Thanks for an excellent social media course @MirnaBard really appreciate your valuable insights! I highly recommend UCI #SocialPR#UCIExtBM

Social Media for Public Relations @uciProfessor @MirnaBard #SocialPR Great course! Great time ! Sign up for Summer Term ! Thanks ! [Thank you SO much!]

RT @_lilipoh: One of the BEST. CLASSES. EVER. @MirnaBard‘s #SocialPR via @UCIExtension (Her other class is great, too!)

RT @lindsaybanffy Thanks for an excellent social course @MirnaBard really appreciate your valuable insights!I highly recommend UCI #SocialPR

Does it get better? Yes, it does…when you enroll! Here’s what we’ve got for you…Enroll in Developing a Social Media Strategy with Mirna Bard, for the summer session, online, from July 8 – Sept. 1, 2013.

This course will help you to develop a social media strategy as part of gaining a complete understanding of the POST (people, objectives, strategy, and technology) strategy process. In this applied strategy course, learn how to provide a methodology to approach and plan a social media strategy in your organization. Learn how to apply technographics and social computing behaviors as more appropriate audience profiling techniques than traditional demographic profiling. You will contrast traditional and non-traditional strategies and communications practices, learn how to present a strategic methodology for social media, and effectively implement social media channels and venues for achieving business or brand objectives.

Students will be able to:

• Pursue an academic area that interests them while understanding the nature of a research university.
• Strengthen their academic skills and prove to them that they can excel at one of the best universities in the United States.
• Explore the campus and its many resources with the assistance of experienced Summer Session staff.
• Meet fellow high school students, and current UCI undergraduate students and mentors.
• Receive a Certificate of Completion if they complete the program and meet the requirements for participation.
• Earn 2 to 4 units of UCI course credit in the Summer Scholar track or 8 units of UCI course credit in the Study of Law track.

Students interested in attending law school or pursing a legal profession should enroll in the Study of Law track within the High School Summer Scholar Program. While acquiring reasoning and critical thinking skills, they will gain a deeper understanding of U.S. laws and legal careers.

“This program gave my son the opportunity to understand the nature of a research university and to independently explore a college campus, making for a softer transition. He was able to pursue his academic interest and determine whether it was a field of study he wanted to pursue. Beyond the academic opportunities, the program’s co-curricular events made for a busy, active summer with a different activity each day.”
~Nadine Fishel, 2012 Summer Scholar Parent & Associate Director of Labor Relations, University of California – Office of the President

The final date to submit an application for the 2013 High School Summer Scholar Program is Friday, May 31st. To learn more about the program’s academics, co-curricular activities, housing availability and to apply, visit www.summer.uci.edu/highschool

Chick cupcakes for my daughter’s birthday.

I have to admit, this article gave me a good laugh, and glad to know that I’m not the only one that combs Pinterest in an attempt to make something to commemorate each and every holiday and milestone.  Come to find out, I’m also not the only one pulling “all nighters” to make elaborate baby chick cupcakes, or balloon birthday surprises.  I too have been caught up in this craze! Are there Pinterest positives? Definitely.  From a marketing standpoint, Pinterest is helping people connect, and “pin” what they love.  You may be thinking, how hard is it to become one of the influencers and getting others to “pin” your ideas?  It’s not as hard as you’d think.  Here are some great suggestions in this article, “7 Tips for Creating Viral Pinterest Posts.”   http://www.prdaily.com/socialmedia/Articles/12962.aspx   

Wake-up balloon surprise.

Ok, now back to making the perfect summer activity chart!

Consider enrolling in our Entrepreneurial Journalism  course (in the Specialized Studies Program for Digital Journalism, MGMT X467.62 ( 2.00 )) In this course, readings and exercises, discussions and critiquing sessions will help you write and sell content online, create your own web presence, and gain new perspective and enthusiasm for a potentially lucrative career in digital journalism.

