One final, packing, writing this blog and a stroll across a stage with an obnoxious looking cap on my head. These are the only things left that I have to do before I graduate. What a surreal and bitter-sweet feeling. I cannot believe it how fast these last four years have gone by, especially my senior year. It is mind boggling to think that this is my last week as a student. As eager and excited as I am to start a new "big-kid" chapter in my life, I am so upset to leave this place. In a week and a half, I'll be heading to Columbus, a brand new place that is surrounded by unfamiliar faces (all but my roommate Renee LeGendre's) to start my career with a professional hockey team. Wow.
It is hard to wrap my head around everything that is happening. Each day I am flooded with a mix of emotions sadness, excitement, wiriness and eagerness to name a few. I do not know what I am going to do without some of the people I have been blessed to get to see each day. My best friends will not be within walking distance anymore and our weekly routines are going stop. The demands that come from being a student will finally be lifted off my shoulders, no more homework! I'll have bills to pay, my own insurance, benefits and a professional business card. Part of me feels like I am not ready to totally grow up. Why can't I stay in college and just not pay for it?
I am sure that this post sounds a little depressing and worrisome, but these are all thoughts that have been running through my head for the past few weeks. However, even though I am sad to leave ONU, my friends and the life as a college student, I am anxious and excited to start a brand new chapter in my life. I am ready for a change. I know that I will enjoy living in Columbus, starting my career and making new friends. The friends that I have made at ONU are incredible and there is not doubt in my mind that we will stay in touch. So, as this chapter closes another opens and I feel absolutely blessed to have had chance to experience everything that I have as a college student and for having the opportunity to experience all that lies ahead.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Podcast with Dr. Iseman
Here is the link to a podcast I created with my classmate Renee LeGendre. This podcast features Dr. Iseman PRSA Fellow, APR and a professor of public relations at Ohio Northern University. During the podcast, Renee, Dr. Iseman and I discussed social media and how this new trend is being incorporated into education.
http://media25.podbean.com/pb/ec50a4e60d90387814ae3d9dcffab371/4dc82a0e/blogs25/354447/uploads/EllenandReneepodcast.m4a
http://media25.podbean.com/pb/ec50a4e60d90387814ae3d9dcffab371/4dc82a0e/blogs25/354447/uploads/EllenandReneepodcast.m4a
New Influencers
While reading for class this week, I came across this quote in Paul Gillin's book called The New Influencers, "The irony of the New PR is that it's not anything new, it's just the industry adapting to new forms of communications - which is something that our industry has always been able to do." This quote was stated by Jeremy Pepper, a big-time PR blogger. This quote made me stop and think. To many different types of fields and professions, the world of social media can seem intimidating, uncontrollable and appear to be someone of a risk to dive into. However, PR professionals viewed social media as an opportunity to better connect with target audiences and publics, which I find to be fascinating.
PR professionals dove head first into the world of social media and the majority of them have been extremely successful. It appeared Gillin felt the same way when he wrote, "The opportunity is to raise the profession's visibility at a time when market trends are clearly headed their way." People in the public relations field attempt to connect with customers, consumers and their audiences through establishing a social media presence.
Another interesting point Gillin makes in this chapter is about communities on the Web. He states, "people will belong to dozens of them, some more important that others, but all receiving a slice of their attention." Gillin also states that, "there is no reason those communities can't be operated by corporations." This is a great point. Target audiences belong to professional and social communities and by creating a social media presence in these particular areas could benefit the relationship between the consumer and the corporation.
All in all, I have very much enjoyed this book. Each time I pick it up, I learn something new. The world of social media is constantly changing and growing, which for me, are reasons it is so intriguing. However, as a somewhat new blogger, this book helped me understand the in's and out's of creating a presence through the use of social media.
PR professionals dove head first into the world of social media and the majority of them have been extremely successful. It appeared Gillin felt the same way when he wrote, "The opportunity is to raise the profession's visibility at a time when market trends are clearly headed their way." People in the public relations field attempt to connect with customers, consumers and their audiences through establishing a social media presence.
