Smart Social Networking

I saw this commercial from IBM and loved it. It makes a great point about the relationship of social networking and business.

As a college student, it is easy to get caught up in your small circle of friends on different social networking sites. I’m not saying this is wrong, but to truly understand the potential power of social networking I think this commercial raises some good points. The challenge is to connect to people that can help you in all sorts of different ways, this could be for potential jobs, people to collaborate with or even experts in a particular field.

Sometimes the challenge is also how to find “those kind of friends,” you know the ones that a boss might want or would help you down the road. Here are some tips to help you start reaching outside of just your small bubble:

1. Number one rule of social networking: LISTEN and LEARN! Before just friending every professional or big hot shot make sure you have done your homework and know about them. Just because they have a big title doesn’t mean you should immediately talk to them. Then learn what their preferences are and decide if its still a networking opportunity you want to pursue. Bottom line, networking is all about building relationships. No one likes fake people, period.

2. Use blog search engines to check out topics that interest you. See what you think about them and the author. Chances are if they have a fairly in-depth blog you will easily be able to find them on several social networks.

3. Talk to your current or old teachers about industry people or peers who they know are involved in social media. Check to see if you can find them on these sites as well.

4. When you start making more contacts, use the social networking bubble, in other words see who your new contacts are connected to and if they interest you, try to expand your relationships.

5. Lastly, building a good social network takes time. Be patient and realize that the relationships you have with your best friends now weren’t like that the first day you met. Continue to try to network even if you feel a little like you’re just shouting out into the huge world wide web. I promise it will pay off!  

Fantasy Sports vs. Social Media

VS.  

For those of you who have been living under a rock, fantasy sports have been growing exponentially over the past few years. Many of my good guy friends (and a few girls) are, as this t-shirt says, “Fantasy Sports Junkies.” I have never really been that interested in fantasy sports until a couple nights ago. After a discussion between myself, Jessica Lomelin, and our boyfriends, who do not understand our obsession with social media, but are Fantasy Sports Junkies it got me thinking: Are Fantasy Sports a type of social media? Or are they their own breed of web interaction? 

Wikipedia defines social media as “an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words and pictures. This interaction, and the manner in which information is presented, depends on the varied perspectives and “building” of shared meaning, as people share their stories, and understandings.” 

I have no doubt that Fantasy Sports is a form of social networking, but does it as a medium itself qualify as part of the social media family? I would argue that yes, Fantasy Sports are a form of social media. I believe this for several  reasons:

1. Online gaming is considered a form of social media. Yes there is more discussion during these games; however, in Fantasy Sports you can send messages and “smack talk” other players. This is naturally a form of social networking. Friends can keep in touch through their love of sports, and they can meet new people with their similar sports interests.

2. Fantasy Sports are starting to incorporate more “traditional” forms of social media such as blogging, photo sharing and community groups. With the addition of these features Fantasy Sports are moving closer to what most believe are considered as social media.

3. According to the Wikipedia definition, social media incorporates technology, social interaction and the construction of pictures and words. Obviously technology and social interaction occur in Fantasy Sports, but the construction of pictures and words is hard to prove. But I do believe that the messages, trades and teams that users create form as their type of networking and communicating. 

The reason I think this topic is so interesting is that these same Fantasy Sports Junkies often are doubters or the importance or relevance of social media. If we, as PR practitioners, can help this large audience understand the power of social media through their connection to Fantasy Sports we will have another way to help others, not in our field, understand what we do and why. Many of my good guy friends, who are Fantasy Sports Junkies, are majoring in business and will be the people deciding the real ROI on PR campaigns, or if they should even attempt a PR campaign. Finding ways to identify with them, such as through Fantasy Sports could be a common platform to launch from.

Campaign Time!

This term is my last in college and so I am finishing up with the PR Campaigns course, which is basically the capstone class for the PR focus. Yesterday we got to choose from five potential clients and pick our groups. I am thrilled to get to be working with RideAble. RideAble’s mission is to “provide horsemanship instruction for the special needs community in a safe and interactive environment.” Myself, Katy Spaulding and Dustin Ferguson will be working together this term to create a PR campaign for RideAble.

 

All we know for now, until we have our first meeting, is that they are looking for plan for a potentially large capital campaign.Currently, RideAble does not own their own space and must switch barns twice a year. They would love to be able to own their own property, which could range anywhere between half a million and a million dollars. I will update about the process as we get further along! 

 

Any suggestions or recommendations are gladly welcomed. I would love to get some good readings or best practices on capital campaigns if anyone has some!