Nicole Angela

Before I begin this incredibly insightful article written by a girl who is simply passionate about PR and YouTube as separate entities, and as one, and definitely is not a leader in the field, or a secret Google employee (one day…). I want to formally apologize for the two months of silence on this blog. I’d love to say that it’s because I’m so sort after in my field that I’ve had very little time to get to this blog, but let’s be honest. We all know I’m just a little bit flaky (authenticity, amiright..?).

ANYWAY, steering the conversation back to the topic at hand, I want to discuss PR (and business communications) and its cross-over with YouTube as a social media platform. Now, I want to be totally honest here and say that I have a bias opinion on this matter in that I think that combining these communication tools provides and incredible opportunity for both parties, and I will tell you why.

YouTube, to me, is a place that is both open to the public as well as being accessible by businesses, brands and celebrities. Think of PR campaigns that have been run through YouTube like Save The Children and Dumb Ways To Die, which both have awesome coverage. These were fantastic PR campaigns however this platform is also open to the likes of Zoella, Pewdiepie and Jenna Marbles, vloggers and all names I imagine you’ve at least heard of. The diversity of this platform is what first drew me to it.

There are many ways to utilise YouTube. Having just passed its 10^th Birthday, people have had plenty of time to work out new ways to thrive on YouTube and yet I still feel it is being underutilised. The average person, with the right equipment and motivation, can earn their living through becoming a YouTuber (#TeamInternet). Monetization, Ad revenue, sponsorships. Dedicate enough time and love into a channel (not to mention following those trends) and you could potentially establish yourself in the community.

On the flip side, businesses also have access to this opportunity, however in a slightly different way. I personally feel that businesses could do so much more with YouTube than they are already doing, some companies are doing it right, as you can see from the videos I mentioned before, however not all are. YouTube allows for the opportunity to make the company feel more personable and authentic and give it a face, and not just the face of the guy yelling ‘SALE!!!’ at you through the TV. Think behind the scenes, talks with important industry professionals, live-streams, a channel in which you can talk to your audience and have them be able to connect to a face. Use YouTube like you use SnapChat, just a little more refined.

I feel that, especially within fashion brands, YouTube is a must have and as mentioned, I’m 100% bias as I am definitely a supporter of the platform. This however, is just a little insight into what I’ve learnt through my university degree and what I’ve observed through studying PR and business communication in my free time.

Let me know what you think, is YouTube INCREDIBLE or do you have a number of reasons why you think it’s the weakest of the social media platforms? I’d love to hear.

So, like, comment and subscribe (share, comment and follow) and I’ll see you next week (don’t hold me to that) for another video (blog post).

P.S. Check out my ‘Projects’ tab for a mini-documentary I uploaded to YouTube as well.

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Words and Some Pictures by Nicole Dickson

Photo Links:

YouTube Logo: http://www.jocelynpook.com/news/official-jocelyn-pook-youtube-soundcloud/

Computer and Coffee: http://blog.springnest.com/blog/tag/youtube/

Team Internet: https://wanelo.com/p/31523522/team-internet-youtube-logo-by-youtuber-club

Let us run around the age old conversation that has stood the test of time (if by time you mean the last 10-15 years). Now I know this is not a new topic and has been spoken about many times over, however I wanted put my two cents in and tell you a little about how it can affect us.

Social Media

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Ahh yes, the good old social media platforms that give us a way to connect with those we know and concurrently promote our own work (as I’ve often bothered you all with). What I wanted to talk about however is how it is affecting my life as a university graduate as well as those who are looking to go into or who are already in the workforce.

It’s very much a game of personal versus professional when it comes to social media. While it is a great way to talk about how much fun it was going out last Friday night it is simultaneously a place that employers frequently go to seek new staff. Welcome to the 21^st century.

Different apps/ social media sites can be used for different things. In the same way that you wouldn’t post about personal events on LinkedIn you also wouldn’t Snapchat a company to ask for a job. Basically it’s a matter of picking your battles. The thing to remember is that with Google and its abundance of information, simply searching your name can tell an employer a lot about you.

Let me look at some of the major social media platforms a little closer and tell you what I think they’re good for (and what I use them for), just in case you’re not quite sure about that balance.

