What Social Media CAN'T Do.

Since social media is so new, everyone is trying to find out the best ways of using it as well as how to avoid misusing it. Some companies are avoiding it entirely. Others are simply trying to understand what it means and what it can do. But, are there incorrect ways of utilizing social media?

Here are Ten Things Social Media Can't Do.

I think this article from Ad Age is a really good discussion of what people are doing with social media these days. Because some organizations (and individuals for that matter) don't understand how to use social media quite yet, this article explains that even though it is fairly easy to use, social media can be abused. I also think that some people don't know what to think of social media because there aren't set guidelines or instructions on how to use it. Certain people are trying to establish themselves as "social media experts," but social media isn't like history where scholars can become experts quite yet. It's still a developing phenomenon.

Mary Pintozzi Post 2

Thinking back to my summer internship, I realized how much goes into the PR work field. I worked in the Marketing and Public Relations department of Centegra Health System. There is so much that goes into the public relations field that I had no idea about. The head of the Public Relations department had so much to do! She had to make sure the the two hospitals were being shown in a "good light" throughout the community. Centegra Health System has such a big presence throughout the northern Illinois area. Kim, the head of PR, made sure that she sent out many Press Releases to the newspapers about new technology, new doctors, and anything that would help out Centegra. There were also events that needed to be told about. Kim is someone who I would love to be just like when I grow up.

Internships: The Starting Point

Internships: we all here about the importance of having an internship when we are in college. In some cases, internships are a graduation requirement, like in the Marquette Diederich College of Communications, in other cases internships are just strongly suggested in order to get an upper hand in the job search upon graduation. Regardless of the reason why you apply for an internship position, the bottom line is that internships are the starting point in your professional career, and the lessons that you learn and the experiences that you encounter will be the basis for your future career.I am currently hunting for an internship in the Public Relations field. When I first began to look, I really had no idea where to begin. At first I was overwhelmed by the idea of finding an internship on my own; however, after talking with a few people who were also looking to apply for an internship, I discovered that the Marquette University website acts as a guide to a number of companies looking for someone to fulfill a spot. The requirements to fulfill the position are listed on the page, as well as a link to read about the company—the origin of your future is literally a click (and an application) away.

PR Writing class at Marquette University: November 9, 1989...

PR Writing class at Marquette University: November 9, 1989...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/09/world/europe/20091109-berlinwallthennow.html

Social networking has allowed manufacturers to improve on customer service by providing a sense of intimacy with their consumers. Traditional forms of customer service like an answering service or email service have been helpful in tracking issues that consumers are experiencing, however a more efficient way to solve these issues is to see live conversations and deal with issues by posting a resolution for all consumers to see. Social networking has allowed for a new type of intimacy to develop. . Manufacturers now have the ability to see what their customers think about their products or services. In past decades it has taken the manufacturer weeks, if not months to gather data regarding their customer’s feelings. Social Networking and the advances in technology have now made it possible for manufacturers to better understand their customer’s wants and needs.

Microsoft is an example of how social networks have helped improve customer intimacy. Microsoft’s involvement began when the company wanted to get their customer’s input on Windows Vista. Microsoft looked to the conversations their consumers were engaging in on social networking sites. They were able to see the frustration and issues their product was creating for users. Microsoft gathered that information and sent the data to their programming department. The programmers were able to pinpoint the major issues and improve their next version, Windows 7.

Social networks now play a key role in developing and strengthening customer intimacy between companies and their consumers. It is important for manufacturers to embrace social networks, and make it a priority to be involved in the conversation.

My Use of Twitter this Weekend and Other Things

This weekend, the organization I am working for our PR Writing Project held is largest event of the year, its fashion show. This year I wanted to implement something new, something that would allow for a greater audience and something that would allow a lot of interactivity, and my answer was Twitter. So for the show, I used our Twitter account to give updates of the happenings of the show, and used Twitter to provide links to photos that I posted online so that I someone who was not at the show and wanted to be there, could at least see what was happening. I thought my Twitter experiment was successful but could use some work. For the success part, I did get tweets throughout the show, ranging from asking questions to compliments of the production. As in Twitter fashion I would respond promptly to them. In addition, our charity, The Wisconsin Humane Society was a follower of my Twitter account and re-tweeted everything that I posted. In terms of what I would change is that I would have liked a lot more follower. I was not given control of the account till about two weeks before the show, and they had their Twitter account sent to private and that they had to accept you as follower. When I was given control there were about 20 people who were waiting to be accepted as a follower.

