Author Archives: slyork10

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About slyork10

I am enthusiastic about creating and teaching innovative marketing plans using social media and traditional tactics which increase Brand Awareness, Brand Sentiment & ROI. My blog is a collection of topics that face many busy people like Vacations, Networking Marketing and Life.

UTOPIA

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Utopia of the Seas – A Royal Caribbean Cruise

This impressive ship was appropriately named as our vacation was “Utopia”. 

I am usually a self-planner and this time, took advantage of a FREE (yes FREE) Travel Advisor with Funshine Destinations .  The owner, Andrea, made the planning (and our last minute requests) smooth and easy and the best part, FREE (don’t worry, she is compensated by the ships/resort, it just doesn’t impact your fee/pricing).   

Funshine Destinations to the Rescue

We had a general idea of the length of cruise and port, and Funshine Destinations owner Andrea advised us with a variety of dates, options and price ranges.  Andrea was highly communicative and collaborative during the process, she replied within 24-hours (sometimes even down to 24-seconds) and her assistance eased my usual anxiety with all the steps. She found us the perfect rooms (10206 & 10210) which were high-level deck, mid-ship and 10206 had a slight larger balcony. Next time, we will plan more than 4 months in advance for an adjoining room, nevertheless, Sloane and her bff were only a room apart.

Once we had the room(s) booked, we downloaded the Royal App which was the epicenter of all things before/during the cruise.  The trip insurance was a no-brainer to protect our investment and ensure we had that as a safety net for the cruise, flight and ourselves. Funshine Destinations sent us packing lists, helpful videos, options for airport transfers (which yes, we took advantage of the smooth ride of a car service vs an uber) and had ALL our various itineraries on one portal (so convenient).

Royal Caribbean Cruise Pre-Purchases

The Royal App makes pre-planning, and pre-purchase is easy and there are usually discounts (which go up/down, these were the lowest I saw in the 4 mos). Here are the items we pre-purchased:

  • In-Room Décor for the girl’s room. (Note: People had cruise themed magnets on their doors, we would do this next time.)
  • 25% off Souvenir Towel & Tumbler (for the girls)
  • 25% off Deluxe (Alcohol) Beverage Package. (Note: these come with the unlimited soda cups so we gave those to the girls and they used them on the ship. It is a loophole.)
  • 25% off 24 1-Liters of Evian (Note: bottled water is free with beverage packages; these were helpful to grab and go in our fridge)
  • 25% off Thrill Water Park Cocoa Cay Excursions (Yes, the girls enjoyed it!)
  • 30% off Internet (Note: you can use 1 internet code per device so you can either get 1 person + 3 devices for 3 codes, or 3 people + 1 device). We had 3 codes so the girls each connected and Todd and I shared a code.
  • We did not see any shows, suggest you pre-select to ensure ease of sitting but most venues have a standing line.

Airport – Hotel – Port – Airport Transportation

  • Arriving MCO – Hotel: We took a car service arranged by Funshine Destinations
  • Hotel – Port: We took the hotel shuttle for $60 then learned that Uber was only $20 and we could not get a refund.
  • Return Port – Airport: We detoured to Ron Jon’s Surf Shop via taxi (at the port), then arranged the car service to the airport. We found out from our friends that MCO did not let them check their bags until 4 hours before boarding so they had to sit and wait outside at MCO.

All Aboard…The UTOPIA of the Seas

Our Fav Food / Drink Spots

  • Windjammers Buffet (Deck 16)
  • Sorrento’s Pizza (Deck 5)
  • El Loco Fresh – Mexican Buffet (Deck 15)
  • Vue (Deck 15 during day)
  • Schooners Bar (Deck 6 evenings)
  • Café Promenade – Select Starbucks (Deck 5)
  • Starbucks – App Accepted (Deck 5)
  • Social 100 – Teen Club (Deck 18)

Day 1 – Embark

  • There was truly no “boarding time”, we had a 12:30p slot and were on the ship by 10:00a.
  • Navigate to your assigned “Muster Safety Training” on the way into the ship (it would help if you knew if you were forward/front or aft/ass of the ship).
  • Find a set out lounge chairs on Deck 15 or 16, then take turns getting food (and staying with the carry-ons).
  • Ask the drink waiters for your refill cups and whatever soda for the kids, then the kids can use the cups.
  • Guest Services has the bands (easy to use for drinks/room) and if you have multiple rooms, they will give you extra keys. As the girls were not 18+, they could not technically have their own room, so we booked Todd/Sloane & Stacey/Claire then got keys for us to use our own rooms. The bands cannot be changed rooms.
  • 1:00p – All luggage was in the hallways, and I used the tip and empty hangers went into a drawer (otherwise they sway and make noise).

Day 2 – Nassau, Bahamas

  • Unless you really, really want to do an excursion, stay on the ship. “Junkaroo Beach”, while a short 1-mi walk, is close enough, it was dirty and full of chair peddlers for $10/chair.
  • The sea was a bit rough when leaving the Nassau to Cocoa Cay, not awful, just felt it more than usual.