We’ll start with Facebook. This one for me is a little difficult, it’s the perfect place to share pictures with your friends and write a quick status about the pizza you just ordered but it’s also a good place for self-promotion (as I’ve done on many occasions) and is also easily accessible to potential employers and therefore an easy way to find out a lot about you. Facebook for me is a balance of sharing funny/ interesting videos and photos while also promoting the work I’m doing.

Instagram. This can lead to a career in itself. We’ve all heard of the Instagram celebrities, however not all of us are that lucky. Although that doesn’t mean we can’t introduce a work-life balance into Insta. Personally, for me, my account is quite work based. I’ll share my work, post about events I’ve been invited to and generally run with the theme of ‘career’. This worked in my benefit recently, where a company was advertising a position, I commented on the picture advertising said position and was then able to send them through my resume. This was a rare situation but it worked very much in my favour. Instagram is a fine line though, I guess it’s just the theme/ aesthetic you want to go for.

Twitter. I think Twitter is a fantastic platform to promote yourself professionally. I rarely post on Twitter unless it’s to promote this blog and I find I use it more for keeping up to date with the world around me. However, having been a part of TweePR, a PR/ Marketing group at the Queensland University of Technology, we frequently (and still do) take advantage of the business benefits of Twitter.

Snapchat. The baby of the social media platforms. Now a world away from the likes of Bebo\ and MySpace… let’s move on. Snapchat for me is more personal, I don’t see the connection between business and Snapchat unless you’re talking about Forever21 and the like, who do use the app in a professional capacity.

I do believe you have to pick and choose where you want to post your information. Anyone can see what you post (which is why you should check privacy settings) and of course, it is the internet, so once something is posted online it never really goes away. This article is really just a courtesy post to remind people that there are very few businesses who don’t use social media nowadays and that they will, 9 times out of 10, check up on you via the internet.

The argument for and against the use of social media is age old and will continue to grow and evolve for many years to come. It’s The Great Tech Debate all over again, and honestly there’s no real answer to it, just formula’s that tell you what that particular person/ company thinks you should do.

Honestly, I say just be you. People appreciate authenticity. Maybe just consider where exactly you want to post those photos from that girls’ night out on the town a few weeks’ back, but definitely don’t lose your personality just because you’re worried about an employer checking up on you.

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Words by Nicole Dickson

Photo Links Below:

- World: http://sonburst.com/the-importance-of-building-an-online-presence/

- Personal vs. Professional: http://es.123rf.com/photo_25082451_imagen-conceptual-que-representa-el-equilibrio-de-la-vida-profesional-y-personal-con-una-mano-del-ho.html

- Social Media Boxes: http://www.bandt.com.au/marketing/telstra-customer-unimpressed-with-social-media-apology-meme

- Facebook Job Application: http://www.eremedia.com/tlnt/more-employers-not-hiring-due-to-what-they-find-on-social-media/

Stress is natural. It happens to everybody at least once in their life and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Whether you’re in high school with a big assignment due soon, in university/ TAFE where your classes are beginning pile up or you’ve just graduated and are worried about finding a job in the ‘real world,’ stress doesn’t discriminate, it happens to everyone.

I myself have certain stressors, but I also have methods to somewhat overcome said stressors, and while these methods may not work for everyone, they are just some of the ways I like to relax and take a bit of time for myself.

Here are the things I suggest in order to stress less:

Something I like to do to calm myself down and remove myself from the worries of life is to become a recluse. Well, not quite a recluse, but I like to take some time to myself for a while. Having some candles within reach is a great way to create a calmer atmosphere tailored to you (I currently have Shadow Homewares’ Vanilla & Brown Sugar candle from Rice Furniture burning beside me). From there, I recommend just doing something simple that you enjoy. Whether it be reading books or blogs or watching movies, TV shows or YouTube, pick something you can zone out to and just relax for a while. You time is always necessary.

Had you told me a year ago that exercise was calming I would have rolled my eyes through the back of my head and walked away, but people change. I enjoy going running (less so right now considering the 30 degree days filled with humidity) but it is a great way to clear your head. Throw together an exercise playlist and go for it. It may be tough initially to get out and run (it still takes me a while to get off the couch) but it allows you to just zone out while you’re exercising and once you get home you’ll feel like you’ve been productive, which is always a bonus.

