How to Prepare for PRSSANC

Whenever you talk about the Public Relations Student Society of America National Conference, it always seems so far away, in the distant future. Even as recently as yesterday, I assumed I had a few more weeks until conference.

BUT WAIT. It's this weekend. As in, 5 days from right now, you and I might be at the same seminar or workshop, in our nations capital, Washington, D.C. With conference coming up so soon, a million little things I needed to do came rushing into my brain, keeping me up later than I wanted to be, as I fretted about each minute detail. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. SOCIAL MEDIA. It's 2014, and the name of the game is social media. Or maybe just Twitter. Regardless, connecting with people on social media is now just as important as actual face-to-face networking. In fact, I've found that meeting someone in-person, and then waiting a day or two to connect via Twitter and LinkedIn, is a good way to stay in touch. To prepare for conference, think about some important people/groups to follow on Twitter. Think about other members from your PRSSA chapter, consider following PRSSA chapters from another school. Not biased or anything, but Temple's PRSSA chapter is definitely worth following, same goes for our PR-firm, PRowl Public Relations.

2. Business attire. Everyone's heard the age-old adage, 'Look good, feel good.' Well, let me add another part to that: 'Do good.' Plan to dress up for conference, wear a tie, wear a jacket. Ladies: wear whatever the female equivalent is. The more professional you look, the more seriously other's will treat you. Don't expect to show up in a polo and shorts and get a job.

3. Networking. I mentioned it earlier under social media, but networking is one the primary reasons for attending conference, and the activity that'll likely help you down the road. PR is, after all, about who you know. Get business cards of your own, and be ready to get a lot from people you meet. Don't be afraid to walk up to a group of strangers, stick out your hand, and introduce yourself. You'll probably be doing what they all wish they were doing. Introduce yourself, find something to connect on - ask what specific field of PR are they interested in, or what they are studying or if they are interning somewhere. Offer your business card after a few minutes, and then it's on to the next one!

4. Money. Figure out all your financials, as well as your group's financials, ahead of time! No one wants to take a long trip, only to find out that they don't actually have a hotel room, or aren't really registered for conference. Double check all your confirmations, from conference to hotel to travel arrangements, and keep printed copies for yourself! Make sure to take more money than you think'll need; you never know what might happen.

There are many more, smaller details that go into making your trip to national conference a successful one, but I think that these are the most important ones, and that they cover most of what you'll need. I look forward to my own early-morning bus ride to D.C. because I know that meeting and hearing from some of the PR industry's pros and other student organizations will all be worth it.

Think I missed anything essential to going to conference? Comment it below, we'd love to hear from you!

Learn to Make Your Own Decisions

There's no such thing as a stupid question, right? While that may be true, there are definitely questions that are pretty unnecessary. I tend to ask a lot of them. I would rather ask a lot of questions and do something right than forge my own incorrect path. While I still stand by that, I've learned through my internships and time spent as a leader in student organizations that there are a lot of times where the questions need to be skipped and executive decisions need to be made.

In order to make a quick and effective decision on your own, there are some simple steps to take:

1. Develop a thorough understanding

You're much more likely to make a solid (and correct) decision if you have all your background information. Think of that "what-if's" before you start your task and find all your answers at the beginning, rather than running into roadblocks later on.

2. Utilize the internet

Search engines are a wonderful thing. Rather than asking your coworker or boss how to use promoted posts on Facebook or create a graph in Excel, just look it up online. 

3. Look for previous examples

Don't reinvent the wheel. If you're doing a job that someone has done before, there are examples of the right way to do it somewhere. Go through old files and see if you can find an older version that might be able to guide you.

4. Be confident

When you make a decision without asking anyone else, be confident that you're doing the right thing. Even if it turns out you aren't, you'll learn from it!

So if you're ever faced with a situation where an immediate decision needs to be made and it's up to you--don't get nervous and second guess yourself. Follow these tips and you're on your way to making great executive decisions. Plus, supervisors, managers, and directors all the way up to vice presidents and CEO's have to make their own decisions, so you're really helping yourself in the long run by learning to do it now.

