I’m going to SLS because I want to know what’s next and what will stick around. Every single day, we’re bombarded with information overload. FourSqaure, Tumblr, Pinterest, Highlight, Glancee, Sonar. What has lasting power? I’m obsessed with digital advertising, branded content and story-telling and I’m so excited to hear what the experts are loving, hating and using.

Ben, Vice President, @loebben

I’m going to SLS because I’m interested in all things related to social media, well maybe not Pinterest, but at least most things social media related. Therefore I want to hear about how the professionals are using social media and how I can use it to brand myself and get ahead in the busy world of marketing and communication. Also, I heard something about free doughnuts, free Vitamin Water and free cookies.

Colin, Conference Co-Chair, @ColinMusselman

Why wouldn’t I go to SLS 12 is a better question. At SLS being around some of the most brilliant professionals and rising students is something you can only experience in-person.  Whether you make a connection that will lead to an internship or you just meet someone that shares the same passions; it can be a really powerful experience.  Plus free cookies like Ben said… I like cookies.

Vicki, Conference Co-Chair, @vicki_dee

I will be at SLS 12 because simply put, it’s going to be AMAZING. I can’t wait to be at a place that will feed my obsession for social media with some of the coolest speakers and panelists, as well as demos for some great up and coming new social media. While I am definitely excited for all the panels, I must say I am especially pumped for the “Digital Runway” panel. Above all, SLS will give students, educators, and professionals the opportunity to interact with each-other and make new connections. What is more fascinating than that?

Jenna, VP of Marketing, @jennarowan8

I’m going to SLS 12 because social media has become essential in so many aspects of everyday life. The various panels cover so many of my interests and I can’t wait to hear from esteemed panelists on how social media is incorporated into all these areas. Also, the opportunity to meet, hear from, and connect to DC professionals is one I would not pass up!

Michael, Treasurer, @michaellangman

I’m excited learn more about how social media is used in various fields at this year’s Social Learning Summit. I am especially looking forward to the “Tweeting and Eating” panel where panelists will talk about many different topics including how restaurants and food companies leverage social media to attract and interact with their customers. I am also looking forward to speaking with the professionals at the event.

Taiga, Director of Online Operations, @taigakoda

Social Learning Summit ‘11 was my introduction to the AU Social Media Club last year. In three days I learned more about social media than I had my entire life, despite having an active online presence before the MySpace days. I learned about the different ways social media is being used today and how interconnected it is with our everyday lives, whether it’s for personal use or to help an organization define itself. I’m going to SLS’12 so I can revisit some of the lessons I learned last year and discover new ones. After all, so much has changed in social media in the last year.

Sonia, Secretary, @soniagaillisdel

I’m going to the Social Learning Summit because I suffer from technology-induced ADD. From composing tweets, balancing 2 instagram accounts, picking my cover photo, adjusting to the new timeline, hating on foursquare ads, playing any and every OMGPOP game, dying without Facebook, wasting precious seconds of my life waiting for my phone/computer to connect to wi-fi, and paying outrageous international gigabyte fees, I’ve decided to go to SLS12 in an attempt to cut out the noise, learn social media trends, and find out its cultural impact on my life.

Andre, VP of Communication, @andresanmont

The weekend of SLS’11, my twitter feed was overflowing with #SLS11, RTs, and awesome dialogue between students, educators, and media professionals. I instantly regretted not being in audience for the summit. This year, I jumped on any opportunity to help out with the SLS12. Social media is our generation’s medium of choice to communicate. For me, social media is so powerful because it can cross international borders and language barriers in order to give a voice to anyone who wants to use it. Social media gives spotlight to issues far and wide that you may have never known existed, and connects you with people who are passionate about them. It’s going to be awesome to see people and professionals of all ages and all career fields come together to form creative, innovative, and interesting conversations that could possibly turn into new uses of social media for the future. To say I’m excited is an understatement, I’m ecstatic for #SLS12.