Day 3 – Cocoa Cay, Bahamas

  • Map of the island is on the app the morning you arrive
  • Cannot book anything day-of (do in advance)
  • Provided Lounge Chairs + Umbrellas are plentiful
  • Daybeds are closer to the ship than the Cabanas
  • Free Lockers (ie: Thrill Waterpark)

    Day 4 – Day at Sea

    • Disembark Video on TV
    • Information Distributed (ie: Luggage Tags for 10p in Hallway)

    Day 5 – Disembark Day (aka: Sad Day)

    • Windjammer closes at 8:00a
    • If you wait long enough, all luggage has been sent to the dock and there are general exits
    • Passports are the fastest to disembark

    Great Wolf Lodge

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    This was to be the adventure of her lifetime as we embarked on a fun weekend to celebrate our daughter’s 8th birthday.  It was a surprise weekend, and when she found out that we were going to Great Wolf Lodge, tears of joy sprung to her cheeks as she collapsed into a hug and thanked us for planning this trip.  Since returning, many have asked “How was it?” and “Would you go again?”  In short, it was great and yes, I will go again… though I will do things differently.

     

    Wolf Pup Den Suite

    I did enjoy this room for our family of three, though the bunk beds faced the sink area (the bathroom sink/vanity was in the room, not the bathroom) so this meant that we were not taking showers/getting ready while our daughter slept.

    Passes – Note: Passes & Prices vary by park

    Upon check-out, after you have spent money on your room, you can purchase an “adventure pass”.  If you are like me, you opt to spend $39.95 for a few extra items (Arcade, Candy, Ice Cream and Build-a-Bear) assuming your child will enjoy the FREE activities on-site (Water Park and a variety of Lodge Activities).

    This was a mistake.  We paid $39.95 for a Pup Pass then $15.00 for Unlimited Ropes Course (which is outside the Wolf Pup Den Suites).  If you are good at math, you know you’re already at $54.95 (again, prices vary by location).

    I wish I had gotten a Wolf Pass for $59.95 (which I ended up getting anyway) and here is what it comes with:

    • 1 MagiQuest Game (Harry Potter-ish game where you have to find items in the resort with a wand)
    • 1 Classic MagiQuest Wand (needed for the game)
    • 1 Round Mini Golf
    • 1 Unlimited Pass to the Ropes Course
    • 1 Climb on the Climbing Wall
    • 1 Bowling Game
    • Arcade Points
    • Candy
    • Ice Cream
    • (Note: It does not come with a Build-A-Bear)

    The point is…if you and your family are new to GWL, perhaps wait to get the pass after you check out the fun and then decide which one is right for your kids. J

    What you need to bring

    The beauty of GWL is that you don’t need to bring anything and they hook your credit card up to your wristband (also lets you into your room) which is super convenient to charge food, arcades, drinks, etc.

    What you want bring

    As my daughter is somewhat a picky-eater, I always pack food I know she will eat (and it certainly came in handy).  We also brought our own adult-beverages (and corkscrew) as their wine list was fairly limited.  There is a “rule” of no outside of the resort food/beverages in the common areas though we saw bags and coolers packed and carried into the waterpark areas.  We opted for using souvenir cups so we were blatantly breaking the rules. J

    Have fun!

     

    No Nonsense Guide to Small Biz Social Media

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    Title: No Nonsense Guide to Small Biz Social Media

    In an era of “Shop Local”, more and more consumers are looking to support smaller businesses.  In return, small businesses must effectively market themselves and ensure marketing strategies do not get stale.  Not sure where to start, then this No-Nonsense Guide to Small Biz Social Media is for you!

    1. Map it Out

    This is not the kind of map you can find on Google; a Social Map  is a strategic outline for how a small business should approach their content marketing.  It is a written plan for social posts, goals, KPIs and is used to serve as a guide.  This map will be used in conjunction with a content calendar which organizes the content production schedule.

    1. Recycle

    The notion of “recycled or reimagined” content is to squeeze every drop from your research to use in a variety of ways.  A rule for content  is to keep an open mind and develop all pieces to be part of a larger whole.  As you think of our project, we could share each other’s work on our social pages (bigger span of the content web) as well as leverage parts of it for infographics, videos and even blurbs for our Facebook posts (Twitter is more difficult due to the character limits).  This really is a way of “working smarter not harder” as there are more uses for each piece of content which to the outsider looks like new content.

    1. Fresh vs. Stale

    Just like food, Content on a brand’s social page should be fresh, and not become stale.  Content can have varied support of organizational initiatives to enhance the image of the brand   One way to do this is by pre-scheduling content to post on the social sites (via Hootsuite, etc) so that readers have fresh content to read and therefore, remain engaged with your content.

    1. Listen to this…

    Social media also allows an avenue for customer interaction, participation and feedback.   The notion of listening to customers is often thought of face-to-face though it is equally important to listen to the Groundswell.  This can be achieved through polls, asking questions and it also requires reading all customer replies and posts about your business.  This marketing intel can assist in featuring new products and/or altering existing ones.

