Saturday, November 19, 2011
Effective Use of Social Media: What it Means to Build a Brand
Using social media is a simple way to build a brand without having to invest significant time and resources. PR and marketing agencies can reap many benefits from establishing a brand through social media, including connecting with consumers and interacting with other professionals in the field. When PR and marketing companies begin to brand themselves through social media and establish a following, it is easy to find ways to capitalize on it. The fact that a company has the potential to reach millions without spending any money is a huge advantage, especially to non-profits. The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a great example of a company that has branded themselves extremely well through social media. They maintain a constant interaction with their over 21,000 followers on Twitter and the 97,130 people who “like” their Facebook page. They’re With Love, Philadelphia XOXO image has become instantly recognizable with the help of their effective use of social media.
It has become increasingly more crucial for agencies to have an interactive, successful blog. Blogs are one of the best ways for companies to build a solid reputation and market themselves efficiently. Blogs have affected the PR industry tremendously, giving PR professionals an outlet to promote not only themselves, but their clients, products or ideas as well. It has been proven that those organizations that are actively blogging communicate with their audience much more effectively than those that do not. GPTMC has won numerous awards for their blog, and is a great example of how PR and marketing companies can utilize blogging to their advantage. Check it out at http://www.uwishunu.com/.
So what does all of this mean to prospective PR professionals? The use of social media has undoubtedly shaped the way future employers go through the hiring process. Building a personal brand is just as important as building an agency brand. Companies will be looking at prospective employees’ use of social media, their following, and the content that they display. Blogging, tweeting and personal branding are now just as important as flawless writing and verbal skills. Social media has shaped the PR and marketing industries forever, and effective use of it is certainly a step in the right direction for students going into the field.
This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kaitlin Tully.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Google Announces Purchase of Zagat
Delightful deal done; Zagat and Google now one; foodies have more fun! http://goo.gl/Gwnxg #gogooglelocal
Her excitement is palpable and it is obvious that Google has big plans for Zagat, a company that has found success by housing ratings and reviews based on the opinions of over 350,000 surveyors from around the globe.
For the founders of the company, Nina and Tim Zagat, Google’s offer most likely came as a pleasant surprise. It is known that the Zagats made an attempt to sell the site in 2008, but were met with little success. It is estimated that Google purchased the company for $125 million—a price the Zagats were obviously pleased with. They issued a statement about the company’s new fate on their site to let their users know about the recent sale:
“After spending time with Google senior management discussing our mutual goals, we know they share our belief in user-generated content and our commitment to accuracy and fairness in providing users with the information needed to make smart decisions about where to eat, shop and travel. We believe this union is the right next step for our employees, our users and for our business, all of which will benefit from the additional resources and reach that Google provides. Going forward, we will remain active in the business as co-Chairs, helping to ensure that the combination of Zagat’s and Google’s assets and capabilities will maximize our product quality and growth.”
Google already has listings and maps for restaurants and other small businesses, so to collaborate with Zagat can only bring more success to the corporation.
Have you used Zagat? Are you excited for the merging of Google and Zagat? Let us know!
This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Katie Tully.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Taking Advantage of Senior Year
If you haven’t had an internship yet or even thought about it, it’s time to do that immediately! Most employers will not even look at an application or offer an interview with little to no work experience. Even if the internship is not paid (which most aren’t) its time to commit a few hours of your time a week to gain some experience and have something to put on your resume. If you don’t know where to start looking for one, ask a faculty member or advisor for advice—they usually have many connections and may even be able to help you obtain a position. It would also be a good idea to sign up for Temple’s listserv because many internship opportunities are sent around weekly.
If you are interning, that’s a great start, but don’t stop there! If you have connections or know of people you would like to connect with, set up an informational interview. Taking advice from people in the PR profession is a great way to get your career started. Get to know people in the area and collect as many business cards as possible! You can never know too many people in the industry and most professionals can spare a few minutes of their day to grab a cup of coffee and point you in the right direction.
Get involved! If you are not part of any student organizations or clubs, senior year is not too late! Take advantage of all Temple has to offer and join something soon! Most clubs or organizations are a great way to network with people of your major or similar interests, and as I said before—you can never have too many connections. Plus, being part of student groups looks great on your resume and that may set you apart from many other applicants applying for the same job position come May.