How to Handle Rejection

I'm not talking about getting turned down for a date--you'll have to go to another blog for advice on that one. I'm talking about job rejection. Whether you're about to graduate and applying for your first full-time position, you're an eager student applying for summer internships, or you're just looking to make a career change, there's a chance you could be facing some rejection sometime soon.

Getting a rejection letter or email for a job that you carefully crafted a cover letter and tailored your resume to can be pretty discouraging, but I prefer to think on the bright side of things and I've come up with some ways to handle rejection and turn it into something positive.

1. Learn from it
Maybe you can pin-point what you said (or didn't say) that caused your job-quest to end in rejection, or maybe you're not quite sure. Go back through the job description and look at the skills and think of ones you might not have highlighted enough or ones you could improve on. Think back to the interview process and consider what you might have done better or changed. Use this opportunity to reflect and improve.

2. Understand it
In a perfect world, every employer would call the people they reject and tell them exactly why they aren't getting hired. Unfortunately, that's usually not the case and it's up to you to figure it out. Try and think about the office atmosphere, the type of work they do, and the way they do it. You might have had all the qualifications, but not have been the right fit for that company. If they didn't think you were a right fit for them, they probably weren't a right fit for you anyway.

3. Use it to your advantage
In interviews you might get asked "what's your biggest failure?" or "talk about a time you didn't succeed and how you handled it". Job rejection is a perfect scenario to use in an answer to this question. You will learn from it and it will help you along the way, whether you realize it now or not, and employers will be impressed with how you handled it and all the ways you used it to become a better PR pro.

4. Chin up, soldier
Remember, there are hundreds of opportunities out there for you. Don't let one rejection get you down or stand in your way of doing the best you can. Keep looking for jobs and internships and you'll find the right one, even if it's somewhere you might not expect.

How have you handled job rejection? We want to hear from you.

8 Terms to NEVER Use in a Press Release

'We're thrilled to announce our new product launch," said Joe Smith of XYZ Inc. "We are proud of all the hard work our team put in and are excited to watch the success unfold."

How many times have you read a quote like that from a bigwig at a company or the mayor of the city? Chances are, it's a lot. While the readers might not know that many quotes in a story are written by PR professionals, the journalists definitely do and when they read quotes like the above that are dripping with overzealous emotion and fake positive attitude, they're likely to roll their eyes and move on to the next headline in their inbox.

To give your story (and your client) the best chance of landing some news coverage, skipping those overused words and phrases that make journalists cringe is crucial.  PR Daily recommends omitting the following words and phrases from your press releases:

1. Pleased/proud/thrilled/excited to announce

2. When asked for his/her input

3. Best-in-class/Best-of-breed

4. Wealth of experience

5. For the first time ever

6. This event boasts an impressive lineup

7. Just in time for

8. Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Can you think of anymore overused words of phrases PR pros should avoid? We want to hear from you!

10 Steps to a More Productive Day

This infographic from Lifehack offers great tips on getting more done throughout the days. It all starts with a simple list.

Listing the tasks you're hoping to accomplish makes it easier for you to prioritize. Whenever I make my to-do lists I always put the due date next to my tasks so I can make sure the urgent ones get done first.

Even if you're bogged down with work it's important that you're keeping yourself energized by having some fun. Listen to your favorite tunes and give yourself breaks every once an a while for snacks or chit chat to keep your body engaged and focused.

Tip #5 is something to think about. What time of the day are you most productive? If it's in the morning, aim to get the bulk of your work accomplished then. This can help you with tip #9: optimize and reflect. Always keeping thinking of ways you might have improved your productivity.

The end of your productive day will end the way it began: with another list! There is nothing more satisfying than checking off your tasks but sometimes a few remain unfinished. Rather than leaving your list as-is, re-write it without your completed tasks. It will be shorter and appear much more manageable that way.