Another interesting point Gillin makes in this chapter is about communities on the Web. He states, "people will belong to dozens of them, some more important that others, but all receiving a slice of their attention." Gillin also states that, "there is no reason those communities can't be operated by corporations." This is a great point. Target audiences belong to professional and social communities and by creating a social media presence in these particular areas could benefit the relationship between the consumer and the corporation.
All in all, I have very much enjoyed this book. Each time I pick it up, I learn something new. The world of social media is constantly changing and growing, which for me, are reasons it is so intriguing. However, as a somewhat new blogger, this book helped me understand the in's and out's of creating a presence through the use of social media.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friends
Over the past couple of weeks, I have truly realized some people's true colors. With graduation around the corner, it has become extremely clear to me who I want to stay in contact with after I leave Ada. It has also become clear to me that I have some of the greatest best friends someone could have. They are loyal, fun, caring and all around amazing individuals. I want to use this blog post to let them know just how much they mean to me.
This is Brittany Bogart, one the nicest people I have ever met. I have been friends with Brittany since I was a freshman. We have been roommates, teammates, partners in crime, snuggle buddies and so much more. Brittany is one of the most selfless people I know. She will do anything to help someone and is the first person to pick you up when you are down. Brittany has experienced some difficult challenges throughout her life, especially during the four years I have known her. Even though she is may be dealing with her own problems, she is the first person to listen to yours. Brittany is one of those people who works and plays hard. She played four years of basketball at ONU, has worked at Padrone's and is a dedicated student. Even though she has these demands to adhere too, she is always looking to have a good time and seems to have fun doing just about anything. She is hands down one of the hardest working, caring and most loyal people I have met at ONU and I am blessed to have her as my best friend.
My second best friend is Ericka Holcomb. The first time I met Ericka was my sophomore year at basketball camp, she too played basketball for ONU. She walked in and had on paint covered basketball shorts, a highlighter yellow shirt, two unmatched socks and a bright pink Disney princess headband. After talking to her for all of about two minutes I said, "we are going to be best friends," and that's what we became. Ericka's upbeat, fun and outgoing personality is contagious. She is the type of person that can brighten anyones day. She is also a great listener and does whatever she can to help people. Over four years, Ericka and I have had thousands of funny moments together. Even though she likes to have fun, she is also an exceptional student. She is studying human resource management and marketing here at ONU, started up an human resource club on campus and also interns with Cooper Tire. There is no doubt in my mind that she will not be successful after graduating. Ericka is hands down, one of the most fun, entertaining and smartest people I know and I am extremely lucky to have her as one of my best friends.
This is a picture of Megan Sybert, but everyone calls her Mae. Although Mae and I have only been friends for two years, I consider her one of my closest friends. Mae is such a genuine and kind-hearted person. She also gives great advice and truly makes the people around her better. She is very sarcastic and likes to joke around with people. Mae goes above and beyond for people she cares about, especially if she knows someone is having a bad day. One thing that is special about Mae is how supportive she is of her friends. She is an avid fan for her friends who play sports, an attendee at events if she is requested by a friend and the first person to congratulate you for doing something well. Even though Mae and I have not been friends for very long, she will forever be one of my best friends.
I chose to write about these three friends because as the year winds down, it has become apparent to me that I would not be where I am today without them. They have helped me when things were hard, celebrated with me and supported me constantly throughout my college career. Brittany, Ericka and Mae have made me a better person and have showed me how incredibly lucky I am to have certain people in my life. I feel the same way about other friends, like Kerri Yarber, Joe Clarkson, Jill Markle, Tricia Fuller and Kelsey Schrock, however I felt like I need to wrap up this post. Thank you to all of you for being as absolutely wonderful as you are, I honestly do not know what I would do without you.
