Tweet! Tweet!

Well, it's official! You no longer need to have any interaction with someone to know what exactly is going on every moment of there life. That is if they keep up with their Tweets. Twitter provides a service to its customers that allows for 140 characters to update all their "followers" on what they are doing.

Honestly, I'm having a really hard time getting into the twitter thing. It seems like just one more account to check. I'll give it a little while and see how it goes. I think part of the problem is that the only people I know that are on twitter are my classmates. To me, this raises the question, who else is on twitter? Well, let's see. I read an article on CNN.com that the Salvation Army is using Twitter to update people on money-raising events this holiday season. I thought that was pretty exciting. But who else is on there in Twitter land, what are they talking about, and how do I find out? Well, I went to my home page and scrolled down and clicked on "search." This brought up a page much like google search, but only searches with Twitter You could type any word and Twitter shows you the most recent posts about that subject. I never could figure out how to find businesses on Twitter by searching within Twitter, but if I googled it I could fine the orgainzation's twitter home page and then I could begin to follow it on Twitter. I think Twitter needs to make it easier to find new friends and organizations to follow.

Overall, it is a neat concept that I think has a lot of PR potential. Twitter obviously still has a lot of room to grow and a large potential audience. I just think it hasn't fully caught on quite yet. Good luck Twitter! I know you're starting to grow on me.

I Want Your Job!!!

Ok, seriously, does Brad Mitchell not have the coolest job ever!?! It sucks that he has to work such long hours, but that job would rock! I spend hours on social networks and blogs in my free time. So, the idea of getting paid for that blows my mind! I'm sure it's not quite as fun knowing that you HAVE to keep all those things up and running, but it sure beats my stressful work environment! It is such a great concept for the university as well. I can not think of a more perfect way to target that "possible future MSU student" population than through this perfect array of social media that Brad Mitchell is beginning to tackle.

Also, I thought the idea of ITunes U was very exciting! I would have loved to have that option as an undergrad and beyond if I were to miss a class. Also, I think it can be a great addition to online classes. Our lives are all so fast-paced these days that it would be nice to have the option to catch your missed lecture on the road! Also, what a perfect opportunity for student athletes who are forced to miss several classes anyway. They always seem to have earphones stuffed in the ears anyway. Why not get pumped up for the game with a little COM 115 lecture?

Overall, I am just so excited that Missouri State is embracing the new technologies of today's youth and beyond. Now, if you'll excuse me I need to go catch up on my Google Reader, check my Facebook account to see how my friends are doing, find a few more interesting articles for tonight's class to tag on Delicious, and update my twitter status to "Krissy is caught up on my COM blog." Thanks!

The Pod

When asked how podcasts can be applied I really had to stretch the imagination. Some of the other social medias we have discussed were pretty obvious, but podcasting was a bit trickier. Even so, I believe it can be done! A great article in PR news provides a clear explanation of podcasting and how it can be used within the public relations realm.

Contrary to this article, I tend to lean towards a more applicable place for podcasting is strictly within an organizaton. I have to give props to Margaret Orlando on the most creative idea I have found for podcasting in PR! She stated that she sees podcasting as a more internal communication tool by providing, "meeting debreifings, conference debreifings, things that people need to catch up on about their organization, this would be a great way to transform the hum-drum newsletter from days of old into the Web 2.0 world."

I absolutely love this idea! In my job, I don't have the time or desire to sit down for twenty minutes to catch up on my emails. If podcasting was provided by my department I could catch up on meetings I may have missed while I was away or just a simple general announcement that could be a critical policy change. In fact, I could even do this on the way to work! Thus, allowing less distraction and better patient care.

Why Do I Care?

Integrated marketing communication is to me just a way of saying, in today's society we must combine all forces to prove to a customer why they should should even care about your organization. This is critical because in today's society people are so constantly inundated with "Come Here!" and "Buy This!" or "We're the Best for You!" that it seems almost impossible to make your organization stand out so that the public will choose you to pursue. Thus, I believe it is necessary to combine advertising, sales promotion, public relations, direct marketing into one big ball of publicity genius to reach the full potential of an organization.
This tactic is already beginning to be seen online as well as some offline campaigns. An example of this would be the presidential election. The Barack Obama campaign used their online influence to help promote and educate others on how to use local offline tactics of marketing, promotion, advertising, etc. Thus, combining both online and offline PR and marketing.
The differences of these two areas, PR and marketing, are becoming increasingly blurred. I found an interesting blog with some great resources and interesting comments that address just that. Enjoy!

