Businesses should make better use of Facebook & Twitter

In a world where Internet is used on a daily basics everywhere, it’s a surprise to me that businesses today aren't utilising social media to increase brand awareness.
We just converted to digital TV, so surely the transition to social and digital marketing should be well underway. Well, some people I spoke to simply don’t like to use computers or they just don’t have the time. No excuses, you should make time. Interesting yet alarming new figures show that Facebook now has over 1 billion active users. That means that one out of every seven people in the world has a presence on the network. All this opportunity is not to be missed by businesses.
Facebook and Twitter can be used to promote a business on a massive scale if it’s done right. It’s important that you have your Facebook page set up as a business page and not a ‘friend’ page. This means anyone has direct access to your page without having to send a request. Once you have set up your Facebook page correctly you can make use of the ‘insights’ tab. This can tell you, which of your posts have been more viral, and how many people it actually reached. 
Another way to drum up brand awareness and get the consumer engaged it through running competitions. But be careful, Facebook has strict regulations regarding running competitions through Facebook. This is mainly to do with gathering data and the Data Protection Act. 
Twitter is a short and sweet method of promotion so you have got to make it punchy. Tweets have a very short shelf life and need more attention than a Facebook post. 
If you’re in the retail industry you may want to take advantage of fashion bloggers. A blog is a short story posted online by users who have set up their own site. This is actually really easy to do and is also free. Customers can leave comments and share the blog on other social networking sites. The power of the fashion blogger is not to be underestimated. Get it right and they essentially promote your product and business for free, get it wrong and they can run you into the ground! If you provide bloggers with a product to test they will do a write up and post it on their blog and their followers have direct access to this information. WordPress blogs are the most common blog site used and there are 70 million of these bogs worldwide. Northern Ireland has a massive fashion blog industry so get goggling. 

If you aren't really confident about his digital area and social media then why not get someone to do it for you or even show you.

High heels, hair, fashion and makeup...all in a nights volunteering!

So I got roped into modelling at a fashion show for Aware Defeat Depression on Thursday night at the Mellon Country Inn in Omagh. 
I volunteer for the charity and a store had no models so I asked my mum and aunt to take part and then before I know it, I am getting outfits thrown into the fitting room to try on.
Well, it was all a bit of craic. I took to the catwalk and smiled whilst my heart was pounding! Two outfit changes later, a wee bottle of West Coast Cooler Rose was required. My mum and aunt loved it! They looked fab. With the hairstyles by Claires Hair Studio Omagh, makeup by Tone up and Glow Omagh,  it was a huge success. When mum was getting her makeup done I told the girl not to worry about eyelashes to which mum replied "Off course I am getting eyelashes on Clara, I have never had them on before!"
I was modelling for SD Kells in Omagh. My two looks were equestrian  and English country side. Teamed with amazing riding boots; courtesy  of Carino shoes in Omagh. 

My wee Mummy

Classic Menswear

She Clothing

Other stores that took part were She, Classic Menswear and Tempest. I have to admit, the style on display was to die for, you never really think that Omagh town has so much to offer. Wither it was winter warmers or a winter wedding you were looking to get togged out for, you definitely had something there to please your taste. 

(Photos by Gerarda McGlone)

Blast from the past!

Blast from the past

Conversations with my friends at the weekend turned to our fashion faux pas of out teenage years. It was hilarious going over what the rage was back in the day. Mainly in the department of clothing, makeup and shoes. 
I remember going to the local discos wearing full tracksuit regalia . You had to have the latest tracksuit or you felt a bit left out and your mother had a sore head listening to ye. A major tracksuit trend was the ‘Adidas button up’s’, teamed with a sequinned boob tube and you were landed for the Friday night events. Believe it or not, I STILL have my sequin boobtube! 13 years later, maybe I hope ‘what goes around will come around’. 
In the beauty stakes you have the rise of the roll on body glitter by secret weapon, and a weapon this was- all over the car before you even got to the disco. This glitter teamed with tiny stars stuck to the side of the eyes and your were transformed!  I also distinctly remember, UV body lotion coming on the scene.  Being 14 and not thinking straight I applied this lotion in my friend Onaghs house BEFORE going to the Glenavon. Onto the dance floor I went only to scare the life out of everyone around me. It was all over my face hands and clothes because I obviously didn’t see it when under natural light. I ran into the toilets where I stayed most of the night.
Then you had the shoes. Nike air max all the way, Even though you proceeded to burst the bubble with your pencil at school.  UFO’s (yes, these are shoes) were another disaster I had to have. They had reflectors stuck around the heel along with a classy Velcro strap. 
All these funny memories sparked a conversation on Facebook when I asked everyone what there own memories were. It’s a great way to reminisce and definitely hope that your sense of style has dramatically improved since then! 
Here is a few of the suggestions made to me:

 Tamagotchi’s
 Bandanas
 Nope trousers and hoodys
 Trying to beat your friends top score on Snake
 Butterfly clips
 Crimped Hair
 Sketcher moon shoes

Fashion Show for Aware Defeat Depression

So I am hitting the catwalk along with my mum on Thursday 11th October for Aware Defeat Depression!

