If we were to count all the money to be made on the internet right now, it would be somewhere in the billions. Don’t quote me on that, but the point I’m trying to make is that their are plenty of ways to make a lot of money online. That being said, knowing where to find this money is the first step in earning it. This is why navigating through the internet is so important. With trillions of sites online, it gets difficult finding exactly what we want. Yes, Google has made it easier by indexing almost every site out there, but that doesn’t mean we see everything…

Social bookmarking sites like Digg, StumbeUpon, Reddit and Delicious are great resources to help us find interesting and informative websites. However, one can get distracted on all thatcrazy, cool, interesting content that catches our eye (at least that’s what happens for me). In any case, we should really start looking at how we surf the web and ways on improving our productivity. One desktop app I highly recommend trying out is RescueTime. It allows us to optimize our time online, by reporting which websites we visit and how much time we spend on them. Once we are able to collect this data, we can start looking for patterns and indicators as to how we spend our time online.

In a lot of ways, the internet can be the “best time waster” or “most efficient tool” we have. It is up to us on how we utilize this massive beast. As we continue to advance in resources and online experience, it becomes harder and harder to go on the web for just one use. It’s almost like going to Costco or Target and only buying one item. That’s near impossible! Once we login, the sky’s the limit.

Since I don’t have cable and a home phone, I literally use my computer for everything. From overseas calls on Skype to watching TV on Hulu, my computer has become my lone entertainment system. It’s also where I do all of my work for both my job and passion projects. If I’m not online at home, I’ll probably be checking out new apps on my smartphone. A friend of mine, Jessica Randazza, admitted to being and Internetaholic and I think I’m on that same path.

Another analogy I like to think I made up about the internet is that it’s a lot like those old Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials. The popular saying went something like this: “There’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s.” The internet is the same exact way. There’s no right way to do it. Just remember that optimizing the way you do it, could mean big bucks in the future.

Yesterday, I was reading an interesting article in Forbes about “Inventing Your Next Job” and taking back control of your job search. In the article, writer Jerome Young, explains how finding a job in this economy is becoming more and more difficult. However, his answer to this dilemma is what sparked my interest. He talked about how we, as young job hunters, need to start tapping into our expertise and approach companies with new jobs outlined specifically for us. He breaks this process down into 5 steps:

1) Understand your expertise
2) Create your Brand
3) Create the Project
4) Find the Right Contact
5) Attract Employers Interest

Imagine creating our future job based on our experience, skill-set and industry knowledge. The fact that each one of us has varying degrees of knowledge and hands on experience, we as individuals can offer a combination of different strategies. Young explains that by offering quantitative results in the proposal, potential companies can easily measure our worth and compensate us accordingly. Young reiterates that in this tough economy, this may be your best alternative:

As you look for any new job opportunity, remember that a job posting is only a company’s attempt to increase its profits by adding a resource. That’s why creating your own job opportunity by presenting a profitable project can be a great way to shorten your job search and maintain your salary in a tough market.

By taking our future into our own hands, we are not only shifting our paradigm, but strategically making ourselves accountable for our success. This is also surefire way to build our credentials and make lasting connections with those we’d like to work with.

Defining what we want to do and how to go about it, is the most important factor in inventing our next job. When trying to create our job in a difficult market, we must zone in to exactly what we can provide the employer. If we want companies to look at us as a resource, we must be secure and confident in what we offer. This will reassure potential employers and even improve work habits for overall success. When we believe in ourselves, it’s hard NOT to produce.

Whether we want to create our next job or join a company we can excel with, it’s important to remember that destiny is in our hands. Yes, it may seem like taking odd jobs here and their are beneficial for us in the short run, but those can also be distractions. Sacrifices might need to be made, but it will all be worth it in the long run.

The key to building and keeping your audience happy is through engagement. By involving our audience in varying facets of our business, we are being transparent and allowing them to see the authenticity of our brand. We’ve noticed more and more larger brands tap into their authenticity and reach out to their loyal following.

