Some things I have commented on recently!

http://publicrelationsblogger.com/2010/10/5-tips-for-creating-successful.html

REALLY good post!

http://service.prweb.com/learning/article/public-relations-blogs-25-essential-pr-bloggers-you-should-be-reading/

I saw this once before and never commented on it or shared it with anyone so I thought I would…it may be an old post but it is still relevant!

AND just because these are some things I like:

Printable Coupons: http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/

Top blogs by crafters: http://topblogsbycrafters.gotop100.com/index.php

Cooking: http://simplyrecipes.com/  and I commented on this post because it is relevant to many college students and those who just do not have a large cash flow: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cooking_on_a_budget/

TOW: Dream Job

So, I have really been thinking about this all week…and really a lot longer than that. What is my dream job?

I have been having interviews over the past few weeks and trying to apply for jobs and get a job. Honestly, I have been asked in those interviews “if you are working in a job where you are truly happy and at home what is that job?” I just know that job would be one where I could mix going out and seeing clients or other workers outside of the office with desk work like research. I would be involved in something that ties in public relations. I have honestly learned so much about this field and what it truly is and am in love with it.

Public relations is more than just news releases; it is marketing, advertising, communications, and so much more.

It is such a diverse and varying field that has taught me so much.

I really cannot pinpoint an ideal dream job. I would like to start somewhere where I could work my way up in my career. Working for a PR Firm would be great because then you have multiple clients so it is ever-changing. There would never be a dull day. I would get to create campaigns for multiple companies and I would plan events and it would be perfect.

I could also work for an event planning company which would be great.

I have a background in art so could do something with an art gallery or museum. Maybe I could be like a creative director of a magazine one day.

No matter what I want to work with people and love my job, that is what makes it a dream job. As long as I like it and when I have kids I can give them the same upbringing I was given then I will be happy.

As for competing with others who are trying to get the same job(s) as me I would stand out by being myself. I think that some people tend to be fake at interviews and I am not. I am always bubbly and energetic and have been told I have an infectious personality that makes people want to be my friend instantly. That makes people like me and makes them comfortable. I also have an outstanding resume that covers most everything anyone would want to know and is still only one page. I usually do pretty well in interviews.

I have an extensive work background that is diverse just like my major. I really think my people skills will work to my advantage.

Let’s hope applying for all of these jobs and having all of these interviews I am having will yield themselves to my dream job.

*nervously awaiting graduation and having fingers crossed that I get a job before or right after graduation*

 

TOW: PINTEREST!! Addiction, PR tool, Fad?

So, this weeks topic of the week was (drumroll) you guessed it! Pinterest! The fastest growing social media site!

I personally have an account and am on it all the time. I even have the app for my phone (it crashes a lot).

I think Pinterest is addictive and I love it. I do not see the phenomenon that is Pinterest going away anytime soon. I truly feel that the site is a great way for people to interact and share their ideas without bounds. It is pictures not so much words which leads to some people being more adventurous with their pins.

I have said since the beginning that it could be a great business tool and used in PR. I remember this summer doing a PRChat on Twitter and tweeting that I felt that PInterest could be a useful PR tool and that I knew some companies using it. I was asked by one of the professionals leading this chat why and could I list examples?

It is simple, I first noticed it with LuxeFinds.com’s Pinterest. She pins series of pins about one company, a collection, a color, a fad, an emerging fashion trend, a specific type of food, etc. She links to company pages and lists prices on the pins. This is great for those companies!

From there I noticed just how many pins link back to websites. I know I have bought things from seeing them on Pinterest. This is great! PR professionals could pin things from their multitude of clients and even from personal favorites. One could have a whole board devoted to a client.

I think it is a great way to do PR. I know that I simply commented on a random pin that I knew how to make what was pinned and got an email from a woman asking if I could make her one and she could buy it! You can explore just the pinners that you follow and their pins or you can explore everything. You can even narrow it down to a topic.

The following is a screenshot of my Pinterest boards. Want an invite?! I’ll invite you!

I love Pinterest and have probably invited over 75 or so people who in turn invite all of their friends. I recommend it to fellow foodies because I and others pin great recipes, to workout fanatics because there are tons of workouts on there, fashionistas because there are tons of pins about fashion, etc. I do warn them that it is addictive.

