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The Pros and Cons of Being an Entrepreneur in the Interactive Media Industry

                      photo cred:http://www.wynnnetworkassociates.com/      

In hindsight, some of the most successful start-ups were built on ideas that just seem down-right obvious. Facebook? A network that lets you talk and share things with your friends? Surely I could have thought of that, but I didn’t – Mark Zuckerberg did and he’s now worth 46.8 billion.

These are the kind of stories that make entrepreneurship incredibly appealing to people working in interactive media/tech industry. Unfortunately, not everyone is going to be the next Zuckerberg, that’s why it is essential to weigh the pros and cons of entrepreneurship before diving in head first.

Being Your Own Boss

Pro: If you’re anything like me, the idea of being your own boss is the ultimate “living the dream” aspiration. However, being boss-less does have its own pros and cons.You get to take full responsibility of the company. No more begrudgingly following orders from above - you get to create your own strategies and see them through.

Con: Having all of that responsibility can also be overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to being a decision maker. Knowing that your company’s success and your own livelihood is based solely on your decisions, can be a scary thought.

Following Your Passion

Pro: It seems like most of us as employees are constantly struggling to find something that we love doing. The benefit of starting your own business is that you have the freedom to choose what you love doing. Whether it’s building a new productivity app or forming a digital health start-up with a few colleagues, following your dreams, as cheesy as that sounds, is exciting.

Con: It can be difficult to find your passion; many people have interests in several different areas. Due to the resources and hard work it requires to be a successful entrepreneur, if you don’t love what you’re doing, it’s easy to feel stuck and regretful.

Getting Creative

Pro: You’re creativity knows no limit. To enter the interactive media market, you need to offer consumers a product or service that is new and innovative. It needs to be original or a unique adaptation of something that is already available. This is exciting, especially for individuals who weren’t given creative liberties at their previous places of employment.

Con: The interactive media/tech industry moves quickly from trend to trend. With technology constantly changing and advancing, it might be difficult for a small company to keep up. While you get to be creative, it ultimately comes down to profit. Are you meeting the needs of the market or are consumers rejecting your products and services?

Tips For the Brave

If you’re planning on starting your own company, here are some things that you must do:

1. Do Market Research - This may seem obvious, but it should not be overlooked. Identify a problem that you believe exists. Do a competitive analysis and find out how your company can improve the current solutions.

2.Ask Customers - Don’t build your product and then ask people what they think - be proactive. Do your consumer research and receive feedback before you put the production into motion. Will the customers pay for this new product and service? How much? These are questions that should be answered before you commit to a product or service.

3. Assemble a team with passion - Former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs explained:

 When I hire somebody really senior, competence is the ante. They have to be really smart. But the real issue for me is, are they going to fall in love with Apple? Because, if they fall in love with Apple; everything else will take care of itself. They'll want to do what's best for Apple, not what's best for them, what's best for Steve or anybody else.

Because you will not have as many resources in the beginning, it is essential to assemble a team that believes in what you’re doing and is willing to stay the course.

To be an entrepreneur, you can’t be afraid to fail. I hope this article provided some clarity for those individuals who are considering starting their own businesses.

For more information, check out these links:

http://www.nextstepu.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-becoming-an-entrepreneur.art#.Vj1YwLerTIU

http://www.levo.com/articles/career-advice/millennial-entrepreneurs-6-pros-and-cons-of-starting-your-own-business

http://www.bdc.ca/EN/articles-tools/start-buy-business/start-business/Pages/5-mistakes-young-entrepreneurs-should-avoid.aspx

http://www.ashtoncollege.ca/employee-entrepreneur-career-path/

http://www.daniellevandekemenade.com/employee-vs-entrepreneur/

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/pros-cons-selfemployment-40691.html

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7 Best Business Practices Your Non-Profit Should Leverage

With 332 million users and counting, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional social network and an excellent tool for non-profit organizations to utilize. Much more than a place to post resumes, LinkedIn can help organizations drive business results and improve their thought leadership influence.

