Social Media

Shevonne Polastre at work

I use Twitter for everything, but mainly to connect with interesting Tweeters who can show me a thing or two. It’s great because I have actually found some wonderful people who have taught me about life, parenting, technology, law, fitness, and the list keeps growing. Recently, I have been networking with other business owners and companies, and have even found some freelance work. Twitter is a great tool because you can be anyone interested in anything, and you will find some kind of use for it.

Tell us where you are from and what you do for a living?

I live in Fairfax, VA, which is part of the Washington, DC area. I came here from Panama when I was seven years old with my two sisters and parents. When I was a teenager, I wanted to take a year off college and backpack through Europe. However, my parents were very strict and didn’t allow that to happen. It’s one of only regrets that I have, but I am still young, so I still have time to take that trip. The experience will be better than I imagined because this time I will take my kids with me.

For almost eights years, I have worked as a Technical/Proposal Writer. Since I was a child, I’ve been surrounded by computers. My mother was a Computer Programmer for the Department of Defense and would sometimes bring her work home with her. While my two sisters would watch television or play, I would sit with her for hours helping her debug code. When I was 17, I began working as a Help Desk Technician for Erols’ Internet (remember them? I think they became RCN). For the next seven years, I helped customers with errors, built computers, and setup networks.

After high school, I started working on my Computer Science degree. I learned different programming languages and was trying to achieve my dream of becoming a Video Game Developer. However, I got pregnant with my son and realized that I had to change my path. Programming consumed almost my entire life and with a baby, there was no way that I would be able to dedicate the same amount of time as before. I thought about what I was also passionate about. Writing. I bought a book about what I could do with an English degree and came across “Technical Writer.” As a Technical Writer, I have been able to combine my two loves: Writing and Technology. I am happy that I can honestly say that I love what I do for a living.

Do you know others who use Social Media tools like Twitter in your area? What would you say about the knowledge of people in your area about Social Media in general?

I know there have to be others in DC who are using Social Media, but I only know a few of them. DC is a very political and high tech area, so Social Media is part of their vocabulary. Why? The future of technology, mainly in the Social Media arena, has huge legal, ethical, political, and technical issues, so there are many people in the DC area who are partaking in some aspect of it. When I was in grad school, I took a graduate class that focused on Social Media and another one that discussed the legal issues concerning it. I’ve told people about taking these classes, and they say they have never heard about such classes. It shows that it’s a hot topic in DC.

What gets you really motivated and excited?

Technology. Anything new that comes out, I have to test it out, or I feel like it’s the end of the world. Everyone knows that the way to my heart is getting me the latest gadget. Technology, not diamonds, are a girl’s best friend.

Give us one crazy fact about yourself you haven’t already shared.

I have the habit of singing everywhere I go. My sister use to get embarrassed because I could be in the middle of the grocery store, and I would belt out in song. Therefore, beware if you are ever out in public with me, you might be the next victim of having people stare out you for being with a crazy girl singing off key. You have been warned.

Any other tidbits you would like to offer?

• Think before you speak
• Get familiar with readability statistics to ensure that any piece of document you are presenting to an audience (unless they are experts in the topic you are writing about) is written for someone for 6th – 7th graders, and that readability is higher than 50%.
• When writing a proposal, ensure that you mention your potential client three times more than you mention yourself. Companies have a habit of boasting how great they are instead of what they can do for the client.
• Documentation might be tedious in the short run, but will save you tons of money and time in the long run.
• Writing and Technology are wonderful, but mix the two together, and you get Art

Q: I read a post of yours at AmberNaslund.com, called Reassurance and Insecurity. Very powerful post about the human need to be accepted. You strike me as a very confident person, how do you get over personal needs and show us your great strengths?

A: Truth is, I don’t. I don’t think you ever get “over” the need to be accepted or reassured that you’re a good person. But what I have learned over the years is to quit trying to be everything to everyone. I’m a certain type of person, full of quirks, and I’m not everyone’s taste. It’s taken me a while to learn that that’s ok. And in business, I’ve become relentlessly focused on doing the things that I can do well and leaving the rest to others with those strengths. Doing that gives me the confidence that I can be reasonably successful in what I do, and the reassurance that I can get back up if I stumble. And on a personal level, I try very hard not to take myself too seriously. Laughing at yourself is usually the best way to keep a little perspective. I find reasons to laugh at myself almost daily. :)

Q: Our twitter guest question comes from @heatherrast, who asks “How does Amber maintain a post’s focus (no tangents)?”

A: It’s a funny thing about that. This one time, when I was backpacking, I was exploring this cave. There was this turtle, and ….oh wait. Sorry.

Seriously though, I think it’s a function of my being a bit anal retentive. Once I get an idea in my head, I feel like I need to explore it in a very comprehensive way. But I wouldn’t always say that’s a strength. I envy the ability that others have to draw parallels and associations between things that are, on the surface, unrelated. To go in interesting, non-literal directions. I struggle with that sometimes. But I typically approach posts on my business blog with a question in my head that I’m trying to explore first, and the post becomes the path to get there. Writing is often my way of organizing ideas. Sometimes I’m more successful than others. :)

Q: You have a very effective writing style, can you tell us where you learned to communicate so effectively? How long have you been communicating online?

A: Writing is something I’ve always loved, and I can thank my mom for that. Whenever I wanted to know what a word meant, she told me to go look it up. But I’ve never been a fan of “fluffy” writing. I feel like written communication serves two purposes: to inform, or to entertain. If it’s the former, dispense with the filler and use real words. If it’s the latter, you’ll find few people that appreciate eloquent writing more than I do. I read voraciously – sometimes as many as two or three books at a time – and so I imagine I pick up elements of good writing in lots of different places.

As for online, I don’t know that I can backdate that. I started my career as a professional fundraiser for non-profit organizations, and well-written communication – both online and off – is really key to success in that industry. I suppose I first started writing email newsletters and fundraising appeals over a decade ago. Because we’re not going to talk about my adventures in true geekiness and cite BBS and chat rooms of old, right?

Q: Altitude Branding is your Social Media and Marketing consulting business, can you tell us what you offer you customers? Is this part of The Brand Box or just a re-branding?

A: The BrandBox is the name of my blog itself, which used to be a separate site (note to others: dumb move. Don’t do it.). Altitude was always the name of my company, but the sites were separate until I smashed them together earlier this year. For someone who executes crystal clear branding for other people, I sure managed to make mine confusing as hell (shoemaker’s kids and all that). When I relaunched the site, I kept the BrandBox as the title of the blog portion. Clear as mud? Okay, good.

As a consultant, I’m typically engaged to help companies learn about social media by providing workshops and training, and assist them with building the framework for their social media plans. And I help with the project execution too, from doing internal education to launching blogs and building social media newsrooms (with the help of some awesome technical partners). I do some speaking too, both for conferences and private events, usually around social media topics. It’s all designed to help companies better bridge their brands from the analog world to the digital one using online and social media tools. Whatever helps businesses be more successful in online communication, that’s what I’m here to help do.

Q: Ok Amber, no foofy drinks is how you communicate your alcoholic desires in your profile. So what are your top 3 favorite beers and why?

A: Man, three? But there are so many. Ok, if I had to pick, I’d probably go with:

Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock for it’s sheer asskicking complexity and deliciousness
Chimay Red (or Rouge if you’re a true beer snob) because you can’t go wrong with beer served in a goblet
And for a good anytime beer, I’d go with either Magic Hat #9 or New Belgium’s Fat Tire Amber Ale.

I tend to like complex, hoppy beers. Unless it’s a Cubs game. Then it’s Old Style, all the way.