What I learnt on Graduation Day?

After four months of waiting, last week marked the end of my time at Southampton Solent University and what a send off it was; from giving my parents a well-deserved tour around Southampton - well, West Quay Shopping Centre anyway - to celebrating with a obligatory mortarboard throw and a glass of Prosecco with my besties at the end of the Graduation ceremony - it was a day I won't forget very quickly. I now officially have 'Graduate' status. To be honest, I think I've had 'Graduate' status since getting my results back in July but until you've nervously walked across a stage in 6-inch heels on your own in front of hundreds, I don't think you can officially say you've graduated. Having never been to Graduation day before, I didn't know what to expect - I'd read all the handbooks and blogs I could find but nothing prepares you for the day ahead; not even walking around in your pyjamas the night before in your heels hoping that you will look flawless in them the next day. I can always hope. So here is what I learnt on Graduation day, which may just help you to prepare for yours: 

1. High heels are your frenemies! 

What seemed to be a good idea to start with turned into days of nursing my feet back to health. Yes, I took the bold move and wore heels for the entire day of Graduation. Ouch! Whilst legs may of looked pretty damn good (if I do say so myself) in photos, my feet were hating every second and regreted it for days after. Once the ceremony was over and it was safe to do so, the heels came off. One bit of advice that I would give to all your girls is to keep a pair of flats with you, just in case your feet take a turn for the worse. 

2. Capture every moment {with a camera and plenty of selfies} 

I still think one of the most impressive things that happened on Graduation - aside from not falling flat on my face in front of everyone - was my Dad's awesome photography skills. Hats off to the teacher that taught him everything he knows - that's me by the way. Anyway, one thing I would say about Graduation day and if it isn't obviously already take loads of photographs of you and your besties graduating together. Just think in a few years time, I can look back and see where our student life ended and adulthood began. *cue to smallest violin in the world* 

3. Always check the weather forecast. 

To be fair, I did check the weather. But unfortunately, we live in Britain and Storm Barney was feeling particularly angry on Tuesday 17th November; the rain began to pour and the winds were wild but that didn't stop us. If I could give anyone a bit of advice it would be this: plan your hair accordingly, if you know that your hair goes frizzy in the rain, be prepared before you become disappointed. 

Obviously if your Graduation is in July like most 'normal' universities you might not have to go through the drama of the wind and rain but don't forget we do live in Britain and British weather never stops surprising us. 

4. Don't forget safety pins and hair grips.  

I found the gowns and mortarboards pretty... awkward to be honest. The safety pins were a god-send keeping my gown and sash in place for the duration of the day but with 70mph winds, not even six hair grips can keep your hat on your head - I wasn't the only one running around outside the o2 Guildhall after their hat. 

5. Don't fear the Graduation stage!

Surprisingly I was totally content about walking across the Graduation stage; yes I had a few butterflies but I was quite calm. Until... the tutor at the bottom of the stairs said "if you're going to fall over at any point, now would be a good time to do it because they aren't filming this bit" - thanks for that bit of advice, if I wasn't scary before I am now! Anyway, it is easier said than done but don't fear the Graduation stage, it isn't as bad as you think and as a great friend, Eleanor Potter, 2015 once said "own it like Sharpay Evans from High School Musical". Pro-advice Eleanor! 

Until next time on Lauren Marie, Au Revoir! 

Love, 

Lauren xo 

End of an Era: Graduation Day

Tuesday marked the end of an era! 

Yes, that's right... I finally Graduated! 

On Tuesday 17th November, I officially graduated from Southampton Solent University with a 1st Class BA Honours in Advertising. But the biggest surprise of all was being awarded a Digital Marketing Foundation Award with Digital Excellence - *insert shocked face emoji here* - despite the 70mph winds and rain, it was such a special day and I got to celebrate it with family, friends and my wonderful tutors. 

Looking a little windswept I must say! 

A little blurred but I couldn't of done it without these girls. Jump for joy! 

After seventeen years of education; eleven GCSE'S, three A-Levels and a 1st First Class Honours degree with the inclusion of a 10,000 word Dissertation, I've finally completed my education! Over the last three years there were so many times that I thought about throwing in the towel; from the early morning starts in the library and the agoniser number of deadlines that came at the what felt like the end of every day to coming up with 100+ ideas for one advertising campaign and making sure that you knew of every new advertising campaign that hit our screens. Oh the woes of an Advertising student ay! 

But I got there in the end, and with only a couple of grey hairs! 

