John Battelle’s ‘Scoail Media Is important’ video shows how social media is increasingly changing the way we communicate. The Video is very true and explains not ‘how we communicate’ rather our ‘ability to communicate’.

It reflects how social media has created this two-way dialogue of new ideas, communication and possibilities. Social media has become more than just ‘adding a friend on Facebook’ or ‘following someone on twitter’ it’s about writing a product review, word of mouth, partaking in a debate and being able to exchange ideas freely. Anyone can create a page that connects people with people. If it’s designed well, people will use it and tell their friends to use it.

Source: http://battellemedia.com/archives/004989.php

It’s a fresh campaign that links the products to ongoing media exposure via a partnership with TV one HD/ national PR, a Jessica Watson website and daily blogs which Jessica writes about her journey and the products she is using that day. The campaign has already gained a huge amount of PR since her last attempt ended in crashing her boat, but Ella Bache’s sponsorship has brought the trip forward.

Jessica is yet to confirm when she’s leaving but is expected to soon. Jessica also has a blog which she updates daily at http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/ and Ella Baché have also featured Jessica on their website http://www.ellabache.com.au/jessicawatson/ 

I think this is a truly great campaign supporting an inspirational young women and the values that represent the Ella Baché brand.

By connecting with its customers “evolution” was seen by over 5 million people in less than a year. The video also won advertising’s highest awards the advertising festival in Cannes. Most importantly, it brought people to the Dove real beauty web site- more than double what dove’s 2006 Super Bowl ad drove. Lets just compare prices here- to air a 30 second ad on the super bowl is about two and million dollars. And yes, you guessed it zero for distributing the “evolution” video on YouTube.

The thing I really love about this campaign is that Dove let go of its controlled processes and thought outside the sqaure.

References: Groundswell: Winning in a world transformed by social technologies, (2008). Li, C & Bernoff, J. Boston: harvard business press.

So my first story goes something like this…

Lets call her Client A (because I’m a professional and I wouldn’t want to offend anybody)

Ok. So Client A arrives at the salon with a gift voucher for an 1 hour long facial. She seems like a lovely women maybe in her early 30′s. I wait for her to fill out her consultation form and off we go into the treatment room to begin.

I start cleansing her skin when I notice she has her phone in her hand (It really annoys me when people don’t put their phones on silent when having a facial, so you can imagine how annoyed I was). I start the second cleanse and Client A tells me she is expecting an important phone call and if I dont mind if she answers during the facial. “Sure” I say “I dont mind”.

I start exfoliating and her phone rings (I was curious as to whats so important as I find out later) I leave the room and give her a couple minutes. 20 minutes later ear to door I still hear her talking. I start thinking ‘What is going on’  I have another client I’m going to have to cancel her facial. So I bravely open the door and turn up the lights and get ready to tell her. When she then apologises and tells me to continue and puts her call on loud speaker. So there I am massaging her face while she is on speaker phone (there’s a first).

On the phone was her Husband and from what I could gather would be her ex husband soon. Thats right they were literally talking about getting a divorce. Now, it might not sound interesting but apparently client A was cheating and slept with one of his mates (OMG I know). Her husband was accusing her of cheating and was now calling her in the facial oblivious to a third party listening being me.  Now, you can image the vivid language that accompanies someone cheating. Every offensive word under the sun plus things about a womens sexual reference and more.

So… There I was 15 minutes later putting on the mask with my mouth wide open in disgust. To top it off she starts to cry (not your average ohh that time of the month cry, but a real sobbing snoty waterfall) As the kind person I am, I hug client A while her husband is still cursing on the phone and tell  her to hang up as she doesn’t deserve to be talked to like that.

Meanwhile, my uniform had a build up of  wet mask as well as her gown and our beauty bed. I ended the facial with a hot towel and a little chat about how she feels. I felt so bad, even though she was really embarassed and sorry.

You know, I was thinking that whole time why wouldn’t someone just hang up and enjoy the facial (I know I would).

Anyway, thats just one of many stories I have as to what its like being a beauty therapist.

 Andes Mountains, Peru 

I took this shot from the plane’s window. I couldn’t believe how close it got to the mountains.  

Originally uploaded by VeronicaSiblWork

 I recently went to South America for 5 weeks and experienced some extraordinary things. I ate quinea pig in Peru (but didn’t mean too), walked uphill for 5 hours up HUGE stairs in Machu Picchu, got proposed to by my boyfriend in Brazil, got alttitude sickness in Peru and fainted two times and watched a football game of Argentina vs Columbia in Argentina (luckly Argentina won otherwsie there have been violence). South America is truly a beautiful place…

I’ve been asked to write something about myself, my future career plans  and what I aspire to be.  I know one thing… and that is to make my mark in the world of Web 2.0 (hopefully Web 3.0 takes its time). So I have attempted to sign up to all things social and  preferably liked by Google to promote myself. The internet is a booming business and I want to be apart of it. I want employers to notice my presence.

I’m pretty excited  in 8 weeks I finish uni. I cant believe its been 3 years. The count down is on to get my bachelor of communications majoring in advertising and PR.

Apart from completing my degree, I’m also an intern at a media agency called MediaEdge. Although, I’m learning a lot and gaining a great insight into the world of ad media I realised that advertising creative is more me. So a another internship is on the cards….

I am also a qualified beauty therapist with a passion for the skin and love anything beauty.

My dream job is to work in cosmetics or skincare as a brand manager or in account strategy creative . Really I would love to combine communications and beauty.

So my plan at the moment is to finish uni and pass. Finish the internship I’m doing.. continue working and gain as much experience as I can… and find that dream job.

Ill keep you posted…