omgk9world-blog

[omgk9world-blog]

Better2GetherRVA: The Project

Working with my client this semester for my social media PR class, Better2getherRVA, has been a pleasure and educating experience. First, I would like to commend Elizabeth and Stephanie for starting a nonprofit organization that is focused on providing support to children and families who don’t come by it very easy. In fact, they are those families so you know it is a passion they don’t take lightly. Aside from that, the experience working with a client mimicked a real workplace environment. From sitting down with the women in person to contacting them as the semester went on and to implementing content that we created, it was a process that was satisfying but not so easy. Creating a whole proposal and game plan for a client as a group is something that takes a lot of teamwork, brainstorming, and researching. All the theories and strategies I learned in class I finally had to apply them in a practical sense. Pieces of the campaign proposal such as objectives, research, and SWOT analysis required many examples and research first before I knew how to properly write them up. But the main thing is being professional and writing up a report that is comprehensive, easy to follow, and done correctly. Really, it is not easy to write up a multi-page report on a social media game plan. That’s what I have come to learn and respect.

Overall, my takeaway is the practicality and the real-life aspect of this assignment. Teamwork is extensive and we are given autonomy to create something, instead of just assessing work that has been created by someone else. One final aspect to me is how we could all use the final result as a showcase for potential employers or internships. This project took a great deal of work and is credible, and I would be foolish to not include it in my portfolio of work. If I have learned anything and have any talent, then this project will showcase that to employers.

Lastly, I just want to extend a thank you to Liz, Steph and their Better2GetherRVA organization. First, for doing what they do and showing passion for a noble cause, and second for handing over their creation to us and trusting us to come up with a plan in its best interest. That is not to be overlooked, as they have invested time in us that they will never get back. I believe my team and I came up with a promising game plan and we have confidence the founders will execute it and find the success they deserve.

[omgk9world-blog]

My Public Relations Experience at VCU

I attend Virginia Commonwealth University and I am enrolled in the Mass Communications foundation with a concentration in Public Relations. The school is called the Robertson School of Media and Culture. It is great. In fact, the school just got reaccredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. There are only about 100 of these select mass communication programs. The Mass Communications program offers practical application and hands-on work through required internships, campaigns that you must create and collaborate on with real clients, and additional services and programs offered such as campus media. According to their website, the school “inspires and empowers students to be transformative media innovators while continuing to be a thought leader in a changing communication environment.” Honestly, this may sound like a plug for the program – and maybe it shamelessly and indirectly is – but I am just so content that I attend such a school that has passionate professors and teaches strong content. Allow me to tell you my experience with some coursework and internships I have had:

https://robertson.vcu.edu/about/

Journalism – I had an amazing experience in journalism, mainly because of the professor. Professor Mary Ann Owens is a long-tenured professor and expert journalist in her own right. Her lectures were always strong, she was passionate about the subject, and I ended up leaving her course better at critical thinking and writing. You don’t always retain information after you finish a class so, to me, that is the mark of a good class. Her one thing she said was always to be a “shrewd” writer. That was a simple but powerful piece of advice that really works.

Internship – One of the courses literally required in the program is to have an internship. So, I attended an internship expo on VCU’s campus and I ended up landing a job with their own public relations division, the University Public Affairs office. In my time there, I wrote about 5-6 feature articles and they were nice enough to publish me on their website. My supervisor was always so professional and ready to help me out. Overall, the internship was an eye-opening experience because I got to witness firsthand how my career may be after graduation and what it entails. Again, I left a better writer and student of public relations than when I first came in. Here is an article I did for the website: /School_of_Business_graduates_foundation_helps_communities_realize

Graphic Design – This was one of my favorite things about the program. It evolves as the field evolves. Graphic design and production is now an integral thing in public relations. Text must be enhanced with words to get maximum effect. That’s just reality now. People would rather see or watch than read. I am enrolled in a graphics design course and it’s been a fun but challenging course. The addition of this course is really significant because many people are predicting that graphic design skills will be a top 2 skill sought after by employers. If this is the case, the difference between a job or no job for me will be this class. The school is invested in trends and developments and that makes for better curriculum.

I’m happy with the decision I have made in choosing my school and my degree. So far, it has turned out to be worth it, satisfying, and fun. Public relations is a fast-growing field and it’s very complex in nature, but I think VCU promotes the right learning with credible professors. To me, that means everything. If you took anything away from this, please let it be that if you are interested in mass communications as a career, the Robertson School is a no-brainer decision.

