Call the tabloids: I’m gonna be infamous! Ok, not really, but I did just have my first “celebrity” encounter, if you can even call him one, and it wasn’t pretty. Yesterday I visited Command PR’s Web site, the PR agency that will be featured in the new E! series, SPINdustry, produced by Kim Kardashian. The site is a neat idea: flashing lights imitating paparazzi in our faces, since they are, after all, a firm focused on celebrity publicity. Words like CREATE, STRATEGIZE and EXECUTE flash in your face, which is appropriate for a PR firm. But then, there is a short boilerplate (with a missing comma, I might add) and a link to an e-mail address should someone want more information. Absolutely zero content on the site, other than what year the firm was started. No links to previous work, no homepage, nothing.

So now, the drama unfolds. After seeing the site, I tweeted the following message: “WOW, Web site for Command PR, agency that #SPINdustry is about, is basically a boilerplate with flashing lights and a typo. www.commandpr.com.” Innocent enough, right? Giving my opinion from a PR point of view. WRONG. Little did I know that Jonathan Cheben, the owner of the firm, had nothing better to do that night than follow the #SPINdustry hashtag and leave rude comments to everyone that had something negative to say. His comment to me was “@amandaaviles1 Don’t hate, not a good look.” Other comments to “haters” included, “Get over it!” and “Then don’t watch the show!” Right off the bat, he just lost three viewers. Congrats. As a PR person, hasn’t he ever heard of the value of Word of Mouth? That little statistic that we are all taught that says for every positive thing a client/fan/viewer experiences, they will turn around and tell 3 people, but for every negative experience they will tell 30? Sure, there were only a few rude comments so far on his profile, but if he sits at his computer and is rude to every person that criticizes him in the slightest bit (heck, I planned on watching the show but am so turned off by his rudeness/immaturity that I now won’t), he is going to ruin his reputation and get his show off on the wrong foot. And as an added bonus, I was also sent rude @replies from some of his little groupie girls. Classy.

I just find it interesting that a PR person would not know how to positively promote his company and himself. Though his argument would probably be that “he doesn’t need our support and it’s not like he needs clients or money” behavior like this is just plain bad for his image. Twitter is supposed to be used to engage in conversation. Companies/organizations/people should use it to listen to what people are saying about them and learn from it, or at least ignore it. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so defensive and actually taken the fact that I took time out to look at his site to heart. If you have a comma missing, isn’t that the perfect time to correct a mistake? You would never see an organization jump down a person’s throat for complaining; instead, they rush to right their wrongs, or at least consider the comments being made. The whole situation makes this man look very rude, immature and arrogant- things that no PR person should be.

I’ll never get to look back on my last semester of college and think about the angst, nerves or rejection that students encounter when putting themselves out in the job market. I don’t have to devote my Spring Break to sending out resumes and blind cover letters to every company with the words “PR, “Marketing”, “Advertising” or “Agency” in the name, hoping for at least an acknowledgement. Why not? Because I have been fortunate enough to find an agency, interview and receive a job offer more than three months before my May 8 graduation date. 

Here’s the story

While I’ve been active in the social media world for quite some time now, it has only been in the past few months that I have really put myself out there and engaged with other PR students and practitioners, and I have already gained so much by doing so, including a job.

One afternoon, I saw that someone I follow on Twitter had retweeted a comment that @jeffmello had made, so I looked around his profile like I usually do when I see a new person pop up. I followed him, and when he thanked me for the follow, we started a conversation. As luck would have it, he had just taken on a new position with Force Marketing and happened to be looking for talent to bring on board in the new Digital Marketing department. After  sending him my resume and writing samples, we scheduled a phone interview, which led to a day trip from Tuscaloosa, AL to Alpharetta, GA for an in-person interview with Jeff and the CEO of Force Marketing.

You know how they say when something is right, you just know? Well that’s the exact feeling that I had after leaving the interview, and apparently they felt the same way. I got a call only a few hours later and was offered a post-grad position, and even some freelance work until I join the team in May. 

I will be joining Force Marketing, a full service advertising agency in the automotive industry, this May in what I consider to be my dream position. I will be brought on as in-house PR, but have endless opportunities to contribute in other ways with my new position. A follow-up companion piece will be in order once I begin and can describe my responsibilities more in depth

Why do I think this happened?

