Protecting Yourself Online

It seems that more and more lately we are hearing our professors say that our online profiles on Facebook, MySpace, and other Internet sites could feasibly make or break our chances of getting certain jobs. Well, according to this article, that is true. Not only do we have to worry about our profile content on our favorite social networking sites, but we also have to be aware that potential employers are Googling us and considering all available results, good and bad.

This article gives an insider's perspective on how to be prepared if and when skeletons come out of the closet as well as what to do to prevent it and protect ourselves. While most of us don't have an excess amount of information about us on the Internet yet, the tips given are helpful to remember if needed for later use. Since we will be going into media related fields it can be expected that as we build our professional portfolios in the future we will all have more information on the Internet.

The tips that pertain to us now are obvious, like cleaning up your Facebook profile when starting the job search. But most are good for the future. For example, the journalist who wrote the article was once blasted in a blog post for another article she wrote. Instead of sitting back and taking the criticism she fired back. She approached the blogger in a response to his post. This rebuttal paid off as the blogger respected her move and posted an apology. Many times just approaching a site to request that some information about you be removed will suffice. This was surprising to me. There is a lot of other good advice in this article that I found very beneficial. In the increasingly digital-driven world we cannot be too careful about what information is out about us.

Texas: A Hot Job Market

I think it is probably safe to assume that with most of us being seniors and steadily approaching graduation, future careers is a topic that is on our minds. It's frightening to think about the prospect of searching for employment in the current not-so-hot job market. With this thought in mind this article about the the locations in the U.S. that are currently thriving places to find employment caught my eye.

It was very surprising to me that the top three locations in the U.S. to find employment are all located in Texas. Houston, Austin, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area ranked first, second, and third on the list respectively. After discovering this I wondered what kinds of opportunities there are in Texas for public relations hopefuls. Turns out, these are areas that have many prospects. Just focusing on PR firms there is Pierpont Communications with locations in all three cities, The Bernard Group in Austin, and MWW Group and the Shelton Group both in Dallas- Fort Worth. These are just a few of the many firms listed in the areas. These kinds of opportunities are worth looking into if you don't know what do after graduation.

Good PR Reputations

I ran across this article about the value of reputations in the PR field. Obviously, a good reputation is an incredibly valuable asset. First, how do you obtain this? Once you have it, how do you keep it, especially when faced with various crises? In this article the "PR Doctor" gives some helpful insight into each of these issues and also provides a breakdown of rules/laws to follow to aid in your success. While this may not be pertinent to us at this time, it could be beneficial once we get out into the real world of PR.

Image from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bikeracing.com/images/graphics/Rules_Graphic.gif&imgrefurl=http://ccm.um.edu.my/ccm/navigation/staff-activities/staff-activities/um-survey-camp/rules-and-regulations/&h=374&w=387&sz=14&hl=en&start=3&um=1&usg=__wtRbZo_VnV5t7RvW2xFGVtLD8ec=&tbnid=DmODupY3g_eZGM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drules%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DHPIC,HPIC:2006-35,HPIC:en%26sa%3DN

Misty May will Dance with the Stars

ABC's hit show Dancing With the Stars recently announced the newest batch of celebrities that will compete during the upcoming seventh season. Among these contestants is two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor. May-Treanor and her beach volleyball teammate Kerri Walsh have become America's sweethearts over the past four years since winning Olympic gold in 2004 at the Athens, Greece games and again this summer in Beijing, China. May-Treanor and Walsh were the heavy favorites going into the Beijing games and didn't disappoint.

May-Treanor is currently riding an Olympic high and in the favor of the American public. It is safe to say that she has been covered with good public relations lately. Since the outcome of DWTS is based on the votes of viewers, will May-Treanor's popularity give her an advantage over the other contestants? I guess we will have to tune in to find out for sure.

Images from http://spoilerbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/dancingwiththestarslogo.jpg

You Go Rachel Zoe!

