Have You Conducted a SWOT Lately?

I am taking an Introduction to Marketing class this semester through the Advertising Department here at Temple. We began the semester discussing branding and building brand value, and this week we our discussion moved into the marketing planning process.

In the beginning of our discussion of the marketing planning process, we began to learn about the various components of a marketing plan. Of particular interest to me was the SWOT analysis, in which a company examines its strengths (S) and weaknesses (W), as well as the opportunities (O) and threats (T) it faces.

In class, we chose major brands on which to conduct practice SWOT analyses. These exercises proved to be both fun and challenging. What was also interesting was how such a simple-seeming exercise yielded so many potential viable ideas for the brands we discussed.

I think we should all conduct SWOT analyses more often, in the organizations in which we are involved, in the companies for which we work and even in our personal lives. I plan on conducting SWOT analyses more frequently in my life, and I think that taking an objective step back will help me find new ways to constantly raise the bar for success in my life.

How to Be Totally Remarkable

Seth Godin's book, The Purple Cow, gives his perspective on how someone can be remarkable and produce a remarkable product or business. Godin believes that, in order for a business to be remarkable, it must have a purple cow. He describes a purple cow as the innovative aspect of your product or business that makes it different from any other product or business in the market. This purple cow can be as simple as offering a new service that has never been offered before. Godin has written many books following this idea of the purple cow. I recommend this book to any individual who believes that they have what it takes to be truly remarkable.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member, Josie Fox.

The iPad: A Strategic PR Move?

Yesterday in my Marketing Research class my instructor brought up an issue that Twitter and other media networks are buzzing about currently: The iPad. The name has provoked many jokes revolving around a certain feminine hygiene product, but you have to give them one thing - people are talking about it.

Because of the nature of the class, my instructor thought the name may have been a mistake due to the lack of “marketing research” and thought perhaps there were no women in the focus groups when the name was decided. Although most of the class chuckled at the name, myself and a few others thought differently.

I had just read an article about the iPad in the Wall Street Journal before coming into class and the first thing that came into my mind was “notepad.” I actually thought that it was a good name being as though it maintained Apple’s well-known brand identity with the “iP” in iPhone and iPod.

Once I realized the nature of the name that was provoking jokes and heard about the reactions, I decided that this could possibly be a great strategic PR move. So many people were buzzing about the new product, and name, that the joke “iTampon” even became a trending topic on Twitter.

As one person in my class put it: “People are talking about it and awareness and hype is being generated. Will the name really deter people from purchasing the product? Probably not.”

What do you think of the name “iPad?” Was it a strategic move or did Apple really just forget to do their marketing research among women?

Finding Journalists on Twitter

As public relations professionals it is important to know the journalists we are pitching and to constantly be updated about what they might be doing, need, are talking or even thinking about. This is a great reason why you should follow journalists on Twitter! Check out this article about finding journalists who are active on Twitter.

Here are the following sites which offer the Twitter accounts in directory format of journalists:

-MediaOnTwitter
-Muck Rack
-JournalistTweets

Additional Twitter directories mentioned include the following, which aren't limited to media contacts, but other fields as well:

-Twellow
-JustTweetIt
-WeFollow

Looking Ahead: Drexel PRSSA Bizarre PR Event

Drexel University's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is hosting its annual regional activity, Bizarre PR, on Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m at the Radisson Plaza - Warwick Hotel Philadelphia. The day long event will focus on bizarre yet successful PR campaigns in the sports, publishing, film, events and corporate fields. Anyone with an interest in communications is invited to attend, especially PRSSA members from local chapters.

The event will include a series of bizarre PR workshops and break out sessions with several professional guests. The event will conclude with a networking social with members of Philly PRSA, PPRA and IABC from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If you're interested in this event register now by clicking here before the February 1, 2010 early registration deadline. Early registration tickets are only $40, but after February 1 tickets are $50 for members until April 2, 2010. Tickets are $65 for non members and PRSSA members who register after April 2.

For more information visit the Drexel PRSSA Regional Activity website.

First PRSSA Meeting of Spring 2010 Semester!

Today is the first PRSSA meeting of the semester in room 217D of the Student Center from 3:30-4:15 p.m. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for what PRSSA at Temple University does and what the organization is doing this semester.

Today at the meeting we will be:

• Receiving information about PRSSA
• Learning about speakers and events for the semester
• Signing up for committees

So come out and start off your semester by joining an awesome professional student organization. If you're already a member, make sure you get there so you can reconnect with all of your peers!

If you need more information about PRSSA at Temple University, please contact Jessica Lawlor at jessica.lawlor@temple.edu.

If you want more information about PRSSA as a national organization, visit the website at http://www.prssa.org/!

Be a PR "Magnet"!

Today, the blog e-releases released a list of seven habits of a highly effective PR magnet. What exactly is a "PR magnet?" "They're the people who always seem to be successful in getting major media coverage for their clients," e-releases explains.

What do they do?

1. They use the "leaky-faucet" approach to PR, meaning that they steadily release newsworthy releases over time.
2. They find creative angles for stories.
3. They're well organized.
4. They can multitask and think on their feet.
5. They know the media inside and out.
6. They're persistent but also know when to back down.
7. They set goals and measure results.

Be sure to check out the full post for more details!

Which of these habits have you mastered, and which do you need to focus on more?