Symone' Sullivan's Blog

Social Media News Release

symonesullivan — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:46:04 +0000

What is a Social Media News Release (SMNR)?

A social media news release (SMNR) is a press release formatted for online media. Social media news releases consist of a press release along with additional information associated with the press release such as contacts, links, multimedia (e.g. pictures, videos, audio, etc.), quotes and a boilerplate which is additional background information about the contact, organization or company.

Source: http://www.realwire.com/servicesSMNR.asp

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a SMNR?

Advantages:

Optimised for search – can easily be found in search engines
Optimised for conversation – provide feed back or commentary
Optimised for sharing – easily share the link with others with minor effort
Tells the entire story through multimedia – video, images and audio better explain the story
Provides context on complicated stories – different means of explaining the story by way of links or other add-ons
Visually more appealing – the viewer is more apt to read it because of the multimedia

Source: http://socialtraining.wetpaint.com/page/Social+Media+News+Release

Disadvantages: (During my research, I could not find many disadvantages.)

People who are not computer savvy may have difficulty navigating through a SMNR
Multimedia attachments may malfunction

When should a PR practitioner consider using a SMNR?

PR practitioners should consider using a SMNR when they want to demonstrate more than a typical press release that includes audio, video, etc. SMNRs are great tools to use when practitioners want to reach a mass audience and save money at the same time. SMNRs are more user-friendly. It can demonstrate a product more effectively versus reading about it on paper. SMNRs can also provide reviews and feedback from critiques, consumers and the like.

The following links are to websites that provide help for those who want to create a SMNR:

The following is a link to an SMNR that Southwest Airlines created: (Use this as an example)

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Southwest-Airlines-Takes-Corporate-Blogging-to-the-Next-Level-NYSE-LUV-852839.htm#

The following is the link to the SMNR that I created by using PRX Builder:

http://www.prxbuilder.com/link.aspx?p=1581

The purpose of this press release is to inform Georgia Southern University students and Statesboro residents about an event entitled “Sunday’s Best G.S.U. Edition” that a G.S.U. organization called Soul’d Out Campus Choir hosted. Soul’d Out Campus Choir’s goals were to inform students and locals about the event so they would attend. This would help Soul’d Out both financially and publicity wise.

Tips for creating an SMNR:

Use accurate yet attractive headlines and sub-headings to grasp people’s attention
Use bullet points and numbers to help viewers understand listed information more easily
Use SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tactics for keyword choices so the SMNR will ascend in search engines
Use links within your text so people can easily navigate to other sites
Use multimedia links such as audio files, embedded videos or images – this is visually appealing while remaining informative
Use the “share with” plug-in for popular bookmarking sites like Digg or Del.icio.us
Use additional information such as logos, maps, charts and photos of your product, event, website location and contacts
Do SEO research and have measurable goals
Know the target audience
Put the readers first
It’s better to give than receive – offer advice, tips, instructions, etc.

Source:

My Comments on End of Semester Blog Posts

symonesullivan — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:36:13 +0000

Good-bye Junior Year

symonesullivan — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:19:56 +0000

… and just like that this semester is over. Can I believe it? Yes and no. I’ve had good times and bad times. Some of which I won’t discuss on this blog (lol). The highs of this semester is the success that I’ve achieved in two organizations that I’m a part of. This was my first school year as president of Soul’d Out Campus Choir, I got re-elected for next year as well, and last month I was elected historian in PRSSA for next year. Needless to say, I’m excited about my senior year for those reasons, especially. Also, this school year I’ve made some amazing friends. My circle has expanded and I’m enjoying every minute of it. There’s nothing like wise, supportive friends. What I’ve learned this semester is that I need to study more if I want excellent grades. Next semester I’m going to manage my time better. One of the mistakes I made this school year is putting more time into extracurricular activities than I did in my school work. I’ll be a senior next school year and my plan, though to some it may seem farfetched, is to make straight As. I want to graduate with no less than a 3.5. I believe I can do it. I also want to join an honor society and do as much community service as I can.

