I miss Google Wave (and why you should, too)!

In light of the invite-frenzy that is Google+, I got nostalgic for a simpler time - when invites were more accessible and I was on the "in" squad to get an invite for Google Wave. I remember it like it was yesterday... I logged into my Google Wave and stared as the Ouija Board that it was updated with posts from friends, recommended links, photos and more. While it was an awesome tool for our 2009-2010 NSAC team, outside of my 50+ team members, I knew no one else on the Wave. And why is that?

I think it may have been a little to complex for email and a little too simple for a social network, but it had great potential as a cloud business tool. Yeah, I said it. I think some people were expecting Google Wave to be the next Facebook, and even still others expecting it to be the new, complicated Gmail, when in fact, it couldn't fight with either.

Google Wave was great for a closed network of people working on a project. Emails accidentally get sent to the wrong address, whereas in Google Wave, you best believe you have the right person or their picture would be smiling at you from the top bar, almost sneering, "Well, you can't UNINVITE me now."

The realtime editing may have thrown some kids' computers into a tizzy, but it was a great way to quickly change something as people were working. It was nice to watch one person type the body of text for our copy and be editing behind them as they went (as opposed to Google docs, where my changes and their changes wouldn't appear immediately).

Google Wave has left a bit of a hole in my life since its disappearance and, while its faults were many, I prefer to remember it for the good. Also, as a Google devotee and lover of all of its services, I appreciated the thoughts for it - an innovative approach that would create ease, convenience and instant gratification.

RIP, Google Wave. You're missed.

... Okay, Google, I said something nice. Can I have my Google+ invite now?

Quora: Fun with Strangers

I'm back! After a long hiatus due to a busy schedule, I've picked up the blogging again. Considering I'm an unemployed graduate, I think I'll be laying off of the interview tips and sticking to what I know - social media.

Which brings me to Quora. I got on Quora in the summer of 2010, before it got much buzz on the interwebs, because I pride myself on being an early adopter. However, once I perused the site, I found it to be the ultimate crowdsourcing tool. Quora defines itself as "a continually improving collection of questions and answers." What I would call a hybrid of Yahoo Answers and Wikipedia, this open website wasn't too hopping when I first joined. Fast forward a few months and I remember I have an account. I logged in and checked it out, to find that Quora has developed into quite a community. Here are my reasons why you should be on Quora!

1. Got an burning question? Someone else probably already asked it. The wide variety of questions on Quora, from job advice to car advice to all-out philosophical discussions, is vast. Sure, you could post your question on Facebook and your friends will probably pass it by. On Quora, you can categorize your question and get advice from someone who knows the material. For instance, when I first joined, I asked about the government incentives for buying a hybrid vehicle. Within a day, I had responses that, um... there weren't any anymore. I fact checked the response on Google and what do you know, they were right! For when your Google search results are just a little too complicated, Quora is a great alternative to pages and pages of information.

2. No question is too vague or too specific. No matter how broad your question is (for example, "What are fun things to do in Southern California?"), people will answer it for you. If you're getting very specific, like where to recruit talent for your business, someone will have ideas to contribute. A variety of users means a variety of results - you're getting a human response to your question, rather than a query to be more specific.

3. Face it - it's fun to be a guru. I only lived in Southern California for three years, but every time someone asks about good places to eat, I'm stoked to give recommendations. You know your field, your hometown, your hobbies and everything else in your life better than other people - and they have questions about it. This is a great place for you to share!

So go go go, sign up for Quora now. With people giving background on why they're qualified to answer the question (unlike Yahoo Answers) and specific answers/expansion to what you're looking for (unlike Wikipedia), Quora is a great place to get your knowledge in a social manner. You can find me on Quora here!

And six months later, here we are again.

New internship, senior/junior year of college, plus applying for jobs left and right... that's about all I've been up to since Fall 2010. And trust me, that's been quite enough.

Chevron: I disagree.

Sorry for the long period of absence. A lot has happened between this summer and now, I've gotten considerably busier with freelance clients, a new internship and school. I'm trying to keep this blog up as the whim strikes me, which is what happened tonight.