Honestly going to university was always a goal for me, even though I kept changing my mind about what I actually wanted to do there. I knew I wanted to do something in Media, that was it. I went from Graphic Design, through all media courses until I found Advertising. When I packed up my life and headed down the open road to Southampton, I realised that this was the right thing to do for me. And now three years later, after a few ups and downs, University is over and was one of the best things I think I'll ever experience. 

I must say the weather was awful on Tuesday (Storm Barney hit us with a vengeance) and I felt like and looked like a drowned rat and the line "why did I bother doing my hair?" was used alot but it didn't dampen my spirits - no pun intended. I was a Graduate. 

During the run up to this day I was pretty calm and filled with excitment. It wasn't until I stood waiting to go up on stage and the tutor stood at the bottom of the stairs said "if you're going to fall over at any point, now would be a good time to do it because they aren't filming this bit" - thanks of that advice I really appreciated it. Not. But walking up onto the stage and across it (in high heels. #Brave.) was one of the most nerve-racking yet exciting times, I'll ever experience. But I have to say my goal for Graduation Day was achieved, I didn't end up falling flat on my face on stage in front of everyone. Even if my dad and besties' dad were taking bets on which one of us would most likely fall over on stage first. Cheers Guys. So much faith. 

Graduation is an experience I'll never forget. Even if I am nursing my feet back to health after taking the bold move to wear my high heels all day in the rain. Ouch! But it was definitely worth the pain. 

Until the next memory-filled and nerve-racking experience that I share, Au Revoir! 
Love,
Lauren xo

BONUS: What I wore on Graduation Day? 

Dress (in Blue) | High Heels | Clutch Bag | Nail Polish | Eyes

12 Things that I Miss about my University Friendships

You might of caught on by now but we do love a good photobooth or Selfie! *Insert monkey with hands over eyes here*

There isn't a harder goodbye than the one between you and your university besties; even if you reunite for a holiday to Portugal or a 21st Birthday party, saying goodbye is hard. After practically spending three years in each others pockets, creating some of the best memories and arguing over who makes the best pancakes, when you're meant to be studying - oops! - the friends you make at university are for life (well, I would like to think the ones I've made are).  I think nearly every conversation we had consisted of the statement "Remember that time when..." normally it was finished with an embarrassing story about one of us on a night out.  

With Graduation just around the corner and the reunion that I've been waiting for months. It got me thinking... What is it I really miss about my university friendships? So in light of this, I've compiled a list of twelve things that I miss about my university friendships. Let's begin:  

1. We spent 45% of our time talking about where to go for coffee but always seemed to end up in the same place with the same order, 28% of our time we spent talking about the thing-that-shall-not-be-named {Dissertation}, 12% of our time we spent in the library doing our work whilst deciding who had the smelliest sandwich {was it Tuna or was it Egg?} and the other 12% we spent dancing like raving 'loonies' to One Direction and S Club in PopWorld. 
2. The regular coffee and cake dates to Starbucks that the girls and I went on just to get out of writing our dissertations and  to argue over who got the last Cinnamon Swirl. 
3. Coming back at 4am and not worrying about waking up the whole house because my housemates were all out with me anyway.
4. Not worrying about getting a lift home because you had your friends to push you home in a trolley. 
5. Taking a #Selfie with a Selfie stick was always allowed, no matter where you were {including the Park outside university, when we finished our dissertations and photos just needed to be taken} 
6. No matter how much work we had in November, planning Secret Santa and a Christmas meal with your besties was a top priority. 
7. Knowing that we were going to see each other again after going home for the holidays but now I have to wait months - in fact it feels like years! 
8. Coming out of Turtle Bays drunk at 4pm, buying pizza and failing at dance mat can only be done with your university besties.
9. Scheduling study sessions, which later turn into gossip and cake eating session - classy! 
10. There is nothing you can't share with your besties. Honesty is always the best policy in our eyes and they will never judge you {well, until you do something daft} 
11. You have inside jokes and memories that make no sense to anyone else but you just don't care. 
12. Even though you haven't seen each other for ages and you live miles apart, when you're reunite it is the best feeling in the world. 

Until November 17th when the reunion happens for real, Au Revoir! 

Love, 

Lauren xo 

Calling all dog lovers

How many of you tuned in to watch the #SuperBowl game last night?