Ben W, SLS Planning Team Member, @TonyMuhPlaah

I’m going to the SLS12 because, as a whole, the Social Media Club events are always interesting. While it’s easy to feel like you know everything about how to run a Facebook and Twitter, every event that I go to has new people who have more insights to provide and I end up feeling significantly smarter and more responsible. Social Media is essential to most areas of business so, as a business major, it’s imperative to learn about how to look attractive to professionals and consumers. The Social Learning Summit is the largest of the Social Media Club’s events, and if it is anything like the other club events I know it will be awesome!

Katie C, SLS Planning Team Member, @KTcast93

I am super psyched for SLS 12 because I am going to learn so much! Nowadays, social media is everywhere, and it has become necessary to know the ins and outs of Facebook, Twitter, and all other social media platforms. SLS is the perfect event to learn how to effectively use social media in all areas of life – food, politics, fashion, and more. Everyone who was at SLS11 last year keeps talking about how awesome it was, and I can’t wait to experience it for myself!!

Scott Talan, AU Professor of Communication, @talan

I’m going in order to learn about the new tips, tools and innovations in social media. Plus meet new people, eat tasty snacks and enjoy some good vibes. Not to miss if you are into social media, technology and learning, or want to learn more on any of these fronts!

Itir Karaesmen, AU Professor at Kogod School of Business

As a business school professor, I am looking forward to the sessions on social startups and social business. As a life-time learner, I am really excited about the opportunity to hear about new tools and platforms.  And there is the Faculty Faceoff!  This is great event to learn, think about, and question the role of social media in our daily lives.  

Claire Shriver-SLS Marketing Team Member, @claireshriver

SLS12 will give me an unique experience to meet and listen to professionals, experts and student in the communications and media fields. The event is a first time opportunity for me to learn more about social networking and how it is changing the business and entertainment industry. Hopefully I will take away a new wealth of knowledge about branding and marketing. I also can’t wait to read all the great tweets!

Lela Feldmeier, SLS Marketing Team Member, @lelafeldmeier

I am going to SLS12 because there is going to be so much to learn. No matter what you’re studying or what you’re interested in – social media is going to be a part of it. At SLS12 there is going to be so many different panels filled with experts there to inform you about how to blend social media into your life efficiently and effectively. Plus there is going to be great food! If you’re not going to SLS12, you will be missing out on something great!

Melanie Loff-Bird, SLS Planning Team Member, @meloffbird

I am going to SLS12 because I would never pass up an opportunity to spend hours on Facebook and Twitter and call it networking! Just kidding (kinda), of course there will also be plenty of chances to unplug the iPhone and back away from the Blackberry in order to personally connect with professionals from Google, LinkedIn, iStrategyLabs and more, which is #superexciting. The Out of Print and Online: Journalism and Social Media and Digital Runway panels are at the top of my to do list, but I definitely wish that one of these tech innovators would figure out a way for me to be multiple places at once so that I could check out all the awesome panels!

P.S. I am also going to SLS12 because AU Social Media Club is the best club on campus. Obviously

Ryan Travitz, AUSMC Member, @rtravitz

Getting a little tidbit of information that can set me apart from other recent grads is part of why I want to attend SLS12.  The Personal Branding Panel on Saturday features speakers from LinkedIn, Green Buzz Agency, and the White House to name a few.  Learning how to rep myself better online and leverage my social media presence is important for a communication student.  The chance to meet and network with the many professional speakers is cool as well.

Well, here are 7 reasons why you shouldn’t miss the Social Learning Summit coming up this weekend.

7) FREE DUNKIN’ DONUTS

That’s right! We’re having free Dunkin’ Donuts! What’s better at 9 AM than free coffee and donuts? Thanks to our awesome sponsors, Dunkin’ Donuts (@DCDunkin), we will have free doughnuts and coffee for all attendees!

6) FREE VITAMIN WATER, HONEST TEA, & COOKIES

I know you must be thinking how can they afford to give us all this free food? Well thanks to sponsorships from Vitamin Water (@VitaminWater), Smart Water (@SmartWater) and Honest Tea (@HonestTea), none of our attendees will go thirsty! Also thanks to DoubleTree by Hilton (@DoubleTree) there will be free cookies for every attendee. I’m not sure there is anything better than biting into a fresh chocolate chip cookie and talking about social media.