Here are 7 best business practices to help you’re non-profit develop a LinkedIn presence:

1. Build a great organization page - Make sure your company page is 100% complete and an excellent representation of your brand. Your LinkedIn page should be taken as seriously as a company website. Highlight your missions and objectives; post status updates; share news; recruit volunteers and engage your followers.

2. Lean on your supporters – Your supporters love what you’re doing and they are willing to advocate for your organization. Encourage your supporters, board members and volunteers to showcase your organization in their LinkedIn “Volunteer Experience and Causes” section. As well, ask your employees to share a link to the organization’s LinkedIn page in their email signature and share new posts with their followers.

3. Recruit Volunteers – According to LinkedIn statistics, 82% of its users are interested in volunteering. By posting volunteer opportunities on your LinkedIn page, you will be able to recruit highly skilled volunteers who are interested in donating their time and professional expertise to a good cause.

4. Start a LinkedIn Group for your cause - Since “open” LinkedIn groups get indexed by search engines, creating a group relevant to your cause will increase your SEO and act as a channel for your organization to engage with like-minded individuals. There’s a good chance these people will share your content on social media, donate or volunteer their time.

5. Engage with similar LinkedIn Groups – By joining groups related to your cause, you will be able to promote your organization, as well as become a contributing member of these communities. When you contribute to related groups, your organization is able to build trust, grow its network and position itself as a go-to resource.

6. Connect with Corporate Donors – Since LinkedIn was originally designed for people, not companies, it’s a great platform to build a network of donors and sponsors. By leveraging your board’s connections, your organization can develop key personal relationships that lead to potential sponsorships.

7.Evaluate Your Statistics – Analytics will give you insight into what your organization is doing well on LinkedIn and in what areas it could improve. Utilize the Follower Statistics, Page Statistics and Insight tabs to determine how your content is being received. Continual evaluation will allow your organization to improve its LinkedIn presence.

Developing a strong LinkedIn presence is crucial to legitimize your organization. Today, there are many companies looking to pad their corporate social responsibility profiles and a trustworthy, established LinkedIn page, makes your organization a viable option in which to invest.

http://mashable.com/2011/11/16/non-profits-linkedin/#os8U6B0NWsqZ http://www.donordrive.com/blog/9-best-practices-to-put-linkedin-to-work-for-your-non-profit/#.Vjf4qrerTIU https://nonprofit.linkedin.com/ https://upleaf.com/nonprofit-resources/social-media/linkedin/linkedin-best-practices

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Women in Interactive Media: Gender Inequality in Tech and Closing the Gap

As women in interactive media, we have the ability to design, build and create experiences that change our world in a meaningful way. From the Internet to mobile phones, we are deeply immersed in a digital culture, making it easy to forget that many women around the world don’t have that opportunity.

The gender divide when it comes technological access and digital literacy, is alarming. 40% of the world’s population has access to the Internet, however in 2014, it was estimated that there were 200 million fewer women online than men. Women are also less likely to own computers and mobile devices or to be employed in STEM fields, especially in leadership roles. Accessing the Internet and technology is not a luxury, according to the United Nations, it is a basic human right - a right that women are being denied.(Kanyoro, 2014)

If women and girls are unable to access and use technology, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to pursue an education, participate in politics, receive healthcare, and stay involved in community life. This exclusion of women from the global technology revolution, can be evidenced in the androcentric nature of technology and how it fails to, “reflect the diversity of women’s experiences, imagination, or ingenuity,” says Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women.

Kanyoro also points out that:

Bringing women online and embracing their leadership and ideas will not only help bring gender parity, it will have a global economic impact. Recent studies have estimated that 600 million additional women and girls online could boost GDP by up to USD $18 million. Studies also show gender diversity in the workplace results in better collaboration and greater diversity of solutions and results...” 