I know I will go on Pinterest at least once a week. Everytime I get on there I always say, “I am just going to click fetch more pins one more time.” I click it like five times.

I think it is genius!

Follow my boards by clicking this link:

The Love is in the Air…Or Not. Valentines Day!

So, this past week held a holiday that receives by far (in my opinion) the most complaints and hatred of all of the holidays. Valentine’s Day.

To some Valentine’s Day brings good memories… to others not so much.

I personally think of Valentine’s Day as a day to be with loved ones in general. Who cares if you are single? Hangout with your friends and family! They are loved ones right? Or just go spoil yourself with something nice!

I have never in my 22 years of life had a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day. I do not feel like I am missing out on much. Even if I want a boyfriend, why should a holiday increase that want? How is seeing couples loving each other on Valentine’s Day any different from any other day?

Well, enough about the day itself. One reason I do not feel left out is gifts. Yep, the Valentine’s Day gift delima is about to be discussed!

I cannot count the number of times guy and girl friends have asked what to get for their significant other. “We’ve only been together a short while, and I do not want to freak them out by buying something extravagant. But, I don’t want to get something too small and it not be enough.” That is the usual problem with my friends or from my guys at 11:45 the night before Valentine’s (not that you will read this, but just in case, I love you all!), “Oh crap! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! Go with me to Wal-Mart to grab some sort of flower thing and whatever else I should get!”

Some people plan, some do not. One of my friends posted on Facebook: “Dear guys out at Wal-Mart buying flowers for your girlfriend at 2 a.m. on Valentine’s, she will know you waited until the last minute because all of the flowers are dead or wilting. I almost feel bad for you.”

I think it would still be the thought that counts.

So, for my actual Topic of the Week for class: Worst and best gifts received on Valentine’s? If you like it or hate it do you let the gift giver know? If you are a company in the Valentine’s business how do you get people to buy from you over the competition?

Ok, so my dad, mom, and best friend are my Valentine’s. Best gift ever was from my dad. He surprised me with a bouquet of pink ballerina carnations (my fav) at school. It was so sweet! I always love the gifts they give me. I usually get super sweet cards that make me cry, and in the words of my roommate people like me are the reason that Hallmark is successful. I also get teddy bears, candy, cards, flowers and sometimes gift cards. I love them all!

WORST GIFT EVER was when this guy who I did not want to talk to called me at like 8 p.m. on Valentine’s Day and asked if I could open the door. Yes, he was at my house on my front doorstep. Creepy. I opened the door and he had dead flowers and a box of gummy bears. He gave them to me and then hugged me goodbye. Have you ever been hugged by someone who you do not want hugging you so you stand there like a statue? Yea, I did that. He kept hugging me for 5 minutes. That ordeal was the worst ever.

If I ever received a gift I did not like on Valentine’s I probably would not even process that I did not like it. Just giving something is super sweet regardless of what it is. Now, not getting anything and having a steady boyfriend or something I would have to say something about that.

Last question! If I was part of a company trying to beat out my competition on Valentine’s I would have to say I would do a ton of research. I would know that the other companies campaigns were and try to make mine different. They key is to offer something new or different or present it in a new way.

I would offer guaranteed Feb. 14 delivery on any online orders, and offer gift wrapping. I would have tons of funny, serious, loving cards from a multitude of possible relations (i.e. from dad, mom, sibling, lover). The cards I had would also be available in a cheaper e-card format. I would also have some cards and gifts that were marked and 15% of the proceeds from those sales would go to a charity; who doesn’t love cause marketing? I would also want to be a business with everything. A business where events and holidays are my specialty. Thus, I would have a bakery, card company, novelty item store and florist. That would make my company a one-stop-shop.

The website would have different tabs/pages for the different areas of the business. Then one would have the option of having all items delivered in the same day or separately.

I would have all of this advertised as general webpage ads, Facebook ads, posted to our companies social media sites, on TV and anywhere else the budget allowed. The key would be to have the customer bombarded with our company name in a way that they do not realize it. Thus, they do not get annoyed by our commercials/ads, and maybe do not even realize that these items are the reason they decided to choose my company.