Or, how about our Event Risk Management: Financial, Legal and Ethical Safeguards, MGMT X464.42 ( 1.00 ) course?  This course offers a practical approach to ensure that the planner understands and uses every possible safeguard to produce safe and successful events. Particular emphasis is placed on contract issues and laws and regulations pertaining to meetings and events.

We’re also offering a number of free events. Why not consider one of our online webinars? http://unex.uci.edu/services/events/

Web Marketing – Are You Ready for Mobile?
Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 11:30AM – 12:30PM (PDT)
This webinar will provide you with a glimpse at the mobile marketing environment and give you a list of considerations to help you prepare for the coming trends in online marketing. Be ready with your mobile marketing strategy.

Event Risk Management Information Session
Tuesday, May 21, 2013, 11:30AM – 12:30PM  (PDT)
Understand the process for analyzing and responding to risks that can adversely impact any meeting or event. This course offers a practical approach to ensure that the planner understands and uses every possible safeguard to produce safe and successful events. Particular emphasis is placed on contract issues and laws and regulations pertaining to meetings and events. 

Education Planning Session: Internet Marketing
Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 11:30AM – 12:30PM (PDT)
If you’re not sure which Internet marketing course(s) will best suit your needs attend this planning session for pre-registration advisement! Also learn more about the certificate program, courses being offered in upcoming quarters, and career planning resources available through UC Irvine Extension. 

Project Management Education Planning Session
Friday, May 31, 2013, 11:30AM – 12:30PM (PDT)
Not sure which project management courses you need?  Learn more about the project management certificate program, courses being offered in upcoming quarters, and career planning resources available through UC Irvine Extension. 

Entrepreneurial Journalism Information Session
Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 11:30AM – 12:30PM (PDT)
Technology has changed the world of quality journalism forever. Join us online to hear more about this seven-week course, geared for recent journalism school graduates, mid-career journalists, and other aspiring students.  Gain new perspective and enthusiasm for a potentially lucrative career in digital journalism!

Obviously we have to be wary of hackers, but also of “controlled messaging” as well.  In both our journalism and marketing courses, we constantly advise our students and our faculty, for that matter, about the influence and “power” social networking holds.  As we know, social media can have real consequences for businesses in the corporate world.  As talked about in this piece I read from Mashable, “Advice for Clueless Brands on Social Media,” flubs made along the way – from “unnamed sources” so large they’re not hard to realize (cough, cough…Matt Lauer and Justin Bieber) – take a long time to recover.  Mishaps can happen and in just a few words, and they can tarnish a career or sink a reputation in a matter of moments.     

Don’t let these sour situations scare you.  Twitter and other social networking sites can hold positive results as well.   Here some great tips, using Twitter, to grow your business, here: http://www.webtrafficroi.com/9-ways-grow-your-small-business-by-tweeting-smartly/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+webtrafficroi/lBfd+(WebTrafficROI.com).  From etiquette, to posting, to connecting, there’s much to learn and your brand is always at stake!

Newman says: “for those less familiar with the power of social media, an active social presence can be misconstrued for something else – a waste of time.” Not so. Newman continues: “In the near future, I think executives are going to be expected more than they are today to use Social Mediums to become closer to their customers. For companies that think Social Engagement is just the rank and file connecting to the consumer are missing the mark. Consumers buy products and services from companies that deliver what they need. However, today more than ever, they take into consideration other factors such as a company’s social good, their sustainability measures and perhaps most importantly the face of the company and whether or not it is led by someone who they respect.”

Through social media, the company and executives themselves can be more transparent and connect directly with their consumers, which may make all the difference in return, with customer loyalty. Read the rest of the article here…

In a recent UC Irvine Extension “Blogging for Business Information Session,” Jennifer St. James suggests social media tools help give a “voice to the company” and provides a “personal information resource” to customers. Connecting customers with upper management, and even the president or CEO of a company can help build that loyal customer base that so many companies strive for. Also, St. James names Dave Kerpen, CEO of Likeable Media, and quotes him saying: “we should view social media and blogging as a global cocktail party.” People shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions, tell stories, listen and relate to people – that’s what it’s all about. Blogs, for instance, are the exact place businesses can be relating to their customers, and should make every effort to do so. You just never know if doing so could help save your company from a PR crisis down the line. Cheers to that!

