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Digital Marketing: Mastery Journal

During this digital marketing course, I was able to gain knowledge about detailed methods on how to better market my brand to my target market and techniques on how to build better brand awareness. The overall objective of this course was to focus on the development of integrated marketing plans and how to coordinate marketing initiatives across online and offline channels.

Taking this course helped me to not only get an idea of how I want my brand to be preserved by others, but to gain an understanding of the importance of marketing data and feedback from my audience in response to my business. We discussed the art of SEO and how long tail phrases play a key part in online traffic, identified the primary social media platforms we will use, developed creative content examples, concepts behind key-word selections, and how to conduct market research in order to develop an effective marketing campaign strategy. For me, finding my business concept and sticking to a solid brand purpose was also something that I achieved during this course. Before, I had a good understanding of what I wanted to do with my brand, but I needed assistance in finding the best way to jump-start the marketing process.

Digital marketing is used in almost every business/brand that exists today. Without it, most businesses would fail. While traditional market channels are still needed, the digital approach is what seems to be the most effective. My original goal for this course was to learn how to utilize social media better, but I ended up learning a more “behind the scenes” type way of doing business. Getting the attention that I want my brand to develop will take time to achieve, but with the strategies and techniques that I have learned over the past 4 weeks, I am a lot more confident in my approach.

In the future of my campaign, I will implement these findings in order to have a more solid data range and use it to find what direction I want my brand to go in. I have a lot of bases that need to be covered in order for my business to be successful and digital marketing allowed me to gain the right knowledge to do just that.

Thank you,

Mercedes Brown

Entertainment Business Finance: Mastery Journal

During this course, I was able to get a more in-depth idea of the financial aspects to starting/owning a business, how to gain revenue, what costs and effects my business will have, and what opportunity costs I will encounter along the way. In learning these financial factors with my business, I will be able to prepare myself for what will be ahead of me in my journey of starting my business.

Initially, we researched current business’s and their annual financial statements. It really gave a detailed breakdown of how each part of a successful company has some form of cost and effect. The annual reports are a list of pieces to the companies’ puzzles. They even give an outlook of who are or how many shareholders they have.

Throughout the weeks, we took a look into what makes our particular brand stand apart from the rest. In short, what does our company have in order to succeed? This gave me the chance to really reflect on the purpose of my company, and if my ideas are actually plausible. I was happy to have come to the conclusion that my original business is indeed viable, and if I have all the necessary tools, it’s not impossible.

This course helped me develop an idea of ways to increase revenue by way of events, showcases, merchandise sells, and event fan subscriptions. These will help the business not only increase profit, but create a following for the business as well. I was able to create an actual business model of everything that will be necessary to the success of my brand. From equipment costs, to what levels of a team I will need, to key resources and even sponsors.

This course really helped to give me a better outlook on where I need to go financially when it comes to my business. I look forward to implementing it into the creation of my brand.

Thank You,

Mercedes Brown

Business Storytelling & Brand Development: Mastery Journal

During this course, I learned a healthy amount of branding strategies in order to help present my brand, as well as give a story of how I want the brand to impact my target audience. These strategies will help me build my brand into what I believe will be looked at as an icon within the music industry. The art of storytelling to engage the audience in what we stand for, as well as demonstrating the effects of what the brand will create for said audience. I was able to get an idea of how to differentiate my brand from the competition in the industry, in order for it to be considered a solid player.

First, we developed a set of SMART goals to define what our true intentions of our brands were supposed to accomplish in order to get the ball rolling in the art of branding. With already having a background communications and marketing, learning the art of storytelling for brand purposes within the music industry was very interesting to say the least. Next, we had to do actual research on our industry. Looking into topics such as what is the main trend in the industry, who would your target audience be, and what is the main goal of our brand really helped to solidify who and what topics we are looking to cater to.

After this was done, in week 3, we had to develop a Brand Identity Prism. This helped to give us an idea of how to define what it is that our brand stands for and what its strengths allow us to bring to the table. My own brand’s identity, being its capabilities, really helped me in thinking of ways to create a business plan to magnify those capabilities to my target market. Lastly, learning brand Archetypes as well as looking into examples of other brand’s stories helped me to develop a sense of patience. Looking at how these other brands got to where they are today proved that creating a brand that is truly an icon in your industry isn’t easy and takes some time to get there.