5) NETWORKING

In case you didn’t hear this year’s conference is going to have some really awesome speakers and attendees. SLS will give you the opportunity to broaden your network, meet social media influencers from the DC area, and greet all your favorite Tweeps! Therefore you should definitely join us Friday, March 30 at 7:30PM in the School of International Service Founder’s Room for an awesome Networking Reception. Although, if for some terrible reason you can’t make Friday’s kickoff and networking reception, there will be plenty of opportunities to introduce yourself to our awesome speakers after their panels.

4) THE PANELS

Have you seen the list of panels?!?! They are incredible! Panels will cover all things social media including: Tweeting and Eating, Social Business Success, Education, Personal Branding, and Entertainment (just to name a few of my favorites). Take a look at the schedule and plan your day!

3) THE PANELISTS AND MODERATORS

Now that you’ve looked at the schedule of panels, look at our awesome panelists and moderators. That’s right we have speakers from GoogleDC, OgilvyWW, Edelman, LinkedIn, USA Today, and the B*tches Who Brunch.

2) OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN

If you’re reading this you probably have an interest in social media (or really want free cookies). Either way, the innovative online universe is constantly changing and it can be a little overwhelming to keep track of! Everyday it seems like a new app or platform is “the Next Big Thing.” The best way to break through the noise is to listen to the experts and find out what tools they are actually using. The conference is an opportunity to get ahead of the curve and learn about what’s happening in social media and education.

1) $10

Tickets to this amazing conference are ONLY $10. Your ticket gets you coffee and Dunkin Donuts, Vitamin Water and Smart Water, Honest Tea, DoubleTree Cookies and great networking and learning opportunities. Free food and the chance to get a job or internship! Why haven’t you registered yet?*

American University’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America is hosting the PRSSA Regional Conference: When Two Worlds Collide: Bridging Online and Offline Communications.

The conference will take place March 23-24 on campus with great speakers, including John Bell from Social@Ogilvy on Friday and Drew Hammill, Nancy Pelosi’s press secretary, on Saturday.  Be sure to bring your resumes and business cards because there will be plenty of opportunities to network with people in the field, especially at the job/internship fair with top PR firms. Even Felicia Parks from our Career Center will be available to critique your resume!A reception will be held at the National Press Club on Saturday night with great food and top-notch networking.

For PRSSA members, the conference is $30 for Friday, $30 on Saturday and $50 for both days.  For non-PRSSA members, the conference is $35 for Friday, $35 dollars for Saturday and $60 for both days; breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. And be sure to follow us on Twitter–with every tweet including @AU_PRSSA and #TwoWorlds, we’ll donate 25 cents to Computer Aid. And of course, you can “like” our Facebook page!

We hope to see you there!

Over the course of the ten weeks I spent at Ogilvy this summer, I spoke with a lot of smart, talented people who do brilliant things for the advertising industry. I was lucky enough to lunch with Nichole Brown, a corporate communications editor and social media strategist for Ogilvy & Mather.

In our world of ever-decreasing attention spans, it’s crucial for Nichole to create new ways to capture people’s attention and keep them interested. She’s made it her job to find creative and more interesting ways to communicate Ogilvy’s message without all the corporate speak. In a conference room in Ogilvy’s New York headquarters overlooking the Hudson, Nichole and I discussed everything from her discovery of social media to the emergence of personal branding and changes in corporate communications.

Joining the Conversation
Nichole: I first became involved in social media out of sheer curiosity. I was curious about the digital spaces that people were using to express their thoughts and feelings. I initially joined Facebook to communicate with a group of mentees that I had worked with on a mission trip to Uganda. I joined Twitter because I wanted to check out what my favorite journalists were tweeting about. I quickly saw it as a way to get into the minds of people I admire.

Through my personal experience with Twitter, I realized that it would be a great tool for Ogilvy to connect and share its message with clients, employees and industry at large. Twitter, and social media in general, changed the way companies and the media communicate with the public. Simply posting press releases on the corporate website couldn’t cut it anymore. Twitter made news-worthy information instantly available. Twitter gave everyone an outlet to voice their opinion. It gave companies a way to talk directly to their audiences. And that was perfect for us. We were able to promote Ogilvy’s brand, our people, our work. We were able to give voice to the brand, or, more accurately, the many voices that reflect the agency’s personality.

