Wedding Planning April 25, 2009

If you have read the “About” section of my blog, you will find that I hope to one day become a wedding planner. On my blog titled, “Another Shot at Twitter,” you will also find that I wrote about an event planning group, “BelleWedding.”

I began interested in wedding planning a couple years ago when I started watching “Whose Wedding is it Anyway?” on TV. I think it is so cool how creative these planners are and how they make everything flow together. I realize that it is a lot a work, but I want to be a part of a bride’s “big day.” Some of the shows prove that brides can be rude and snappy, but I know I can handle it. I work well under pressure, and I am extremely organized.

I recently subscribed to a wedding magazine in Charleston, South Carolina. It not only advertises for event companies, bridal shops, and floral shops, but it also gives tips to wedding planners. The most interesting thing I read about was in an article on what to do when a problem arises. One wedding planner keeps an “emergecy kit” with her at all times. The kit has things such as safety pins, glue, and extra bobbypins in case any hairs fly loose. This magazine also shows what flowers bloom in what season and also gives tips on how to save money on decorations.

I feel that I would be qualified for this field because I work well in groups and I love romantic settings. I like to please others, which works well for this setting because it is what it’s all about!

You can learn more about this magazine at www.Charlestonweddingsmag.com

Dominos

During a Public Relations class with Professor Barbara Nixon, we watched a YouTube video on a couple of teenage employees working at Dominos Pizza. The video showed these employees making orders to deliver out to customers. The young man in the video put cheese up this nose along with blowing his nose onto the sandwich he was preparing. The young woman urges him on as she video tapes him.

This video is not only disgusting, but it ruined a large company’s reputation. Thousands of families across America will now think twice before they pick up their phone to order a large cheese pizza.

I do not think that people realize that what they do affects others.  The students that made this video claim that it was a joke and that the orders were never sent out. Even if this is true, they seriously hurt the company.  Although Dominos apologized a couple days after the event, the public is still unsure. Professor Nixon made a good point in our class on the fact that it took Dominos two days to send out an apology on the internet. I feel like that they should have reacted instantly. Taking their time makes it seem as if they do not find this issue to be a big deal.

Public relations is based on organization and being prompt. Apologizing two days after the issue is not prompt. They could have handle this situation differently in order to show the public that they matter.

Yellowstone National Park

This summer,I will be working out in Yellowstone National Park. I applied this past February through an online application. I will be working  in a restaurant from May 23rd until August 1st.

My parents met each other while both working in Yellowstone during the summers of their college years.  When I was in the 4th grade, they took my brother and I out to Wyoming. It is the most beautiful country. There are thousands of wild flowers, animals walking where ever they please, and the people are extremely helpful. As we traveled throughout the park, I realized that this is where I wanted to work, I wanted to be a part of traveler’s experiences while they are out in this part of the country.

There are different “towns” within the park, and each of them have something unique and special about them. There is Lake, Mannoth, Old Faithful, and Canyon. I will be working in Canyon. There are hiking trails, restaurants, souvenir shops, and more. Even though Old Faithful is the most tourist like of all the places, I still enjoyed watching the geyser, named “Old Faithful.” This geyer shoots high into the air at a certain time every hour. Hundreds of people watch it each time, amazed by the height and beauty of it rising from the ground.

I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to work out West this summer. This will be my first time actually doing something on my own. Sure, I live away from home while at school, but I can always travel back to Atlanta on the weekends. This summer, I will offically be on my own.

Comments on WordPress April 23, 2009

The following links have blog posts that I have commented on.

 http://lindsayaddison.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/48-hours-of-twitter/#comment-17

http://sfarmer2.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/interview-of-a-pr-professional/#comment-14

http://agemmel.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/chapter-14/#comment-8

http://cjustin101.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/response-to-the-parking-attendant/#comment-3

http://emilyroper17.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/48-hours-of-twitter/#comment-8

Another Shot at Twitter

My professor for Public Relations, Barbara Nixon, asked us to try Twitter out again for 48 hours. The first time the class was asked to use Twitter, I was extremely confused. I did not understand followers, following, or the term “tweeting.” I did not get the overall concept of what Twitter was supposed to be used for. I now understand the fascination. A person on Twitter can learn more than just what someone has planned for that afternoon. People can ask for advice and receive answers almost instantly. I actually like the fact that the characters are limited. This makes people tweet to the point, without adding in unimportant information.

At first, I was uncomfortable with “following” people and being “followed.” I thought it was a little creepy, but now I think it is great that you do not have to wait for the person to accept you, like on Facebook. Twitter is not extremely personal, so there is no need to be worried when people “follow” you. I take it as a compliment!

Celebrities and professionals in all different fields have become familiar with the site. Twitter is now heard being discussed on radio shows, the news, and even sports center. It is a great way to spread the word to many viewers at once.

