BY ANDRE GOMEZ Networking is essential for career growth in any industry. Even with experience, degrees, and the certifications necessary for a job, there are hundreds of other candidates who possess the same credentials. How can you stand out to a potential employer? What sets people apart when looking to advance their career is a professional network: the people that you have connected and built relationships with throughout your career.
I was first introduced to networking right after high school; my best friend helped me get my first job through his employer. He put in a good word for me and I was able to get an interview, and ultimately, the job. At the time, I did not realize that I was networking; I just thought my friend was doing me a favor. Almost every job or internship I’ve landed since, has been a result of the relationships I’ve built with professors from school, or connections I’ve made in extracurricular organizations. As I started to gain more work experience and matriculate through college, networking kept occurring. Research shows that between 50 and 80 percent of jobs are filled through networking. Having a stellar resume and work experience is only one part of moving up the corporate ladder. That is why it is particularly important to build your network and foster mutually beneficial relationships. Sometimes it's not what you know, but who you know that can be the deciding factor. Source: How to get a job often comes down to one elite personal asset https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/27/how-to-get-a-job-often-comes-down-to-one-elite-personal-asset.html
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By Andre Gomez Public relations is such a broad field; some parents may not even realize that communications or public relations (PR) is a field of secondary education. These parents may discourage their children who are prospective or current college students from choosing Communications as their career field of study. This is especially true in the Hispanic Latino community. It is common for minorities to encourage their children who attend college to go into a field where the job will yield an extremely high return on investment and something that allows bragging rights for the family to talk about; for example, such as being a lawyer, doctor, engineer or going into finance.
In the Latino community, many parents uprooted themselves and moved over to the United States for a chance at a better life and the route to that better life is simple to the parents: get a good education and do well in school; get a job and provide for yourself and the family. These are just the cultural expectations for those who come from Latino backgrounds; strong family ties and obedience are the main drivers of the decisions about Latino students choosing a college major and career field. But there’s a positive side to Latinos choosing PR as a major and career field that many parents do not realize. If more Latinos went into PR, it would boost the potential of brands to tap into a market with huge buying power. Also, Latinos are one of the most active social media user demographics in the United States. Who better than to represent and advocate for brands than the Latino community? More Latinos in PR would be beneficial to all brands and even change the stereotype or cultural misconception that Latinos only go into certain fields of work. Source: Latinos and Public Relations: A Need for Latino Inclusion in the PR Sectorhttps://explorefcg.com/latinos-public-relations-need-latino-inclusion-pr-sector/ Why client satisfaction should be your first priority and how it can be impactful to your business11/29/2020 By Chinwe Uzukwu It is very important that public relations (PR) professionals strive to help their organizations achieve high ratings of client satisfaction. A public relations firm's reputations is based not only on the work they do for their clients, but the relationships they have with their clients. Satisfied clients can help to promote firms through their network, and thereby create a steady stream of new clients for the firm. Therefore, it is essential that firms make client satisfaction a priority.
Here are a few ways firms can maintain client satisfaction:
These tips can help public relations firms to build and maintain client relations, and potentially build an outstanding reputation. Sources: How to increase customer through effective communication https://www.quadient.com/en-AU/blog/how-increase-customer-satisfaction-through-effective-communications How can professional service PR firms build client loyalty? http://www.blissintegrated.com/2010/07/19/how-can-professional-services-pr-firms-build-client-loyalty/ Measuring customer satisfaction is easier than you thought--with the right metrics https://www.agilitypr.com/pr-news/public-relations/measuring-customer-satisfaction-is-easier-than-you-thought-with-the-right-metrics/ Public Relations--A Tool for Enhancing Customer Satisfaction https://www.agencyreporter.com/public-relations-a-tool-for-enhancing-customer-satisfaction/ By Andre Gomez By Andre Gomez
Early this year, the coronavirus or COIVD-19 put an immediate halt on almost everything throughout the United States. Lockdowns, shut downs and even state of emergencies caused the economy and many industries and businesses to take a hit; many businesses still have not recovered as we come to the end of 2020. Nevertheless, there is still work that must be done such as this article for my Strategic Public Relations class (aka SPR Group). From my perspective as a public relations student, I believe the pandemic has revealed that public relations (PR) and PR professionals are invaluable when it comes to helping brands and companies to adjust to the new normal and maintain their reputations. Companies and brands that showed their audiences early in the pandemic that they understand and sympathize with them by adapting protocols to keep them and their families safe will be held in high regard. When the pandemic first hit the United States, there was so much fear about the virus, yet many people who were essential workers had to risk leaving the safety of their homes to continue providing for themselves and their families. I believe that companies and brands who did not prioritize the health of their audiences early on, and those that still do not, will suffer from damage to their reputations and profits for years after COVID-19 has ended. By Chinwe Uzukwu In general, it is important to have diversity in a business setting no matter the type of business it is. An industry such as Public Relations (PR) needs a team of members who are different from one another in order to develop campaigns that appeal to a diverse audience. After all, it is the media and the target audience’s public opinion that will determine if a PR plan was successful or not.
