What do social media correspondents actually do when there's no storm?
Today we're introducing our two new social media correspondents, Sandra Dirks and Thies Thiessen. In this lively interview, you can get to know them a little better before you see them here more often.
Thies and the big wide world of visuals
My name is Thies Thiessen. I've been reading, writing, observing, and drawing for as long as I can remember. For over 35 years, I've kept sketchbooks privately, much like others keep diaries. Professionally, I develop advertising concepts, mostly in words, which I often accompany with rough sketches.
I find it fascinating to make complex and large ideas quickly understandable through visuals. And I'm interested in exactly how that works.
Sandra Dirks is... the one with the flipcharts, at least that's what it says on her website.
I'm Sandra Dirks, a trainer for 20 years, but for the last 10 years I've much preferred being a blogger. I make videos and I'm absolutely crazy about markers, paper, and supplies. Or as she would always say: "About stuff!" or more precisely, "Marker stuff and knick-knacks!"
Rumor has it that I only ended up in that trainer job back then because of the colorful cards and markers the training managers used in the seminars accompanying the training courses. Quite a lot of "training" in that sentence, but it also has a lot to do with me. I then became a training manager myself and later (in 2005) went freelance.
“Thies, what connects you to Neuland?”
When I was at EuViz in Berlin in 2014, I received – like all participants – the “Gimme 5” as a gift from Neuland, this great cartridge belt for Neuland markers.
It reminded me of the Bat-belt of a famous comic book superhero… And I toyed with the idea a bit, wondering if all Neuland products were somehow gadgets for superheroes. Just a thought, really, just for fun. Until Guido and the Neuland team said: Go for it! That'll be the catalog!
So what connects me to uncharted territory?
I'm allowed to be silly. And together we'll make something better out of it.
“Sandra, what connects you to Neuland? ”
What a question! I love your products. Especially the small ones, the markers. On Instagram, they're all so stylishly summed up with the hashtag #Markeraddict. That pretty much sums it up. After all, there's now the right marker for every (presentation) purpose. I have so much fun when my desk looks like this.
I carry a small selection in every handbag, and they're everywhere at home too. There's always something to jot down. If I remember correctly, you can even open bottles with the BigOne, right?
My visualization workshops always include a comprehensive materials briefing. After all, it's important to use the materials correctly. That makes it much more fun and you see results very quickly. The only thing missing at the end is me handing out order forms. Pretty crazy, right?
"What do you think a social media correspondent does?"
When I first read that I could support your team as a freelance social media correspondent, I was incredibly happy, without knowing exactly what that meant.
The word "correspondent" immediately made me think of Antonia Rados or TV correspondents who almost fly away in front of the camera with a fluffy microphone in their hand.
I don't exactly fly away easily, so perhaps I'll report from a crisis zone, or rather from a seminar room in hell? Something like that:
"The sad faces of the seminar participants, staring at the empty facilitator's kit, speak volumes. Everything is missing! Most notably, the black markers, languishing here without tips. Surrounding them are blue markers, squeaking and squeaking as they're forced across a flipchart until they're completely worn out. Everything is missing! New marker tips, inks in 100, 101, and 704. Please send…!"
But then I read on to find out what your idea behind the social media correspondent is:
Here you can blog, make small videos, but also accompany live streams on Facebook or YouTube.
Wonderful! These are all things I enjoy. I'm looking forward to them.
Perhaps I can report from EuViz2018 using a fluffy microphone from time to time?
Oh, please! I'm certainly not flying away.
"What do you think, Thies?"
I am a trained graphic designer. I work as a copywriter.
In my free time, I draw people on the subway, cartoons, landscapes, and all sorts of things. I also write short texts, songs, and other things. With all of this, I want to tell stories.
And I believe that's exactly what a "social media correspondent" should do:
Tell stories instead of "posting content".
"What else would you like to tell us?"
Thies:
Is this the moment when I can greet someone? Then I'd like to greet my wife Kim and my son Paul, and everyone else who wants to be greeted. Cheers!
Sandra:
Psst! I've already recorded a few videos about Neuland basics. It was really fun. In them, I explain how to use the products.
The first video here is a small preview, focusing less on the application and more on a crucial advantage of the Neuland markers.
Look here:
I'm incredibly sensitive to smells, by the way. If I say something doesn't smell, then it really doesn't. You can believe me. Before I became a trainer, I worked in a perfumery, and later I spent hours in Grasse sniffing my way through all sorts of fragrance components. It's wonderful and a lot of fun.
If markers smell musty, I absolutely hate it. That's why I'm even happier when a marker doesn't smell of anything at all. Well, if it does, then I'd like a hint of bergamot in the top note. 😉
Did you know, by the way, that the markers are not only odorless but also bleed-through?
Yes, that's great. That way you can be absolutely sure that you're only writing on the first flipchart and not the three following flipcharts as well.
"And anything else? Perhaps something personal, Sandra?"
I create all the videos and blog posts myself, in both German and English. It's a real challenge, because I don't use anyone to double for me!
I make a ton of mistakes here, I have a strong accent, but I practice every day. Really!
Okay, let's get started. We hope it's okay if you read more from us here soon!?