Use this time to perfect your resume. Get rid of the accomplishments you had in high school and list all you’ve done in the past four years. Focus on what will set you apart from hundreds of other applicants and include your academic achievements. There are people reviewing resumes all day, and if yours doesn’t stand out dramatically, it may never get noticed.
These are just a few tips on taking advantage of your senior year. Don’t forget to have fun, but use this time wisely—May is just around the corner!
This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kaitlin Tully.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
PR Opportunities in London
Obtaining a degree in Public Relations is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into a six week study abroad program in London, England and it is here that I realized Public Relations is an occupation that one can practice outside of the United States, something that I definitely wouldn’t mind doing. Everywhere I look there are promoters for restaurants, clubs and any attractions you can think of. There are advertisements across the entirety of this amazing city, and every inch of space is utilized to market different companies, venues, markets and entertainment.
London is also one of the top places for jobs in PR. Companies like PHA Media, Taylor Herring, Flipside PR, Premier PR and many more are headquartered here. There are tons of opportunities for one to pursue with a degree in PR, in addition to many educational opportunities. For instance, The London School of Public Relations and Branding (http://www.pr-school-london.
So for anyone thinking of visiting London—whether it is in search of education, job prospects or just a vacation, I would highly recommend it. London is one of the top cities in the world, filled with more than 8 million people from many different backgrounds. There are countless opportunities for anyone interested in PR, so come check it out!
What is your dream city to practice PR in? Let us know!
This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kaitlin Tully.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
#SeriouslyMcDonald's?
Obviously the memo did not go over well with customers. People were so outraged that #SeriouslyMcDonald's began to trend on Twitter. After enough people complained with tweets and direct messages to the verified McDonald's USA Twitter page, McDonald's quickly addressed the issue.
Using the social media site where the scandal all began, McDonald's sent out a statement via Twitter that stated “That pic is a senseless & ignorant hoax McD’s values ALL our customers. Diversity runs deep in our culture on both sides of the counter.” They also responded directly to some of the more irritated consumers with tweets like “That picture is a hoax. We are proud of our long history of diversity.”
Proof that the memo is indeed a hoax: the number on the bottom of the memo is actually a number to contact the KFC customer satisfaction hot-line. It turns out that the picture actually surfaced awhile back, but didn’t hit Twitter until recently. With the popularity social networking sites have, it’s no wonder the picture went viral so quickly.
There are arguments over whether or not McDonald's handled the situation right. Some think they did a fine job, and others believe that more could have been done to address the situation and prove that all customers are valued. Personally, I feel that McDonald's handled the situation to the best of their ability. They used the same networking site where the scandal began—a sure way to ensure that their customers would see the statement. They also made a statement to a number of reliable publications clearly explaining that the picture was a hoax, allowing the media to quickly receive this message.
Do you think McDonald's responded in the right way to the hoax or could they have done more to address the situation?
This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kaitlin Tully.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Is Facebook’s Popularity Decreasing?
Facebook started as something that was seen as extremely “cool” to have. Seniors in high school couldn’t wait to graduate so they could launch their Facebook pages using their college email accounts. Facebook used to be exclusive to college students, which was part of the excitement and draw to it. Now, anyone can sign up for an account using an email address. Many think this is one of the reasons Facebook’s popularity will decline.
This leads into a recent topic of discussion—should businesses still use Facebook for marketing and PR tactics? When Facebook first started, it was one of the only social media sites around that businesses could use to their advantage. Now there are many more, such as Twitter or Tumblr. Because of the amount of new sites available, businesses are starting to expand their options.
Although Facebook’s popularity may be on the decline, it is still one of the most important and effective marketing sites there are today. Facebook can lead to a huge fan base and allows businesses to communicate efficiently with their audiences. By adjusting to new layouts and actively updating a page, businesses can still yield positive results from Facebook.
What do you think about the fate of Facebook? Should the possibility of a decline affect how businesses are using it today?
This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kaitlin Tully.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
PR Trends to Look for in 2011
1. Integrated Public Relations is becoming an essential part in the world of marketing. Traditional PR and social media are coming together to capture every facet of corporate communications.