Well, if you’re anything like me, you would've just tuned in for the 30 second slots in the middle of the game which seem to capture the hearts' of the world every year… Yes, that’s right, I am talking about some of the most powerful advertising that can change a brands’ image forever in the space of 30 seconds. The #SuperBowl is a prime-time spot for any brand, who wants to pull on the emotional heart-strings of their target audience because over 75% of the US population tune in to watch the #SuperBowl every year and within less than 12 hours those adverts have normally gone viral and made their way across the pond! 

DID YOU KNOW?
(Siciliano, 2015) A 30-second slot during the event sells for around $4 million (£2.7 m)!

One advert in particular that pulled at my heartstrings and was an instant reminder of home was Budweiser ‘Lost Dog’ 2015 campaign. The advert tells us about #BestBuds love story between a Golden Labrador puppy and a horse; the ad shows a puppy living on a farm with horses – getting lost, travels with all his might back to the farm, confronted by wolves and later is rescued by the horses from the farm – who bring him home!

From Budweiser 'Lost Dog' 2015 Campaign

As a dog-lover myself and with a puppy at home with a face so similar, this campaign definitely ticks all the boxes for me (I’m still currently weeping writing this post!). I’m not a Budweiser user myself but if its brand awareness they want, its brand awareness they’ve got! It's one of those legendary ads, that people hear about and will spend hours searching for on the internet and later share with millions on social media. Within the first 10 seconds my heart was captured and it will be a brand that I recognize instantly through this emotional connection that they have now made between them and me. Budweiser is seen as a young gentlemen’s drink but they have connected it with more than that, they have used the power of love and emotion from the first second, when the pup's head pops up from the hay to the last second, where the pup and horse are #BestBuds; Budweiser have drawn in everybody’s heart to think only of one thing… Budweiser!

 Cheers! Budweiser on a job - Well Done!

- Lauren xo

 OH WAIT! Remember, I said I had a puppy with a face so similar, well its only fair I prove it…

Still not seen the advert?
What are you waiting for, check it out now!

Missed all the #SuperBowl adverts? Check them out here -
there are some pretty good ones this year! 

12 Things that every 3rd Year at University knows to be true!

So, I thought that I would try a funny post this week and because third year is a stress-testing, emotional rollercoaster but enjoyable time in my life, I thought I would show you some of the things that most third year will know to be true! After being in third year for the past 4 months, I've started to learn a few things and I think most  third years are likely to agree with me! (I am actually glad that only a few of these things have happened to me… Coffee being a best friend is one of them!) 

How many are true to you? Check it out…

1. The realization that you need to have more nights in than you do nights out.

2. Hangovers are now deadly bombs that you cant just disarm within 24 hours.

3. You spend loads of time reading 20th century novels and theories and you still don’t understand what your dissertation is going on about…

4. All your days seem to roll into one…

5. Coffee is your new best friend!

6. Although, you’re older and wiser than the fresher’s, you’re still envious of their late nights and party spirit.

7. You have more meetings with your dissertation supervisor than you see your friends… Awkward!

8. You constantly hear THAT
optimistic dreadful question that gives you a dry lump in your throat that you just can’t seem to get rid off….

“So, what are your plans for after you graduate?”

This is when most people (especially your parents) want to hear that enthusiastic answer of “I’m going to get a full time job, earn a living and stop eating you out of house and home, like I have done for the past twenty-one years.” 

- Sorry Mum and Dad!

9. When your brain reaches boiling point as you hear your friend has landed their first ‘proper’ job or internship and your still sat at home with the dog.

10. Trying to resist the urge to scream or cry when you look at your workload!

11. The intervals of relief you get when you have given an assignment…

But then you suddenly realize how much work you have to do, in so little time.

12. When the reality hits that your graduating and entering the real world of work in less than 4 months.

- Lauren xo 

John Lewis makes the Brit’s cry again!

Wham, bam, boom! They have done it again and there isn’t a dry eye in the house!

John Lewis has swept the nation with a two-minute festive sensation, which creates a powerful yet emotional bond between a boy and a penguin. With last years, Christmas advert creating an enduring relationship not only between the ‘Bear and a Hare’ but the public and John Lewis; the only question to ask is whether the public’s love will grown even fonder this year?

With the perfect soundtrack (John Lennon’s song ‘Real Love’, performed by Tom Odell) and the love story of a boy and his penguin companion; viewers were happy to admit about the tears that rolled down their face when watching this two-minute advertisement as the young boy gave his penguin companion the best of all time… Mabel!

