There’s been a long-standing debate on whether brands belong on Twitter. There have been many successful brands, as well as some not so successful brands. In my opinion, the best brands on Twitter engage with their consumers, whether its to inform them, help them, or just talk.

From personal experience, one such brand that is doing a great job is Dr. Pepper (@drpepper). I first found out about Dr. Pepper’s presence on the social media site through Mack Collier (@MackCollier), who mentioned that Pepsi and Coca Cola were also on Twitter. Being a Dr. Pepper addict who really believes that it makes the world taste better, I began following them immediately. I really liked what I saw on their twitter: they responded to their followers, and retweeted pictures sent in by consumers posing with cans of Dr. Pepper in various locations.

I began talking to Mack, who joked that we should get our blogs sponsored by Dr. Pepper in exchange for a month’s supply. I didn’t think anything of it, but then I was contacted by Dr. Pepper to say that they would be willing to work something out. Unfortunately, I was starting my new job at the time and didn’t have time to dedicate to it or consider it. However, a few days later, Dr. Pepper sent everyone who followed them a “Buy One Get One Free” coupon. The coupon was for only applicable for the U.S., so I just disregarded it. A few days later, I received a direct message:

I usually don’t like giving my address out, but something said I should go ahead- everyone likes free stuff, right? I forgot about it, so imagine my surprise when I arrived home today to find a package waiting for me, and in it was the hat pictured above. I was impressed by the fact that Dr. Pepper:

1) Offered their followers a discount
2) Realized their discount wasn’t applicable to me (and maybe others) and rectified the situation without me saying anything
3) Sent me something that’s even better than a coupon

Dr. Pepper hasn’t converted me, because I was already a fan. They haven’t made me a loyal customer, because I already drink the stuff like water. They have impressed me with their social media savvy, which in turn has made me write this post. And urge you to drink Dr. Pepper, because it’s delicious.

Sheema previously covered the most important “do”s about studying abroad. I’m going to do something a little different: I’m going to focus on the “don’t”s. Now, I’m not suggesting that you not study abroad. It’s amazing experience that you will never forget. However, there are some important things to keep in mind before, during, and after your program.

First and foremost, don’t go into your study abroad experience thinking that it will be a semester-long vacation. You’re still expected to attend classes and do your work. Also, don’t expect every class to be structured like the classes you take in your home country. In Europe and the United Kingdom, for example, classes are far more lecture based then they are in American universities, and students are expected to do much more independent reading. If you know that you’re going to have foreign professors, it’s worthwhile to read up on the teaching style common in your study abroad country of choice.

Don’t over pack. Most students (yours truly included) take way more than they need when they study abroad. You’re better off taking only one large suitcases and one smaller suitcase; trust me, you won’t want to lug a huge suitcase around on weekend trips. Pack your essentials, then budget enough money to go shopping once you arrive for trendier items. Not only will you save yourself lots of pain at the airport, you’re style will fit in better with the local.

During your program, don’t give in to homesickness. There’s been an explosion of technology since I studied abroad that allows people to communicate overseas for free. The temptation to Skype with your parents and friends every day can be daunting, but part of studying abroad is learning independence. Try to limit phone conversations with family to once or twice a week.

Don’t cocoon. This is especially important if you’re living in a study center run by your home university. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be friendly with your fellow home students; some of the best friends I have were people I lived and studied with. But get out of your comfort zone and experience the culture that you’re living in. Don’t spend all of your time at restaurants and bars frequented by people of your home country. Read the local paper, watch local television and keep up to date about what’s going on in your new country. Try and make friends with locals.

Don’t burn out. There’s so much to do when you’re studying abroad. You’ll want to make the most of your time in a foreign city and see everything worth seeing. Most programs include day trips and excursions in their timelines, and you’ll want to take advantage of cheap flights and hostels to travel by yourself or with a small group. Some days, though, you’ll just need to relax in bed with a movie and a book. While you should make the most of your time abroad, don’t beat yourself up if you need a day off. (Just don’t make it a habit—a girl I lived with spent the final month and a half of our program watching bad BBC daytime TV. That’s just a waste of time.)

Don’t get depressed when you leave. Coming home doesn’t mean your study abroad experience has to end. Get involved with your university’s international studies program. If your school offers graduate assistant positions (where alumni of a program live and work in a study center, supporting underclassman studying abroad), apply for them. Look into internship opportunities and graduate studies overseas. I studied abroad in London and fell in love with the city and its people; a few years later, I ended up going to graduate school at an English university. Many of the people I studied with have returned to London to either intern or live permanently. Visa requirements have gotten stricter in the past few years for many countries, particularly countries in the European Union, but it can be done with hard work and dedication.