I truly believe I have Twitter, and social media in general, to thank  for this opportunity. It’s one of those situations where you’re just in the right place at the right time, and things work out for the best. 

I hope my unique experience will encourage more students to engage with other students and professionals, build up their online presences, take risks and put themselves out there. You never know when your comment on someone’s blog or a RT will peak the right person’s interest and make your job hunting experience easy, enjoyable and ending with the ideal situation: your first entry-level PR position right out of college.

When my roommate told me that to date, Americans had raised more money for Haiti than we ever did for Katrina relief, I wasn’t the least bit surprised. In my mind, this has nothing to do with compassion, severity of the disaster or lack of patriotism. In my mind, this has everything to do with social media’s increasingly important role in our society.

We’ve all heard of the “Text Haiti to 90999″ campaign, which enables the Average Joe to easily donate $10 through his phone bill, without even having to pull out a credit card. Immediately, I wonder why nothing of this caliber ever came to fruition during Katrina, or any other disaster for that matter. Of course we were technologically advanced enough “back then,” but I honestly credit social media’s reach with the impact that this campaign has made on the devastation and disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

Social media has created a platform for celebrities to not only use their fame to spread the word about their efforts and donations, but to engage and challenge their fans to do the same and get involved. In turn, the fans spread the word, and their followers do the same. It’s amazing, really- the capabilities that social media has.

The American Red Cross has clearly taken notice of this, as they have Tweeted literally hundreds of times since disaster struck. Updates, retweets, and thank you’s for donations fill the account. Furthermore, they even use Twitter as a platform to promote other social media tools, like YouTube videos and Facebook groups. 

Well guys, the proof is in the pudding. There is no denying the scope and reach of social media, and I am so proud to be entering into a field that has the capabilities to serve as a basis for raising millions of dollars for people in need.

Via @RyanSeacrest from CNN.com

While the last semester of senior year in high school is supposed to be about partying, enjoying the last months of obliviousness and getting by without doing any schoolwork for four months, the last semester of senior year of college as a PR major is a complete 180. Days are filled with reading, writing, job searching and networking.

While those of us in studying PR or in the industry know the hard work and dedication that must be put into the constant improvement of practices and skills, outsiders may not be aware. So here is a quick glance into the life of a PR senior. True, it varies from student to student and from university to university, but I’d like to think I represent the typical student in this field and share similar practices and hectic lifestyles.

 My personal PR world consists of the following, right now:

• Creating and implementing a campaign for T’town Paws, a local animal shelter who we have taken on as our client for a campaigns class,
• Researching agencies to apply to, writing cover letters and application essays, interviewing, and planning my post-grad life (sounds simple enough, right?),
• IF and when a job offer is obtained, making living arrangements for the coming months,
• Making the most of and getting the most out of my internship and UA Media Relations. I write stories for UA News for about ten hours per week. Some perks: gaining invaluable experience and buffing up on my AP Style more and more every day!
• I currently serve as a spanish tutor to a 9^th grade biology student for six hours per week. Our activities could include study skills practice, translations, homework help, etc.
• Being a contributing member to my sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. I’m not even 10 percent as involved as I was in the first one or two years of college, and I would like to devote more time to my sisters.
• Blogging! I have gotten behind on building my online presence and as one of my New Year’s resolutions, I am involving and engaging myself more on Twitter, Facebook, PROpenMic, LinkedIn and my personal blog.  Within this, there are goals like participation in Twitter chats (#PRStudChat, #JournChat, etc.) and increasing my number of connections and all over presence on LinkedIn.
• Being an active member of my school’s PRSSA chapter. This includes attending monthly meetings, planning meetings and sessions with my PRSA Mentor, Charles Bloom of the SEC, and continuing to serve on the Regional Acivity committee that I currently work on. Speaking of, chapters in the SEC area, please look into joining us in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 6 for our regional activity, The Eth-X Factor. More info can be found here.
• SCHOOL! It is a sad fact that as I list things I am involved with, school currently comes to my mind last. I still focus a majority of my attention on my classes place great importance on this education that will take me far in life. Thanks, UA

Does this workload seem similar to other students around the nation? Anything I’ve missed? Got any advice?
I would love to see some feedback and opinions from others going through the same time in their lives!

