The Commandments

Social media rules and policies are something that every person should have set up. This is not a statement that I thought I would be saying until reading chapter ten. I felt that really only companies and large organizations should have social media policies in place. After talking and making our own policies, I think it’s important to set policies up for each social media site. This chapter really focuses on how to write policies that fit your personal accounts, and of course for a company.

One thing in the chapter really stood out to me, “Social media policies are living documents. This means once they are created they shouldn’t be put away and not look at again.” I think that this is so important because you have to follow those policies everyday. It’s so easy to have those policies in place to just have them but never go back to them. I’m making sure that I don’t do that with my policies. I know there are only a few visitors, and I don’t think people are losing sleep waiting for my blog to come out but I still want to follow them. I am hoping to maintain this blog and grow over my PR career with it, by having policies in place already it sets me up for success. Depending on how many people read my blog, the expectations are already in place for my readers.

Some companies have good social media polices and some do not have them at all. I think that this could really hurt a company’s online relationship with its customers. I found some very good examples of social media policies that are totally worth the read. This can be somewhat of a boring topic but thats where you can make it personal and fitting to who you are. Companies have to focus a little more on the serious side but can still make it their own. When we did our own polices, I tried to make them reflect who I was and what I expected.

Not that they are hard to find, but here is what I came up with:

I believe that communication is a staple for all people, and expressing your own opinion and thoughts is what makes us grow. You can share, learn, create, and connect through social media. While communicating can be an exciting experience, there are certain policies that need to be applied for a open, fun, and safe communication process.

Those following polices include:

Being Respectful To All: This is a place to be open and share your own personal thoughts and opinion on certain topics. With that said, you need to be respectful to yourself and others bloggers. The aspect of respect can shine through by knowing that your not the only one who matters. Be open and understanding for other peoples contributions. Not everyone is going to agree on every topic, but thats okay. To break it down simply, if you don’t have anything helpful or constructive to say, move on!

Don’t Be A Pirate: Words, one of the most powerful weapons has person has. With this said, choose your word choice carefully. There is NO SWEARING at any time. This also includes derogatory or any other offensive language that could be deemed offensive to others. Its simple, reread before you post.

Be Willing To Share: Everyones opinion matters and you should feel comfortable to share what you are thinking. I know that I would love to read them, as well as others. Rather it be a little or a lot, don’t be afraid. This blog is about growing and learning together, and I think its a journey we should share together.

Overall, this blog should be a positive and encouraging place blog. Share, learn, and explore. I ask that you show respect to everyone that comes to this blog, don’t use your words to offend someone else, and please share freely. If you break any of these golden rules, your comment will be removed and if you break them a second time, you will be blocked.

 

 

 

Walmart’s Fat Crisis

It is no secret that a crisis spreads like wildfire, and even more so that social media is heightened in todays world. Most of our news comes from an online source, rather it be a news media outlet, social media outlet, or an email. For this reason millions of people can become educated quickly on a companies crisis, and maybe even more the company does. As stated in the book by Dr. Luttrell, 50 percent of communications professionals believe that organizations are not adequately prepared for a crisis. Our favorite supermarket, Walmart is under fire for having “fat girl Halloween costumes” available this 2014 Halloween season.

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/walmartcom-why-do-you-have-section-called-fat-girl-costumes-161025

Let me just start with, not only is this a crisis but a hot social topic too. Walmart fell very short on the barging shopping this time. First, I really don’t know where to start because I have so many different thoughts with this topic but yes those women are so fat, I’m surprised they fit on one page. (kidding) Really Walmart, fat girl costumes was the best you could come up with. Put aside from this outrageous concept was the way they handled it. This is an example of what not to do in crisis management, ever.

What I found so appalling was the fact that Walmart, themselves put this up on their site. This wasn’t a rude jokester just getting a good laugh. Thankfully Walmart did take down the fat girl part of their line but the apology was lagging in every way. The comments that came from a spokesperson that made an auto-saved answer. Walmart also ate a slice of humble pie saying, “This never should have been on our site,” a company spokesperson said. “It is unacceptable and we apologize.” The representative also said Wal-Mart was working to ensure that a goof up like this “would never happen again.” After the standard and heartless apology, they edited they site to say plus size costumes. I guess that will do.

Lets check over their crisis management plan with the five most important stages of crisis management stated in the book:

1. Prepare in advance

2. Isolate the incidence

3. Evaluate the impact

4. Mitigates the crisis

5. Learn from the crisis

After looking over this list, I am not to impressed with their action plan. This was overly insensitive for so many people and Walmart as a company acted like this was no big deal at all. I am personally not a large fan of Walmart but this was really the icing on the cake for me. I hope that Walmart can learn from this experience and think before they act. Crisis management can either help a company grow or break them. The effects can be lasting such as rise in media inquiries, flurry of comments on social media, drop in sales, and vulnerability of personal, societal, and economic conditions. Quick actions is the best practice to stay ahead of the crisis spiraling out of control.

http://manbitesdigital.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/crisis_management1.jpg

Tell Me You Saw That Photo!

http://technicalseo.blogspot.com/2012/11/top-document-sharing-sites-list.html.html

Right in the beginning of Chapter 7, Dr Luttrell says, “visual content allowing for companies to show, not tell, about their brands, business, and story. I really love this quote because this really sums up how pictures have added that visual pieces that most people need in order to be more informed, loyal, and active with a company. As i was thinking about pictures, it made me realize that they have both a positive and negative side, but yet this could be good either way. The evolution of pictures allows us to do things we were never capable of doing before.

