To Julia Carson...

 I was having a heck of a time posting my final critique for your social media campaign. So I'll post it here...

Although bejane.com was the closest comparison to your idea to review, I think you should really get to know how STIHL, John Deere, and HGTV are using social media. Maybe consider why some sites are using it and others aren't. How are the sites using it utilizing it?

You have very clear thoughts about how you'd use social media. That's great, but how can you build upon what those other companies are doing or not doing?

Final Post

The Future of Audrey Lucille

The end is the beginning. I feel like I’ve only just started to tap into my “writer” psyche. I absolutely intend to keep writing after this class. I have always enjoyed it, but was never disciplined enough to continue it on my own. Luckily, and as silly as it sounds, exposing me to Twitter this term has sparked a new energy to continue writing on my own.

Do you know the feeling when someone posts a picture about you or includes you in a post on Facebook? There’s the slight panic about “Oh, no. What did they put on the web about me?” But there is also an excitement that someone not only thought about you, but published the fact that they thought about you to everyone they know. It’s thrilling. When someone on Twitter decides to “follow you”, replies to your posts, or reposts something you wrote it’s a completely different kind of thrill. It now isn’t about you and your friends, but about the words you’re saying and whoever else is looking for those words.  It’s a whole new game on Twitter.

I will likely continue some variation of my blog and use Twitter as a way to boost my exposure. Because it is strictly about the words, I’ll probably keep a pen name too. I might not continue to be Audrey Lucille, but I don’t want everything attached to my real name either. Without my real name attached, I can be free to discuss what I want without much repercussion in my academic, professional, or personal life.

ICM 506 Highlights and Suggestions

The greatest accomplishment from this course has been the work. I have the passion, I have experience and knowledge, and I have at least some of the skill to be a writer.  What I got out of this class was a boost in my confidence and direction in technique. As long as I try, and try well, others might appreciate and enjoy my work.

Two highlights in the course were my “Travel and Terrorism” post and gaining the Hanover Inn as a follower on Twitter:

My “Travel and Terrorism” post was simple, personal, and well received. I was proud of the post before it was even posted, but then to gain the positive feedback that I got was icing on the cake. I want the writing I decide to share to always feel like that.

Having the Hanover Inn decide to follow me on Twitter confirmed how effective my words were. Nothing of major significance was posted on Twitter; I simply stuck to the assignments. But the groups of words made me accessible. What I found most exciting was that Joe Shmoe didn’t find me, but an Inn did. This is exactly the niche I was aiming for. My words worked!

I wish there had been an assignment to work with the feedback we received and posted a rewrite. I know this was encouraged and discussed as part of the course, but it was not required and sadly, fell by the wayside for me. If I had been pushed to rewrite some pieces, who knows where it would have taken me. I would have liked that extra pressure in at least one assignment.

Farewell

I’m sad that the course is ending. But I am glad I had the opportunity to take this class. Thanks to my classmates for making this constructive and enjoyable. And I hope to see more of your work beyond this class.

Dinner in Sant Cugat

It’s been a whirlwind just to arrive in Barcelona. Now, Sonia’s family was starting to arrive home from work and school. There was a lot of commotion as people arrived. Introductions were made to me and then they’d go about their business catching up from a long day. I did my best to stay out of the way.

As Sonia and her Mother made their way to the kitchen, I decided I should see if I could be of any assistance. Sonia had snuck out the back of the kitchen before I got there. I smiled at her Mother and tried to ask if I could help with anything. She looked at me and in extremely broken English said she couldn’t understand English.

I took a seat at the kitchen table and waited for Sonia to come back. In the meantime, her Mother continued with the cooking. When Sonia came back she jumped right in. She cut bread and started the smear a whole tomato over it. This was new. I’d never seen anyone squish a tomato on bread and then throw away the skin. I asked Sonia if there was anything I could do. She explained to me that it was very awkward that I wanted to help, since I was the guest. But she allowed me to carry the dish she just finished making to the table.

In no time at all, dinner was ready.  Her Father was the last to arrive. After I left the kitchen he’d gone in to make a very special dish. In honor of me, he’d gone to the foothills of a mountain on his lunch break to pick mushrooms for this dish. He said the mushrooms were very special in this area and it was a truly local dish. It was a basic mushroom salad with olive oil and herbs, very fresh and very tasty. Everything was!