Very worried but on the upside I cant wait to get my makeup and hair done, sure it will be a bit of craic!

Baby Shower fun

When I logged onto my facebook a few months ago to see my cousin Colleen having a baby shower out in Australia I was very intrigued.  I have always known baby showers to be very American and haven’t really heard of anyone here having one. So as my interest grew I decided to throw one for my friend. I started to plan it 2 months ago, gathering banners, balloons and even a piñata shaped like a pram. I have to admit, I did go a little crazy but I just love to organise things for other people and wanted it to be extra special.

So what is a baby shower some of you might ask? ( Or as my da said, eh? A party for a weene before its even born?!) Well it originates from roman and Egyptian times. , the baby shower party was part of the traditions associated with welcoming a new child into the world. However, there really wasn't much of a party involved. Instead, the other mothers would provide the new mum with items she would need to care for her child, such as clothing. It was also a time for women to share wisdom and lessons on the art o becoming a mother. Clearly back then, these informal events were very practical and were meant to help prepare new mothers for the newest family member. In those days, there was no such thing as Piñatas filled with sweets! The shower centres on gift giving so it is usually a friend that will organise the party and not a family member as this can seem rude for family members to beg for gifts.

Well this baby shower was a first for all that attended and it was a great day of fun and laughter for the expectant mummy. I decided to hold it in the evening time from 4pm to 7pm as at this stage of the pregnancy the mum can be very tired and suffering from the lovely swollen ankles. With a theme of ‘High Tea’ I brought all my mummy and grannies tea sets from back in the day, along with cake stands to give that real High Tea feel. Pinkies at the ready we delved into delicious delights made by a friend of the family and we played baby shower charades. A great days craic and lovely for the mummy to be to have something to look forward to and take her mind of child birth (even though that was reenacted in baby shower charades!). So if you are thinking of throwing a baby shower, speak to the mummy to be first, see if its an idea she would like and take it from there. There are lots of baby shower paraphernalia available online and off course you can make your own banners to make it more personal. I think I have missed my calling in life, to be a baby shower organiser!

My week at Channel 4

I am currently doing work experience at Channel 4 in London ( I know this sounds like I am 16 again). Well, what can I say?  Channel 4 is amazing. The building, the people and the work. Its exactly how you picture it to be, funky bright and modern.

London is mental! Buses, tubes and trains, all in a days work. I miss my little clio to drive around whenever I want. I am totally not used to this craziness. I miss the quiet life and now would class myself as a 'cultie'.

I am only here for a week but I am trying to get as much cramed in as possible. I will keep you updated!

A Wedding with a Twist

I never thought I’d see the day that I would be going to a wedding dressed as Princess Fiona from Shrek. Well that was exactly the case at the weekend. ‘Sir Clive and Lady Joni’s Wedding’ was the wedding of the year! The bride is relation of my fiancé’s family and I was invited to this medieval styled wedding in the local History Park. Anything to do with fancy dress and I am there without a doubt. I started planning my outfit as soon as we got the invite. When I proposed Fiona everyone laughed but I thought it was a great idea…until I had to wash the green body paint off!

The main advantage of having a themed wedding is that is way more exciting for you and your guests. People dread getting wedding invites but getting an invite like this puts that all out the window. There’s a lot of hype surrounding the costumes and getting photos taken and the adults turn into big kids. (Well I did any way, running about the History Park like I was 10 and had just discovered The Secret Garden!) It was great having a costume to find instead of running about Belfast or Derry at the last minute looking for a dress.

Another benefit of having this kind of themed wedding is the photographs. With all the natural outdoor beauty at a location like the History Park, you’re guaranteed great images. Once you upload your photos to Facebook, you are certain to get plenty of response to your crazy costume.

To many people a themed wedding can sound a little bit crazy but why not go against the grain? With jousting, fire throwers, archery and a pig on a spit to name a few, this wedding had it all and no one knew what to expect on the day. You don’t get that from your average wedding that everyone dreads going to and you’re also not out a fortune on an outfit for the day! This wedding was spoke about for months before hand and will be talked of for years to come for the craic, costumes and utter craziness. Now I am just thinking what I can do to make my wedding that bit more exciting!

Benefits little tube of magic-Porefessional

I never really started to wear makeup properly until I was 16. I went to school every day carefree and not worried about a naked face.

Now however I would rarely go out without the makeup face. I am not really overly concerned about people seeing me without it; it’s rather that it has become a force of habit. Turning 25 has got me looking at my skin in a different light. Analysis of the crow’s feet and pores, I feel I owe it to my skin to look after it and sometimes that means not wearing makeup! Giving your skin a break from all the heavy foundations and eye shadows can only be a good thing, right?

Well yeh, until I recently discovered Benefits Porefessional Primer product. Amazing is how I would describe it in one word. Like I said, getting older means you notice the pores and the wrinkles and this little miracle tube aims to hide those two bad words. I am not usually a sucker for buying what the sales counter staff promote but once this was applied to my skin I was in awe. It’s got a super soft feeling when applying and it doesn’t cling to dry skin.  The POREfessional balm minimises the appearance of pores, is oil-free so won’t irritate the skin and suits all skin tones. It’s really easy to use, just apply to clean, lightly moisturised skin. Pat on the problem areas and blend with your fingertips. What’s even better about this primer is that you can use it over your makeup too! Just Pat on lightly over makeup and blend which is great for during your lunch break when you find your makeup has started to wear off.