I have been extremely excited about the "The Rachel Zoe Project" on Bravo since the first time I heard the show was in the making. So, as you can imagine, I eagerly tuned in to last night's series premier. Sometimes I find that when I look so forward to a new TV show or movie my expectations aren't met. Happily, this was not the case with "Rachel Zoe". The clothes, the shoes, the handbags, the jewelry, and even an appearance from Michael Kors... I was in heaven.

But even with all my excitement, my inner PR student came out. You always have to wonder when high-profile person decides to do a reality show, so to speak, what is in it for them. Usually it is, at least partially, a PR move to get their name out in the public more. Numerous times during last night's season premier Ms. Zoe mentioned growing her business and starting her own brand. It seems to me that this could be a PR strategy to take the Rachel Zoe name from being associated only with celebrity styling to being seen as a commodity. Her show obviously won't hurt the sales for her upcoming line.

So hats off to Rachel Zoe! Not only did she entertain me for an hour last night, she also peaked my interest in learning more about she and her new brand. Isn't that what good PR is about?

Picture from http://www.culturefeast.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/rachel-zoe.jpg

Cell Phones on Campus Creating a Buzz

When searching for topics for my blog entry, I came across this article concerning the presence of cell phones on college campuses. Recently many universities have implemented the use of cell phones, particularly smart phones such as the BlackBerry and the iPhone, in the classroom for educational purposes. These purposes include keeping up with attendance, taking quizzes, scheduling classes, and assisting communication between teachers and students. More schools are starting to jump on this band wagon. For example, Abilene Christian University in Texas is giving iPhone's to two-thirds of its entering freshman class this year.

As more schools start to accept cell phones as educational tools instead of classroom contraband, universities can use this as a PR platform. The convenience of cell phones is undeniable and, for the most part, every student owns one. The benefits of this new method can easily be seen and potential students to universities are not likely to ignore it. What better way to attract an upcoming freshman's attention than be telling them they can have their cell phone in class? However, is allocating the use of cell phones in classrooms going to purely be a more convenient way to communicate with students and ease their lives, or is it just going to make texting, Facebooking, and web-surfing during class easier to get away with? Do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks?

Picture from http://www.appleiphonereview.com/images/blackberry-iphone.jpg

"Microsoft Gurus"

As the owner of a Hewlett Packard PC, it's always interesting to see what new technology Microsoft is coming out with to satisfy my computer needs. It's no secret that PC's are considered to be second best to Apple computers when it comes to design software and other various programs. Apple can also be considered to have a loyal following, as its users are extremely dedicated to the brand. When I ran across this article I found it very interesting that Microsoft is now taking cues from Apple's customer service strategy. Via this new tactic, Microsoft will be placing "Microsoft Gurus" in Best Buy and Circuit City store locations to help customers with their PC buying needs. This approach comes from the "Genius Bars" that can be found in Apple stores.
The "Microsoft Guru" plan could turn out to be a very beneficial PR implement for the company. Having bought my own computer from a Best Buy store, I am aware that there are many consumers who shop for computers at these retailer locations. Having knowledgable Microsoft employees in the locations could help in selling a PC to consumers who are torn between that and an Apple. Previously, Apple has had an edge because there were not as many Microsoft experts in the field to help consumers find information in their purchase decisions. While Apple may still have better design programs, Microsoft can probably expect to catch up a bit in the customer service area thanks to their new plan.

Image from http://petewilliamsagency.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/Apple%20computer-2.JPG

Aquacurrent Makes a Splash

Aquacurrent Science is a popular new cosmetic component. It is being advertised as a special ingredient in various Proctor & Gamble products including the Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths collection, Covergirl AquaSmooth Makeup, Secret Flawless Touch with Olay deodorant, and other Olay merchandise. Aquacurrent advertises that it is the science that moves moisture where it is needed most in your skin and hair. On the PR front, Aquacurrent has partnered with Proctor & Gamble, been featured in Women's Wear Daily, Redbook, First, and Parenting, as well as acting as the sponsor of the premier party for the CW's 90210.