do Detoit TV is here!

Good news here at the doDetroit office, the doDetroit TV Web site is live! Check out clips from our original programs like Nikki Does Detroit and Sound Check.

In the latest Nikki Does Detroit segment, Nicole Rupersburg visits the Detroit Science Center and literally has a blast. Based on her weekly column on doDetroit.com, Nicole explores all the fun and exciting things happening in Detroit.

If you are an emerging filmmaker the program “. . . It came from the D” reserves space for donated content. Visit the site to learn how to submit your TV show, movie, or comedy act to be considered for inclusion.

So what are you still doing here? Visit doDetroit and discover all there is to do!

TechTown Visit

While most of the time I arrive at the Do Detroit offices between 10 and 11, today I braved rush hour on I-94 and the Lodge to make it to TechTown at 8 a.m. What possessed me to make the trek down to the New Amsterdam historic district? Why it was the “Marketing, Mania, & Money – Oh My!” entrepreneurs breakfast hosted by Wayne State University Technology Commercialization.

Guest speaker at today’s event was Derek Mehraban, CEO of Ingenex and instructor of Michigan State University’s New Media Driver’s License course. Derek delivered an hour and half address to a room of 30-plus enthralled entrepreneurs and industrious professionals focusing on social and digital marketing strategies.

Some of the highlights for Derek’s speech were tips for personal branding in conjunction with your business’ identity, integration of the traditional with the digital, and evaluating the return on the investment (ROI) in social media engagement. With the Black Business Festival marketing campaign ending this weekend, Derek’s S.M.A.R.T. approach to assessing ROI will be of use when we review our efforts.

Throughout the event, Derek’s colleague Eric Rodriguez was live tweeting the event on Ingenex’ corporate account. One of my favorite comments Eric caught from Derek was:

If your business can't be found on Google, does it exist?

  

Side Note: Last night's Discovering the D featuring the Russell Bazaar is now available on demand on Detroit Public TV's Web site.

---Gill

Issues Surrounding Bigger Issues

this post was ORIGINALLY written on February 16, 2010...

We have been BUSY around here.

With the Black Business Festival coming up next weekend (my goodness!), there are so many things that we still have to do to make sure vendors and the public enjoy and appreciate this event. In our morning meeting, we were informed that there has not been much vendor sign-up. This was a little disheartening; however, from my experience, things usually work out last minute. If we use every outlet possible (including social media, media advertising, phone calls and word-of-mouth), the turnout will be greater than last year. The interns are here grinding to make sure that no stone is left unturned and that we can reach every possible source. We’re blasting list-servs, twitter and facebook accounts, contacting local bloggers and writers, making calls to previous attendees and using unconventional means to contact businessowners...oh yeah, we’re getting out there. No worries.

Now, for a personal rant...

In our meeting, Jodie spoke on an issue that was presented to her regarding the prominence of a certain advertisement in the Festival brochure. In the center of the brochure there is a large ad for a gun lock giveaway that will be done during the event to promote gun safety within the community. She informed us that there had been some dissent about how largely this had been advertised versus largely advertising the participation of local public figures (mainly because of the stereotypes facing the African-American community).

To this I say...Keep your focus on what’s most important and get off your soapbox.

In a city plagued by high volumes of gun violence and fatalities, this is but one small way to help solve a larger issue. If I have to read another headline about a child who, often through the negligence of a parent or guardian, got hold to a gun and shot and/or killed themselves...I don’t know what I’ll do. Also, let us not forget that blacks are not the only culture who deal with the heartbreak of gun-related death and injury. When it comes to an issue that is plaguing our community, and there’s someone offering to help solve it, we need to recognize that their efforts are for, and not against, us.

If you are going to complain, do something to make it better.

Moral of today’s story: Work hard. Be a part of the solution...not the problem.

--Lisa

The Intern is Loose! The Intern is Loose!

Part of being in the social media marketing field is . . . wait for it, wait for it . . . being social. While most of my job is spent in the office interacting with people through the Internet—posting comments on blogs, sending email, interacting with Facebook fans, etc.—this week I left my colleagues in front of their Macs to venture down to YouthVille with Jodie to do some face-to-face networking. With the Black Business Festival fast approaching, we needed to promote Sunday’s youth activity area that not only provides entertainment for kids of all ages, but also provides space for businesses focused on children or those that offer summer and after-school programs for the city’s youth.