Us mere mortals are not the only ones to love this invention, during the Brit awards in February Rihanna’s make-up artist has revealed that the star is a huge fan of Benefit's smoothing primer The Porefessional. Rumour has it J-Lo is also an avid fan.

If smooth, silky skin is what you want, then this is the product for you.

Why go Vintage?

Vintage clothing. Not something we are used to hearing about Omagh but it is now becoming more common over the past few years. When I was younger I always thought vintage meant smelly musty old garments, how wrong I was! Last Saturday night I went to a Vintage fashion show with my friend Lynsey and it was amazing. The style and glamour being flaunted was incredible.

Why go vintage? Well there are lots of reasons. Do you ever buy a dress on the high street thinking it’s gorgeous and then go out that night and see four other girls wearing the exact same dress? How annoying that is that you spend all night dodging these girls so you are not seen near them. Well going vintage allows you the peace and mind that only you are wearing that outfit! People will start to comment and ask you where you got it and you can be rest assured they can’t go out and buy it.

“Vintage [clothing] is not only glorious and stylish; it's also the way forward in terms of recycling. Whenever I go into great vintage stores, I wonder why we ever buy new things."
- Thandie Newton (British actress)

It’s also reducing your ‘carbon foot print’. Well it may not make a huge difference but in today’s society, we tend to throw items of clothing out if they need a new zip or button. Think twice before filling up that charity bag as many items we are getting rid off can be fixed for a small cost and will come back in fashion!

I hear you asking where you would go to get these vintage items… the best place are your mum’s wardrobe. My mum keeps everything, which is usually a bad thing but when it comes to clothes it’s great. I was hoking through some old clothing and I found a bright green blazer. I loved it and couldn’t understand where it came from or who owned it. I asked my mum and she told me that it was part of her ‘going away’ outfit after she got married. After a good laugh I tried it on and it’s a perfect fit. Although, remember that musty smell I was talking about, well let’s just put it like this, I will be dry cleaning it before I wear it.

Irish charm and American Beauty

I recently had the privilege of meeting and interviewing the New York Rose of Tralee, 22 year old Annemarie Lynch. Annemarie was visiting the local Mc Cullagh family in Omagh when I got to dig into why and how Annemarie got involved in the very popular competition.

Annemarie’s was born in New York as her mother is from the Bronx and her father is from County Cavan . She moved to Ireland at a young age and was raised in Lough Gowna County Cavan. After studying a degree in English and Philosophy she went onto study Fashion Design in Cavan Institute.  However Annemarie moved back to New York four years ago and has been living the dream ever since. Working for Tiffany & Co, interning at Orla Kiely Retail and also with Daniele Nachmani the Stylist, life has been pretty hectic for Annemarie. ‘’If you work hard you will achieve something, I am not naturally talented, I have to work hard to be successful” A humble approach by a naturally stunning and inspiring young lady who you can’t help but love. ‘’I have a half Cavan half New York accent’’ she laughs. I would also say she has the Irish charm and the American Beauty as she can talk for Ireland!

Having a keen interest in fashion, competing in the Rose of Tralee has allowed her the opportunity to meet some fantastic Irish designers. Jacqueline Quinn, Joan Ghali, Eileen Millinery to name but a few are all those who Annemarie is in awe of. Competing in the Rose of Tralee has allowed meetings like this to take place.

Annemaire goes on to tell me how she has “had the application form for the Rose of Tralee on my computer for four years.” It was always in the back of her mind to apply but she never got around to it. Until now. Approached at a Leukaemia charity event in New York and asked would I like to participate in the Rose of Tralee.

“What’s for you doesn’t go by you I always say, so I jumped at the chance.” This was the week before the heat and everything was happening so fast. Before I knew it they had called out my name. ‘It was so surreal; I love the competition and what it stands for”

“Celebrating women of Irish heritage who are passionate and independent”. That is exactly how Annemarie would describe the Rose of Tralee to those who merely believe that it is a beauty pageant.

Asking Annemarie how she would make herself stand out in the competition she states “it’s who you are as person and how your portray your personality is what makes you stand out.”  “There is no point in trying to be someone you are not, life is about enjoying yourself and that’s what I plan do to during my Rose of Tralee experience.”

Since interviewing Annemaire, the Portlaoise regional finals have been and gone and I am delighted to tell you that Annemarie has made it to the final in August. Good luck to Annemarie and all the roses participating!

About moi

Hey everybody, my name is Clara Lyttle. A PR graduate and currently working within the industry, I like to try out new things all the time. I am always looking for a new adventure and applying for random things.New to the blogging world but not for long! I just like to talk alot---about everything really. A good mixture of fashion, weddings, all things vintage and social networking are some of what I like to rant about.
Stay tuned for any updates! :)