Too Good To Be True?

We’re living in a tough economy these days, and companies are searching for new and innovative public relations strategies to help themselves out in any way that they can. Following this trend, Dr. Pepper announced last March that “everyone in America” would get a free Dr. Pepper if the new Guns N’ Roses album was released in 2008. It was a brilliant campaign that caught the attention of many, but it seems that it was just too good to be true. With frustrated customers and angry Guns N’ Roses band members, this public relations campaign that had so much potential has now turned Dr. Pepper into the bad guy. Check out this blog post from Jeremy Story of Story + Welch Strategic Public Relations to learn more about this public relations mishap.

Oh, Twitter

When Dr. V told my public relations class that we would have to start Twittering, I was less than thrilled. I didn’t really understand the point of saying something that your “followers” would care about in 140 characters or less. I, along with many of my classmates, struggled to come up with things to write that would be even slightly meaningful for those who have chosen to follow us. The semester is coming to a close, and I have been Twittering for a few months now. But I’m still wondering why. Even as I look at the tweets posted by the people I am following, the majority of them are equivalent to a person’s Facebook status. I am guilty of posting the same kinds of messages most of the time, but is all of this actually helping me in any way?

Quite honestly, I still don’t completely understand the world of Twitter….and I think that’s just fine. Even though I don’t always know what I should be looking for in other people’s tweets or know what I should write in my own, I think it is the experience and exposure I have obtained that will help me in the future. Some of the biggest people in social media are following me….me of all people! Even if I don’t post the most intelligent or thought provoking tweets all the time, I am still on their radar. I know how to use Twitter if an employer is ever looking for someone who is familiar with this tool. Confusion leads to questions, and questions lead to answers. Even though I am not entirely sure why Twitter is so important, I know that it is….and that is an answer that will help me out in the long run.

The Power of PR

I was recently doing some reading for my gender communication class, and I came across an intriguing statement in my textbook. In Gendered Lives, Julia T. Wood states, “Advertising is very effective in convincing us that we need products to solve problems we are unaware of until some public relations campaign persuades us that something natural about us is really unnatural and unacceptable.” That really made me wonder about some things.

Would people be so afraid of aging if the public relations efforts for products like Botox and cosmetic procedures had not pervaded our society? Would individuals be so concerned with being skinny if we were not constantly hearing about the diets celebrities are using? I understand that public relations can do great things for people and companies, and it can form mutually beneficial relationships when done correctly. However, there are still many instances where the motives are questionable. Public relations practitioners have the ability to change people’s perceptions and opinions about many things, and we can only hope that they will make use of this power responsibly.

How editors decide what’s hot and what’s not for the holiday season

As part of my public relations course, students are required to present various examples of PR. (You can read about some of mine in my previous posts.) One public relations strategy that has been mentioned several times this semester involves the different magazine spreads that talk about products ranging from the best new jeans to the must-have shoes of the season. Obviously, magazine editors do not have the time or patience to go out and look at every potential variety and choose their favorites. Instead, it is the job of public relations practitioners to get their clients into these magazines.

Ever wonder how they do it? Check out this blog post from PR Couture that provides tips for getting products into this year’s holiday gift guides. This post points out the different factors that must be considered in order to make an effective pitch. Who knew that so much careful thought and consideration goes into making lists of gift ideas?!?

“Is this PR?” – Presentation 2

Sparking controversy can lead to both good and bad PR, as was demonstrated this past Tuesday on The View. Elizabeth Hasselbeck decided to wear the McCain t-shirt that she designed on the show, and there were many viewers who were unhappy with this. The View received many complaints from angry viewers who did not feel it was acceptable for her to wear this political slogan throughout the show. However, igniting this flame has brought even more attention to the program. So should those associated with The View really have a problem with her clothing choice when it has increased interest and talk about the show?

“Is this PR?” – Presentation 1

I am on the board of directors for CLEMSONLiVE, the student programming board on campus. Part of what we do is find different musical artists and entertainers to perform around campus. We are constantly sent various informational packets – many of which no one ever looks at and they eventually end up in the trash. Recently, one was given to me that caught my attention. Instead of a traditional packet of paper, the information from this agency was in a very unique form. Attached to a lanyard were cards with photographs of each of the artists represented by Star Polish Presents, and on the backs of them were a list of their career highlights. There were also two CDs attached, which contained one or two songs from each of the artists.

I presented this example in class because I think it is a great demonstration of what effective PR should be like. The cards and CDs provide just the right amount of information for anyone who is looking to book an artist, without them having to go search for the information. The presentation is also intriguing and catches people’s attention.

Blog sites now have their own TV commercials!

 

While I was watching TV at the gym today, a commercial came on that sparked my interest. The commercial was for a new site called Sound Off South. The site came about as people from the Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina areas had difficulty finding an audience for their blogs. To solve this problem, South Off South is “gathering up links and feeds from all the blogs in the area and getting everyone together for a big ol’ jamboree.” Check it out!

McCainBlogette

 

Meghan McCain is working to give her dad, presidential candidate John McCain, some good PR as he tries to make his way into the White House. Her blog talks about her own ventures during this political campaign, and she also gives readers an inside-look at what life is like for the daughter of a presidential hopeful. Just another example of the growing popularity of blogging. Check it out!

We really do need to know how to blog!

 

While I had some free time today, I decided to do a random job search for the Charlotte area to see what is out there right now. I came across an ad posted by RSM McGladrey looking for a public relations manager. If you look under the requirements, you will see that they are looking for someone who knows how to effectively use different types of social media. This ad proves Dr. V’s point that it really is important for us to know how to use blogs and other forms of online communication.

Take a look at this: A PR Guy’s Musings

A public relations blog you may want to check out is A PR Guy’s Musings written by Stuart Bruce, the managing director of Wolfstar. He blogs in a very straightforward manner about business, politics, technology, public relations, and social media. He offers everything from skills that public relations employers look for to facts about the importance of online PR. Let me know what you think about it!