Release Me!

Online news releases are a recently rapidly growing trend in the media world. They provide an unlimited amount of information to anyone, not just the common news sources that decide to pick up the story. Before one could only get the news that was fed to them by major media organizations, but now it is as if every major or minute event in the world is screaming, "Release Me! Moreover, they can be thorough in the information provided such as pictures, videos, audio clips, etc related to the story.

This also allows for information overload. When looking at the proposed "New Social Media News Release Template, Version 1.5 by Shift Communications, I can't help but be totally overwhelmed and lost by all the information that can potentially provide. While it is great to obtain all angles of a news release, it definitely has the potential of turning those not interested in spending a lot of time reading for the key information away.


However, with all that said, I find it overall as a PR goldmine with the provided options to have the reader with continued information he/she can subscribe to for future news releases, feed, etc.

Social Networks and PR

This video clearly explains the process of using social networks in the PR world. It also goes on to clearly define what social networks are. It discusses how managers are very curious how this all works. It goes on to expalin just that. It gives examples of these social networks: Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, YouTube, and Linked In. It also goes on to talk about how popular these social network sites have become as well as how successful using social networks to promote your organization is. I do agree with the tips the video provides to help brand your organization in a positive manner while social networking online. However, I do think some additional advice is needed on how exactly a social network profile is created. As well as, explaining some of the history of how and why social networks were started. Thus, helping better understand why this is such a great opportunity for an organization to get their name out there. Also, it should also be discussed how an organization can use social networking while still maintaining their credibility.

RSS feeds in PR

RSS~Really Simple Syndication. The key word here is simple. In today's world everyone is looking for an easier or simpler way of doing things. That has been the beauty of technology; It tends to make make things easier. But simpler? Perhaps not. Before RSS, one had to either wait for an email/newsletter or go to the website/blog for new information about an organization.

Now, PR professionals can provide journalists with new information continuously with their RSS feeds that the journalist may sign up for. It basically can bring the website to the RSS subscriber. Simple. Not only that, but it is confidential, has been said to be preferred by many journalists, complimentary, and up to the minute information, no old news. Also, this is still a relatively new technology and has so much room for growth and improvement. The possibilities are great and very exciting for those in the PR world.

Blogging in PR

At first, I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant about blogging in general. It seems like just a good excuse to just sit there and talk about yourself. Which, as much as everyone usually enjoys this, I was always raised that just talking about yourself is vain and self-centered. However, this obviously was not the case for everyone and blog popularity has spread like wildfire.

This has lead for those with a PR driven mindset to use blogging to their advantage. I believe it truly is the perfect arena for public relation professionals. What better way to talk about "yourself" (aka your product/organization/event, etc.)? Blogs seem to almost have been made for this. One can use words, pictures, videos, direct feedback from customers, etc. for direct promotion. It's the idyllic of the commercial world.

Even after reading the material provided in class about the cons of companies blogging, I still think blogs are ideal in the PR world because of its very makeup. The whole purpose of public relations is to promote the relationship of who or what they are representing and its customers/participants. What better way than talk about "yourself" and its accepted even celebrated? Who could think of a better way? I can't.

