The snowball effect

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, WordPress, Myspace, Flickr, Google+, and blogger are just a few examples of social media in today’s society. Social media has revolutionised the way we interact with our colleagues, family and friends.  Communication is key in PR so it’s no wonder that some of the top PR companies have adapted to sociological change.  Social media ensures that the brands message keeps circulating, creating brand exposure and grabbing the attention of key influencers within that circle. Essentially it’s a snowball affect in the form of tweets and re -tweets. The bigger the snowball, the bigger the snowman and the more people that are exposed to your brand.

During my intern I have been working with social media analysts, learning that different clients want different outcomes from using social media, what McDonalds uses social media for is very different to what Finbar use social media for.  This week I was asked to research food bloggers in Perth to invite them to a McWrap activation, A common trending topic it was interesting to see how certain bloggers target specific audiences and palate types, while other bloggers focusing on food types and targeting their content to a certain demographics.  The way you construct your tweets, when you publish it and what you #hashtag inevitably work together to gain likes, re-tweets and interest. This activity was juxtaposed to the next job I was asked to do which was to research blogs in the construction industry.  Although I had an understanding of this industry – due to my previous architecture degree – I was amazed when I came across ordinary mums and homeowner’s blogging about their recent renovations. I think that with the hype surrounding renovations shows such as Reno Rumble and The Block more people are inclined to blog about their experience too. This was juxtaposed to corporate companies who blogged in a more formal manner about construction updates, and design tips.  I found it really interesting to see how social media can be used communicate in different mediums, and once again reaffirmed to me the importance of PR and social media.

 Having an extensive knowledge of social media has helped me utilise this tool to promote campaign messages and communicate between stakeholders. I truly believe that this knowledge of social media and PR is thanks to PR Techniques and Media Relations specifically. I feel that there is a strong presence of social media at my placement, where they even have their own Instagram page where client updates, events and exciting news is posted. And like a snowball again, this gains attention through likes an follows, the snowball grows and becomes a snowman and without knowing it the organisations Instagram page has almost become a platform for promoting themselves as a organisations, where their key messages and qualities are conveyed.

I look forward to hearing about your experiences with social media. 

Thanks

Georgia 

:)

Work harder but smarter

               

My name is Annabelle Tan. I am studying a double degree at the moment. One is PR, the other one is Screen arts. Like you all, I am currently completing my 20 days internship at Whipper Snapper Distillery which is a Whisky Company located in east Perth. This is my first blog and I'd like to share my experience with you.

I started looked for my internship at the beginning of May and finally I found myself at the whisky distillery around June. I remembered when I studied PR principle in my first year. The tutor taught us about the ethics in PR. When we come into the real world to get a job, we have to be careful what we promote and sell, such as tobacco and alcohol. That’s where we have to obey PR ethics. The reason I took the position at the whisky distillery because this is the first one in Perth, plus it offers classes for educating people how to appreciate whisky instead of just drinking it.

The first day at my internship, I was a bit nervous. I don’t know whether my

knowledge is enough to be a part of the team. Luckily, I have a very helpful

supervisor named Onkie Cheng, who is head of the marketing department, assist and help me patiently. The first thing I got to do on my first day was to go out to get all kinds of newspapers, magazines etc and pay attention to who is in charge of the editorial for each section that was related to whisky such as Out About section in The West Australian Newspaper. I had to create the lists on Excel to write down all the information such as: the name of the newspaper, editor’s name, contact number and emails. The second day, my supervisor asked me to call them all and tell them about Whipper Snapper Distillery company to see who was interested in putting our story in their newspapers.

A couple days later, we had The West Australian came wrote a story named “Bourbon with a local flavour’; Perth Now News wrote’ East Perth warehouse home to Australia’s first bourbon-style whisky distillery’; Hospitality Magazine wrote ’Whipper Snapper release Perth’s first ‘bourbon ’etc.

Before I study PR, I never understood what the difference is between marketing and PR. Now, since I am practicing my knowledge in Whisky Company, I realize PR people work harder but smarter. PR can promote to wide variety of target audiences without financial contribution and it works!