Starbucks is a great example of how enlisting one’s following can prove successful. “My Starbucks Idea” campaign, launched a few years back when Starbucks was in desperate need of an overhaul. So far, the campaign has been a succesful and many of the changes we’ve seen in Starbucks are due to their revolutionary campaign.

In his latest book “Engage” author and seasoned digital analyst Brian Solis talks about the importance of engaging your audience with your brand’s message:

In order for social media to mutually benefit you and your influencers and ultimately customers, you must engage them in meaningful and advantageous conversations, empowering them as true participants in your marketing, branding, and service efforts…this is true whether it’s B2B, B2C, government, non profit, education, etc.

In summary, he’s essentially asking us to be authentic with our audience and following. Instead of trying to sell them a dream, why not be upfront and honest. In today’s world of split second Google results and leaking of internal documents, our audience is bound to find out the truth. The best thing about being authentic and honest is that it’s easy. There’s no manual to tell you how your company should act or be. If you’re respectful to your audience and treat them with the same respect you carry for your brand, success will soon follow.

As we see companies become more transparent and honest in their message, brand loyalty is sure to spike. When one feels confident in continually buying a specific brand, we notice that their support is genuine and with merit. Brand loyalty is one of the many benefits companies can look towards as their authenticity becomes more transparent.

Finding the next big thing in Social Media is no easy task. Companies are spending millions and millions of dollars on Social Media in the hopes of capitalizing on trends, strategies and popular memes. The advantage we have as Generation Y’ers is the ability to make or break the trends. The power we have in online media is unmatched by any other demographic. That being said, we must look at ways to capitalize off of this reality. But how?

The advantage of being today’s most influential demographic is that we have the ability to start and stop trends. In Malcolm Gladwell’s best selling book “The Tipping Point,” he talks about the power of trends and how certain phenomenon’s tip. He describes the tipping point as the time in which a product, idea, or trend hits the masses and suddenly becomes popular. One of the major factors making something tip is what he calls the “Law of the Few.” He defines this law as “Social epidemics controlled by a handful of people with strong social connections.”

So how does this all relate to making money in the real world? Well, companies all over the country are seeking out community leaders and social organizers. Whether you know all the skateboarders in the area or you’re a regular chess playing champion at the park, you’re social network now means something. Companies understand that they can no longer pitch commercials and get the same return they used to. They are now going out into the field and pairing up with influencers to sell their brand. This could literally be anyone of us. The important thing here is to be the connector between big brands and small communities. Once you’re able to show the benefits for each group, you’ll be able to get paid consulting for these larger companies.

In theory, this idea sounds great, but it might be more complicated for some. The fact that their isn’t a blueprint for these types of career opportunities, might be a bit discouraging. Being persistent and having a strong passion for your community is what companies are really looking for. They want brand ambassadors who care as much about their product as they do. Mazda USA is one of the pioneering companies to embrace social media and enlist brand ambassadors. As one of the 22 chosen, I can tell you that Mazda has definitely made great progress in the social media game. Initially, they called on Mazda enthusiasts, bloggers and social media professionals to share their stories online. By tapping into their core market, Mazda was able to grow their marketing efforts by spending less money.

In the end, it pays to be a trendsetter. Whether you’re doing it for fun or need some extra cash, the value in spotting trends is growing. We’ll definitely start seeing more campaigns utilizing this new route and hiring more Generation Y’ers.

In the past year, we’ve seen a handful of companies embrace Social Media with their online advertising efforts and integrate new strategies into their campaigns. For instance, Coca-cola decided to input their twitter feed. The ad displays up to the second tweets about the brand/event.

Another company I’ve found that incorporates this strategy well is American Express. In their “Open Forum” online ads, they interview influential captains of industry that utilize American Express in their companies. This is a great way to show future or potential customers that this product is actually being used by iconic companies and is available to them. The inspirational aspect of these talks are also effective because it lets them know that by associating with this product, they are one step closer to the implied success.

