it all began.
7. Microsoft: In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, with just a few resources and an available garage space. Unlike Apple who developed both software and hardware, Microsoft homed in on the software market. Working with IBM, the company licensed their first OS for a mere $80,000. Later, they would go on to develop more sophisticated operating systems that would evolve into those we know as Windows today. The business would grow to be one of the most profitable and powerful in the world, dominating the personal computing market.
8. MagLite: Anthony Maglica started his dream of owning a business by working long hours to earn the money it would take to put a down payment on his first lathe. Working in a Los Angeles garage, he began to design and build precision parts for industry, aerospace and the military. By 1974, he was incorporated as Mag Instrument and the company was gaining a reputation for the quality of their products. In 1979, MagLite released their first flashlight, the product they are best known for today. It would help them to become a household name and secure their place in the market.
9. Yankee Candle Company: Unable to afford a present for his mother, young Michael Kittredge created his first scented candle from some melted crayons in his garage. Neighbors saw the candles and began purchasing them from him, eventually motivating the high school student to found a business with two high school friends. Kittredge sold the company in 1999 after a cancer scare, but it has gone on to even greater success and is now sold at many major retailers and a number of its own standalone stores.
10. Harley Davidson: It makes complete sense that a company selling vehicles would get its start in a garage or outbuilding, because that’s where those products eventually end up. Harley Davidson did just that, starting out in 1901 with a small business that built engines for bicycles. Of course, it wasn’t long before they started developing the motorcycles for which they are known, and in 1903 they had already released their first racing bike, constructed in a small wooden shed. Buoyed by the popularity and speed of their motorcycles, the company expands, constantly rethinking the best ways to build a bike. Today, they’re still known for producing