Finally, a personal peeve. If you’re American, don’t wear pajamas or sweats to your classes or out in public. I know that they’re comfortable, and 1 out of every 3 people wear them on campus at home. I promise you, though, that no one else in the world thinks that pajamas or sweats are acceptable outside of your bedroom.

Lindsey Anne Gale is a student in the M.A. Magazines program at the University of East London. She blogs at Ooh La La, Lindsey. Follow her on Twitter @lindseyannegale.

Once you have decided what type of study abroad program is right for you, you need to pick where to study abroad. Picking the right location to study abroad is crucial. Destinations that are popular include London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Prague, Beijing, and Sydney. London is default destination for a large majority of students due to the fact that there is a (somewhat) common language. However, those of you who spent all of high school studying Spanish or French may desire to venture to Madrid or Paris. I know students that have studied abroad in Copenhagen and Beijing without knowing the language and have been frustrated. If you do choose to go to a city where you aren’t familiar with the language, be patient & keep an open mind. It’s natural to get frustrated, but realize that you are essentially on an adventure that will teach you life skills you can’t learn from sitting in a classroom, and enjoy it!

When deciding where to study abroad, here are things to consider:

This is an area where friends, family, and other students who have studied abroad can be a tremendous resource. Ask them what their experiences have been. However, in the end, only you can decide what the right city for you is.

What other things should students take into consideration when picking where to study abroad?

Several people have asked me how I ended up in London. In a nutshell, I studied abroad here through Florida State University’s International Program, fell in love with the city, and transferred to a university based in London. During my time here, I’ve received several e-mails & Facebook messages from fellow students who have several questions regarding study abroad programs. I’ve decided to create a series of blog posts to answer these questions. Hopefully, my experiences will be able to help those considering it!

First & foremost, if you can afford to study abroad, then do it. Every single person I know who has participated in a study abroad program has said it has been a great experience overall. If you’ve decided that you do want to study abroad, the first step is to do gather information.

While this may seem as the easiest part, I really stress doing your research. The #1 thing to take into account is the type of program your university offers: Does your school have study centers in various locations? Or are they affiliated with local universities in different countries that offer an exchange program? Both options have their advantages and disadvantages.

If your school has it’s own study center, then it means that you will be living with & going to classes with people who go to your university. This is the option that I chose, and I loved it because even though I was in a new city, I was surrounded by people going through the same experiences, and it made dealing with issues such as homesickness easier to handle. Another perk to living at a study center is that most universities schedule day trips as well as trips abroad alongside classes. These fees are usually included with your tuition, and cover the entrance free, a professional guide, and transportation. It is important to take into account that a majority of the students who come to study centers take elective classes rather than major requirements. This may factor into your decision and will depend on whether it fits into your academic schedule or not.

However, you may want to immerse yourself in a country’s culture by living with and going to school with locals in an exchange program. I think this is also a fantastic option, although friend’s who have done this have stated that it can be difficult to acclimate and can be isolating at times because you’re on your own. Student’s who choose to participate in an exchange program can usually take major requirements as well as electives. Keep in mind that there may be language barriers depending on where you choose to go, as well as differences in teaching styles. I have not experienced taking part in an exchange program, but my friend Emma Backfish has (twice!) and will be guest posting about her experiences soon.

It’s up to you to decide what method you prefer. Keep in mind that if you’re school does not offer your choice, it is possible to transfer to another university that does for a semester, and then transfer back (several students who I studied abroad did just that).

Those of you who are interested in interning abroad, I will be making a separate blog post on the matter as the process can be slightly different. I am also looking for some guest bloggers to share their experiences. If you have studied or interned abroad & would like to share your experiences, please e-mail me.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped me in my job search, whether it was linking me to a helpful article, convincing me to start this blog, giving me advice, or a few words of encouragement. You know who you are and I will be thanking your personally (if I haven’t already), but please know that I really appreciate it.

Michael Jackson touched millions around the world with his music, including me. As a toddler, I used to run around the house singing “Bad.” Words cannot express how shocked and saddened I was to hear about his passing. So I’ll just say thanks for the music, Michael. You’ve inspired many and will continue to do so. I hope you finally find some peace.

I’m going to let you in on a not-so-hidden secret: I love the Backstreet Boys. They are my favorite band, and they have been since I was 7 years old. Most girls my age grew out of them by the time they were 16, but I didn’t. If anything, my love for them has just grown.

Go ahead, take a moment to laugh. I’m used to it.