Most people have heard the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words, and I truly believe that. In the modern day of social media, most companies have multiple outlets to reach their consumer. Most companies have Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to share whats happening in the company or interact with customers. The new trend that is happening with companies is that they are picking up on social media sites that are only focused on pictures. The two main sites that companies use to connect on strictly a visual level is Instagram and Flickr, but lets not forget everyones favorite obsession Pinterest. Lets be honest here, most don’t want to admit it but we spend hours on either one of these sites or all of them. Not only is it for personal use but also but for companies as well. This is such an important tool for branding and making a personal impression on your consumer. These sites allow for customers to share things about the company and make a connection. These connections can be made from consumer to consumer about a product, consumer to company, or company to consumer.

Like all good things, there is a dark side. Photo sharing can have its ups and downs for both personal use and company use. But is there a clear argument about whats good and whats bad? As we have talked about in class, with praise comes criticism and that can shine through on photos. When photos are posted to a company site, they are mostly going to be something positive or innovative about whats happening in the company. Then again there are those few instances where trouble arises throughout a company and that could be posted on such sites as Instagram or Flickr. Some issues need to be brought to the surface, and pictures can help the situation or hinder it. All around though, I have come to the conclusion that pictures are one of the most important aspects for a company and an individual to connect.

http://imgfave.com/view/1558026

I think its truly amazing how much pictures effect a company, and how it has evolved over such a short period of time. I don’t even remember the dinosaur days of companies handing out brochures to people to get a better visual look at their company, for a wide variety of things. Seriously, now that I think about it, I don’t think I have ever received a brochure in my 20 years, have you? The magic of a photo is that anyone can take a moment in time, freeze it and use to their endless possibilities. Its a beautiful thing.

Urban Outfitters, is that blood?

As stated by Dr. Luttrell, from Social Media, “We can no longer argue that social media is on the rise or that it is in the early phases of adoption. Social media is here, and it is growing leaps and bounds.”  That statement proved to be true after social media blew up today on multiple sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram when Urban Outfitters launched a vintage Kent State University sweatshirt that had blood splatter on it. This $129 sweatshirt was emulating an infamous school shooting that happened in 1970, when four students were shot by National Guard after protesting the Vietnam War. Both Urban Outfitters and Kent State had something to say after the picture of the sweatshirt went viral. Now where to begin with this clothing disaster, I guess the idea behind the sweatshirt.

Vintage Kent State sweatshirt from Urban Outfitters website.
http://www.businessinsider.com%2Furban-outfitters-kent-state-sweatshirt-bloodstain-

Urban Outfitters has come out with a statement apologizing saying, ” It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such. This one of-a-kind item was purchased as part of our sun-faded vintage collection. There is no blood on this shirt nor has this item been altered in any way. The red stains are discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the whole are from natural wear and fray.” -Urban Outfitters spokesperson.

I guess I see two sides of this argument for Urban Outfitters and the public. First, for anyone who has either shopped in Urban Outfitters or seen their clothing in various outlets know that they have very outside the box clothing. I personally like there clothes and have many pieces from their collections. Although, this certain sweatshirt could be exactly what the company said about it, ” the red stains are discoloration from the original shade.” This certain garment really could just have that certain pattern on it, not meaning to portray a horrific event in American history. Having worked in the retail industry for nine years, I understand that the manufacturing can vary the results of how a clothing items looks. This brings me to my next point, why would Urban Outfitters allow for a garment to be on their shelves that gave customers the idea that emulated a gunshot wound to the arm, with blood splatter. This was a massive event that effected thousand that were involved in the protest, and those around the country. If a retailer wants to selling a college sweatshirt, its probably not in their best interest to sell it with blood stains and bullet holes on it, with a school logo that had a massive shooting.

Now, I am very conflicted on what to think about this sweatshirt. I shop frequently at Urban Outfitters, so much that I actually have a shopper tote. So does this make me a certain type of hypocrite for having so much of their products, but bad mouthing the company at times when no one wants to be associated with them?  I feel that I am stuck in the middle of this trending social issue, but after reading the facts, I think that I am more disappointed in Urban Outfitters than anything else. Again, this is my personal opinion and I’m curious to know what your thoughts are on the matter?

My favorite top from Urban Outfitters, plus my frequent shopper bag

This has not been the company’s first controversial clothing item, as it has battled criticism time and time again. Some of these items include from the week.com, pro-booze for kids, the Holocaust-evoking “Jewish Star” shirt,” Obama/Black” T-shirt, and the “Eat Less” T-shirt. I have a feeling that this will not be the last time Urban Outfitters will be in the news for outrageous and offensive clothing.