When a member of my sorority passed away in a terrible car accident last year, I was saddened by the news, and it was heartwarming to read the prayers and RIPs posted all over her Facebook wall but best friends and acquaintances alike. For the following two days, every update on my mini-feed included her name on it, but when I saw that one update was actually a status update, I was skeptical and freaked out, to say the least. Obviously, I quickly clicked into her page and saw that her status had recently been updated (no doubt by her parents or siblings) to include information about her memorial service and funeral.

According to this blog post and several others,  the Facebook Death Policy allows a deceased person’s Facebook to be “memorialized”, taking away status updates and the option to add them as a friend. So, given this information, it is clear that my Theta sister had previously given someone close to her the password to her account. Was this going to far on her parent/sibling/friend’s end to update her status? Or was it an effective use of social media to reach out to her friends and loved ones in a quick and easy way?

In my opinion, while a good idea in theory, it hits too close to home and startles people to see a deceased person’s profile being updated, and I find it a bit disrespectful. Even if the login info has been left behind, I think the best bet is to leave the profile in the memorialized state, rather than request to delete the account permanently, (another option). This way, people can pay their respects, reminisce through their pictures and remember their friend every time they think about them. 

Then we look back to some not-so-serious, yet still extreme uses of social media. First of all, how about that couple that updated their Facebook relationship statuses at the altar? Now where’s the romance in that “special day”? If Facebook is in the forfront of your mind as you look into that special someone’s eyes and run through your vows over and over in preparation for one of the biggest days of your life…. well, I just don’t know what to say. 

And what about the man that proposed over Twitter? Can his significant other really say she was speechless, astounded and teary-eyed when she looked at her @replies and saw that special message? 

Though extreme cases, this really shows the overwhelming importance of social media in some people’s lives. The romanticism and importance seems to have been ripped away from milestones like engagements, wedding days and even death, and it seems that we have social media to thank for this. 

So I’d like your input in this. Do you think social media is being inappropriately used in some cases? And how far is too far?

Really? Yes, really. On The View this morning, the ladies asked Snoop Dog (an odd guest, I’ll admit) the million dollar question that has been on the tip of every reporters’ tongue: “So what do you think of the Tiger situation?” Snoop replied very matter-of-factly that Tiger needs to get his priorities straight and realize that family is the most important, and encouraged Tiger to take himself out of temptation’s way if he wants to reconcile with his wife, stating that that is what helped him and his wife through their tough times.

Wow, Snoop, kudos. I was very impressed with his tact, encouragement  and advice he gave Tiger, rather than the jokes and taunting that the vast majority of the media seem to be throwing his way.

Here’s how I think this should have gone down. Okay okay, who am I but a lowly college student who has no experience with or aspirations for a career in celebrity publicity. I do, however, know a thing or two about PR and the media, and I definitely think this scandal could have been handled differently. 

First of all, Tiger just released his apology statement, in which he altered the wording from “transgressions” in his first apology, to infidelity in the most recent. This comes almost three weeks after his Nov. 27 accident. Rule 1 of media relations: Don’t say “No comment.” Rule 2: Act quickly, not three weeks after.

He could have easily released this statement from the beginning, causing this ordeal to come to a close much more quickly, as they would have no more dirt to try to uncover. Sure, it is no one’s business but his and the people involved, but honestly, what day and age does he live in to think that the media will respect his privacy? Did he really think he could hide this? A quick, clean, honest apology and admittance would have outed the same information within the first few days and would have been a lot less scandalous than Porn Star #11 coming forward with her recounts of their raunchy sexcapades. 

I feel that Tiger’s recent decision to approach the situation honestly, calling it infidelity and all, and to take time off from professional golf were smart choices, I just wish he would have known the media well enough to know he should do it on his own first, without enduring (and putting his family through) weeks and weeks of public scrutiny. Crisis communication should be employed at the onset of a crisis, not three weeks later when all dirty laundry is out in the public.

 

PRSA is a great thing. I know this, and I am not even a member yet. From what I have been exposed to, though, and through my experiences with the college counterpart, PRSSA, I can happily say that I look forward to being a member for many years to come. 

One of the most respectable things about PRSA is their acknowledgment that learning shouldn’t stop once you have a diploma in your hands. Through monthly meetings and guest speakers, PRSA members are afforded the chance to continue learning more about their field, and genuinely seem to enjoy it. 