You may have seen this already: http://www.chevron-weagree.com/

I'm sure there are a lot of ways to view this project. But, as a wishful Californian, I see it through the lens of Proposition 23.

When Chevron says we have "the right to a healthy environment," yet they don't give consideration to the greenhouse gases in one of the most beautiful but also most polluted states, I have to call B.S. on their public relations initiative.

This is the way I see it: a company who is partially responsible for the tragedy that occurred in the Gulf and elsewhere with oil spills. If you're going to participate in the oil business, that makes you partially responsible for tragedies that occur. You add fuel to the demand fire (if you will) and profit from the product, but when it comes to things being messy, you want nothing to do with it? No, Chevron. That's not how this works.

As a future public relations professional, I can't believe that there are people in the industry who believe this "We Agree" campaign is acceptable. All I see is a company profiting off of the sympathy we have for those who suffer from oil damage, hoping to paint themselves as another concerned citizen. True, we all use oil in our cars and all share the blame for the oil crisis - but for those who are raising money to clean up the gulf, putting in time and effort to alleviate the situation, driving efficient cars or electric cars and decreasing their need - they're at least working positively, rather than just pointing the finger.

Where's your call to action, Chevron? You don't have a petition, nor a place to donate, nor a way that the average citizen can join you in fixing the threat of oil spills or oil spills themselves. You have only a few sentences of copy, painting yourself as a good guy, as one of us.

I think you should rethink this campaign, and until then, I'll be making the few gas trips I do make for my hybrid vehicle to a different station that Chevron.

To the citizens out there - what do you think? Is this ok? Are you fine with this campaign? Does this make you want to buy your gasoline from them? Your views are surely different than mine, and I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Cool viral promotion for "The Other Guys"

I saw the trailers on TV, like many other people, for the movie "The Other Guys." Today, playing around on Funny or Die, I found a viral support video that unfortunately has... only about 570,000 views.

Fail, movie studio.

Will Ferrell's NYPD Recruitment Video from Will Ferrell

Is this thing on?

I apologize for the very long break in posts. Work at The Make-A-Wish Foundation got pretty busy! I recently left since school started again this week and I miss the office. It was a wonderful working experience and I learned a lot about nonprofit!

One of the things I love most about Chapman University (besides the fact that it is home to the national champion NSAC team, Circle Advertising) is that the class loads can diverse at any level. I've just left a 300-level internet communications class and now I'm headed to a beginner's Business class. After a heart-to-heart with one of my co-workers at Make-A-Wish, I think I may start taking first-year accounting as well.

General education courses have always baffled me, but I've enjoyed working in other areas of the school and refreshing skills that I haven't used since middle school (I'm looking at you, Statistics). But what are some classes that AREN'T general ed that every person, especially Ad and PR should take?

In my experience, classes I've taken that have really supplemented my degree and encouraged me to expand my view of my future industry have been the following:

1. Communications classes. This should be fairly obvious - if you want to talk to the masses, you need to know how they listen and interact. I took Mass Communications and Gendered Communication specifically.

2. Sociology classes. The impact that mass media communications, such as advertising, has upon the minds of its constituents is incredibly important not just for the purchase, but the social implications that it brings. An advertisement for Dove Beauty that encourages women to think about their bodies differently, the Old Spice man communicating with "women" right in front of their husbands, boyfriends, brothers... these successful campaigns have had a social fallout that goes far beyond the purchase. Understanding the impact they have is essential in keeping your work ethical and anticipating success of a campaign. Social psychology is an examples of courses.

3. Research classes. Social research, communication research, psychological research - the kind doesn't matter, as long as you end up learning how to write an unbiased survey for the purest nuggets of information.

What classes did I miss? I'll let you know how this accounting idea pans out...

Social Media Stalking - Keep Yourself Safe!

I read a chilling article today about a woman who was stalked by a fellow Foursquare user at a restaurant. While the situation is as creepy as it is unique, one thing that many social media users don't own up to is their own accountability in usage. I'm not saying sites like PleaseRobMe (the live Twitter/Foursquare site that announced users home departures) are at all justified in what they do; in fact, I think websites like that cross a major line that takes social media from something fostering open communication to a more fearful type of relationship. Regardless of how you use social media, I think there are four guidelines that everyone has to consider before making that Check-In, posting that Facebook Status or sending that Tweet.

