Best Practices for Blogging

• Blog about something you like. The more interested and passionate you are about what you are writing about, the more successful your blog will be.

• Be active. Send your blog posts out to other social networking sites, put links to your blog into your online profiles, keep up with and comment on other people’s blogs, try to connect with other bloggers interested in the same topics, and respond to others in a timely manner.

• Integrate the blogging community. Link back to other blog posts, get to know bloggers who write about the same subject matter, be aware of who is reading your blog and make certain to address issues of concern to them, and maybe even let more than one person write for the blog.

• Be interesting. Make it clear to people what you are writing about, consider your blog a selling strategy, and integrate different forms of media.

Lessons From PR History

 

Knowing about the history of public relations, or any profession for that matter, makes one more informed to participate in that area. The text talked about how Theodore Roosevelt took the initiative to create ties with reporters and made conscious efforts to influence what would be considered news. This demonstrated how clever PR tactics throughout history have had the ability to make or break someone who is a public figure, even before it was formally referred to as public relations. Another interesting example was the instance where Ralph Nader worked to change how GM operated. This incident provided proof that the previous one-way communication concept of PR was changing and that people did have the growing power to influence businesses and government organizations. We learn from the past experiences of others to see what worked and what did not.

PR history also teaches us how the profession got to the point that it is at today. By understanding why public relations came about and how attitudes about it have changed over time, one can have a better understanding of the importance of public relations and how it should ideally be carried out in an attempt to keep the peace while maintaining ethical standards. The realm of public relations was developed because public opinion became important, and public relations has stood the test of time because public opinion is an issue that has maintained its significance and influence.

Skills Needed in Public Relations

 

Before I went looking for PR job ads, I knew I would find a lot with the usual list of skills needed. Being able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, having experience with basic computer programs, and being organized are qualifications for many jobs out there. However, reading about the necessary skills for a job in public relations revealed just how demanding this profession can be.

Some of the skills that stuck out to me included:

• Be self-motivated to complete tasks
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships
• Proactive approach to the job
• Ability to be an active team-player
• Be comfortable in a fast-paced environment
• Possess strong problem solving skills

Looking at job ads made it very evident that working in public relations is tough work. Individuals must possess excellent communication skills, meet strict deadlines, often work without much supervision, and do it all while remaining composed in a fast-paced industry. I do think that I possess a lot of the skills that PR employers are looking for. I’m very good at motivating myself to get things done in a timely manner. I am also skilled at working well with others in the workplace. At my internship this past summer, there were three event interns and we worked on almost every project together. It takes a little getting used to at first, but it turned out to be a good learning experience. There are also some skills that I could improve on. I can always work at advancing my problem solving abilities, and I think that it would take some time for me to get adjusted to working in such a fast-paced industry.

Preparation is key to being successful in the dynamic PR world, and I think that this class will definitely make me more prepared for such situations if I choose to go into the realm of public relations. My past internships taught me a lot about getting ready to go out into the workplace, and I am quite sure that my initial jobs after graduation will teach me much more as well. I think that I will benefit the most through any real world experience that I get. By keeping up with what is going on in PR and what potential employers are seeking as well, I think that I can keep myself informed and make improvements that will make me a qualified candidate.