Before moving on to talking about this semester, I want to revisit last semester. Usually, I would have a month to reflect, relax, and rest, but my winter break this year was just 2 short weeks! Lets start with a couple things I’m proud of:
3.6 semester GPA = Dean’s List, baby. I honestly feel like I did the least amount of “work” this past semester, and somehow got the best GPA, yet. I think committing myself to a process of studying and knowledge retention has really paid off in the long run, and I’ve gotten better at it. My GPA is finally at a point that I’m truly proud of, and I know I earned it. I hope to be able to sustain it this semester, despite taking all my classes in Spanish!
New NextGen Compensated Client Project.
So I had an unpaid Social Media Internship this past summer with a local startup – NextGen Marketing Group. The internship went well, and I was contacted midway through Fall semester to help with a compensated client project. The client was 4114Less whose business is selling directory assistance subscriptions and I set up their social media presence. Working on this project was a fun way to put some of my skills to use, and a unique challenge at times due to the nature of changing technology and communications.
Director of Technology for AMA.
This semester, I served as the Director of Technology for my school’s chapter of the American Marketing Association. While my role had less to do with my specific title, and more to do with supporting the entire executive board and our members, it was a great experience that led to so many new friends and experiences. We planned three events – a pumpkin carving contest, a professional trip to Milwaukee, and an end of year promotional event that I tied in with my Sony ambassadorship and ended up giving away a sweet PS Vita bundle to one lucky winner. I was sad to leave them this semester, but they have a very capable and awesome replacement.
Sony Student Ambassador and Web Designer for Campus Marketing and Design. Both of these jobs were incredibly hard to leave, for different reasons. With Sony, it was hard to give up such a solid job where I got paid to talk about technology, engage people via social media, and meet new people on campus. I handed over the torch to a very capable replacement – a girl with a lot of connections in the Greek community. She will do well. I left this semester with a new title – October Creative of the Month. I hope Sony isn’t done with me yet
I’ve had my job at Campus Marketing and Design since the first semester of Freshman year. I’ve grown with them, they’ve grown with me, and I’ve met sooooo many awesome people – students and professional staff. This semester I was given the increased responsibility of co-writing for the student blog, Under the Dome. I also helped create conversations and engagement on the IMU’s social media pages including Facebook and Twitter. Slightly tweaking how the IMU interacts with its student fan base resulted in many good changes. One of my favorite examples is how I put up a status asking people where there favorite bathrooms on campus were, and 50 people commented with some very strong opinions. Mission – accomplished! Finally, I helped coordinate our department’s Annual Report. You can see that and my contributions here: http://studentlife.uiowa.edu/report12/
Barcelona!
Finally, I spent most of the semester planning my next semester abroad in Barcelona, Spain! Check back soon – this blog will become a travel diary of sorts.
I am so grateful to have a job that puts the latest tech toys in my hands and allows me to share how awesome they are with other people.
Last year, I got the Sony Tablet S, Sony’s first foray into the quickly growing tablet market. It was a functional piece of technology that addressed and solved many of the problems that the iPad didn’t (and still hasn’t). It became a definitive player in the market, and the Sony Xperia Tablet S has built upon the foundation created by the first iteration. What makes it so amazing? I’m glad you asked.
Splash-proof and Guest Mode The new Xperia Tablet S is splash-proof which means you don’t have to constantly worry about it getting wet. I like cooking and the Tablet is the perfect companion – especially considering this new benefit. There’s also a new “Guest Mode” which allows for multiple profiles on one Tablet. Its about time that tablets became personalized based on whoever happens to be using it.
Media Remote and Watch Now Application The Media Remote was a huge selling point of the original Tablet S. It turns your tablet into a remote for virtually any device with an on/off switch (TVs, DVD Players, Stereo Systems, Cable Boxes, etc). Building on the Media Remote is the Watch Now app, which analyzes your interests on your social networks and recommends shows that you can “push” onto your TV in a beautiful, visual display.
Slimmer, sleek body If I had any complaints about the original Tablet S, it would be that it’s not as sleek as many other Tablets on the market and it’s body is made of plastic. The Xperia Tablet S comes with a completely redesigned body that is thinner and made of a more durable material.
SD Card slot (like the first Tablet S) The complaint I hear most often about the iPad is that there is no easy to way expand memory. Whatever amount you end up buying, you’re stuck with. There are different memory options when buying an Xperia Tablet S, but each also comes with an SD card slot that allows for an expansion of memory.
Functional Accessories I am seriously in love with the keyboard case that came with my Tablet. It’s both a keyboard and a protective leather case and works better than I thought it would. I bring the combo with me to class instead of my laptop. For people who like to put their technology on a pedestal (literally), Sony offers some fashionable stands that could allow your Tablet to double as an alarm clock or digital photo frame.
