I have a strange feeling that every individual working in and with social media platforms for marketing has days when they need to step back, breathe and not be overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of this beast. As marketers, we know social media is fantastic...
How is your communication?
Friday, 12 December 2014
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
Communications for Life, How to
STRATEGIES HOW YOU’ LL CONNECT WITH THE MEDIA AND OTHERS TO
SPREAD YOUR MESSAGE.
Establishing relationships with individual media representatives and media outlets is an important part of a communication plan, as is doing the same with influential individuals and institutions in the community and/or the population you’re trying to reach.
You have to make personal contacts, give the media and others reasons to want to help you, and follow through over time to sustain those relationships in order to keep communication channels open.
The individuals that can help you spread your message can vary from formal community leaders elected officials, CEO of important local, businesses, clergy, etc. – to community activists and ordinary citizens. Institutions and organisations, such as colleges, hospitals, service clubs, faith communities, and other health and community organisations all have access to groups of community members who might need to hear your message.
1.CREATE AN ACTION PLAN
Now the task is to put it all together into a plan that you can act on. By the time you reach this point, your plan will already be essentially done. You know what your purpose is and whom you need to reach to accomplish it, what your message should contain and look like, what you can afford, what problems you might face, what channels can best be used to reach your intended audience, and how to gain access to those channels.
Now it’s just a matter of putting the details together – actually composing and designing your message (perhaps more than one, in order to use lots of channels), making contact with the people who can help you get your message out, and getting everything in place to start your communication effort. And finally, you'll evaluate your effort so that you can continue to make it better.If you evaluate your communication plan in terms of both how well you carry it out and how well it works, you’ll be able to make changes to improve it. It will keep getting more effective each time you implement it.
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Friday, 15 August 2014
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
Natural Haired Weave Wearers
FOUR tips for Natural Haired Weave Wearers
Wow! That was a bit of a tongue twister. Try saying that four times fast. Four tips for Natural Haired Weave Wearers. Haha, okay back to the post.
The natural hair movement is with us and in full swing. Many black women these days are rediscovering their natural hair textures by stopping the use of chemical relaxers and this is a wonderful thing.
Even with all the enthusiasm for natural hair at the moment, each individual woman’s quest for long hair has not been diminished. Unfortunately for some they have found that going natural alone does not automatically equate to tangible length gains.
Gaining length with black hair requires a specific way of taking care of your hair (a regimen) that also involves the use of protective and low manipulation styling. Because of the nature of black hair, it does best when it is not constantly being handled, in other words, leave it alone!
I have in the past come across a few articles that suggest that most long haired natural ladies gained their lengths by avoiding hair extensions all together. This is COMPLETELY
untrue! You can certainly make length gains by wearing twists, braids or other such styles with just your own hair, you are also just as likely to make those gains wearing hair extensions.
untrue! You can certainly make length gains by wearing twists, braids or other such styles with just your own hair, you are also just as likely to make those gains wearing hair extensions.
In fact, a main FACTOR to keeping a lot of natural hair ladies on track with their protective styling and their subsequent length was the use of regular weaves. Lets face it, not all of us have the unique ability to be able to go weeks on end without having hair to play in. Hair extensions fill that gap for women like us who enjoy having great looking hair on their head to style and wear, while keeping their own hair hidden and un-manipulated underneath.
to keeping a lot of natural hair ladies on track with their protective styling and their subsequent length was the use of regular weaves. Lets face it, not all of us have the unique ability to be able to go weeks on end without having hair to play in. Hair extensions fill that gap for women like us who enjoy having great looking hair on their head to style and wear, while keeping their own hair hidden and un-manipulated underneath.
Being natural while wearing hair extensions brings it’s own unique set of challenges. Here are four tips to help you navigate your way through them.
- Leave out the bare minimum of hair – There is little point wearing hair extensions as a protective style if you leave out lots of your own hair. Remember, the more hair you leave out, the more manipulation that hair will get which increases chances of breakage. You need very little hair to cover the tracks when installing the weave.