In short, I really enjoyed this course and it helped tremendously with learning how to incorporate storytelling as a form of marketing and promotions tactics. I look forward to implementing everything I have learned into my work throughout the duration of this program, as well as in life with my brand.

Thank you,

Mercedes Brown

PTM - Mastery Journal Post

When starting this course, I wasn’t sure what to expect. In the industry that I strive to be in, I know there are a lot of team oriented things that come in to play. Having said that, I was more than interested to see what this course had in store. Each week, I learned a little bit more about myself as a person as well as a team leader/manager. The projects I was assigned to complete actually helped me jump start my “real life” project of creating my brand as a platform for music artist/producers in my city.

All in all, the outcome of my assignments became pieces of a puzzle. From a project break down, to a building a budget, to conflict resolution practices, this course truly helped prepare me for the issues I will face once I reach my professional goals. Being able to identify group conflicts, team project risks, and identifying my own strengths and weaknesses was just what I needed to get a real work feel for what I will face in my future to come. I truly appreciate the opportunity to have participated in this course as well as this entertainment program. I look forward to sharing my success with you in the future.

Thank You,

Mercedes Brown

#mastery #project management #teamwork

Mastery Journal Post

I feel that I am more of a Maxwell leader. While the two types of leaders have a lot of similarities, they also have a lot of differences. For example, in our readings, we learn that Greene is a more abrasive and head on type of leader. This type of leader is effective in many ways. When it comes to managing a large company, leading a sports team, or being a Sargent in the military, a Greene type of leader is sure to get the job done in the face of any obstacle. They will sacrifice whoever, or whatever for the greater good.

However, Maxwell leaders are a “people based” type of leader. They would rather look at their team as the meat and potatoes of their company, rather than just worker bees. A Maxwell type of leader plays to the strength of “servant leadership.” I see myself as more of a Maxwell leader because I often do just that. I am a for the people by the people type of thinker when it comes to making decisions and problem solving as well. More often than not, I find myself trying to take everyone’s feelings into consideration, before making the final decision on a project or just brainstorming ideas for future business opportunities.

Greene leaders often have a “by any means necessary” approach to a task or issue, and that, to me, doesn’t always get the job done. I truly believe that you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. In my line of work, your ability to inspire others in order for them to be 100% effective will always equal success. As discussed in the reading, Self-Awareness, interpersonal skills, and the ability to be participative with your team is key to being an effective leader. In my profession, I want to be that effective leader.

Thank You,

Mercedes Brown

#mastery #journal

Mastery Timeline

Mastery Journey Inspirational Post

#mastery timeline mentor

Chance The Rapper - Inspirational Interview

#chance the rapper #complex #interview

Papaly

#papaly

Feedly

https://feedly.com/i/my

#feedly

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercedes-brown-18435b14a/

B. (2013, December 20). Retrieved September 09, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-xY-MwDzlE

#beyonce #thevisualalbum #inspirational

Zen-Pier State of Mind: Intention Statement

My name is Mercedes Brown, and I am from Jacksonville, FL. I am a Mass Communications graduate of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL and I am currently enrolled in the Entertainment Business Master’s program at Full Sail University. From the time I was very young, I knew the only thing that I ever had true, passionate interest in, was music. The sound of eclectic R&B soul, the upbeat tempo of 70’s funk, and the loud base of early 90’s hip-hop invaded my life as a small child and has only grown since. While my other artistic interests range from film/television production, graphic design, and creative writing; music always seemed to trump them all. Not just listening to it, but the art of creating, as well as performing it. Something about being able to express any more emotion while adding rhythm and a plethora of instruments was therapeutic to me.

As an artist, I aspire to be a lot in my career. I truly want to be an influence and a positive example in the industry that I love. My current goal during my time in this program is to start my entertainment production company and label. Recently, I’ve discovered my city is home to a plethora of talented and dedicated artists. Networking was the next step. In my Mastery, I aspire to master basic business skills such as marketing/promotions, branding, and business structure in order to create an empire known as “Zen Waves.”

I chose the term “Zen” for my brand because it’s the mantra I chose for my life. Complete peace and a sense of feeling whole. While I truly believe being an entertainer (in most rights) can’t be taught, the business can. Some key elements I hope to learn in my Mastery are how to appeal to your audience through digital marketing, the management and grooming of artists, and the ins and outs of being a leader in one of the biggest industries in the world. In short, I am truly ecstatic to have the opportunity to hone my craft even more. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life.

/Zen/: a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition.

#zenwaves

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