I think that being/doing all of that would make my company a little better than some competitors.

Success!

My Valentine’s Day this year: Roomie/best friend and I exchanged gifts, got a card from my dad and family friend, got phone calls from them and my mom, got a chocolate rose from my pledges, and took it back in time with my friends by making Valentine’s mailboxes out of shoeboxes and then we all gave everyone Valentine’s while enjoying delicious sweets.

*The first two images are from someecards. I love their stuff! The carnation one was on Google Images, I could not find one I liked of ballerina carnations, they are just smaller.  Carnations are my fav because they are cute and last! The last photo I found on Bing Images, no credit, but it looks just like the box I made!

Comments Comments Comments!

So, I have been sorely lacking in commenting on other people’s blogs. My bad! I have commented on some and forgot to let you all know how great the blogs are!

I have just recently commented on some classmates blogs check them out:

http://asaliml.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/reading-is-fundamental/#comment-62

http://yasminehorton.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/424/#comment-97

http://khilson.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/social-media-2/#comment-48

I will post some links to other blogs that I thoroughly enjoy! Some of them are not at all PR related or anything, but when you truly think about it maybe it all is PR?

TOW #3 Social Media, Is it Good or Bad?

Social Media in the long run can either be good or bad. People who are involved in social media sometimes need to realize that once something is on the internet it is there forever. Bad grammar, unflattering images they all will be there forever.

Many companies have actually benefited from their excellent use of social media. They abide by social media ettiquitte rules which is helpful. Posting things that are relevant, keeping up good customer relations, posting interesting information, product info, special offers, etc. are definite business boosters.

I think that if a company does not have a public relations department, they need one (if you are a company without one I graduate in May, contact me ).

Someone who has a background in public relations is better suited to the social media world. They will know the rules to follow to keep it “classy not tacky.”

If you do not know how to handle yourself in social media it could hurt you or your company. If you tweet, or post, or put things on LinkedIn (or any of the other various sites) that is random or unrelated to your company (or false) it can damage your reputation.

It is important to make sure that anything you do involving social media is relelvant to your company/self or is something that people will find interesting. Things that appeal to a larger audience are most desired.

Those are my feelings and I could elaborate more if I felt like it, but could go on forever.

 

 

Jewelry 1

All of my life I have done some form of fine art. From fingerpainting to pinch pots on to printmaking and jewelry classes.

When I first started at Georgia Southern I was a studio art major. I decided to change to public relations because a) I love people and b) it seemed like not only a good fit for me, but a more practical life choice.

Once I switched my major I was no longer taking art classes and found I missed it. I crafted a little in my spare time and found that it made me happier. It is my greatest strees reliever.

In comes Jewelry!

Now I am in my senior year and graduating in May. So, what senior wouldn’t take an elective they love?

Thus, I am enrolled in Jewelry 1 and LOVE it! Below is a picture of my first assignment, a fibula. I did not take a picture of the final piece; this was my first try.

I quite like it. Our newest project is to make two rings. One ring is to be a band ring and the other is to be a sculptural ring with a cabochon stone set in a bezel. I am so enjoying this class .

**All photos are mine and of my creations . The first two photos are just my playing around with wire in my spare time/between working on my fibula and ring. The coloration on the “Love” piece was done by brushing on liver of sulfur, letting it sit a few minutes, and then rinsing the piece off.

 

Book or Movie?

For our social media class we have been asked about books vs. movies. Do you see the movie first or read the book first? Or do you just do one? Are there any adaptations of books to movies you really like?

Those questions are tough for me. I have thought all week about my answer. Honestly I do not have a preference. I love books and movies.

However, if it comes down to it in general I think that the book tends to be better than the movie. I am usually bummed by a lot of movies that are based off of books. Some, you expect to be like the book, but they end up being very very loosely adapted from the book. Other times the characters seem wrong, or the scenes are done out of order. It just is not how one imagines things when reading.

I always read the book before the movie. That may color my feelings towards this topic. The one time I read the book after seeing the movie was with Atonement by Ian McEwan. I was sorely disappointed in both, but they did not follow each other very well.

My favorite adaptation from book to film has to be Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightly. I feel that they followed the book very well and the characters acted how I thought they should.