Having never even heard of YouthVille, I was astonished to discover this expansive development center for 11–19 year olds in New Center on Woodward. Waiting for Leslie Pittman, who handles the centers community outreach programs, to met Jodie and I, I wanted to wander down the colorful corridors and explore the loft-like facility. Luckily, Leslie offered to take us on a tour of YouthVille after we discussed the BBF.

One of the first rooms Leslie showed us was ceramics. Here participants use clay to craft masks, sculptures, and bowls to be fired in the two on-site kilns.

The students’ finished pieces are displayed, most crowded onto shelves almost too small to hold all the wonderful artwork. Leslie commented that the class is popular with kids new to the center.

Also on the ground floor are a showcase area, game room, and gym.

A conference room with full commercial kitchen and four breakaway rooms attached with access via transparent garage doors, allows for large groups to meet. Walking through the dance studio—that is bathed in natural light thanks to wall-to-wall windows—Jodie even volunteered to become a dance instructor a couple of hours a week. It’s important in social media marketing not to forget that just because you are connected virtually, doesn’t mean you can cut out being physically involved with your community.

However wonderful the first floor of YouthVille is—and trust me it’s great—the second floor was better. Contained on the second floor are classrooms dedicated to making beats and editing video and sound. The equipment these kids get to use nothing like the technology my high school classroom had and rivaled what was available to me at MSU.

But what’s the point of having professional-grade editing tools if you have nothing to edit? That’s where the classes geared towards broadcast journalism offers come in. YouthVille even houses its own TV studio! YouthVille students are able to see the production of a radio show, podcast, or short program from start to finish. Who knows maybe some of these talent kids will shoot something for Do Detroit TV?

As I said before YouthVille is a development center for middle and high school aged children. While the classes afford these kids the opportunity to explore their creative interests and even guide them towards a particular career field, building life-skills is the goal of the organization. YouthVille not only offers leadership development and homework assistance programs, but also participates in community service initiatives.

Our tour with Leslie ended with a meeting with Program Director, Rita Clark, who—just like the Leslie and the rest of the YouthVille staff—was extremely personable. Chatting with Rita for a few minutes, you knew she loved her work even when swamped with serious scheduling decisions.

I want to thank Leslie and Rita for meeting with Jodie and I and for the wonderful tour. We here at Do Detroit appreciate YouthVille’s participation with the Black Business Festival. Leslie was doubly kind to allow me to come back the following day to photograph the building for this story.

For more information about YouthVille and their youth development programs, come see Leslie at the Black Business Festival this Sunday, February 28 from 11–5 in the Russell Bazaar or check out their Web site for a full list of all their programs.

---Gill

Tune into PBS' Discover the D Tonight

In this evening’s episode of PBS’ Discover the D, Jim Chapman gives viewers a tour of the Russell Bazaar. Airing at 5:30 p.m., Jim will focus on the amazing retail opportunities the Bazaar gives to small businesses. Detroiters will be surprised of the hidden gems housed in the 60,000 sq. ft. complex.

Located in the historical Russell Industrial Center, the Bazaar calls to mind lively foreign street markets. However, since the Michigan weather is unpredictable, all the shops are under a single roof, ideal for shopping any day of the year.

Again the program airs tonight, Monday, February 22 at 5:30 p.m. on PBS. Check your local listings for your cable or satellite provider's PBS station.

For more information about the Russell Bazaar and upcoming events, such as the Black Business Festival, check out their Web site.

--Gill

Black Business Festival Returns

Hey everybody, it's Gill and some really exciting things have been happening at the doDetroit offices these past couple of weeks.

My favorite piece of news is the return of the Black Business Festival for a second year and doDetroit.com is proud to announce its sponsorship of this event. As an intern for doDetroit, I have had the opportunity to not only observe but also contribute at meetings with doDetroit staff and personnel from other sponsoring organizations Russell Bazaar, WGPR 107.5 FM, and Niki’s Lounge. (Metro Times has also committed to sponsoring the Black Business Festival but I have yet to personally participated in a meeting with them.)