For instance, the famous clothing brand “H&M” received severe backlash over their back-to-school advertising campaign for fall 2019. This particular campaign featured elementary school children in H&M hoodies. The campaign displayed a number of children from all races to model their collection. The African-American young girl received a ton of backlash due to how her hair was represented in their campaign, causing H&M to send out a statement defending their decision process with the campaign. The target audience for the campaign was highly displeased with everything about the campaign. If you were to check the PR team members for H&M at that time, you would see there were no people of color on the team. It is very important to reflect racial diversity in PR and marketing campaigns to avoid controversial campaigns such as this one. PR firms and professionals need to understand and learn these lessons to increases their chances of generating positive responses from their target audience. Having a person of color on your PR team can result in better outcomes for campaigns. When planning campaigns, African-Americans can bring different perspectives from those of Caucasians or other races, and vice versa. The more diversity in the PR industry helps PR professionals respect customs, beliefs, and cultures of other races. Source: PR Agencies Need to Be More Diverse and Inclusive. Here’s How to Start. https://hbr.org/2018/04/pr-agencies-need-to-be-more-diverse-and-inclusive-heres-how-to-start#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Bureau%20of,%2C%20and%205.7%25%20Hispanic%20American.&text=For%20example%2C%20Barri%20Rafferty%20of,top%2010%20public%20relations%20agencies By Sudan Smith Working from home is the new normal in 2020 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Sitting in front of a computer screen from two to five hours a day can take its toll on students, blurring the lines between classroom hours and leisure hours. With the pressure of attending classes, completing coursework, paying for school, working, and trying to enjoy your college experience, life can begin to feel a little overwhelming. With online classes, it can seem like an intimidating task to get everything done without feeling stressed, especially if you have trouble maintaining a balanced schedule. While confined to your home all day, time management is essential for separating work from leisure. In contrast to in-person learning where you clearly identify school as work, and home as your place of comfort, the distinction is less clear with online classes. Students are constantly on their laptops, phones, and tablets which has significantly altered the college experience. Leisurely activities should engage you on a level that allows you to utilize your skills and passions free of distractions, while you complete a task or activity. When you take time to focus on enjoyable activities, you give your mind a break from daily stress. Doing so can help you to be more focused when it is time to work. Further, physical leisure activities assist in rejuvenating your mind while helping to keep the body healthy. According to a 2012 study by researchers at the National Cancer Institute, leisure activities can increase life span by more than four years. Consider the following benefits of leisure time, which are particularly important for students.
Students need to understand during this new normal that their leisure time can add value to their life. So, they should make an effort to develop and maintain balance between class and leisure hours. Here are some tips how to do this.