    1. Go Outside the 4-walls

    Social Media makes it easy for retailers to get out of their stores, and into homes with concepts just as Remarketing. Remarketing is a form of online advertising to re-target ads to users who have already visited a website (desktop or mobile).  These ads will appear when consumers browse the web; watch YouTube videos and/or reading news sites after they have interacted with the brand.  The benefit of retargeting is to keep a brand top-of-mind, especially to those who already looked at your site (whether or not they made a purchase).

    What other no-nonsense ideas do you use for Social Media Marketing?

    Time is All We Have

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    I put “Time is All We Have” on a clock that was given to me as a graduation present.  Here’s why:

    The most common post-graduation questions I hear is:  “What are you doing with all your free time?”

    I am not sure if “free-time” equals time away from work and other duties though supposedly there is time, that is free and I have more of it now.    I’m sorry to burst bubbles though I haven’t found it yet as there are still only 24-hours in my day (unless it is today and DST gives us 25-hours in one day).   Time, to me, is a passing of connected opportunities that we either take or we don’t and which we never get back.

    I wanted to get my Master’s so in essence, I was already spending my “free time” fulfilling what was required to check something off my bucket list.   Now that it is checked off, I am working on other bucket-list worthy items using the same time previously spent doing homework.

    At any given moment in time, you are choosing to do something.  Maybe it is a verb (sleeping, playing, eating, working, reading, blogging) maybe it is a state of mind (reflective, meditative, mindful).  Regardless of what you are doing, it is using your time and that time will pass and so on and so forth.

    The best part, you get to decide if your time is used to check things off your bucket-list or to just simply do something because it brings you other forms of enjoyment, fulfillment, health, sanity, or fill in the blank.

    Cut time spent on the unnecessary things/people

    Recently a book was recommended to me called The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** (pardon the language) and it was one of my first post-graduating reads.  It could also be called “The Subtle Art of Spending your Time Wisely” or “Drama-Free Living” though I am sure we can all agree those titles aren’t as catchy.  If you can get past the f-bomb in the first few chapters, then you too will enjoy the art of cutting out the things that don’t matter and the things shouldn’t require your time (I even made a list to keep me on track).  Once you do that, guess what happens?  You find more time to spend doing things you enjoy like checking fun things off your bucket list.

    “Someday I will <fill in blank>”

    Usually what is filled in this sentence is your bucket list ie: Get Married, Have Kids, Visit Bermuda, Get a Master’s Degree, Drive a Convertible.  What is missing from our bucket lists is the “by when” (sounds like SMART goals, right?)

    Years ago (circa 2002), I was a certified instructor for a Franklin Covey course, “What Matters Most” (which has since morphed into a different course).  There was one activity in particular that resonated with me and helped me to figure out the “when”, and I will share it with you.

    Go get a piece of paper.  Seriously, go get one (drawing is involved).

    1. Make a timeline; start with the day you were born.
    2. Add some of your life milestones; school, married, kids, Olympic gold medal, retirement, etc.
    3. Add “someday” on your timeline, as this is usually the time frame that we choose for our bucket list. “Someday I will….”
    4. At this point in the activity, you realize that “someday” doesn’t exist. It’s arbitrate, fictitious, and meaningless.
    5. Instead, go back and add in when you will do your bucket list items to your timeline.
    6. The next steps would include figuring out what is needed for you to then achieve your bucket list items, and then spending your “free time” doing these tasks until you can check it off your bucket list.

    So, what’s on your bucket list?  When will you make it happen?

    Mine is visiting Bermuda in 2019. 🙂

    The End of the Pursuit

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    As I neared the end of my Master’s I started capturing the raw emotion… so here it is for you reading pleasure. 🙂

    9/15/18 – Pass/Fail

    Those words are paralyzing my brain causing unnecessary feelings of doubt, pressure, panic, insurmountable obstacles and every other self-depreciating thought as I finish out my Master’s Degree.  I feel this daunting Capstone to be hand-cuffs that I must break in order to be free of school.  Free to relax, free to shut off my brain, free to not sit in an office 7 days a week and free from weekly judgement on my opinions (backed by at least 2 scholarly resources) in the form of a grade.  And lastly, free to once again be attentive to my family, to my needs and to whatever spontaneous decision floats my fancy.

    I started this entry in the midst of editing the final touches of my capstone to accurately capture my raw emotion.  Perhaps this is like child birth in the regard that how I feel today (pain on a different scale), will soon be a distant memory.  I will not remember the agony and only remember the triumph of accomplishing something great.  (Side note: Sloane will ALWAYS be a bigger accomplishment than a piece of paper, just the analogy that popped in my mind.)

    Am I done?

    The next step arrives with its emotional friend “disbelief” that perhaps I have finished polishing all my artifacts.  Have I created an Integrated Marketing Portfolio for a fictitious floral company, based in Kansas is expanding globally in Finland in a proficient manner?  I sure hope so because anything more I add is just sizzle and not steak.