Sony Electronics Trade-In Program I know what it’s like to get a new piece of technology only to have something new and exciting come out. You don’t want your money to have been wasted, but you’re dying to upgrade. Luckily, Sony has a trade-in program that allows you to get credit for your older products that can be applied towards new ones. More information on that here.
Some current deals include $40 off and $45 worth of free movies. Education pricing is available at http://www.sony.com/UIowa
What tablet are you considering? Let me show you how the Sony Xperia Tablet S beats it to a pulp!
Sony is a company that is well represented on many different social media mediums. They are tech-savvy to a fault and make sure that the Sony brand is constantly under watch. One of the biggest tools they use is HootSuite, which allows monitoring of many different social media platforms including, but not limited to: Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and LinkedIn. Hootsuite allows for keyword tracking and helpful analytics to judge the effectiveness of campaigns.
According to an article on RavenTools.com, Sony listens to its customers and changes their marketing in response to what people are saying online. The Sony VAIO was previously sold in terms of technical specifications, but customers responded better to features described in ways that evokes emotion. Words like “love” and “style” created more sales than talk of disk space capacity or amount of RAM. People also like the ability to customize their laptop and Sony responded with accessories and colors – an additional sales opportunity. The results meant a significant increase in sales for the VAIO line.
In another instance, Sony responded to customers Facebook and Twitter questions about how to do certain things with the Cybershot camera by creating easy to follow Youtube videos. This resulted in less Cybershot returns and cut costs in customer service calls. The Youtube videos represent an innovative response that ended up saving the company a lot of time and money.
Keyword monitoring turned up word associations between the Sony Reader and “moms” – the purchasers of the product. Sony repositioned its advertising to feature this group which again resulted in increased sales.
Sony listens. The company also has a Twitter just for product support questions. Being proactive about solving customer complaints is another way that Sony manages its brand and handles what people say on social media.
They also sell great products! And if you’re a student, you can receive an education discount by going to the Sony Education Store. The aforementioned Cybershot and VAIO are some products I physically have to demonstrate if you’re interested in checking them out. Just respond to this post with a comment!
This year, after paying my $10 application fee and filling out what I can only compare to a job application and resume submission, I was selected to volunteer for all 3 days of Lollapalooza. Basically, this means exchanging 4.5 hours of work each day to get into Lollapalooza for free. I choose to participate on the Green Team, which is one of the many volunteer positions that revolves around reducing Lolla’s impact on the environment. Basically, we made sure that everyone put their trash, compost, and recyclables into the correct container. Sounds pretty boring, but a lot of people stopped to chat and 2/3 days I was right in front of the Google Play stage and was able to enjoy the music part of the festival.
People in the cube signing up to win prizes
Another really cool part of Lollapalooza for me was seeing how Sony got involved. They had two stages and two tents set up. They had so many awesome giveaways that I saw just about everyone in the park with. I was also given the chance to get involved with Sony’s booth. On Sunday, I donned my Sony gear and helped get people excited in the Sony Cube.
Visitors had the option of going on a scavenger hunt with special edition Lollapalooza-colored TX20's
I went to the Playstation Tent and flashed my business card and they hooked me up. Here are some of the many things I scored:
Playstation swag: light up bracelets, string backpack, mat to sit on, bottle openers, and free month of Premium Playstation content!
I think it’s interesting to note that for how much Apple tries to get into the music scene, they were noticeably absent. Sony is more than just a consumer electronics company – they are all about entertainment. Most of my Sony devices have a unique connection to at least one other device I have. On top of that, Sony creates some pretty amazing content – whether it be movies, TV, music, or video games. I had an awesome time getting to know my favorite company a little bit better this weekend!
For the past year or so, I’ve been working as a Student Ambassador for Sony. I started late, so I missed the annual “Sony Retreat” training in San Diego, California last year. This year, I was invited to continue my ambassadorship, and as a result, was finally able to attend!
Sony Pictures
Sony sure knows how to treat its employees right. We were flown in and Escaladed (Is that a verb? Probably not) to Sony Pictures in LA for some fun before getting down to business. It was a great way to start getting to know the other ambassadors and check out some of the sets where Sony Pictures movies are filmed. We had dinner and were welcomed by the founder of Volt and some Sony executives. Afterwards, we headed to the Century City mall to check out a Sony store in action and see good product demoing in action. By the end, everyone was tired and most collapsed in our hotel rooms when we arrived in San Diego.
Products!