For dessert, her Mother made a fruit salad with pomegranate, grapes, and oranges. She’d kept a lot of the juices in it and added some sugar, I think. I don’t know exactly what she did, but it was the best fruit salad I’ve ever had.

The food was phenomenal. It was probably the most authentic meal I’d had in my time in Europe. But more than that, their hospitality was above and beyond. Even if you don’t share a language with someone, hospitality is universal.

Before I left the family a week later, I gave them some goodies I’d brought for them from London. Most were small knickknacks to show my appreciation. The most appreciated gift by far was a tin of shortbread cookies. Sonia’s Mother squealed with delight and her little sister snatched the tin to steal a cookie immediately. Although the cookies were hardly a homemade meal, I was glad they liked my gift.

Anticipation

It has to be the biggest thrill in the world, for me to book a trip. Right before I book a flight I get nervous. My palms start to sweat as I double and triple check the details. Is it the right day, the right time, the right airport? Is there enough money in my checking account to make the purchase? Did my boss give me the OK for the time off? These and a million other questions rush through my head.

But once the tickets are bought…the excitement kicks in. There’s no turning back! Whatever else gets planned has to work around those flights. The foundation of my trip has been laid.

Right now, I’m about 3 weeks away from my first Las Vegas trip. The closer I get to the trip, the more frequently I find myself Googling things about Vegas. I’ve got a decent layout of the strip in my head already. I know the prices of the shuttle from the airport. I could even tell you a few restaurants that fit my shoestring budget.

This is the feeling people tell you to aim for when they say, “you need something to look forward to.” If you are ever lucky enough to be given a surprise trip, the anticipation and emotions you’d normally spread out right up until your trip open like a flood gate. Just take a look at this little girl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDzQ5sI_9F0

Do you need something to look forward to? Go ahead, book a trip!

Ad For Pitch

FADE IN

INT-TRAIN CABIN-DAY

The camera opens on a lone TRAVELER comfortable in his seat and staring out the window. A large backpack sits in the seat next to him.

Train stops with SQUEELING WHEELS.

Camera now follows the traveler off the train. Traveler exits the terminal and sees the sights of London. (LIGHT CAR AND FOOT TRAFFIC) He turns the corner just past a rowdy pub and is suddenly walking out of a French café (SOFT FRENCH MURMER FROM THE CAFÉ GUESTS) with classic Paris scenery in front of him. He crosses the street to find himself in a crowded Indian market (HEAVY BACKGROUND NOISE FROM THE CROWD) Someone in the market crosses between the traveler and the camera and we are now on a wharf with cooked lobster being served out of window (WATER LAPPING UNDER THE DOCK). Traveler turns around to walk off the dock and as the camera comes around to follow him the scene changes to an anonymous city street. Traveler enters a restaurant.

SMALL GROUP of people greets him warmly. They grab a seat and start to chat.

Scene blurs and the words “Foreign Foodie Friends: Bringing People Together Through Food” appear with website address.

FADE OUT

Social Media Campaign

The beauty of today’s internet is that conversation with anyone, anywhere can be possible at anytime. A two-way conversation can happen instantaneously with just about anyone. And social networks have made just about anyone accessible to converse with. As usual, businesses and organizations have jumped on the ever-growing bandwagon. But how does a business become social? Organizations and business now have to define not only the products and services they offer, but also a personality their followers want to follow.

The London Eye tweets. The London Eye is a large Ferris wheel type attraction that allows you to take in the London skyline. And it has a Twitter account. What does a Ferris wheel tweet about? Well, it tweets about the weather, promotions, events, and various fun facts, of course.

What makes @TheLondonEye has done that make its profile worth following:

The conversations is two-ways.

Visitors are able to share thoughts, photos, and questions and receive a response back. This gives followers a chance to participate.

Allowing followers to share their excitement is free promotion for the attraction and an exciting way for visitors to be seen.

In a few tweets, I also saw @TheLondonEye respond to followers who questioned a fake photograph they saw about the London Eye on fire. Responding to a tweet is so much more intimate than making your followers search for a newspaper article or wait for a press conference. Instead, they receive a personal response via Twitter.

