aDIFFERENTcampaign

Yesterday was the last day of my senior advertising campaigns class. At the beginning of the semster our class was divided into 3 “agencies.” The client we worked with the whole semester was Conscious Alliance, a non-profit organization that focuses on ending hunger on Native American reservations (www.consciousalliance.org). Our goal was to increase awareness of the brand, drive traffic to the website, and increase donations. The target of this organization is college students

When we were first assigned this client, none of us were too ecstatic about it. Not because we did not think it was a good brand, or a honorable cause, but because we had a small budget and the haunting words “banner ad,”  were said all too many times in their proposal to what they wanted from us. Due to the low budget this campaign definetely had to live on-line which, lucky for them, made perfect sense in regards to their target market.

To begin our strategic research we surveyed lower division advertising students in order to find out the level of awareness of not only the brand, but the problem of hunger on Native American reservations. What we found was that the level of awareness of the brand was next to nothing. While this was a bit discouraging, it was very exciting at the same time. It meant that there is so much opportunity for this campaign and pretty much everything we do will raise at least a little awareness.

After long hours of doodling and coming up with light-bulb ideas, some of which were quickly dismissed once we attempted execution, we finally came up with our key insight. We realized that as college students, we do like to donate and help out awesome organizations like Conscious Alliance, whether or not we’ll ever admit it…we like to be heroes, we like to be recognized. With this we decided that when people donate to this cause, they want to know exactly where their money is going, and they want to be recognized for it.

Fast forward a few months…our final executions were not too shabby. As anyone who knows anything about advertising will tell you, sometimes you have to take risks, sometimes they’ll lead to amazing campaigns, sometimes your endless all-nighters will only lead to a campaign the client hates. My “agency” got a taste of both of these situations. However, the latter wasn’t as bad as it sounds. One of our executions, the banners ads, had a dark mood, and the client said that is not what the brand is about, at all. BUT…theres always a but…had we not taken this chance with these banner ads, we would not have been led to the viral video we created, which was the client’s favorite piece of our work.

IF I LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THIS PITCH…you have to take risks, even if the client doesn’t initially think you’re idea is good, until it is executed you will never know…

CONNECTIONSnetworkingCONNECTIONSnetworking…

With only about 2 months left of my college career [phew i said it] I feel like there is an infinite open path ahead of me and it is completely up to me to paint it. In my ideal world I would jetset to Europe and travel the world for a year, but unfortunately this is not my ideal world. Although I have always said I am really independent and love new journeys, lately I feel like a scared little puppy who has been left alone. I don’t know what exactly I wanna do, let alone where I wanna do it…

I’ve been working so hard for these past 4 years, to what I always thought was to get a career. But now even with 8 semesters, 5 months abroad in Australia, nearly 40 courses, and thousands of dollars of debt student loans, I still feel like I don’t know which direction to go in next…I love my courses and am still confident in my major, Advertising, but I don’t necessarily want to follow all my classmates direction in working at an agency. Not only that, I don’t even know where to begin when searching for jobs, let alone applying. Of course you can go on a companies website and do the whole click on “careers” tab and email whoever@jobs or whoever@hr…but as I’m sure you all have to, I’ve learned quickly that will get you NO WHERE!

So now I’ve come to realize I need to take this situation into my own hands. Anytime I ask anyone successful about how to get on the right track all i hear is “connections, networking, connections, networking…blah blah blah!” I’ve never really been one to be aggressive when it comes to contacting people, but I have definitely come to realize I know need to. I am going to make a contact list of anyone who I could think would possibly be able to help me out…

welcome to my journey of job hunting…be back soon, hopefully with a little more good news….!

["slow"]TRAVEL

Unless you are an avid traveler, and maybe not even then, you have probably never heard of the concept of “Slow Travel” . If you are familiar with “slow food,” it is slightly similar to that concept. “Slow Travel” is the idea of creating a travel experience that allows you to still feel like you have some sense of home even if you’re in a foreign country. It allows you to create a connection with a foreign country and build a bond. The concept is best implemented on trips that are a little more lengthy.