[omgk9world-blog]

Best Company Twitters

No one is exempt from branding themselves on social media, not even successful companies. They may have the money and resources to entertain other avenues and media, but more times than not successful companies look to capture markets on social media as well. The biggest takeaway? The companies who seem larger-than-life and only about business usually aren’t very popular on Twitter. And the companies who show they are for the people and always accessible usually captivate their audience. Here are a few company Twitters that are wildly successful and reasons why.

• Jet Blue – Whichever team runs Jet Blue’s twitter is amazing. One look at their bio and you’re given a summary on what you’re in store for dealing with them. Their tone is very personable and inviting. Professionalism still exists but not too much where it is boring and dry. This is how they connect with their followers. It also helps that their response time is super-fast, and they always try to resolve the issue at hand.

• MLB – The Major League Baseball sports league is complicated. There are many facets to the game, and they know this. This is why they have the most unique approach on this list. They have segmented multiple aspects of the league into different Twitter accounts because one Twitter account would struggle with keeping a clear personality. For example, statistics, a huge part of the game, is solely handled by @MLBStatOfTheDay. Just simple attention to detail like this has served the MLB well.

• General Electric – As I said, a company who seems they are larger than life will turn off many people. General Electric, a reputable, savvy tech company could easily do just that. Instead, they stay personable and fun by breaking down technical concepts in fun ways that customers can relate to! They aren’t afraid of losing credibility just because their tone can be goofy sometimes, because they know it only builds credibility and trust!

• Maersk Line – Probably my favorite one, Maersk Line is a container shipping company. To combat the rather boring nature of their practice, Maersk uses a combination of stunning pictures and fun infographics to capture its audience. The aesthetic of the pictures they use are just gorgeous and almost shed a new light on container shipping, at least, in my eyes. I guess that’s how you run a good twitter, no?

You can view some screenshots of these Twitters here: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/twitter-best-brands

So, let’s give a summary on what some of the best practices are if you ever find yourself running a brand or company on Twitter:

• Keep a personable tone!

• Avoid having a convoluted account.

• Avoid jargon, speak in layman’s terms.

• Respond quickly and with empathy.

• Pictures. Whenever you can. (tweets with images get 150% more retweets).

• Be witty, be funny, be creative.

• Focus on customer service (if applicable).

• Find a personality and stick with it.

• Write a bio that hooks the reader.

More information about these tips here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/5-tips-for-branding-your-company-on-twitter/

[omgk9world-blog]

Art of Engagement

We all wish it would be as easy as logging in our social media profile, typing or posting something, and then watching the likes and reposts flow in by the hundreds. Then again, is it really a craft if no thought or practice goes into it? Basically, the art of writing a Facebook status or making a photo on Instagram interesting is not just second nature. It takes a drawing board mentality in doing these things. To capture your audience, you have to employ the right tactics, understand the science of it all, and not be afraid to try new things. Some tips will seem not so blatant, and others will seem quite easy.

One quite easy tip is being honest about the industry you are writing about, as well as funny. This is very easy to do. Be creative, don’t take yourself so seriously, and incorporate current events that aren’t appropriate. Additionally, find a color theme for your profile that matches up with the tone of your industry or whatever you are talking about primarily. For example, if you are a peace guru then it would maybe be a good idea to outfit your profile in a calming color like blue. See, these types of things are very easy to execute. On the other hand, writing a great headline for a blog or article is a bit more of a science. This doesn’t always mean there’s a proven formula to write a headline because that depends on the situation, but the creativity just has to be inherent. Consider this, 80 percent of people read the headline while the remaining 20 read the body. That should say enough. Also, a relatively new but emerging trend, content curation is becoming a great tool to engage fans and casual people even. Content curation is defined as the “process of finding, organizing and sharing online content.” So as the captain of your ship, you have to pick out tasteful fish (content) from the vast sea (social media world) and then sell it back to your local fisherman (your followers).

https://expresswriters.com/how-to-craft-engaging-social-media-posts/

https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/26-ways-to-create-engaging-content/

So, these are just some of the things that go into social media engagement. A big takeaway from this is not to say you must always follow a science or strategic approach to posting social media content, because you still need to trust your own internal creativity. However, to build a captivating personality or brand online you must play on the psychology of people and many of these tips truly do work.

[omgk9world-blog]

What Makes A Good PR Practitioner

As we all know and have discussed, the public relations field is an ever-evolving and new practice. Yet, the practice has already found itself encompassing many things and demanding a high level of competency and skills. PR practitioners have to be professional, talented, creative, and intuitive among many other things because they are ultimately the people responsible for a person, brand, or company’s image. With that much responsibility, the job can’t just be done by anyone. It takes a person with these particular skills, in addition to many other fine ones:

1. Communication Skills – We can all communicate more or less, but communication in the public relations field is extremely heightened and valued. A PR practitioner needs to be great at speaking, writing, listening, and understanding others who have different backgrounds. Also, you should be adept at communicating on different mediums such as social media, email, telephone, and more. Overall, it’s important for a PR person to understand the niceties of language.