By incorporating social media into their ads, these companies are tapping into their established network of users, fans and potential consumers. Instead of throwing a celebrity on TV and having them use their product in a random situation, companies are now shifting focus to their more targeted demographic. This has proven effective for larger companies such as Dell and Cisco because the integration of Social Media allows them to easily connect with their users.

Before the inclusion of Social Media, online advertising simply took the traditional model and applied it to the web. Basic banner and sidebar ads were among the original strategies of online advertising, but these aren’t driving the same traffic they once did. Users have become more intelligent in blocking these ads out and clicking on only the content links. With the new socialized ads, I notice myself paying more attention to the dynamic sidebar ads. Granted, some of them are automatic playing videos, the content is still able to grab my attention, especially when shown on related sites.

So what does the future hold for socialized advertising? Will we start seeing related twitter updates on Hulu commercials? Or real-time virtual ads on Google Maps? Whatever may evolve, will likely include social media and the I think that the sky’s the limit with online advertising and as long as the user stays in control, it will only get better.

The biggest challenge for me over the past few months has been juggling multiple projects at a time. Whether it’s just an idea or an actual investment, I find myself struggling with balancing my time and dedication. Most of these projects are small, but sophisticated and have the potential to really take off. However, in order for me to allow these projects to grow and flourish, I feel like I should be more strict with my time and money.

I remember back in school, waiting until the last minute to finish most of the projects assigned throughout the year. Although this wasn’t the ideal way for me to accomplish the task, I learned that deadlines are important when starting any project. When one is given a deadline, it is their responsibility to execute and produce a product within a certain time span No matter what happens, on that specific deadline, a product/project must be complete. It might not be the final version, but having a completed the first assignment is vital to progressing the project as a whole.

One of the best resources I’ve come across, while working on my side projects, is Outsourcing. Being able to connect with freelancers around the world, who are capable of assisting you in your projects is a great help. Websites like Craigslist, Freelancer, ODesk and Elance offer you experts in almost every field. This may be a hard adjustment for those used to working side by side their employees or peers, but a site like Odesk or various visual communication clients (Skype, iChat etc…) makes this almost possible. If you have a few bucks to spend and are looking for quality work, I would definitely recommend any of the aforementioned sites.

I’ve talked about deadlines and outsourcing, but how do we go about staying passionate about projects. One obstacle I and many others face from time to time is getting bored with ideas quickly. Have you ever thought about an idea one day and said to yourself “this could be the big one,” but then days later, you’re on to the next one? I’m not sure if its our short attention span or lack of better ideas, but I’m always conflicted with starting and stopping projects. I don’t have the answer for everyone, but what has worked best for me is executing the idea efficiently. I try to do as much as I possibly can to engage in the project and if at the end if I’m no longer interested, I chalk it up as a great experience. Also, a great look for my resume or grad school application.

As I continue to create and work on more independent projects, I’m sure I’ll pick up new and effective tactics along the way. If all else fails, at least we’ve learned something along the way and can apply to our future endeavors. Through trial and error, I found that the only way to really understand what you are doing is by making mistakes. It’s those same mistakes that will guide you towards progression as you continue your career.

In today’s economy, a lot of new graduates are debating on whether they should go back to school. Jobs are definitely harder to come by these days and some believe that after a few years the market should pick back up. I too have contemplated going back to school for my Master’s, but since my career continues to progress, I’ve decided to hold off on it. In the grand scheme of things, now is a great time for new grads struggling with job placement to go back to school. Not only will they be able to hold off paying back loans, but also situate themselves for opportunities, now and in the future.