For example, if you were to travel to Europe, the way you would participate in “Slow Travel” is to pick a city to be your home base. Maybe this is your favorite city or the city with you favorite hotel. So, let’s say you pick Florence (Italy) to be your homebase. This means that you would travel to Florence and stay there for a few days, then pick your next destination, let’s say Rome, Italy, and then take a train to Rome. After you’ve stayed in Rome your desired amount of time, you then travel back to Florence, stay there for a few days, then pick a destination that is a little farther than Rome, let’s say Paris. Then you fly to Paris, stay there for a few days, and then go back to Florence. I’m sure you’re getting the idea…”Slow Travel,” is not just about that actual act of traveling, however. It also deals with what you do when you’re traveling, how you eat, how you sight see, etc.

The goal of “Slow Travel” is for you to slow down and revert back to the old-fashioned relaxed lifestyle. It is to avoid having that hectic travel vacation that you go from one thing to the next, to the next, without actually really appreciating where you are traveling to. “Slow Travel” allows you to also connect further with the culture of a place!

Interested in finding out more? Check out this website–>http://www.slowmovement.com/slow_travel.php

WHEREisYOURfavPLACEtoTRAVEL?

I recently asked a group of friends who I believe are pretty well traveled, where their all-time FAVORITE place they’ve ever traveled to is. So, I thought I would share the results with you; they’re pretty diverse, so enjoy (some were generous enough to share a photo, as well!

“[Interlocken, Switerzerland] because it is heaven on earth. And because I got to experience snowboarding the Swiss Alps, ATVing through town and night sledding. Amazing adventures.”

view from the Polar Express train on the way to snowboarding

“[Tahiti, French Polynesia] because you can experience the culture one day, then the next sit out on your bungalow’s glass bottom deck, viewing the beautiful array of tropical fish/turtles, with drink in hand “

Bungalow at Shearton Resort in Moorea, Tahiti

“[Paris, France] Because the architecture and the people and the nightlife and food!”

 

“[New Zealand] because it there are so many different activities to do. Whether you go whale watching, snowboard on the glaciers, surf the epic waves, or go visit castles it is an amazing time “

“[Gold Coast, Australia] because the walking on the beach, the ocean itself, and the wine, you can’t get enough of any of it!”

“[Istanbul, Turkey] because it is unlike any place I have ever been before, the people are so kind and there is beautiful scenery.”

TRAVELINGduringHOLIDAYS

Despite the holidays being such a fun and jolly time of the year, we all know that traveling to and from your family’s and friend’s houses, can be a nightmare. There are, however, a few ways to relieve, or at least reduce your stress over traveling during this holiday season. My immediate family lives quite far from all of our extended family, thus we have learned a few things over the years.

1) Even though it’s a bit extra $, you should think about purchasing insurance when buying your airline tickets. It can be as little as $10 a person and covers emergencies and usually other very inconvenient unfortunate occurrences, like illnesses in the family. Even though you most likely would normally avoid this extra little fee, in the end it will save you much more!

2) Book your tickets in advance. most airlines over deals in advance (usually 90 days prior). This will also save you lots of money, especially if you’re traveling in a large group, like your family.

3)Think about different means of traveling, if there’s a possibility you can drive, you should think about making a road trip out of your traveling, instead of flying. Even though this may take longer, it will provide a lot of memories, most likely save you money, and allow you to bring more baggage and such (you won’t have to pay the baggage fees like you would on the airlines!). I know some of my most favorite memories of a child are those when we road tripped to my grandmothers, or cousins; it allows you to spend some quality time with your loved ones! One other bonus, you will get to avoid the LONG LINES and PAINFUL CROWDS at the airport!

4)–>If you are going to be traveling by car, you may want to think about renting a car (or maybe if you fly somewhere and need to rent a car, this is applicable, too). You should always purchase the insurance, once again it may not look admirable in the beginning but during the holidays there are a lot of crazy drivers out there, and insurance is a great thing to have. If anything it just gives you peace of mind!

5) The most important thing to remember is…ITS THE HOLIDAYS! It’s supposed to be a relaxing, enjoyable, fun time to spend with the people you care about…so stay calm and take in every moment of it!

top[8]PLACESiNEEDtoGO

ever since I knew what traveling was my dream was to go to Australia, as I grew older the dream came closer and closer and to my surprise, I have already gone and come, lived and studied there for 6 months and fallen in love with the place! so…I decided I would make a list of all the places I’ve also only dreamt of going and maybe I’ll actually get to them sometime soon….HOPEFULLY!