Reaching gender equality in technology may seem like an impossible task, especially in a world bombarded with headlines over the disturbing online harassment of women. According to the Pew Research Centre, women:

...those 18-24, experience certain severe types of harassment at disproportionately high levels: 26% of these young women have been stalked online, and 25% were the target of online sexual harassment. In addition, they do not escape the heightened rates of physical threats and sustained harassment common to their male peers and young people in general.(Duggan, 2014)

It’s difficult to know how to approach this multi-faceted issue, however, women can’t get discouraged. In the workplace, we can strive to develop and curate, “...research, policies and best practices, as wells as reporting guidelines for promoting gender responsive and aware media content and practice.” (Posetti, 2014) We need to share our policies and best interactive media practices that strive to advance gender equality. We need to mentor young women, we need to support groups that encourage young women to explore technology, we need to use our social reach to inform our peers about gender issues, we need to be persistent and most of all, we need to be fearless.

Think of the amazing ideas, advancements and possibilities the the world is missing, by limiting ourselves to only half of our potential.

Works Cited

Duggan, M. (2014, October 22). Online Harassment. Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/10/22/online-harassment/

Kanyoro, M. (2014, October 24). Technology is a women's rights issue. Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://ignite.globalfundforwomen.org/gallery/technology-womens-human-rights-issue

Posetti, J. (2014, November 6). World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA. Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://blog.wan-ifra.org/2014/11/06/time-to-stop-talking-about-the-need-for-gender-equality-in-the-media-and-start-acting-to- 

image via startupbootcamp.org

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4 Social Media Platforms to Develop Your Personal Brand

The idea of branding has existed for a very long time. It elicits thoughts of large corporations, products and marketing. However, with the advent of social media, developing a personal brand as a professional, has become increasingly important.

Social media platforms are incredibly helpful for individuals trying to cultivate their image because they allow their users to build networks with other professionals, show the world their passions and to be seen as thought leaders/experts in their field.

Having studied PR, I understand the importance of branding. I want to emphasize, that you should think about your personal brand, the same way you would think about developing a communication and social media plan for a client. As someone who is currently pursuing a career in content marketing/content creation, here are the platforms and best practices that I will use to develop my personal brand:

LinkedIn

This one is a no-brainer. LinkedIn makes your profile available to the people who need your services. It also allows you to join the appropriate communities and conversations for your industry. I currently have a very neglected LinkedIn page, however; I am going to revamp it by focusing on what I’m good at and selling myself. Updating my current projects frequently, as well as sharing industry related content, will be my goal. I will also connect with former colleagues and employers, as well as set out to connect with individuals in the digital media sphere.

LinkedIn is a platform that 70% of recruiters use, so staying active on the website, needs to be a point of emphasis for me. I also have to complete my profile so it garners a 100% rating. This way I will be able to view jobs that are targeted to my skills and apply for them directly through LinkedIn

Twitter

Twitter is a fantastic networking platform. It gives you the opportunity to start conversations with individuals who are “out of your league” or those you may be too nervous to approach in real-life. I’ll admit it, my Twitter also needs an overhaul. I don’t use it and that does not look good to my potential employers, especially since I will be entering a digital industry. Before anything else, I will upload a professional picture and try to claim my full name as my twitter handle. 

To use Twitter effectively, I will create a social media strategy, with the objective of gaining more followers. I will first do an audit of people in roles that I can see myself doing, to find out what works for them and also what they might be missing. The key is to differentiate myself. I will follow thought leaders and make sure to retweet their posts, while adding my own insights. I will determine how many times I would like to tweet a day, through trial and error. I will need to see at what times during the day people are engaging with me the most.

The majority of the content I post will be relevant to my field with well-thought-out hashtags. Eventually, with a lot of hard work, I will be seen as a good resource for current industry practices and people will want to follow me. I will also make sure to fill out my bio with key words that might help recruiters find me when they are doing searches.

