What Did I learn ???????

I learned that Public relations (PR) is a way for companies, organizations or people to enhance their reputations. This task typically is performed by public relations professionals or PR firms on behalf of their clients and that PR usually involves communicating with the media and through the media to present the clients in the most favorable way possible. It also often involves cooperative efforts with other people and organizations to create good will within the community and enhance the client’s image. The business world is extremely competitive. I also learned that companies typically want to have something that makes them stand out from the crowd, something that makes them more appealing and interesting to both members of the public and the media. A favorable image can help increase a company’s sales, and negative publicity can damage a company’s reputation and decrease sales. PR can give consumers and the media a better understanding of how a company works. Within a company, a PR department might also be called a public information department or a customer relations department. These departments assist customers if they have any problems with the company. They usually try to show the company at its best. PR people also might conduct research to learn how satisfied customers are with the company and its products. There are many tools and methods that a public relations people can use to enhance a company’s image.

The tools that have been traditionally used include news releases and announcements that are sent to the media, newsletters that are sent to customers and appearances at public events, such as trade shows or conventions. With the proliferation of the Internet, PR departments now can also use tools such as blogs and social media networks to accomplish their goals.He or she must have the ability to answer a barrage of questions from the media and members of the public, if necessary. If a company comes under a verbal attack, it is the PR department that must take control of the situation. The PR department must effectively respond to the criticism to protect the company’s reputation.

Thanks you Mullen

Jonathan Cohen via compfight

What is public relations measurement and evaluation?

Basically, it is any and all research designed to determine the relative effectiveness or value of what is done in public relations. In the short-term, PR measurement and evaluation involves assessing the success or failure of specific PR programs, strategies, activities or tactics by measuring the outputs, outtakes and/or outcomes of those programs against a predetermined set of objectives. In the long-term, PR measurement and evaluation involves assessing the success or failure of much broader PR efforts that have as their aim seeking to improve and enhance the relationships that organizations maintain with key constituents More specifically, PR measurement is a way of giving a result a precise dimension, generally by comparison to some standard or baseline and usually is done in a quantifiable or numerical manner. That is, when we measure outputs, outtakes and outcomes, we usually come up with a precise measure — a number; for example, 1,000 brochures distributed 60,000 hits on a website 50% message recall … an 80% increase in awareness levels, etc. PR evaluation determines the value or importance of a PR program or effort, usually through appraisal or comparison with a predetermined set of organization goals and objectives. PR evaluation is somewhat more subjective in nature, or softer, than PR measurement, involving a greater amount of interpretation and judgment calls. Interest in public relations measurement and evaluation has surged in recent years, as the public relations field has grown in size and sophistication, and as those who practice in the field have found themselves more often than ever being asked to be accountable for what they do. Those who supervise or manage an organization’s total communications activities are increasingly asking themselves, their staff members, their agencies and consulting firms, and their research suppliers questions such as these:

— Will those public relations and/or advertising efforts that we initiate actually have an

effect?  

— Will the communications activities we implement actually change what people?

Know, what they think and feel, and how they actually act?

— What is the impact?

questions such as these have increased in number in recent years, many public relations

This guidebook, which has been revised and edited under the auspices of the Institute for Public Relations Commission on PR Measurement and Evaluation, seeks to set minimum standards when it comes to measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of specific short-term PR programs, strategies, activities and tactics against per-determined outputs, outtakes and outcomes. Those interested in measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of PR efforts aimed at enhancing the long-term relationships that exist between an organization and its key constituents should consult the companion guidebook, “Guidelines for Measuring Relationships in Public Relations.” (www.instituteforpr.com)

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Mickey D’s Crisis

There is one company that stuck out to me it is McDonald’s with the coffee incident where people were getting burned with coffee and they would sue them for the burned that they receive from the coffee. This was a crisis in Mickey D’s eyes and they figured it out fast but first they had to figure out the problem and how to fix it they went through a there are 3 phases in any Crisis situation

1. The diagnosis of the impending trouble or the danger signals.
2.  Choosing appropriate Turnaround Strategy.
3.   Implementation of the change process and its monitoring.

First one is to diagnosis the problem which was the burning of hand and chest when people were drinking the coffee and how it was being caused. After that they would have to make contingency planning which is there turnaround strategy so they can bounce back from this because they were losing allot of money during this time. They figured out how not to be sued they put labels on the coffee cup say warn coffee is very hot caution so they warn the person before they drink the coffee. now they are monitoring the issue just in case something happens again with coffee and there has not been any problems since then.

