Pinterest is my new obsession. If you are a guy, you are probably rolling your eyes saying you will never use it. But, you will.

Pinterest has a lot of potential as a tool for public relations. You are able to post things for free, or let people post your items/services for free. The things that are posted go directly to your intended audience because you can categorize them and add a description that can be found through search. People can see what their friend’s post which may gain the interest of other people that have not seen or heard about the business.

I don’t think this is a fad. It is different from all the other social media platforms I am currently using. Pinterest allows people to gather ideas, look at what interests them, and find things that may help them plan for an event or occasion. These are a just a few of the uses off the top of my head. Because of the uniqueness of the platform, and its many uses, it will continue to grow with more users.

I personally repin things all the time on my boards. It allows me to organize my ideas or things I am interested in trying or doing. I only like things if it is a temporary thing that I am thinking about. For example, I am trying to find the perfect hair color and style for my next salon appointment. I have liked a few options to show my stylist in the next few weeks.

I would recommend Pinterest to all women and men. Woman can use it to organize ideas regarding home décor and weddings while men can use it to find exercise tips or vehicles they like. It is user friendly to everyone! Even for the men.  ;)

Oh, Valentine’s Day! It’s a day of love, Hallmark cards, and gifts. For most of my life, I have been fortunate to have a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day. I have received many gifts like flowers, jewelry, dinners, ect. However, the absolute worst thing I have ever gotten on Valentine’s Day is a dead rose. A dead flower represented my 5th grade boyfriend’s love for me that day. Needless to say, I ended it soon after that. However, I didn’t say anything that entire day even with my friends teasing me. I think that was my present to him that Valentine’s Day.

I think that boyfriends have the most anxiety when it comes to the Valentine’s Day holiday. So if they give you a horrible gift, try not to rub it in their face until some time goes by. They are under a lot of pressure to impress you and your friends.

From a public relations standpoint, if I worked for a greeting card company, florist or chocolate manufacturer, it would be extremely difficult to put my company ahead the competition. On this holiday, there is a small market, but lots of card, flowers, and chocolate companies in that market. I would try to put my company ahead by making it single and couple friendly. Most companies focus on just couples, but Valentine’s Day is about love. I have several friends that I “love”. I give several of them gifts every year. How can you survive the Valentine’s Day holiday? Making yourself aware of the true meaning of the holiday and showing those people that you care deeply about them.

Social media has changed the PR world in positive and negative ways. Clients and customers are easier to reach, but there is more competition out there. Everyone wants information instantly which adds on to the pressure of continually posting updates regarding your company and its services. The most useful part of social media is being able to gauge how well your company is doing as far as reputation, service, buzz, ect. On various social media platforms, consumers can positive negative and positive feedback. This is useful for the company to use to improve their performance, but this could really hurt a company’s reputation.

Now let’s talk about people who think they can take on social media responsibilities without a background in public relations. Anyone can use social media, but do they actually know how to utilize social media in a business aspect? I think a public relations background may be a necessity for several reasons.

1. PR professionals know about the importance of customer service and company image.

2. Typically, we know how to use most social media platforms, and we can learn how to use them with ease.

3. We know how to assess social media data through sites such as Google Analytics.

4. We know what to post and what not to post on social media.

5. Familiar with double checking what we write and the message we send to our consumers.

However, there are some exceptions. I believe that small companies in a small town (like Statesboro) can handle their own social media due to the extent of their client base. Bigger companies (like eBay) or companies in bigger cities will have a harder time reaching their customers without PR knowledge. Social media is an art that can’t ever be perfected do to it changing every day, but with a PR background it is much easier to understand and to effectively utilize social media to reach your target market.

I have actually done it both ways. With the Harry Potter series, I read five of the seven books before seeing the movies. However, after seeing the sixth and seventh movies in theaters, I decided to finish reading the series. I think the only reason why I did it this way was because of laziness and lack of time.

It was my experience with “The Help” that has truly changed the way I do things for now on. I read the book for a summer class in 2010. (That was before it was extremely popular.) I saw the movie in theaters a few months ago.

I like reading the book before the movie because I find books more enjoyable when I don’t know what is going to happen. Also, seeing the movie after reading the book really brings the whole story together for me. (I’m a visual person) So far, “The Help” is probably my favorite movie adaption so far.

Take a look at this video clip from the movie, “The Help”. Imagine reading this part in a book. After seeing the movie, it wouldn’t be as enjoyable to read.

I plan on seeing Nicholas Spark’s “The Lucky One” when it comes out in theaters in a few months. Don’t worry! I already read this one!

For all you book haters out there, try reading a book before seeing the movie. I promise it changes the entertainment experience! Or…. You may just be pissed off like most Harry Potter fans.