1. What are my privacy settings like? My Facebook is locked up tighter than Fort Knox, and that's because the things I share on Facebook aren't meant for anyone's eyes but those of my friends and family. The best decision you can make before opening an account on any social media platform is planning what you do and do not want to share, which brings me to my next point...

2. Monitor what the news is saying about a platform. Most people know about the Facebook privacy issues that have been on everyone's lips recently, but there are still some users that had no idea. While it's easy to blame Facebook, you have to hold yourself somewhat accountable as well. Taking a moment to Google the platform and see what bloggers or news sites are saying about it is a step that you should take from time to time, regardless of what you're posting (personal or professional).

3. Self censor based on your own guidelines. I spoke earlier about Facebook being for personal use only... while it's tempting to add a co-worker to a personal-use account to share with them some photos, keep in mind your own professionalism. Do you really want your co-worker (or, if your co-worker has a nasty streak, your boss or other colleagues) to know how you feel about working late or what you did during your "sick day?" Now more than ever, social media tears down alibis for everything from work to divorces to a white lie to a friend. I'm not by any means endorsing lying. I'm just saying that by keeping home and friends on one platform and professional acquaintances on another, you'll be saving yourself from a lot of embarrassment, and helping avoid any dangerous situations.

4. When in doubt, Google yourself. As someone who routinely Googles herself to see how high her LinkedIn page is ranking, imagine my surprise last summer when I found that some ex-employees I had worked with at my parents' business were making threats on MySpace about my family and me. Obviously, lessons were learned by both parties that don't need any more discussion. However, the point is that while you may be embarrassed about typing your own name into a search engine, finding a threat to your safety and stopping it before it becomes an issue far outweighs the momentary discomfort.

While social media is fun and opens new doors in learning and communicating, there are always risks when using the platforms. By watching what you say, who you say it to, privacy agreements and monitoring your usage as well as others' usage of your name, you can keep the conversation going without worrying what the cost could be.

"Prepare for the End of the Web as We Know It"

Once again, Ad Age posts an article that is insightful, well-written and brings up new terms and ideas that help me reshape my outlook on internet marketing. Check this out...

It's Time to Prepare for the End of the Web as We Know It

I think "content snacking" is the perfect term for the most common manner that people are consuming media these days, and the three new behaviors are dictating how consumption will be evolving. Gotta love media!

Social Media "Blunders" vs. Sins

I found BusinessWeek's Six Social Media Sins today, and while it's a good article with valid points, I think they overlook the fact that these aren't sins if you don't know what you're doing on Social Media; these are more uninformed blunders.

So to add on to what BusinessWeek started, I made a list of three "blunders" that many newbies to social media make when trying to effectively spread their message.

1. Mixing messages - A twitter account or Facebook updates should have a cohesive theme to the messages (and NOT just marketing messages, like BusinessWeek warns). But if you're talking about what you ate for breakfast without asking readers without relating it somehow to your tone, then it's confusing to the readers as to who is on the keyboard - or even if it's the same person.

2. You think that followers, fans or subscribers are the litmus test of success. If you're communicating and meeting the goals that you've set for yourself, it doesn't matter if you have ten followers or ten thousand. If you're using Twitter to reach journalists and you've successfully contacted several, then you've met your goal. It doesn't matter if you only have 20 or so followers.

3. You think the more platforms, the merrier without evaluating the communication potential. You might not need a Youtube account if you don't really have relevant videos. If you're working for a certain company, for example, having a Youtube channel of just your commercials is straight marketing, and not something that will foster communication. As the article says, social media is "about engagement in two-way conversation" - so just having a profile to be on that platform without something that will create a dialogue, is really just a waste of your time.

Are there any other sins or blunders you see new people or uninformed corporations make? What's the worst mistake you've made, and what lesson did you learn from it?

