As digital becomes increasingly important, a strong online brand is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ – it’s a need. Creating a brand for yourself is the first step in online reputation management and personal SEO, allowing you to control what comes up first when you’re inevitably Googled.

For a quick but comprehensive overview about personal branding and how you can start building yours today, check out the presentation I shared with the York University students below:

Pucker up:

If the cold air is making your lips feel a little parched, it’s time to get into a lip routine that keeps them supple and kissable. Lip treatments are available at every price point, Try: eos Organic Lip Balm, ~$3.25; La Roche-Posay CERALIP, $13.50; Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, ~$22.50 - all three are in constant rotation for me!

Love at first blush

Even if you’re not in love (yet), look like Cupid’s arrow just struck with a soft halo of highlighter and flushed cheeks. Benefit’s newest powder, Hervana, will give you the softest glow with a satin finish. Make no mistake – you will become obsessed with this blush and it will make you look like you just had an illicit encounter. ~$28, Sephora and Murale

I wanna hold your hand

Soft hands are in high demand on a romantic day like Valentine’s. Ensure yours are up to par with a super-rich and emollient hand cream like Cake milk made Velveteen Hand Creme (~$18) or L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream (~$10)

Indulge

Single or taken, Valentine’s Day is all about indulging. Don’t overlook the obvious: have some fabulous red wine and pair it with dark chocolate for the perfect feel-good night. Apothic Red is one of my favourite new reds - it tastes amazing and indulgent but doesn’t break the bank (~$13.99, LCBO)

How will you be getting Valentine’s-ready?

In a move that’s elicited a hugely positive response from consumers, Mark’s Work Wearhouse decided to pull all Caterpillar brand boots from its London, Ont. stores, showing solidarity with local workers after the company shut down a plant in the city.

Impressively, this is only a small sample of the posts that have plastered the company’s Facebook page. Even more impressive is the individual response to each and every comment, even responding into the wee hours of the morning.

PR agencies everywhere should take note. This is how you do ‘good PR’. The company tapped into the feelings of customers and managed to get massive amounts of earned media and positive customer response from the simple move of pulling a product from local stores. It was a risk, but it paid off and has afforded the chain a new brand of customer loyalty.

Kudos, Mark’s Work Wearhouse.

	Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo, ~$11-$19, Sephora Dry shampoo has been all the rage for the past few years, but many formulas can leave your hair stinky and gritty and often fail to provide the volume you crave. This Oscar Blandi dry shampoo is the holy grail of blowout extending. Whether you’re trying to revive previously-perfect strands after a night out at a smoky bar or simply trying to make your $40 blowout last an extra few days, this dry shampoo is a saviour. The lemon verbena scent will make your hair smell freshly-washed, even if you were getting sweaty on the dancefloor or hanging out with smokers and the magical powder sops up oil and volumizes in minutes. – How to: aim the pointed tip at your roots and squeeze. Massage the powder into your roots. Continue with other sections of your hair until desired volume is reached.
	Stila Prime Pot, ~$20, Sephora Whether you’re suffering from too little sleep, have redness around the eyes or need your eye shadow and liner to last through a long day or night, this little pot of magic can help. Stila prime pot is a quick-drying creamy formula that instantly creates the perfect canvas. For those with fair to medium skin, it can be worn alone to fake a full night’s sleep without looking like you’re wearing any makeup. – How to: Swirl the pad of one finger in the pot and quickly smooth across eyes. Blend as needed. Wear alone or top with your favourite eyeliner or eyeshadow looks and rest assured that your makeup will have super staying power.
	Benefit High Beam, ~$26, Sephora Liquid luminizers can be scary, but Benefit High Beam is virtually foolproof and will make you look wide awake and glowy. Thanks to particles that are more shimmer than sparkle, High Beam can be worn day or night to amp up your skin and brighten your face. The pink glow is universally flattering and easily blendable. The nail polish-style applicator ensures that the luminizer is perfectly placed. – How to: using the applicator, dot or smooth High Beam wherever the light would naturally catch your face (or where you’d like a little extra glow). Blend carefully. Spots to try: top of the cheekbones and into the temples, down the bridge of your nose, at the bow of your lips, in the corners of your eyes and along the brow bone.

What are the best beauty products that you didn’t even know you needed?

Once again sticking valiantly to their policies, PayPayl has purportedly ordered the destruction of an antique violin valued at $2,500 after the buyer decided it was fake upon receiving it. While PayPal policies do state that they may ask that items are destroyed (with photographic proof, of course), there are also provisions to ship the offending item back to the seller.

Obviously PayPal went with the more divisive option. While it’s obvious that these measures are in place to prevent the sale and distribution of counterfeit items, I can’t imagine a situation where it’s appropriate to destroy an instrument – with or without appraisal.

Unsurprisingly, the company’s Facebook page has blown up with angry comments from musicians, historians and PayPal users alike. Surprisingly, PayPal has yet to respond more than 6 hours after the comments began.