My Comments on Bucket List Posts

symonesullivan — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:32:47 +0000

My Bucket List

symonesullivan — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:23:01 +0000

My Bucket List

Obtain a master’s degree in public administration
Get married
Have at least two children
Minister internationally
Own a PR firm
Travel overseas (Spain, Africa, France, China, etc.)
Own a house with a porch and spacious backyard
Own a BMW or Mercedes-Benz
Host my own talk show
Establish my own charity
Take ballet, hip-hop and jazz dance lessons again

I want to be remembered for being a Christian that maintained integrity and uplifted others throughout my life. I want my life to be a positive example for other people.

Texting while Walking

symonesullivan — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:51:09 +0000

First, I must say texting while driving and texting while walking don’t compare. The risks of texting while driving are way more costly and detrimental than it is while walking. Granted, it is rude and careless to run into someone while you’re walking. It’s a problem, but then it isn’t because I have yet to see a news broadcast or article about the issue. It wouldn’t hurt for cell phone companies to post articles about the issue, though. If I were to see an advertisement about texting while walking, I would find it humorous because an issue like texting while walking following a very important issue like texting while driving just doesn’t seem as important. Then again, considering children or people who are handicapped, the issue does seem more important. Therefore, as a PR professional, my tactic would be to use children and people who are handicapped (i.e. people who are in wheelchairs, use crutches, etc.) as an example to convey how serious this issue can be. Personally, I’ve never had anyone run into me while they were texting, but I can understand if it aggravates someone else.

My Comments on Texting and Walking Posts

symonesullivan — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:38:21 +0000

My Comments on Twitter Posts

symonesullivan — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:44:35 +0000

Cheating on Facebook with Twitter

symonesullivan — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:35:47 +0000

I love Twitter. In my opinion, Twitter is a text message sent to a massive audience. It allows people to feel closer to one another because Twitter is constantly updated by its users. People post thier plans, opinions, current locations and/or tasks, events, celebrations, etc. Twitter really does keep its users “in the know.” An awesome trait about Twitter (personally it doesn’t excite me) is that celebrities have public profiles that are verified and accessible to any user of Twitter. Facebook is not that convenient. It is a hassle to get added to celebrities’ pages because one, there is trouble finding them and two, there is no way to guarantee that the page is legitimate; the profile could belong to an imposter. Twitter is valuable because it’s a quick, simple update to a mass audience about anything a user may want to post.

My Twitter page is www.twitter.com/symonesullivan. I joined Twitter March 5, 2011 at the P R Where U R conference. Since then, I have 114 followers (some due to this class assignment) and I’ve tweeted over 425 times. I’ve found myself using Twitter way more than Facebook now. I’ll probably have my Twitter page for a long time. I’ll keep it not just because I enjoy it (and I can be nosy), but because I will enter into the field of public relations soon and I need to be very knowledgable about Twitter because it’s a leading social networking site. Like Facebook, businesses and professionals have caught on to the hype and now there are hundreds if not thousands of them that can be found on Twitter. I think it’s genius. People constantly mention businesses in their tweets with the # or the @ sign, so it’s a great way to gain publicity. I created a Twitter page for the organization that I’m president of at Georgia Southern University, Soul’d Out Campus Choir. Its Twitter page is www.twitter.com/SouldOutCC. It gets the word out quick as far as updates and notices and I can tweet on the go!

As far as this class assignment, I followed 10 professionals from Professor Groover’s list. A few of them even followed me back. I found and followed all of my 18 classmates except 2 or 3. They followed me back. There were students from other PR classes that followed me as well. I tried to use the #PRCA3330 hashtag as much I could remember, but I’m used to tweeting so it slipped my mind often (lol). Overall, I enjoyed the assignment. I know I surpassed the required 30 tweets. What can I say? I love Twitter!

The Best Advice

symonesullivan — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:17:29 +0000

I have been blessed with a family that believes it’s important to discuss feelings and issues. I also have great friends who I trust to confide in. Although, I have a great support system in my life, I receive the best, credible advice from attending church. Hands down, the best advice I’ve been given is to “put God first and keep God first.” Any problem that I have great or small, any issue that I’m facing whether it’s designed to pull me forward or push me backward, with God I can overcome it. Not only can I overcome it, but I’ll come out a champion every time. I know it’s easier said than done, but it’s possible. I follow this advice every day because my Christianity is my support system. Without it I wouldn’t be blessed with the great support system that I have and if I was, I wouldn’t know how to love them properly. Romans 8:31 “… if God be for us, who can be against us?”