One common misconception many of us believed while still in college was that a degree automatically meant job placement. We’ve come to find out that this is not the case and with more graduates entering the job market, competition is stiff. Why bring this up? Because those who go back to school should know what they want to do when they graduate. Start by making connections immediately and/or build from the ones you created before. Participate in internships, conferences, summits, careers fairs and more. Through each of these avenues, you will be able to network and meet with future employers, co-workers and possible partners. Create organizations, non-profits and partner with local community leaders in the same field you are thinking about working in. Look at school as the practice field for real life. Although, I’m currently not a grad student, I know plenty who are active in their schools and programs. At this level, it’s not all about classes and grades, but more about how you utilize your position.

Many of these tactics can be used for undergrads, high schoolers and middle schoolers as well. The more real-world connections you make in school, the easier it will be to find a job once you graduate. Honestly, I wish I would’ve done more in college to standout and connect with professionals. One area I struggled with was not knowing exactly what I wanted to do. I understand many of you feel the same way, but my advice is that you act on whatever you believe in at the moment. Whether it’s an idea for a startup or a student summit, execute your plan and think about recourse later.

As cliche as this may sound, now is the time to capitalize off of school. You are in a unique position to change the world and enhance your career prospects. Taking small steps toward your goal will facilitate you future success.

For those of you who are like me and enjoy being the news source for all your co-workers, friends and family, then this article is definitely for you. In the last few years we’ve experienced a shift in how we get our daily news. We can all agree that the newspaper medium is quickly phasing out and digital news will continue to dominate.

That being said, the socialization of news is quickly gaining popularity and allowing citizens to be journalists. From micro-blogging (i.e. Twitter) to video recording on your mobile device, large news corporations are utilizing consumer coverage. For instance, after the US Airways plane landed in the Hudson River, the first picture surfaced was on Twitter before any other news site. There are countless other examples depicting citizen journalism and user generated news . One major sign of the times is how news stations are now asking viewers to tweet their photos into news stations for exclusive content.

One of the greatest benefits of Social Media in the news is the ability to shape what you want to see. Social Media ultimately levels the playing field and with the right amount of momentum your online campaign can make national news. The best example of this occurred earlier this year with the infamous “Balloon Boy” fiasco. Most of you already know the story, but I just want to emphasize the power of Social Media here. The speed in which this event spread across the world via the internet was amazing. Imagine if this event occurred 10 years ago without the power of social media. Sites like Digg and StumbleUpon have been major game changers for today’s news and now larger publications have resident Social Media Strategist that make sure their content goes viral (See New York Times)

So what? You might ask, “Why is it important to know how news is created?” How could this benefit you right? Well, the answer is… it all depends. Whether you want to promote an event or make national news with your newest product, Social Media has given you the power back to the citizen. However, it’s on you to make sure the content is distributed efficiently and effectively. Knowing the right people is still important in getting your news out there, but Social Media has definitely changed the game.

One byproduct that carries these same values is Viral Videos. They’ve been able to increase brand awareness, with very little money and resources. One trend I’ve seen in the past few years is the embracing of viral videos by small and local companies. The investment is small and the potential to gain national news coverage is big. In general, the more brands involve themselves with news and social media, the more relevant and appealing they’ll become to potential customers/clients.

When looking at Social Media Marketing, it is sometimes difficult to identify the major elements that can benefit your company. Some automatically think Twitter and Facebook optimization are the keys to successful marketing tactics, but I look at them more as tools. Social Media Marketing encompasses a wealth of different approaches, strategies, and techniques that can work for different companies. In building a successful strategy, we must first look at the 4 important elements of Social Media Marketing and figure out how to implement them.

1) Market Research

Who’s consuming your brand? Who is your target demographic? What are you competitors doing different than you? Each of these questions can be answered utilizing the social web. For instance, let’s say you own a clothing line and would like to drive more potential customers to your website. You already have a Twitter account and Facebook fan page, but you don’t feel like they’re growing fast enough. You look at your competitors and notice that they’re fan pages and Twitter activity are growing exponentially. Why is this the case? I don’t the answer, but I can give you the solution. Do a competitive analysis between your pages/accounts and the others. Now, look at how your competitors fare against even larger brands. I guarantee you’ll notice similarities (contests, games, fan interaction etc…) that will give you insight on how to improve your social brand. I’m not saying blatantly copy your competitors Social Media strategy, but utilize these networks to discover untapped research.