With users still seething from the Regretsy incident, it’s hard to fathom why PayPal hasn’t learned from their mistakes and addressed this immediately. Unlike the Regretsy incident, this one is more black and white: PayPal could have simply asked that the violin be returned to the seller for a full refund. Instead, they ordered its destruction. This decision is becoming more and more questionable as reports surface that the instrument had been appraised and authenticated prior to sale.

This is quickly shifting from a one-off incident to a pattern of terrible customer service and a lack of appropriate crisis communications advice. Those of us in public relations and community management roles are once again at the edge of our seats to see how PayPal will explain this one.

PayPal, if you’re reading, I’m always available for hire. Until then – check out the Do’s & Don’ts of a social media crisis.

Check back after the PayPal response for an analysis of what they did and what could have been done better (…again).

the one who does it all

Abigail Keeso, founder, Well Rounded

Abigail always seems to have a new project on the go, be it digital design, contributing to BEAUTEZINE, doing PR or completing nursing school. Well Rounded has become a go-to source for a variety of topics and I’m consistently impressed by both the quality and content on the site. I have no doubt that Abigail will continue to do amazing things in 2012! Follow @abigailkeeso on Twitter.

the blogger to watch

Kat Langdon

Kat began blogging late in 2011 but has already made a splash. Somehow fitting blogging in between her day job in PR and nighttime gigs as a vocalist and teacher, Kat puts out consistent content all week long. Striking a balance between personality and timely content, Kat’s blog is sure to blow your mind. She bakes, she sings, she’ll PR your pants off. Come for the content, stay for the amazing videos of her singing – you won’t be disappointed. Follow @kat on Twitter.

the relationship columnists

Shannon Hunter, Love & Sex columnist, Women’s Post

Shannon’s columns never cease to amaze. Being a love & sex columnist is an extremely daunting task – your every move, question and inch of your past are suddenly up for debate – but Shannon handles it with grace. Each column is honest and straight from the heart, speaking words you probably wish you could say yourself. Leaving no stone unturned, Shannon’s written about new love, loss, abortion and dating in Toronto. Follow @shananigans5 on Twitter.

Jen Kirsch, relationship expert and blogger, Blonde Bronzed Twenty-Something

Chances are you’ve already read Jen’s work. As well as posting almost daily on Blonde Bronzed Twenty-Something, Jen’s work has been featured in ELLE, AOL & SliceTV to name a few and she’s also been an expert guest on CanadaAM. Jen’s posts on on BBTS are consistently uplifting, leaving you with the feeling that everything is going to be OK. No matter your relationship issue or query, Jen has the answer. Follow @blondebronzed on Twitter.

the one who says what you’re thinking

Valerie Stachurski, blogger, I’m Charming You

Val is no less than charming at any given time. Quick to form an opinion and speak her mind, Val is one of Toronto’s best lifestyle bloggers. Going beyond the incessant amount of self-photos and drunken party recaps that are so common of many Toronto bloggers, Valerie provides both substance and style. I’m Charming You is cutting social commentary with a side of charm. With an impressive readership and a growing Twitter presence, Val is a great partner for any PR pro looking to get the word out. Follow @valtorontogal on Twitter.

It’s been a wild ride, but after catching up on sleep and cleaning my room, I’m willing to believe the new year is actually here.

In the spirit of the new year, here’s a recap of what I did in 2011 and my resolutions for 2012.

Thanks for taking the time to read, sending me products to review and inviting me to events – I’ve loved it all.

Here’s to a fabulous year!

In 2011:

I became a real blogger! After blogging for a few years, I finally decided to put in the effort to blog more – it paid off.

• 85 blog posts written (half of which don’t have photos anymore since I deleted my server. Oops.)
• Newsprint nails took the internet by storm
• Attended awesome events: BlackBerry PlayBook launch, Spy in July, Blo Bayview Village launch, The Single Girl’s To Do List book launch, BlackBerry 7 Fan Night, Vanity School, Princess Margaret Toronto Fire Fighter Calendar Launch, Diet Coke Stay Extraordinary TIFF Gala, Avon Girls’ Night at Mumford and Sons and the Apothic Red launch (to name a few)
• I gave you tips on beating Facebook Timeline’s privacy settings, called out PR fails and successes and said goodbye to Jack Layton

 

In 2012 I will:

I’ve been dying to try out the WordPress app, so here’s a little photojournal of the last few weeks:

A little glitter got the holidays started

The boyfriend and I exchanged gifts – what girl doesn’t love that little blue box?

We took off to Miami on boxing day

South Beach is full of sartorial pups

I got to bust out the summer favourites

I found the perfect shoes for New Years Eve…

We’re heading home tomorrow – goodnight, Ocean Dr.! It’s been a blast.

The first thing you should do is adjust your privacy settings. In typical Facebook fashion, these have been made as difficult to use as possible.

Don’t worry – after some trial & error I’ve discovered 3 easy ways to control your Facebook privacy.