I realize now after typing that that Keira Knightly was in both films, and I find that ironic that my least favorite and favorite film adaptations involve her.

I also enjoyed, regardless of the many flaws and changes to the flow of the book for film, Harry Potter. All of them really did a great job of bringing the world of Harry Potter to life in film. They have discrepancies with the books, but when so much work and detail went into making the movie literally BE the world of Harry Potter, I cannot truly criticize.

So, in essence I much prefer the book to the movie versions. I enjoy both usually, the book just has the ability to be…more.

So, what do you think?

Bucket List

So, what is on my bucket list?

Well I really don’t have a long one. I made a list once of 60 things to do before 60. They aren’t really like a bucket list though. It has things like kiss in the rain, fall head over heels in love, help a stranger, etc. Maybe one day I will post it on here.

However, I would say a bucket list contains things that aren’t going to happen in everyday life that you want to achieve/do before you die.

I feel I could add lots of things, but it’s difficult to think of things I really want to do before I die that are not small or simple.

So, here is mine as of today:

• Go back to Italy and stay for a month.
• Go to France and tour France becoming fluent in French in the process (I’ve had 3 years of honors French in HS and 2 college level French classes).
• Get over my fear of heights.
• Go somewhere completely out of my comfort zone.
• Own a bookstore.

Why are these on my bucket list?

I went to Italy for a week the summer after my freshman year of high school. I loved it. I want so badly to go back. The people, the art, the culture, the food, the shopping and all of it is just amazing.

Being fluent in French is something I would love. To truly be fluent I feel one must go to that country and be immersed in the language (and who wouldn’t want to go tour France with the art, food, and history?).

I have been unable to do a few fun things my friends have done because of my fear, and I do not want it to hold me back for life.

Going out of my comfort zone would be a way to discover more about me. You can learn a lot about a person by how they handle situations that are unfamiliar.

Finally, I want to own a bookstore. I imagine in my head a small bookstore with a nice backroom where there is a coffee maker, a teapot, and a fridge (gotta have some comforts). I imagine that when one walks in they can see the main desk towards the back of the store.

There are bookshelves on either side of the door and desk, there is a spiral staircase up to the second floor which has more books. I would have a pet (dog or cat) that would come with me. Yes, there would be a sign on the front door to inform people that a pet was inside. Overall, it would be really cozy with little reading alcoves and just a very calm atmosphere.

I figure this is something that if it were to happen would be when I am older and retired.

Well, I told you my bucket list. So, what’s on yours?

I’m off of hia…

I’m off of hiatus! (insert applause)

I am in my final semester at Georgia Southern Unviersity. It is terrifying and thrilling all at the same time to think that in May I will be graduating and heading out into the “real world” to find my career.

I think that many people are terrified at this point in their life. All of the “what ifs” are scary. The not knowing is a big part of that. I truly feel the only way I wouldn’t be terrified would be if when I walk across that stage in Paulson Stadium and graduate I have a job lined up. Having that security is important.

So this semester I am truly going to try to figure out, “How does one successfully get a good job before graduation?” Before finding a career the jobs you typically apply for are things like retail and they have an application. You fill it out turn it in and wait to hear back.

For “big kid jobs” it is a little different. With the economy having been bad many businesses have not recovered, and they may not be hiring. Having an in with a company, like knowing someone who knows someone who can give you an interview, is everything. Thus, I think a huge part is networking.

Aside from that the knowledge that I have had an interview with a public relations agency in Atlanta, Ga. and got rave reviews helps. They may not have any jobs, but getting an email saying I did excellent on the grammar exam, came up with a solid start to a crisis campaign within the time given, and have an impressive resume was a definite ego boost. Now I just have to find more interviews…preferably with companies who are hiring.

Still, the thought of not finding something is always there to terrify you just a little bit.

So, for now I shall blog about my final semester and my social media class.

One little pr note to close this out:

Keep in mind that in business and personal life if someone has a bad experience they are going to tell 10 more people about their experience for every one they would tell if they had a great experience. Customer relations is everything.

Toodles, Au revoir, Bye for now, thanks for reading, I’ll post again soon…and all those other endings

~Samantha