For the past 48 hours I have become interested in PR professionals that are using twitter. An Atlanta site tweets information on ways to help out around the community, as well as upcoming events in the down town area. You can Twitter them @downtownatl. Growing up around Atlanta, I find this site very interesting because it helps to spread the word around about what is happening in the Atlanta area. You can also tweet them at I hope to one day become a wedding planner, which is why I have been “following” They give random tips and send out ads on how to make your “dream” wedding come true. You can read more on their Twitter @BelleWedding. This group proves that twitter can help to bring business in. The third professional I have been following can be found @BroadgatePR. There are “tweets” on surveys and tips on public relation skills. I enjoyed looking at the links they posted that were all based around journalism and public relations.

When our class first began using Twitter, I was uncomfortable and considered it an inconvenience to get on this site. Now, I find myself checking Twitter as much as I do Facebook!

You can Twitter me @laurens918.

Chapter 5-Research April 8, 2009

This post is about Chapter 5 in the book titled, “Public Relations Strategies and Tactics” ninths edtion, written by Dennis L. Wilcox and Glen T. Cameron.

I really liked how this chapter was broken down. I liked how the authors took each section of research and broke each one down. “Secondary Research” is defined as research that is gotten from sources such as “reference books, computer databases, and online searches.” The book then goes into detail on how to find information within each of these sources. The internet is extremely important when it comes to research. In today’s time, almost any subject can be found on the interet. This is very useful. The next topic the book breaks down is “Qualitative Research.” This sections helps to establish the attitude and popularity of a product or company. Research is done with content analysis, interviews, focus groups, copy testing, and ethnographic techniques. The feedback is helpful in making the product/company more successful. “Quantitative Research” is all about making the company more effective.  Techniques such as random sampling and sample size are used to figure out what the public is thinking. “Questionnaire Construction” is the most popular way to receive information. Getting the opinion of the people that used the product or dealt with the company will help get a better feel of the problems that need to be fixed. People are not afraid to tell how they feel, so I believe that this is the best tactic when making improvements to something.

Interview with a PR Professional

 

I was excited when we were instructed to interview a Public Relations professional. I decided to find someone who held the position that I would one day like to have; an event planner. I compiled the notes I took during my interview, making it more of a story versus a question/answer interview. I want you, as the reader, to feel as if you are actually at the interview while reading this.

Susan Carter, age 53, works for Solvay Pharmaceutical company. She attended Auburn University, graduating with a major in Business Administration. She was hired to plan the events dealing with Solvay.

“Dallas, Texas, the Hilton Anatole. 195 guests with two large conference rooms, a 5 star restaurant on the 27^th floor and 72 hotel rooms.” This is just the beginning of the list Mrs. Carter must finalize before the convention on October 12. Yes, events are planned over 6 months in advance with multiple trips taken in order to assure that everything goes according to plan. No work week is ever the same. This atmosphere is full of organization, meeting after meeting over something as simple as the table decorations, and examining suites where the corporate leaders will be staying. Carter reminisced, “The stress can seem unbearable at times. I have spent many of events solving a situation, running to cry in the bathroom, fixing my make-up, and then deciphering the next problem.”

It is extremely important to provide a hotel that is located near entertainment such as restaurants, bars, or plays for the businessmen to go to at night. Every hotel, no matter the capacity it holds, has what is called a “sales kit.” “These pamphlets have everything about the hotel; from the meeting rooms, what each bedroom contains, and even the dimensions of every room within the hotel.” The location has a huge impact on the event itself. One part of an Event Coordinator’s job is to study every angle of the hotel rooms, where the meetings will be held, and how the staff interacts with the customers. The “sales kit” helps to show the features of each section of the hotel and what is has to offer.   “People remember little things, like the chandeliers in the dining areas or the generosity of the valet boys.” Mrs. Carter then went on to describe her favorite event, which was held in Las Vegas. “I was able to have a large budget for this event. We rented gambling machines for the clients to play while in the conference room. The decorations were set up to make it seem as if the group was in its own casino.”

When I asked Mrs. Carter the best way to get involved in the event planning field, she said, “I suggest you start either interning or working at a hotel. This will enable you to work with the side that hosts events.” She recalled her first job as an assistant for an Event Coordinator at a hotel. She clarified that although the salaries vary, an experienced independent may make as much as $450 a day and usually fly between 20-25 times a year.  There are slow periods of the year, but at the same time there is something always to prepare for in the future. Long working hours are involved along with weekends spent preparing for the event.

Mrs. Carter said that writing is only involved when dealing with wrap-up meetings. She must fill out a form, listing all the areas where she spent money. The form also asks what went well during the event, as well as where improvement was needed. Mrs. Carter believes that staying up-to-date with technology is important for any job in public relations. “It makes a client feel more at ease if the person they hired is regularly trained in the field of technology.” Being current in this field will help you succeed.

Mrs. Carter stated that she never dreamed she would be working in this area, but she would not want it any other way. “Although there are tough and stressful times, seeing the final products makes it all worth it.”