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Bloging for Dummies

 

There are many steps on have an effective blog there seven really steps to have a really good blog and so that people can easily navigate through it and get the point of your blog. One of the first steps is to position you as a professional when people are looking for a product or service, oftentimes they will first look for information about the subject on the Internet. In general, blogging is about having conversations in a public space that position you as a subject matter expert.  Second thing is to Share experiences and information. Social blogging is often used to share experiences in addition to business ideas and concepts. Always seek unique opportunities to share your ideas and offerings with not only your readers, but their associates as well, which will eventually bring in more prospects. Announce upcoming events, awards, and other news. But do it in a conversational tone. Third you must Keep it fresh and mix it up. Frequent one note updates can be a major turn off for say Facebook fans, while Twitter followers are more accustomed to frequent posts. Try to mix it up. Spark up conversation with the help of images and videos. Marketing experts suggest businesses update their audiences on a regular basis but only if there’s something new, informative and interesting to say. Encourage interaction and feedback. Your blog can benefit from valuable feedback through comments and suggestions. Do a call for action in your posts. Make it easy for your readers to share posts. Encourage them to share tips and personal experiences with using your products or services. Just make sure you are on hand to respond to any comments. Make your blog the central hub. Have your blog serve as the central location for where you make announcements. Link back to your website. Make sure everything you do is somehow tied back in to your sources website. Use a personal touch. Having your personal touch post updates can help revolutionize how your blog look and sound it sound more human.

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# Mistakes

Twitter

has not been around that long and it seems like every one is using it, even companies. I find that companies have been very successful with Twitter to promote their service and or product but there is an occasional mistake. For example when Celeb Boutique said that Aurora is trending, clearly about our Kim K inspired Aurora dress 😉 shop. I think it was a an accident but other feel like it was putting salt on the wound but people make mistake it not like a machine is typing these but people do make mistake it happens. Even though there should have been on top of his game he just did not do his research and shit happens. The only way they can fix that was to apologize for their mistake.  I would of done the same thing in their shoes I would of let go of the person who wrote it and said I we are very sorry for this comment. Maybe they could of done some more research before making a comment like that but like a I said shit happens.

 

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Press Releases

Social media has changed the way people communicate around the world. It led to political revolution and even created a pop culture phenomenon. Businesses scramble to try to figure out how to communicate will the new audience with social media. A market tool they use is call a press release this has become a vital tool and more important to promote companies. Press releases can do many for a company. They can announce a new product or a service which means that you can draft a press release immediately get your news found on all major search engines. They can improve brand image, they can also help drive images interest, Have instant world-wide distribution of the product you are selling. They can expand public knowledge. There is so many viral possibilities with online press releases can be viral with a press of a button sharing with people through social media networks like Facebook, and Myspace. They very portability and convenience for people you can accesses them anywhere in the web. There are one general guide line out there

1.  Press contact information (i.e. who the media should call with questions or interview requests).
2. Release date—or, if you want to send it out early in hopes to secure coverage on the same day your release is distributed, you can note that it is “under embargo” until a specific date and the media will not publish the news until the embargo expires.
3.  A headline summarizing the most important information contained within, written to catch the reader’s interest.
4.  A sub-headline or summary of anything else noteworthy or supporting.
5. A dateline with the city, state, and release date (the city marks where the news originates from, most likely where your headquarters are based).
6. An introductory paragraph that captures the most important aspect and any pressing details.
7. Body paragraphs that further support your news.
8. A spokesperson quote.
9. A boiler plate with corporate information (mission statement, website, year founded, achievements, etc.)

I got these steps from Technori which gave it step by step.

Matt Preston Via compfight

 

Enron and Breaking their Code

The Enron scandal in 2001, one of the biggest scandals since the Watergate in the 1970’s, Enron was one of the biggest energy company which provided natural gas. They were the largest energy selling company in the United States. I look up Enron’s ethics code they were based on respect, integrity, communication, and excellence. These values were described as follows:

Respect. We treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. We do not tolerate abusive or disrespectful treatment. Ruthlessness, callousness and arrogance don’t belong here.

Integrity. We work with customers and prospects openly, honestly and sincerely. When we say we will do something, we will do it; when we say we cannot or will not do something, then we won’t do it.

Communication. We have an obligation to communicate. Here we take the time to talk with one another . . . and to listen. We believe that information is meant to move and that information moves people.

Excellence. We are satisfied with nothing less than the very best in everything we do. We will continue to raise the bar for everyone. The great fun here will be for all of us to discover just how good we can really be.