2. Research Skills – The most important part of the ROPES process (another discussion for another day), research is at the heart of public relations campaigning. Just understand one thing: you cannot execute an optimal campaign or strategy without doing the appropriate research first.

3. Writing Skills – There are many sources and studies that still have writing as the number 1 most important skills in the years to come. There’s good reason for this and it stems back to the first skill of communication. If you are not a good writer at least then your communication skills will suffer a great deal. You’d be surprised how good grammar, creativity, and being diverse in writing can go a long way.

4. Be Global – Public relations is international nowadays. Companies must be transparent with anybody who pays attention so that can include people all the way overseas. The point is, you must be well-versed and aware of different cultures. If you can speak several languages, all the better.

5. Cooperative – There will come a day, hopefully, when you are on a talented PR team and you will sit at the roundtable ready to contribute. Everyone will be confident in their talents and knowing what they can bring, but the mark of a good PR professional is the willingness to listen to their peers and colleagues and sometimes admit someone else’s idea works better. There is no situation in PR where cooperation isn’t necessary and valued.

https://www.thebalance.com/public-relations-skills-2063765

https://www.theguardian.com/careers/pr-five-must-have-skills

[omgk9world-blog]

Keys to Blogging

There’s a real science to blogging. It’s not just a pickup game of basketball. You can’t just go out there and do whatever you please with no strategy. In fact, according to Kevin Donahue, who is co-creator of Fanblogs, mentions that specificity and passion makes a successful blog. This makes sense. For example, if you are going to talk about sports on your blog do not talk about it 80 percent of the time and then throw in random filler at times. Fans of a blog expect consistency, a sense of expertise, and no randomness. Look at what Kevin Donahue and other popular bloggers said at the link https://journalism.nyu.edu/publishing/archives/notablog/story/good_blog/. Although this is the basis of a great blog, there are still many more nuances that you could and should incorporate to maximize your content:

1. Find a Niche – Of course, this ties back to your passion or something you think your readers will be passionate about. To further separate your blog, try something that not everybody is doing.

2. Identify your Readership – If you are writing, let’s say, about the NBA your readership will most likely be a younger audience. Therefore, write accordingly to capture their interest.

3. Don’t Be Afraid – Be interesting! Say something that goes against the grain, show a new perspective, or raise important issues. If you are going to gain notoriety or credibility for your blog you will have to be different. This means sometimes you will not be able to please everybody, but that means the people you are pleasing are the right ones.

4. Theme – Hey, colors and things like that are important. A blog shouldn’t look like a newspaper. Get creative and spunky with the vision of your blog. Just make sure it ties in with what the blog is.

5. Find your Voice – This may be the most important thing! Having a dry, predictable voice will not lead a reader deep into your material, it will just run them away. There is no right formula for writing in a unique voice. Anything can be unique!

6. Timely Posts – You must have a schedule that is consistent and your readers can handle. Ultimately, that will depend on the topic you are covering and how often news develops for it, but generally once or twice a week is good.

Find a list of more tips here: https://www.theminimalists.com/blog/

We all have to start employing all or some of these tactics. They are proven. All the successful blogs do some of these crucial things. Go look at Aimee Song and Hannah Bronfman’s blogs. This will help you see how a true blog captivates its readers and will give you a benchmark for starting one yourself. Blog away!

[omgk9world-blog]

Better2gether RVA: Rare Illnesses

“We want families that have children with medically complex illnesses and diseases to feel equipped for the road ahead.”

That is the mission Liz Burnett and Steph Becker have committed themselves to. Two mothers with ill children themselves, their firsthand experience with rare diseases has opened their eyes to how dire and necessary the cause is. In the United States, approximately 25 million people are affected by rare diseases. Children make up the majority of this number. Some notable rare diseases include lymphocytic leukemia, Marfan’s Disease, and sickle cell anemia. They are called “rare”, but they are not so rare in the loved ones they affect. Understanding how sickness to a child can ravage a whole family, Burnett and Becker believe they can seriously help with a nonprofit initiative called “Better2gether RVA.”

