The power of a picture & 140-characters: What aspiring PR pros should know

about social media

COMM311: Public Relations WritingPresented by Abby Ecker

November 13, 2012

Feel free to “get social” with me! (Live tweeting encouraged.)

@abbynicole1204

www.pinterest.com/abbynicole1204

www.linkedin.com/in/abbyecker

“PR and Political Communication Commentary” www.abbystollar.com

“Levels: A Journey through Food & Fitness”www.levelupfood.wordpress.com

Our three focuses:1. Developing a personal social media brand2. Developing a business social media brand3. Resources to help manage and improve your

social media branding

What is social media?

Part 1: Developing a personal social

media brand

Learning Social Media

- Be realistic.- Be proactive.- Be curious.

Advance your career in 140 characters or less.

Twitter Tips1. Establish a professional handle. (Anything with “xo” in it

doesn’t count!) 2. Pay attention to your Twitter bio. (Include school,

graduation year, interests, and link to your online portfolio) 3. Make it public. 4. Be a resource & get involved in the conversation. 5. Always be gracious, not greedy.

#UseahashtagtherightwayTry out these great PR, job searching, and

young professional communities: #prstudchat

#prssa#udcommpr#internpro

#jobhuntchat#pr20chat

#likeablechat

Advance your career with a digital resume.

1. Treat it like your 8 ½ x 11 resume – it matters more.2. Claim your profile address.

1. Ex. www.linkedin.com/in/abbyecker vs. www.linkedin.com/in/3285876324781267864

3. Aim for at least two to three recommendations. 4. Utilize student-friendly features to highlight your

accomplishments. 5. Challenge yourself to make connections (use Linkedin

groups).

LinkedIn Tips

Advance your career with a blog or digital portfolio.

Blogging/Portfolio tips1. Commit. If you can’t commit to regular blogging, that’s okay – stick

with an online portfolio, NOT a blog format.1. Topic: If you are establishing a blog, establish a theme, and

dedicate yourself to writing valuable content around that theme.

2. Showcase your skills. Include your resume, writing sample, digital media samples (guest blogs, videos, etc.), and contact information.

3. Find a platform.1. Blog: Wordpress, Blogger2. Website: Weebly, Google

4. Upload work samples. (Use Scribd, DocStoc for easy imports.)5. Promote!

Part 2: Developing a business social

media brand

1. Survey the social media landscape

Ask…• Why am I joining this network?• Who is my audience?• What is my purpose?

2. Listen before engaging.

“It’s not something that you apply once at the beginning of an engagement. It is something we

do throughout the process ad infinitum.” – Chuck Hemann

- Ask two questions…- Who are you communicating with?- Why are you communicating?

- Develop goals & measureable objectives.- Differentiate goals for various networks.

3. Develop a strategic plan.

- Pre-planning - Understanding the core Pinterest audience- Understanding our ATI brand (education)

- Strategic plan development- Flexibility/adaptability

Case Study: ATI’s Pinterest Page

Case Study: ATI’s Pinterest Page

4. Evaluate and measure.- Social media ROI - Ask…- What are you trying to accomplish?- How can this be measured?

5. Remember, content is king.

Best Practices - Content(Brand Social Media)

1. Be human. Have a personality. 2. Two things play well on social media: humor & charity.

(So do gratefulness and playfulness.) 3. Ask questions. 4. Use visuals. Photos get the most engagement, followed

by video. 5. Ask yourself this question before hitting send: Would I

engage with this?

Part 3: Resources to help manage and improve your

social media branding

Social Media Management Tools

Sites to share…

Books

Websites