After coordinating the behind-the-scenes operations between our organizations, the team brainstormed some ideas for how to not only draw in businesses but the general public. Some of my favorite suggestions form the meeting included a return of last year’s chili and peach cobbler cook-off, business seminars centered around starting and growing your business, two $300 Russell Bucks raffles, and making the event family-friendly with a children’s activity area.

Following the initial meeting, we spent following week we confirming speakers, attendees, and entertainment. Everyone we contacted seemed to be receptive to the festival’s mission to help local business owners advertise, promote, and network.

One such member of the Detroit community looking forward to attending the Black Business Festival and who we here at doDetroit.com are ecstatic to announce as the keynote speaker is Charles Pugh, President of Detroit City Council. His keynote speech will address the economic outlook for growth in Detroit.

Seminar will be conducted by the city’s leading political and business figures including Ken Harris of the Detroit Charter Revision Commission and members from the Center for Empowerment an Economic Development (CEED), the Black Business Expo, and the Small Business Association.

A perfect ending to Black History Month, the festival will include family-friendly entertainment and activities for children. Gospel choirs and live music will be preformed on the Russell Bazaar’s stage. The public is invited to participate in dance contests, two drawings for a $300 shopping spree, and cook-off events.

More information on renting space for your business and up-to-the-minute seminar information can be found here at the Black Business Festival’s Web site.

We look forward to seeing you, your family, and your business at the Black Business Festival, February 26–28 at the Russell Bazaar inside the Russell Industrial Center.

The Russell Bazaar is located at 1600 Clay Street, Detroit, Michigan 48211 [Google Map link].

---Gill

Getting word out + Getting lunch = Blog Post

this post was ORIGINALLY written on February 4, 2010...

So, I’m really excited at how things are coming together for our Black Business Festival. We have some great speakers and really fun activities that I’m sure everyone will love. I drafted a “participation proposal” today for a potential Motown Ballroom instructor to come out and teach a one-hour class for our attendees. Yes, we will be dancing : ). Keep your fingers crossed for me for positive results...

NOW...ON TO A RESTAURANT REVIEW!!

Let me tell you guys about this great Mexican restaurant we visited for lunch. In Hamtramck, a “little-big” city located within the City of Detroit, there is this great, quaint restaurant named “Maria’s Comida.” Everyone in the office SWEARS by their $.99 taco specials on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I decided to join them...

And am I glad I did...The food was delicious!!

I started with the chips with salsa and queso. Not every restaurant has good salsa, but this one does. The queso was so cheesy and creamy. *Wiping corners of mouth to avoid dribble* After the chips with salsa and queso, I had an order of their jalapeno poppers. I will say this--the first time I had them, they weren’t so bad. This time......THEY WERE HOT! However, the homemade Lime Cilantro Cream Cheese filling made the pain sweet and bearable. 

And then the taco’s came...

Definitely worth every cent. Fresh ingredients and delicious seasonings made it a great taco. The taco sauce was the perfect way to “doctor up” my tacos.

Five stars (as my dear friend Gilbert would say). : )

Moral of today’s story: Go to Hamtramck. Great culture, great food, cool town. Visit Maria’s Comida and come back and tell me how you liked it. 

--Lisa

Interns are part of the team too...

this post was ORIGINALLY written January 26, 2010...

Today I found out that next month the Russell Industrial Center will host the Black Business Festival (February 26-28). The fact that this event promotes entrepreneurship within the African-American community, and, in turn, involvement in Detroit’s economic boost, is definitely an added bonus for me. The preliminary meeting with Russell Industrial staff, Keith King (of Detroit’s WGPR radio) and Ken “Blanks” Harrell (President of RealTalk FM, a local weekly Sunday radio talk show) was a great success as everyone bounced ideas around to develop this event further. Everything from an entrepreneurship town hall and weekend performances to cook-offs and incentives for attendance, such as contests to win $300 in “Russell Bucks,” were proposed. The fact that everyone is pushing for the success of this event will truly make it shine. 