Friday, May 6, 2011
5 Social Media Tips from Mom
As I was brainstorming on things to blog about that are happening in the wonderful world of public relations, I came across this article, titled 5 Social Media Tips from Mom. This article was posted on a a web site called Ragan's PR Daily and was written by a man named Bill Lublin who is the CEO of the Social Media Marketing Institute. The article pointed out that social media guru's seem to be popping up everywhere constantly. Not that this is a bad thing, but he wrote about a few rules that are basic, but they work. He also said that these rules are rules our mother's have taught us. I found these to be very interesting.
The first one is, Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back. It is one thing to be confident, however it is something completely different to be arrogant, especially through social media. Constantly talking about yourself does not make you important, it can actully do the complete opposite. It would be better to be great enough so other people can do that talking for you.
The second rule is, if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all. Lublin pointed out that everyone is entitled to an opinion, whether it is positive or negative. Through the use of social media, people should feel they can voice their opinion without being ridiculed or attacked. It is also important to remember if you are going to make a negative comment, attack the idea, not the author, writer or person.
The third rule is one I truly agreed with, if you dont' do it NOW, then when wll you do it? As an avid procrastintor, this rule stuck with me and is defintely one my mom has told me before. Lublin points out that some people procrastinte so much they actually end up putting of procrastinating. This could greatly affect one's social media presence and in a bad way, so as difficult as it is for some people, an effect should be made to get things done.
The forth rule is, I don't care what "everyone" is doing. In this rule, Lublin states that, "don't be a slave to social proof." He said that people need to make choices based on their own needs, skills, talents and do whatever fits into one's schedule. To have a social media presence, you need to go with your strengths to be the most effective. What could be the most effective for you is not always what the majority of people do.
The last rule is 5, Now, say you’re sorry—and mean it! Being transparent when using social media is crucial. If you make a mistake do not try to hide it. Correct it, but be open about the correction. This will make you more credible in the future and can also be used as an effective tool when creating a social media presence.
I thought these rules were interesting and helpful. Lublin makes a good point through these rules. They are simple, yet could be extremely effective. I hope you found them to be thought-provoking as well.
The first one is, Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back. It is one thing to be confident, however it is something completely different to be arrogant, especially through social media. Constantly talking about yourself does not make you important, it can actully do the complete opposite. It would be better to be great enough so other people can do that talking for you.
The second rule is, if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all. Lublin pointed out that everyone is entitled to an opinion, whether it is positive or negative. Through the use of social media, people should feel they can voice their opinion without being ridiculed or attacked. It is also important to remember if you are going to make a negative comment, attack the idea, not the author, writer or person.
The third rule is one I truly agreed with, if you dont' do it NOW, then when wll you do it? As an avid procrastintor, this rule stuck with me and is defintely one my mom has told me before. Lublin points out that some people procrastinte so much they actually end up putting of procrastinating. This could greatly affect one's social media presence and in a bad way, so as difficult as it is for some people, an effect should be made to get things done.
The forth rule is, I don't care what "everyone" is doing. In this rule, Lublin states that, "don't be a slave to social proof." He said that people need to make choices based on their own needs, skills, talents and do whatever fits into one's schedule. To have a social media presence, you need to go with your strengths to be the most effective. What could be the most effective for you is not always what the majority of people do.
The last rule is 5, Now, say you’re sorry—and mean it! Being transparent when using social media is crucial. If you make a mistake do not try to hide it. Correct it, but be open about the correction. This will make you more credible in the future and can also be used as an effective tool when creating a social media presence.
I thought these rules were interesting and helpful. Lublin makes a good point through these rules. They are simple, yet could be extremely effective. I hope you found them to be thought-provoking as well.
Monday, May 2, 2011
It's All About the Buyer
In chapter ten of David Scott's, The New Rules of Marketing and PR, a quote on the second page of the chapter really caught my attention.
