If you build it - they will come

Kevin Costner was onto something in the popular 1989 block buster film Field of Dreams. No, I’m not talking about investing in a multi-million dollar ballpark, or even spending a couple of grand on a new office building. What I’m talking about is a much simpler investment, and it’s listed at everybody’s favorite price – free! If you build a Facebook page people will “like” it; if you have a Twitter account customers will follow you. If your business is on LinkedIn people will connect with you – do you get it, or shall I continue?

Social Media is taking the business world by a storm, and if you don’t jump on the bandwagon now you will simply be left behind. Remember the good old days when business owners knew your first name, and when customers were more than just walking dollar signs? – I don’t, but I hear my parents gripe about it all the time. Really Mom and Dad, you are only aging yourself more when you start your sentences with the phrase “I remember when I was your age…” – let’s just say I’m glad you are still able to recall those timely memories.

If you are like me and have grown up in the era where “sell, sell, sell” has been the motto of every business you’ve come into contact with, and where consumer interaction has taken a back seat in businesses nationwide, than your time has come. Leading social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have proven that business people and consumers were not solely created to prove the economic theory of supply and demand. In fact, not only are we the same species, but you might even find that you have similar interests as Jim in the sales division at your local Ikea outlet.

Social media is now allowing businesses and consumers to once again interact in ways other than strictly sales transactions. Just the other day Caribou Coffee asked its fans to tell them what they were doing to beat the heat wave that kept most Midwesterners indoors thanking God for inventions like central air. Who would have thought that you could have a conversation with someone in business that didn’t involve the words buy, sell, or discount? Hey – we’re human too! My boss spent his weekend at his cabin fishing off his pontoon and drinking a couple of cold ones, how many of you can say the same? – I’m sure that’s not where the similarities stop either.

Critics of social media, aka Mom and Dad, might complain about the lost art of face-to-face interaction. The truth of the matter is business people and consumers alike don’t have time to stay physically connected with one another – heck, people have a hard time keeping in touch with their own flesh and blood without the help of sites like Facebook. These social media platforms allow businesses to, in a sense, freeze time – they are able to stay connected to their consumers when it’s convenient, and consumers have the same luxury. An added bonus is not only can you read about who is doing what, but you can see it via picture postings and video uploads.

The moral of the story here is this – if you are a business and you are not on some form of social media site than you better sit down and ask yourself, why not? People like to share, so what better way to let the consumer’s voice be heard than on the world wide web? In the case of to build a social media page for your business, or not? I choose build it – because believe me, they will come.

Ding dong, Usama(?) is dead.

May 1, 2011 marked the date of a great victory for our country as it was the day that we found out that the man responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks was killed. Facebook flooded with status’ regarding the incident, but it was not the killing of Osama that caught everyone’s attention rather FOX News’ “spelling error” when they reported “USAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD,” across television monitors nationwide.

The “spelling error” stirred up a lot of commotion, however I am here to inform you that it was not a spelling error at all. Usama is how the FBI, CIA, and many other government agencies transmit his name. So to all of you who doubted the “system," we did kill the correct man, FOX News is still a reliable source and it’s true, Americans may not be as intellectual as the rest of the world; hey, I’m no genious ;) (genius) either.

Imagine the flack FOX would have gotten if this were in fact a spelling error. 

The Applebee's apple juice nightmare... again

The Applebee’s PR staff was put to work after one of the chain’s Detroit restaurants served a15-month-old baby tequila, yikes! The restaurant claimed that the margarita mix was mislabeled as apple juice. That is one big “uh-oh” for the Applebee’s name. At first I felt bad for the restaurant because it could have happened to anyone, it just happened to be them. I also wondered how a restaurant would go about dealing with such a crisis. I’m sure there is a crisis plan set incase they ever get in trouble for serving minors, but not so much when the minor is a 15-month-old. There is no possible way they could have had a set plan to deal with something of this nature; it is such an unusual event.  However, it is allegedly the third time it has happened in five years.

So how did the restaurant chain react? Applebee’s sent out a press release apologizing for the incident, sympathizing with the family. They explained to the public that they were looking into how this could have happened, and that they were going to be retraining their workers on how to label the beverage cartons.

