Smorgasbord of PR Thoughts

7 Blog Publishing Tips

2010-05-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

Confucius said, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” If all bloggers asked themselves these 7 questions (via Kevin Martineau’s post) before hitting the “publish” button, life would be so simple and great.

Oh, and FYI, before I published this post, I actually asked myself all of these questions. :)

Here we go:

1) Have I read the post in its entirety after finishing it?

When you were a child, do you remember connecting the dots to form a picture in your coloring book? If you do, then you know that if you didn’t connect the dots in correct numerical order, the image would look… weird. The same goes for blog posts. Reading the entire post allows you to link your own dots between your ideas and opinions to create a concrete message.

2) Have I chosen by title carefully?

There are millions of blogs out there. It is you against the millions. Therefore, you need a compelling title. Before a person even reads your introduction, all they see is your title. So, give them a reason to stick around. Let them know with your title what they are getting out of your post.

Titles with numbers (5 Simple Steps to Getting Your Business on Twitter) or that pose a question (Got Ethics?) attract readers. Also, very funny or attention-getter headlines, such as Die! Press Release! Die! Die! Die! is sure to make some heads turn.

3) Have I proofread it?

Blog posts are public; it will be read. So, you don’t want to seem unprofessional or unintelligent, do you? Proofreading is one of the many ways to avoid that stamp.

If you just really hate or have no time for proofreading, try this: Treat a blog as if it’s a paper worth 30 percent of your grade. You wouldn’t turn in an important essay without proofreading it, right? Maybe you would, but I sure wouldn’t.

4) Have I linked to one or more of my older posts?

If you have been blogging for years, you probably have some really great and insightful posts that have been acquiring dust. Linking posts allows you to let those older posts shine while also providing content for your current posts. Plus, this gives viewers the opportunity to read some of your older work. With any luck, they will rummage through more of your old stuff.

P.S. I did this in question 2.

5) Have I made sure that all my links are working?

A post titled Top 6 Ways Sexist Bigots Drive Me Crazy catches your interest. The neurons in your brain begin to stir. You start to read the introduction. The blogger is talking about the portrayal of women in the media. Then, the blogger links the post to an article listing 25 Horribly Sexist Vintage Ads. You go to click, and you are taken to an error page. You think: Just great! I am taken nowhere!

The bottom line is if you add a link, take that person somewhere.

6) Have I included a captivating image?

An image is one of the first things a reader notices. So, it should entice and draw a reader in. Perform a Web search for stock photography, and you will find websites for free or low cost photos.

7) Have I included one or more ways to engage with my readers?

You started a blog to share your thoughts; however, you should also let your readers share theirs. You can make it easy for them by posing a question or a call to action. In addition, making it debatable or controversy may attract more readers.

Remember, blogs are meant to create dialogue and provide networking opportunities. When you write, have this in mind.

Photo by Xurble

Experienced reporting: priceless

2010-05-30T13:54:00.001-07:00

Newsweek is up for sale. Why? Because people aren’t willing to pay for news anymore. And why should they? The Internet makes information accessible, instant, and free. You can subscribe to blogs, sign up for free newsletters, follow CNN and The New York Times via Twitter, and listen to complimentary podcasts. All of these resources present news at no cost. Therefore, many people are not willing to hand over a few bucks for news.

If people do not want to pay for information, what will happen to real news coverage? Will we rely on citizen journalism? My answer: While citizen journalism presents news, it can never replace experienced journalists. Real reporting takes skill− the kind that can only comes with education and practice. Aside from influencers on blogs, much of what is published from citizen journalism does not provide a real reporter’s accuracy and analysis of a story. Anyone can participate in citizen journalism. As result of that freedom and opportunity, citizen journalism often can be filled with false facts and bias.