Better2gether RVA focuses on not only the medical but the psychological side of sickness. It’s about support, guidance, and comfort because both women understand the mental anguish that is just as bad, if not worse, than the physical toll. The goal of the nonprofit is for families to connect over their shared experiences, provide support, and show that no one is alone in their battle with health. Also, they seek to provide the financial assistance and social connections that families with well-known diseases have access to. Better2gether is about bringing awareness to rare diseases so that maybe one day they will be considered “normal” in terms of education, research, and medicine. They hope to achieve that through events, fundraising, social networking, and educating the people themselves.

Along with my class group, I am tasked with developing a social media strategy that will help both women elevate their voice and reach online. By implementing strategies and tactics and other PR basics, my classmates and I hope to provide Better2gether RVA with a blueprint they will be able to apply when we are long gone. The goal is to understand which social media platforms will benefit the organization the most and what type of content will be suitable on each platform to create intrigue. It gives both sides a chance to learn as we learn how to create a social media program from the ground up, while the women get an understanding of how to ideally use the nuances of social media. I hope we can effectively communicate the mission of this organization through what we have learned in class and what we have practiced applying outside of it. Ultimately, I am proud to say I can help people who are making an honest attempt with a great social cause. Follow Better2gether on their Facebook page and look out for more content as we unravel more about the children of the organization.

https://globalgenes.org/rare-diseases-facts-statistics/

https://m.facebook.com/better2getherRVA/?tsid=0.8931927734911209&source=result

[omgk9world-blog]

Public Relations Growth!!

Is public relations a field you could see yourself in? If you were to pick it as your college major would it pay off? That’s how we all think with a long-term decision and investment. But public relations is a new, exciting field and it’s quickly becoming more competitive. The field is primed for significant growth over the next several years. In other words, your chances to get a job and a well-paying one are healthy. Take a look:

1.       Job Growth – The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, as of 2014, there were 240,000 PR jobs. This is a considerable number and speaks to the growing popularity of the field. The BLS also reports the 10-year growth from 2014 to 2024 is on pace for 6 percent. This sounds average, and it is consistent with the average growth for all occupations, but this means several thousand more jobs. With social media’s continued expansion and the dire need for skilled communicators, the percentage could increase. More numbers are on the BLS site, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm.

 2.       Salary – We’re all adults, we can talk about it. We don’t have to beat around the bush. The annual median income for a PR specialist is $56,000. Broken down even further, the highest 10 percent earn around $110,000. Of course, there are states, particularly those with bustling urban areas, that have even better opportunity. Among these are California, New York, Idaho (surprisingly), and my favorite, Virginia. Furthermore, the more lucrative jobs are in the technical and scientific sectors. Factors like location and sector make all the difference and it helps you optimize your financial situation.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/03/29/10-emerging-public-relations-job-trends/2/#513466965be6

3.       Education – Obtaining a public relations degree is not the only means to carving out a career in the field. Additionally, degrees in marketing, business administration, journalism, advertising, and other communication degrees are all generally accepted because they’re intertwined. This is because a public relations position requires many skills and attributes, such as business skills, marketing segmentation, organizational skills, and campaign management. A bachelor’s degree in the listed studies, coupled with the right experience through internships or job programs, will make you highly competitive in a job search.

https://www.floridatechonline.com/blog/business/public-relations-specialist-career-job-outlook/

 This is the outlook you can expect for the public relations world in the coming future. Diverse positions, higher pay, and more opportunities signal the need for YOU. It’s a challenging but stimulating practice to get into, and if you have the right skills and aren’t afraid to work hard and learn, then public relations can be a great career. It’s new, it’s fresh…it’s PR!

[omgk9world-blog]

Public Relations Growth!!

Is public relations a field you could see yourself in? If you were to pick it as your college major would it pay off? That’s how we all think with a long-term decision and investment. But public relations is a new, exciting field and it’s quickly becoming more competitive. The field is primed for significant growth over the next several years. In other words, your chances to get a job and a well-paying one are healthy. Take a look:

1. Job Growth – The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, as of 2014, there were 240,000 PR jobs. This is a considerable number and speaks to the growing popularity of the field. The BLS also reports the 10-year growth from 2014 to 2024 is on pace for 6 percent. This sounds average, and it is consistent with the average growth for all occupations, but this means several thousand more jobs. With social media’s continued expansion and the dire need for skilled communicators, the percentage could increase. More numbers are on the BLS site, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm.

