Thank you

The week after Pivot is officially over. It is hard to return to the daily routine after an experience like the one we just had. Pivot was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us as students to see how working professionals are using social and interactive media to meet business objectives.

For myself, Pivot was a game changer in terms of my attitude towards social marketing. As a student of traditional marketing for the last 2 years, I was struggling to find the connection with social media and the business world. I knew that social media is completely changing the way we as individuals communicate and I knew I needed to be a part of it. I just didn’t know why. I found myself thinking, where does this fit? The technologies and changing trends are interesting, but how is this relevant to my future goals?

Pivot answered my questions. For two days I was in the middle of it. I saw how social media is not only affecting the industry, but human interaction as we know it. I had the opportunity to meet some of the people who are fueling this movement and I began to understand what I as a student can do to be a part of it.

Thank you to the Pivot team for helping us as students with our development in an industry that is changing so rapidly. Thank you to my fellow IMC teammates for making this trip such a fun one. And thank you to everyone else who helped make this a reality. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

Thank you Pivot Con

The St. Lawrence College Pivot wants to thank all of the conference organizers for the amazing experience.

See our video below for why we are so thankful.

Everyone is smiling

No wifi. No data. No connection.

5 hours on a train without wifi and I can feel the withdrawal.

The drive went well. Robin, Mooney, Morgan and I bonded over music and driving games. And FYI at the moment I am currently winning with one extra cow.

Many students on the train are enjoying the scenery, writing their papers or getting some much needed sleep. I am currently enjoying some music and writing a blog post to be uploaded once an Internet connection is established at the hotel.

Everyone seems very excited to be headed to PivitCon. I think I am still in disbelief that we made this work. NY here we come!!

Now back to my riveting train ride!

Manda

Its 5:30 am. Do you know where your children are?

They could be just getting up to embark on their much anticipated journey!

PivotCon is a go and we are lucky enough to be heading to Rome this morning to catch a train to New York City!

Everything is packed. Double checked. Hope I didn't pack too much. Business cards are check. iPhone and charger are check. Comfy travel clothes on and Business attire are all packed!

Now for our drive to Rome. I wonder how the border crossing will be. And what tunes we will listen to in the car. It's an all new experience and I can't wait to get to enjoy it all!

Stay tuned to hear about our adventure to Pivot Con!

Interactive Advertising for an Interactive World

We as marketers have entered a new era. Consumers want to connect with the people and topics that truly interest them and because of that have learned to simply skip over the things that don’t. This may seem scary at first, and it should, it’s a major change. We as a society have been made to feel uneasy at the first glimpse of change. However it does present an opportunity to move forward and create sustainable relationships with consumers at all levels of the industry.

As a student at St. Lawrence College, I’ve had the opportunity to begin to learn the basics of interactive and social marketing and how it affects businesses in both a negative and positive light. One piece that helped further my education was the report the team at Pivot put together on the changing landscape of Internet marketing, entitled “The Rise of the Social Advertiser”.

This report outlines how traditional Internet marketing is not having a significant impact on consumers who visit social networking sites. Consumers are simply not looking at the banner or click through advertisements; they are focusing on the aspects of the site that they care about. Consumers come to connect with friends and topics of interest, so the goal of a business in a social world is to be that topic of interest. Having said that, the most important thing I’ve learned so far is to build a long-term strategy and execute it consistently. Keeping up with consumers in the digital world is no easy task, but it’s important.

That is just one conclusion I’ve drawn from the classroom and my various readings. Next week we get to see it first hand in a professional environment. Can’t wait. Thanks again to Pivot for such an amazing opportunity. Excited to put everything I’ve learned into practice.