Every year John Lewis creates a theme to go with their Christmas advertisements, this year is ‘Give someone the Christmas they’ve been dreaming of’ opening up the eyes of millions to make sure that they give that extra special something to someone they love this Christmas. However, the clever thing about this uplifting experience that John Lewis brings every Christmas is how they show the desire, love and purity of the brand through a child’s eyes making it relate to every family out there, which just want that perfect Christmas.

Monty the Penguin, 2015 

John Lewis has spent £1million creating the ad, while £7million will be spent on the marketing campaign. With the digital world at its peak and still growing, John Lewis saw it best to share the ad on their social media pages before our television screens (which it will be doing on the first ad break of tomorrow nights Goggle-box, Channel 4). I have to admit, this was definitely an interesting move for such a big retailer pinning all its hope on whether consumers would share, retweet or take to it on a platform that people are still learning about. But whether you agree or disagree this is the best John Lewis Christmas advert to date and sharing on their social media sites first was a risky yet smart move because the buzz off social media is still growing and will continue no doubt through Christmas as well.

The £7million marketing campaign fund will be spent on the Christmas adverts merchandise. John Lewis always gives something back to its consumers and this Christmas they are creating ‘Monty the Penguin’ merchandise to sell in their stores; cuddly toys, umbrellas and even a book called ‘Monty’s Christmas’ will be sold; where proceeds will go to the Barnardo’s charity. If that’s not enough, consumers will be able to come visit ‘Monty the Penguin’ by going into store to check out ‘Monty’s Den’ which is fun for all the family.

Every year they do it bigger and better and every year, we as consumers don’t know how they will top it. Adam&EveDDB are the advertising agency behind the magic and every year, they find away that emotionally engages consumers to visit John Lewis at Christmas time. The creatives behind the magic are simply geniuses, who have learnt about the consumers wants and desires at Christmas and they play around with the power that is human emotions – Well Done to Adam&EveDDB!

As an aspiring advertising student I hope one day that I will be able to pro-create or help to make an advert that inspires so many people and creates such strong and devoted loyal relationship between brand and consumer.

Well Done John Lewis another heart-melting Christmas ad.

- Lauren xo 

You Haven't Seen It?Well... if you haven't seen this ad then get your tissues at the ready because its going to be an emotional one…. Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iccscUFY860

#Bendgate KitKat tweet kicks back at Apple’s iPhone 6.

“Have a break. Have a KitKat” is one of the most iconic slogans and brands in advertising, definitely a Lovemark to some the KitKat is known for either its two finger easy break, and it’s chunky peanut butter centre or its four-finger delight. With KitKat being voted ‘Brand of the Year’ back in May 2014, JWT has taken every opportunity to make the brand, bigger and better than its fellow choccy competitors on the market. But it’s not only the choccy competitors that KitKat have been up against… With Apple’s latest baby, hot and ready to fly off the shelves on its launch day; it wasn’t long because consumers found out that the iPhone 6 handsets bent into a 45 degree angle when they placed them in their pockets. This gave JWT an idea!

With KitKats brand equity being “Have a break. Have a KitKat” they were the perfect fit to JWT’s new social media campaign idea that would give KitKat the edge. Soon after the bending iPhone 6 was common knowledge, JWT London creative teams got on the case in creating a KitKat finger snapped into a 45 degree angle with a witty yet simple tagline: “We don’t bend, we #break.” If that’s not genius, I don’t know what is!

The tweet took the world by surprise achieving 100 retweets in the first 10 minutes but now with the popularity of social media, the tweet has been retweeted over 28,000 times, favourited over 13,000 times and collected a few thousand followers along the way. It is now bigger than Oreo’s famous Superbowl 2013 campaign “You Can Still Dunk in the Dark which only reach 15,000 retweets. Let’s be honest, in advertising timing is everything and JWT London did indeed, strike while the iron was hot! 

As a follow up to the witty yet brilliant tweet, JWT London came up with a second tweet “So what else bends or #breaks?” which links straight to the KitKat Tumblr account where the consumers can decide what bends and what breaks. It wasn’t long before brands latched onto the #bendgate idea such as: Pringles and LG Mobile who made their own versions but it was KitKat that led the way in punking Apple on one of its biggest mistakes yet.

