Tuesday Buzz: Plan Your Vacation Today

What’s the hardest part of taking a vacation? Planning for it. We all dream about relaxing by the beach, but unfortunately we lack the teleportation powers to beam us directly to our fantasy paradise. And in a busy career, it can be difficult to suss out the best time during the year for a getaway.

Today is National Plan for Vacation Day  (opens in a new tab), 24 hours devoted to declaring your vacation time for the rest of the year. Americans leave 658 million days unused each year, so take today to plan a trip.

Planning ahead increases the chances that you’ll actually take your days. According to Project: Time Off, the U.S. Travel Association-supported creator of the holiday, “69 percent of planners took a week or more of vacation at a time, where just 46 percent of nonplanners did.”

Project: Time Off delivers a step-by-step guide for planning ahead. First, start with a comprehensive knowledge of your benefits.

Second, take a hard look at your calendar to determine a good time to get away. “If your office is closed for a holiday, could you add an extra day off and turn a one-day holiday into a four-day weekend vacation?” it asks.

Next step? Dream big! Think about travel destinations you’d like to cross off your bucket list.

See more helpful advice and check out Project: Time Off’s handy planning toolkit here  (opens in a new tab).

Alumni Association Tips

“Treat each ‘I’m busy’ like an ‘I only have a moment to spare’.” #assnchat  (opens in a new tab) #alumni  (opens in a new tab) #hesm  (opens in a new tab)https://t.co/DUuMTq1vcl  (opens in a new tab)

— Tassl (@TasslTech) January 31, 2017  (opens in a new tab)

Alumni associations may have a lot to learn from other professional associations.

Sarah Bender, an engagement specialist at Tassl, provides a few insights that alumni associations  (opens in a new tab) can use as they strategize for the rest of the year.

Don’t be overly dependent on social media because of their “pay-to-play” models and ever-changing algorithms. “While business organizations adjust their marketing strategy accordingly, it’s also more clear than ever that alumni networks need a new home,” says Bender. “Start diversifying the channels you use to engage with alumni and investing in tools that allow you to connect with them directly.”

Also, alumni groups shouldn’t be discouraged by busy members. “Find small, sustainable engagements that even your busiest members can take,” writes Bender. “Make these easily accessible and reward those who choose to participate.”

Check out Bender’s article for more tips  (opens in a new tab).

Other Links of Note

Social media fails: MarketingProfs reveals the top-five social media mishaps of 2016 and the lessons we can all learn from them  (opens in a new tab).

Microsoft takes on Google: According to The Verge, a simplified version of Windows 10  (opens in a new tab) will be an alternative to the search giant’s lightweight Chrome OS.

Outreach advice: Discover the best ways to reach millennials through social media  (opens in a new tab) channels from the experts at Social Media Examiner.

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