This may be a little more niche. As someone who enjoys writing I find it calming to type out what I need to sort out in my own head but no, I don’t keep a journal. A lot of what I create actually ends up going on my blog, this process results in me writing about the things I enjoy and gets me into a good mindset. Now, I know many people aren’t as fond of the English language as I am and that’s cool, find your equivalent. I just find it great to distract myself by sharing what I love.

Again, maybe more specific, but hey, these are just ways I like to de-stress and some of them may even work for you.

Now look, I’m a pedantic person who likes to write everything down. Therefore, a diary/ planner is a necessity for me. Making notes in my phone about what I have to do each day is perfect for me. It lets me see what I have going on for that specific day and allows me to organise when I have to get certain tasks completed by. I’m university tutor/ lecturers dream. Anyway, I also have a weekly planner set up on my desk. This gives me a brief rundown of any and all work times, appointments and events going on that week. I’m prone to thinking I’ve forgotten things, so planners and diaries are my saving grace.

I’m very lucky that I have great friends who don’t mind me complaining. If I’ve had a stressful day coming home and talking about it to friends/ family is a great feeling. It lets you debrief and vocalise what you’re feeling or thinking. I’ve always heard you shouldn’t bottle things up and this is no exception. No matter how small or big your stressor is, good friends will listen, give an opinion if needed and let you talk about your day.

So this one may be a little less healthy than the others but nonetheless it helps me relax. I now introduce, RETAIL THERAPY! I find something very comforting about wandering through shops and trying things on, finding items that look good on you and walking out with something new in your life. Even online shopping is great, light that candle and shop from the comfort of your home, luxury! Obviously, we shouldn’t overdo ourselves, just because you’re stressed out doesn’t mean you should blow your rent money, that’ll only cause more stress, but there’s no harm in window shopping and maybe buying a couple of nice pieces.

 These are some of my quick-fire ways to destress. Of course, not all of these suggestions are for everyone and some work better in different situations but I think these are some easy ways to keep calm and carry on, as they say.

This website also provides some great apps to help reduce stress and anxiety if my suggestions aren't quite your speed.

I hope that whatever you’re doing and wherever you are you find ways to stay balanced in your work and personal life.

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If you have any other suggestions on how to keep the stress to a minimum, I’d love to hear about them.

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Pictures and Words by Nicole Dickson

To me, body modifications like tattoos and piercings are amazing modes of self-expression and ultimately, just look really cool. I love getting tattoos and I tend to leave it quite a while before getting them done but also try to get them as often as I can. Kind of like the frequency of my writing on this blog. Oops. But as with this blog I also rather giving each piece more time to be perfected and made into something I am happy with rather than powering out a lot of pieces but having them be mediocre. Quality over quantity I say!

Basically my point here is I don’t really care what modifications you make to your body so long as it makes YOU happy and isn’t hurting other people. I’m all for self-expression in a way that makes you feel more comfortable in your own body.

I will however provide you with my recommendations when it comes to tattoo care and safety.

Tattoos as with many other body modifications are a commitment. Some may be long term and others may be short but either way you have committed yourself to the aftercare of your modification.

I never take my tattoo aftercare lightly, especially as I'm a  Type 1 Diabetic, this means I need to be very careful with my healing process. However this applies to everyone. If you are not willing to look after your tattoo by putting the necessary creams on it, keeping it out of the scorching sunlight for a while and in essence just not letting it get infected, then reconsider getting a tattoo. It simply won’t be worth it.

Having lectured you about the aftercare of tattoos (which I’m sure the artist will do as well) and you still want to get a it done, now we'll look at where you’ll go to get the tattoo itself. In keeping my lecturer hat on I will tell you, please don’t get a home job tattoo, I know your friend might be incredibly talented but hygiene and safety is far more important.

I’ve had tattoos done in both Brisbane and Thailand and honestly it doesn’t matter what city you’re in as long as you do your research. Make sure they have the necessary qualifications, that they have a good reputation and that you trust them. While they are preparing the equipment for your tattoo watch the artist and make sure that they are using new needles, ones that they’ve taken out of sealed packages in front of you and in general are being super hygienic about EVERYTHING. This applies to any tattoo studio no matter if they are renowned for their work or are hardly known at all.