WHAT DO I THINK?
Genius, just genius. I don’t think that JWT London could have had their finger on the pulse any quicker than they did. It was so simple yet it drove the world wild, I mean to have over 28,000 retweets and become bigger than Oreo’s “You Can Still Dunk in the Dark” is an achievement in itself but JWT managed to collect thousands of followers along the way showing that consumers loyalty to KitKat is at an all-time-high. As many know KitKat has an extensive brand arrangement with Android as JWT worked on the famous Android KitKat 4.4 last year but after bending the Internet out of shape, I think that the great Apple VS Android debate is about to become very interesting. I think the brand loyalty and the Lovemark status of our beloved brands maybe at loggerheads soon with advertising changing every minute, consumer perception isn’t always far behind.

- Lauren xo 

Is Social Media becoming part of your personality?

Did you know that 72% of all internet users have some link to social media?

It wasn’t long ago that people were picking up newspapers instead of iPads, Walkman’s and CDs instead of iPhones, books instead of a Kindle or even having a face-to-face conversation with someone instead of texting them when they are sat right next to you but times have changed. It’s true that social media and more-able technology has been a success; ideal for companies to deliver their daily message or perfect for those regular travel updates you need to get you home on time, instead of 2 hours late. But are people getting to use to it and growing accustom to it?

Social media is effortlessly becoming part of us, in what we say and what we do, every minute of every day. Every day we find ourselves tagging each other in where we’ve been today on Facebook or uploading a photo to Instagram of a Starbucks with friends but some more than others dedicate their lives to making sure that their friends and family know what’s going on. However, the rapid growth of technology in the 21st century is also starting to control the amount of access we have to our social media accounts when we are on the move or away on holiday. While having a portable device to access everything is ideal, it does stop us from showing our holiday snaps in person instead we put in on Facebook or Instagram for everyone to see or whenever we are ill, we tell everyone on social media first so that they can diagnosis us before we go to see our GP. Just last month I found myself discovering those outrageous life stories being told on Facebook, Twitter and even via Instagram, that I really didn’t need to know but social media has become this way of life that can’t be controlled, where everyone feels the need to share stories that leave readers amused or corrupted.

Social media is all around us even if you don’t want to be part of it; you’re connected in some way via your friends and family. Its open knowledge that the older generation didn’t grow up with smartphones, tablets or the worldwide web at their fingertips but most of them are fully functional to the way the web works and rely on it to keep updated with what their kids or grandkids maybe up too. I suppose the older generation didn’t have a lot have a choice in the matter, other than to adapt? Believe it or not, 57% of us using social media talk to more people online than in real life; making me think that social media really is becoming part of our personality? We use it to talk, send pictures, keep up-to-date, learn about local events and much more but no matter where you go now, you will hear someone go ‘I’m going to tweet that’ or ‘that is a definite Instagram photo’ but like all things, social media has created itself as part of a humans day to day life…

QUESTION TIME!
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Grab a cuppa? Have a Shower? Get some breakfast?

I bet you don’t do any of that! You probably do what most of the population do, instead of getting your morning caffeine fix, you spend your morning scrolling through your Facebook or Twitter feed or catching up on what Snapchat’s were sent to you last night or the who has posted the most selfie on Instagram. Yes, I am one of the many that do that every morning, I think most of us our ‘one of them’ but some just don’t like to admit it!

Why don’t we have a look at the range of social media that is out there at the moment and see how actually it has become part of our personality and life without realising it… I bet there is at least 1 thing, you do from this list and take part in on social media:

1. FACEBOOK
Since its arrival, Facebook has done something different, it’s created this open forum where we can share, like and comment with people that we don’t really know but we have let into our circle of friends. While social media has become a catch up with friends for some; it’s become a natural addiction for others, you end up telling Mark Zuckerberg you’ve moved up to Manchester before telling your friends, it’s just one big vicious cycle! Either way people are using Facebook instead of talking face-to-face.

2. TWITTER
After the invasion of Twitter, social media became a platform for news, politics, travel and gossip, making the information gets to people as soon as it happens and before the traditional newspapers went to print. Twitter gave people the option to retweet, favourite and follow people like celebrities or companies that would tweet about their findings or experiences of the day. While, this is one of the benefits of Twitter, people have now started to use it as a way of complaining to companies that don’t answer emails or phone calls, knowing that the complaint can be see publicly to all that follow them on Twitter, companies act quickly. The famous #Hashtag came from Twitter which gives people a chance to pick areas around what they are talking about or something which is starting to trend because everyone else has used it in their tweets.

3. INSTAGRAM
Soon it will be law that no photo can be uploaded to any social media without a filter, thank Instagram for that one! Anyway, Instagram has become a way people can show images that mark a special event with things like a ‘selfie’ or family group shot but like Twitter, Instagram has become a personal way that people can privately link to celebrities. With Instagram able to connect to other social media so everyone can share, like or comment on your photo; people are using images not words to keep up-to-date with everything that they are up too.