Don't Fight the Conversation! Brands on Social Media

This article by Brian Solis details that on average, one in three people are talking about brands on social media every week.

Now I don't love statistics because sometimes, they confuse me. But findings show that one in three people is seeking advice; one person is making a recommendation and finally, one person just has that brand on the tips of his fingers for discussion. That's pretty powerful stuff.

For brands like J.C. Penney, who are realizing now they need to tap into this market and meet their customers where they meet. By meeting that one person in three, they can reach the other two.

How long until every company is required to have a Twitter? I'm giving it six months. For the critics saying Twitter is temporary, I'm curious to see where the platform will evolve from here.

Words of Wisdom from Dan Edelmen (via Culpwrit)

Every once in a while, a blogger makes a "top ten" list that actually has some really insightful points that people should hear. When I was reading Culpwrit, I came across a list of keys to success by Dan Edelman that was definitely worth reading. For the too-long/didn't-read crowd, here are the points I found most relevant to us as students:

1. "Celebrate your victories but be quick about it so you can get back to the game." This is especially applicable to our recent NSAC victory. We've been celebrating our win for almost a month now. However, while we've been celebrating, our new account executives have been strategizing, coordinating and learning to prepare for the new year. I hate to predict the outcome of any competition I'm a part of, but I will say that I respect the dedication of our new leaders who, while the excitement hasn't faded, already know they have to work even harder to keep our team innovative and creative. Thanks Anna Duffy, Simon Blockley and Lexi Vanni!

2. "There are three legs to the stool - family, work and community." It's hard when your work becomes your life, your co-workers your family and your office your community. But I think, as long as you're aware of all of these elements, you can still provide for a good work environment that can transfer itself into the world beyond the office doors.

3. 'Woe to the young person who fails to take notes-sure to prompt a “never do that again” comment.' My memory's already going - that's why I keep my notebook (and my blog!) consistently updated with pertinent new information, things I want to keep close and possible topics for the future. Write it down, or else you'll forget it.

This article has inspired me to look for another professional to interview, since I got such great information from Joy Donnell when I interviewed her a few months ago. Any suggestions or connections out there?

So What's a Power Pitch, Anyway?

Jamie Favreau over at Ereleases published a relieving article today regarding press contacts vs. pitch content. As someone who has all of one reporter's email on file, I was relieved to hear that as long as I was making a pitch the reporter can't say "no" to, I didn't have to have an overflowing address book.

But what does the perfect pitch look like? Sound like? And how can you fashion it to be relevant to more than one editor?

Here are the top three tips I've been told are essential to crafting a powerful pitch.

1. You researched the reporter - and it shows.
Reporters don't want a one-size-fits-all letter sent to them, because then it's apparent that they're being used. And no, just filling in their name and the paper they work at doesn't cut it, either. Instead you have to personally cite why this source and this reporter were chosen. If you saw an article that your release would compliment, mention it. If the reporter shares a certain interest with the story, make sure to highlight it. A vanilla pitch might mean a missed opportunity, so make sure to tailor it to the reporter's taste.

2. Multi-media is your best bet.
Yeah, it might feel like stalking. But if you email a reporter and hear nothing back in a prompt manner, a follow-up phone call or a phone call before the email is sent might help get the story published. I'm not saying 20 minutes after the email is sent. I'm saying give it a day or two, depending on the timeliness of the release, and then give them a phone call NOT to make sure they got the release (they probably did) but to ask them if there is a better place the release could be sent if they're too busy to deal with it.

3. Write it like a journalist!
No one wants to publish fluff, and no one wants to read it. Don't talk excitedly about how awesome your product is; sell it for what it is in an effective, public-relations-esque way without being obnoxious or seeing the product through rose-colored glasses. There are flaws, so don't pretend that there aren't (I'm talking to you, Steve Jobs & co.) but do your job in a way that isn't going to make the editor groan.

Any media people out there have other preferences or peeves? Any PR people with a tip or a secret to a great pitch? I want to hear them. Comment away!

Aw Google, C'mon.