On my bucket list, you will find various experiences that I would like to have before my life ends. This is because I feel like the purpose of life is what experiences we gain during our lifetime. Sort of confusing, huh? Try not to think about it so hard and it will make sense.

My Bucket List

• Skydive, Bungee Jump, and Zipline
• Go Whitewater Rafting
• Get Married
• See the Berlin Wall
• Walk along the Great Wall of China
• Cook all the Recipes in my Cookbooks
• Get My First Dog
• Go Wine Tasting in Italy
• See the Eiffel Tower
• Meet Someone Famous
• Travel to the West (Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, ect.)
• Surf in California
• Take Ballroom Dancing Lessons
• Volunteer at Least Once a Year

These are things that I just thought of off the top of my head. To be honest, I think the list is ongoing for everyone.

Well, if the list is ongoing, how are we supposed to accomplish it? That’s the challenge that comes with a bucket list. A great way to accomplish these experiences is to not to hold back. If you feel like you are out of your comfort zone that is good. Don’t back out! You are probably accomplishing something off of your bucket list. Remember, it’s these experiences we remember most as our life goes on.

Lauren Craddock

I have actually been to New York. It is definitely a place you have to go before you die. I would recommend going for a week to get the full experience. My dad actually went there for New Years Eve this past year. He said it a MUST experience.Don’t forget to save your money to go shopping in Manhattan! Happy Traveling!

Khrys Dent

haha…. Love the comic! It is so cool that you have been able to travel to many places all over the world. I have done some traveling, but mainly in Europe. It is nice that you included your family in your bucket list. When it comes to bucket lists, people usually only write about themselves.

01/31/12- Movie vs. Book

Julianna Rabeler

It’s nice to see a list without Harry Potter on it! I actually enjoy reading books before seeing the movie first too. I feel like the book is more enjoyable because i get to use my imagination. A lot of the movies you listed are some of my favorite books. I have yet to see the movie Great Gasby though. I remember reading that book in high school. I loved it!

Marie Stoney

I love books too!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually really love to bury my face in a book before bed, rainy days, under a tree and at a coffeeshop. I know you don’t feel up to reading “The Help”, but you should! It is one of the best books I have ever read. It gives you a history lesson with a mix of drama and humor. I feel like I get more emotional with books than movies. I always find myself crying at the same part in a book when I have read it more than 5 times. Movies lose their emotional effect over time.

02/07/12- Social Media

Sarah Egan

I agree that social media has made it easier for companies to reach their customers. However, it has really added some pressure to pr professionals to continually post updates regarding their client. PR knowledge is a neccessity! Let’s just face it! We love social media, and we use it everyday. Other people aren’t exactly the same way.

Yasmine Horton

I totally agree that we are a that generation heavily relies on getting information from social media. We always want things now. Sometimes we do obsess over ideas instead of focusing on the tool aspects of social media. No one can just use social media. Someone who is skilled can use it as a tool to create buzz and interest new customers. Because of our pr classes, we do have a better understanding of how to use social media in that way other than just to post a status.

2/14/12- Valentines Day

Rachel Lea

Bahahahaha! You are so right! Valentine’s Day is ridiculous! It is such a Hallmark holiday. The only thing I like about Valentine’s Day is the warm fuzzy feeling I get when my boyfriend does something nice. (not buy me stuffed animals) I think that company’s currently focus on the suckers and that is why they make so much money off of the holiday.

Julianna Rabeler

Bahahaha! It cracks me up that us ladies think it is just as much of a B.S. holiday as every man in the world. I think that doing something means more than buying something. Your PR insight is interesting, and I am not sure what to say about it. But I’ll try. Maybe people enjoy the holiday so much because of the make-believe aspects of love in cards, candy, and stuffed animals. Taking that away may bring people back to reality.

2/21/12- Pinterest

Katie Poole

I am a very visible person, so pinterest really appeals to me. I rather look a billion pictures then just descriptions and advertisments. The ability to find new ideas and organize them is really appealing to me as well. I think Pinterest is a tool the PR can use to manipulate the system. It’s free! You can categorize it by subject or where your intended audience may be looking. When they repost it, all of their followers see it. I am surprised the PR is just catching on to these benefits.

Blane Humphries

I am an avid Pinterest user. Pinterest isn’t useful for all business, but it can be for most. When you post something on Pinterest, people see it, then they can repost it. Then their friends see it, then they repost it, ect. It is an ongoing thing with tons of things on the site. These things on the site are organized through categories and a description that could be found through search. THis allows business to reach their intended audience through interest. For example, Paula Dean uses the site to advertise her cookbook by posting a few recipes. These recipes can be found in the Food & Drink category. It is a complicated process to understand, but once you are a user, you will have a better understanding. I would try it out!