4. SNAPCHAT
Here is another reason to take 5 second ‘selfie’ shots that you can send to anyone you choose! It’s a way to show your night out in the moment and not waiting to upload to Facebook or Twitter the next morning. Alternatively, Snapchat can be seen as positive tease for some companies as they can use it to give clues and information about what’s coming up without giving it all away, Hollyoaks is an example of this.

5. LINKEDIN
So we have our social media that can be for fun like Instagram and Snapchat but we also have our sites that can be used seriously and for fun like Twitter and Facebook. LinkedIn is something different and used a bit more seriously - it can help to connect people in industry together, which may help with questions, job enquiries or just as a relevant connections to their work. LinkedIn offers the chance for people to promote themselves by showing a person’s details like work experience, education history and a personal statement to relevant employers.

6. ABOUT ME
About Me is similar to LinkedIn with the way it can be used to spot potential employees or connections in your industry but About Me is connecting all your professional social media sites like Twitter , Blogger, LinkedIn and more into 1 place making it easier to access and employers find this a great benefit when hiring.

7. PINTEREST
Finally, Pinterest does what it says in the title, you pin your interests! You can create relevant interests or hobby boards and groups of picture which people can then view and pin themselves if they want to. You could maybe link them to your work industry or you may just use it for fun and pin some ideas for your perfect summer or bucket list but either way it is more of a low-key social media site that only a few people tend to use but it is growing every day and more people are pining their interests.

So there you go! Did any of them sound relevant to you? Of course there are loads more that can be accounted for like MySpace, Foursquare and even Blogger. While social media maybe good in one sense as it keeps people interacting with each other, the news, politics and day-to-day life; there is going to be a tipping point where doing too much of one thing can’t be good for you.

As a user of social media myself, I love having the ability to group chat with as many friends as I want or uploading a photo with a filter to make myself look a little better than I do but there are times where I think that I have too much on social media sites and I may be using it slightly too much. I will admit I check my social media accounts more than once a day; mostly on my lunch breaks, when I’m stuck in bad traffic, before I go to bed and probably a lot more. Maybe there are some benefits to social media and the ever-growing technology we have, I suppose we save on the amount of paper used as fewer newspapers and books are being printed because we are accessing it on our iPads or grabbing a book on our Kindle. But are we now using social media to determine the good and bad things in our lives and personality a little too much?

- Lauren xo

Work Experience at Big Wave Media, Exeter

Over the summer, I complete 2 weeks worth of work experience at Big Wave Media, who are Digital Marketing agency, based in Exeter, Devon. I learnt a whole range of new skills, met loads of great people and furthermore expanded my knowledge ready for third year. Here is a bit about my work experience with Big Wave Media...

Eager to learn and fresh from second year, I was ready to find some work experience within the advertising/digital marketing industry that I so long to work in. Big Wave Media were kind enough to offer me, 2 weeks of work experience with their hard-working, friendly team. Whilst I was nervous, I was also very excited to see what it was like working in that type of environment.

I began working with Big Wave Media’s Digital Account Executive Hayley, who taught me about the social media management platform, Hootsuite. Whilst Hootsuite wasn’t something that I had heard of, it didn’t take me long before I was composing over 300 tweets and Facebook posts that would endorse a company’s offers, discounts or events that were happening in the up-and-coming month. Soon I was bulk uploading, managing and scheduling those tweets and Facebook posts on Hootsuite with no help needed. With the tweets and Facebook posts ranging from 5 days in the month to everyday for a month, I was soon comfortable in making tweets and Facebook posts suit different target audiences, ranging from tots to teens and onto adults as well. Condensing a sentence with all the relevant bits of information into only 140 characters was difficult, especially if you needed to squeeze a URL into the tweet as well. I understood what was important to leave in and take out of the tweet; helping my knowledge of copywriting grow and hopefully this skill help me in my future.

My aim of coming to Big Wave Media was to learn and understanding about what a Digital Marketing team does in the field and to brush up and develop on skills that I already had or needed to learn. Seeing the dedicated and friendly staff of Big Wave Media work hard every day has made me more determined to complete my degree and get into the industry. I started 2 weeks ago feeling nervous yet excited but I have left feeling stronger and more knowledgeable than before.

Thank you Big Wave Media, you’ve been great!

- Lauren xo