5 Secret Benefits of Blogging

My first blog has its own special place on my personal Wall of Shame. So does my second. And my third. I would normally abide by The Blogger's Ten Commandments here and link to these unmentionable pieces of writing, but the sin of transmitting ill copy would outweigh any holy karma I may receive. 

I hopped on the bandwagon with my aforementioned blogs (or as I like to call them, "The Pitiful Preface") for a few different reasons. Though writing does fill me with geeky grammatical joy, it wasn't that feeling that first urged me to tackle the big B. For the most part, I felt pressured by the trends. It seems everyone and their pet rock writes a blog nowadays, and my being a communications major gave me all the more reason to feel like blogging was expected of me.

My first conquest took place on HubPages and the second and third on Wordpress. Both were short-lived. Just two months ago, I created The LC Studio blog as a spinoff to my Etsy shop and bought it a cozy little home with a white picket fence here at Blogger. 

Now I'm writing about what I love not as a chore but as a hobby, and I'm reaping a world of benefits from it because of that. Though my blog is meta -- that is, I blog about blogging -- the digital deities aren't biased in to whom they reward their gumptious goodie baskets. If you haven't yet taken your hobby to the next level by starting a blog, here's what you're missing out on: 

1: BLOGGING ACTS AS A HEALTHY CREATIVE OUTLET

I wore my imagination on my sleeve as a little girl, but to save t-shirts I confided in an ever-growing collection of journals as a safe harbor for my thoughts. Not only did scribbling between blank pages entertain me during bouts of debilitating boredom, like my older brother's baseball games, but it just so happens that all that Vitamin J probably boosted my health. Studies show that regular pen-to-paper therapy strengths the immune system, reduces stress and increases problem-solving cognitions.

Blogging, which first caught fire in the form of online diaries in the mid-1990s, also purports serious emotional and physical therapeutic value. Whether you write with the intent of personal catharsis or personal branding, keep at the keyboard: An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but a blog post a week keeps your health at its peak.

2: BLOGGING TEACHES YOU TO MANAGE YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE 

Successful blogging necessitates professionalism, tech-savviness and networking know-how. Pocketing these traits now allows you to cash them in later when your future boss comes peeping through the windows of your Facebook wall.

All your online endeavors, including your blog, contribute to your digital footprint -- a collection of data left behind that can be traced by almost anyone. With 95% of employers checking social media sites during their hiring processes, it's important that this footprint elicits several admirable traits, like those outlined in the infographic below. 

3: BLOGGING ACCENTUATES YOUR CREDIBILITY 

Don't fall for that old idiom "those who can, do; those who can't, teach." You can't teach a craft that you haven't mastered (at least not very well), and so it goes with blogging. As Confucius said, "To know what you know and what you do not know; that is true knowledge." These multi-million dollar blogs didn't rise the top by generating inaccurate copy but by advancing as experts in their individual fields. Their credibility stems from careful attention to the relevant facts and a rejection of topics that mystify their image.

If you dream of gracing the world with your insight on the lives of munchkin cats, be the very best munchkin cat blogger on the web. Don't write about munchkin cats and calico cats and the best food for indoor cats and how to brush a cat's teeth and... Do you get my point? No one will take you seriously if you try to be a Jill-of-all-trades, and it'll be harder to solidify an audience that way. If you pour your heart into one topic, traffic will slip into your Munchkitty blog faster than its mascot slips across your kitchen floor.

4: BLOGGING EXPOSES YOU TO NEW THINGS

If you run a blog or are working on developing your personal brand, chances are you have a voracious appetite for information that will propel you toward success. I never would have trialed things like HootSuite or Google Analytics had it not been for my deep-seated desire to turn The LC Studio into more than just my little corner of the internet.

The transformation of your blog from an online word processor into a business tool will likely accompany a flirtationship with several different tools and programs, like post and e-mail automation, search engine optimization, analytics software and web and graphic design. In addition to sanctifying your online presence, these skillsets also mimic the requirements of today's up-and-coming jobs.