Also, as a soon-to be graduate that will likely be relocating to a new city, it alleviates some stress knowing that I will quickly be able to surround myself with other professionals in the area, and hopefully even pick up a few friends. In speaking of the Alabama chapter, the practitioners and educators were all so friendly and welcoming, and seeing them interact made it obvious that they are all friends and resources for each other.

I had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the Alabama chapter last week, as I was accepting a PRSA scholarship through the mentorship program. During the announcements at the beginning of the meeting, I was introduced and called to the front to be presented with one of those enormous checks that you always want but never expect to receive.

PRSA gives practitioners the opportunity to continue learning about the field, make connections in their area, announce  job openings or job searches and bring students to experience what they will be exposed to if they choose to pursue participation in PRSA. Even after attending only one meeting, I am sure in my post-grad participation. And since PRSA allows college students to officially join the society six months prior to graduation, I am excited to join nationally and participate in whatever states’ chapter I choose to being my career in. What a great organization!

I promise not to brag, but this just goes to show the power of networking and making connections in the industry.

Today, I got a call congratulating me and informing me that I had just been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Alabama PRSA chapter’s mentor program. Needless to say, I was thrilled, and I immediately had the urge to break out into a theatrical awards show thank you speech. And then I thought of who I would thank… My PR friends who encouraged me to join PRSSA- networking. Ms. Sims, our PRSSA mentor, who has become one of the best and most encouraging advisers and teachers I have ever had- networking. Charles Bloom, my PRSA mentor who wrote me a letter of reccomendation that undoubtedly helped greatly in the decision to award the scholarship to me- networking. Catching on?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Network! Get your foot in every door you can! Meet people, keep in touch with them. Pursue opportunities, even the small ones. Every little step is a step in the right direction… So get to networking!

Ironic, eh? It sounds like it should make sense, but verbal fillers and poor speaking habits are running rampant through the halls of our communication school and PR department, and that’s a crying shame. 

No, PR is not focused on public speaking, but it does play a key role. Throughout one’s career, opportunities may arise to introuduce speakers, act as the spokesperson on behalf of your company, or most often, communicate with clients. I can tell you now, no one will take you seriously if every other word is “like”.

I know just as well as the next student that giving presentations or answering a question in front of the class can be daunting, but saying the dreaded “L” word 3 times per sentence helps you lose credibility quickly, and can make you seem unsure of what you’re saying. 

Quick tips to helping you finally break up with “Like”:

1. Play a verbal filler game with your friends or roommates. See who can speak on one topic the longest without using any “likes”, “umms” or “uhhs”. We did this exercise in my public speaking class, and until then, I had never realized how many verbal fillers I actually used. It really helps you become more aware.
2. Carefully think out what you plan to say beforehand. The more you practice in your head, the better prepared you will be. The better prepared you are, the less verbal fillers you are likely to use. Get the picture?
3. Concentrate on what you are saying, while you are saying it. If you lose your focus during your speech or sentence, you are more likely to pause, causing you to use a filler until you recapture your train of thought

This isn’t a rant, I promise! I know that in the end, skills and experience in the PR field will win out over a slur of “likes” in a presentation. But public speaking skills shouldn’t be overlooked, as the presentation you give to a potential client could make the deal. It can’t hurt to make yourself a little more aware of the way you are speaking, and eliminating a few verbal fillers will only make you look more professional and well-spoken in the long run.

While I used to believe I was ahead of (or at least caught up with) the pack on this great social media wave that we are riding, I am quickly realizing my ignorance to the ever-changing, ever-growing forms of communication.

True, I use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, PROpenMic and my personal blog.  

True, I (try to) engage with others through these tools.

True, I am reaching out to others to gain valuable resources through others’ blogs or thoughts on Twitter.

But is this enough? Should I be engaging in #chats on Twitter? RTing people that I don’t know, in hopes of networking and making “friends”? I don’t know how, and quite frankly, all the RT and # marks tend to confuse me. 

I realize that to be a proficient PR professional, it is essential to engage and even go above and beyond to learn the most about these social media tools that are becoming great assets to the field. In the next few weeks, I hope to set aside time to catch back up to the pack, figure out all there is to know about Twitter, make a LinkedIn and blog more here. I want to make sure that as my future post-graduation is quickly approaching, I am becoming as proficient and knowledgeable about this side of PR that will undoubtedly be a huge part of my career for many, many years to come. 

If anyone has any suggestions, tips, or advice for my SM journey, please feel free to contribute! Wish me luck!