Facebook

Facebook is an excellent tool for building a personal brand because you can share pictures, link to other content, start your own groups, promote your events and develop a network of professional friends.

To make Facebook work for me, I will create a public page that is dedicated to my work and professional pursuits. I will have a professional picture and detail my strengths and career titles.

Like twitter, I will create a content strategy and determine what type of things I would like to post and how often. I will link Facebook to my blog, Instagram and YouTube channel, in order to cross-promote. I will also try to reach out to others in the same industry, as well as share industry-related content. Lastly, I will create a relevant Facebook group in order to connect with like-minded individuals.

YouTube

YouTube is my favourite social media platform. As someone who likes to learn about video editing and production, I will use YouTube to promote myself, by producing high quality and helpful videos. The great thing about YouTube is that it is the second most popular search engine on the web. As a result, you are more likely to get noticed by producing videos. 

I will develop a weekly schedule and stay consistent with it. I will try to collaborate with people who have similar interests, in order to gain more exposure for my channel. Most importantly, I will produce helpful videos with high-ranking SEO titles and appropriate tags. YouTube will allow me to showcase my content production talents, while potentially earning some extra income through monetizing the videos.

Final Thoughts

Social media is an excellent and free way to promote yourself, so take advantage of it for your personal brand and career development.

Links:

https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/company-pages/best-practices

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2014/06/10/why-linkedin-is-the-only-personal-branding-resource-you-need/

https://blog.bufferapp.com/social-media-strategy-personal-branding-tips

http://www.diygenius.com/personal-branding-and-using-social-media-to-differentiate-yourself/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenkrogue/2013/08/30/31-twitter-tips-how-to-use-twitter-tools-and-twitter-best-practices-for-business/2/

https://business.twitter.com/en-gb/basics/how-to-create-a-twitter-content-strategy

https://www.facebook.com/business/a/page-posting-tips

http://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-networks/2015-04-08/13-ways-use-facebook-personal-branding

http://maximizesocialbusiness.com/every-professional-should-have-a-youtube-channel-1502/

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Adventures in Makeup and UX Design: Can Sephora’s Product Database Replace a Sales Rep?

I’m a makeup lover and nothing beats walking into a Sephora and testing out gorgeous, high-end products. Since I'm in the market for a new liquid foundation, I decided to test out the usability of Sephora.com. I began my user journey with some questions in mind:

Will the website be able to recommend a product to me based on the requirements I have?

Will Sephora.com streamline my shopping experience?

Is the content and navigation intuitive?

Can I find a suitable foundation without heading to a store?

The Journey Begins

To begin, I love the visuals on the homepage; they’re inspiring me to shop.

Next I scan up to the left and see the “Makeup” tab. This is fantastic placement. Makeup is what Sephora is known for and should be the easiest content to locate. After you click on the tab, a large drop down menu appears, with every category of makeup you need. 

I spot “foundation” instantly and give it a click.

Then I’m taken to foundation section. The products are sorted by the best-sellers. However, I have my own criteria for a great foundation:

It has to be matte in finish and long-wearing because I have oily skin

It must be full-coverage

It must be fragrance-free for my sensitive skin

With that in mind, I looked over to the left side of the screen at the category filters. The highlighted area below is a mess. I tried refreshing the page numerous times to correct the problem, but it was never resolved. Aside from that issue, the filters are helpful. I selected “oily skin,” “fragracne-free,” and “full-coverage.”

What happened next surprised me. I was only given one match. Due to my extensive knowledge regarding makeup, I knew this could not be accurate. This was a definite snag in the website’s usability.

Next, I noticed the product box asking me if I “need more product suggestions.” This seems helpful, but I did not want to open up a new page. I wanted to receive more options because I know they are available. At this point, the website is making me do my on research, which is equivalent to reading product labels at a store.

