Ancient Software = Slow Process

Today I was asked to do a competitor analysis for Programmed. Kate wanted me to focus on Programmed’s competitor’s online presence and in particular noting what social tools they were using and what online content they were creating.

It took me a while to gather all the information but from my research I noticed that Programmed had a far larger online presence, with social media tools, websites and articles far superior to that of their competitors. 

However, one thing that I noted was rather detrimental to the whole searching process was the ability to source this information due to their lagging internet.

The Programmed Burswood office currently houses 60 to 70 staff, all using the one local internet. The company has on-site numerous IT and ICT staff that help with computer problems and technical issues. With this vast range of telecommunications staff catering to only small group of staff, the company’s internet should not be running so slowly. However, the main problem here is that they are still using such an old system – Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer is rather out-dated in the 21^st Century with the introduction of Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. These internet browsers are recognised as being far superior to Internet Explorer. 

Programmed also uses an old version of Microsoft Windows, which too, is disadvantageous to the computers user.

Programmed desperately needs to update their computer technologies in order to keep up with the expansion of computer technologies therefore make computing processes speedier.  The company also needs to look at updating their PCs. I spoke to Kate about this and she agreed completely, telling me that she doesn’t know why we are still using PCs or Internet Explorer.

Programmed may be far ahead of their competitors with websites, a regularly updated intranet, online presence and social tools, but if none of our staff can access the sites, what’s the point?

Adios!

Becky

Just Remeber To Backup!

Electronic media is enjoying broader use as new technologies and electronic devises are being produced. Currently over 50% of people in Australia get their news online. This has dramatically changed the face of Public Relations as the main forms of media are changing from traditional methods such as print and television to online. The creation of online communities has been both a challenge and an opportunity for the public relations world. Mass communication is much easier however it is much harder to control the message being sent.

Throughout my time at my internship I noted that more and more modern technology forms are being used to communicate between clients, practitioners and the media. Updates on client activities are occurring via email rather than telephone or in person. On my first day I received over 30 emails form staff members in the same office as me. At first I thought this was very strange and was even tempted to walk over and reply in person. However I soon learnt that email really was the most effective tool of communication. This way a message could be send to more than 1 person at a time, could be forwarded on to others and could be recorded for future reference.

Consultancies are now offering social media packages as well as traditional print, TV and radio packages. In a fast pace world, PR practitioners must be ahead of the game when offering communication strategies. If they don’t acknowledge the changing form of communication they will simply be left behind. Success in the online world involves knowing what the audience will respond to. Posts, tweets and photos all need to be relevant to the target audience in order for them to respond positively to the post. A simple generic media release is simply not adequate in today’s media landscape. Brands need to be communicating via various media sources in order to gain maximum publicity. This changing way of communication is very exciting and a progressive way of thinking for Public Relations Practitioners…Just remember to back up!

How to be a digital wiz

World wide web

The Internet is a beautiful thing and here’s why…

• It enables us to participate in a virtual community;
• It’s easily accessible;
• It lets you shop in peace – splurging all you want in whatever you want and bringing the good/service to your front door;
• It makes researching tasks easier; and
• It’s the guilty distraction to completing your homework.

While some of the above might not be applicable to everyone, there’s one thing for certain – we’re all users of the Internet. In fact, writing this blog is prime evidence!

However, it seems very strange to think that although we’ve been consumers of the net for more than a decade we hardly know how our favourite websites function and are maintained.

A website needs to take into account many factors– such as understanding the #target #audience, how to engage with its consumers, how to make effective use of space, etc. It all contributes to a site’s success and the likelihood of individuals to visit the page again.

Who is your audience?

In other words, a successful site knows what works with its viewers and has programmers to ensure it’s well-maintained to meet the viewers’ expectations.

Through my internship, I realised how unaware I was of the expertise needed to enter content onto a website and within a client’s deadlines.

But with practice and an understanding of how the different systems work, I now feel equipped to implement websites in the future.

I’ve entered data into a Content Management System (CMS) before and after a site went live – and witnessed the highs and lows of progress. I’ve uploaded and updated data, such as: news, events, case studies, contact details, etc. And I've became more competent and confident in applying myself to these tasks.

Content Management System (CMS)

Some valuable tips I learnt along the way...

Tip 1)

No room for error

The Internet is live – in other words there is no room for error. Any data entered into the back-end of the system will automatically be saved to the live site. Therefore, if there’s a spelling mistake, an incorrect statement or contact details, it will be visible to the public and the client immediately. As a public relations practitioner, this would reflect badly on our credentials and the client wouldn’t be very satisfied with our work either. So, make sure to double-check and edit data before it’s saved onto a #CMS.

Tip 2)

Spinning wheel of death

Although #technology has changed the way we work and created better opportunities for individuals there is also downfalls – such as when technology decides it doesn’t want to work anymore and the spinning wheel of death appears. In this case, it’s significant to regularly save your work and not leave deadlines to the last minute in case of technical issues. Also, it helps to have access to an Information Technology support team who can assist you in these matters.

Tip 3) 

Messy font styles

Lastly, make sure there is #consistency. For instance: if you’re typing in Times New Roman, font size 12, stick with it throughout the website. Consumers do not like to be bombarded with different fonts and font sizes and it definitely doesn’t look professional. This includes the different template options under tabs – e.g. a ‘Case Studies’ tab would use an article template, whilst a ‘Home Page’ tab would use a simpler template. It’s significant to have consistency in content and use of space to make the data flow easier for viewers.

Just by utilising these simple steps, it will automatically help strengthen a company’s reputation, create awareness and increase the likelihood of an individual to visit your website again.