The Evolution of Corporate Communications
Flash back to Facebook 2008. There were no brand pages, there were just groups. There was not a model for companies to follow. I saw that as a challenge because no model meant no rules. I like guidelines and structure, but I love being able to make up the rules. I used my own professional profile to explore what I could do. I used what I learned to create and enhance Ogilvy’s profile in several social channels, including LinkedIn groups, Flickr and YouTube.

There’s a lot you can do without following the norms. I’m a total non-conformist. I go against the grain. I like being first, and I’m always looking for a new platform that Ogilvy can use to communicate effectively.

The Power Behind a Name & the Emergence of Personal Branding
In the early days, people used to say that Twitter was the great equalizer, but when I first joined someone suggested that I add my employer to my bio to give me credibility. I noticed a huge difference in the kinds of people who followed me and replied and retweeted my posts. People don’t know me, but I put Ogilvy in my bio and suddenly they were willing to listen to what I had to say. There is definitely power behind the Ogilvy name. It’s something I stress to our employees who are active in social media.

In 2009, the whole idea of personal branding became hot. People began to realize that you need to be smart and thoughtful about what you put out there. The goal of Ogilvy’s social media accounts is to promote our people and our best work in a way that is interesting and engaging.

One of the criticisms of Ogilvy has been that we’re too big and not nimble enough to keep up with the times. You can’t combat that because we are huge. But we’re made up of people, and our people think and act smartly and quickly. Social media gives us a way to promote that.

My goal with social media is to put a face to the company, to humanize it. It’s all about the people who work here – the giants that David Ogilvy advised us to hire – because it’s the people who build the company. The purpose of social media is not just to share what we do but also to show who we are.

Nichole’s Top 3 Social Media Tips

1. Be you!
It’s cliché but know who you are first. What’s your personality? Show it! Authenticity is key.

2. Don’t be afraid to change!
It’s okay to change your focus on social media platforms. If you used to tweet about leadership skills but now you want to tweet about travel, that’s okay. Pick a focus and don’t be afraid to shift it.

3. Think twice before you hit send.
When in doubt, leave it out!

Well, here are the 10 reasons to convince you why you shouldn’t miss the Social Learning Summit coming up this weekend.

10) FREE DUNKIN’ DONUTS

Nope… you didn’t read that wrong! I will say it again, FREE Dunkin’ Donuts! We understand that 8AM is a difficult time for many of you college students and parents (and anyone with a social life), but thanks to our awesome sponsors, Dunkin’ Donuts (@DCDunkin), we will have free doughnuts and coffee on Saturday and Sunday morning. Consider it our thank you from us to you for getting up so early during your beloved weekend.

9) MORE FREE STUFF

I know what you’re thinking: more free stuff? Yep! We really want to make sure you come to SLS11 a happy camper, and so do our sponsors! Thanks to CoolBlue Press, we’re giving every attendee a FREE copy of “The Big Book of Social Media Case Studies, Stories, and Perspectives.” And, we’re giving you some awesome AU Social Media Club stuff that no one else has! Get excited.

8 ) NETWORKING

Whether you’re a student, professor, or professional, your friends on Twitter and Facebook can never be “too big”! Since we’re all so social online, let’s get social in person too! This conference is going to be a great opportunity for you to meet your favorite Tweeps! Join us Friday, April 1 at 7PM in MGC 2-6 for an awesome Networking Reception. If you check-in on FourSquare, I’m sure you’ll find a few of your other “digital friends” in the crowd! Don’t stress if you don’t get to meet everyone on Friday- the entire weekend is one big networking opportunity. Stick around after a panel and introduce yourself to the panelists, or you can also tweet them and say hello from afar… but we don’t advise that.

7) THE PANELS

Have you seen the list of panels?! They are amazing! We cover topics about social media and education, politics, job searching, and even defining TMI! You know what, I am just going to let the panels speak for themselves. Take a look at the schedule and then come back to this. It’ll be here, I promise.

