Who Run the Social Media? Girls.

Social media sites are constantly changing and constantly growing. As new sites are developed, women set the pace for the popularity the site will gain. More women over men tend to not only try out new social media site, but also become regular visitors.

When it comes to the variety of social media sites, women claim to be more active on multiple outlets, but the men are not far behind.  The numbers are close but in the end, women lead men 30 percent to their 26 percent on the amount of channels women check per day. Facebook, which is considered the leading social media outlet, reports an attraction of higher females (76%) than males (66%) audience.

So, with the constant need for connection, what are the sites that command the most attention? Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter are the media outlets that command the women’s attention.  

These sites, however, are not only for interaction purposes but also informational needs. Fifty-eight percent of females use Facebook to receive their daily news, whereas, 42 percent of males use this site for news purposes.

Male presence may not be as high on leisure social media sites, but on LinkedIn, males have a more dominate attendance. The male population tends to utilize the resources on social media sites for particular reasons that will help in the long run. Women, however, exist on such sites for leisure and creative reasons. It is an escape to help pass the time or divert attention from every day experiences.

For more information on this interesting trend, check out the original article on PR Daily. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Alison Curran. 

A New Age Of Facebook

As Facebook grows older so do its members. People that were once young using the “hip” new Facebook have grown older yet still continue on as registered members. But just who exactly are their main members? The answer may surprise you. Men. Middle age men are the ones who are using Facebook the most and not only registering at older ages but keeping their profiles up to date for longer periods of time as well. 

Keeping that old audience is great, but it is also important to remember that new members sign up every day and there cannot be a reliance on one demographic. New generations of people will eventually wipe out this older generation of users and then they will become the older audience still using Facebook. 

As people grow older, Facebook provides them with the ability to stay in touch with those special people in their lives. This is why, currently, their membership of an older audience is stronger than the younger. People will accept the new age of technology because they realize the advantages it can provide for them. Facebook is part of this advantage and people are embracing the many avenues presented to them. 

Facebook will always have a continuous cycle of new members becoming old member and then eventually a non-member. But it is important for Facebook to still be a thought in people’s minds. People have to want to join and it is Facebook’s job to keep the interest alive. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations Secretary Alison Curran.

Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About

As we are all aware, communication is one of the main aspects of public relations. As the technology age continues to grow, our interpersonal communication skills start to diminish. Interpersonal relations, which are the communication skills or relationships between people, are key in the public relations industry. Relationships are built off of the communication exchanges people have. 

Because of the new dependence on technology, people see less reason to have direction conversations with each other. Meetings, conferences and just day-to-day discussion can take place through email, which makes talking to someone directly on the phone less important. Emailing can be seen as a haven for those who fear direct conversations; responses are delayed, which give people an opportunity to ponder their response rather than being put on the spot for an immediate answer. 

Technology is a fairly recent phenomenon and people have certainly jumped on the bandwagon. The appeal comes from the convenience factor. People can juggle a million other things while sending emails, participating in teleconferences, or even sending a text message.  

The reliance on text messaging also greatly affects the communication skills that are so important. Text messaging allows people to be informal in their conversations, which becomes a habit that translates into everyday life. Text messages require little to no grammar and abbreviations of words; these habits cannot be reflected into our professional life. Thinking before writing and not incorporating social text with professional writing will result in the best respect.  

It’s important to remember that when dealing with clients and professional workers, keeping your writing professional will serve you well. People want to see you as a credible professional and the first start is through your writing. Although technology is an instrumental part of our everyday lives, we must use it rather than abuse it and not rely solely on its powers for our ways of communication. 

Wait…What’s MySpace again?

Hearing that Justin Timberlake is going to revamp the social networking site MySpace will either excite you or confuse you. I was one of those people who never had a MySpace, so hearing that it was bought and going to be rebranded did not interest me in the least, at least I didn’t think so. 

As PR students, when we read these stories it is important to look at them from many different angles and try to dissect all the little details in the story. Although I had no connection to MySpace, I had a connection to the word “brand” or in this case “rebrand”. 

Rebranding is great way to introduce and reintroduce yourself to the public. Newer audiences are attracted to products every day, but they don’t want something old and dated, they want the latest and greatest. This is just what Justin Timberlake is doing with MySpace. MySpace instead of having vertical scrolling will have horizontal scrolling. Music will also become a highlight as well. Playlists and featured music will be apart of the standard page. This new site will be a complete combination of Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pintrest all in one. 

It has been years since people have been on MySpace and it seems many have forgotten about the social site. This rebranding will help add a new edge to the once very popular social media source. All products should take notes from Justin Timberlake’s handbook. He took a risk by buying this product but he knows what people are interested in. Adding a more youthful feel to the site will be sure to increase its number of members. 

There are certain products where it is acceptable to leave things as they are, but social media is not one of them. Social media outlets are forever changing and people need to keep up with the times and change the product to fit the people. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alison Curran

How May We Not Serve You Today?

Why would you make a product audience members weren’t interested in? You wouldn’t, right? Social media has opened doors to help producers invent products that will make consumers interested in buying their product. Consumers are the most honest people out there; they are not looking to by a product that does not interest them. So, why does it appear corporation’s interest in what consumer opinions are has depleted? 