So, why should society spend money for information that not only finds them, but can be accessed free of charge? A simple answer is because it is worth it. Staff of all news publications spend hours editing, designing, and promoting the publication to offer you current, well-written news with objectivity. They deserve your support for all their sweat and tears. When you give them that, you get exactly what you pay for.

Straight Talk

2010-05-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

Campbell Brown is resigning from her anchor position on CNN’s ‘Campbell Brown’ with dignity and integrity. She admits that she is stepping down from her position because of low ratings. She didn’t sugar coat the truth or try to blame anyone for her failure. Instead, she remained transparent about her reasons for leaving, and she did it beautifully.

Journalism constantly receives a bad rep for employing yellow journalism and spinning information. Through her statement, she defied that image. By being honest, she is directing bad press away from herself and CNN.

Brown wrote, "Shedding my own journalistic skin to try to inhabit the kind of persona that might co-exist in that line up is simply impossible for me. It is not who I am or who I want to be; nor is it who CNN asked me to be at any point."

I admire her message in these sentences, because she is saying that she will not change herself or her show in order to reach desired ratings. She stuck to her “hard-news roots” and her value in “old-school journalism.” Nowadays, news tends to be entertaining in order to appeal to a mass audience. The entertainment aspect is reached by evoking sensationalism, which is not always newsworthy (sadly). So, a show could reach high ratings, but that does not mean it is delivering quality news. With that said, since rates do not always reflect quality content, should rates have a place in journalism?

The fact that her show was cut even though she provided real news and not downgraded news for an American audience reminds me of a speech given by Christiane Amanpour. In her speech, she talked about how war reporters were risking their lives to cover events, yet those stories were cut due to gate keeping and the need to sell news to an American audience. Brown was informative and objective, but her show is going to be removed, because she wants to present news and hard facts, not entertainment news filled with bias.

In my opinion, a show that presented quality news should not be cut. The same goes for any story.

Whether rating should matter or not doesn’t change the reality that it matters more than it should. News conglomerates want to see good results for their efforts, and they want to advance and develop. Without good ratings, a news company will lose their audience and never grow. Therefore, they will do just about anything to avoid low ratings. So, while Brown’s truthfulness doesn’t surprise me, neither does her resignation. We know how it works in business− you either leave, or they will probably fire you. I am just glad that Brown made an elegant exit full of straight talk.

Photo from CNN.com

Got Ethics?

2010-05-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

There are many myths about PR professionals and PR in general, including the synonymous relationship between PR practitioner and publicist and the belief that anyone can do PR, which is partly based on the idea that majority of a PR practitioner’s work consist of writing and sending press releases. Some people even think that advertising and PR are the same. Fortunately, none of the myths are true.

Among those myths is the infamous assumption that PR professionals distort and spin the truth. While there are a few bad apples who tarnish the PR face, I have the utmost confidence that majority of upcoming, practicing, and retired PR professionals uphold to the highest ethical standards.

However, as a future PR professional, I worry about the day when I will be faced with an ethical decision. Will I make the right choice?

I stumbled upon a video on YouTube that soothed my worries. PRConversations had a chat with Peter Stanton, CEO of Stanton Communications. In the video he gave several ethics tips for new communications practitioners, which I found very helpful. Therefore, I want to share it with you. The video is below.

Before I end this blog post, I want to suggest that you follow PRConversations if you aren’t already. They regularly upload videos about current PR-related topics and news. They are another great media resource offering advice and information.

Get ready. Get set. Get professional!

2010-05-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

It is never too early to start on your career. Whether you are a college freshman with an undeclared major or a senior graduating in the next few days, being a professional now will go a long way. A connection you make at a conference may lead you to an interview at your dream job. Or a mentor’s advice may help you land an internship where you discover your true passion. Be a professional now, and you will reap the rewards in the future.

Here are 7 Ways a College Student Can Start Becoming a Professional Now by David Spinks:

1) Plant your seeds. The people you meet today could be valuable to your future, so start networking. Connect with classmates, professors, alumni, and people on social networking sites, including LinkedIn and Twitter.