As a beta user and big fan of Google Wave, finding this article about why the buzz as worn off and the product abandoned, really cleared up for me why it's never gone big.
Remember how it was the "future of email?" It was a trending topic on Twitter and tech nerds from all over were salivating for an invite. It was a big deal, through word-of-mouth marketing and viral buzz, the service was thriving. But without Google's official support, the buzz eventually died out and the brand ambassadors moved on to the next great technology.
It's still an incredibly useful service. Having depended on it to keep a team of eight on a brainstorm and then using it to coordinate with over 40 other students for one project, I will stand by Google Wave as an incredible service. That's why, if you're not on it and want to try it out, please comment. I still have eighteen invites and would love to get you connected with the service.

Know Your Medium (Or At Least Put a Leash on Your Spokespeople)

The Attorney General of Utah announced the approval of a death sentence on Twitter yesterday, drawing shock and disapproval from the Twitter community. I agree with the general consensus that this was an inappropriate place, and the response to it less than professional.

To reply to people's concerns about the comment with a "flippant" and then aggressive manner, shows not only an inconsistency in tone, but that the Attorney General is either tweeting while emotionally unstable (which is not recommended) or someone else is tweeting for him (which is a lapse in tone for the communicators).

At this point, the Attorney General should apologize to his followers and to the families of everyone involved in the case. To announce such an important decision on a trivial medium was inconsiderate to the families of the victims. His PR team needs to jump on this situation and handle it to control his credibility as well as smooth over community relations, both online and offline.

Twitter Task Forces & Why They're Essential

Recently, a State Farm marketing exec advised students of at the NSAC conference this year, "You can't stop the conversation - you have to let it play out and try to respond as quickly as possible." In regards to twitter communications, all it takes is one frustrated customer tweeting at the counter to get attention.

Though I myself haven't had much interaction as a consumer with brands on Twitter, today was one of my first experiences and I have to say, one of the most impressive.

I recently was involved in a car accident that has left me car-less for the past few days. My insurance company arranged for me to get a rental car from Enterprise. Through poor staffing, pickup from my home would have been long delayed. Upon arranging my own ride and arriving at the location, I had to wait for a considerable amount of time and wasn't told to bring the appropriate paperwork. While I waited, frustrated, at the counter, I tweeted: "having a bad experience at enterprise, trying to rent a car." After telling the associate of my frustration, she apologized and made sure I was more than satisfied with my rental. Everything from that point went without fault.

I returned to Twitter only an hour and a half after to find that I had been contacted by an Enterprise associate asking what went wrong, and how they could help. Only an hour and a half, and one tweet! I was really impressed with Enterprise's monitoring of their brand on Twitter. I explained that I was satisfied. That's when I realized that, as consumers, we have an obligation to report the conclusions after we complain. I tweeted my admiration of Enterprise's online support and gave credit where credit was due. It's my own fault for not tweeting that everything was resolved afterward. So before you send that angry tweet, prepare yourself for two responsibilities after the fact...

1. You're responsible to report the conclusion. Your followers and others finding brand representations online need the whole story, not just your initial dissatisfaction.

2. Give credit where credit is due. Don't ignore any attempts to make the situation right online. Even if you aren't satisfied, if someone contacts you to ask why you were not satisfied, you owe it to them to thank them for their attempts. Chances are, if you've had a problem with one associate, that's not an accurate representation of the company as a whole. Thank them for what they do well and return or don't return; you decide with your money how satisfied you are. However, don't disregard the company if it's trying to help you out.

So, well done, Enterprise! We'll see how the rest of this transaction plays out, but as for now, your associate's responsiveness and your online outreach are very impressive to me!

Pitchin' Ain't Easy

I'm starting to get involved with writing and pitching national media for a local Iraq and Afghanistan memorial, and I'm facing the same issues I've faced with my last few pitching adventures...

1. Who gets this?

2. How can I get you to read it?

3. Please, please run it? Please?

While running the press release through a syndicate would help ensure plenty of coverage and help with credibility, the price (over $400) breaks the bank for a group of locals who care about properly memorializing veterans and those we lost in Afghanistan and Iraq. On the other hand, it would take hours upon hours to personally call the editors of newspapers nationwide, asking them to pretty please run this release. It's a catch-22; either you spend a lot of time, or a lot of money; and neither features a guaranteed outcome.

