Google : 1 Facebook: 0

Today everyone asks did you “like” my status or “like” my pictures? The real question is will “like” still even be used?  Today Google announced its rival version of the like button, the +1. This Google button will allow anyone to basically “like” something when searching for it.

The results from searching for something on Google are in the thousands, but with this +1 system you will be able to see how many people found a certain site helpful.  These tips will not only make your life easier but will give you the motivation to +1 a site that not many people have visited.

The goal is to +1 every site on the web allowing users to make an easier decision when it comes to questions of uncertainty while surfing the internet based off other peoples recommendations and +1′s.  You not only share this information with your friends and family but with the world, telling everyone I approve of this website!

I’m sure there are some kinks, such as how to regulate who +1′s a site more than once or how do you + 1 something if you want you identity to be private. So is time running out for the  facebook “like” or is +1 going to sink? Time will ultimately decide for us but until then I think people will use both services.

Like it, Love it, Bookmark it!

About two weeks ago I heard about a site called diigo which is a social bookmarking site. So what is social bookmarking?

Social bookmarking is a way to keep track of your favorite sites in one place and have specific tags which organize them and allow you to store thousands of bookmarks while being able to find a site in about thirty seconds. You can use this tool with any topic.

For example it can be used when you are researching information for a paper and after finding the best websites you designate all those sites through one tag to make life easier.  This is an amazing organizational tool for college students, businesses and professionals.

Currently, one area of my diigo account has all the social media sites I use and its all in one place! I have even bookmarked news that has been written about me in the newspaper. Its a great way to manage all of your professional sites.

At the same time you can use it to bookmark favorite videos, funny websites and is a great way to stay on top of what the media is saying about your favorite sports teams or bands, people even bookmark other peoples blogs.  In my opinion the best part about the site is that you can make some bookmarks private and your account can also be viewed by other people, which allows those working in a group to view your bookmarks.

Businesses can use this when coming up with a competitive overview. Each worker can contribute by putting up competitors website, social media sites and current news about there company and trends in the industry. This will allow everyone to view the information while being able to break up the work and get everything done in a sufficient amount of time.

I would really encourage people to get some sort of social bookmarking site because its already been so much easier and so much better! But that’s just my two cents any objections?

Time is running out

The interview process

For myself as well as thousands of other college students we are having an epiphany, that college graduation is a month away. So now we are realizing that its time to grow up but we always have questions like what to do? Where to go?  Should I try to find a job and move somewhere? Or just never leave college? However, the most important question is how to sell yourself when you get asked to interview?

Even though the job market is hard for us coming out of school, there is so much room to at least make connections and get involved in our field. Now once we get that phone call or e-mail we should not only be excited but confident. The one area most undergrads lack when interviewing is in confirming there writing skills and being able to communicate effectively.

When taking a job in the public relations field writing is something that you use every day in e-mails,proposals, strategic positioning, coming up with pitches and writing down ideas. In order to keep everyone on the same page what you write has to not only make sense but be able to inform you of every thought that came into your head the first time you wrote the document.  Once you become an excellent writer you will be the one running those creative teams and working hand in hand with the principals. So there is hope for us we just need to have the drive, determination and skills to get us there!

Its Game Time

Its March, which in college means its time for another year of Madness.  The next month will be filled with sold out games, cheering fans and everyone filling out a bracket, which has been written on, crossed out, redone and finalized. Now of course you can’t expect to be a true part of the madness without social media.

There has been hundreds of blogs with advice from amateurs and professionals, tweets from sports journalists, facebook pages with brackets that you can fill out but now they have mobile apps that will keep you in the action. These apps include March Madness on demand, Bracket Bound and Sporting News.

March Madness on demand allows you to watch games streaming from your phone, player stats, in game highlights and a breakdown of the bracket. Bracket Bound allows you to receive the news and analysis you need to break down your bracket so this way you can check your bracket anywhere you go! Sporting News is also very informative and allows you to follow your favorite team.

Last year I had three games going  at one time and I can’t wait to see what this year holds especially with these new apps. You can tell that even sports are being influenced by technology and the best part is that they are all free!  The question is are you ready for the madness?

The Floor is Yours (Part 2)

When the floor is ours we can truly make a change and position ourselves to get a job. I had given a few reasons why PROpenMic is beneficial but since some of you might not be convinced the site does have more! It has events, forums and videos.

The events are conferences and workshops that take place all over the country. The conferences range from overall public relations to social media to blogging conferences. The workshops include ways to get your name out there and utilizing tools to better reach your target market.  Webinars are also another part of it and allow people from all over the world to stay informed and connected without having to go anywhere. The forums discuss certain trends and topics that have conflicting views. Some of these topics are PR vs. Marketing and how you evaluate a successful press release. These questions are important to know before getting into the PR and advertising world because you should want to hear the opinions of professionals and why they think that certain way.

Of course no site that involves PR and advertising can forget a video section. However, this section of the page allows you to post videos you have created while also filling you in on professional tips, showing you some new and unique ads and the videos review key information from conferences.