2) Participate in projects. Get involved with activities and groups on campus− anything that will provide experience in your future career and impress potential employers. For example, if you love taking photographs, apply for a photographer position in a campus newspaper or magazine. Or if you enjoy animals, volunteer at a local pet shelter.

3) Attend events. Many events are free and provide you with the opportunity to meet new people face to face. If you can’t afford to attend an event, try volunteering. PRSA also offers great webinars, some of which are free!

4) Join communities. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and many other social networking sites have communities that are open to members. There are so many communities that it is not difficult to find one that caters to your interest. Maybe a discussion on a community will spark a great humanitarian idea or inspire you to join a new cause.

5) Start writing. In my opinion, writing is one of the many things we all should do in life. Professionals need a basic understanding of writing and grammar skills. Without those skills, people may doubt your expertise and view you as unprofessional. In addition, Spinks wrote, “Writing will help you learn and grow as a professional”− so true.

6) Establish mentorship. In order to build a stronger relationship with a professional, you need to maintain it. Keep in touch with him or her and sooner or later, the relationship will deepen. When that happens, don’t be afraid to request advice or to ask them to Skype with you. That is what mentors are for− to guide you through school as you develop your career.

7) Ignore me and do whatever you want. In the end, always do what is best for you no matter what people may say. Know yourself and know what works and what doesn’t. Just remember to do something. Do anything. Just do.

There you have it folks! A great post, but the only tip I will add is stay current. Keeping up with news in your field of work will help you to learn about trends as well as give you the opportunity to join the discussion. I recently published a blog post on PROpenMic about tips to help PR practitioners stay current. Those same tips can also apply to any profession. Here’s a brief rundown of the blog post:

-Subscribe to podcasts

-Subscribe to e-mail newsletters

-Follow blogs

-Use Twitter

-Learn how to use media tools

-Attend conferences

I hope this post helped! Get ready. Get set. Get professional!

Photo from Francesco Marino

Emerging social media apps

2010-05-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

First, there was Myspace. Then, Facebook followed by Twitter. Now, it’s Gowalla and Foursquare− the newest social media craze. Gowalla and Foursquare are location-based social networking sites that use GPS to allow individuals to “check in” at any location in real life. Depending on the site, members receive points or stamps when checking in as well as the opportunity to leave a message at the location, which can be posted on Facebook and Twitter. Both sites also allow users to view nearby locations.

An article by Sarah Benson from Ink briefly sums up the differences between the two sites:

Foursquare

- Lets you use the site to check in to a real-life location from anywhere, which allows you to disguise your whereabouts. But you won’t earn rewards unless you are where you say you are.

- Each location has a mayor, the person who checked in there most often.

- Collect virtual badges and points for visiting new places.

- Available for iPhone, Blackberry, Android and Palm.

- Share tips about places (ex: The margarita at Esquina in Lawrence is to die for!).

Gowalla

- Prevents you from checking into a location through the site unless you’re physically there.

- Each location has a top 10 list of users who check in there most often.

- Collect virtual stamps, pins and items for visiting new places.

- Available for iPhone, Android and Palm. Also in HTML format for Blackberry.

- Share photos and trips (ex: You could design a Kansas City barbecue tour.).

Right now, you might be thinking that these applications are Facebook and Twitter on Red Bull. But, I see many advantages to using Gowalla and Foursquare. These sites allow people to discover and learn about places. While on a trip, you could come across a restaurant that serves very cheap and delicious breakfast. Or, you could learn about a museum that’s hosting art from a favorite painter. You could even learn something new about your hometown. Maybe you’ll discover that a nearby coffee shop hosts an open mic every Thursday. The possibilities are endless.

They also present the opportunity to know which places your friends frequently visit and what they usually do at those locations. Furthermore, imagine the opportunities for businesses. If people are constantly checking in at a certain location and leaving positive feedback, people who search for that location are given an incentive to check out the site. Wouldn’t you want to go to a certain bakery or comedy club if many people are raving about it?