I have three tattoos at this current point in time, having completed my last tattoo at the start of this month and I absolutely love each of them and plan to get more.

I’m the sort of person where if I like the position of the tattoo on my body I will suck it up and deal with the pain, which I’m lucky that I can do. However, if you’re not like this, please take into consideration your pain tolerance and the fact that you need to sit completely still for this period of time. No squirming or pulling away due to the pain.

Having my wrist, ribs and back done there’s definitely parts of your body that hurt to get tattooed more than others. My wrist, for instance, was my first tattoo and hardly hurt at all. My second was my ribs which hurt like crazy but was manageable. But my third tattoo which is a larger piece on my back was excruciating. Luckily I toughed it out and only made it a little frustrating for the artist (sorry Mimi!). But this is definitely something you need to take into consideration.

Personally, I like to sit on the idea and placement of my tattoo for a few months (at least) before getting it done purely because I am the queen of indecision and need to make sure it’s exactly what I want. However, I commend the people who can get tattoos spur of the moment.

Maybe one day…

Anyway all I’m trying to do here is express my love for body modifications and also preach to you about tattoo safety which you may have heard many times before, but I don’t really think you can hear about it enough.

I hope your future body mod endeavors are exciting and make you look and feel amazing.

I will link below where I had my tattoos done:

My wrist: Royal Ink, Brisbane

My ribs: Celebrity Ink, Phuket, Thailand

My back: Valley Ink, Brisbane – with Mimi Guoh

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Feel free to send in any photos of your tattoos as I’d love to see the different designs people have!

Also if you have any questions about my tattoos or tattoos in general definitely send me a message.

As my university and Facebook friends know by now, last Monday I graduated from university. Therefore I feel the need to take this opportunity to provide a brief run-through about what I learnt during my time at university. Keep in mind, I completed a Media and Communication degree so obviously this is very discipline specific however I am going to make this as generalised as I can.

Firstly, high school teachers make university sound much scarier than it actually is. The lecturers are 9 times out of 10 very lovely and helpful people and if you’re not fond of your lecturer then the other students will help out. You are all in the same boat after all and it’s not like they hate the discipline either, they’ve chosen to be there, just like you.

In saying this, because the tutors don’t force you to study it means you have to do it in your own time, which means finding the motivation. There is a lot of responsibility and self-determination involved, in other words, get off your butt and start adulting. Yeah, it took me a while too.

Next is a piece of advice I wish someone had drilled into me in my first year. Join clubs and uni groups and anything that lets you network and gain experience because your graduating self will thank you.

In line with this, uni friends are always great things to hold onto. You never know when you’ll need last minute advice on an assignment or what you’ll learn from them. I’ve seen some of the people I’ve met in my degree doing some amazing things, and they’ve only just graduated as well.

Now, in reference to internships, please I beg of you! If you’re in a degree where you have access to internships. Get that started! Like yesterday! Well maybe you should leave it until about second year but my point is that internships are amazing things and will help you out so much at the beginning of your career. They say you need a job to get experience but need experience to get a job, well this is your compromise.

I was stupid and left my internships until my last semester which meant that I was not only on my last round of classes but also had to balance two internships and a part time job as well. Not. Fun. So, I urge you to get in early and work out what you like and where you want to go through various internships. This will really help you establish a career path.

Lastly, be committed and love your craft, and not just because uni is too expensive to not enjoy but because this is when you work out what you really want to do. In high school I thought I wanted to go and edit videos for a living and while I still enjoy that I ended up dropping my film major by the end of first year. Now I’ve graduated with a Bachelor of Media and Communication minoring in Public Relations and I love it.

Apply for jobs left, right and centre and don’t be too disgruntled when some don’t reply, it takes time, patience and determination to make them see you. Also be ambitious and passionate about what you do, go hard at university. Learn all that you can while you’re there, the theory and the practical, all of it.

Now I am not a gold star uni student and I don’t claim to know the secrets to surviving university however I do know the advice I would give myself I could meet freshman me.

I hope the graduates have job interviews falling at their feet, the current uni students getting what they can out of their degree and those who aren’t at university, well I hope you’re succeeding at whatever it is you’re doing.

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If you have any questions about university or anything I’ve spoken about, feel free to message me via the 'Contact Us' box.