Ryan Wilcox

Writing. Photography. Storytelling.

Brands Win Super Bowl Blackout

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A few minutes after half-time of SuperBowl XLVII, the lights went out in the Superdome. It didn’t take long before my Twitter feed exploded; with jokes of the Jerry Seinfeld variety to smart responses from brands. Here are a couple of my favorites from the night:

I love @Oreo‘s response! If you want more information on how their team was able to get the graphic up so quickly, check out this Buzzfeed article.

As it happens, a stadium blackout is the subject of another Buffalo Wild Wings ad. Their social team didn’t miss the opportunity.

I’m sure there were other clever brand responses that I missed. What were some of your favorites? Let me know on Twitter or in the comments!

3 Lessons from the Olympics: Goals, Perseverance…. and Twitter

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As the London 2012 Olympics draw to a close, I started thinking about the lessons we can draw from watching athletes compete at the highest level. The Olympics hold so many parallels for success in your career and life, so I thought I’d touch on a couple that stood out to me.

Focus on Your Goals

NBC did a great job of profiling Olympic athletes. In every case, the athletes showed a singular focus on their goal. One such profile was of South African track athlete Oscar Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete in Olympic history. His story is inspiring, and an example of what is possible when we refuse to let obstacles be obstacles.

“Being disabled doesn’t have to be a disadvantage.” – Oscar Pistorius (@OscarPistorius on Twitter)

What are your goals? What could we achieve if we had the focus of an Olympic athlete?

Perseverance

Things don’t always come easy, for the Olympic athlete or the rest of us. We saw in this Olympics that failure builds character. When life throws you a curve ball, take it as a learning experience. The ability to “get up off the mat” is crucial in life as well as sports. This parallel is one of the reasons I find sports so compelling.

You are Bob Costas

Social media had a big impact on the fan experience of London 2012, which has been called the first “social” Games. Twitter’s partnership with NBC made it easy to follow the action. In 2012 and beyond, you don’t need a journalism degree to comment on, or even make news. You just need an Internet connection and a social network.

Your turn!

What will you take away from the London 2012 Olympic Games? How will Twitter and other social media outlets impact future events?

“It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know” Goes Social

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Social Media
A job search in today’s market has to include social media sites like LinkedIn.

For as long as I can remember, I have been told by advisors and colleagues that job boards are ineffective tools in a job search. If you are looking for new employment, using your contacts and finding connections with people is the best way to go.

Increasingly, job searches have become more than just handing out business cards and making connections over the phone. Social media sites like LinkedIn have become tools to make connections and even find that next job. I have been an active user of Facebook and LinkedIn since I was in college. Admittedly, though, I’ve been reluctant to take advantage of social media in my job search. That is until recently.

As competitive as today’s job market is, I’m learning that sending in a resume and cover letter alone doesn’t guarantee an interview. So, I’ve started using LinkedIn’s various groups to make connections and learn of possible leads. I’ve learned of job openings through LinkedIn that weren’t posted on any company website.

Though social media sites like LinkedIn won’t replace the traditional resume and portfolio, they do offer a way to make connections in advance of the interview process. With the advent of Google+ and the explosion of Twitter, job seekers have a number of ways to promote themselves online. I see this trend continuing in 2012 and beyond. As long as job seekers use the same professionalism online as they do in an interview setting, these tools can be very useful.

If you would like to connect with me on Twitter, click here.