    And while I understand the need to showcase that I can weave together 11 classes of content into one humongous final paper…it feels like calculus; not sure I will ever need (or want) to do this again.  I am not sure I will ever work with a floral shop who wants to expand internationally (if you know of one, send them my way, they can have my blood, sweat, tears and ideas).

    What’s next?

    I get to take “student” out of my list of “jobs” (Wife, Mom, Employee, Relative and Friend).  Am I walking at my commencement in May? Nope. This 110 week journey complete with 440 documents and 12+ books has taken enough of my time away from mornings, nights, weekends, breaks, vacations, holidays and life.   I don’t need to spend hours seated among a sea of caps and gowns, in a cold arena just to hear “Stacey York, Master of Marketing” (unless I am sitting next to my favorite birthday twin Samantha  in her cap/gown).

    9/17 –Waiting Game  

    O.M.G. can my capstone grade just post already?!  Yeah, that is about all I can think about…ugh, school is still consuming my waking non-working moments. Funny, after all this time I learned how to send grade notifications to my email. Now I can stop clicking refresh 20,000 times.

    The only other time I felt this pressure in taking a test was driver’s ed. You remember, the road test, the written test and waiting to pass and get your license (and hoped you didn’t fail as it would crush you).

    9/18 – Your Final Grade is…

    As I am on the phone with my friend & colleague (Kelly), I see an email come across and the long subject line is:   MKT-700-Q5274 Marketing Capstone 18TW5 – Updated Grade: Your grade for “9-1 Capstone Components 1 and 2: Integrated Marketing Portfolio and Executive Summary Presentation” has been updated.

    I scramble. I see my grade in the email yet I don’t believe it. I log into the SNHU portal to see it there, to confirm what I saw in the email.  All the while I am saying in the phone “oh my gosh, oh my gosh, holy cow, hang on, let me see” (and Kelly replying what? what is it?).  O.M.G. Yes, indeed I got an A!

    Let the flood gates open…tears of joy, tears of relief, tears of freedom.  I am graduating with my Master’s in Science in Marketing (concentration in Social Media).  I do have a final week of schoolwork (easy stuff) for the other class (yes, 2 classes a term to finish before March 2019).   Though regardless, I am going to graduate.  My degree will “confer” on October 1, 2018.

    Thank you

    The list of people for me to thank is quite hefty as so many have gotten me through the last 25 months of schoolwork.

    • First and foremost Todd & the girls have been super patient and understanding on all the things we delayed due to my “homework”. They were totally cool when I dragged my books/laptop to the Dominican on our Nickelodeon vacation, or when I locked myself in the office with classic music on loud enough to drain out Fort Nite.  Thank you all for the love and support so that I could focus on finishing my Master’s.
    • My Mom & Dad took care of Sloane countless times when I needed time to focus on my papers (or just because she asked to go there, not sure which it was at times). I know my college path was different than most, though my parents always believed in me so I believed in myself.
    • My birthday twin and college buddy Samantha. I met her on my 2nd term and knew that we were very similar and could be great friends. Little did I know we’d share the same birthday (not the year). No words can ever describe how much I appreciated having her by my side for the last 9 terms (that = 100 weeks).
    • ALL my friends who allowed me to skip out on events, be stressed out, panic, those who offered me kind words, were my cheerleaders, a shoulder to cry on, let me do homework while getting my hair done, taken me on a walk to decompress, took my darn coffee survey twice and especially those who knew when I needed a big pour of wine.
    • My employer for Tuition Reimbursement (it’s how I got an undergrad & graduate degree) and my colleagues who had to hear me drone on about why they too should go to school (and/or the project du jour).

    While I didn’t intend this to become an acceptance speech, to me this is far better than a mere 3-seconds of hearing my name in an arena, isn’t it? 🙂

    In the words of Cookie Monster:

    Hey Mom, It’s time to do Homework

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    I know what you’re thinking…you don’t have time to fit school in your already busy life of being Wife, Mom, Employee, etc.

    Finding the Time

    To learn how to get more time in your day, visit the blog of my long-time mentor whose work can be found at The Art of Really Living.  Once you learn how to get more time, then we can fill it in with more things like life, interests, maybe even college while maintaining Harmony in your Life.

    There are many benefits of returning to school, many that I did not consider before taking the plunge to start my journey to obtain a Master’s in Social Media Marketing.

    Finding the Reason

    First, it has helped me figure out how to blog in a more meaningful way (vs. a diary of stuff no one wants to read).  Some of my earlier blogs were geared towards how to maximize your Networking Marketing Career (ie: Isagenix, Young Living, Younique, etc).  So, if you are actively selling and working on your downline, check out my earlier blogs for tips, tricks and networking ideas.

    Second, I am a role model for my girls.  In full transparency, the oldest is a “bonus (aka: step) daughter” though I shall loop her in as “girls” for simplicity of points I will make as Mom and because she is exposed all parts of our life.  Regardless of title, when they see me doing homework, it makes it a bit easier when they have to do homework as well.  (And yes, they do ask about my grades.)

