----posted on behalf of Ong Wei Ni-------------
I guess it might be familiar to all how social media like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and other social sites have influenced a company’s profile. Whenever we get wind of something, it is almost a reflex action to check out Facebook or Twitter for first-hand instant news. Some news get out on these social sites even before making their official apperance on the papers. This is how social media is creating such a powerful yet intangible presence in the world today.
When a company thinks of creating more awareness and reaching out to the masses, the first suggestion is to create a Twitter or Facebook profile. In the beginning, the bulk of my internship was mostly about managing clients’ Facebook pages and monitoring the daily activities that take place on their respective pages. It is certainly interesting that today, instead of writing letters to express one’s woes or satisfaction, these are now translated onto a company’s profile page. This also makes it extremely important for public relations professionals to maintain damage control and enhance relationship bonds with their targeted audience.
Many would expect that the platform of social media is informal and something more targeted for the youths. However, it is interesting to read up on many articles that have a different take on that. For example, take a look at this link: http://mashable.com/2010/03/16/public-relations-social-media-results/ -- A part of it dictates that even political figures have jumped onto the bandwagon of social media. The listed example was Claire McCaskill, the junior U.S Senator from Missouri and the all-time familiar, U.S President Obama, is also currently very active in the aspect of social media. In our recent General Elections, our P.M Lee Hsien Loong has also attempted his first touch with Facebook.
The ever-changing dynamics of expectations are now being shouldered upon social media. In my opinion, I think that all consumers and people want an authentic touch towards their expectations. It is definitely interesting to know that the boss of a company that you have been patronizing all these years is actually communicating with you over the Internet. I certainly feel that social media will only get more powerful as technology improves over time. What is your take on our era of social media?
With relevance to this, another interesting read: “Social Media is The Responsibility of Public Relations” http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/online-public-relations/social-media-is-the-responsibility-of-public-relations/
9 comments:
hi,
i am agree with you because social media is one of the cheapest and fastest way to communicate with your key publics.
hi!
i agree with you guys, social media is a vital tool for public relations, social media makes it easier to reach out to key publics and engage them in discussion, at the same time getting immediate feedback..
hi,i totally agree with you, social media can make the organization accessible, clients can easily get updates. interaction between the organization and its clients is a bit easy. i was intern at Ministry of Agriculture Botswana, i recommended the ministry to use social media to reach the youth who seams not to be interested in agriculture. Again they have financial support program to the youth called young farmers fund, with social media they will be able to get more youth into agriculture.
Social Media does have its pros and cons. For example, social media sites give people more ways to stay connected, especially during natural disasters or other emergencies. I guess this is where the importance of Social Media comes in - where everyone can stay connected.
Abigail Ang
14553158
Social media is the future for public relations. It is much faster than conventional ways for communicating. In an era, where technology is leading our way of living thus was not take advantage of it. Communication through social media has both its pros and cons. For instance, in time of crisis social media is the only effective and rapid way to reach the target public. Furthermore it can increase and strengthens relationships between organisation and external public.
On the other side, people that are not familiar to social media might be loss or stay out unaware of the news. This might result in some miss of opportunity as not everyone spends their life on social media. It can also lead to a destruction of the values of the organisation like professionalism.
I think that social media can use in public relations to the extent that they guaranty confidentially and ethical ways.
Hi Weini,
Very insightful article. I agree with you that social media is one of the easiest and fastest tool to communicate in today's context.
It is indeed what my organization which I am having my placement now at (ACRES) is doing for their very recent campaign to free the dolphins! for more information on the campaign: www.saddestdolphins.com ! We are using Facebook directly to achieve the goal of the campaign, to create awareness and encourage friends and friends of friends to participate in our campaign.
We never know Facebook can be that powerful! But now, it is already overtaking the traditional media!
I now really hope this campaign can be successful with Facebook as their core PR tool! :)
not sure that social media is intangible - I reckon its based on being tangible - being a medium where senders and receivers have the same amount of power and relevance. Nice link.
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