Finding the game changer

Everyone in life if you look back, had somebody who made a small comment or said a small fact, it was an influential change on someones life. This is why networking and this experience is so important for me. Years ago I had dreams other then becoming a social media enthusiast and marketing consultant, I wanted to be a police officer. Like many of the other members of my family before that was a dream. My Uncle Michael, who idolized and was a cop told me that he spent more time driving to places and situations he would have never wanted to be in if he could have chosen it. While the idea of changing peoples lives and saving people was great. The idea of throwing drunks into a cruiser who had just thrown up everywhere no longer attracted me. As I began to start some significant soul searching in my life and what I wanted to do. In grade eleven of secondary school I took a focus program based on the idea of Integrated Marketing Communications. Upon this my love for the idea and the ability to connect with people was born. So now I am looking to gain insightful information on what this world of interactive business marketing is all about. If your reading this please take the time to introduce yourself to me. I want to hear from people who are in your place currently! How did you get where you are? How do I put myself in that same position? What did you learn along the way? These are things I want to learn from the people I meet at Pivotcon!

Wow! My friends rock - they're making a positive difference

Ok so the title is a little play on words... Lisa Sansom, a Positive Psychology coach and very good friend of mine just donated to the cause. I think she has a little soft spot for students, having been a teacher at St. Lawrence before and currently with Queen's EMBA program. Thanks Lisa.

Find Lisa on Facebook 
or on Twitter.

Jealous of my World Business Forum Friends

This past Thursday, a friend and colleague of mine was fortunate enough to be sent to the World Business Forum in NYC. On top of the great opportunity he had to listen to some of the mightiest business minds to date, he was one of the few student leaders who had the chance to speak with Seth Godin. He was able to pose questions on Social Media, the future of integrated marketing and his thoughts on the innovative void that will be left by the passing of Steve Jobs. A conversation like that marks a point in someones' life when aspirations turn to attainable goals and when people we stream on a TED talk becomes someone we are a few inches taller than.

I need an opportunity like that of my friend. I need a chance to pick the brain of innovative thinkers and doers. I believe all of my peers on this blog feel that way. We all want to go to Pivotcon for different reasons, but those reasons coalesce in the need for our scope of the Marketing and Social Media world to be broadened. This is what these opportunities offer. A real chance to be humbled, and to humble, to be taught and and to teach and to see and do.

The Countdown to Pivot Con is on

As I stay awake, prepping for presentations, reading, editing my web site and finishing up this weeks assignments, the only thing on my mind is Pivot Con. The distraction of spending two days with some of the brightest minds in the marketing industry keeps creeping in.

As a marketing student, understanding the concept of how the role social consumerism plays on todays marketing strategy, makes this conference a dream. With the likes of Brian Solis, Marisa Thalberg and Britta Schell in attendance, we are truly fortunate to be a part of such an innovative event, along with 500 of the most creative individuals in the industry.

Wrapping things up at 2:18am, on Friday, October 7th, finalizing last minute web changes and watching the highlights of the Yankees game (guess I won't be catching a game), all I can think about is where I will be in 10 days. Most likely fast asleep in some New York City hotel room, but the way this year is going, who knows.

Thank you Mike Edelhart and the rest of the Pivot Team for giving our #imcslc class a chance to attend this great event. I am truly honoured to be attending @pivotcon on behalf St. Lawrence College and I look forward to seeing you all on October 17th and 18th, 2011.

See you soon

T-Minus 10 Days.

A sleepy bunch of students graced St. Lawrence Mac Lab today, a result of a successful night at Brandee's. Many friendly faces (and a few new faces) came out last night in support of the SLC students attending PivotCon. 

Far From Venus had an amazing performance with one of the members (Morgan) actually being one the students attending PivotCon. As well Brett McDonald (a former grad of the IMC program) entertained the crowd.

It was wonderful to see the majority of the IMC class out supporting their fellow students who will venture to New York City in a little over a week, and I think I speak for the entire group when I say we are very excited! 

T-Minus 10 days and we'll be on our way to an once in a life time learning experience! 

Thanks

Donations are starting to come in from our blog. Thank you.

One of the donations has me quite intrigued. Most donations come in as even amounts, often on the 5 or the 10. This one however was neither and didn't even round up to the dollar. $24.32. umh.

I'm going to count it up to something technologically genius since it was from Bill Hughes from Weehooey that does computer coaching and consulting. Not sure if that's the real reason, but sounds good to me. Either way, the team is thankful for the donation.

The Student Presentation to the Student Association for funding to attend Pivot

PivotCon Proposal

View more presentations from Lindsey Fair.