If this were a one-time event for Applebee’s I might cut them a little slack, but it isn’t. I think the restaurant might want to do a little more than revamping their training program for carton labeling. If this is the third incident in the past five years than they may want to start looking for a root cause to this problem, perhaps suppliers, before this crisis becomes a tragedy. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/8443478/Applebees-serves-toddler-margarita-instead-of-apple-juice.html

Beefing up your resume

By now I’m sure you’ve all realized that our economy is not exactly at its peak. Some of you, like myself, may be in school so you aren’t really worried about job-hunting yet. Others of you have been looking for employment for some time now, but your success rate has been quite low. Regardless of where you are at, this economy is not showing any sure signs of recovery in the near future, so it might be time to beef up those resumes.

If you are having a hard time finding a paid job or internship than maybe it’s time to lower your standards. Settle for an unpaid position by volunteering your time; when you do a job well, and prove to be reliable even in an unpaid position, it’s a sure way to catch the organizations eye. Sometimes you have to bend over backwards to get a foot in the door, and this is just one way to do so.

Another easy way you can extend your resume is by doing volunteer work. Not only does it show an organization you are willing to go the extra mile, but you never know who you might meet in the process; it’s a great way to network. Imagine this: You volunteer for a local church event and you end up working with a woman who owns her own PR (insert employment interest here) firm, talk about getting a foot in the door.

One last thing I’ll leave you with is something that helped me get my internship this summer. Create an online portfolio. My online portfolio serves as an extended resume and it showcases some of my schoolwork samples and resume in an attractive manner. I sent out the link to a number of employers and I got a lot of positive feedback from it.

Although times are tough economically, there are things you can do to help yourself stand out from the hundreds of other applicants vying for the same positions. Start being proactive, companies won’t just come knocking, you have got to go earn it.

LOL :) ...Facebooking habits: Don't let them set you back

Has the Facebook “poke” replaced the traditional handshake? In this day and age, it is not uncommon for people to become friends before ever actually meeting in person. This concept seems outrageous to older generations, yes, I am talking about you Mom and Dad, but Facebook has made the executive decision that virtual friendships are a o-k! For the younger generations out there, take a look at your friends list; you can’t honestly tell me you have over 1,000 friends, can you? Fear not, I am here to tell you that it’s okay.

Facebook has created an environment that allows people to introduce themselves in a more comfortable way. Isn’t it nice to be able to hold a conversation with someone and not have to worry about those awkward silences? Facebook friendships are a breakthrough for all you introverts out there. They allow you to get comfortable with people at your own pace, which arguably enhances relationships rather than hinders them. However, before you get too comfortable with Facebook it is important to remember the web habits that often coexist with social networking need to live and die on the Internet. 

From one abbreviating addict to another, it is not so impressive when you step into an interview and use words such as “perf,” or “def.” Or how about the time I said “lol” rather than literally laughing out loud. I know, not my finest moment. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had moments like these, so start Facebooking in a way that would make your English professor proud; dot your i’s and cross your t’s. If you are anything like me, which I have a hunch you might be, than you spend a decent amount of time on the web. So my challenge to you is this: practice intelligent Facebooking, and whatever other social networking sites you belong to. It is good practice; you might even call it an educational experience. 

The Not-So Top 10 PR Plays of the Semester

Public Relations has its ups and downs, just like anything in life. However, this semester there have been some disasters that had some PR representatives contemplating early retirement. It is my pleasure to bring you the “Not-So Top Ten PR Plays of the Semester.”

10. The number ten PR disaster is in regard to President Obama’s recent press conference that had people tagging it as, “the worst press conference—ever. And I don’t just mean for Obama. I mean for any president.” Luckily for President Obama he has plenty more opportunities to prove these critics wrong. I have a feeling people will forgive and forget this slip up.

9. Our next Not-So Top 10 contender is the HP scandal. Whether or not the sexual harassment allegations against Mark Hurd are true, it sure earned a lot of publicity for both HP and their CEO, or should I say former CEO. When it was all said and done, HP didn’t come out and fire Hurd, but after a nice talk and a big write-off check, Hurd willingly ended his employment with the company.