How do you keep yourself productive during the day? Any tips for moments when you just feel like giving up? Let us know!

Media Training 101: Tips on Teaching Your Client

Advocacy. Advocacy. Advocacy.  It's PR 101, it's what we do for our clients and it's what is engraved into our brains from the start.  Part of advocating for your client or your company can be media training. Media training is simply preparing your client for press conferences, interviews, TV appearances, etc. It's a daunting task because no matter how prepared you and your client can be, the media can always throw in a question or comment that you didn't expect. It is our job to make sure the client is prepared for that.

Start off the media training with something fun and engaging. 

Pretend you're the reporter and ask them really hard questions. Chances are they'll freeze up (that's why you're in the position of training them, after all). This will show the importance of what they're about to listen to and experience.

Keep your client's personality in mind.

If they're generally a formal person from a suit-and-tie company, they might not be comfortable loosening up in a conversational situation with a reporter. Practice makes perfect and the more you help your client embrace relaxation, the better they will do in the interview. Cool, calm and collected is a really overused saying for a reason.

Don't use jargon.

Whether we realize it or not, our field is littered with jargon that no one else understand. Clients don't know what editorial and impressions mean so there's no use in talking about it during your training. Keep it short and simple and easy for them to understand so they stay in full focus during your presentation.

Focus on the mission statement.

It's the core of their business and something that they should know inside and out. By incorporating something that they are already comfortable with and making it the base of the training it will help them adjust better.

Wrap it up by reiterating why media training matters.

You can repeat your initial interview exercise and watch them be amazed with the progress they made in a few short hours. End with key takeaways that are most important for them to remember. Always offer yourself up for additional help outside of the training session.

As PR professionals we are supposed to be media aficionados. Sometimes these skills can get in the way of seeing how other people are going to feel if they're talking to a reporter. Put yourself in your client's shoes and make sure to talk to them that way. You're helping them with their skills and cultivating your relationship with them, all in one.

 

4 Tips For Better SEO

"Content is King" is a phrase we are no strangers to, but "SEO is Queen" may be a new one. SEO, or search engine optimization, is crucial for all online ventures. The reining king of the internet, Google, can control which websites have higher rankings during searches. Google tries to avoid things that look like spam, or that are too general, from appearing at the top of the list of results. Having your website or blog appear at the head of a Google search is a great way to increase pageviews and overall traffic to your site.

If you've found that your Google ranking is lower than what you would like, try implementing some of these tips:

• Make your keywords count. Google uses keywords and phrases to determine sources that would be relevant to a search. Being able to work a key or phrase throughout a post or the content in a page is a great way to improve your SEO rank. Make your keyword phrases detailed and precise. Instead of listing your keyword as "handbags," or "winter style," write them as people would enter them in a Google search. "How to wear a handbag during the winter" is a much better keyword phrase 
• Use strong keywords in your URLs. Not only is it important to use your keywords and phrases throughout your content, they need to be wisely utilized in your site's URLs. Websites and blogs that run on Wordpress use permalinks without the name of the content in the URL by default. You should always update this in your settings so that the post title can be included in the URL. Instead of having a page's link read "yourwebsite.com/x?1234" set them to read "yourwebsite.com/name-of-the-post," and be sure that there are keywords in place of "name-of-the-post."
• Optimize your images. We often forget that images are really HTML text embedded into our post via codes. This means that images can be picked up by search engines. Always include "alt text," which are basically short descriptions of your image. Most content management systems, like Wordpress and Blogger, make it easy to add alt text without needing to know any HTML. Include keywords in your alt text and photo descriptions to really boost your SEO. 
• Link with Love. Including links, to other websites and your own, are great ways to boost your SEO rank. Having external links is incredibly important, because Google counts them as a sort of "third party vote" making your content credible. Be sure that the content you are linking to is credible and reliable, and you will see improvement in your SEO rank in no time.

Do you take SEO into consideration on your blog or website? Why or why not?