    Lastly, I am bettering myself and not just in the scholarly sense.  Participating in forums where people of diverse thoughts and backgrounds post complementary or opposing views on a variety of topics keeps me grounded.  It allows me to explore other perspectives, research topics that interest me, and helps me be a better person at home, work and in life.

    Finding the Balance

    How do I balance a career, home, school and still stay fit?  It’s all in finding my balance and maintaining composure when things get “nutty”.  I maximize my time at work, home, the gym and during my kids activities and I still have downtime to goof off with my family and friends. Here are some of my tricks:

    • While my youngest is at gymnastics class, I workout.  I read a book (textbook or novel) or reply to emails while I do cardio then quick circuit strength training to keep my heart rate up.  This is my time, twice a week, to recharge and burn calories at one time.
    • I work at odd hours instead of tossing and turning in bed.  For example, it is currently 11:35pm and I’m not sleeping so I am being purposeful and adding more to this blog.  Sometimes, the best ideas keep me up and getting them on paper is the best way to clear my mind.
    • For schoolwork, I choose to write papers about topics that are relevant at work (two birds, one stone).  This helps me to be a better employee and after all, if work is paying for my degree, they ought to reap the rewards of my labor, research and time at school.
    • I am a distributor (and 5 year client) for Isagenix (best darn protein shakes ever, taste like milkshakes) and I also enjoy their Greens , Vitamins and Ionix Supreme (stress-buster),
    • I do meal-prep for lunches and dinners and I eat sweets (and drink wine) in moderation.
    • I also enjoy “witch voodoo” aka: Young Living Essential Oils for a variety of reasons, mostly because all of it makes me feel healthy.

    Stay tuned for my next blog on other ways to find your Balance…until then, enjoy the Harmony of Life!

     

     

     

     

    The York’s Nickelodeon Adventure

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    Why & How You Should Vacation at the  Nickelodeon Resort in Punta Cana, Dom. Rep.

    This blog is purely a representation of our experiences and is no way related to any official website for the Nickelodeon Resort.  (Just felt I had to disclaim that this is just my perspective.)  Overall, we highly recommend this property and we would absolutely go again (like tomorrow).  So sit back, grab an umbrella drink and read along to help  plan and enjoy your trip.

    Before You Book

    Deciding on a family vacation can be daunting, so here are a few things to consider when booking your Nickelodeon Vacation.  There are a few types of rooms; we had the “Flat Swim Up Suite”: King Bed, Full-size Pullout Couch, Twin Rollaway Bed, patio and a SWIM channel (aka: pool off your room porch) that is shared with a block of 8 rooms.  We had room 4110 and I would absolutely book this room again as it is in the middle of everything and very quiet (plus, it faced the Pineapple Villa).  Note: Rooms 4102-14 are in the same block and would also be our preferred rooms.

    Book On-Line at Nickelodeon Resort (it is the least expensive way to book).  Once you choose a room, they will call you to confirm it is available, it is a $300 deposit (the remaining balance is paid a month before you arrive). If your room choice is not available, then get the $300 refund and start over (otherwise you may not get the 45% discount).  Note: There are bigger rooms/swim ups though they were in an area that was bustling with vacationers which is not what we were wanted in a room atmosphere.

    Hot off the Press Southwest Vacations  also had airfare/hotel deals at this resort! 🙂

                   

    Pricing & Flights

    • This resort is all-inclusive (with a few exceptions outline in “The Extras” below) and usually has a 45% off special (just watch the website for this discount).
    • We flew Southwest Airlines (if leaving MHT/BOS go through BWI not MDW bc it is a shorter flight).  Thankfully we had plenty of Southwest points from our credit card so we saved $3,000 in flights (we only paid $400 for the 4 of us).  If you decide to get a Southwest Visa, let me know so I can refer you and we both get “free” points to fly somewhere warm again soon.
    • Total for the room (5 nights) was $4,200, Flights $400 and “the Extras” on-site were $400 so… $5,000 total for this awesome vacation.

    The Extras

    • Character Breakfast : $27-37/ea.  We did the all character one, it was an hour with a buffet breakfast (pjs are welcome) and individual photo opps with Dora, Boots, Wanda, Cosmo, Marshall, Chase, Patrick & SpongeBob. They only do these on Thur/Sun so consider that when determining your arrival/departure dates. Note: You can book this a week in advance.

    • “Private Slime”: $50 to get green-water dumped on your family’s head (you can wear goggles) = priceless! Note: you can also book this in advance.
    • Dinner Reservations: The food was included, our bottle of wine was extra. We only went to Verdello (Italian) and it was good.  We wanted to go to Spacewalker and it already was booked.
    • Room Service Bottle of Wine is extra (again, food included, not wine so go out and get a few glasses and bring them back to your room, LOL). While we are on this subject, my ONLY bottle of room service wine smelled and tasted like stinky feet water (yes, they comp’d it).  So again… get the exercise and walk to a bar!
    • Hair Braiding is done at Vassa Spa and is $7/braid (or full head for lots more).  You can make an appt in the courtyard (there will be girls there taking appts).
    • Some nights, there is a Caricature drawer, he charged $10/ea and did fun B&Ws of the girls.