Scott wrote, "Standard marketing education still talks about the four P's of marketing - product, place, price, and promotion - as being the most important things. That's nonsense. In order to succeed on the Web under the new rules of marketing and PR, you need to consider your organizational goals and then focus on your buyers first."
When I first read this, the first thought that popped into my head was, "Duh! Why wouldn't the focus be on buyers first?" However, I got to thinking and for many organizations, it is all about the product and customer satisfaction. Scott uses Starbucks as an example. Yes Starbucks coffee is good, and yes most of the workers are fun, upbeat and approachable, but is there more to it? There is and Scott points it out. It could be the atmosphere that people like, or the convenience of a stores location or that it is a place to go relax with a cup of coffee without the hassle of brewing some yourself. It is clear that Starbucks is appealing to what the buyers want and need, not just ranting and raving about how good their caramel latte creamice is (which is spectacular!)
Scott then goes on to talk about the buyer persona profile. As a public relations student, during any and all campaigns you take time to do this when you are focusing on target audiences. What is the target audiences demographics, typical behavior, needs and wants, and use this information to determine the most effective media outlet to use to reach them. After reading this section of Scott's book, when you are applying this evaluation portion to buyer for a market, different questions are asked. Marketing professionals ask themselves questions about the goals, aspirations, problems, what is important, what images appeal to them and what types or words and phrases do they use? Although these approaches are similar, the differences between the two was something I had not known.
Scott ended the chapter with an interesting statement that I think is applicable to all organizations, companies and individuals. Scott said, "remember, on the Web, you are what you publish." This sentence is completely true. Social media is an extraordinary tool for the marketing and public relations fields, however, if used improperly, could be the death of a company. Also, with social sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, individuals reputation could also be tainted because of improper or inappropriate use of social media outlets. This truly is a key statement to keep in mind whenever someone is posting information online.
Scott wrote, "Standard marketing education still talks about the four P's of marketing - product, place, price, and promotion - as being the most important things. That's nonsense. In order to succeed on the Web under the new rules of marketing and PR, you need to consider your organizational goals and then focus on your buyers first."
When I first read this, the first thought that popped into my head was, "Duh! Why wouldn't the focus be on buyers first?" However, I got to thinking and for many organizations, it is all about the product and customer satisfaction. Scott uses Starbucks as an example. Yes Starbucks coffee is good, and yes most of the workers are fun, upbeat and approachable, but is there more to it? There is and Scott points it out. It could be the atmosphere that people like, or the convenience of a stores location or that it is a place to go relax with a cup of coffee without the hassle of brewing some yourself. It is clear that Starbucks is appealing to what the buyers want and need, not just ranting and raving about how good their caramel latte creamice is (which is spectacular!)
Scott then goes on to talk about the buyer persona profile. As a public relations student, during any and all campaigns you take time to do this when you are focusing on target audiences. What is the target audiences demographics, typical behavior, needs and wants, and use this information to determine the most effective media outlet to use to reach them. After reading this section of Scott's book, when you are applying this evaluation portion to buyer for a market, different questions are asked. Marketing professionals ask themselves questions about the goals, aspirations, problems, what is important, what images appeal to them and what types or words and phrases do they use? Although these approaches are similar, the differences between the two was something I had not known.
Scott ended the chapter with an interesting statement that I think is applicable to all organizations, companies and individuals. Scott said, "remember, on the Web, you are what you publish." This sentence is completely true. Social media is an extraordinary tool for the marketing and public relations fields, however, if used improperly, could be the death of a company. Also, with social sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, individuals reputation could also be tainted because of improper or inappropriate use of social media outlets. This truly is a key statement to keep in mind whenever someone is posting information online.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Media Disasters
This week I came across this article posted on PR Daily, The top 5 media disasters in April - Caught on tape. These incidents involved CEOs and vice presidents of companies. This article has video to go with it. Reading this article made me laugh and love public relations at the same time.