Understanding the distinction and benefits of both class and leisure hours is essential for students making decisions about how to best use their time. Balancing the amount of time that should be devoted to leisure and academics will always be a constant struggle for college students. However, with this information and tips, students have the tools to manage their schedules and participate in leisure activities that will benefit them. They can do so while prioritizing their academics. Sources: How COVID-19 has impacted everyday life in America https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/how-covid-19-has-impacted-everyday-life-in-america/ss-BB17W39m Why Is Leisure Time Important? https://www.reference.com/world-view/leisure-time-important-11108e6fe84ee42f 5 Ways to Maintain Balance Between Work, School, and Life https://www.wayup.com/guide/community/5-ways-to-maintain-balance-between-work-school-and-life/ How COVID-19 has impacted everyday life in America https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/how-covid-19-has-impacted-everyday-life-in-america/ss-BB17W39m You’re spending your free time wrong—here’s what to do to be happier and more successful https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/06/how-successful-people-spend-leisure-time-james-wallman.html Leisure Time for Students https://www.studymode.com/essays/Leisure-Time-For-Student-794897.html Teach students benefits of positive leisure time use https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.centredaily.com/news/special-reports/article42801654.html Intervention for Positive Use of Leisure Time Among College Students https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3816519/ By Willie Johnson Spears Group has enjoyed great success for the 12 years it has been operational, and it has big clients such as NBA, Capital One, CDC, and many others. This firm has achieved huge milestones because it possesses a competitive advantage based on its mind-blowing communication tactics and inventive marketing strategies. The firm has been able to maintain resilience in a marketplace that is ever evolving by offering diverse services to its clientele, such as media planning, event planning, experiential marketing, and web development, among others. Its success has also been promoted by its ability to create strong networks and partnerships that have enabled it to have diverse experience in numerous disciplines. The firm has been able to produce definitive results due to its comprehensive communication strategies created by its team comprised of experts in this industry. The main goal of Spears Group is to turn its audience into ambassadors of its client's message. To achieve this, the company has formed its operations in a way that establishes strong working relationships with clients and complies with the company's core competencies. The company has been able to get big clients because it has always been founded on accelerating social change and promoting the betterment and improvement of communities. The involvement of the firm with the community has impacted its success because it has become an integral part of the community's operations in a way that is recognized and supported by big corporations and clients. The future of this firm is luminous, and it will enjoy huge success if it continues being innovative and supportive to local communities. Source: Spears Group https://thespearsgroup.com By Sudan SmithCOVID-19 has affected the routines of everyday life for students around the world. Staying productive and on task during times like this can be really challenging. However, achieving productivity during this time of uncertainty and chaos is possible. As a student, you have many responsibilities and tasks to complete in what can feel like a short amount of time. Students can struggle with productivity in a number of ways, but there are several things that can be done to help students overcome these struggles and be just as productive as they would be in the classroom.
Here are 10 tips to help students increase their productivity: 1. Don’t procrastinate Start your tasks early. Procrastinating can lead to stress, frustration, and increase room for error in your work. 2. Rest Trying to do accomplish tasks all at once without any breaks can lead to increased frustration and reduced efficiency. Taking a 5-10-minute break every hour can help you process and retain information better. Allow your mind to refresh so you can form new ideas; this can increase productivity. Not only do you need breaks, but you need sleep as well. Sleep is essential for the brain to function properly. To increase your productivity in the long term, it’s important to make time for relaxation and sleep during your day. 3. Change your environment Changing the scenery you’re accustomed to working in, can boost productivity. 4. Take a break from technology Digital devices are a major part of our daily lives and can sometimes be very helpful for students. But technology also serves as a distraction, resulting in a loss of focus. Limiting the use of technology can increase student performance. 5. Avoid distractions Avoiding distractions requires self-discipline. Every distraction we encounter reduces our productivity. Use this fact to motivate you to avoid distractions. 6. Stay engaged in whatever you’re doing or learning It's beneficial to engage in tasks or interests that are student or academically-related. The more relevant a topic or subject is to students, the more engaged they'll become. 7. Set a schedule and stick to it Time-management is key in maintaining productivity. It’s difficult to manage your time if you don’t know how you’re spending it. Tracking your hours is an important step toward better time management. It’s important to create a daily agenda, plan ahead, follow a set schedule, and set deadlines for the completion of tasks. Eventually habits are formed that result in the maximization of student productivity. 8. Practice healthy habits Taking care of yourself both physically and mentally helps you to stay healthy and maintain a positive attitude. It’s important to exercise regularly, eat healthy, stay hydrated, practice good hygiene, sleep, and make time for yourself. 9. Maintain a positive attitude Regardless of the situation or circumstance, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude. Maintaining a positive attitude helps to keep you focused, motivated, enthusiastic, and optimistic. 10. Set attainable goals Goals can motivate you to move forward. Completing set goals always provides a feeling of accomplishment. However, it’s important to set attainable goals that are realistic, and can be reached within a reasonable timeframe. By implementing these 10 tips, you, as a student, can increase your productivity, and increase your performance level inside and outside of the classroom. Sources: Strategies for Building a Productive and Positive Learning Environment https://www.educationcorner.com/building-a-positive-learning-environment.html Oxford Learning, How to Be a More Productive Student https://www.oxfordlearning.com/how-to-be-productive-student/ 7 Tips to Increase Your Productivity as a Student https://collegeforadultlearning.edu.au/tips-to-increase-your-productivity/ 6 Strategies for Staying Productive During the Covid 19 Crisis https://blog.dce.harvard.edu/extension/6-strategies-staying-productive-during-covid-19-crisis Student Guide to Productivity https://clockify.me/blog/productivity/student-productivity-guide/ By Chinwe Uzukwu Public Relations (PR) industry is a growing and fast paced industry. It is said that since the last five years the public relations industry has grown 13.9 percent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of public relations specialists is projected to grow seven percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.” Despite the decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses still need public relations to help them to manage their public image through messages that inform and/or influence their audiences.