Therefore, a location-based social networking site may be another social media tool that companies could begin to use. It’ll also be another way for companies to track their social media success.

Companies can get very creative with location-based social networking applications. They could offer coupons and discounts to frequent visitors. They could also exchange items or points collected on Gowalla or Foursquare for a real product or service. They could get their spokesperson to check in at a certain location in order to promote a product, service, or event. They could create a contest based on points or items collected. I can think of so many other ways for businesses to use a location-based social networking site as a marketing tool. What creative marketing tactics can you think of?

How to track social media success

2010-05-09T22:30:00.000-07:00

I recently commented on a post by Spencer Kollas titled Social media marketing in 10 minutes a day. The article highlighted the importance for businesses to dedicate a few minutes daily to social networking efforts. Although many companies find themselves unable to maintain a social media presence due to lack of time, he believes that spending at least 10 minutes every day managing social media sites could generate revenue and lead to additional partnerships. While this is possible, I do not consider social media as an essential tool for all marketing campaigns. It’s an effective tool, but it is just another method among the many used to reach an audience. The decision to use social media depends on the organization’s mission and goal. In addition, there is really no reason for an organization to employ social media if it does not generate desired results. Companies should determine social networking success and decide if those numbers match up with their objective(s).

Java Social Networking published a post called Tracking Success with Social Networking. They provided four key ways to help companies observe their social media endeavors.

Google Analytics

The program allows individuals to track website traffic and marketing effectiveness. It is a great tool to help companies analyze data, which can be used to develop stronger marketing tactics. Set up an account via this website.

Here are a few tips from Java Social Networking:

"If you are using a program like WordPress or Drupal to manage your blog or website, there are plugins and modules available to make this process even easier.

Once you're set up, you can access your Analytics account to view "referral sources" such as Twitter, Facebook, Google, etc. You can also see how many visitors came from each source and which keywords were used to find your website."

Below is an interface tutorial for beginners:

Twitter Management Tools

There are many applications besides Twitter to help businesses manage Twitter accounts. I found a blog post by Jennifer Van Grove that provides options in categories including desktop, mobile, and semi-professional for maintaining Twitter profiles.

Coupon Codes and Twitter Incentives

Companies are starting to use social media to offer coupons to customers, which can also steer customers to their website. For example, a business could announce via Twitter or Facebook that the first 100 customers to purchase a certain product will receive a 30% discount. If a high amount of customers respond to the coupon, then that can be determined as a successful social networking tactic.

Ask Your Customers

Sometimes the most effective way to determine the usefulness of social networking efforts is to ask your customers.

Many customers may not be following a business via a social media site. Therefore, they may visit other places, such as a website or the location where the product or service is provided.

Java Social Networking offered suggestions that can be used to elicit customer response:

- If you’re an online store, include the “Where did you hear about us?” question in your order form.

- If you’re a retail store, leave a “Thanks for following us on Twitter! Let us follow you back” sign on your counter and see how many customers will leave you their Twitter name.

There are many other ways to obtain customer response. There are also many other methods that can be used to determine success with social networking. It all depends on what techniques fit best with the company and what information the company wants or needs.

Services for post-dating Twitter updates

2010-05-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered that Twitter updates could be pre-scheduled. Hardcore social media users must be shaking their heads by now, thinking “that is such old news.” Okay, so I am a little behind. I’m just glad I discovered this jewel.

A few of my friends suggested several free services, including SocialOomph, CoTwee t, and Later Bro. But, none of those made the cut.