- Choose textures as close your own as possible – If you have kinky curly 3c, 4a or 4b textures that cannot be straightened effectively with the use of roller sets, wearing dead straight extensions and leaving out hair to blend is a mistake. Because of black hair’s tendency to revert in the presence of humidity you would have to flat iron your hair daily to keep your install looking seamless. Go for deep wave/kinky curly hair textures like our Spanish Town Curl that are easier to blend with your hair. If you absolute must wear straight extensions, INVEST
- Keep the weave in for a maximum of 6 weeks at a time – Natural black hair has a tendency to matt easily which is why it’s the ideal hair texture for creating dreadlocks. Keeping your weave in for extended periods of time leads to serious matting, which will mean excessive breakage while detangling your hair after you take out the weave. Some of the matting can be so bad that only a pair of scissors can solve the problem. It would be heartbreaking to see all your extra growth lost to breakage.
- Avoid synthetic hair extensions – Synthetic hair extensions are more drying than natural hair extensions. This is because synthetic hair strips moisture from your own strands and does not have the same ability as human hair to hold on to moisturizing oils. Opt for good quality human hair extensions if you can or if you must wear synthetic hair, keep it in for as short a time as possible.
Saturday, 2 August 2014
Summer 2014 Celebrity Hair Trends
SUMMER HAIR TRENDS
2014 Summer Celebrity Hair Trends. As we enter it the warmer season, you may find yourself seeking a new hair change. Warmer weather often means a hotter look and one way to change heads is to switch up your hairstyle. Looking to celebrities is always one of the best options when it comes to playing around with a new do. After all celebrities always mange to set trends, and flaunt looks from the runway.With that being said there are quite a few head turning celebrities trends currently on the radar, from chin-length style bobs, to exotic hair colors ranging from pinks to blues, and even purples. Look below to see the top celebrity hairstyles to rock for the 2014 spring and summer season. by Danielle Robinson
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Friday, 1 August 2014
Aaron' s Top 20 useful websites on the internet
The Aaron’sTop 20 helpful Websites, What to watch on
the Internet
1. netflixroulette.net — Find something random to watch on Netflix.
2. pintsinthesun.co.uk — Find somewhere to drink a pint in the sun.
3. gfycat.com — Upload your gifs.
4. youconvertit.com — Convert documents.
5. ninite.com — Download all the free software you want at the same time.
6. squirt.io — Speed read the web one word at a time.
7. shouldiremoveit.com — Find out which applications you should remove from your computer.
8. avoidhumans.com — Find places to go in public that are not crowded.
9. keybr.com — Practice your touch typing.
10. oldversion.com — Get old versions of software.
11. readability-score.com — Find out how readable text is.
12. impactingsocialmedia.blogspot.co.uk
13. mint.com — Budget your money.
14. roadtrippers.com — Plan your route with the best lodging and attractions.
15. duckduckgo.com — A search engine that is not following you.
16. padmapper.com — Maps out possible apartments/homes that fit your criteria.
17. zillow.com — Another great source for finding your next home.
18. printfriendly.com — Make any webpage print friendly.
19. printwhatyoulike.com — Print precisely what you want from any webpage.
20. privnote.com — Write a note to someone that will self-destruct after they read it.
Monday, 28 July 2014
How to Make your Hair Grow Faster?
Got a bad haircut and you want your
hair to grow faster? Or want to grow your hair long for a special day? Or maybe
you’ve recently suffered from an illness that had as a side effect hair loss
and you want your hair to grow
back thick and healthy? Whatever your reason is,
you are one among a lot of people that are interested in finding out what makes
hair grow faster. The following are just a some tips to help you achieve this:
Scalp Massage
Scalp massage will increase blood flow
to your hair follicles, thereby increasing the hair growth pace. Massage can
also remove any dead skin cells that may be inhibiting hair growth. You can
massage your scalp using just your fingertips, moving in a tight circular
motion right around the scalp. This should be done for at least 5-10 minutes
daily.
Vitamins
Diet and nutrition are what makes grow
faster, and so, by including certain vitamins in your diet you can speed up
your hair growth by up to 200%. Lack of the correct vitamins is often a
contributing factor in hair loss. The best hair vitamins are the
Biotin, B vitamins, and vitamins A, C and D. Iron and zinc are also vital
to your diet.