Enron downfall was they were cooking the books and they got caught doing it they were modifying the balance sheet to indicate favorable performance. This later caused bankruptcy of the company, their shareholders lost almost 11 billion dollars when the the share went from 90 dollars per share to less than 1 dollar per share when Enron went under. The Enron Code of Ethics had obviously done little to help create an ethical environment at the company. The full extent and explanation of Enron’s ethical collapse is yet to be determined as legal proceedings continue.

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Interviewing a Person In Public relation

 

chrisinplymouth via Compfigtht

Gladys Salas is the Project coordinator at Comprehensive Care. She had Secretarial Administration license from IVY Tech College in the 1986, and then got her Associates degree in Retail management and Fashion merchandising in 1994-1996, then a Bachelor’s Degree for business administrations in 2001 after that she got her MBA at Indiana University Northwest 2006-2010. She work in various jobs, she was an a Patient Service Representative for CNA Commercial Insurance from 200 to 2001, then was a Medical staff Coordinator at St. Catherine Hospital from 2001 to 2004, then move up the later to a clinic supervisor at St. Margaret Mercy from 2004 to 2006, then Account Executive-Business Development at St. Antony and St. Margaret Hospitals from 2006 to 2012. Know she is working as the project coordinator at Comprehensive Care. So I ask her a couple questions on how the PR life really is

1. What’s a typical week like? If no week is typical, then what was last week like?

• Lot of paperwork; dealing with regulations, unlike what most

people think about PR, just hiring; meeting with other companies

to sell your business.

2. Tell me about a project you worked on that you are especially proud of.

• Hiring employees for a new department. Developing policy

handbook for said department.

3.  What do you do to keep current in the PR industry?

• Attend workshop sessions; a must with technology changing

daily/weekly/monthly.

4.What do you wish you would have known before starting your career in PR?

• That more people skills along with communication skills was

essential in job.

5. How important is writing in your career?

• Probably one of the most essential skills in our job. You are the

face of the company as far as communicating to employees, etc.

so letters, communications must be without error.

6. What three tips would you offer someone just starting out in PR?

• Learn from a mentor; read everything you can on people,

communications magazine.; OBSERVE.

7.  Did your education prepare you for working in PR? How?

• For the most part. However, not enough emphasis was placed

on language, speech, and ethics.

8. What has surprised you the most about working in PR?

• The changes in society; technology and perhaps the mandatory

drug testing required in the past 10-15 years.

9. How has PR changed since you entered the field?

• The most significant changes were made in the field of

technology. Prior to 10 years ago, 90 percent of resumes were

submitted on paper. Now the opposite trend, most are submitted

online.

10. How does technology affect your daily work?

• Much more efficient with information collecting, saving, and

evaluating through of computers .

11. When your company is hiring for an entry-level PR position, what makes a

candidate stand out?

• A number of things, among them: appearance, hygiene,

communication skills, confidence in interview, and a show of

Initiative.

12. What professional organizations are you involved in? (For example, PRSA, IABC,

etc.)

• A lot of them, mostly local organizations rather than national.

This keeps your pulse on the local flavor of employee candidates,

Networking, etc.

After asking all these question it seem really difficult to be a PR professional you have to put a lot of hours and  have to make difficult decisions. I don’t being a PR professional is the job for me I think I will stick to flying.

Prom Night at the Super Bowel

Image credit: Domitille Parent via Compfight

The 2013 super bowl was one of the best super bowl games that I have ever seen. The 49ers coming back after the blackout was amazing, but still the better team prevails, the Ravens. Not all people watch the super bowl they just watch the commercials. These commercials were not as good as previous years but, there was one that stood out in my mind and it was the Audi commercial. It brought me back to high school and going to prom which I never went because it was in our cafeteria which was lame it was not even nice. Enough about me, this commercial show what a true prom and how a cool car can boost your confident, in this commercial a teenage boy is forced to go to prom by himself.  This is very embarrassing as a teenage kid not even have a date for prom that really would stink. Then his dad gives his teenage son the car keys. For me this would be a time for excitement my dad giving me the keys the one of the best cars out there. As the teenagers drives off he starts to feel good about himself. I think everyone would be feeling good if you were driving that sweet car.  The teenager parks in the principal’s spot walks into the prom like a bad ass walks towards the prom queen and lays a wet kiss on her. I wish I could of done that I think that would be pretty sweet that would of made my day if I did that. Then the prom King turns walks towards him and decks him in the face, know you’re even more of a bad ass coming out of prom with a black eye. So is it worth getting a black eye for a kiss,