5: BLOGGING + BUSINESSWOMEN GO HAND-IN-HAND 

While kindling a love affair with a keyboard can't quite compete with the early endeavors of famous entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs, bloggers and tech startup wizards are, at their core, one in the same. Both types of people value hard work, take risks and embrace leadership roles. 

Our wondrous 21st century is the prime planetarium for fostering the growth of new businesses. Forbes.com reporter Elaine Pofeldt reported in 2012 that the number of adults involved in startups hit an all-time high since 1999, even despite the "sluggish economy" perpetuated by the economic recession in 2008. She accredits the increase to a change in the culture of the U.S. job market, writing, "The old rules, in which getting a traditional job was the smartest career route for many, don't apply as much anymore." Here's the cherry on top for bloggers: 69% of new businesses in the U.S. start at home, and with the internet housing over 150 million blogs and growing, there's a good chance yours will start there, too. Look at you, Little Miss Biz!

ARE YOU READY TO JUMP START YOUR JOURNEY AS A BLOGGER?

We live in a time privy to creative communication. It's easier than ever to connect. It's easier than ever to have your voice heard. You have something to say, so don't wait a second longer. Check out these top free blogging websites and start building your personal brand today.

What's holding you back from starting a blog? How can I help you start your personal brand online? Leave your comment below!

Innovative Marketing with AMC's The Walking Dead

I would rip out my heart for the marketing crew over at AMC.

The channel's hit drama The Walking Dead returns tonight at 9/8c for the premiere of its fifth season. I'm super excited to write this post not only because I've been a zealous zombie fan since the show's grand debut on Halloween of 2010, but also because I'm an advertising geek; my heart flutters whenever I witness brands using social media to promote their content in the right way.

The Walking Dead is edgy, cryptic and well-written, of course, which is why its viewership has increased nearly threefold since its first season and why it's rated the #1 show among viewers between ages 18 and 49..As entrepreneur and branding expert Gary Vaynerchuk insists, however, great content is only half of the equation that renders success. The other half is great marketing (most importantly the digital kind).

The Walking Dead Instagram chronicled the countdown for season five with photos of this sinister setup in Times Square. Photo courtesy The Walking Dead Instagram.

The Walking Dead boasts an outstanding track record in this department. The show has gained traction over the past four seasons by employing media tactics all brands are told to use but that most never execute effectively. Its skill in personifying itself in the online world and using social networks to connect with fans might be why the show's last midseason premiere in February attracted a horde of 15.8 million viewers -- more than the same night's collection of viewers for the Sochi Winter Olympics.

1: GOOD MARKETING INFECTS THE MASSES (MASS MEDIA, THAT IS)

Photo courtesy The Walking Dead twitter.

The Walking Dead knows how to infiltrate social networks better than flesh-eating zombies know how to infiltrate a slaughterhouse. The show holds ground on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter on which it excels in using native advertising -- content that molds to fit the personality of the individual platform, making it feel more authentic and less like a traditional ad. 

Photos courtesy of The Walking Dead Instagram.

Witty one-liners, poignant photos and exclusive videos that follow social media trends spark an engagement with The Walking Dead audience that feels genuine. Posts that present the brand as a member of the audience's digital clique, like the tweet and photoset above, set the stage for the brand to explode in popularity among the millennials it markets to. 

This four-minute sneak peek of the season five premiere was posted on The Walking Dead Facebook. 

2: GOOD MARKETING MAKES THE FANS BITE BACK

All that native advertising hasn't gone to waste, either. Fans dish out dozens of hashtags associated with the series, pre-, mid- and post-airing, among them not only the expected (#thewalkingdead, #zombies, and #amc) but also the bizarre (#pudding and #crazycheese). The season four finale dominated the twittersphere as the #1 non-sports trending topic with over a million total tweets. The season four premiere also topped the charts as the most watched hour of cable television. Ever.

"Dead Yourself" cat. What could be better?
Photo courtesy The Walking Dead Instagram.

