I was accepted into school! Now what?

You have just received noticed that your school of choice has accepted you. You’re ready to pack your bags and head off on your adventure into a new world of academic studies abroad. It’s time for a celebration! HOLD ON. The first semester tuition is $10,0000! That doesn’t include housing, transportation, or textbooks. Now you’re questioning your decision and wondering how to make your dreams of studying in the US a reality.

America is known as the “land of opportunity,” but the reality is that everything comes with a price. International students have a high price to pay if they don’t have the proper funds, eligibility for scholarships, or know how to figure out how to pay for additional expenses. Exploring a different country is appealing, and it can be rewarding meeting others from across the globe. Finding the proper financial assistance can be an overwhelming task when there are few monetary resources and a small network to pull together funds.

How am I going to afford to pay my bills?
Are there any scholarships available to international students?
How can I save money?
What resources are available to international students on campus?

According to InternationalStudentLoan.com, in the last year “over 670,000 international students came to the USA to study at universities and colleges.” As more students pursue undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctorate programs in the United States, many are asking questions pertaining to financial aid, housing, Visa status, taxes, and more to make their educational experiences possible.

Early on, make sure to consider the financial aid process after you identified your school of choice and your area of study. There are many deadlines in place to ensure that you are eligible for assistance. You don’t want wait to get into school and realize later you’re stuck with no way to fund your education and make your experience worthwhile. It’s very important to budget yourself while on campus.

Are there different means available for funding to international students?
Some useful tips, suggestions and other websites for more information:

U.S. College or University Scholarship: You might be eligible based on need, nationality, or areas of study for a financial support. Check out the International Student Insurance website for additional scholarship listings, or your college’s website.

Assistantship – As a participating student you can apply and potentially be awarded an assistantship. It’s very competitive with other international and American students to earn this type of financial support while working with a professor or specific department. Some fees are waived or you can be paid a stipend towards your tuition. Apply early and learn of these programs through an advisor or speak with other administrative officers on campus.

Fellowships & Scholarships –A grant could be applied to a higher graduate or doctoral degree to pay for tuition, living expenses, textbook, etc. There are opportunities to also be considered for a Fulbright scholarship. Learn more about these options: Foreign Student Fulbright Student Program, Graduate Studies for Latin American and the Caribbean, Council for International Exchange, and the Institute of International Education.

Working On-campus, or Other Employment: In the US, international students working on campus can only participate for a limited amount of hours per week. Ask your work-study or financial aid office for assistance, as well as research the different for part-time positions that will accept international students.

Student Loan – You might be able to find a loan to pay for part of your educational costs from a bank or lender in your home country. Some U.S. loans might be available but they may have specific requirements. Check out InternationalStudentLoans.com

Funds From Your Country – You might find scholarships or other sources of funds within your home country offered by the government. A university, a private sponsor or employer can potentially support your college tuition.

Payments for School with peerTransfer

A service charge is applied for each transaction when money is transferred from an international bank and wired to the United States to pay for college. The amount your money is worth can also fluctuate on the different currency markets.

Stop wasting money and save it! Wouldn’t you rather have some extra cash to attend a concert with a friend, purchase a collegiate sweatshirt to keep you cozy, or add a new wide-screen television to your apartment or dorm?

SAVE MONEY. SAVE TIME. SAFEGUARD.
Encourage your school to participate or sign-up for peerTransfer to start making easy payments in a secure environment. peerTransfer saves you and your parent’s money. Don’t be bothered paying for unnecessary fees but rather have peace of mind with extra spending cash in your pocket.  See if your school is one of the participating peerTransfer campuses. Contact them for more information.

A recent study put forth by DigiCareers asked professionals their thoughts around the trends in advertising with the usage of apps and mobile websites. So what do the people in the new media profession think of Smartphones as a viable tool to reach their customers? Conversions and click-thru rates with mobile advertising are paying off compared to more traditional mediums including newspapers, radio and web banners. Mobile advertising has the capability to make a great impact if done effectively to reach customers.

For the most part, companies create a mobile app or website to appeal to a unique segment of the audience, as well as enhance the experience for their customers. Ironically, most apps usually don’t have the customers coming back for more once the novelty goes away. Some companies are quick to create a mobile app/site but instead should dedicate time to consider the value, ease-of-use, and convenience that it would add to their customer’s lifestyle.

