Reaction to Week 6 Readings

In Boyd and Ellison’s article about social networking sites, they provide a definition of social networking sites and include in the definition that the sites are not really to network and create relationships with strangers, but rather to link and connect to people that you already have an existing relationship or connection. While I agree that this is true, especially with Facebook and other similar social networks, I think that other social media is straying from this and serves primarily to establish connections with people, products or companies.

 In chapter 8 of PR 2.0, Neal Gorenflo is interviewed and states that social networking and social media is changing the way business is being done and for the better in most cases. He says that social media and social networking allows “engaging customers in deep and meaningful ways in every stage of the product lifecycle.” This is an example of social networking being used to create connections rather than connect within existing relationships. Social networking continues to change and new uses for it are continually arising. As the evolution continues, I think that defining what exactly it is and what it is used for will become increasingly difficult.

Klout Scores Becoming Increasingly Important

http://adage.com/article/mediaworks/social-media-status-key-endorsements-today-s-celeb/229843/

There is no doubt that social media has changed advertising and public relations. Finding a good spokesperson or brand representative has gone beyond simply matching the brand or product someone who fits the right image. Klout scores are becoming more and more important as is the number of Twitter followers and Facebook fans a person has when negotiating contracts and deals. Because social media is now a huge part of advertising, it is not only important to select a spokesperson who fits your image, but also one who is active in social media with a large number of followers.

We all know it is important for celebrities who are looking to brand themselves to be on social media, but it seems like it is becoming increasingly important for non-celebrities to be active on social media. Making yourself something of a brand and using social media strategically can pay off, as is evidenced by the earlier blog post about people who found fame through social media. Regardless of whether you are looking for fame or just looking for a job, I think that being active on social media and using it in an appropriate manner can be beneficial for anyone. 

Reaction to Kent Article

M.L. Kent’s article for the Public Relations Review provided good information about what blogs are and especially about how they can be used by the public relations practitioner. I am especially interested in blogs as a public relations research tool. I think it is vital for a company or organization to keep on top of what is being said about them in social media, and especially blogs written by opinion leaders. Being active in social media is important as a public relations tool but it seems that social media as a research tool is sometimes overlooked. Knowing what is being said about your company or organization will help you understand the effectiveness of the public relations and communications plans that are in place. Monitoring social media can serve as a method of testing the current environment that you are operating in.

Another point Kent made that I found interesting was blogs as a direct avenue to the public. Blogging can be a great way to reach a specific segment and demographic since blogs are usually issue centric. For example, people who are interested in environmental issues and news can seek out environmental blogs. People trying to reach that demographic can also seek these blogs out as a way to reach as many people as they can.

Blogs are very useful for public relations. While I don’t think that traditional public relations practices are going to go anywhere soon, I don’t think blogging will be going away anytime soon, either. 

Singapore Airlines Discovers Itself on Social Media

It is clear at the point that social media isn’t going anywhere soon. With that said, it is more important than ever to have a plan in place in regards to how you will deal with social media. I found the article about Singapore Airlines a little humorous because I cannot imagine a major airline simply not being in anyway engaged in social media. They were even unaware that they DID have a Twitter account and Facebook page, both of which had quite a few followers. Because the accounts were run by some guy who just happened to be a fan, lots of questions, comments and complaints that where aired on the sites went unanswered and unaddressed.

In the end, everything seemed to have worked out for Singapore Airlines. The original creator of the accounts turned them over to Singapore Airlines without hesitation so that the airline didn’t have to start over since they had already accrued a large amount of fans and followers. The pages were reworked to fit more to the image of the airline and posts now get answered. Now, they have a plan in place to address any social media issues.

Singapore Airlines was lucky. The outcome could have been much different if there was ever any kind of emergency or the original creator of the pages was ill intentioned, since the pages were believed to be the official accounts. People and organizations need to have a plan in place and be vigilant of what is going around social media about themselves.

http://adage.com/article/global-news/singapore-airlines-finally-discovers-facebook-twitter/229625/

Personal Branding and Social Media

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/social-media-personal-branding/id293704873?i=63208070

Personal branding through social media is one of the perks that normal, average citizens gained when sites like Facebook, Twitter and others exploded. For CEO’s and others who are charged with running companies, social networking allows opportunities to gain publicity for your company through giving the general public access to the higher-ups. In a recent webcast I watched about social media and personal branding, Brian Flatow, director of branding and marketing at AdStore talked about how he established a personal brand using social media. He explained that to him, social media is to be used to provide a sense of transparency. He said that his Tweets are not necessarily about his professional life, but rather his personal life. He added that because there is an overflow between the two, you are about to promote your business through Tweeting about personal experiences or just the normal routine of your day. Flatow cited Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, as another professional who used Twitter to promote himself as a brand through Twitter.

Flatow gave several pieces of advice for using social media for personal branding.  What I found most interesting was his advice about Twitter. I have always been unsure and apprehensive about using Twitter because I don’t really know what to do with it, or what to say, or who to follow, or how often to Tweet. It seems kind of strange to me that I should just Tweet about something I saw or heard or want to say. Flatow compared being on Twitter to being at a cocktail party. You don’t need to jump in right away and dominate conversations. Rather, it is best to wait until you are comfortable and then start talking … or Tweeting. 

Reaction to Kaplan article

Kaplan’s article about social media and the problems and opportunities that comes with its usage provided useful insight for any person or organization that is using social media in its public relations and communications plan. I found the “ten pieces of advice for companies deciding to use Social Media” section to be especially interesting. Although I am sure that most companies and organizations see the benefits of using social media and realize that it is not something that is going to go away anytime soon, I think it can be an intimidating task for some organizations depending on their structure.