    What to Pack

    • It is cool at night/morning and we did see some rain (& the room has an umbrellas) so make sure you have some warm layers.  Funny…I forgot to pack anything longer than capris which was not smart at all. While we’re on clothes, the first layover was raining so Krysta and my clothes were soaked (thankful for sunshine to dry them out).
    • The fancy restaurants have a “dress code” so only pack dresses/pants/nice shorts for the nights you want to go there. Otherwise, you can be in any resort attire.
    • Bring your own Swim Gear: Goggles, Floats (Amazon.com) as you can use them in any pool plus it is less expensive than the ones they have there.. like these fries (speaking of which, I ate fries like, every day).  The lazy river does have tubes to use (they are kind of large for the littler kids).  Pools are 4ft deep (toddler pool is ankle-deep).

    Arrival at the Resort

    • The shuttle drive is about 35 minutes from PUJ (it was included in our hotel fee).
    • Nothing is better than seeing palm trees, and then they give kids slime drink (banana-ish tasting green colored shake) and champagne for the adults. They drive you (via golf cart) and your luggage to your room and point out many things along the way (which you vaguely remember though you have a map, phew).
    • They also give you a “schedule” of events for the day and have a new schedule every day which you can retrieve in a variety of places like the lobby.
    • Your room key goes into a slot and this provides power to the room (not power to the key) so ensure there is always a key in there or there is no power to your room (and it is VERY dark). And, good luck with F/C to get your room a pleasant temp (I could divert to a story from Quebec City though this is about the DR).
    • At some point (depending on the time of your arrival), the concierge will invite you to a 90-min welcome breakfast. This is totally optional! Because we didn’t know better, we went to this breakdast.  (Keep in mind it had raining that morning and as we started this journey, the sun came out.)  I will not judge you if this interests you, just want to ensure you are aware of what you’re really getting into with this “breakfast”.
      • The welcome breakfast is really a code-word for “we want to sell you a membership to keep coming back to Karisma resorts” (they have a few other tropical resorts).
      • The top membership is only $90,000 for 100 weeks of vacation (um, if I only take a vaca like this 1x a year, I will have them until I am 142!?).  Or $26,000 for 30 weeks.  Or $15,000 for 15 weeks.
      • This membership fee guarantees 40-60% off the cost of the trip (which I got booking online without this membership).  So, you become a member (with a fee) to get a discount on the room (which I had already gotten).
      • They say it is not a “timeshare pitch” though it’s as close as you can get… 120 minutes of lost sunshine we can never reclaim and $80 for the girls to spend at the resort.
    • There is a mini-bar in your room and your concierge will help you get what you want (ie: different beer, more water, etc).
    • Oh , and bring smaller bills to tip a variety of people, they are all very helpful and friendly and deserving of tips.

    Our Food-Go-To’s

    • Doppio: Coffee & Soft- Serve Ice Cream (Sloane loved their hot chocolate too, the cookies were good, the donuts a bit dry). Two Coffees with Milk = Dos Cafe con Leche Por favor!
    • Sugarcane: Buffet-style breakfast, lunch or dinner. Never a line and you can just go get a treat without sitting at a table.  In the back left corner, there was an ice cream station.  To the far right, mimosa station. My picky eater (Sloane) found something at each meal (one breakfast was lettuce and marshmallows).
    • Ice Cream: A a few places, we usually got it at Doppio (like 3-4 times a day), Sugarcane or the Infinity Pool Bar Jazmin.

    Our Day

    We found a groove to our day, it worked for us to balance what we all wanted to do (we all like different parts, esp the almost 14 & 7 yr old) and perhaps it could work for you too!

    • Sloane is an early riser, she and I would sneak out, get an activity list (from the lobby) grab coffee/cocoa at Doppio (drop one off to Todd), grab our pool towels, secure our pool seats and then play at the beach for a bit. Note: The undertow is ferocious!! I am not kidding, it took out kids/adults when we were Oceanside and we were on the “dry part” of the sand.
    • There is a green “sewer” cap that is wobbly and is supposed to be stepped on (see photo).

    • We would head back; grab Todd & Krysta and enjoy Breakfast (marshmallows and all) at Sugarcane.
    • There is also a toddler-pool area (with little lounge chairs), the water was up to Sloane’s ankles.
    • Then it was infinity Pool time (awesome pool ocean-side.  Note: once done at this pool, if heading to Aqua Nick, return brown pool towels and get towels cards.