My top three favorites are as follows:

1) TwAitter

Besides its post-dating feature for tweets, this service allows users to repeatedly post tweets from a daily to yearly basis (why anyone would want to post the same message daily beats me.) TwAitter also offers a great calendar tool and built-in URL shortener. I found the URL shortener most useful, because I am constantly posting PR-related information from other sources. A built-in URL shortener eliminates the hassle of opening another window and copying and pasting URLs. It saves time and characters. Other awesome TwAitter aspects are the ability to establish a business or personal account as well as save and edit tweet drafts. Additional features include:

- Time zone menu

- Automatic RSS feed

- Language translator

- Use of multiple Twitter accounts

FYI: TwAitter will soon offer pre-scheduled updates in masses. Yay!

2) HootSuite

This service offers all the same features as TwAitter except reoccurring updates and a language translator; however, it does contain many other capabilities, such as Ping.fm and WordPress integration and embedded columns.

3) FutureTweets

FutureTweets offers options, including icon insertion and the ability to send tweets upside-down. While FutureTweets presents services that others don’t offer, there are disadvantages to using their service. Recently, they disabled recurring capabilities, because it violated Twitter’s Terms of Service. They also don’t provide a URL shortener. But, there are two great aspects about their service: 1) OpenID sign in and 2) tweets can appear as if they are from Twitter instead via a pre-scheduling service.

Mixed messages

2010-05-02T23:02:00.000-07:00

As a Millennial, I think ambiguity exists in the Gen Y image. Corporate America says we’re unmotivated and yet, when we pitch an idea to our boss, they say we have little tolerance for protocol or authority. They say we’re overambitious, then accuse us of being whiners when faced with a challenge. Moreover, they say we expect too much feedback; however, according to a blog post by Bill Sledzick titled Dear Millennials: Your parents lied to you, we can’t take criticism. Confused yet? I sure am.

In actuality, I think most of us appreciate criticism. Millennials want to improve themselves today, so they can get where they want in the future. People say we’re very driven. Therefore, wouldn’t we be grateful for the criticism if it will help us in the long run? In addition, Millennials were given years of praises from their parents as well as myriads of opportunities to collect “trophies,” from AP courses in high school to several impressive club positions and awards. All those praises and “trophies” gave us the motivation needed to handle any challenge. After all, we motivated ourselves in order to gain those “trophies".

Sledzick says many of us fold under a challenge. I disagree. From a Gen Y perspective, we are driven by a person who challenges us accordingly AND who believes we can be successful. I think if Sledzick were to trust in our motivation instead of stereotyping us, more Millennials would rise to his challenge.

However, I don’t disagree with the assumptions about Millennials. Some are lazy. Some have really big egos and think they are above average. Some need a serious reality check. The problem, though, is not realizing that all Millennials are different. Stop categorizing us and stop thinking we are all the same.

Carolyn Douglas wrote an article titled Motivating Gen Y. Her study indicates Gen Y’s top wishes in the job market are as follows:

Work/life balance

To be heard and valued

Regular recognition

Work in a fun atmosphere

Motivated by challenge and a collaborative environment

First off, regardless of generation, who wouldn’t want any of those wishes? Secondly, her post is an example of the wrong mentality that people have about Gen Y. Although those points are desirable, my first wish is to find a job I love that provides financial stability. She doesn’t mention any of those wishes in her list. My point is don’t group us into one image. Don’t assume that we all act the same or share the same goals in life. Treat each one of us differently and get to know what we really want.

Robot journalist

2010-05-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

How long does it take to be a journalist? For a human, years of education and experience. For a robot, as soon as it’s powered. According to Singularity Hub, a robot developed by the Intelligent Systems Informatics Lab at Tokyo University uses anomaly detection to create news stories. It also can take photographs, publish articles on the Internet, perform Internet searches, and interview subjects. Then, based on the gathered data, it determines if the content is newsworthy.

While this robot is the first of its kind, automated journalism is not new. Researchers in the Intelligent Informations Lab at Northwestern University developed an algorithm called Stats Monkey. The software analyzes scores and historical data to write sports stories.