The next morning was our first glimpse at the Sony Electronics corporate headquarters. The morning session was filled with informative lectures about Sony as a whole by executives that know it well. After lunch, the secrets surrounding what products we would be given were revealed – PS Vita, VAIO S Laptop, V20 iPod Sound Dock, Digital Voice Recorder, TX20 Digital Camera, and Walkman W Headphones. Obviously, we needed some time to play with our new toys, then had product knowledge training for the rest of the work day. We wrapped up the day by going to an Italian restaurant for dinner (all 100+ of us), and saw the new Spiderman complete with snacks in 3D afterwards.
The Patio where we ate lunch
Day three was about event planning, networking, and social media – my specialty. I was given the opportunity to represent the student ambassadors on a social media panel with Sony’s social media experts. From thereon out I was known as “that social media girl” and I’m still getting questions! After work was done for the day, we were bussed over to a place called the Wavehouse where you could ride a fake wave. We also had fun on the beach playing volleyball while some other ambassadors were testing out their nifty new cameras. Smores topped off a great night on the beach.
Chris Rene
The last day was bittersweet, because we knew we soon would be heading home. However, everyone was filled with adrenaline because there was an ambassador-wide competition to win. Each team (about 10 people) was given an hour to put together a demo to give in front of judges composed of people who had been giving lectures or product knowledge training. Our group decided it would be smart to demo more than one item and try to tie them together in some way. It wasn’t hard getting people to agree on the products or the vague situation, but it was hard getting people to agree on the details. Eventually, we threw together a video of two situations involving the Walkman W Headphones and V20 iPod Dock. We didn’t know what to expect from everyone else, but we put our best feet forward. While half the team was editing, the other part was doing mock demos for Sony employees who stopped by for a fair of sorts. It was fun practice and crucial for the newcomers. The day went by slowly after that going through more administrative stuff – we were anxious to see who won. The day ended with mocktails and a gourmet dinner on the 11th floor. Third place was called – winners got an Xperia Ion phone and smartwatch. Second place was called, with an Ultrabook as a prize. FIrst place – my team! We won NEX-7 cameras which are just about the coolest most BA cameras, ever. We were so excited. After all that, we were ushered downstairs for a private concert from X-factor’s Chris Rene. Like I said – Sony knows how to treat their employees right.
Wise words from the Sony wall
My favorite part of the week has to be meeting all the other ambassadors and putting faces to the names of some of the returning ambassadors. I also gained a new confidence in my job after comparing experiences with others and being able to share my failures and successes with the newcomers. One girl even told me that she stumbled upon a blog I had written and reading it helped her decide to take the job! There’s no greater compliment than that.
Unfortunately, this will be my last year (semester even) as a student ambassador, but I’m hoping that Sony isn’t done with my quite yet
Sony is running a contest where you share a story about your experience with the Sony brand, and can win one of 45 prizes, including some of Sony’s most popular products. You can enter and view other people’s stories here: http://discover.store.sony.com/stories/?XID=F:Share_Your_Story
I entered the contest as a Sony Ambassador who also has a student’s perspective. My story can be viewed under the “Stories from Campus” section. Here’s what I had to say:
Sony ignited my love for Photography.
Ever since I was a child, I have loved to snap pictures of anything and everything, But it wasn’t until I got a Sony Cyber-shot that I discovered that pictures could be more than a treasured memory – they could be art.
I work with a lot of Photographers at school who are also in love with the Sony brand. On occasion, I have had the opportunity to use the Sony DSLRs our department owns. I don’t know how to use all the bells and whistles, but I’m hoping that I’ll learn this month – I just ordered my own!
In the meantime, I look for any and all opportunities to document what’s happening in the world around me. I bought a Flickr Pro account so that I can display all of my favorite pictures without getting cut off. I look forward to continuing to improve my skills while documenting the world around me.
You can submit a picture, video, or a quote. It’s easy and the odds are good that you’ll win something!
Every week, I spend my evening approaching people and discussing Sony products at the Tech Connection, which is a division of the campus book store. It’s a great opportunity to directly address people’s needs. I’ve found that most people shopping at Tech Connection are interested in smaller ticket items, like headphones. So here is my all-purpose headphone guide to address whatever it is that you’re looking for!
1.) The “I HATE when my earbuds fall out!”
PIIQ Clip-on Earbuds
Here’s the solution – get earbuds that clip on to your earlobe!
2.) The “I just want comfortable over the ear headphones”
PIIQ Smooth Headphones
PIIQ Smooth Headphones are an affordable way to get your music fix in comfort.
3.) The “Quality is the most important”
Studio Monitor Series Headphones
One of my coworkers (the Dell rep) at Tech Connection requested I find a way to get these for him on the cheap. They’re of excellent quality for the price, which is still under $100.