1)COSTA RICA
…ya this may not be very many people’s DREAM place to visit. But I have just done so much damn research on this place because of mine and my friends inlking to go there for spring break this upcoming April. It seems like a super sweet place and I’ve always always wanted ot zipline through a rain forest, and this seems like the PERFECT place!

2)PARIS
…i know, pretty cliche, but c’mon doesn’t every girl have to dream of being kissed under the eiffel tower at twilight! annnnnd…not to mention the shopping! I’ve been lucky enough to jet set to Italy, but unfortunately didn’t have the time/dollars to make it to Pari! I feel like I have to at least see the eifel tower before I die!

BLISS!

3)SWEDEN
…being an Advertising major this place seems like THE PLACE TO BE right now for any aspriring advertiser. They are the among hippest, latest, most creative place right now. They are home to Hyper Island, one of the most presitgious Ad schools on the planet and just recently new home to Crispin Porter + Bogusky. This all aside from all the other amazing things people have said about this wonderful country.

4)FRENCH RIVIERA
…after awing over the photos two of my friends bragged in my face after studying abroad in Antibes this past spring, this place just seems like one I absolutely NEED to go to! It appears to be full of wonder and abstract unique beauty, and I’ve always wanted to visit a country/region like this that sets out to the Meditteranean. I really don’t have much other reason that I want to visit this place except to experience the landscape that was photographed by my friends!

5)GREECE
…as dumb as this may seem after I saw the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and one of the girls moved to Greece, I have deamt of going here! The movie displayed the b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l scenery of this region; the beautiful architecture of the houses, the crystal water, the amazing food, and so much more. Not to mention the handsome Greecian who the girl fell in love with

6)SWISS ALPS
…as a passionate snowboarder I feel like it is only right that I ride the Swiss Alps before I die. Ever since I began riding eleven years ago I have seen a milion photos of this place in snowboard mags, on tv, and heard so much about it from many people I run into on the mountain. One day I’m going to get enough money to travel over there, board in hand and just set free down these powder full mountains.

7)BALI
…although I like to say I have no regrets from my trip abroad in Australia this past Spring, if I had to pick one it would be that I didn’t make it over to Bali while I was there. I knew a couple of people who had the privielege to, and I am so incredibly jealous of them. When they returned they showed me photographs, and souvenirs of the Balinease culture, and from that moment I have been kicking myself and promised myself I would make it back someday!

8)ALASKA (NORTHERN LIGHTS)
..this is just a place I feel like it’s only normal for me to yearn to travel to, I mean it’s in my own country for God’s sake! Not until this past year, however, have I really wanted to go here. And recenetly seeing photographs of the Northern Lights, it seems like such an amazing and beautiful place, so different from any other state I have lived/visited!

GLITZ

SO…HoPeFuLlY a few years down the road–> This will become a list that has at least one or two check marks on it!

keeping [MEMORIES] alive

As I was going through my drawers this past weekend I found my JOURNAL from being abroad in Australia. Believe it or not the first time I actually read the whole thing through. Reading it brought just about every emotion back and by the time I finished reading it I was thoroughly tempted to jump on my computer and book a ticket to the land down under. Even though every single person I talked to before going on my adventure said “journal EVERYDAY,” I obviously did not, ha! Although it may be hard to believe, it was difficult to find the time to journal. I was there for just about 5 1/2 months and only journaled about twenty times.

And as you would image, I wish wish so badly that I kept up with it better and did it every day. Another thing I wish I did was take more pictures, or even blogged (as ironic as that is now!). But I would definitely encourage anyone who travels, regardless of where it may be to, to write down everything about your trip, even things you think you would NEVER forget, because believe me…you will! Even though my journal from abroad is not that long, it is something that I will keep forever and can’t wait to show all the important people in my life, and hopefully one day my children before they venture off on abroad trips! And if you do have internet access it is so easy to keep your journal online (although I do kind of enjoy reading my hand written one a bit more).

SOmanyMEMORIES

There are so many different ways to keep a travel journal online just to name a few

1) www.traveljournals.net/
2) www.hellotraveler.com/

on these sites, you can see other fellow traveler’s journals (and pictures), as well! Keeping an online journal is a great way to keep track of your pictures, as well!

Aside from journaling there are a lot of other ways to keep track of your travels…like http://www.passportstamp.com/ a site that keeps track of all the places you’ve visited!