    • We took a break for lunch (yup, back at Sugarcane) then it was off to Nickelodeon Place.
      • This was kid-centric with Aqua Nick boasting a lazy river, Slime, Nick Live (games) and our favorite was the foam party (they dump bubbles into the lazy river).  There is a water park with a slide (and a slide only for babies) and a big water dump.  The girls only ventured in that part once, they preferred the lazy river.
      • There is also an in-door activity center, you can drop your kids off and they will watch them (and there is slime making, etc which you will find on the activity schedule.  Sloane only went in here once, with me, and wowzers, it was chaos).
      • Note: Once done here, return blue towels, get towel card.

    • By this time, the sunshine was at our swim-up hotel room pool (yeah, back to the other towel hut for brown pool towels and yes, there are places for refreshments along the way). Sometimes, they kids took a break from the sun in the shade or inside so it was quiet mommy time in the sun with a book. Aaaahh….
    • We usually grabbed some room service for dinner because we were hungry before the restaurants opened (the chix tenders were yummy and I may have had waaaay too many French Fries). Note: The DR doesn’t practice DST so it is an hour ahead of ET in Feb.
    • Then we meandered to various evening resort events, usually to hear music (and visit bars) in the courtyard of the restaurants.  This started as early as 6:15 which were always a different theme.  We didn’t go to any other “show” (though I hear the circus is good) as they started too late for my girls.
    • For the younger ones most nights (not on Tue/Wed) there is “Playhouse Live” in a building that has no # on my map (it’s behind Spacewalker).  It is a cute little show with songs, dancing, a story and an art contest.  Sloane won her 1st try, here she is with Katherine & Johnny on stage getting an award!

    We put in 8,000-10,000 steps a day (there are golf carts to take you to/from though we only got on one the whole time) and these girls walked hand-in-hand everywhere (melt my heart).

    Departure

    • Leaving is always bitter-sweet so enjoy every last moment on the beach, then return those towels (again) for towel cards (You will need to turn these in at check-out).
    • Find out what time your shuttle is due to take you to the airport (about 3 hrs in advance due to the immigration, etc).
    • If you are flying Southwest, you leave the airport terminal in the A/B/C order onto the bus and then, planeside they call you A1, A2, etc.
    • Customs at BWI (Baltimore) was super quick and easy, then you take your checked luggage to another place to re-check it, and go back through security all over again (helpful to have TSA Pre-Check).

    So, there you have it… Nickelodeon Resort 101. 🙂

     

    Future Implications

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    Look into my crystal ball… and see the wonders to unfold in the future of Social Media.  Ok, so it is hard to truly predict the future of social media though there are a few insights we can gain from where we’ve been and what the future may hold.

    I have been in the field of telecommunications for over two decades which means I have seen a lot of advancement in technology and how it brings people together as we adapt to the technology.  I remember when wireless (cellular) technology converted from Analog  to TMDA, CDMA & GSM and then 3G, 4G/ LTE  and now VOLTE  with all of these changes has come new ways for human to connect which in turn, changed how we interact with each other on a daily basis.

    I vividly remember a video from 2001-ish (that we watched on a VCR so I cannot locate it on YouTube) “predicting” that we could play video games against each other on our phones.  At the time, I looked at my sleek Nokia  “candy bar” phone that allowed me to talk and text and was in disbelief that any of that would happen in my lifetime.  Fast Forward to 2017, and my Samsung device has the capabilities of transferring money through Cash App , playing Words with Friends, sending videos as well as access to a variety of social pages.

    So, what does the past mean for the future of Social Media Marketing?

    A recent article in Entrepreneur should capture the attention of brands as they look to stay ahead of upcoming trends and advancement in social media marketing.

    • Diversity of Posts – As technology evolves, so will the thirst of social users to have new ways to share their lives on the social sphere. While users currently use pictures, videos and text and layer in audio, the future will have more integration, and likely a higher emphasis on audio components.  Brands will need to explore how to tap into the ability to provide sharable content which includes integrated and live engagement with their brand.
    • Paying for Peace & Increased Privacy– As brands continue to use social platforms to target consumers, conversely consumers will begin to pay to escape these advertisements. This is similar to the shift in TV and Radio with the ability to DVR shows and uses commercial-free music streaming.  Brands will need to focus on compelling content that keeps a consumer’s attention and is not seen as an advertisement.
    • Videos – Live content is on the rise with Instagram Stories, Facebook Live, Periscope and this will continue to be on the rise as social moves forward. The challenge for brands will be engaging consumers to watch their entire video content and not just the first few seconds. This means front-loading them with compelling content that draws them in to watch the full video.

    As we look to create the future of Social Media which comes first, change in technology or change in human behavior?

    I think they are interrelate and interdependent.  Human Behavior (the need to share, connect and build relationships) drives advancements in technology (new social platforms and currently unimaginable apps).  Conversely, advancement in technology molds human behavior as consumers adapt to the tools available to interact socially.

    What do you see in the crystal ball for Social Media?

    Viral Marketing Initiatives

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    What is Viral Marketing?