Not only will there be events for adults, but little ones will have a great time too. From what I hear, there will be alot going on to keep them busy. I’m so excited to be assisting with the festival. The best thing about it is that, even though we're interns, we are a necessary part of the team. Our ideas are welcomed and respected and that makes it that much easier to work with the team. 

Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to miss out! Come out! I’d love to meet you!

Moral of Today’s Story: Come to the Black Business Festival (and don’t forget your family)--it is a multi-cultural event. See some new faces. Network. Make some GREAT connections. 

--Lisa

A City of Opportunity

While working for Do Detroit for the past three weeks, I have been afforded the opportunity to explore the wide variety of interesting people, projects, and events Detroit has to offer. Even with the long hours sitting in front of my computer entering contact information into our ever-expanding database, I truly am fascinated by the breadth of people who inhabit this city.

In a previous entry I mentioned one of my passions is indie film and when—over the course of my research—I discovered the new documentary short, The Farmer and the Philosopher, I was ecstatic. In 8-minutes, filmmaker Andrea Adelman concisely outlines two complimentary plans for the resurgence of Detroit, which left me entertained as well as informed.

The Farmer and the Philosopher examines the City of Detroit through the eyes of an urban farmer and community organizer, Mark Covington (Georgia Street Community Collective) and ad man and writer, Tom Barlow (Team Detroit/Huffington Post). While these two come from two different worlds within Detroit, they both share a passion for this city in transition. Produced by Detroit Lives!, the short details the visions each man has for the continued evolution of Detroit.

Tom, a 2006 transplant from New York, proclaims falling in love with the city immediately. His assertions of Detroit being rich in community and opportunity litter his commentary of Detroit being the city of the future. He envisions the city’s dreamers as being the driving force behind the Detroit’s revitalization.

One of those driving forces is Mark. Since 2008, he has enriched the lives his neighborhood’s youth through his community garden project. Even though Mark calls himself a dreamer, his vision for Detroit’s future is grounded in reality. He acknowledges that to help Detroit grow, the doers must cultivate the ideas planted by the dreamers.

Music from local musician Alan Scheurman bookends the short. The Farmer and the Philosopher is now available for viewing on Current.

---Gill

Bookmark Your Websites Like You Bookmark Your Last Page.

this post was ORIGINALLY written January 19, 2010...


You know how you’re reading this realllly good article or website and you just want to shout its praises to the mountaintops? Well, in a way, you can. Through Social Bookmarking websites (including Del.ic.ious, Faves and Blinklist), readers are able to create descriptions of their favorite websites to share with the world. Along with these descriptions are tags that serve as “keywords” that can pull a desired topic up for researchers even quicker. For example, I created a description for Loco’s Bar and Grill, a delicious local Tex-Mex restaurant, with a few tags including “ Detroit, downtown, greektown, restaurant, bar, authentic Tex-Mex, food.”

Easy and SUPER necessary. Remember my post about how certain websites get their listing order in Google? Well, this is one of the ways. If there are enough websites creating a buzz about your website, your relevance (and list order) will certainly jump. 

Oh yeah--when you visit websites, blogs and forums...leave a comment. The owners of your fave websites need them. They gotta get their member and comment numbers up so their social capital (a social network’s usefulness) can increase. I’m guilty of being a “lurker” myself...but, hey, now we know. 

Moral of today’s story: Social bookmarking is great for the continued growth and relevance of your favorite website. 
Become an active website viewer and commenter. Use those fingers and pay them for their blog with your "2 cents."


--Lisa

I'm From "The D".

this post was ORIGINALLY written January 14, 2010...

I have so much pride in Detroit. My city. My home.

Seriously. 

For the first 18 years of my life, until my freshman year at Michigan State (Go Green!), I was Detroit-born and bred. There is so much character in this city that it’s ridiculous. Outsiders will never understand why there are people like me (my own mother doesn’t understand and she grew up here). We are the “Detroit Die-Hards.” Those of us who rep our city no matter WHERE we are. Besides, when you go out of town, you don’t say “Oh yeah, I live in Ferndale.” You say, “I’m from Detroit” (which is usually accompanied by the “side eye” which can almost be perceived as a look of pity or fear...If it’s fear, good. Make ‘em think you’re tough. Then offer them a Faygo Redpop and some Hot Better Made chips). All people see is the negative. Violence, murder, drugs, failing economy, failing school system, no jobs (or lack thereof)....