All of these forms of communication not only allow you to learn what is going on in the professional world but to network with specific individuals which could lead to a possible internship or job! This site truly can get you from knowing only certain people in your area to developing connections throughout the country and the world. The only thing you have to ask is are you willing and ready to take on the challenge of a job in an ever changing and exhilarating environment like public relations or advertising?

The Floor is Yours (Part 1)

Man talking into megaphone

I recently just signed up on a site called PROpenMic. I  heave never heard of the site but I was recommended to check it out and in doing so it has been a great tool to use! It allows you to find internships, connect with other students, and posts whats new in the industry. All of these tools can assist you in many different aspects as a undergrad or a grad student.

The site has internships posted from all over the country. Today its hard to look at a job search engine and specifically find one that specializes in public relations jobs, not to mention the types of specified jobs within the public relations field. This site breaks down the internships and jobs giving you key information like who to contact, your responsibilities and what exactly they are expecting from an intern or employee.

Students can add each other as friends and can talk to other students and build key relationships which could lead to potential internships and jobs. The best part is that this site has students from all over the world, from Florida to Australia.

Today employers are looking for skills and personality but they also want to make sure that the students coming out of school are knowledgeable about what is happening around them in the market. These articles include stories such as  business deals, social media sites and overall what is happening in the world of advertising and public relations.

I truly feel with social media and sites like this we are able to speak our mind and make a name for ourselves. To some of our peers it may be hard to get the attention of future employees but showing our drive and dedication through sites like this will get us a job. The floor is ours and its time to say why you should hire me loud and proud!

Get…Smarter

Viral videos have worked wonders for brands but what happens when you  make a video and try something new, different and also unique? It also goes viral! This past week Jennifer Aniston did a spot for SmartWater combining every type of viral video into one masterpiece.

This ad is one that required very little creative ideas and just made a mix of past viral video concepts which included  your usual sex,funny, cute, to ridiculous appeals to keep you interested. The ad targeted these concepts and made fun of other approaches that have somehow become popular.

The commercial starts with the one and only Keenan Cahill who has become an internet sensation with his lip sinking, immediately grabbing your attention.  As it continues  you can’t help but laugh and enjoy it. The video has already over five million views on youtube!

Personally I think it is a little bit uncreative but I love it! In a unique way it is brilliant, especially when she states why she is making a video that “turns into a virus.” I think the company is taking a step in the right direction and is getting there competitors such as Evian and Aquafina’s attention.  I think it was a big success overall for a market that advertises through traditional media. So has advertising for water gotten smarter?

You know You “Like” it!

A true dream took place this past month for fans of  Taco Bell. They have been accused of not using real beef but they quickly silenced the media through the use of facebook.

An Alabama law firm filed a lawsuit against the company saying that the taco beef is made up of less cow and more filling and seasonings. Once  this suit took place media outlets erupted condemning Taco Bell.

Taco Bell had a quick and swift response and used traditional media to reject the suit saying that there is more beef than the suit states.  The print and radio ads did gain some notoriety but social media did the job and silenced all the critics. Taco Bell came up with a brilliant idea and said that anyone who liked Taco Bell on facebook would receive a free beef taco from Feb. 8th to Feb. 15th.

This allowed true fans to be rewarded for there continuous loyalty and got people talking through social media to become a fan. The results were unbelievable! They gained 250,000 more fans and supposidly gave out 10 million tacos in one week. This is only one part of a large campaign to refute the lawsuit.

In my opinion this shows how powerful social media can be if implemented correctly. They reached out to there fan base, asked for help and let the fans to do the talking.  So how much do you “like” social media?

Another Trick in the Bag

One of the most important goals of advertising and public relations is to connect people to a product. In previous posts I have discussed how important this is to gaining and retaining new customers. Another way companies have used new types of media to gain attention is to make a podcast.

A podcast allows you to stream a series of video or audio files which are released through episodes and are downloaded periodically.  Podcasting is continuing to be developed but has gained a wide amount of acceptance.

Some companies that use podcasts range from big businesses and health care giants to small entrepreneurial companies. Overall it allows you to reach the masses and gain new prospective customers.  Companies love its versatility and reach.  It targets everyone, is inexpensive for the company and is convenient for the consumer.

A  benefit of podcasts are that it allows business to have customer support podcasts which allows companies to answer frequently asked questions about particular products.  It also can be more personal and they will read and reply to any e-mails or questions you may have when recording an episode.

Another benefit is that it leads to a great amount of publicity.  It allows you to speak about a particular product and why it is unique. Press releases can also be added to an online directory of podcasts which will increase attention and views. Companies can also mention product launches and increase knowledge about upcoming events.   You can also inform people of other media’s that are publicizing your company which will lead to more customers and site traffic.

The best part about podcasting is that you can have as many channels as you want. You can also use a podcast to place ads for your products.  This is ingenious and will continue to emphasize your brand. Just like any type of media you use it needs to be very creative, with podcasts the more creative you are the more listeners will continue to tune in which in turn leads to them publicizing events for you and then become a weekly viewer.