Anyways, I was really excited to see the BSB embrace social media though a blog, twitter, and Flickr. If nothing else, BSB has always cared about their fans so it’s no surprise to me that they would use social media to engage with us.

I was even MORE excited when I discovered that my favorite Backstreet Boy, Nick Carter, starting tweeting. Nick stated that he would soon be launching his own site, and did so this week. Today, I went to go read his first blog, but was told that I would have to purchase a membership for $19.95 in order to do so.

I was taken aback- I’m all for paying a fee for membership to the fanclub to get first dibs on concert tickets or meet & greets, but for reading a blog? Posting in a forum? I don’t think so. I know 20 bucks is not much money, but as someone who doesn’t have a disposable income and can read her other favorite singer’s blogs for free, I find it a little ridiculous. As much as I love Nick Carter, I doubt he’ll be discussing anything so profound that it would warrant $20. It’s a shame because I was really interested in seeing Nick’s video blogs, but alas I shall have to wait until they appear on the Backstreet Boy’s site (which you don’t have to pay for) or youtube.

Would you pay to read your favorite singer’s/band’s blog?

NOTE: All comments claiming that “BSB SUCKS” or the like will be deleted.

Last night, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was in an altercation with Black Eyed Peas’ member Will.I.Am. However, when the police would reportedly not show up, Perez chose to tweet about it instead. Why didn’t he just keep calling the police from his Sidekick rather than tweeting about it? He knew that tweeting would bring more attention to what happened than simply getting the police involved and he was was right- tweets responding to the situation came pouring in, albeit with a mixed reaction – some of his followers were concerned, others felt that it was deserved.

Not to be outdone by Perez, Will.I.Am. also created a Twitter account for the sole purpose of responding to Perez’s allegations. Both Perez & Will.I.Am also posted videos with their version of events.

It’s interesting that both men took to social media to address what happened (or did not happen) rather than submitting statements to third parties. Perez Hilton has a greater social media presence- he has over a million followers on Twitter and updates his blog regularly. However, Will.I.Am is not a social media newbie either, and uses DipDive, a self-proclaimed “lifestyle” engine. I think Will.I.Am loses a little credibility for creating a Twitter account for the sole purpose of clearing his name rather than interacting with his fans, but he clearly understands social media, as well as what mode of social media will get the word out the quickest.

Check out the altercation for yourself courtesy of TMZ

Regardless of what happened, I believe that in the end, Hilton will have to explain why he used a derogatory slur to insult Will.I.Am when he is gay himself and has championed for gay rights in the past & pushed for former Grey’s Anatomy cast member Isaiah Washington to be fired from the show for using the same word. The altercation itself may lead to a police investigation, as Perez has stated that he is leaving it up to the authorities.

I think there’s too much other stuff going on in the world to really be bothered by Perez Hilton. But he certainly did get the reaction he was hoping for as he is currently a trending topic on Twitter, and yours truly is dedicating a blog post to him. But in my defense, it’s more for the social media content rather than the individuals involved!

*Credit to OhNoTheyDidn’t for the title.

This morning, I read Vikki Chowney’s post Does Anyone Care About Facebook Vanity Urls? and quickly realized I don’t.

Here’s why:

1) I don’t want my Facebook to be found easily. Isn’t that what privacy settings are for? Facebook hasn’t been clear on whether privacy settings will remain the same. I don’t have anything to hide on my Facebook, but I prefer not to use it for networking- thats what LinkedIn and Twitter are for! For me, from day 1, Facebook has been about keeping in touch with my friends all over the world. I don’t necessarily want some random kids from high school, hiring managers, or worse yet, a large majority of my family to add me, and then comment on every joke, picture, or youtube video posted. (Especially since I come from a pretty religious family that deems half of what I listen to/watch inappropriate in the first place.)

2) I’m kind of over Facebook already. I got a Facebook in June of 2005, when you had to have a university e-mail address to have one. It consisted of one page that had some profile information and a “wall” friends could post on. Fast-forward 4 years later, and it’s become too much like Myspace- annoying quizzes (hey, I take them too but I don’t publish my results for all to see), annoying applications (do I look like I want to kill a zombie?), and annoying fan pages (wow, you’re a fan of breathing? of not being on fire? Congrats!).

3) I’m not waking up at 5:01 AM to grab my vanity URL. The “land-grab” as it is being called will begin at 12:01 AM EST. I’m sure some people in the United Kingdom will wake up at 5:00 AM GMT to get their urls, and thats fine. Luckily, I don’t have a common name, so I’m sure by the time I get around to it, there should be some decent options left (and hopefully those aren’t famous last words.)

What do you guys think? Are Facebook Vanity URL’s a good idea? Why or why not?