I can understand.

However, where there is an abundance of bad....there is an abundance of good not too far behind. I bet people don’t know about the highly intelligent and outstanding world-changers that are products of our public school system (*ahem*), our beautiful homes and communities that have not been affected by the foreclosure crisis or the great opportunities to take part in the blossoming entrepreneurship in the city. Slowly but surely, Detroit is once again taking its place as “the place to be.” 

One website that showcases all of the cool things happening in our city is doDetroit.com. This is one of the websites that real Detroiters are looking for. From dining and nightlife to shopping and visitor attractions, every listing on this website is located in Detroit. It goes to show how the Suburbs of Detroit aren’t the only areas that have something to offer. If you live here or nearby, or are planning to visit, check it out. It is your one-stop-shop for EVERYTHING Detroit. Being the die-hard Detroiter that I am, it’s so exciting to be able to invest my time with doDetroit being that it is working for a cause that is near and dear to me--showcasing what makes me love this place the way that I do and what will make you love this city too.  

Oh yeah, one more thing. There’s this hidden gem right at the cross-section of I-94 and I-75 that is located within the Russell Industrial Center named the Russell Bazaar. We took a tour of this massive warehouse that is the home to this fun, eclectic marketplace. This "world of shops" has a little bit of everything for everybody. From clothing and jewelry to hair salons and collectibles, there is SOMETHING that you will have to have from Russell Bazaar. There is even the opportunity for entrepreneurship to open up your own specialty booth or host your own art showing in one of their 7 galleries. This is a HUMONGOUS space just waiting to be occupied. Get there this weekend to see what you've been missing out on!!

Moral of today’s story: Venture South of 8 mile (and check out doDetroit.com to see what to visit). Get some good food. Have a good time. Shop. Meet some great people. Overall--just don’t believe ALL the hype.


--Lisa

Hello!

this post was ORIGINALLY written on January 12, 2010...

I’m Lisa, Gill's co-Social Media & Marketing intern with doDetroit.com!

When I was first informed that I would not be an Event Management intern, I didn’t know if Social Media & Marketing was really something that I would be interested in. I do have a degree in Advertising (with a PR specialization), but I did not know much about it. I was set on being an Event Management intern because I was looking to obtain first-hand experience in this field. However, when we had an information session about “Social Networking Theory & Sociology,” my mind completely changed. At the risk of sounding like a geek...Social Media & Marketing is super interesting!  

With the millions of websites on the Internet, there is no possible way that we will ever be able to view ALL of the great websites and blogs that have been created for our resource (be it recreational, social or informational). So, social marketing is almost like a “go-between” for websites and their publics. In short, it is what gets websites their listing order on Google (along with a “few dollars”, I’m sure). It helps websites, blogs and forums get word out about the awesome thoughts, ideas and services they offer. Most importantly, social marketing allows a way for the world to interact with each other while providing one another with resources (and a few guilty pleasures) that inform and entertain us everyday.

I’m excited about this internship and even more ready to learn. Are you? I hope so, because you’ll be coming with me on my journey. Make sure to follow our blog for reviews, articles, and special tidbits about Detroit. You’ll love it.

Moral of today’s story: Keep an open mind...You’ll never know what you can learn. Take every situation and use it for professional (and personal) growth.


--Lisa

Cool Things Happening with doDetroit TV

Last week, I found out about a user-generated content show doDetroit TV is launching this spring. This program hopes to showcase Detroit bands’ music videos and any filmmakers’ shorts about city.

Personally, I am really geeked about this upcoming show. I have done some extremely amateur video production in the past and I am excited to see what my peers have created to promote the city. Who knows, I might even break out the camcorder and shoot something about a few of my favorite places.

Anyone interested about submitting videos or needing more information about this project check out the contact page on doDetroit.com or just click this link.

--Gill

New Week, New Task, New Intern

This entry was originally written on January 20, 2010
Well, it is week two of my internship and I spent the majority of my week continuing to research Detroit-based blogs and learning about the importance of social bookmarking for search engine optimization (SEO).