A website/blog appeals to mobile audiences that are grabbing information on-the-go. Advertisers have found using mobile to target by region a very effective tactic. Geo-targeting was “viewed as the predominate (68%) advantage to advertising to Smartphone/Mobile phone users.” As also noted in the study, new media professionals had success quantifying their advertising dollars spent towards mobile when tracking sales conversions (24%), brand awareness (21%), and click-thru rates (18%).

Some customers have chosen to use mobile because it provides an environment that is less cluttered with ads rather than using the computer. Make sure your mobile advertisements aren’t invasive or disruptive to the experience.

Make Ads Interactive and Fun

Focus on a strategy to devise campaigns where your audience can create the advertisements that are shared with everyone. Partner with new technology enhancements available through the phone to incorporate pictures, creativity and voting to make the process collaborative and fun! Combine SMS, YouTube, touch screen capabilities, mobile games, or something else that might complement your product or service to make your ads memorable.

Here’s a great mobile advertisement from Westin that provides an interactive experience for their customers to learn about a new hotel escape. Check out the video showcasing how the advertisement appeals to the audience.

Recognize and Reward

Create mobile campaigns that recognize the audience and rewards them for their actions as they move around your mobile site or app.

Videos

Demonstrations offered through video can elicit emotions for your audience as they learn more about the experience with your brand.

Review some of these other Top 10 Mobile Campaigns to get a few new ideas to add to the mobile experience for your customer.

“His innovative ways connects us across the globe today and into tomorrow. Thank you Steve Jobs for bringing us all a little closer one Apple at a time.” - Keri Singer

One apple has fallen off the Tree of Life, but another will soon blossom…..DREAM FOR TOMORROW

Today, we celebrate and mourn the life and legacy of Steve Jobs. He was man who didn’t know much early on about san-serifs and fonts but believed there was something better. His passion and talents brought us new technology tools to communicate together.

I listened to his speech from a few years ago at a graduation that moved me. Listen to that inner voice to inspire you and lead you onto the next path.

Every life experience adds to your worth and education. Sometimes we wonder why certain things happen that make us struggle. Stick through the fight and you may fall upon a golden opportunity. Find what you love and follow your heart.

“Keep looking and don’t settle” - Steve Jobs

Sometimes our lives feel like ‘the  world’s most dangerous road‘ in Bolivia that is filled with twists and turns. You might not know which is the right direction and how to be safe. Soon with a little guidance and support on the treacherous road of life, it can lead to a few detours, road blocks, or a new surprise. We’ll find our way to navigate these tough times together. One can offer a hand of support, make someone laugh, listen, offer encouragement, friendship, or something else along the way to help us reach our next destination.

Nothing is more gratifying than jumping in and taking a chance to see what happens. Experiences in life can be frustrating and you only learn if you give things a try. Take chances even if it feels scary or unsettling.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs

The forces came together to kick off the FutureM week of events at the Harvard Faculty Club with the Gravity Summit. It was located at the Harvard campus where the social media platform Facebook was born. The event broke new ground bringing a great group of speakers and attendees from across the country. People showcased their marketing stories using social media showing how big brands have made a few “Friends” and “Followers” along the way. Executives that contributed were from Bing, Mr. Youth, former CNN reporter Rick Sanchez, Audi, CFO of Hootsuite and others. I listened and tweeted away with new tips to share. Here is a link to a list of presentations that might be useful for you.

Respect, Recognition and Reward!

At the Gravity Summit, speaker Doug Clark, GM of Social Media and Customer Engagement for Audi, provided some solid advice to marketers. He shared a story of a woman that was a fan of the Audi TT Quattro sports car. Women are a great demographic for the brand. They made one woman’s wish come true with a car! Doug and his team followed the story of one special lady and listened to her interests and desire to drive the car. The company decided to drive to her door with the Quattro for her to take it for a spin! This is one great example using social media. Audi listened to its influencers and took the right action to create the right opportunity. As Greg Shove, CEO of Halogen Media shared also at the Summit, “Find the most interesting person, or activity that can take on a life of its own on your behalf and watch it grow.”

Stop. Collaborate. Listen to Your Audience.

Matt Britton, CEO of Mr. Youth said, “Friends want to connect with other friends, collaborate and have control of their privacy.” Why is that concept so hard for some companies to understand that same notion online? It’s how we want to connect and relate to each other in the real world so why should communicating online be any different?

As Audi’s Doug Clark presented his approach and I provided my comments:

• Offer a seat at the table - Welcome your audience
• Open doors – Make it easy for one to engage without barriers
• Create a win/win – Make it something rewarding for both parties
• Recognize a need – Determine your customers needs or wants
• Be quick to respond – Learn to take action and be agile
• Learn from audience – Take action based on new insights
• Listen and engage – Keep your ears/eyes alert searching for comments
• See yourself through the eyes of the customer – Put yourself in their shoes
• Be honest and authentic – Say it from the heart, and always be true to yourself and your brand

The Theme at FutureM was MOBILE
“Hi, I’m Human. Remember That?”

"App-tizers" to Choose and Make Real Connections with Customers

It’s not just about calling a friend, but rather a connection to “reaching out and touch someone” with new tools and social media tactics. Yet, so often I keep seeing marketing professionals trying to fit in with the wrong approach. Good examples include QR codes and checking in with Foursquare to check-out. Some disruptive technologies and changes are good, but remember to listen and learn from the natural daily actions, behaviors and what people want.

Chris Mahl, Chief Brand Alchemist of Levelup and SCVNGR, spoke at FutureM’s event and suggested for marketers to recognize, “What are the noticeable behaviors, what does your audience respond to, and make sure to treat your customer as an individual.” People need people, convenience and value – not a quirky gimmick or a link that just drives you to a website with no proper direction. You need to make it personalized to drive impulse and purpose.

John Caron, SVP of Marketing for Modiv Media, noted when marketing mobile, or for marketing anything for that matter, you must remember, “Reach, relevance and recognition.” When creating or defining the attributes of you product and/or service, be sure to consider those three aspects as part of putting together the message. Listen to what your audience seeks and the unique connection to you or your business. Regardless of the new toys we have available to play with today and into tomorrow, we all have strong emotions and there is a difference in how we all want to be treated, recognized and valued as human beings.

The introduction of Google + has forced Facebook to make some major changes. We will see if both can compete together, or who will eventually rise to the top. It certainly puts pressure on marketers to discover new ways to introduce new content. It’s good to expand one’s knowledge and reach, but not at the expense of the business will suffer or devote resources to the wrong channels. Businesses will be competing for attention of audiences on Facebook and Google+ as they navigate new waters. It’s not about following trends, but finding the RIGHT FIT for you and your audience. It’s about incorporating some fundamental best practices, but at the same time adding the human element to the experience.

“Curse you, Facebook! Just when I think I’ve figured out how to use the features on here, you go and change everything again…arrgghh.” – Comments by Keri Singer’s Facebook Friend

“At least give us the option of having the old feed. I HATE the new layout. Might be moving to Google+.” – Comments by Facebook profile Amanda Lee Brock.

Since its start, Facebook has been offering new options and they are having security issues around profiles. Today’s new launch includes different new options for your “News Feed” and last week was the “Subscribe” feature. As the service expands and competition arises, more companies need to be nimble. Facebook and Google + must constantly better examine their approach. They must give the right guidance to customers and attempt to be more authentic with their communications. Yet, we still find people getting annoyed with Facebook and distrust the changes with other social media services.

Similar to any personal relationship: It’s about listening, learning and building trust online with your audience. Otherwise, there is a chance people could leave you looking for something better.

Women love to shop. We enjoy the company and the social aspect with friends. It’s sometimes a casual stroll through the mall, or on a mission to find that special something for the right occasion. We hope to find something to buy as we go from store to store touching, looking, smelling, and taking in all the sights and sounds. I love the feeling of finding that great shirt, skirt, dress, or something new to make me feel good as I walk through that room. There’s always that accessory making the entire outfit complete to accent your personality or fashion flair.

Finding a bargain is always best. TjMaxx and Marshalls make for a fun adventure to shop and offers the thrill of the hunt to finding that right fit at the right price. Finding the right man or woman to share a life together can be similar to searching for that right fit. However, it’s something we can’t buy to earn one’s affection and attention.

Women and men may seek one another for comfort, company, a connection, communication, companionship, chemistry and more. We casually date in hopes to find it. It’s scary to see the similarities of the thrill of shopping for clothes to complement your wardrobe and the thrill of searching for that special someone. We may not need it, but we just WANT IT! What do we really want to feel satisfied? Do the clothes we wear add to our confidence to believe in who we are and what we can offer? The models in magazines and the images in the media could make some feel insecure. Perhaps, it’s the marketing that inspires us to look the best we can be. Most of us want the companionship and closeness with a person that can bring out the best.

We discover the person; a special woman or a man that recognizes our distinct attributes to make us feel we are part of the same thread. We respect and learn to adore another person that can appreciate our entire ensemble and the accents we offer with our personality. It’s how we dress to express and impress showing off our casual-side, conservative,and sporty style.  As we walk down the runway of life, it’s the right guy or gal that can appreciate all our numerous looks.

Men love their fast cars, clothes, toys and technology gadgets. Most of all, it’s having fun to show them off to their friends. Most men hate to shop, but think they know what they want. It’s not until someone else blurts out, “What were you thinking?!“

Clothes don’t make the man (or a woman), nor do their gadgets, cars, or something else. As for some men, the thrill of the hunt might be the chase to finding the next female, a new toy, or something more. It could be a confidence boost for certain men that want to win the prize and for others to know they will always be adored. A man, or a woman might have it all, but could always be in search for something more. As for some women, the thrill of the hunt might be the chase to find that next Chanel bargain. Despite the fact, we probably have Gucci, Louis Vuitton, or Christian Dior as our collection of fashionable designer men.

Does marketing cause us to feel we are missing out on something that plays on our fears of inadequacy? One must feel secure. It’s not until we lose someone special, or review certain items in our closet to reflect on its importance and value. We look back on the good memories and either decide to hold onto it, or discard it.

The Thrill of the Hunt and the Final Celebration

There are some women that are looking to show off a man as an accessory, as there are men that seek the same to feel good in the company of a woman. It’s all in how you carry yourself when you are with a man or a woman and letting your confidence shine from within. Don’t make someone your life, but let one complement it. Be proud to have him or her by your side. Don’t let the clothes make the man, but wear them with pride.

There is the thrill of the hunt for finding clothes, fast cars and meeting that next girl or guy. There is a big difference between the two. Love isn’t something you find on the shelf, but let it find you and you’ll be surprised! One can’t play games once feelings are established, but rather be genuine and honest. Be yourself. Express yourself and don’t compromise your happiness. It’s not about adding a new look or outfit, but rather finding something or someone who makes you feel comfortable, confident and ready to put your best foot forward. Don’t follow trends with style and search to fit in with something, or someone who doesn’t flatter you best. It can be frustrating until you find it.

Sometimes spending more for that something extra special is worth a little more time and consideration. Part of finding that right man, or woman is giving much thought to the decision. It’s not something you can buy, but rather a special relationship is something you earn with someone gaining the full respect, admiration and care for that other person. It’s about finding the right one that fits, a diamond in the rough to add to that finger, a special person to hold onto a lifetime and share the colorful moments together.

Are they actually reading it?
For the most part, some of us forget why we signed up for certain email campaigns. Email is one promotional tool that provides the lifeblood of information to different digital channels. Time sensitive reports should be made known immediately through your social media channels and cross promote on your emails. However, is it the most effective medium to get your message across to teens? Email might be that one opportunity to get your message across to them during their busy day. It should be viewed as an intimate conversation with your customer. Social media is a place to share a conversation with your customers, friends, family and perhaps colleagues to gain feedback, interact, and stand up for your beliefs. As social media and mobile usage have become more apparent in our lives, Millennials and teens will appreciate your emails if you give them a reason to feel important in your communication style. Remember some teenagers don’t have access to text, smartphones, or permission to use certain websites or online services. Email can also be used to appeal to parents, teachers, or their peers to influence teens to take action.

One may think email would not be popular with teens because they have used more social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter to connect with brands. According to a recent report in Mediapost, “95% of Millennials who fan companies on Facebook also subscribe to commercial email. 95% who follow companies on Twitter subscribe to their email list.  While less than 2% of Millennials only engage companies through Facebook.”

Teens continue to request information via email and value its importance. Yet, no catchy sales gimmicks are going to go over well with this audience. You better be careful following strict permission-based tactics. No one likes surprises or SPAM in their inbox! “Millennial subscribers receive 7.4 permission-based email messages a day. 87% of 15-24-year-old consumers that use email sign up for permission-based email.”

Make sure teens are well informed about what they are subscribed to with your email campaigns. If possible, show an example of the type of mailing and make it easy to potentially unsubscribe with one click.

Be courteous to your audience who is giving you their personal contact information and don’t abuse that privilege by sending out too many mailings. Use email to promote specific announcements on sections of your site, personalize a message, or guide them to what’s happening on different social media channels. It’s important to ask your audience their thoughts to guide them to make comments to Facebook/Twitter, or direct them to address concerns with your customer service and/or marketing department. Respecting teenagers thoughts, opinions and creativity will in turn reward you with respect for your brand.