Diet And Lifestyle
§ Getting enough rest and sleep is vital for the
growth and repair of your body cells and your hair. Sleep deprivation and
erratic sleep patterns can contribute to hair loss.
§ Eat a healthy, balanced diet that is high in
vegetables, grains, and lean meat, but low in processed foods and sugar.
§ Cut down on smoking and reduce your alcohol intake
(or if possible cut them out altogether).
§ Drink adequate water (about 6-8 glasses per day) –
the average strand of hair consists of 25% water, and when you drink enough
water your hair will look shinier and more moisturized. Not enough water and
your hair will become brittle and more prone to breakage.
Hair Care
§ When tying up your hair avoid tight, suffocating
hair styles – instead tie up your hair in a loose braid, bun or pony tail.
§ Avoid using curling rods, straightening irons and
other heat treatments which can damage your hair.
§ Keep your hair trimmed regularly and remove split
ends periodically – you may think this is defeating your goal of making hair
grow faster, however it will actually do the opposite because it will improve
the overall health of your hair.
Hair Growth Products
There are lot products on the market
that claim to be able to make hair grow faster; however there are actually very
few that will work as claimed. One product that is proven to stimulate a faster
growth of your hair is Indian hair oil.
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Low Income Budgeting, Living on the Edge
Budgeting tips when you’re on a low income
Stress anxieties are to familiar, causing distress and sometimes uncontrolled behaviour. Family budget is under attack from all side. Causing breakdown in relationship, dysfunctional household with final result divorce. Are you feeling the economic recovery?
Managing your money on a low income takes careful
organisation – here are a few positive steps you can take to make it easier.
Work out your budget
First of all, you have to know what money is coming
in and what’s going out – and when. Making a budget gives you a clear picture
of where your money goes, and shows you where you might have a chance to save
money. It will also help you see whether you are living within your means.
Look at ways to cut
costs and shop smartly
It can be difficult to change the amount of money
you have coming in – but you have much more control over what goes out. Your
budget shows you where your money’s going, so you can see if there’s anything
you can easily cut back on, or shop around for a better deal.
As a first quick and easy step, use our cut-back
calculator to see how you can save by cutting out things you buy regularly that
are perhaps non-essentials. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t enjoy treats,
but you might be surprised at how much small things – like a daily coffee when
out – add up!
Saving money around the home and when out
Follow the links below for more tips on how to cut
back around the home and when out and about.
Energy saving grants if you’re on a low income
Did you know?
Turning down your heating by one degree can save
around £65 a year in a typical home.
Source: Energy Saving Trust
If you make your home more energy efficient you’ll
be able to save money on gas and electricity. If you’re on a low income you can
often get an energy efficiency grant to help with the costs.
Get holidays for less
If you want to get away, it pays to shop around.
There are huge savings to be made if you do.
It’s easier than you might think to check that
you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to if you’re on a low income.
Some benefits are one-off payments to help with a
particular set of circumstances like cold weather, while others, like Income
Support, top up your regular income. A careful check can make sure you’re
getting everything you should.
Follow the link below for an overview of what’s
available and to link to more information.
Emergency borrowing to
make ends meet
In some circumstances, you might be able to get an
interest-free government loan to help you make ends meet at a difficult time.
Budgeting Loans
If you're on a low income and claiming benefits you
may be able to get an interest-free Budgeting Loan from the Social Fund. This
can help with things like:
·
furniture or
household equipment
·
clothing or
footwear
·
advance rent or
removal expenses for a new home
·
travelling
expenses
·
money to help
you look for or start work
·
improving,
maintaining or securing your home
Be very careful of other kinds of borrowing. Things
like payday loans, log book loans and doorstep lending can seem like an easy
source of cash, but they could end up making a bad situation worse.
They’re often a
very expensive way of borrowing money – so always try to find other ways to
borrow if you can. Ask your family if they can help, or consider joining a
credit union – they’re set up to offer banking services to people who would
otherwise find them difficult to get. Follow the links below to find out more.
Adapted from https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk