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Mobile App Could Provide Various Outreach Means for Care Resource’s Fight Against HIV/AIDS

Care Resource website viewed from mobile device.

It is a brave new world. We are constantly being reminded of this fact when we try to approach life in the traditional ways we used to enjoy. Any trip to your favorite eatery for a meal will reveal just how different times are. Typically, you’ll find everyone gathered at the same table but checking mobile devices for updates or posting pictures of their outing. The truth is mobile devices have become a staple in how we interact with the world and they put a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips.

Contemplating just how impactful mobile devices can be, I am compelled to ponder how a mobile app could assist an organization like Care Resource be more effective in its efforts to support those infected with HIV/AIDS. This organization works closely with the LGBTQ Community to provide medical and social services. According to the AIDS.gov, Gay and Bisexual Men, irrespective of race, are the “most severely affected” group with HIV. Let me state here that I have very profound, personal reasons for seeing an organization like Care Resource fulfill its mission. Over the years, I have seen too many people perish because of HIV/AIDS. I have seen too many families suffer unnecessary loss in dealing with this horrendous disease. Therefore, I am invested in helping people avoid the tumultuous journey that HIV/AIDS presents. To that end, I think Care Resource, and organizations like it, can be vital in getting people educated, tested, and counseled.

At present, Care Resource has a dynamic presence on the web. The organization already uses Facebook and Twitter. They also have a very informative website. This website is viewable on mobile devices, however, the content can be a strain to see and navigation on mobile devices can be inefficient. Care Resource could benefit from a mobile app that made the pertinent information on their site easily accessible to its target audience. My vision of a mobile app for Care Resource would be one that allowed patients to receive reminders of upcoming appointments as well as schedule their appointments in just a few screen touches. My proposed app would also have updates for volunteer opportunities and link to Foursquare or some similar app in order to point out events in close proximity to the user. Additionally, my ideal app for the organization would give updates on fundraisers and community events. It would list all the organization’s current programs and provide an expedited means for clients to sign up for service consultations. Finally, my app would include contact information prominently and include emergency numbers and information. This measure would give clients a degree of security that they could have access to pertinent information at all times. My app would accommodate English, Spanish, and Creole speakers in the South Florida target area. I think that creating an app with these specific purposes in mind would help Care Resource bridge the digital divide that exists in the community it services and reach those that vitally need the resources that the organization has to offer.

Tired of Being a TUMBLR? Get a PULSE on Your Business With Mobile Apps.

Interestingly, as I was contemplating topics for my proposed podcast series, I started to brainstorm mobile apps and their benefit to creative and creative professionals. I had no idea that I would be asked to write this blog post at the time. Mobile apps have become a mainstay in our fast-paced, digital society. Increasingly, people are looking for ways to have apps help them with productivity while they are unable to tie into the traditional office or cubicle. But, which apps are best for the tasks of the PR or Entertainment industry professional on the go? In this post, I will examine two apps that I have found most beneficial in my career thus far.

TUMBLR

Many people may not agree with my assessment hear but I’ll give it anyway. I thoroughly enjoy Tumblr from both a professional and personal perspective. Tumblr has allowed me to get better acquainted with some of those that I follow on Twitter. It has allowed me to keep up with some of the happenings with celebrities that I find interesting. Professionally, posting to Tumblr is easy and it ties into my other social networks with ease. The reason I think the Tumblr app is so beneficial is because it is easy to use and you can post photos, videos, links, animated GIFs without breaking a sweat. It’s practically a two-touch operation. Another great thing about Tumblr is that your posts are a cinch to repost by others who wish to share your information with the rest of the world. This allows you to conveniently tap into their networks and gain a wider audience. Any PR/Entertainment professional should be looking at Tumblr’s connectivity and ease of use as a means to showcase their creative prowess.

I’ll add here that while Tumblr is not as widely known as some of its counterparts in microblogging its ability to connect to other social networks is a definite plus. It connects to Twitter and Facebook as well as Instagram and many others. However, don’t expect to jump on Tumblr and automatically be popular. Building and audience on Tumblr requires the same work and patience as any other network. Therefore, if you are looking at using Tumblr as a central hub, you’ll have to do some serious work gathering followers. However, as a gateway for disseminating information across other networks with a creative flair, Tumblr’s app is a wonderful tool.

Tumblr screenshot

PULSE

As a PR/Entertainment professional a key component of success is staying abreast of news and developments in the industry and world-at-large. You can’t stay ahead of the issue if you never see it coming and it’s always beneficial to know the proverbial word on the streets. Therefore, every serious PR/Entertainment pro needs a solid news aggregator. I liked using Pulse powered by LinkedIn.

This app connects to your LinkedIn account and allows you to get news in a centralized place from channels that you follow. You are able to choose those channels that interest you and really customize your news experience. Additionally, you can expeditiously share your information with everyone in your network. This app puts a wealth of information at your fingertips. This app also allows you to tap into your audience on other platforms. One tap opens the window to let you share news with connections on Facebook and Twitter as well as email and LinkedIn. Interconnectivity is a must in today’s digital landscape. To this end, I would say that Pulse is one of the more exciting news apps I’ve seen.

Pulse screenshot

The bottom line is that you’ll have to find the apps that work best for your task list. If it were left to me, my ultimate app would allow me to create, edit, and disseminate video and audio materials for PR/Entertainment in one place. Since, it’s difficult to put all of these elements together without having an app that is too busy and bulky, you’ll likely need more than one app to get the job done right. The aforementioned apps can be a solid start to running your PR/Entertainment business on the go. Still looking for apps? Start by checking out this article on PRNewser about 10 great apps you can use.

Happy hunting and feel free to share any apps you’ve found useful in the comments section!

Reducing the Clutter.

After a short, summer hiatus, The Dreaded Indie is back and ready to get everyone on track. I have spent the last few weeks watching people discuss various forms and reasons for getting organized and slimming down. People were trying to fit into their bikinis. They were trying to clean up their houses. They were trying to organize their offices. The whole premise was to get mentally and physically in shape for what is to come.

So, how does this apply to the indie artist? It just so happens that I ran across an article that gives this concept perspective. Writer Dave Cool gives some extremely great advice to artists in his article, Keep It Clean: 10 Ways to Unclutter Your Band Website. I had to chuckle when I read tip number 4, “Have 1 music player”. I was one of those artists that had music EVERYWHERE. Quite honestly, I can see how that strategy failed to deliver concrete results and the auto-start concept is just downright annoying.

Dave Cool makes a lot of valid suggestions that are well worth the time to review and implement. The concept of keeping it simple goes a long way. Further, a simple, clean website that showcases your talent can go a long way to getting your seen and heard.

Blog!

By this time, everyone should have a keen understanding of what blogging is and how vital it can be in this digital age. As a musician, band, performing artist, if you aren’t blogging you could be missing an important opportunity to connect with fans, share knowledge, and display your prowess in the industry.

Blogging has become so vital that this Wednesday, May 8th, the SBA (Small Business Administration) is offering a webinar on the matter. If you haven’t yet grasped the magnitude of how crucial blogging can be, let me help you understand some of the things that a blog can do. First, a blog can increase your level of engagement with your fans. Blogs can allow them to leave comments, take polls, leave opinions. All of these things can help you hone in on areas that fans like and dislike, showing you what you should keep doing or try revamping.

Second, in most cases, you can start a blog for free and it can substitute for the cost of having a custom page, at least for a while. With services like Blogger and WordPress, you can start a pretty good looking blog with some really pristine themes for free. This gives you a professional page that can be used as your home on the Internet until you have the cash to spring for a custom page with cool, one-of-a-kind graphics and interactive content.

Third, a blog is an ideal place to strut you proverbial stuff. You can use your blog to show everyone how much you know about you band and your brand while also giving them insights on some other issues that make your world spin. It’s a great platform and those who visit your blog will be captivated by all of the cool insights you have to offer.

Finally, blogs are easy to connect to other social media sites which means that you can easily begin to establish a social media marketing campaign. You will have content to share on other platforms that can gain more followers that will be exposed to your music, art, literature. Who couldn’t use more exposure?

Bottom line, whatever your reservations, blogging makes sense. Again, even the SBA is offering a webinar about it. So, what are you waiting for?

The Problem With My Resume.

As a one-time aspiring artist, I found myself living in two realms, if you will. In one realm, I had a 9 to 5 that I used to try to pay bills and scrounge the money for studio time. In the second realm, I was a performer trying to gain experience in my craft that would likely never mean very much in my first realm. In the first realm, I knew exactly what my resume needed to say so I could obtain the next, higher paying 9 to 5. However, the question of my resume for the second realm was always a fuzzy abstract. I always knew that a bio was expected and I took great pangs to make sure that I had one that best spoke to my personality and talents. I did not even contemplate a musical resume until just two short years ago.

One of the challenges that I faced immediately in the endeavor to create my music resume was the information that I needed to include. After all, I did not want it to be just a bio in an outline form. I had to ask myself what I sought to accomplish with my music resume. I found the task of creating my music resume extremely difficult, in part, because I had such broad focus. It was not until my Full Sail courses began that I really began to firm up my musical career goals. That had changed since I was last a performer on stage.

In trying to determine the best way to construct my music resume I found an articlethat proved very useful. Heather McDonald lists four areas that one should examine to include on their resume; experience, reliability, list of music related accomplishments, and related education. Each area has distinct considerations that could make or break your music resume. However, I think that the most valuable thing about developing your music resume is developing your career focus and assessing your strengths and weaknesses. My journey through the music resume revealed the areas that I needed to gain more experience in to accomplish my professional goals. This is important because having a plan, even if it is only a vague outline, can aid tremendously in keeping you on track to your destination.