5 Career Myths That Could Be Holding You Back
By Catherine Conlan, Contributing Writer

Could inaccurate assumptions about the world of work be holding you back?
We debunk five of the most common career myths and show you how to counteract them.

Myth 1: There is one perfect job for you out there, and you better hope you find it.
Reality: This is one of the most common career myths out there, and people keep falling for it. “There are many perfect jobs for you, it just depends on where you are in life,” says Matthew Walden, senior vice president at Infinity Consulting in New York. You may think you’ve found the perfect job, but anything can change — demand for your product or service drops, people get laid off, your boss jumps to another company, you lose interest in what you’re doing. “People get complacent,” Walden says. “You have to be constantly looking.” Your career will likely be a continuum of learning, changing interests, and changing circumstances, not a goal to be reached, so stay alert to opportunities that might come when you don’t expect them.

Myth 2: Once you’re settled in a career path, you’re stuck.
Reality: “You’re never stuck,” Walden says. “You need to look at what you’re willing to do to get unstuck.” While there can be financial constraints that may keep you from switching careers quickly, Walden says taking classes or being willing to make less money for some time to get on the career path you want shouldn’t hold you back. Many people go to college, major in a line of study, work for a few years in that area and then find it doesn’t suit them at all. Walden says it’s worth the time to make the change. “If you’re a good candidate, smart, and presentable, you need to take those steps now to get yourself on the path you want.”

Myth 3: You should choose your job based on the skills you have.
Reality: Choosing a job because of what you can already do will likely leave you unfulfilled. Instead, find a career path that will position you for training, learning new things, and advancement.

Myth 4: Do what you love, and the money will follow.
Reality: This does happen, but rarely, and it takes a lot of lean times and good luck. Don’t talk yourself out of your dreams, but be realistic about the prospects of the career you want to follow. A better bet is to find ways to combine what you love with your work, or to identify a career that allows you the means to follow your passion in your free time.

Myth 5: If you want to make a lot of money, get your MBA.
Reality: If money is all you’re looking for, there are plenty of jobs out there that don’t require an MBA. And an MBA is not a guarantee that the money will start rolling in. But choosing a career only by how much money it can set yourself up for disappointment in your work life, experts say. It’s better to find a balance among what you like to do, what you can do and the level of income you want to earn.

Being aware of the career myths that can hold you back will help you avoid falling for them. Being realistic about your career path and what you want from it will help set you up for success throughout your working life.

Below are some of Gary’s thoughts on entrepreneurs that have forged paths to find success for their businesses and their brands, he refers to as “Change of Plans.” Enjoy!

I am a marketing planner. I assist companies, organizations and individuals in charting a clear course and vision for their success. Every plan is unique in terms of goals, but often not in the method of implementation. There are numerous ways for getting there, wherever there might be, and I’ve found that if the original route should change, it’s absolutely critical to remain focused on the long-term vision while interim goals and new alternative directions are explored.

Often during these course corrections it may appear that no progress is being made. That’s because as a society we’ve learned, unfortunately, to judge situations on the basis of where someone or something is right now instead of where they might be heading. In business it takes some analysis and foresight to recognize a success in the making, even if it appears to be a failure today. A well-informed prediction of future success can yield high returns for investors and their stockholders. And often that prediction is not based on market dynamics, competitive influence, new technology or anything like that; it’s based on the vision and the person behind the vision.

Brands like Virgin Airlines, Apple, and Schwab plus countless others are a success because of their visionary founders and their belief in doing something special and different, even if the world wasn’t quite ready. It’s the steadfast commitment to a dream that makes dreams come true, not blind faith and hope. Any business with a clear vision from the top can make things happen. I’m proud and happy to say that I’ve had/have the pleasure of working with people that have not only changed their world, but all of those they’ve touched.