The first incident focused on Joe Biden, a very sleepy Joe Biden. When President Obama was giving a very important speech on the entitlement reform, Biden took an accidental snooze. Due to this nice little nap, the media went crazy. Newspaper articles focused on Biden, instead of the new bill. The biggest challenge for the PR professionals who had to deal with this issue was that this was not the first time Biden has fallen asleep and inappropriate times. It also happened during the signing of the health care reform. Handling this situation had to be a challenge.
This next occurence was not as hot of a topic in the press. The next incident mentioned was
about Senator Jon Kyl. During an interview, Senator Jon Kyl stated that 90 percent of Planned Parenthood's work was abortions. The problem with this statement is that is completely incorrect. The actual percentage is only three percent. This issue became a disaster when Kyl's office claimed that the statement "was not meant as a factual statement." Public relations disaster.
The third incident that was written about Mike Lazaridis. Lazaridis is the founder and CEO of Research in Motion or (RIM) which is the maker of BlackBerry. During an interview, Lazaridis fumbled through questions and went off on a tangent when he was asked a question he did not like. He became angry and the media used this as a story for weeks later.
The next happening looked at Dick Fleming, the president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association. Fleming was asked by a reporter about his salary and instead of answering the question, this CEO actually tried to hide in a hotel. This had to be quite the mess for the public relations professionals who had to work on this.
The last featured incident was about Bob Parsons, the CEO of GoDaddy.com. Parsons posted a video online of him brutally killing an elephant while on a trip in Africa. Whether people are an animal lover or not, they were mad. After this occured, Parsons then threatened to sue any bloggers that posted the video. Parsons never once apologized, he blamed wildlife organizations for the bad press, and boldly stated he was going to kill another elephant. Needless to say, GoDaddy.com lost thousands of customers.
All in all, this article was interesting and made me stop and think. Why do people do stupid things? Especially people who are in the spotlight often. Then again, I do stupid things pretty frequently, never on purpose, like most of these CEO's did not mean to as well.
The first incident focused on Joe Biden, a very sleepy Joe Biden. When President Obama was giving a very important speech on the entitlement reform, Biden took an accidental snooze. Due to this nice little nap, the media went crazy. Newspaper articles focused on Biden, instead of the new bill. The biggest challenge for the PR professionals who had to deal with this issue was that this was not the first time Biden has fallen asleep and inappropriate times. It also happened during the signing of the health care reform. Handling this situation had to be a challenge.
This next occurence was not as hot of a topic in the press. The next incident mentioned was
about Senator Jon Kyl. During an interview, Senator Jon Kyl stated that 90 percent of Planned Parenthood's work was abortions. The problem with this statement is that is completely incorrect. The actual percentage is only three percent. This issue became a disaster when Kyl's office claimed that the statement "was not meant as a factual statement." Public relations disaster.
The third incident that was written about Mike Lazaridis. Lazaridis is the founder and CEO of Research in Motion or (RIM) which is the maker of BlackBerry. During an interview, Lazaridis fumbled through questions and went off on a tangent when he was asked a question he did not like. He became angry and the media used this as a story for weeks later.
The next happening looked at Dick Fleming, the president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association. Fleming was asked by a reporter about his salary and instead of answering the question, this CEO actually tried to hide in a hotel. This had to be quite the mess for the public relations professionals who had to work on this.
The last featured incident was about Bob Parsons, the CEO of GoDaddy.com. Parsons posted a video online of him brutally killing an elephant while on a trip in Africa. Whether people are an animal lover or not, they were mad. After this occured, Parsons then threatened to sue any bloggers that posted the video. Parsons never once apologized, he blamed wildlife organizations for the bad press, and boldly stated he was going to kill another elephant. Needless to say, GoDaddy.com lost thousands of customers.
All in all, this article was interesting and made me stop and think. Why do people do stupid things? Especially people who are in the spotlight often. Then again, I do stupid things pretty frequently, never on purpose, like most of these CEO's did not mean to as well.
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