ITS TIME TO COMPETE FOR A SPOT ON THE IMAGINE CUP 2013 MSP SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Microsoft Imagine Cup is the premier global student technology competition, enabling student innovators around the world to use creativity and technology to solve problems and make a positive impact that will transform the world we live in.

In July 2011, we took the first-ever, Social Media Team, comprised of the Top 25 MSPs from around the world, to report on the Imagine Cup from a student perspective. We set our goals, and we knocked them out of the park! Theyll continue in their role for 2012 and stand-ready to welcome you to the 2013 team!

NOW ITS TIME FOR YOU TO SHOW US YOUR STUFF!

The competition to earn a spot on the 2013 Imagine Cup Social Media team is now open. Its time for YOU, to show us YOUR expertise in the exciting world of Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, YouTube and FlickR.

TIMELINE
Competition Officially Opens Competition Closes Competition Evidence Due to Microsoft 2013 MSP Social Media Team Announced 2013 MSP Social Media Team Training 2013 MSP Social Media Team Coverage December 1, 2011 March 31, 2012 April 10, 2012 No exceptions: Late entries will not be reviewed April 30, 2012 May 1 July 1, 2012 July 10, 2012 through August 31, 2013.

ADE APPROVAL IS REQUIRED:

To compete in this competition you need the approval of your local Academic Lead. To secure their approval: 1. 2. Meet with them to discuss this opportunity and your competition plan If he/she agrees, copy the competition guidance, submission guidance, timeline and eligibility details from this document into a proposed activity form in the MSP Portal. (Location: Activities Tab, click upper right PROPOSE ACTIVITY) 3. 4. 5. 6. Submit the proposed activity to your local Academic Lead. He/She should approve the proposed activity. We will then be able to track your participation in the competition. Need help with this? Email msp-help@microsoft.com

COMPETITION GUIDANCE
We want to get a sense of how you communicate, tell a story and amplify that story. The challenge for you is simple: do a trial run of what youll be asked to do at Imagine Cup 2013. 1. Choose 1 local team competing in IC 2012 to highlight and on which to report. When engaging with a team that is competing in a local final, please ensure you tell them that you are competing in the Social Media Team competition, and you are gathering stories to help you win a spot on this elite team. 2. Connect with your local Microsoft Academic Lead and ask them to help you meet a local, competing team. Meet this team - inperson or virtually- and tell us their story: who are they? Why this team? Why this project? Have they competed before? What inspires them? 3. Create an online presence and report on anything and everything to do with your local Imagine Cup competition. If you dont have one, connect with an MSP from a neighboring country and report on their local finals or 4. Choose a local issue that aligns with the Imagine Cup Millenium goals and raise awareness for your chosen issue for the duration of the competition. 5. Submit with your Social Media Evidence (listed in 1-4), create a video of 3 minutes or less that introduces you, your approach to the competition, and why you feel you should be a member of the 2013 team.

SUBMITTING COMPETITION EVIDENCE

Per the deadline noted above, please attach all competition evidence to your proposed activity in the MSP portal. This will put your evidence in a private submission library and allow us to go in and review it. Evidence submitted needs to be in English. If stories were told online in Foreign language a screenshot of the story + English summary needs to be included. Create a zip file that includes your video and Powerpoint File size should not exceed 45 Megabyte. Powerpoint should include screenshots of all social media pages used, URLs to these pages.

ELIGIBILITY
English mastery: the MSPs we choose must have excellent command of the English language (written and verbal) in addition to native language. Additional language skills preferred. Deep social media expertise: we need a team of social media gurus. The ideal MSP should understand blogging, have an extensive and active social network of followers and/or fans, actively participate in online communities, have an understanding of web TV, podcasting, wikis and social bookmarking sites, and can translate that knowledge into recommendations for the company. These individuals should understand the importance of timeliness, relevance and responsiveness in social networks. Excellent communications and social skills: a person who enjoys engaging in conversations, both on-line and off. Is a self-starter: we need people who can work autonomously, but who also are able to follow instructions and will make sure that their work aligns with the larger social media effort. Onsite, theyll be expected to report to a central Social Media coordinator. Quality focused: an insistence on quality, honesty, transparency, and integrity. Fun: we want people who are witty conversationalists/writers. Fair: MSPs should be able to tell the stories that need to be told in an unbiased, fair manner and avoid favoritism at all costs. The ideal candidate should have a LinkedIn profile, a Twitter account, a Facebook page, and should have his or her own blog already. Time Management: The candidate would be expected to create a private content calendar so that s/he has material to talk about based on the Competitions announcement schedules. Of course, s/he can blog about lighter topics along the way. The candidate may have the authority to conduct written or video interviews w/ execs and/or the occasional guest blog post but will typically review those with the social media coordinator. Innovative with Content: The candidate should be focused on content creation, but s/he will also work w/ the PR Team to develop overall communications strategies and rapid response plans. MSP Status: Active in the MSP program WITH Academic Lead approval. You cannot compete in the Imagine Cup and be a member of the Social Media Team at the same time.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
Partnership with and training from a 2011/2012 MSP Social Media Team Member Membership in an Elite Social Media Enthusiast Team that provides Social Media coverage for IC 2013 Ability to use to its fullest their skills and expertise in Social Media Activity On-site attendance at Imagine Cup 2013 Complimentary flight, hotel, food from Microsoft Corporation to 2013 location

Join the IMAGINE CUP SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITY on the SOCIAL in the MSP Portal and learn about other opportunities!
This year, we will be able to track Imagine Cup registrations to specific MSPs allowing us to recognize you for your efforts! We want to recognize those MSPs who will be driving the highest number of registrations in their geography highlighting the value of active engagement through forum discussions, learning opportunities and through the Imagine Cup social media network. Join this new community, go to the Documents Section and download the doc MSP_IC_REGISTRATIONS for complete details. Login to MSP Portal | Click on Social Tab | Find Community Imagine Cup Social Media Enthusiasts | Follow | Access Documents

Good Luck!
Michelle Fleming WW MSP Program Lead
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