4.) The “I want noise-cancelling headphones”
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sony has everything from earbuds to headphones, at a wide range of prices. If you want noise-cancelling headphones, Sony has a solution to fit your lifestyle.
5.) The “I need earbuds now!”
PIIQ Earbuds
Alright, alright. You just want standard headphones. You can’t go wrong with PIIQ Earbuds.
All headphones/earbuds listed are under $100 (most under $50) and are available at the Sony Education Store: http://www.sony.com/uiowa. Most are on sale as of 4/19! Plus, free shipping for purchases under $25.
By some crazy chain of events (that involve me getting some awesome Internship.com ping pong balls), I was asked to create a guest blog for Internships.com Eye of the Intern blog. The lady who contact me expressed an interest in my role with Sony, so I used that as my topic. Check out my guest post to get an idea of what I do as a Sony Brand Ambassador!
At my recent product demos, the Bloggie camera has received a lot of interest and attention. Can you blame my audience? The Bloggie camera is very portable, feature-filled, and quite affordable. But which Bloggie is right for you and your lifestyle?
Bloggie Touch
I have the Bloggie Touch and I love it. It’s the perfect camera for a person who wants to shoot HD video on the go. Its standard features are listed later on, but let me introduce you to two new Bloggie models, first:
Bloggie Sport
The Bloggie Sport was designed with the sports enthusiast and adventurer in mind. Some features of the Sport include:
Waterproof
Shockproof
Dirt proof
Three colors to choose from: red, blue, and black
Bloggie Live
The Bloggie Live was designed for entertainers and bloggers who want the capability to stream videos live as they’re taking them. It has all the standard features of a Bloggie video camera, but comes with 8GB of storage, and optimizes videos for the web.
And what do all these amazing cameras have in common?
Touch screen LCD for editing and viewing
5 megapixel digital still images
HD video
Face detection, low light performance, noise cancellation, and more
Ability to tag people and select target social networks before you upload
Convenient USB arm pops out for uploading and charging
Which one is right for you? Check out more Bloggie specifics at sony.com/UIowa
It certainly sounds enticing, doesn’t it? Free access to top brands and their products, the opportunity to build up your resume, and a job that doesn’t always seem like it is one.
So how do you do it? What kinds of responsibilities will you have? What skills will you gain?
Allow me to enlighten you.
How do you do it?
It certainly helps to be a Marketing major. Or a business major in general. You’re also going to need to have a genuine interest in the brand/product, because you’re going to be talking about it a LOT. Previous experience in a Marketing related role or internship helps too, but enthusiasm and education also come into play. It also helps to be enrolled in a large University, because brands want the most bang for their buck: the bigger their audience, the better.
So once you’ve evaluated your qualifications, Google is your friend. Do a search involving “Brand Ambassadorships [Your School].” A couple other good resources:
And some brands known for hiring at big universities:
American Eagle
Victoria’s Secret PINK
Microsoft
Red Bull
It also doesn’t hurt to ask brand reps on campus about their jobs. They may be graduating soon and will need a replacement.
What kinds of responsibilities will you have?
It certainly depends on who hired you, what their program is, and whether or not you’re getting paid.
For my brand ambassadorship with iChill, I’m not technically employed, but am an Independent Contractor. I get paid a set amount every two weeks. My responsibilities are to pass out iChill, pass out promotional goods, take pictures of people with both, and secure sponsorships between iChill and events on campus. They expect about 20 pictures and 8 hours of work every 2 weeks. It’s a pretty sweet job.
My brand ambassadorship with Sony is a lot more involved. I have similar directives, but executed differently, and more often. My primary responsibilities are to drive traffic to the Sony Education Store (click here if you wanna help me out!), and to set up events to promote Sony products. In the background, I have to keep up with Sony happenings in the news, promote Sony on Social Media, build relationships with people on campus, and pass out promotional goods. And so much more.
What skills will you gain?
Just working for Sony has helped my professional development more than any class or previous work experience.
You learn to be a leader, since you’re the basis of knowledge for the brand on campus and you have to make connections and make things happen in order to be successful
You learn all aspects of Marketing: advertising (for your events and for your brand), promotions (to people of the physical products), event-planning, sales (even if you’re not directly selling anything, you’re still selling an idea), and more.
You learn how to be a good communicator: how to talk to people to get mutually beneficial results.
You learn responsibility. You are the only one who can keep you on track with your projects. If they don’t get done, there’s a consequence.
It’s easy to see how a person can benefit from a Brand Ambassadorship. I’ll leave you with this recruitment video from Sony – someday my job will be up for grabs, too!