Has anyone else run into this problem? How did you overcome it?

Chapman University wins the National Student Advertising Competition

(a shot from Chapman University's presentation of the "Feel Free" Campaign for State Farm; specifically, the Public Relations initiative section)

On Friday at approximately 1:45 p.m. EST, the winner of the State Farm national student advertising competition was announced. A small private university located in the heart of Orange County that goes by the name of Chapman University took the honors.

As I reflect on the past year, I can't say that I ever knew we would win. I knew we worked hard. I knew that our product was high quality and that the effort we put into the work shone in every aspect. I knew that many of our 50 person team ate, slept, breathed and bled State Farm to produce a beautiful campaign we could be proud of. It's a personal flaw, I would say, that I'm reluctant to predict the outcome in projects I'm close to, so I just believe that working my hardest is going to be the best reward I can receive. Winning only helped to verify that all of the work was worth it.

I am just so happy and proud to be part of Circle Advertising this year. I didn't think I could be more proud to be part of this team than I was last year, when I first joined; now I'm even happier. These people are my peers but also my teachers. I've learned more and been motivated more by the excellence and talents on this team than I have by many professors. How did we do it? Remarkable outreach for fundraising from communities, families and friends. Partnering with the incredible film school talents who were graduating as well. Frugal efforts on our part to get the best deals on our projects. Oh, and a strong partnership with our father club, Chapman Ad Club.

The most remarkable part of this victory is the reception we received after the results were announced. Many of the competing teams reached out to us to congratulate and compliment. They wanted to get to know our team members and spend time with them while we were all in Orlando. This speaks volumes to the fraternity and maturity of these teams, which is complementary to their talents. Each presentation that I saw had a strong, cohesive campaign to be proud of. The advertising industry can breathe a sign of relief with minds like these coming into the work force within the next few years. I can only imagine what next year's work will be for everyone, including ourselves, for the new client, J.C. Penney.

If you're looking for the future of advertising, you've found it. It's not just at Chapman University, but in all of the NSAC teams who bleed for their campaigns and produce something they are proud of.

#NSAC Goes To Orlando

This week, teams from all over the United States will bring their comprehensive campaigns for State Farm to the National Student Advertising Competition national championship, in Orlando, Fla.
The #ChapmanPRA group will be presenting our #FEELfree campaign on Friday. We're excited, optimistic and eager to see what our creative counterparts from all over will be bringing to the table.
I hope State Farm looks at their current campaign and uses the millions of research impressions and new ideas that we present to create a campaign that resonates with their target demographic.

Check out Tom Arthur's portfolio to see our commercial and our book. Wish us luck!

(thanks to Kayla Glass for her photo!)

McDonalds France: "Come As You Are"

McDonalds France released a viral commercial this week, depicting a young homosexual man and his oblivious father.

There are so many possibilities as to what the motives are for this commercial, I don't really know where to start. An appeal to the homosexual audience in France? Support of a social movement? Rebranding as a "hip" restaurant who opens its doors to the changing times? There are arguments for all of the above. But since I enjoy anything French, and things that are generally positive and accepting of all different lifestyles, I'm just going to leave you with the link. Enjoy.

Chase Community Giving: Round Deux

Since I don't want to be the BP oil blogger (there are way too many others that blog about it much more informed than I do), here's something more PR and less oily...

Chase Community Giving starts up its second round of charity donation voting on June 15. After the last round ended with fraud accusations aimed at one of the nonprofits, hopefully this time around, supporters of the nonprofits will play fair.

Unfortunately, some nonprofits were denied access because they weren't informed of the contest quickly enough. One Orange County nonprofit tried to contact Chase as recently as yesterday and was denied entry into the rankings. A search of Chase Community Giving last week showed nothing more than the fraud accusations for the last round. Why was there so much less press this time, Chase? To avoid fraudulent submissions? Or because you'd already determined which charities were allowed to participate?

In any case, a good cause (or several) is well served from the Chase Community Giving initiative. I hope to see this cause marketing via social media continue.