FIRST THOUGHT: #Self-esteem
Do you ever get bummed out by social media? A quick search of hashtags I’m interested in results in images of women holding backbreaking yoga poses on the beach and mamas-to-be showing off how they still somehow have abs. Dang if all that doesn’t make me feel inferior. And I’m sure I’m not alone. Today, let’s identify the online triggers that scratch at our self-esteem, and work to eradicate them from our lives. If the crafting Facebook group you joined is stressing you out, leave it. If that productivity blog is giving you an ulcer, delete it. Remember, you have the power to control what media you consume during your leisure time. Choose wisely.
WOMEN IN NUMBERS: 6
While the tech industry has a reputation for being not so welcoming to women, some companies are taking strides to change that. Take tech giant Dell, for instance. With the goal of improving gender diversity in the tech workplace, Dell notes six ways in which tech companies can hire more women. They include promoting flexible work arrangements, involving women in the recruiting process, reviewing the interview process to ensure there are no unconscious biases in hiring, offering career-development opportunities, creating internal diversity networks to support an inclusive culture, and actively supporting girls in tech, aka your future employees.
WOMAN TO WATCH: Laura Pevehouse, Chief Blogger and Editor-in-Chief for Dell
In the modern world, often, an online presence is what makes or breaks a company. If the last tweet from your business was “We love tacos. #TacoTuesday,” posted in 2012, you’re probably not using your online presence to the best of its ability. That can translate to actual dollars lost. And that’s a real problem for your bottom line. The same goes for your company’s blog. It’s an ever-evolving platform that connects you to your audience, so it’s imperative to not only keep your blog current, but to also provide content your customers find relevant and helpful.
That’s where Laura Pevehouse paves the way. This digital-communications guru is the chief blogger and editor-in-chief for multinational computer-technology company Dell. And with tech-communications experience that dates back to before every American household even had a computer, she’s obviously a blogging master!
Laura has a long history with Dell, beginning in the communications sector more than 17 years ago. For the past four years or so, Laura has worked to develop and execute strategic content for Dell’s corporate blogs. That’s a pretty daunting task, but one Laura has excelled at. In her first year in the position, she increased the amount of time the average reader spent on a Dell webpage by a whopping 80 percent.
As the editor-in-chief, Laura is responsible for coordinating content for publication multiple times a week. Laura and other contributors share stories about Dell’s Women Entrepreneur Cities Index, tech mergers and STEM growth. Laura also helped transform the Direct2Dell blog into its current easy-to-use format by redesigning the decade-old site.
With years of experience in the digital-communications realm, Laura offers some helpful tips for businesses. For instance, in this online age, companies can easily become targets of fake stories. To combat haters spreading false claims about your business, Laura suggests using a platform like a company blog to publish a retort within hours so consumers get the real story. The added bonus is that news organizations often turn to company blogs in their research and use such information in their reporting, which, in the end, benefits your brand. So, what are you waiting for? Get to blogging!
QUITE THE QUOTE
We’re sure Laura Pevehouse would agree with this sentiment from Leah Busque, the founder of online marketplace TaskRabbit. She said:
“I would love to see us get to a place where there are more women up and coming in technology and building businesses.”
This is Melinda Garvey signing off until next time. Remember, ladies, empowered women empower other women. Share On the Dot so more women can have a voice. Thanks for getting ready with us.
To learn more about our conversation, check us out at OnTheDotWoman.com and talk to us @OnTheDotWoman on Twitter and Instagram. We’d love to hear your voice.