Northwestern University also produced a more advance software called News At Seven. According to their website, "News At Seven is a system that automatically generates a virtual news show. Totally autonomous, it collects, parses, edits and organizes news stories and then passes the formatted content to artificial anchors for presentation.”

Although the thought of a robot interviewing a person for an article creeps me out, robot journalist can be valuable. "Robot journalists can go to areas too dangerous for human reporters," said Aaron Saenz, a writer for Singularity Hub.

Okay, so robots can be useful. But, it sounds like robots could one day threaten jobs in the reporting field.

Lucky for me, I am in interested in PR work. In my opinion, robots could never succeed in the PR industry. Here's why:

When a PR practitioner attempts to influence behavior, he or she doesn't use a program to develop strategies and tactics. A plan requires critical thinking. Sure, a robot can apply critical thinking, but to an extent. Without human behavior, a robot can never connect with constituents and maintain relationships. For example, human behavior is influenced by a myriad of aspects, including culture and religion. A robot cannot truly understand culture and religion, because it is programmed to act, think, and gather information in a certain way. The way humans act, think, and gather information is not linear. Behavior is complex and cannot be condensed into a program that is inserted into a machine. Without a real understanding of the aspects that affect human behavior, how is a robot expected to influence an audience?

The question is, of course, rhetorical. My job is safe. Whew!

Resume Etiquette

2010-04-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

Employers judge you before they meet you. They look at your resume and cover letter to determine if you are suitable for the available position. Therefore, the impression you create with a resume and cover letter is critical, because it is the first step towards landing a job. In my opinion, it is the most important. Employers won't grant you a minute of their time if your resume and cover letter display unprofessional behavior. Don't freak out, though. There are ways to avoid leaving the wrong impression.

Here are 13 Ways Your Resume Can Say 'I'm Unprofessional' by Marc Cenedella:

1. Random/cute/shared e-mail accounts

2. Failure to proofread

3. Including photos

4. Unprofessional voicemail

5. Using lazy words including 'etc.' and 'same as above'

6. Cookie-cutter resumes

7. Resume exceeds two pages

8. Listing a spouse as a reference

9. Not spelling out the name of an employer or school

10. Not providing a city or state for an employer or school

11. Omitting the area code from a phone number for a reference or employer

12. Providing only a first name for a supervisor or reference

13. Including phone numbers that are no longer in service for references or employers

Cenedella's list hits all the common resume mistakes. However, it doesn't hurt to add to the list. Below are my contributions to Cenedella's tips.

1. Pay attention to typography- First, fonts should be either 11 or 12 points. Never go lower or higher unless for the header and section titles. Second, don't use fonts that are difficult to read. Good choices are Times New Roman and Arial. Lastly, maintain one font throughout the resume.

2. Do not include hobbies- Only supply information relevant to the job. The information you provide should show your value to the organization or company. So, unless your hobbies add to your experiences and achievements, do not insert them in your resume. Employers want to see skills, not unrelated hobbies.

3. Avoid intricate designs- Resumes should never contain fancy designs or colored background. But, it is acceptable to use a border and shading. Keep it formal and the employer will thank you for one less headache.

4. Avoid redundancy- Using pronouns such as "I" or "me" are not needed. Employers already know your resume is about you. Furthermore, statements including "available for interview" or "references upon request" are a given. Employers expect you to be available for an interview or to present references if inquired.

5. Unprofessional ring-back tones- The rule for voicemail applies to ring-back tones. So, using Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-Lot as your ring-back tone would not be a good idea.

6. Never use slang- Nothing says “I'm unprofessional” like a cover letter that begins with "what's up" and ends with "laters." Don't use slang in any business document.

7. But, do use action verbs- Write in a way that shows your intelligence, professionalism, and expertise. After all, you are writing for an employer in a mid to high-level position. Action verbs are a perfect way to prevent weak wording and to get your message across to the employer. Visit this site for a list of action words.