Social media has boomed over the past couple of years, and with this boom comes advancements for those creating new products. Target audiences respond to products advertised via social media, and their responses can prove to be quite valuable. They are the ones who will potentially purchase the product so tailoring it to what interests them should come easy, but it doesn’t. But even though companies offer response to their products, their perspectives are not always taken into account. 

In a recent study, results indicated requests left by consumers go unnoticed by companies. Roughly 70% of questions and comments posted on social media outlets go unanswered. Companies have even closed access to writing on their Facebook wall. This closes a company’s obligation to acknowledging their audience’s suggestions. Though companies removed access to leaving comments on their wall, companies still know consumer involvement in products will increase sales of the product. 

Companies appear to all have the same end goal- to make the most money. But, how do they expect to make money of their audience fails to recognize their product? If they want to make the most money, they need respect the comments given by customers. Social media allows them to know what the opinions of the public are. Corporations have to allow for comments to be made and value what their target market’s reactions are. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alison Curran.

We All Have to Grow Up Sometime

By the time college is over, we have entered into our early 20s.  Some of us may continue on to further schooling, while others venture out into the real world. Seeking the “perfect” job becomes our number one priority, which then leads to us hopefully living our perfect lives. Twenty-five becomes that magic number. When we reach this number, everything should hopefully be set for our futures. Careers become our number one focus, and it is important to know as much as we can without making drastic mistakes. Here are the top 6 things to know by the time you are twenty-five:

6. Put in your two-weeks notice. 

After landing that first job, if you are not happy be sure to always give a two-weeks notice, no matter what the job is. A written resignation is the most professional way to exit a business.

5. Unplug. 

After you leave work, shutdown. Do not go home and continue to answer e-mails and phone calls. When at home, enjoy what you have worked so hard for. 

4. Delegate work.

Asking others who can help to lend a hand is not a poor reflection on you; asking for help shows you want the job done and to satisfactory standards. But remember it is your responsibility to get the job done. Managers like for their employees to recognize that they are not above any type of work. 

3. Ask for a raise. 

Never be afraid to ask for more money. After more than three years at a job, learn how to introduce the topic to those in higher power. 

2. Craft an appropriate connection. 

When sending messages over social media outlets, tailor messages to each person. People appreciate when you take the time to write thoughtful messages.

1. Take rejection with poise. 

Rejection is one of the hardest things to face in life, but remaining poise is imperative. It is better to leave a job on a high note than a sour one. 

Entering the real world can be one of the scariest parts of our lives, but by possessing these tips anyone can make it through the stressful time. Twenty-five is when our lives begin and we must go out and conquer the world before it conquers us. 


This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alison Curran

We Have All Become #1 Fans of Social Media

Social media has become more than just our constant connection to the outside world. Lately, there has been a massive trend among sports fans to use these outlets as a way to show support for their beloved team. Years ago, people would wear jerseys, hang flags, or attend games to show their passion for a specific team. But now, it has become so much more.

Facebook and Twitter are just two of the outlets people utilize to interact with those who share a common interest. Social Media sites allow fans to keep up with a game without TV or radio. In a recent poll, 83% of sports fans check social media sites while watching the game on TV. The websites provide instant access to the statistics of not only the game but all the players as well. 63% of fans will browse sports social media sites while they are attending an actual game. The “die hard” sports fans are the ones who need the instant updates social media provides. Fans no longer need to wait for years highlights books to come out, because every ounce of information they could possible need is right at their finger tips. 

Sports fans aren’t the only ones jumping on the bandwagon. Now college students have sparked an interest in merging sports with social media. Hash tagging is used to create a trend and hopefully gain more followers. NFL player Tim Tebow was at the center of a hash tagging frenzy. People all over twitter would show their support for Tebow by either hash tagging his name or his most famous act “tebowing”. Colleges also jumped ship and began hash tagging their mascots, players and even their drum line. 

This social media frenzy has connected everyone from all over. People who may have never met are developing a bond through shared interests. Sports continue to be one of the top interests people discuss on Twitter and Facebook. Social media has done a great deal than provide us with the latest and greatest news.


This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alison Curran

The "How To's" of Gaining Media Attention for Your Event

If you’re in PR you know how important media attention is in promoting an event. But you may think to yourself, “How am I supposed to get them interested in my event?” Though this question may seem daunting, it’s really not!

Here are some quick tips on how to make your event stand out from all the rest and get the media attention it deserves:

1. Make it relevant and timely. Media circuits are not going to cover your event if they don’t feel there is any connection to the audience. Do your research and know who the primary audience is. Research what the audience finds most interesting and plan the event around that.

2. What is the potential for word-of-mouth. Get people talking about your event. It cannot just be about relying on the media, you have to get people interested. Tell people the perks of attending this event and guarantee the use of social media and electronics i.e.- photographs, video cameras, tweeting, posting Facebook status, etc.

3. Cover all the bases. Be sure to have a set plan with your event. Do not allow for the media to find a hole in your stunt. Because if they find a hole, your event will become about the failure rather than the success.

4. Anticipate the response from the media. Make sure there is a clear message for your stunt. What do you want this to be remembered for? Laughter, anger, warmth or charitable work- that’s up to you to decide.

5. Prepare…Prepare…Prepare! Be sure to have all materials needed before the start of the event. This will help ensure the event running smoothly with no mistakes.

Media attention helps events gain credibility. With these “how to” tips on how to gain and sustain media attention, there is no reason why your event can’t be as successful as you hope!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alison Curran.