PR & Social Media
Social media is the democratization of content and the understanding of the role people play in the process of not only reading and disseminating information, but also how they share and create content for others to participate. It is the shift from a broadcast mechanism to a many-to-many model, rooted in a conversational format between authors and people. -Brian Solis
Times Are Changing
Pre-1800s: Gutenberg Press, books, first newspaper, Benjamin Franklin’s “Silence Dogood” letters and the Federalist Papers
Media was untimely, inaccessible and ineffective
19th Century: Telegraph and telephone
Media moved toward timeliness
20th Century: Air mail, radio, international phone calls, television, cable, VCR, mobile phone, desktop computer and the Internet
Media became accessible and more effective
21st Century: Wireless internet, bluetooth and expansion of social media
News is instantaneous, universally accessible and user-generated
Social Media’s Implications for PR
- Instant interaction with the public
- Public has instant interaction with you
- Low cost media exposure
- With the downturn of the economy, companies must rely on brand loyalty – gained through personal relationships with a company or brand – to retain customers
- Monitoring what is being said about your company or brand
- A way of staying on top of news and consumer trends
Suggested Independent Research
- Find an example of a company – PR, advertising or otherwise – that has used social media effectively
- Research your favorite company to see how they are using social media
Next time: A breakdown of social media tools and their uses