2) Social Marketing

So the real reason businesses are so intrigued by social media is the marketing aspect. Being able to talk directly to your customers (and potential consumers) instantly is amazing. Companies are literally shifting their marketing dollars from traditional to new media marketing relying heavily on Social Media. Often times, the amount of spend is lower and more efficient than traditional billboards, magazine ads and TV commercials. When designing Social Media Marketing strategies, it’s important to keep in mind the process is ongoing and won’t without interaction. Simply setting up a Facebook and Twitter account doesn’t mean you’ve embraced Web 2.0.

3) Customer Relations

We’ve all heard that “Content is King,” but I’d like to add that “Conversation is Queen.” At the end of the day, we’re basically just talking to our customers. The worst thing you can do is ignore your customers. It’s almost the equivalent to asking them not to buy your brand. When companies reward their consumers and acknowledge their loyalty, we start to see brand allegiance. Consumers will then start to go out of their way to make purchases with your company. Amazon.com has proven this theory successful in their attempts to socialize the online shopping experience. Offering solid recommendations and rewarding frequent users has become a staple to their success. Jeffery Gitomer put it best in his book: Customer Service Is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless.

4) Reputation Management

Social Media makes every company accountable for their transparency, therefore it’s imperative that you start thinking about reputation management. What are people saying about your company online? How are you perceived by your customers? How do I get rid of that negative stuff about my company on Google? Each of these are valid questions that exist when thinking about reputation management. Social Media Monitoring is one of the most important tools when dealing with reputation management (Lucky for you I made a list of 7 superb monitoring tools) They alert you whenever your company or brand is mentioned online. Staying on the pulse of your online presence will allow you to be the first to respond to your brand. Rapper Kanye West has managed his personal brand effectively this way. Most of his fans turn to his blog to get the real answers, instead of listening to whats reported about him on the news. The fact that he’s built up this authentic rapport online has allowed him to be his own publicist.

The major problem Generation Y is facing right now is job placement. We currently have the highest unemployment rate out of any other demographic in America. We’ve even been nicknamed the “Lost Generation.” Why is this happening? Some argue that the job market is so competitive right now that it is near impossible for new graduates without any experience to find a job. Others believe that there aren’t any jobs out there, for the growing number of adults entering the workforce. Each are valid arguments, but shouldn’t be excuses for not finding jobs.

The understanding we have in social networks, media and technologies are important skills that should not be overlooked. How can we correlate our understanding of new media with our career? The best answer I can come up with is Personal Branding. One might argue that without any experience, how can one substantially brand themselves. The simple answer. Be Authentic! There are positions out their that aren’t asking for 10 years of experience. You don’t have to be an expert on a certain subject to attain a job. However, you must be confident in knowing that every skill you do possess is effective and indispensable.

As we begin to practice perfecting our strengths, our confidence will grow inevitably and we’ll start seeing more positive results. One great way to embark on our ambitions and passion is through internships. Whether we’re graduated or are still in school, working in the environment of the profession that interests us is the first step in practicing our strengths. As an intern, we might be tasked with menial jobs and monotonous assignments that don’t really relate to the actual job. But this could be our opportunity to prove ourselves and go above and beyond the norm. Internships are also a terrific way to network and break into the industry.

The options of doing what we want in this lifetime are endless. The most important factor in deciding your future is finding out what your passion is. That’s it. Once we figure out something we like to do, it is up to us to see how we can monetize it. If we can’t get paid right away, then we try out an internship. Once we attain a position, personal branding is the next step. Granted the process may take time, we must remember that setting goals and following through with action is necessary. We were each put on this earth to do something special. The opportunity is there and it’s up to us to go after it.