For the last 30 years, the public relations industry has shown their tactics to be very effective for persuading the public, and influencing public opinion. A standard PR campaign may concentrate on getting a company or client’s information talked about and/or promoted on television, radio, websites, magazines, or other media to reach the target audience. However, as technology and audiences continue to evolve, it is important to stay up-to-date with today’s trends in the marketing world. New tactics for PR campaigns can help with promotion of your firm and help boost client satisfaction. Here are the top PR trends to be on the lookout for. Social Media: The growing spike of social media is one that cannot be stopped. The digital era has made it much easier to measure public engagement. Social media channels allow PR professionals to view comments, likes, or any type of feedback that involves the public, making campaign promotion for clients much less of a hassle. As PR professionals always continue severe research on which social media channel has the best response or which social media channel has the most users. As of 2020, Facebook was the first social media platform to reach over 1 billion listed accounts and currently has 2.6 billion active users. Youtube is not too far behind from this statistic. When it comes to campaigning try to promote on popular social media platforms the outcome for success for a client and your business will most likely be higher. Also, plan on networking on these big social media platforms. Reach out to other PR professionals. Almost every PR professional is on Facebook or Instagram. Influencer Marketing: The digital era is a way of life now. Getting your client (especially a celebrity) on television, or in newspapers and magazines is no longer more impressive than getting him or her on social media. It depends on the audience. Try reaching out to popular social influencers to help with campaigns and business. Influencer marketing can help reach your target audience much faster. Influencer marketing will continue to grow in the year of 2021. Brands are continuously on the lookout for influencers to help boost sales. When choosing an influencer, gravitate towards one who will be able to get content out to your target audience. If your client campaign deals with makeup and cosmetics, try to reach out to an influencer with a huge following who advocates for health/beauty. Also make sure to have rewards for your influencer. Negotiate bargains with the influencer that you choose, so that networking can continue between you two. Visual Search: Not too long ago, google released their new feature "visual search" and plenty of other platforms released their own spin on the feature as well. What is visual search? Visual search allows every search click to first be introduced by a photo or screenshots. This feature can allow PR professionals to upload a photograph and display their client's campaign; it also allows you to place a photo of the client's business or firm, which will allow viewers and consumers to be engaged with what you are promoting. When trying to impact your consumers, always think about millennials. That is where most of your money will come from! Here's one final tip: When targeting your audience, always think about millennials. This population is fueling the growth of the consumer market and other segments as well. Sources: Statista https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/ Yoast https://yoast.com/visual-search/ Media Tool Kit (PR Measurement) https://www.mediatoolkit.com/blog/top-5-pr-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2020/ Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes273031.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm By Willie Johnsonbrooks DKC has been operational for 29 years, and it has grown to be a renowned and established public relations firm (PR). With over 200 employees, the company is currently looking to increase its clientele despite the increasing competition from existing and new PR firms in New York and other cities where the firm operates. The firm provides diverse services, including strategic planning and counsel, original content development, crisis management, media relations, branding, and advertising. Now the firm has prioritized creating news because it is the most fundamental aspect in PR, and it has the most value in this industry.
Therefore, DKC CEO has developed a corporate strategy based on rebranding or creating a new brand aimed at maximizing the company's returns on news. The company believes that it is high time to concentrate on creating newsworthy content for its clientele. Currently, the company is going through a revamping process because it is restoring its social media channels and website in a way that it will be able to shape and impact conversations across its different platforms. In the current business environment, when companies are changing their routine operations, DKC has also embarked on a mission of expanding their operations on content creation, digital advertising, and influencer marketing, among others. The company needs to stay ahead of its rivals, and thus it is essential for it to keep on rebranding and to improve its products and services. With clients such as BMW, Dyson, and Delta, the company needs to offer the best PR services to ensure that the clients get value for their money. The rebranding strategy will play a critical role in increasing the competitiveness of the company, and it is a brilliant effort by the management to strengthen the standing of the company in the competitive industry. Source: https://dkcnews.com/ |
AuthorBowie State University SPR Group Student Blog Archives
May 2022
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