ALL IN ALL–> ALWAYS, ALWAYS, journal and take too many pictures…you’ll always wish you wrote more or captured more on camera!

whereTOgoINcostaRICA!

as you may have guessed I am in the process of planning a spring break trip to Costa Rica. Me and my friends decided Costa Rica is the ideal place because it seems to have a great balance of nightlife and fun day adventures.
To start off my research I began to visit travel sites, and commented and asked questions about Costa Rica. Fortunately, there are a lot of people who have been there and are willing to share their advice with me!

What I found most helpful was looking around Lonely Planet’s site at all the different forums. I decided to post a question “where to go in Costa Rica?!” and luckily a few people actually responded. It seems the general consensus if for us to travel to Tamarindo, Costa Rica. The lovely people who responded to my question gave me a lot of input and said this place has beautiful landscape as well as a good amount of things for people my age to do! They were also helpful with where to stay, and even gave me sites to look at (www.costaricavacationdream.com/our_accommodations.php, and www.vrbo.com ).
I am definitely going to browse these sites and hopefully find us a super sweet house. Thanks for all the help! (Lonely Planet members: BOOMER1 ,SoloHobo, and roland77 )

This approach really helps in starting to plan out my trip. After I look at where these accommodations are located I will be able to search that area and see what there is to do around those parts (restaurants, day adventures, bars, etc). This will be super beneficial in aiding us with getting a general itinerary for when we are down there! I’m super excited to start to finally plan this trip, and share all this cool stuff with my friends!

PLANNINGaTRIP

As an avid traveler and a college student I really like to do my research before planning any trip. Out of most of my friends I would say that I am the most travel-savvy, as well as computer-savvy. I also really enjoy reading about other people’s experiences in places, both good and bad. However, I do also realize that everyone has different experiences depending on themselves individually and just the general dynamics of their travel buddies or trip in general. I think that the first step to even deciding where to go on a trip is looking at WHAT type of VaCaTiOn you are looking for?

–> Once you have decided what you want to get out of your trip, e.g. is it a simple get away and relax or is it an adventurous escapade that you want to do everything you possibly can, then you should start looking at places that encompass the types of things you are interested in.

For example, if you know you want to go to a tropical place you should go to either a travel site, such as lonely planet, or just simply Google “tropical getaways.” Once you find a few options you should then research each of the ones that look appealing to you, individually. Maybe make a chart that has everything from flight prices to prices of the local restaurants in your possible destination. This way you will have everything in one place and it will be easy for you to compare all your options and make your decision easily…and hopefully quickly. This is also a great idea if you are trying to present different destination options to a group, you will be able to answer any questions they have and have everything in one spot so they won’t be overwhelmed when trying to make their decision, or when you are trying to PERSUADE them =)

I would say that the top 3 things you should research in step 1 of deciding where to travel are

1) possible accommodations (from cheapest to most expensive)
2) airfare
3)transportation

BUDGETtraveling

Recently in my ganders of multiple travel and travel related sites there has been a lot of talk of budget traveling…which obviously makes sense seeing the economy we are facing today. And, being a “poor” college student, this budget traveling sounds super appealing to me! Last semester when I was studying/living in Australia I was an avid enforcer of this concept. I stayed in hostels whenever possible (to my surprise, they are not THAT bad. I hopped on Qantas and Jet Star websites everyday to see when the cheapest days/times were to travel, and actually got a ton of good deals. I took advantage of all the Lonely Planet discounts that my program, ‘Australearn’, had to offer…and much much more.

Being a student actually presents a lot of benefits for travelers…like having a student identity card which gets you discounts from something as little as cheaper internet time to something as big as cheaper diving tours of the Great Barrier Reef.

STA is also another really good travel site for students to use, they often have flights that are significantly cheaper than the common airline sites. Although being a college student you are always looking for the cheapest way to go about things, sometimes its good and okay to splurge. Sometimes when you are far away from home and growing homesick, all you need it to splurge on something that is going to make you happier. For example, my last trip while I was in OZ, me and my travel-mates were growing very homesick and decided that we would upgrade from a hostel to an actual hotel room (free of tropical bugs, with air conditioning, and a queen bed instead of bunk beds) these were all luxuries we’d learned to live without, but decided that we would treat ourselves. I believe that this is okay every once in a while, but at the same time it is good to treat yourself every once in a while!

A great site to look @ ways to stay cheap, but still have fun and get the full experience…<http://moneyning.com/money-tips/50-ways-to-budget-travel-and-save-money-on-vacations/