On another note, there was a death in the Marquette Community this weekend. Since last week, we talked a lot about crisis communication, I think this would be an example of such. How do you think Marquette has been handling the event?

Using Social Networking in the Job Search

As nearly all of us are probably overwhelmed with the future, in terms of where we are going to find jobs, while satisfying our likes, and also being happy with what we are doing with our lives, this random article on CNN Money, seemed to suggest yet another avenue for completing these difficult tasks. The author offers social networking tools, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as possible sources to extend our personal marketability to employers. Even though I tend to be a bit cynical toward social networking, which many already know, I found this article to be helpful because I am currently finding that even searching for internships can be a long and daunting task. I can’t imagine what it will be like when I actually have to start looking for a full-time job in less than a year.
The article lists a few ways to assist job-seekers en route to landing a steady job. They go as follows:
1. Follow businesses that you may be interested to work for on Facebook, by searching out business groups and keeping up to date on the group discussion boards that several businesses have now adopted. These boards give relevant information on the status of the company, list the recent conferences and meetings occurring in the company and network you with the professionals inside the company.
2. Instead of using Twitter as another tool like Facebook statuses, use your 140 characters to express a job interest, without sounding desperate. Brad and Debra Schepp, the couple who authored the book "How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Other Social Networks," suggested that your relevant followers on Twitter will then be aware of what you’re looking for and may be able to connect with you an opening that they know of. Brad Schepp also recommended that like Facebook, you should try to follow the companies you are interested in so that you can keep up with their activities and job openings, if any.
3. Lastly, LinkedIn, possibly the most underscored social networking tool between the three, can also give you a step forward with the job search. Schepp said that you should try to complete your profile with three recommendations from past or current employers, express your goals with pizzazz and personality and don’t try to amass as many contacts as you can; rather, network with people who you foresee having an impact on your future. Schepp also recommends that you treat LinkedIn, much like a business lunch, where you don’t loudly express your need for a job, but instead you say what you can politely and unobtrusively.
Many of us may already be utilizing these tools to make finding a job a simpler task. As much as I do not like to admit it, it is important to represent yourself well on social networking sites because employers are starting to use these more expansively when searching for competent and fitting employees.
If you visit this website, you can also check out what CNN labels the jobs that are the most stressful and pay the least. It also names the top-paying jobs as well as the markets that are growing the fastest- all good to know as we continue to get closer to college graduation. Are you ready?

The Ethics of Twitter

Twitter is seen by many as the next big advance in public relations and marketing - it allows you to direct a message at specific individuals, carry out conversations from miles away, provide links designed to sell products or offer information, and retweet interesting websites or thoughts those you are following post.

Yet with the recent advent of social media as a whole, and specifically Twitter in 2006, the jury is still out on the ethics of such social networking and sharing sites.

For instance, was the tweeting by Hartford Courant football writer Desmond Conner (@desmondconner) at the funeral services of slain player Jasper Howard in October ethical? And on a smaller scale, what about the tweeting via text message by Marquette student and Tribune editor Sarah Milnar (@smilnar) during a memorial service for freshman Andrew Siebenaler, who died Saturday night in McCormick Hall?

These journalists were attempting to share updates not all would be aware of, but could be entitled to. And if if were not these seasoned writers posting, couldn't another person just as easily disseminate the updates via their own Twitter accounts. Personally, I would rather learn that Howard's mother was being strong and comforting his former teammates from a trusted journalist than from Joe Schmo's Twitter post - it adds a sense of legitimacy to the update.

In my opinion, Twitter is a great way of dispersing the news to a very specific group of followers, who follow the account by choice. While I believe neither Conner or Milnar were unethical in their Twitter activity during these services, it is important discover and maintain where a line might lie. Arguably, the funeral of Howard was viewable on streaming video online, and the memorial service was open to all in the Marquette community.

If using social media to share updates at these events is acceptable, when would it not be? The online journalism community needs to establish an updated code of ethics, much like those created and held by PRSA and SPJ, to take into account the advanced in technology and sites like Twitter.