8. Coming in at number eight is The Gaps failed attempt to redesign their logo. Critics were relentless saying, “looks like something that costs $17 from an old Microsoft Word clipart gallery.” After endless criticism, Gap decided to give the new logo the boot, happily reinstating the old design.

7. The lucky number seven spot goes to the Toyota recall. After more than eight million vehicles recalled, and costs totaling in the billions, this spot is well deserved. However, I find it a little ironic that Toyota has adapted their new slogan, “Toyota keep moving forward,” seeing as forward was the only direction over 8 million people were headed.

6. BP Oil Company deservingly slides in at number six. There is not a PR professional in the world that can help BP through this one. Luckily for them, they realized their image was so far gone that they decided to face the issue head on admitting to the carelessness of the company.

5. The number five spot is awarded to the very friendly staff of the Transportation Security Administration. More and more sexual harassment cases have been arising regarding new airport security measures. If groping passengers ensures security than I guess the TSA staff is doing their job.

4. PR disaster number four is KFC’s controversial advertising technique. KFC caught the attention of feminist nationwide after using the backside of college-aged to endorse their bunless double down sandwhiches. In situations like this, one can only wonder where KFC’s PR representative was when their marketing decisions were being finalized.

3. Jet Blue flies in at the number three spot on this countdown. The airline made headlines after flight attendant Steven Slater quit his job in style. Slater announced his resignition over the plane’s loudspeaker, and then grabbed a beer before exiting the plane via the emergency chute. It’s safe to say the company didn’t have a contingency plan preparing them for a situation like this. Jet Blue may have taken a hit by this publicity stunt, but Steven Slater will go down in history as “the man” by job haters worldwide.

2. Jet Blue had no control over their PR disaster, but what excuse did Blue Waters Group and the South Bend school district have? Blue Waters Group was responsible for the South Bend school districts billboard that read, “15 best things about our pubic schools.” I guess both parties forgot to proofread the project before it appeared on State Road 23 in Florida last September.

1. The number one PR disaster of the semester goes to Ochocinco and his sexy attempt to do good. Although his intentions were charitable, his plan to raise money for Feed the Children backlashed when the number given on the back of his OchocincO’s cereal boxes was a direct line to a not-so charitable sex line.

It’s been said that all press is good press, but I’m not sure any of these contenders on “The Not-So Top 10 PR Plays of the Semester” will attest to that. 

Self-representation: a lesson in controlling the controllables

You are your biggest advocate. It’s a scary thought, but someone will always be judging everything you say and do. The good new, however, is this—you have complete control over yourself! No one can better represent you than you can, so take pride in yourself—if you don’t, than who will?

Here are some useful tips to take into consideration the next time you find yourself doubting your greatness.

First of all, dress to impress. Confidence comes easy when you look good. Whether you are interviewing for a job, meeting your girlfriend/boyfriend’s family, or simply picking up some groceries take pride in what you wear. Appearance is the easiest thing to judge.

Secondly, think before you speak. 7% of what people think of others is based off of what they say. Treat every conversation like it’s your last, this way you will chose your words wisely and with a purpose.

It’s not only about what you say, but it’s also about how you say it. Speak with energy and kindness. Nothing puts people off more than a harsh voice. You might be saying very important things, but people will tune out if your tone is too harsh.

Another important thing to remember is to be aware of your body. If you look uncomfortable than other people will become uncomfortable. Carry yourself with confidence; people will only notice your flaws if you draw attention too them, so don’t try to cover them up with an awkward pose.

One sure way of making a good impression is by becoming more personal with people. Address people by their first name. People like being singled out when they are being spoken to. It is also important to be an active listener. Don’t just listen to what a person is saying, but engage it the conversation. Ask them questions about what they are talking about. Focus in on them and make them feel important.

This last thing should go without being said, but be on time. Tardiness is annoying, and it makes the worst first impression. If you want people to respect you, than you have to respect their time and schedule. Every minute you are late is a minute they could be doing something better.

All of these things will help you market yourself a little better. It is almost impossible to please everyone, but confidence is key—as long as you are confident in yourself, than it shouldn’t matter what anyone else thinks.