The introduction of the apocalyptic addiction's aftershow, Talking Dead, during its second season created a gateway to interact with fans in a new way. Hosted by funny guy Chris Hardwick, the live one-hour special features fan polls, episode trivia, cast interviews and celebrity guests. Talking Dead is fueled by digital engagement such as hashtags, fan questions posed on social networks and fan photos submitted using the "Dead Yourself" app -- a photo editing program that transforms typical selfies into ghastly versions of the undead. The aftershow ranked in over 7 million views during its last episode following the season four finale.

3. GOOD MARKETING TRANSCENDS ITS MAIN MEDIUM

Photo courtesy "The Walking Dead" Instagram

The zombie series reeks of the undead and the unparalleled. The nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat drama echoes from the TV screen down to the bone. But the story doesn't stop there.

"The Walking Dead" uses social media to extend its plot line, much like its signature monsters, into immortality. The show's strategy in blurring the line between entertainment and reality gives it an unforgettable appeal. It wants fans to live, breathe and think "zombie apocalypse" even during the normal everyday moments of their lives.

The photo to the left, a map of the show's utopian safety zone known as Terminus, exemplifies this tactic by framing the show's plotline as an ominous and inescapable reality. 

ALIVE FOR SEASON FIVE

I have the highest hopes for what's to come in the new season, and I have no doubt the show's crew will bring their A game on and off the screen. The Walking Dead has already signed on for a sixth season, which means there's much more marketing greatness staggering our way.

Do you watch The Walking Dead? What do you predict for season five? 
Share your story below!

Ello May Prompt End of Social Network Advertising

Ello screenshot courtesy of StarTribune.com

Social media platforms haven't grossed over a billion global users by chance. The leverage of these networks lies in their reliance on full self-disclosure, an activity that a recent study suggests may mimic the same kind of pleasure we get from eating, making money and having sex. Social media is addictive.

Advertisers all over are tooting their party horns and tossing confetti at the fact that 2014 has been branded the "year of social media advertising." Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest are taking full advantage of their addicted audiences by monetizing from implemented advertisements. These partnerships, especially those made with Facebook, the world's leading social media platform, have been met with oodles of user scrutiny.

As a millennial and up-and-coming advertising grad, I recognize social media for both its Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde attributes. I must admit, though, I teeter more toward viewing it as n invaluable marketing tool rather than a pop-up whirlpool privy to the abolition of personal privacy. Maybe I'm an optimist. Or maybe I know, though most people don't, that advertisers aren't out to eat souls. They just want to make money.

The Average Janes and Joes disagree, and now they're fighting back. A new social platform called Ello prides itself on being the "anti-Facebook," mainly in the manner that it will devoid of advertisements. It also boasts exclusivity, a concept Mark Zuckerberg employed when he first created Facebook as an online hub for Harvard students.

Screenshot of Ello feed. Photo courtesy Sharon Profis/CNET

Maybe the allure of exclusivity and promise of ad-free interaction are the inspiration behind the more than 35,000 membership requests Ello has received every hour since its debut in mid-August. Is the dawn of ad-free social media rising?

Mashable opinion columnist Lance Ulanoff says amateur design and poor usability makes the startup "no Facebook killer." It's also worth noting that Ello's lure of unadulterated content holds up poorly next to social networks that are already ad-free, like Google+. So then, what's to blame for all the hype? Is there a stronger undercurrent brewing over at Ello that's responsible for the wash up of eager users on its shore?

Persuasion in advertising steals from three categories: pathos (emotional appeal), logos (message content) and ethos (credibility of the source). The message motivating the creation of Ello is clear: an ad-free experience molded by approved membership. The platform's credibility is too weak to generate substantial usership, as Ulanoff points out. What Ello really has going for it is its play on pathos. Upon entering the site's "About" page, users are greeted with an eery explanation of the network's anti-ad origins:

"Your social network is owned by advertisers. Every post you share, every friend you make and every link you follow is tracked, recorded and converted into data. Advertisers buy your data so they can show you more ads. You are the product that’s bought and sold."