Stay on Track This Semester

Classes have already begun for many colleges and universities and will start for the majority of the remaining ones today.  We might as well start off on the right foot this semester and pave the way for smooth sailing in the next several months.

• Get a planner. Use it.
  There is no better way to stay on top of your schoolwork, social activities, and other commitments.  If you write everything down there is no reason to forget it. That way you'll always know what's coming up and what you have room for, be it homework or fun events.
  
• Talk to someone new.
  Don't be a loner on the first day of class. Scope out your classmates and sit next to someone who seems like they might have a similar vibe to you. You could end up making a great connection, helpful study buddy, and possibly even a new friend!
  
• Go to office hours.
  Professors notice the students who go above and beyond in class. If you visit them during office hours you will stick out in their mind. Spending time outside of class with your professor will also ensure that all your questions get answered.
  
• Eat breakfast.
  You're a busy bee and you need energy for the day. Eating even just a little something for breakfast every day will keep you going through all your classes and extracurricular activities.  You'll beat that mid-day funk and be able to perform at top speed. 

These are just some of the things you can do to keep yourself on track for the upcoming semester.  Get organized right away and you'll stay organized throughout.  End the year with a successful semester and reward yourself with a summer of fun (not that we're counting down the days or anything)!

What will you be improving on this semester?

Tips on Conducting a Focus Group

If performed properly, focus groups can be a vital part of a PR strategic plan in order to gain valuable information for your client. Focus groups can be utilized for a wide array of topics in order to gain insight on a specific issue.

Recently, I had the opportunity to be a part of a focus group and I wanted to share with you some insights and tips for when you make a focus group part of your PR plan.

Keep it small: An ideal size for the participants per focus group is between 5-7 people. If you have it any smaller, you may not be able to obtain enough useful information and may not be able to generalize what you learn. A group much larger than 7 participants may be less likely to speak up or one person may dominate the conversation.

Create an idea-sharing environment: Most focus groups are laid back in order to get ideas flowing. When conducting a focus group, be sure to make your participants comfortable. This can be done by providing drinks and snacks, or even holding it at a casual location.

Don’t go in order: It is important that questions are not read in order so that the conversation continues to flow. If another question makes more sense because of what a participant just said, go to that question instead.

Prepare more questions than you need: You never know just how many questions you will be able to get through during the time you have allotted for discussion. That is why you should always have more questions prepared just in case.

Practice: You can never be too prepared for a focus group because you only get one shot. Make sure the moderator and note taker are prepared to fulfill their duties.

Follow Up: After the focus group is over, be sure to follow up with participants. The follow up should thank them again, along with obtaining any additional information you may need.

I hope these tips are helpful. Do you have any more tips to add? Share them in the comments section below!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Kaitlyn Mashack.

Declutter Your Life

At this point of the year, your brain is full to bursting with knowledge you may or may not ever use again (unless you're taking all PR classes, then you're just bursting with fabulous knowledge you'll be grateful for forever)--am I right?

Before you have an inevitable mental breakdown, let me offer you some tips on how to declutter your mind and your life and help you breathe again.

Step 1: Organize your inbox.  Take half and hour to get all those emails either into a folder or into the trash. Did you feel the tension in your shoulders release? I thought so.

Step 2: Clean your room. It's a lot easier to get work done when dirty socks and wash you should have folded a week ago aren't staring you in the face.

Step 3: Situate your personal life. Is there tension between you and your roommates? Are you frustrated by a group project? Actually have a conversation with these people and you'll see that coming to a solution isn't as hard as it seems.

Step 4: Declutter your soul. It may sound cheesy but doing something that makes you feel good inside is incredibly beneficial.  Help out with a neighborhood clean-up or volunteer to work a 5k benefiting a good cause. A happier heart makes for a happier you.

What do you find most effective when you're overwhelmed and feeling pretty cluttered?

Along those lines, check out this funny Buzzfeed video: 35 Things to Get Rid of to Declutter Your Life.

Be Bold, Be Bright, Be You.

It's that time of year again!

No, not the holiday season (although we are all excited for that too).