6) THE PANELISTS AND MODERATORS

Go back to the schedule, and look at the panelists and moderators. We spent a lot of time begging these people to come here and tell you what they know (and they know a lot), so you should probably come and hear what they have to say. Plus, I know you’re dying to see the man behind the tweets for American University (@AmericanU), hear where DC Debbie draws her TMI line, and hear from the guy who tweets as @StopBeck.

5) GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE

We’d like to assume that if you’re reading this, you’re pretty on top of your social media mark. But maybe you’re not. Or maybe you know the platforms and just aren’t sure how to use them to get a job or to enhance your educational experience. Well, look no further for answers. This is exactly what the conference is all about! We want to teach you how to do all these things so you can get ahead of the curve and know what’s coming up in education!

4) FOOD TRUCKS

What is it about Food Trucks and Social Media that goes together so well? We don’t know, but we realized that it’s a fact and thought we’d bring them to YOU! During the lunch break on Saturday (12:00PM-1:00PM) and Sunday (11:00AM-12:00PM) we’ll have different food trucks serving their deliciousness on the Quad! (psstt… tell your friends, the trucks will be serving everyone at AU, not just those coming for the conference!)

3) 1,500 BAGS OF POPCHIPS

Let’s just say popchips (@popchips) is awesome, and for some reason loves us so much, they filled Alex Priest’s apartment with 1,500 bags of popchips for you to enjoy for FREE during the conference.

2) $10

With the economy as bad as it is, $10 for free Dunkin’ Donuts, books, popchips, and swag on top of the awesome networking and learning experiences you’ll get, I’d say you’re getting a pretty good deal. So stop buying your daily Americano’s between now and Friday and you’ll have enough to get in! If you don’t get your allowance until the 1^st, you’re still good – we’ll have registration available at the doors!

1) BE A PART OF HISTORY

Ok, I know it sounds cheesy, but seriously! You can be a part of history by coming to this conference! It’s the first social media conference to be run entirely by students ever. That’s a big deal! Plus, we’re betting we can make it a trending topic on Twitter! Don’t you want to be able to check-in, tweet, and brag about how awesome you are for being at #SLS11?! Well, I’ll think you’re pretty cool…

But if I haven’t convinced you yet, take a look at what others are saying about the conference here!

And now that you’re convinced, you can register by clicking this button below:

The session focused on how students can build and maintain PLNs (Personal Learning Networks) to enhance what they’re learning. By her definition,

PLNs are deliberately formed networks of people and resources capable of guiding our independent learning goals and professional development needs.

Following and engaging experts, other students, and anyone interested in your field of study can result in a different learning experience, one that can greatly enhance what you’re doing in the classroom.

Further, connecting directly to those working in a field you’re passionate about can result in great opportunities, lessons based on real-time experiences, and a social network that shares your interests and goals.

Since this experience, I have been interested in how powerful and useful a tool social media is in not only connecting with long lost friends but also those that I interact with daily at school and work. Our generation has grown up with and embraced rapid advancements in technology. We are comfortable, can respond and engage with many tools, most popular being social media. Ironically enough, the learning curve seems to be much slower on the side of education institutes and their staff. It is surprisingly rare, even at a university as socially conscious as AU, to find professors incorporating the tools that their students are most comfortable using, into the classroom. For example, the BlackBoard Discussion Board could just as easily take place in a much more interactive and free-flowing conversation on Facebook or with a designated hashtag conversation on Twitter. By familiarizing themselves with these platforms, professors can be on the same level as their students and acquire a more complete picture of how our generation prefers to become informed.

It is exciting that in the near future, we will see much more integration of all learning materials on an online platform. I hope to see professors utilize real-time tweets to publicize class announcements and address student’s questions. The education system will have to adapt to the increasing fast paced nature of its students. Students are demanding constant access to new and evolving information, which in comparison to learning solely from a textbook, seem static. Professors will realize that students are more excited and willing to engage in learning on a platform that they are relaxed expressing their ideas in because they use it daily. In the future we will see the advantages and implementation of our learning models being as mobile as we are.