The recommendations page was organized by skin type, which worked for me. I was able to find the Kat Von D Lock-It foundation, as a result. However, once I got to the product description page, I was frustrated. Reading through the content, it is clearly stated that the product is full-coverage, long-wearing and free of synthetic fragrance.So why didn’t it appear in my first search? It’s evident that Sephora.com does not filter its products well.

After I made sure the foundation was appropriate for my skin type, I was asked to pick a shade. I am not a fan of the shades on display. It is difficult to judge what colour will suit your skin tone. I like that Kat Von D distinguished different kinds of undertones, but this is only useful for people who are more experienced with face makeup. 

On a positive note, checking out was very simple. The user chooses between the “returning customer” and “new customer” options, fills out their address and credit card information, then places their order. I received a confirmation email instantly, which always puts me at ease.

Final Thoughts

Sephora.com is a well-thought-out website, which is easy to navigate and purchase products from. Where it falls short is in the product filtering system. I had to do my own research in order to find a liquid foundation suitable for my skin. With that in mind, I think this website is best suited for individuals who are repurchasing products that they already know work for them. If you’re in the market to try something new, I would visit a storefront location instead. Although I was able to find a product to purchase, my path was not streamlined.

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The 4 C’s of Usable Content

Content is king - it’s a famous quote from Bill Gates and the mantra of SEO strategists and digital marketers.  Gates had it right, but as a UX designer can attest to, we need to add usability to the equation. If you’re not familiar with UX design, here’s an introduction from Jakob Nielson that you should check out first.

The internet is a competitive place and it’s often difficult to retain viewers/customers/users. Well-thought-out, usable content will give you an edge.

Here are my criteria for usable content, to give you a leg-up on the competition. It has to be concise, clear, consistent and user-centric (yes, I'm aware the last one doesn't exactly start with a “c,” but I tried).

Using a real-world example - the Toronto Transit Commission’s webpage introduction to new streetcars – let’s put the 4 C’s to use:

Concise – Living in the era of instant gratification has a downside: our attention spans are diminishing, along with our patience. Consequently, content needs to be concise and skimmable. Users don’t want to be sucked into our content, as Gerry McGovern pointed out here. They want to find the information they are looking for, as quickly as possible. 

Looking at the TTC “our new streetcar” page, we see an example of concise content. Simple, bold titles and bullet points make this page easy to navigate quickly. However, there is a difference between being concise and being vague.

Clear – To evaluate your content for clarity, a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself: “would this be clear to my users if they only read it once?” It is imperative that customers/users are able to understand a website’s content with ease. If your website is difficult to use or understand, people will go elsewhere to find what they need. So save that flowery writing and industry jargon for your own personal blog; it doesn't belong on your website.

Let’s return to the TTC streetcar page. While the writing is clear, due to the instructional nature of the content, more pictures or a video of the new processes, would be helpful. Instead of the few pictures, which aren't very clear, an interactive tour of a new streetcar or a series of quick instructional videos, would significantly enhance the user experience. Showing all of the new streetcar features and how to use them, would be more valuable.

Consistent – Webpage content needs to be consistent in style across your website. One page to the next must have the same feel and structure. A consistent experience will keep the user’s mind at ease.

 After exploring the TTC website further, the writing style and concise nature of the content (not enough information at times) is consistent across most pages of the website. However, I don’t like how the text is displayed in bullet lists in some areas, but paragraphs on other sections of the streetcar page.

User-Centric – Lastly and most importantly, content needs to be made with your users in mind. It has to be intuitive. You need to understand how your users think and how they would expect you to structure your content.

Addressing the streetcar page once again, ttc.ca could greatly improve in this area. As a commuter, I want to know:

why the city is getting new street cars?

how this will effect my daily travels

whether there will be a fare increase

how are the features an improvement from the old street cars?

what new procedures should I expect?

While the TTC does address some of these questions, there needs to be more detail. 

Whether you’re starting a new project or evaluating your current content, keep the 4 C’s in mind and you’ll be well on your way to producing great, usable content.

(photos courtesy of versio.com and ttc.ca)