It's officially the point in the semester where everyone starts to think about spring internships and even jobs for all you December graduates. So while you're updating your resume and crafting the perfect cover letter, there are a few things you should be keeping in mind.

1. Pretty much everyone is proficient in Microsoft Office.  You can skip including that on your resume.  What jobs really like to see is something that not everyone can master, like Adobe Creative Suite or expertise with a blogging platform.

2. The majority of people are also saying that they're 'organized' and that they 'have great people skills'.  Your future employer is looking for things that you can bring to the table that other candidates can't.

3. Highlight what makes you unique.  Having skills and experience is all well and good, but from my experience potential employers are looking for candidates that have that 'little something extra' or that 'spark'.

You know yourself better than anyone, and even though interviews can be intimidating they are the limited time that you have to get across how much of an asset you can be to a company.  So instead of listing a set of skills that most people your age probably have, set your sights higher and aim to communicate what makes you different, and better, than everyone else who is applying for the same position.

What are some other tips to make yourself stand out in an interview? We want to hear from you!

#RealTalk: Crisis Communications

"In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity."

This is a quote from a session at the PRSSA National Conference called From the Crisis Trenches: Blazing a New Trail in Communications. Speakers from the Mach 1 Group discussed the crisis the Livestrong Foundation was faced with when the Lance Armstrong scandal broke.

No matter how prepared we try to be, crisis will always knock us off balance.  Only so much can be learned about crisis communications in a classroom but it is something that will most likely face all of us one day. Here are some key takeaways that I learned in this PRSSANC session that made me feel more comfortable in my ability to handle a crisis situation.

• Work your company's mission statement into any answer you're giving the press
• Think "how can we turn this around?"
• Remember: we are more than the sum of the actions we take
• Be sure to show the big picture, not just focus on the problem at hand
• You always want to be the one to break the news so you can shape it
• Ethical and transparent communication is essential

Keeping these things in mind when handling a crisis situation will help ensure that it goes as well as possible. 

What tips do you have for dealing with crisis communications?

Promote Your Blog--For FREE!

Blogs have become an extremely important part of public relations, media, and online interaction. There are many blogs that have tremendous following and can have a great impact.  As blogs have become more relevant, it seems that everyone wants to start one.  Since this is the case, it's important to set yourself apart from the crowd.

You might have terrific topics and a lot of support from your friends and family but still not be reaching your goals.  Without a solid internet following, your blog might not be as impactful as you'd like.  Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get the word out about your site.  Return On Now offers these suggestions:

Start a Meetup.com group in your subject area and share your blog at events and online.
This is a great way to connect with people in your area that share similar interests to you.

Make insightful comments on other blogs and include a relevant link back to your own blog.
If you interact with others, chances are they will interact with you.  After all, it's all about who you know!

Write a press release and post it on free PR sites.
Not every site posts every release, but it can't hurt to try! Make sure your releases are relevant and newsworthy so they will spark interest.

Provide free trainings to local nonprofits, universities, and meetup groups to establish expertise.Groups that can't necessarily afford to hire someone but would love to build a blogging presence will appreciate help from someone with blogging expertise and will pass your name along.

To read all 25 of Return On Now's ideas for free blog promotion, click here.  Do you have any to add?

Don't Forget About R&R

Some of the most successful public relations students I know are also some of the busiest.  They're juggling multiple student organizations, full class loads, internships, and jobs.  Sometimes there is even more thrown into the mix.  While being busy can help you learn how to manage your time, it can also be a ticking bomb.  To keep yourself from getting over-stressed it's important to remember to get some rest and relaxation. 

Take five minute breaks every hour. Peel your eyes away from the computer screen and eat a snack, walk around, or just daydream for a few minutes.  This will help your brain rejuvenate.

Set aside time at the end of the day.  Whether it's reading a chapter of a book (textbooks don't count!), watching an episode of your favorite TV show, or just catching up on social media, you need to set aside time to do something for YOU.