Ways to improve its profile:

The London Eye isn’t just about The London Eye

Even though the profile is dedicated to getting followers excited about it’s attraction, The London Eye shouldn’t be afraid to talk about nearby attractions or events as well. If @TheLondonEye were to tweet about St James Park, Big Ben, or the Thames River Festival they may reach people they wouldn’t normally reach, and they may get more followers. My theory is that the more respect you put out, the more respect you get back. So, instead of tweeting “Tomorrow we're going sparkling rainbow colours to mark the Thames Festival on the south bank and bankside. Come and see us sparkle!” You might instead Tweet about the dates and times of the events at the stage that The Eye overlooks during the Thames Festival and link all references to @ThamesFestival.

It’s a difficult task to make a social profile for a business or organization. Yes, you want to give your profile a personality, but it has to be a personality people like. Would you have a conversation with someone who always talked about themselves? Probably not for very long. So, then why would you follow a twitter account that didn’t have a two-way conversation? Likewise, wouldn’t you give more respect to the twitter profile that promotes surrounding events, organizations or businesses? Just like you give more respect for someone who volunteers his or her time at a soup kitchen.

What I take away from this is that a successful Twitter account has to have the following:

1)   Personable personality

2)   Relevant and timely information that is convenient and worthwhile for followers.

3)   Active two-way conversation

4)   External linkable promotions

Executive Summary Presentation

 Click Here to View the PowerPoint Presentation

 One of the biggest regrets in travel is an unsuccessful attempt to find traditional, local, “home cooked” meals. Food has a powerful way of allowing outsiders an intimate understanding of local culture. Tasting a “home cooked” meal can explain better than any textbook what is important to the people of a given region.

 “Foreign Foodie Friends” is a web-based network for locals and visitors to connect and share a culinary experience.  Each member will be able to utilize the site both as a foreigner and as a host. The network will allow members to post a profile of what “home cooking” means to them and also allow dietary restrictions to be made known.

Target Market – The most important audience for this site is the “foodie” at heart. You do not need to be a chef or an expert in cuisine. All you need is to share an appreciation of food, culture, understanding, and adventure.  You don’t need to have traveled far or you could be from the other side of the world. Everywhere you go has the potential to be an experience.  Why not make it a culinary experience?

Ex Factor- The uniqueness of this site is that you will have a local guide willing to share this culinary experience with you. He/she will be able to introduce you to what “local” food means to them.  And, in return, back home, you can share your “local cuisines” with those who may travel to your home.

Goals and Objectives-

The main goal is to give travelers a truly unique dining experience. We want to give people the opportunity to get off the beaten path and not feel lost. This is an opportunity to avoid tourist traps and get a real taste for what’s cooking.

As a host, members are encouraged to share what their town or region has to offer. It’s a time to be proud of where you live and show it off. For the adventurous, it can also be a time to show off your personal cooking skills.

The ultimate goal, however, is beyond the food on the table. The goal is the connection and conversation that will happen over the meal. You can learn the intricate details of new land, or you can learn about your home through the eyes of a traveler. We hope that the intercultural conversations will bring about understanding and knowledge.

Safety- Safety is top concern for our members and for us.

Communication-Anonymous email feature will allow members to communicate and plan their meals together. No personal information needs to be shared unless individuals are comfortable to do so.

Ratings and Recommendations- Members can rate and recommend other members based on their experience with that individual. This will help build a member’s profile and make them more or less desirable to choose as a dinner guide or guest. This feature will keep all our members honest and safe.

Restaurant vs. In-home Meals- As a responsible network host, the site will include safety tips and discussions about traveling and eating with other members on our site. As travelers begin to use this site it will be recommended to meet other members in public restaurants. If the opportunity should arise to attend an in-home meal, we will encourage our members to use precautions. Our top concern is that all our members be safe and smart.

Action Plan

Develop the foundations of the site within 6 months.

§  Build the site

o   Profile layouts

o   Search functions

o   Rating/recommendations

Initially, we may start in a hyper local scene and expand out, allowing word of mouth to catch on. The expansion should be progressive, adding new locations every few months.

Along with location expansion we will keep members excited with local meet-ups, restaurant coupons, and shared stories.

The opportunity to share such a cultural and culinary experience is one of a kind. I’m excited at the possibility of making this more accessible to fellow travelers.

Thank you.