Case study: Marriott Hotel and social media

2010-04-20T17:16:00.000-07:00

I often notice that companies are in a rush to have their foot in social media without proper knowledge of how to utilize it to create a successful social media presence. Companies need to understand that a social media strategy is essential.

Marriott Hotel is a perfect example of a billion-dollar company that employs social media correctly.

Blogs

Chairman and CEO of Marriott International Bill Marriott recently published a blog introducing an advance telepresence called GoThere Virtual Meetings. The technology allows small groups of people to host conference calls in their hotels. People were skeptical about the new technology, because it may discourage travel. In response, he wrote, “What we heard from some of our customers is if we offered telepresence, they would actually hold more small meetings of typically fewer than 6 people at our hotels. These would be meetings conducted on less productive conference calls or meetings that might never have happened at all.”

His reply illustrates Marriott’s active role in listening to guests. By taking advice from guests, current and potential customers will have a more memorable and enjoyable experience at their hotel. Blogging is a way for Marriott to show their proactive stance to cater to their guests as well as network with people who are writing and creating dialogue about Marriott.

They even established a blog by their Executive Chef and other particular hotels, including Renaissance and Courtyard. These blogs give insight into employees and hotels that offer a different experience than regular Marriott hotels. By establishing a variety of blogs, they are attracting a diverse group of bloggers, readers, and guests. Blogs allow others to see the company in various angles and in other places of the world.

Twitter

Marriott uses Twitter seamlessly. They reply to potential and current customers, creating a push and pull relationship. They can discover guests having a bad experience in their hotel, giving them the opportunity to fix the problem before individuals leave. This is extremely important because by catching guest complaints, they are eradicating a problem that could become a crisis. They also reply to individuals searching for discounts and package deals. Directly replying to each individual displays a helpful and supportive attitude, which always goes a long way in customer service.

The Marriott is committed to protecting the environment. They use social media to show this dedication by maintaining a Twitter account solely for environment-related updates. Their involvement to save the planet reveals their ability to respond to sensitive and central world issues. This profile allows them to publicize information that their guests and potential customers would never have known, such as the ways they have gone green.

YouTube

Print media is declining; that is not new. On the other hand, television news remains stable because of its ability to quickly relay information that is visually appealing. Therefore, it is no surprise that Marriott has a YouTube account offering Marriott news. A Marriott news channel attracts an audience who doesn’t have time to read and prefer subscription updates.

YouTube is almost like Google. People use YouTube to find information and/or for entertainment. The Marriott has a second YouTube page dedicated to those two aspects. Through this channel, they can share information to their subscribers on a regular basis. This channel is great, because it compliments all other social media networks. For example, they produced videos about telepresence and presented a green tour of Marriott International Headquarters. Connecting news and stories across social media channels are important, because all platforms should support each other. In my opinion, this is a major reason the Marriott performs well in terms of social media. They’ve implemented a strategy that creates interaction and builds relationships across all media platforms.

I Remember…

2010-04-13T23:37:00.000-07:00

I found my passion for public relations during my ninth grade of high school. At that time, I had little understanding of what PR really was. All I knew was that I found its broad application into any field intriguing. I think that’s what really drew me to the PR field. I could do anything with PR. I could be like a butterfly and fly until I found the right leaf.

Ever since that moment, I’ve been on a PR path. Currently, I am a junior majoring in PR at the University of Oregon. I am interested in international or community development. Other attractive fields are public affairs for the Army and sports PR.

Anyway, enough about me. Let me tell you why I am blogging.

Once again, I am attempting to start a blog. But this time, I am required to blog in order to receive a grade. This is a positive thing. I have the opportunity to regularly share my thoughts and generate dialogue with networks of similar interests. Moreover, it means I won’t turn into a blogcrastinator, which is the primary reason my past blogs failed. Maybe this time I will continue blogging after I finish the course. After all, third time's the charm.