From my experience working with a non-profit organization, I was able to see first hand how it could be challenging to use social media. When an organization is short-staffed or dependent on interns that come and go, it can be extremely difficult to ensure message consistency and regular posting activity.  Despite these challenges, social media is an important tool, especially for organizations with little to no budget for advertising, public relations and communications. It is especially important for these organizations to have a set plan of how social media will be used for the organization. A good plan will address what the policy will be for responding to posts from other people or organizations, what the messages will be, how often posts will be made and making sure a staff member is responsible for social media accounts during times when no intern is available.

http://prnewmedia.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/44898094/Kaplan.pdf

http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/09/millions-are-starving-horn-africa

There are many reasons why the news that is in the mainstream is there, whether it is to serve some agenda or because it is sexy, it is there for a reason. Food crises are nothing new in parts of Africa, but currently in the Horn of Africa there is a serious food shortage the likes of which has not been seen since in modern times. The death toll is staggering and continues to grow each day. Children make up a large number of the dead and dying.

So why aren’t we hearing all about this? Mainstream media and news has included extremely little coverage of the crisis. Even on social media, which gives voices to the ordinary person – people aren’t really talking.  The article shows Google trends statistics comparing Somalia (which is where a large number of the affected are located) and reality star Kim Kardashian. As you have probably guessed, Kim Kardashian beat out Somalia by a margin that is not even remotely close.

If @KimKardashian Tweeted about the famine, would the public be more aware of this staggering humanitarian crisis? Further, what does all of this say about the importance and potential of social media? From a public relations point of view, do you think that organizations that work to alleviate hunger and suffering should more seriously consider celebrity impact and social media in public relations campaigns? 

Web 2.0 Reaction

The Time article that dates back to 2007 delves into the capabilities of Web 2.0 and how it has and will continue to revolutionize the way that citizens, businesses and industry will live and operate. Social media is just one tool made available by Web 2.0. As the article states, we are now able to create completely different, imaginary lives where users spend real money. Radio has changed, movies and television shows are now available at the click of a mouse without ever having to watch a commercial or subscribe to cable.

All of this innovation has undoubtedly changed not only the way we communicate with other people around the world, but also has changed the way that public relations is practiced. It is more important than ever to properly manage relationships. Social media especially has created a level of transparency and approachability between people and organizations. With this, it is ever more important to foster the relationship and sense of transparency with proper public relations practices. 

@Irene

http://adage.com/article/digital/irene-agency/229516/

Unless you are living under a rock, it is impossible to go even a few hours without coming across a #this or #that message. “Following” a person or beings “friends” with a person has taken on an entirely different meaning and Twitter, Facebook and other social media has become part of the daily lives of such a mass amount of people around the world. Increasingly, social media has also evolved into a major news outlet for users to gather and release information. For those of us who know anyone living anywhere from Washington, DC to New York City probably witnessed so many family, friends or “friends” taking to Facebook and Twitter after last month’s earthquake shook homes and offices. The earthquake, though very unexpected, was a minor event, and makes me wonder if we would still use social media as a main source of information if things were more serious?

Irene Tien, or @Irene, went from 630 followers to 11,500 during Hurricane Irene. When her superiors got wind of her increasing number of followers, Irene relinquished control of her account and allowed for @Irene to become the twitter account for the other Irene, who was about to wreak havoc on the Northeast, where many people were experiencing their first ever hurricane.  Further, @Irene was even made available to FEMA to enable the organization to disseminate vital information. @Irene had turned virtually overnight from a personal Twitter account to a major information source for those in Hurricane Irene’s path.

Reaction to Time Magazine article "Power To The People"

Social media outlet Youtube.com has allowed for many ordinary citizens to have their voices heard and find fame – whether it is for 15 minutes or longer. Youtube has allowed the ridiculous Antoine Dodson “Bed Intruder” song and video or the “Double Rainbow” guy to become something of household names. Though most find just a few minutes of fame and notoriety through Youtube and other social media, some people have been able to use these tools to launch lasting careers. Simply put, social media has given some amount of power to the average person.

Although I don’t know that I have ever heard an actual Justin Bieber song, I think it is impossible for anyone to not to recognize him and his long, Lego-like hair. Fan or not, you have to admit that Justin Bieber (or his managers) have successfully employed social media outlets. Record company managers discovered Bieber after he posted videos of himself singing and performing on Youtube.  Since posting the videos, Bieber has recorded several albums, filmed a movie and found worldwide fame. Had it not been for Youtube, his voice literally may never have been heard. 

My name is Kate Rogers and I am currently pursuing a MA in public relations at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fl. I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania before moving to Philadelphia to attend college. I graduated in May 2009 with a BS in sports and entertainment marketing from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pa. As part of the marketing curriculum, I was introduced to the role public relations played in integrated marketing communication and its importance and value.

After graduating from Saint Joe's I continued to live in Philadelphia and work for a mid-sized law firm. Following a brief move to Cape May, NJ I moved to Miami and started classes at UM. I enrolled in this course in hope of learning more about the role social media plays in public relations and how it can be most effectively used for the greatest benefit of the client or business.

    Although I am enjoying graduate school and living in Miami, I am looking forward to completing my      degree so that I can have the opportunity to apply everything I have learned and pursue a career in public relations.