I predicted this to happen and do we really need more circles of friends in cyberspace? There is a lot more online peer pressure which I have coined as “virtual pressure.” It’s defined as a strong desire to belong to a larger online community and become an early adopter of new technology. First it was MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FourSquare, Google+ and whatever else to add to the list. Plaxo, Digg, Flickr, Klout, Godwalla etc. In this new virtual world we live in today, if you don’t accept it and jump on the bandwagon you’re going to be left out of the crowd.

Google took everything they already offer and put it into a different interface to appear as a social media tool. This improves one’s reliance on their search, as well as better monetizes their data and ad exchanges. It makes the platform a significantly better way for others to share and integrate numerous Google online products and services such as Google Docs, offers “plus” recommendations, Google AdWords, and accessibility to Android, etc.

Each day is a new tech trend to follow while some are more useful than others. Companies seek to create more services to monetize social media, stir up competition and figure out how to collect more data to target you. Too many options can be overwhelming and cumbersome for one to juggle in his/her life. The introduction of the fax, mobile phones, internet and other new technologies was a way to make our lives easier, but it also caused in some cases more work to communicate. Things will continue to fall by the wayside and new options will continue to emerge. This new digitization of the world takes commitment and can cause much stress and emotional strain for some. It is also opening up new ways to discover information, reach people across global continents to exchange ideas, as well as learn a new perspective on each others’ lives.

Check out Vincent Wong’s presentation about the new Google site and you decide the pluses and minuses of what it has to offer and what’s ahead next for you and your business.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

My aspirations as a child was to be a performer on stage. I use to sing and dance, write songs and work with many talented producers in the recording industry. Later in life, I decided to pursue behind-the-scenes working for radio, publishing, television and film to make a career in the entertainment business. At an early age, I had to turn down opportunities with MTV and David Yurman because of the expense to live in New York City. Yet, I took advantage of an opportunity to work for an internet start-up in Boston. It was a chance to get out there and perform similar to my days on stage, and I yearned for a connection to the audience to use my creativity.

Keri Singer Interviews George Clooney while shooting the Perfect Storm in Gloucester, Massachusetts

Today, it’s about attracting and engaging the audience through various mediums that allows people to show off their talents, but also care for their concerns with the best customer service. Although I still have a passion for the arts and entertainment, I’ve learned along the way that the skills gained throughout my career could be applied to a variety of areas.

Some of the people, places and pictures in this sample of my portfolio shares the stories and experiences of others to inspire you.

A Blast From the Past

I never thought one day that I would attend my first baseball game walking on the field of Fenway Park interviewing celebrities and the top players in the league across the country. I was able to accomplish more goals such as interview George Clooney, Matt Damon, Britney Spears and more! I made it happen and I was determined to get the job done. I believed in myself and others believed in my capabilities and talents.

Keri Singer Interviews Britney Spears Early On in Her Career at the Kiss 108 Concert

1999 All Star Game: Keri Singer Gets Up Close with Matt Damon

I’m grateful to those that gave me the opportunity to put my talents into action. Today, I continue to knock on many doors to make it happen for my personal growth, as well as help others gain the exposure to develop their own connection with the audience.

I wanted to take a trip down memory lane to share some of the pictures from encounters that I’ve had in the past with a few faces that you may recognize. It’s interesting to see where many of these top performers had their start. It was through hard work, as well as someone that believed in their talents which helped them to reach stardom. I’m not sure the next chapter in my life, but I certainly work hard each and every day to make myself a success.

Teen.com Audience Picks Christina Aguilera as a Favorite: Keri Singer Helped to Make it Happen

Christina Aguilera Captured on Stage Photographed By Keri Singer

Each day is like an audition as you step on that stage of life. Show off your many talents so one believes in your ability to entertain the crowd.

Don’t be afraid to take unfamiliar steps, or believe in someone else that brings something different to the performance. You might be surprised that it could lead to an exciting new journey that builds a foundation for greatness tomorrow.

Some of the top brands and retailers from across the country that include Reebok, Life Is Good, TjMaxx and New Balance have started in Massachusetts before becoming popular in other places around the world. Keri takes it to fashionable Newbury Street, one of the trendiest place in town, to ask the locals and those visiting the city the trends, the places to be seen, and how to make a stylish statement in the area. Here is a sneak peek at what people seek with their favorite selection of stores, restaurants, museums and more. Get inspired by what others believe that makes Boston a unique place. It’s the mixture of the old with the new that attracts people to visit, make it their home, as well as express their appreciation and admiration for the character of the city and STYLE!

Tell me what makes you, your product, or your business the next big trend to report on. You’ll be strutting your stuff on the runway of life as you stand out with your unique design attracting audiences.

Video shot and edited by PlayBack Inc.