Don't forget your friends.  Schedules conflict and people get busy and it may feel like you don't see your friends and roommates for days at a time.  This is why it's important to always keep them in mind and know that you're all there for each other, even if you don't see one another every single day anymore.

Do you have any tips about how to break away from your busy schedule for a little R&R? We want to hear from you!

A PR Lesson From Ashton Kutcher

We already know that public relations involves a lot of writing.  Whether it's press releases, media advisories, social media, or event plans, PR professionals are always writing something.  One of the things that falls into our duties and we should be prepared for is speech writing.  Sometimes this also means speech delivery. 

Ashton Kutcher might not be the person that comes to mind when you're looking for a lesson in speeches, but at this year's Teen Choice Awards he gave a speech that critics everywhere are praising.  This article from Entrepreneur highlights the major takeaways that PR people can get from the writing and delivery of Kutcher's speech.

1. Stick to the rule of three
Three main points in a speech seems to be the golden number.  Keeping your points clear and concise ensures that people will be able to understand and retain them. 

2. Keep it short and simple
It's harder for people to comprehend something that they are listening to rather than having it in front of them to read.  Keeping your messages short and your vocabulary simple help make it easier for your listeners.

3. Pick the right message for your audience
Kutcher was addressing a mass of teenagers so he chose to speak about building your life and being the best person you can be.  This message was perfect for an audience who is at a point in their lives where they are growing and changing.  Selecting the proper points for your speech should depend a great deal upon who you are addressing.

Check out Ashton Kutcher's Teen Choice Awards speech here or watch the clip below.

Handling Personal Attacks On Social Media.

Social Media has its benefits, but like any other wave  there are disadvantages. In social media, people come with different opinions, different personalities and some people even look forward to abusing their freedom of speech in this medium. Yes, social media is built for you to personalize your profiles and you can always promote yourself the way you want to be seen, but you have no control over someone posting a negative post. It is possible for you to delete the negativity but running away from a situation seldom solves it, its better to nip it in the bud then and there.

Having someone attack you on social media is very much possible nowadays, therefore check out the following pointers that can be used to assist you if this is ever to occur.

1. Keep Calm- As the saying goes keep calm and carry on! You should do just that! It is natural to panic and become overwhelm in situations like this but you must remember you have no control over people's mind and thoughts, however you do have control over how you will handle the situation. So, move forward by commenting politely, letting the person know exactly where you stand.

2. Respond in a timely manner. As we know, happenings on social media become viral in a matter of seconds. Don't leave any opportunity for  other people to join on and make a mockery of the situation.

3. Reply Publicly. Doing this can quickly eliminate any further confusion. Seeing that if you were to reply through inbox, the individual can  choose to screenshot the conversation and create an uproar (those with extra free time that is). Sometimes, its necessary to take it to the inbox but definitely use your judgement!

4. Know when to draw the line. Yes its needed for you to comment on the person's post but refrain from going back and forth. This is not necessary.

Are there any other ways you handle attackers on your social media? Share with us in the comment box below!

Welcome to College

We are officially less than two weeks away from the beginning of a new school year.  For myself, it will be my final year at Temple and yet I can remember being a freshman like it was just last week.  Going from being a senior in high school to a freshman in college is a huge adjustment.  Here are some things I learned over the years and would like to offer up to the incoming class at Temple and any other college or university.

1. Leave your door open.  Regardless if you're living in a traditional dorm or suite, leaving your door open is a great way to meet people as they're passing by.

2. Join clubs. Even if you don't stay in the club for more than one year or even one semester, clubs are the perfect way to meet new people.  The earlier you join, the more opportunities you will have.

3. Embrace the 8 a.m.'s. I'm a huge fan of sleeping in, but if you schedule your classes too late in the day you won't find yourself being very productive before them. You're going to have to take early classes eventually, so you should get used to an early morning routine.

4. Manage your time.  This was probably the hardest thing for me to do.  Your college classes might be shorter or longer than the ones you had in high school, but none of them are going to let you do homework during your lectures.  You need to learn how to budget your time so you're always submitting assignments completely and promptly.

