The Yardsticks "more than just a competition"

by Rachel Valice

Grace and Kristina represent GV with their proposal
that focused on the "instant gratification" factor.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mi. - Last night, The Yardsticks annual advertising competition took place in the Ballroom of the City Flats Hotel, in the heart of downtown.

This year's client and sponsor was Bagger Dave's, a beer and burger restaurant. Nearly 20 student groups from Grand Valley, Kendall, Ferris, and even Calvin presented their creative advertising proposals for a chance to have their ideas applied in the real world.

Frank Blossom, an advertising professor in the School of Communications at Grand Valley State University and advisor to the Ad Club, was the emcee for the evening's festivities.

Proposals ranged anywhere from crudely drawn concepts for television spots, to professionally printed poster board advertisements. The highlight of the competition focuses on the strength of the idea over the ability to design.

In a preliminary round, judges narrowed the contenders down to 8 semi-finalists. Those who didn't make the cut were offered markers and sketchpads and encouraged to come up with a new concept on the spot. Two other semi-finalists were chosen from this re-conceptualized group.

Using the hashtag "#theyardsticks," attendees were encouraged to live tweet about the event for the duration of the evening.

After an intense presentation and critique session, judges conferred before announcing the top four finalists.

The winning groups' proposals centered on the ideas of "VOTE FOR DAVE," "Tastefully Engineered," and "Edible Imagination."

Last year's client was Hello West Michigan, a tourism promotion company. The winning students' ads are set to run within the next six months.

Next year's sponsor will be the Amway Grand Hotel.

12 Tips We Learned from LinkedIn Night (10/10)

1. There are 3 ways to communicate with people on LinkedIn: your network, inMail, and Groups.
2. By joining a group, you can send messages to people outside of your circle.
3. The best way to get noticed on LinkedIn (and all social media) is to update your status 3-5 times a week. This will keep you at the forefront of your followers' minds!
4. You don't have to post original content each time; sharing an article, website, blog, or other content that may interest your followers is a good strategy. Know your audience!
5. Use the hashtag #LakerLinkedIn.
6. Use the 4 Be's: Be Interesting (if it's something you would stop and read, your followers would too), Be Relevant (events, news from your city), Be Helpful (people will react positively to you), and Be Yourself (be unique, let your personality shine through on social media).
7. Use power words; optimization is key to getting found. Use keywords and industry terminology for SEO.
8. Embed interesting content (videos, images, graphics, HTML, etc.) into your LinkedIn profile.
9. Customize connect requests for the person you are trying to connect to.
10. Start a group- great résumé builder and network opportunity!
11. Write your own blog. Link this to your LinkedIn.
12. Don't be afraid to ask for opportunities. Be proactive and don't assume people will come to you.

Meeting Minutes 10/3

We had a lot of information coming from our many guest speakers last week. To recap:

1. Professor Frank Blossom informed us of an AWESOME opportunity for Marketing majors, Advertising majors, and creative people in general! It's called Yardsticks, and you can find out more about it here or by e-mailing Professor Blossom.

2. The Street Team needs student ambassadors! Become a part of Laker Traditions and support your love for your alma mater.

3. Main speaker Tony Beachler entertained us with stories of Grand Valley in the 90s, life after graduation, and how to market your own personal "elevator pitch." He also handed us a handy list of tips and tricks to get hired and stay hired. Ask for a copy at our next meeting!


DON'T FORGET- LinkedIn Night is this Thursday. Learn how to utilize your social media presence to become #OutstandingYou and land the job you've been striving for.

Have an AMAzing week- we'll see you Thursday! :)