YouTube

Today's topic for COM 639 is about how YouTube can be used in the PR world.
I believe there are several ways and/or angles that this can be accomplished. The first idea that comes to mind is actually demonstrating and/or explaining the actual function and purpose of the organization/event/campaign/program/product. A second angle that could be done would be to have general public speak about their positive experiences with the organization/event/campaign/program/product. A third option is just to show the successes of the organization/event/campaign/program/product in its natural environment which allows the viewer/costumer to draw their own conclusions of how great the organization/event/campaign/program/product is or could be.
There are several strengths to using YouTube in PR. You have endless oppurtunites of audiences you can reach. Another strength of using YouTube in PR is you are not limited to a 30 second or 1 minute slot like one would be if using a general radio or TV advertisement. A third strength is that it has endless possiblities to grow on the internet. Just Because you only posted something to YouTube does not mean that that very same video won't show up on random social networking pages, Digg, or a personal website. It goes on and on.
There are also possible weaknesses to using YouTube in PR. One weakness that first comes to my mind is risk of reputation. YouTube may not always be the most professional way of getting the word out. Secondly, one must remember there is no way of preventing someone posting something negative about the organization/event/campaign/program/product. This can totally defeat the purpose of the orginail posting talking about the positive aspects. A third weakness to using YouTube for PR is that not everyone uses the internet and/or YouTube so that automatically eliminates exposure to that population.
The primary public of YouTube varies depending what source you are looking at. Even so, it is crucial to get the population one is targeting to watch the YouTube video you have created for your organization/event/campaign/program/product. There are a few good ways to get your target population exposed to your video. First, you can post it to your general website so those who are seeking information can have easy access. Second. find blogs/forums or start them that are dissussing your organization/event/campaign/program/product and post the YouTube video. Third, you can begin to add the video to social networking groups that people can join if they are interested in your organization/event/campaign/program/product. A fourth idea would be trying to get some exposure on websites like Digg or the like where the popularity of the video can landon a high hit webiste's home page.

My Future

Hello all,
I suppose the best way to treat this blog is much like a journal. I have been assigned to do this blog originally for a class, but I'm sure I'll continue it long after.
The class I'm taking is COM 639-Concepts and Analysis of Public Relations. I am working toward my Masters in Communication with an emphasis in PR. I plan to use this degree to do PR for a hospital. I love talking in front of large groups and planning events so PR just seems like a natural choice. This is actually my first PR class, so I guess I'm about to find out if it was the right choice or not. So far I have really enjoyed it!
I am currently employed as an ER Nurse which is totally a world unto its own. Oh the stories I could tell, but we'd be here all day. Basically, I knew God had called me to help others and I love being a nurse to do so. Whether I help others with direct patient care or educate the public on health issues when I achieve my PR position, I know that is where God wants me to be. And usually I'm pretty good at it. Like I said though, ER nursing is a world unto its own. It is beginning to make me more cynical and be annoyed with the human race in general (related to drug seekers, people that come to an emergency room for a sniffle and take up all my time when I could be giving better care to someone who is REALLY sick, medicaid in general, drunk idiots that decide to drive and kill people, etc) . This makes me think it's about time for me to get out of ER nursing and move on to a different area. I really enjoy geriatrics and cardiac patients. They really need help and are usually appreciative of the care they receive. Old people are the best! For some reason I have always enjoyed the company of those who are quite a bit older than I am. After that for a few years, I'm hoping to be done with my communication degree.
So, this leads into my near future. I'm getting married! The big day is April 25, 2009. It will be here before I know it, I'm quite sure. I am marrying a man named Aaron and wow is he amazing!!! I could go on and on about how lucky I am, but basically it boils down to that he is sometimes even nicer to me than my mom. Need I say more? We got engaged on the 4th of July this past summer. It was quite a surprise and VERY romantic! We were alone on my Mom and Dad's boat on the Lake of the Ozarks watching the fireworks. The next thing I knew Aaron had our song playing in the background and was down on one knee!! AMAZING!

We have been dating for just about 2 years now. Our families are very similar and we were raised almost identically. He is from Oklahoma though. I am from all over Missouri basically. (Basketball coach brat). I could also go on and on about how perfect we are for each other, but again we'd be here all day.
Anywho...We plan on buying a house here in the Springfield area this spring. We'll probably live here until I finish school (another 3 years or so) and then move to wherever I can get a job. I hope it will be away, far far away. I've never lived outside Southwest Missouri and I'm soooo ready to get out! But, Mike Peters at St. John's even sounded interested in what I was doing, so who knows?
Well, that about wraps it up for now. Until later.

COM 639

This in my first post in class