"The World is Your Oyster"

The title of this post is just a quote from the web analytics book for this class that stood out to me.  The world is my oyster and it is important to build momentum on the success that I have had. For example with Connecticut Cuff, when we launched our website we had positive numbers of visits to the web page, however, when we lost momentum was when we did not follow-up the launch with an advertisement.  Unfortunately, now our website is a bit stagnant and boring.

It might be time to spend money to make money. Connecticut Cuff can get Google Adwords.  This means that Google will boost our site.  Boosting our site will drive traffic and this traffic will bring in customers.  Dr. Kelsey has said that 98% of people that view the website at first are not ready to buy.  However, if we can bring people back multiple times they might convert to buyers.  All of this can be tracked easily through google analytics.

Analytics

My last post about analytics was regrading me beginning a marketing campaign for my company Connecticut Cuff.  Unfortunately, I have not begun my marketing campaign.  I have been busy with classes and midterms.  I want to take time to develop a well thought out marketing strategy for a new campaign before publishing an advertisement.  If the advertisement that I post is well thought out, targeted properly and visually professional; I predict that there will be a more positive response.

Head shots

Today in class we went over the importance of a quality presence on LinkedIn. Part of this presence includes a professional head shot.  Employers and users want a visual of who you are, a photograph is a good way for people to see you.  LinkedIn is simply a social media outlet.  Any social media outlet needs a visual of the account holder.  Your head shot is your visual for LinkedIn.

Additionally we had the opportunity to take professional head shots in class.  The attached photo is the head shot that I chose to include on my LinkedIn, and my e-mail.  This photograph is a professional view of myself that I want to portray to possible connections and employers.

What Color is Your Parachute

We all want a good job or purpose in life.

It is important to know who you are first.  Knowing a couple ways to describe yourself goes a long way when it comes time to decide what career path you want to choose. If you have various ways to describe yourself you will have various job markets that you can consider entering. This diversity provides more options and channels for success. Furthermore, this research will ultimately lead to more education of various markets.  Eventually, the job search will not be you waiting for a firm to approach you for employment but you can then approach them.  Your research will provide you with knowledge and you will have a personal connection to the firm.  You will be approaching the firm based on your personal desire to work with them, rather than your desire to simply be employed.

Connecticut Cuff Analytics

As I have previously posted, I run a company called Connecticut Cuff.  I have the website for this company linked up to Google analytics so I can track the traffic that my page experiences.  Over time I have experienced a significant correlation between social media posts and the traffic to the web page.  My page experiences more an more traffic with every post I make to twitter and Instagram.  If I fail to regularly post on social media, my website traffic declines.  (The attached image illustrates this idea). I wanted to test this theory so for a couple weeks I did not make social media posts.  The result was not surprising.  I went from 43 visits to the website to about 3 per day.  That is a significant difference.  Even more significant is I currently do not advertise on social media.  The next test is to invest in social media ads and see how the traffic is affected.  Judging from the traffic that simply posting on social media generates, I hypothesize that an ad might double or triple the traffic to the page.

What Color is Your Parachute?

Never Give Up!
Never Give Up!
Never Give Up!

There are two ways to get a job. The traditional approach, and the parachute way. I will start by outlining the criteria for a job hunt.  First you need to identify your wants. You are interested in finding a job.  How do you see yourself? Do you have a plan? Preparation? How do you figure out who is looking for employees? How do you contact hiring firms? What purpose does your resume serve? Do you have interview goals? Are there interview talking points? Do you have questions? How do you end the interview?

These questions are relevant to both job search strategies. However, the strategies are different.  Traditional job hunts start with the need for work, building a resume, finding a way to sell yourself before you hunt for work, research what the job market is looking for, wait for an employer to post a job, send out your resume, sell them on why they need to hire you, discuss your qualifications, ask if they are interested in you, and ask when they with contact you. Finally, you will follow-up and thank them for the interview. In contrast, the parachute way consists of a search for a dream job. This is a job that you can use your favorite skills, fields and knowledge to make an impact. You are no longer a job beggar but a resource to a company. Then you can determine what job you would die to do. When you prep for the job hunt you want to do a self assessment that will determine what you are best at and will most love doing. Do informal interviews and determine what firms are interested in you.  Use a bridge person to personally connect you to a firm. Your bridge person can personally hand a resume and cover letter to the firm. Do a first interview, and get a second interview. Let the interviewer lead the interview and ask questions about the work day, environment, and company info that is not covered in your research. The question then becomes do you want them and do they want me.  Once you determine this is a job for you, urge the firm that you are a good fit and can help them and ask for the job. Then send a thank you letter for the interview.

Connecticut Cuff Analytics

This year I started a life style brand called Connecticut Cuff. We specialize in preppy cuffed shorts.  This is clothing company that reflects my personal style and a growing resurgence in the fashion industry of the "preppy" look.  Kiel James Patrick, Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide, Nantucket Buckets, Knot Clothing Co, Harding-Lane, Nantucket Reds, and many more have begun to really manufacturer and market their clothing as more than a product, but a life style.  the resurgence of "preppy" is becoming more of a life style than simply a product.  As a result of the growing trend and the saturation of the preppy clothing/ lifestyle brand market marketing and analytics have grown more and more important to the success of these brands. For this reason yesterday I explored linking my website with google analytics.


Along with the start of my company, I recently launched an online store.  I bought a domain name, e-mail address and online store through GoDaddy.com.  This allows me to sell my product, market my product, and interact with other businesses, companies and colleagues.  Over the last couple of weeks in my analytics class we have learned the importance of tracking website traffic and the different types of information that can be assessed.  As a result I set up a google analytics account for my website. The below image is  a shot of some basic information that I was able to track since the website's launch. I can look at the average time spend visiting the website, if the users are new or returning, their age, interests, and what social media platform they accessed a link from.  There are several more options that I have yet to explore.

My company is planning a Facebook ad campaign to launch later this month.  The campaign will be linked to google analytics as well and we will track the effectiveness of the ad.

What Color is Your Parachute

Do you have a job? How was the interview process? Did you feel uncomfortable at any point?  These are interesting questions to consider after reading chapter 5 in the "What Color is Your Parachute" book.  Furthermore, I have a job, have been interviewed before and the interview was uncomfortable. My job interview went well, however, it became uncomfortable when the question of compensation arose.  As a young professional who is trying to get a job it is difficult for me to demand a certain amount of money.  I do not have vast, proved and professional success.  The discomfort in the interview comes when I am asked how much I want to make.  If it happens early in the process, I do not know what to say.  I want to keep them interested and I do not want the relationship to be just about money.  Furthermore, when I am asked at the end I do not want to ruin a great interview by asking for too much money.

The text explains this dilemma quiet simply by stating that salary is important.  You do a service and need to get compensated for that service. Therefore, "always ask about salary." The text also states some helpful ways to differ the question.  Trying to ask more questions about the position before you answer is good.  Asking for time to think about the opportunity more. Even being open and stating that you do not want to discuss that topic until both parties are interested in an agreement.  These are all ways to differ the question.  If you are forced to answer try giving a range.  If the interviewer keeps pressing then maybe think about whether its a place you want to work at all or ask what they are willing to pay.  

Have a conversation about salary.  Most importantly make sure it is not skipped and that before you accept a job you know what you will be paid.