How to adjust your Facebook Timeline privacy settings

1. Take control of your photos

In Timeline, your previous privacy settings for photos are thrown out the window. Yes, that means that if you previously had your tagged photos invisible they’ll automatically become visible when you make the switch (or when Facebook does it for you on Dec. 22). What you see above in my Timeline is what everyone else will be able to see.

To make your photos (and other tags) invisible again, go into your Privacy Settings and then into How Tags Work

Facebook has sneakily hidden tag functionality under “Maximum Timeline Visibility”. Change this to suit your needs. I like to block them from everyone – I find this makes it easier to manage my privacy. If you choose this option, you can always add people as exceptions to this rule.

2. Set default privacy controls

If you use a mobile app to update your status or upload photos, you’re likely missing out on being able to specify your privacy settings for each post. To ensure your content is only being seen by those you want to see it, make sure to change your default privacy settings. This also keeps you from having to adjust your settings each time you post using the website. Remember: it’s easier to allow more people to see your content later than it is for people to unsee content they shouldn’t have spotted.

3. Make good use of your lists

Although lists have been around for awhile, Facebook Timeline comes with prebuilt lists. My favourite of these is the “Restricted” list.

When you add people to the restricted list, content that isn’t “public” is automatically restricted from them. That’s worth it’s weight in gold, especially if you have people you’d rather not reveal everything to on your Facebook (distant family, your boss, online-only friends, exes, etc.).

The Lists function also automatically creates lists for your coworkers and has a handy built-in list for Acquaintances, a.k.a. people you’d like to see less of on your news feed.

If you take the time to make Lists your own, you’ll have a News Feed that is easily filtered and a profile that allows you to be “friends” with someone without spilling your online guts to them.

My Timeline for a "restricted user"

As you can see, with the restricted profile nothing is really visible. Although the user can see that you have, say, 141 profile photos, they’ll be unable to click through them. Also, if you have your friends blocked only mutual friends will be visible under the friends tab.

So, there you have it. 3 steps to conquering Facebook Timeline privacy settings. Wasn’t that easy?

What are your favourite privacy tips for Facebook Timeline?

If there’s one thing every girl wants for the holidays, it’s radiant skin. Photos are inevitable during party season and it’s only human to want to look your best (and to win free goodies – more on that later!).

Enter KORRES.

The KORRES story begins in Greece and ends with the perfect homeopathic products for all skin types. The products are vegetarian-friendly and sometimes even vegan-friendly – great for those who are especially conscious about what goes into their bodies and onto their skin. I’ve told you how much I love the Jasmine lip butter before, but before my goodies from KORRES arrived I had never tried the brand’s skincare products.

For the last week, I’ve been using KORRES Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum, Quercetin & Oak Antiaging, Antiwrinkle Eye Cream and Night Cream along with my usual skincare regime (G.M. Collin). To give some background info, I’m plagued with dehydrated skin and dark circles (and, yes, one fine line.). While my skin has improved dramatically since switching to the GM Collin range in the summer, it’s still been lacking that radiant glow. I also hadn’t found an eye cream that helped with my dark circles and puffiness.

	Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum, ~$49, Sephora and select Shoppers Drug Mart This serum promises to brighten your skin and smooth fine lines. After a week of using it, I’ve noticed increased radiance – I’ve moved from wearing foundation daily to a light dusting of powder. The best part? Unlike most serums, you can use this on the under-eye area as well! Less work is always a plus in my books.
	Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream, ~$59, Sephora & select Shoppers Drug Mart Yes, it smells a little like Play-Doh (I love that smell!). Yes, it really works. My skin has been super-moisturised and feels soft – quite the feat in these chilly temps. Most people see results within 8 weeks, so I’m looking forward to that little fine line by my mouth being even less visible soon!
	Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream, ~$55, Sephora & select Shoppers Drug Mart I’ve used this morning and night to great results. I’m waking up with less puffiness and discolouration and the pump means I can control the amount of products and reduce the germs that come with dipping your fingers into eye cream.

The folks at KORRES have been generous enough to give me a gift bag valued at $196 SRP to give away to you guys. Since the contest closes on Friday, it won’t be here in time for Christmas but you will be able to make good on that New Years resolution to take better care of your skin!

The gift bag will include all of the products mentioned above PLUS the Body Butter I loved so much from my gift guide. Sorry to our international friends – only residents of Canada can win!

How to win:
1. Like Stephanie Fusco dotcom on Facebook
2. Like KORRES Canada on Facebook
3. Leave a comment telling me you’ve done these things
4. BONUS: For an extra entry, tweet “I want to win a @KORRES_OFFICIAL prize pack from @stephaniefusco! http://bit.ly/uGitUq ”

The contest will close on Friday, Dec. 23 at 4 p.m. 

The winner will be drawn using Random.org

Good luck!

The contest is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Yulia!

Full disclosure: the aforementioned products were provided to me for review by the PR company. I know you guys count on me to provide honest product reviews, so rest assured it was unbiased.