Monday, I continued to struggle to find blogs on family or youth. I added a few more blogs to the list but still only have a handful of contacts. It is frustrating but I continue to seek out interesting blogs. Luckily Tuesday produced a breakthrough with the discovery of blogrolls (a roll call of blogs the poster follows).  Next week I plan on going back to the Web site’s I already visited and checking their blogrolls to see if I can garner any leads that way.

Tuesday was crowed at our offices. Not only were Lisa, Bill, Nick, and I there, but we also have a new intern, Monique. Since Jodie was in Lansing that day, we had just enough desks for everyone to be in the same room as opposed to having the interns work in the conference room. Our day began with Bill assigning me to help Lisa find Detroit Food & Wine blogs. After a couple hours and about a dozen contacts to our networking list, we broke for lunch.

Returning from lunch, Bill gave us a lesson on social bookmarking and how it relates to SEO. Having used delicious before I was familiar with the concept and got straight to work setting up accounts on various social bookmarking sites and crafting descriptions and tags for doDetroit. I left that day with about half the work completed and a richer understanding of SEO.

Finishing up my social bookmarking task by lunch, I spent the rest of the day researching social news Web sites. While I had heard of sites like Digg and StumbleUpon prior to my internship, I never truly understood how they worked and the import role they play in directing Web site traffic to various Web sites. After spending a few hours discovering the a few of these types of sites I got a feel for how each one accepts submissions, ranks, and sorts each page suggestion.

So far I am enjoying my internship. While Bill jokes that some of our tasks are tedious—researching, social bookmarking, etc.—I actually am learning a lot about marketing in a real world setting. The tasks the other interns and I are accomplishing going to help publicize doDetroit as well as gather a wide range of content that we want to add to the Web site and the soon to be launched doDetroit TV.

Tune in next week for the ongoing saga of Gill v. Active Detroit Family and Youth Blogs.

--Gill

Welcome!

This entry was originally written on January 13, 2010.
Hello everyone reading the doDetroit.com interns’ blog, I’m Gill, one of two social media marketing interns that doDetroit.com has hired for the Winter Semester.  I am a Michigan State University graduate and have lived in Livonia my entire life. I will be updating this blog along with my fellow intern Lisa. I am in the office Mondays-Wednesdays, while Lisa is here Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I expect that whereas the work we will be doing will be similar, our insights into our experience at doDetroit.com will be unique.

The first week of our internship has consisted of an introduction of social media marketing by our intern coordinators Jodie and Bill, a tour of some of Detroit properties, researching Detroit stakeholders in a variety of professions, and of course getting to know our colleagues.

After our lesson on social media marketing, Jodie, Lisa, and I headed down to Greektown to enjoy lunch at Niki’s. The Greek salad the three of us shared was amazing, as was my gyro. Over lunch we discussed our strategy for tackling the various areas doDetroit.com covers. I chose to cover the areas of art, culture, and entertainment (ACE) and family and youth.

Following lunch, Lisa and I began to organize our desk, filing system, and online database. Jodie, Lisa, and my last task of the day—outlining our goals through the end of February.

My next day on the job, I was mostly on my own researching potential ACE contacts and imputing it into our database. After checking in with Bill and Jodie, I was instructed to change my focus to family and youth, because a lot of the ACE contacts would overlap with the contacts Jodie and Bill already had. Around 1:30, the staff decided to break for lunch and I joined Bill and Nick (who serves as the Web site's developer/graphic designer) at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Upon returning from lunch I continued with my researching duties. Unfortunately, finding family and youth blogs based in Detroit was much harder than finding blogs that centered on culture.  A lot of the times, the blogs that I had found were focused on the suburbs or “dead” (not updated in the past six months).

However just before leaving I managed to find an active blog, Detroit Moxie. Finally I had something to show for the day! Before leaving I left a note to Lisa included links that I stumbled upon in my search that would better fit under her research jurisdiction.

Overall, I think I will enjoy working at the doDetroit. The staff is laid-back but dedicated, my fellow intern is also a fellow Spartan (Go Green!), and the project I have been assigned will help me grow professionally in a manner that the classroom just cannot compete.

Come back and check out us out next week to see if I finally find another active family and youth blog!

---Gill