    Much like a cold or flu, Viral Marketing is when there is a high pass along rate from person to person (ie: shares, retweets, comments, etc.).  Over the years, there have been many examples of successful viral campaigns, and all of them utilize a few key characteristics.    Check out these Viral Campaign Traits as well as stellar examples for each:

    Viral Campaign Traits & Examples

    1. Current – Old news is just that, old and forgotten. Viral campaigns are trend-setters on new-news which is why being current tops the chart of traits for a viral campaign. Take for example Planet Fitness who capitalized on one of the 5th worst power outages in NH this week with offering FREE visits to their NH facilities for shower, power and to use their equipment.  This social reaction filled a current need for those without power and, helps Planet Fitness to showcase their clean gym facility.

     

    1. Relevant – Relevancy can either be related to your target audience or more general in nature to attract a broader audience. Animal Adventure Park reached a broad audience and topped You Tube charts with April the Giraffe  as viewers anxiously awaited the birth of the baby giraffe (and then the name of the baby).  Here are their impressive campaign metrics:
    • 232 million live views
    • 6 billion minutes of live watch-time
    • 2nd most viewed YouTube History in 66 days
    • Top 5 most-watched moments for a live event on You Tube

     

    1. Creative – Creative marketing requires making new connections, with a focus on the unexpected. Housecleaning is what most considers a boring chore which is why the Clean  snappy, tongue in cheek and buzz worthy Valentine’s Day Video Ad was creative for this cleaning supply giant.  The Mr. Clean You Tube Video garnered these impressive metrics with its creative spin on cleaning every nook and cranny in your home:
    • 11,700 impressions across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in ONLY 1 Minute.
    • To date, there have been over 17,500,000 views of this video.

     

    1. Purposeful – There is a difference in purpose and purposeful as it relates to marketing. Being purposeful focuses on a problem or challenge and uses sale of products and services to create positive change. As we are coming up on Black Friday, it comes to mind the story of REI  who took chance a few years ago with #OptOutside.  This campaign encouraged people to go outside and enjoy the beauty of the world instead of shopping on Black Friday. This has been so successful; other companies have joined in this effort and REI has used #OptOutside consistently to showcase that their brand is focused on the great outdoors.

     

    1. Shareable

    Social Media is no longer just for the tech-savvy, it is a platform to leverage the internet to inspire millions to follow a story, share it on their own feeds and participate in conversations (and debates).  It should come as no surprise that one of the most shared campaigns has been surrounding President Trump.   There is a Huffington Post  titled “An Open Letter to My Friends Who Supported Donald Trump” which was shared a total of 2.2Million times across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and Domain shares.

    The fun part about Viral Marketing is that you never know what will take off, what will speak to the masses, and how far it will reach the depths of social media.  There are so many examples of viral campaigns, what is your favorite one and why?

    Differentiation – The Facebook War of Chevy vs. Ford

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    Social Media has changed the way many industries market to consumers and the automotive industry is no stranger to utilizing this medium.  So, who uses it best? And, what exactly does “best” mean in terms of a Social Media Strategy?  Join me in a Facebook Face-Off of Chevy vs. Ford.

    The last attempt at comparing these automakers and their Social Strategy was in 2014.  At the time of that Face-Off Ford won overall based on Mentions and Conversation Mapping though Chevy did rank higher Social Sentiment.  How do these automakers stack up in the Social Swirl in 2017? Let’s find out…

    Chevy – Find New Roads

    This year started off with a bang as Chevrolet (GM) became the first automaker to use Facebook Live to showcase their new vehicles.  Imagine an up-close and personal video of the new automotive from the comfort of your home.  This is a great example of keeping up with the advanced in social media while leveraging a platform that is already being used and has 19 Million Followers on the Main Chevrolet Facebook Page.

    Chevy – Their Social Strategy

    GM’s Social Strategy in 2017 was to promoting its electric vehicle to a carefully selected audience through an integrated campaign. Its print ads in science and technology publications delivered part of that message to some of that audience. Its billboards helped it to reach another audience segment. Facebook Live expanded the audience further. It provided more information in a 25-minute segment than any commercial could have done, and it engaged its core audience deeply enough to generate over 800 comments. A full list of Chevrolet (and GM’s) social pages can be found here.

    Ford – Go Further

    In contrast, Ford has not been touted for emerging social trends to showcase its breadth of vehicles.    Main Ford Facebook Page has only 8 Million which is less than half that of its nemesis Chevy.  There have been no earth-shattering uses of Facebook much like Facebook Live though that doesn’t mean they are not finding ways to educate through this medium.

    Ford – Their Social Strategy

    In a 2014 Review their Facebook strategy they were engaging with consumers by asking for photos of the worst pot holes.  This then opens up dialogue to educate consumers on what to do when you’ve hit one and how to “fight back”.  This is a great way to evoke two-way engagement though their current efforts seem to be less interactive and more 1-way videos that do not inspire engagement.  Other Ford social campaigns (outside of Facebook) can be found here.

    From a Facebook, it appears that Chevy is agile and forward-thinking.  I am curious; does their Facebook Live post increase your consideration to go buy a Chevy?  Why or Why Not?