As I was looking over my notes from this interview, I realized that this truly is the career of my dreams. I like for my life to be fast-paced. Mrs. Carter mentioned that an event planner must be ready for any situation to arise. I feel as if I would do well in this field because I work well under pressure. Leadership is required in order to produce the results needed to pull off the function. I feel as if I could meet the criteria for this career.

Inside PR Podcast

Inside PR Podcast is hosted by Terry Fallis, Martin Waxman, and David Jones. You can listen to this podcast by clicking on http://www.insidepr.ca/. You may also email them with comments or questions at insideprcomments@gmail.com

These men use comedy to make the listeners pay attention. These men make the conversations flow just like a regular conversation.

Today’s conversation was based on the use of Twitter. The hosts talk about how in the past month, Twitter has become extremely popular.

Terry talked about how he has not become addicted to using Twitter, like his co-host David. Terry said that it is difficult for him to catch on, and he does not see the big excitement over it.

They described it as group internet chating. It is a public  broadcast. People use Twitter for random thoughts and to respond to what others had posted. Martin and David said that they use Twitter constantly, even while they are ordering lunch.

Martin claimed that he followed more people than people following him. He claimed that he is in the “wow, Twitter is so amazing” stage.  Martin has 1667 followers. He said he is not out to follow as many people as he can, or get as many people he can to follow him. He is using Twitter for social purposes. He follows popular people, for example, the Mayor of Toranto.

They talked about two subjects: How Public Relations engage with Twitter and how clients might engage with twitter. Professionals, students, and all people inbetween are using it.

They talked about how professionals in the Public Relations field can use twitter to get clients, ask opinions to different situations, or just advertise their expertise. They predict that more professionals will join Twitter in order to keep up with technology.

Clients might engage in Twitter in order to find a professional for the specific job they need assisted with. Clients could type in key words, so they could follow someone dealing with the same area. Twitter allows people to follow conversations back and forth. This allows them to get an idea of the popularity of the product or professional being talked about.

 It was interesting to listen to these men talk about their opinion on Twitter. I liked hearing their points of views because they were not all obsessed with it. One was fairly new on twitter, one was a pro, and the other had no idea what he was doing while on the site.

Chapter 4- Public Relations Departments and Firms

This chapter comes from our Public Relations book titled, “Public Relations Strategies and Tactics” the ninth addition. It is written by Dennis L. Wilcox and Glen T. Cameron.

This chapter is about how public relations deal with organizations. The different tactics are mentioned. I thought it was extremely interesting to rend the “blue section” titled, “The Trend Toward Outsourcing.” This section stated that the organization reaches out to outside groups for help, as do public relation groups. Outsiders are needed for their professional help. Many companies do not have the expertise they need for certain subjects within themselves. Advertising has become very popular. Hiring someone to only work on advertisement will help a company grow.

I think that Public Relations firms are amazing. They offer so many services to business. They handle situations such as research and evaluation, media analysis, and branding and corporate reputations. I think it is important for a company to have a great reputation in order to succeed. Customers will not want to deal with a group that does not have a great “face.” When I say face, I mean that a company must be up-to-date with technology and be able to handle any situations that arise.

There are advantages and disadvantages to using a Public Relations firm. The advantages cover issues such as a variety of skills and expertise and many resources. The disadvantages deal with a lack of full time commitment and the cost a good amount of money.

“Tribes” by: Seth Godin March 27, 2009

Our Public Relations professor had us watch a speech given by Seth Godin on his book called “Tribes.” Mr. Godin begins his speech by talking about how having more of anything is better. It is human nature to want more. I liked how he began showing pictures on the screen. They were funny, which kept me interested in what he was saying. His introduction discussed on how there is a shortage of leaders in the world today. Money, economic status, or race do not make a person a leader. Nothing stops someone from becoming a leader except themself.

Godin then began to speak on how it is human nature to want to belong. This brought him to define “tribes.” He stated that a tribe is a group of people that share something in common. Human beings like doing what other human beings are doing, thus resulting in a common interest. How many “tribes” do you belong to? I am a part of a sorority here at Georgia Southern, I attend a church, and I am on a softball team. Godin explains that there have been 3 main tribes since the beginning of time; church, work, and community. Everyone in each of these tribes have something in common. They are interested in the same career field, have the same faith, or reside in the same area.

There are thousands of tribes in the world. Anyone can start a tribe, and anyone can join a tribe.

Godin goes back to discussing leaders. Someone must “run” the tribe, yet he says he is picky about using the word “run” because no one likes to be told what to do. A leader must lead, the group. A leader must guide the tribe.

I enjoyed watching Godin’s speech. He was interesting and his topic made sense to me. Everyone is part of a tribe, so this was the perfect topic to speak on because everyone could relate.

 

Seth Godin’s speech on his book “Tribes” can be watched at http://blog.mixergy.com/seth-godin-tribe/