As individuals, similar rules apply in terms of reaching our goals. It begins with how we think and our own personal vision. This is fueled by a faith in reaching the goal and a confidence that guides us through the process – a process that needs to evolve in its own fashion, on its own terms. All we need to do is move toward our vision, and do what we can to get there in any way we can, as often as we can, regardless of the obstacles and naysayers we may encounter.

We can’t let ourselves be deterred by the judgment of those that only see where we are now, and miss seeing who we are and what’s inside that’s still to be.

Carry on, good fortune awaits.

This spring (we’re still accepting enrollments) Gary is teaching Branding.  In this course, you’ll learn how to develop a working knowledge of how to initiate and develop a brand process within your own organization, and how to integrate brand strategy into communications.  Consider signing-up today at: http://unex.uci.edu/courses/sectiondetail.aspx?year=2013&term=Spring&sid=00400

Thank you, Gary. Looking forward to more future posts!

Grab that second (or in my case, third) cup of coffee and join us for one or two free webinars this morning, hosted by UCI Extension.

The first webinar is from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM PDT, for our free “Marketing Education Planning Session,” a complete overview of our Marketing coursework.   It’s your opportunity to learn more about our certificate program, courses being offered in upcoming quarters, and career planning resources available through UC Irvine Extension. Sign up at: http://unex.uci.edu/services/events/

Next, from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM PDT, you’ll gain valuable insight on how to negotiate food & beverage menus, budgets and contracts in our free “Event Food & Beverage Selection, Budgeting and Negotiating” webinar.  More info and sign up here: http://unex.uci.edu/services/events/

It’s that time again…spring enrollment is open at UC Irvine Extension, and courses begin April 1^st.  One of the most important things you can do is to invest in yourself and in your career. We strive to make that an easy and fun opportunity to follow-through on, offering the best in professional development courses to give you an advantage in the workplace, and helping individuals reach their personal and professional goals.  Consider taking some of our courses this spring semester!

Have you considered expanding your knowledge in Marketing or Internet Marketing? Classroom courses in Marketing for spring include: Web Marketing, Writing for Marketers, and Branding.  Online courses for spring include: Market Research and Analysis, Public Relations and Advertising, Making Money with Marketing, and Strategic Marketing Capstone.
All program information can be found at: http://unex.uci.edu/areas/business_mgmt/marketing/

Our classroom course in Internet Marketing for spring is: Overview of Internet Marketing. Online courses for spring include: Overview of Internet Marketing, Social Media and Internet Audience Profiling, Planning and Developing your Search Engine, Marketing Strategy, Email Marketing, Making Money with Marketing, and Agile Marketing.
All program information can be found at: http://unex.uci.edu/areas/business_mgmt/internet/

Social Media is a growing force in business and an unrelenting reality for professionals. That’s why you should consider taking online courses such as: Utilizing and Integrating Social Media Channels, Social Media and Internet, Audience Profiling, Social Media for Public Relations, and Blogging for Business.  All program information can be found at: http://unex.uci.edu/areas/business_mgmt/social_media/

We’ve launched our new Digital Journalism specialized studies program this spring.  Today’s journalists have to act and adapt quickly to stay ahead of the 24-hour news cycle.  This includes understanding how to utilize digital formats.  Our program and coursework provides students with the tools to stay relevant in the field and ahead in this changing industry. 
Check out the course schedule and availability at: http://unex.uci.edu/areas/business_mgmt/digital_journalism/courses.aspx

Have an interest in planning and running meetings and events? Learn what it takes to coordinate everything from parking to food in this specialized studies program. Our instructors will introduce you to best practices, tips and tools for effective event management. Visit our site for program information at: http://unex.uci.edu/areas/business_mgmt/event_management/

Also, make sure to check back often for offers for free webinars throughout the year!