5. Have fun. College is a whole new experience.  Don't let shyness or fear get the best of you.  You'll make new friends, learn new things, and have opportunities you could never have dreamed of.

What tips can you share for the incoming freshman class? Tell us!

Tips for a Telephone Interview

The first step in the interview process after sending out your resume and getting a response is often a phone interview.  The interview could be with a person from human resources who just wants to ask a few general questions, or it could be with the person who is going to be hiring you. It could be five minutes; it could be half an hour.  The point of a preliminary phone interview is for an employer to figure out if they would like to bring you into the office for a face-to-face conversation.

Here are some tips from an article that can help you prepare for a phone interview:

1. Hold your interview in a quiet space

2. Provide details

3. Be prepared

4. Don't be afraid to speak up

5. Avoid rambling

6. Be confident

7. Listen carefully

8. Take your time

9. Don't get flustered

You should prepare for a phone interview the same way you would prepare for a regular interview.  This is your chance to provide your potential employer with information about yourself that will make them want to meet you in person.  As a bonus, phone interviews are a great way to showcase your phone etiquette since it is such an important part of PR.

Do you have any other phone interview tips? Let us know!

#TwitterFamous

We've all been followed by Twitter accounts that are clearly just following massive amounts of people in order to get followed in return.  That is definitely not the way to build a quality Twitter audience, which is important to have in a field like public relations.  These articles from Social Media Examiner and Media Bistro seem to agree on some tips to help gain followers and build your Twitter presence.

1. Pay attention to your profile.
Using relevant information in your Twitter bio along with a quality headshot picture is a great start towards attracting new followers.

2. Engage--but not with strangers.
Sometimes people seem to think reaching out to strangers on Twitter will help them gain a follower or two, and in some cases that may be true, but the best people to engage with are the ones that are already in your network.  If you do this, it will show others that you are active and they will want to follow and engage with you too.

3. Use Twitter directories.
Who knew there was such a thing? Sites like www.wefollow.com help segment prominent Twitter users into categories. So if you're looking for influential people to follow, check it out.

4. Share your Twitter on other networks.
I personally dislike when people have every social network linked so I see something they post four times on four different sites.  However, linking your Twitter to other networks can definitely be beneficial.  If someone who doesn't follow you (yet) sees something you tweet because it's linked to your Facebook, they might be inclined to check you out.

Do you have any tips or tricks for building an effective Twitter following? Let us know!

No LinkedIn? No Job.

LinkedIn has become a staple in job and internship searches.  It gives employers a way to check out your experience and internet presence before you even step foot into an interview.  This can be a great opportunity for you to make a statement about your professional self.  It can also be a way for you to lose points with an interviewer.

I was recently told by a family member that they knew of a company that wouldn't hire someone if they didn't have a LinkedIn profile.  My family member was shocked.  They don't have a Facebook or a Twitter or a LinkedIn simply because they don't feel the need to share so much information with the public.

I explained that there are many benefits of LinkedIn, but only if it is used properly.  I've had a lot of classes that require you to make a LinkedIn and all too often after the class is over students neglect their profile.  That sends a negative message to potential employers.  I think LinkedIn is a great way to connect with the professional community, but if you're going to have a profile it's important to keep a few things in mind:

Use it. Don't just let your profile sit with a blank picture and out of date information.  Even if you don't check it every day, make sure you're updating your content and interacting with people once and a while.

Join groups.  There are tons of groups on LinkedIn that talk about job postings or just advice for young professionals.  They are a great resource.

Connect the right way.  It's important that you're personalizing your messages when asking to connect with someone, especially if it's someone you're interested in getting a job with.  That little message is your first chance to show someone who you are.

So whether you have an up to date and well used LinkedIn or you're just considering getting a profile, keep these tips in mind! 

Do you think it is wrong for companies to disregard interviewees because they don't have a LinkedIn? Share your thoughts!