2. Being able to calculate and confirm the Return On Investment (ROI) is a vital part of PR this year. If this can be accomplished proficiently, the client’s approval will be easier to obtain.
3. Survival is in the cards for reporting on news. The Internet and television are still the top two ways to obtain the news, so don’t expect traditional media to die out completely.
4. Video is a must. Preparedness for on-air time is vital this year. With almost everything progressing in video form, this should come as no surprise.
5. WikiLeaks are something to be fearful of. There are many emerging wikis focused on corporate wrongdoings, so cautionary measures should be taken.
6. Tablets (such as iPads) are taking over social media. PR professionals need to make sure that content can be accessed anywhere and at any time as the news progresses rapidly to tablet form.
7. Firms must be able to observe, understand, and benefit from public emotion and explain this method to their clients.
8. YouTube, Hulu, VooDoo, and other similar services will continue to be popular. Young adults place most of their TV attention by picking up their laptops or iPads, so companies need to market appropriately.
9. 2011 will be the year that Internet and television integrate for good. This year, Internet TV will finally launch, so that people can communicate electronically while watching a favorite television program simultaneously.
10. Facebook may become outdated. The more complex and diverse it becomes, the more young adults are turned off by it.
Stay on top of your game by watching for these trends in the world of PR! For more information, click here.
This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kaitlin Tully.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Effective Communication in Teams
• When starting a project, be sure everyone understands what the goals of the team are.
• When conveying an assignment, speak slowly and carefully to avoid error. Make your points in a logical manner.
• Provide logical explanations as to why you made the decisions you did; include accurate facts and details.
• Be sure to provide useful and reasonable feedback to all group members.
• Ask for input about upcoming plans and for feedback on previous projects from all group members. Be open-minded to new ideas.
• If you or someone in the group does not understand something, be sure to have it explained before moving on to a new idea or project.
• When answering a group member’s question, be sure to repeat the question when responding, to make sure you understood correctly.
• If there are any misunderstandings or arguments within the group, clear them up in a calm and professional manner.
• If you are angry, do not make rash decisions that will affect the entire group. Cool down before coming to a conclusion.
• Finally, stay conscious of your body language. Many times, it is more effective than what you say. By conveying negative body language, you are conveying a negative message to the team, which leads to mediocre work.
To learn more, visit http://www.buzzle.com/articles/team-leadership/.
This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kaitlin Tully.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Is The Media Glorifying Teen Pregnancy?
The stars of the show (“typical teen moms”) have been made into celebrities overnight and are now featured on dozens of magazine covers. Many people think MTV and the media are being extremely irresponsible by glamorizing teen pregnancy. Others think that the show sets a good example, showing the consequences of premarital sex. The debate goes back and forth, but with teen pregnancy on the rise in the United States, many want a clear answer about the impact of the media.
According to Family First Aid, the United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world. Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually. Thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20, and eight in 10 of these pregnancies are unintended. The statistics are staggering, but with all of the sex displayed across televisions everywhere, why wouldn’t teenagers be influenced by it?
According to MTV’s website, “Each episode interweaves these stories revealing the wide variety of challenges young mothers can face: marriage, relationships, family support, adoption, finances, graduating high school, starting college, getting a job, and the daunting and exciting step of moving out to create their own families.” It is true that some of the teen mothers are shown dealing with struggles, but most teen viewers cannot relate to these girls. Many teen and pregnancy organizations are extremely concerned about the impact turning teen moms into celebrities could have on teenagers. “Putting the stars of these reality shows on a magazine cover puts them on the same plane as any actress, singer, or other celebrity,” The Parents Television Council Director of Communications and Public Education, Melissa Henson, said. “It is sending the message to girls that if you get pregnant as a result of being sexually active; you could end up on TV or a magazine cover.”
I must say, I agree. We shouldn’t forget that about a decade ago, the sexual content in the media today would be completely unacceptable. Is it a coincidence that teenage pregnancy rates are higher?
Although the profits for MTV’s hit show Teen Mom are high, the image this show gives the network as a whole is controversial. Is the negative image that could result from this show worth the high ratings for MTV?