Due to the masses that flock to social media, it allowed for this story to be spread quickly to those over a multitude of sites. As an effect of social media being so profoundly used daily, this sweatshirt spread like wild fire. As chapter two stated media allows us to make channels through which we make connections with others in many forums. We can now connect through pictures, websites, and mobile devices. If we didn’t have this great social media source, I don’t think that this news of this sweatshirt would have spread as fast. Today, I saw this link being posted to numerous social media forums. This caused a chain reaction of outcries from a magnitude of people. Another piece that stood out to me from chapter two was, from Barlow saying, ” Internet has created a generation of people accustomed to finding their own answers, creating their own systems, forming their own new communities.” By Urban Outfitters creating this sweatshirt, it left an open-ended meaning for consumers. As a result of their actions, the internet allowed for the sweatshirt to be shared on social media sites and communities of people began to assume that they wanted to recreated something from the Kent State shooting.

From the Circular Model of SoMe for Social Communication, the four components: share, optimize, manage, engage were majorly used by Urban Outfitters today, and by PR practitioners to fix this mixed message for the company. The company shared by rebuilding trust and connection with outside sources such as their customers, news outlets, and Kent State. Urban had to optimizes by reading and listing to authentic conversations that were happening about how customers felt about the sweatshirt. PR practitioners had to manage the media by quickly jumping on responses due to major criticism of the company’s bad choice in clothing making. Finally, PR practitioners and the company had to engage on how they would reach the audiences effectively.

The Four Founding Quadrants

      The role of social media is rapidly becoming the most important aspect and tool that public relations practitioners can use in their day to day activity. This is an element that allows for companies to reach out to their stakeholders, media outlets, and companies constantly. Four key ingredients to that equation lie within the quadrant of public relations, that allows practitioners to either solely focus on one, or integrate all together with aid of social media.  As Dr. Luttrell explained in chapter one of Social Media, the four quadrants include media, community, business, and government.

Photo provided by: Media Mark Spotlight/Google image.

    Each of these quadrants, I found to be true after reading, are the meat and potatoes for PR practitioner to truly complete the full circle of social media. It is evident that by themselves one quadrant can make great impacts on a company, but intertwining all four allows for that more direct formula to success. With any company no matter the product or service they provide for stakeholders, wants to maintain a certain image.  Having open communication through some examples such as publicity, customer interaction, lobbying, and investor relation lets there be a wide range of social outlets.

After reading about all four quadrants of public relations, I came to realizes that even within my current job that I hold there are elements of those  four functions. While some of these are not as evident because of my position at the company, I can begin now to recognizes some of the public relations tools at hand. I know that I am a novice in the public relations world, but even after reading the first chapter of Social Media I seem to\ be picking up on key functions that trickle down throughout the company.

I have been working for Nike for two years now, as most know, it’s one of worlds leading sports retailers. Nike has a hand in most sporting outlets, rather it be its clothing, sponsoring teams and events, or developing the newts technology for its athletes. One opportunity that arose in the store was giving back to the community and giving more of our time volunteering. At the time I just thought this was volunteering at work, now I can give it a perfect public relations term, community relations. A Facebook page was set up to spread the message not only for any member of the staff to come and participate, but also anyone in the surrounding community.  A small team of athletes at the Howell Nike Factory Store got together to go and lend a helping hand in  local children day, that took place at the community center. While the team was assisting in encouraging children, water duty, and running certain events, we were also passing out coupons to come back to the store and use. Without even knowing it, myself and the rest of the team was participating in a trickle down effect of community relations developed by public relations practitioners.

Lindsey and myself setting up an event at the Howell community center/via Facebook.

As stated by Dr. Luttrell, ” We must remember that “community” no longer means just the physical community, but also online community.” That is becoming so true in todays technological age. Very few companies or groups send out snail mail anymore. Social media allows for you to send out that message, and have it instantly become active. This is what the Nike athletes did at the Howell store, getting this event into a “now” topic for the community. Community relations in not only beneficial to the company’s image but has a positive effect on the community at large. While this was a small community outreach, it still helped implement Nike’s core vales and image. Focusing on physical fitness and starting a healthy lifestyle at a young age is an essential part of Nike’s core values. By having employees getting out and giving back to the community it proves that the company cares about its stakeholders not only in their stores but for the common good as well.

I love the development and growth that social media has had with public relations in the last decade. There is such a vast range of social media, its not just restricted to the common online sites we all know.  The four quadrants are just the first building blocks to the importance of social media. Even after the first chapter, I feel that I could find those four functions easier and be able to recognize them from a public relations practitioners standpoint.

Picture provided by: alpinepr.com/google images.

Introduction

My name is Lauren and I am a sophomore at Eastern. My major here at Eastern is Public Relations and marketing. I am excited to learn and explore the inner workings of poetry, fiction, and essays. I enjoy both reading and writing all types of works from various authors. My goal is to broaden my horizon on how to interpret poems and gain more knowledge on creative writing.