This message makes up what Ello is calling its "manifesto." Photo courtesy Vox.com.

It seems Ello may be exploiting the widespread paranoia of privacy invasion on the web. "It's a pretty dark and dystopian view of the social nets," Ulanoff says. Ello's choice of copy is based on the successful tactics of decades of advertising. As Don Draper once said in an episode of Mad Men, "Advertising is based on one thing: happiness. And do you know what happiness is? It's freedom from fear." What's probably driving users like mad dogs to the Ello website isn't its savvy set-up or innovative features but its appeal to a human need for salvation from evil. In this case, the evil-doers wear white-collars along with their crimson horns and prey on the meaty flesh of browser analytics (Daunting!).

Only time will tell if Ello's scare tactics will be enough to keep users hooked or if marketing enlightenment will empower them to turn back to the ad-ridden networks they love.

Do you think an age of ad-free social networking is upon us? Will Ello crash and burn before ever taking off? Share your story below!

Do's & Don'ts of Business Card Design

Another Friday is upon us, creative cats! It's been a tough week for me, balancing school work, upkeeping my apartment, taking care of my fur munchkin and finding time to relax. 

When I feel like I've been grinding my gears too hard, I find peace of mind by experimenting with graphic design. It provides a creative outlet for me when I feel overwhelmed by the pressure of "do this, not that" in my day-to-day life. I get really stressed out when I feel like I'm being forced to live a linear life with only one "right" direction. Being creative grants me the freedom to do whatever I want to do. Also, it gives me the chance to make something awesome to share with other writers, designers and entrepreneurs! 

This week's freebie focuses on personal branding through business cards. Whether your brand is new on the market or well established, it's crucial to have a business card handy at all times for a few different reasons:

1. It's your pocket-sized resume. A business card, whether for your business or just for you as a person, represents a short-and-sweet version of your professional skills. 
2. It's a great branding tool. A business card is a priceless medium for marketing yourself to potential employers or clients. Great business cards not only describe the person or business but also project the brand identity by using typography, logos and color theory.
3. It's a great networking tool. Exchanging business cards with someone is an easy, quick and cheap way to make an impression. I keep nearly every business card I get. Usually the next day, I look up that person's website or social media account they provided on their card.

While business cards are an invaluable asset to your personal brand, it's not always so easy to design one. Lucky for you, The LC Studio is here to help. Without further ado, I present to you my nifty little guide to the do's and don'ts of business card design.

You can save the image directly from this post, or you can download the PDF instead. Happy designing and have a great weekend, friends!

Click the beautiful blue link below to start designing an award-winning business card:

Do's & Don'ts of Business Card Design PDF

Durex Uses Same-Sex Couple in New Ad

Durex photo courtesy of TruthRevolt.org

In the spring, Durex released an ad for "Earth Hour," a campaign to conserve electricity and "take to the bedroom instead," which received a moderate amount of scrutiny for its use of only opposite-sex couples. Durex claimed the exclusion of same-sex couples was unintentional, and soon after launched the "Love Same Sex" campaign to assure consumers of its acceptance of all kinds of relationships.

This week the company took the marketing tactic a step further with a new Facebook ad for its "Massage & Play" gel featuring a lesbian couple in an intimate embrace and the tagline "it all starts with touch."

This is definitely a bold move for Durex, especially in light of recent news that national support for same-sex marriage may be dropping. It could be that Durex is hoping this new promo ad reverses that trend by way of exposure, a founding concept of advertising based in social psychology. Maybe, though, the brand just trying to compete with its number one nemesis, Trojan, which undoubtedly holds a tight grip on its target market through its partnership with MTV.

Whatever the reasoning, this ad is sure to cause a stir among Durex users and nonusers alike. I respect the risk-taking from a marketing standpoint and am eager to see if similar brands will follow suit.

What do you think about Durex developing on this campaign? Share your story below!