2. Salary – We’re all adults, we can talk about it. We don’t have to beat around the bush. The annual median income for a PR specialist is $56,000. Broken down even further, the highest 10 percent earn around $110,000. Of course, there are states, particularly those with bustling urban areas, that have even better opportunity. Among these are California, New York, Idaho (surprisingly), and my favorite, Virginia. Furthermore, the more lucrative jobs are in the technical and scientific sectors. Factors like location and sector make all the difference and it helps you optimize your financial situation.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/03/29/10-emerging-public-relations-job-trends/2/#513466965be6

3. Education – Obtaining a public relations degree is not the only means to carving out a career in the field. Additionally, degrees in marketing, business, journalism, advertising, and other communication degrees are all generally accepted because they’re intertwined. This is because a public relations position requires many skills and attributes, such as business skills, marketing segmentation, organizational skills, and campaign management. A bachelor’s degree in the listed studies, coupled with the right experience through internships or job programs, will make you highly competitive in a job search.

https://www.floridatechonline.com/blog/business/public-relations-specialist-career-job-outlook/

This is the outlook you can expect for the public relations world in the coming future. Diverse positions, higher pay, and more opportunities signal the need for YOU. It’s a challenging but stimulating practice to get into, and if you have the right skills and aren’t afraid to work hard and learn, then public relations can be a great career. It’s new, it’s fresh…it’s PR!

[omgk9world-blog]

A Warm Welcome to Social Media

“We are going from a time where it was convince and convert, to converse and convert.” – Ted Rubin

              Social media is usually described as platforms where users can interact with each other on a network. Because of its massive outreach globally, it’s emerging as a game-changing tool in the public relations world. Companies can no longer hide. There’s less chance for cover-ups, less room for error, but a whole lot more transparency. A company must provide the customer with instant gratification, making them feel valued. Just as social media can be a huge source of interest, it can also literally break a company if done wrong. Demand exists on social media. Users can either be influential or harmful.

              PR professionals now spend their time on social media sites directly communicating with consumers. They are looking for opportunities, avenues, to grab more consumers. It’s smart. For the most part, it’s cost effective. You generally don’t have to pay to set up an account! These are the ways social media helps PR.

 1.       Content Curation – Identifying content that users have created in favor of your brand and using it to your advantage is becoming the new “earned” press. These creators are called “influencers.” Use them.

2.       Identify Threats – PR practitioners sometimes may have to scope out potential threats on social media. The live aspect of social platforms allows practitioners to stay ahead of threats that endanger their brand name.

3.       Consistency – If a consumer follows a brand’s Twitter or Facebook account, they will expect timely updates and news relevant to them. But companies must be careful not to turn their messages into clutter.

4.       Consumer Feedback – This is one area social media has revolutionized the industry. When a customer publicizes negative feedback that’s the real chance a PR team can capitalize turning a threat into a positive result. The number one rule is to always take customer feedback seriously, especially on social media. You can turn a social media crisis into a win by monitoring your account in real time, engaging in the right conversations, and finding the company’s voice. Also, positive feedback of course presents itself as more content curation.

A social media account is just as much a necessity for the customer as it is for the company. You should always be accessible, identify threats or opportunities, and capitalize with swift responses. A strong social media presence will add credibility to a company name.

https://goo.gl/6ZpyQU

https://goo.gl/BRcZBa

https://goo.gl/5r9Chp

https://goo.gl/AwQF2i

[omgk9world-blog]

Who??

omgk9world? What? What does that even mean in the slightest bit? I don’t know, that’s just literally the first username that came up. I was going for “K9″ but they didn’t have it. Anyways, this name is what we’re rolling with. Live with it.

My REAL name is Kenan Keranovic. I am a student at Virginia Commonwealth University majoring in Public Relations. I’ve been living in Richmond for 18 years now but I am originally from the small country of Bosnia. My passion is writing and reading. I picked PR because it means a lot of writing! Other hobbies of mine include basketball, hanging out with friends, and maybe traveling. That’s a new thing I’ve been doing. All in all, I’m an easygoing guy. Oh, and I’m tired all the time but who isn’t??

But that doesn’t really answer the question of “what is this for?” Why should you invest some of your precious time in my blog? Because it will be informative. This blog is for my MASC 336 class, which is a “Social Media in PR” class. As I learn more and more in class, I hope to apply it in the real world and understand how to communicate to others about it. My blog will be consistently posting relevant news, developments, and statistics in the PR sector or social media world. I’m looking to make an impact through healthy discussion and bring attention to things I feel are important to know. Generally, I will stick within these parameters but at the same time I will try to show more of myself personally and make this experience fun. After all, this is really an exercise in understanding how to run your social media alter ago and manage it. I’m new to taking social media seriously in this manner so I hope I can be successful in creating content that someone cares about. If you follow me, I hope to make that time spent exciting, knowledgeable, and interactive. Welcome to omgk9world!