Social media and the presidential debate

When I awoke Thursday morning in Florence, both my Twitter and Facebook feeds were filled with posts and tweets regarding the presidential debate. Despite the final outcome of the debate, one thing was blatantly evident and that was the fact that all political events will never be the same due to the rise of social media. 

Before the current popularity of social media platforms, people would simply watch the debate and then listen to their favorite newscasters comment and analyze it afterwards. Now, however, people can comment on the debate in real time, allowing for others to respond and share their opinions as well. The entire communication surrounding presidential debates has changed- people watch the debates in old media and respond to it on new forms of media. Now, unlike ever before, normal people have a voice in something that they never had a say in. 

Another interesting aspect to consider is the fact that television analysts now use user's tweets and posts as a guideline to topics they will discuss in their commentaries. Wednesday's debate was the most tweeted about political event to date. The event mustered up over 10.3 million tweets. The tweets also indicated that most people felt that Romney had been the "winner" of the debate. Additionally, it has been determined that Wednesday's debate was the fourth most tweeted about telecast of all time, falling only behind the Grammy's, MTV's Video Music Awards, and the Super Bowl. It will be interesting to see how social media affects the remainder of the election, especially after Obama's successful utilization of it in the past.

To read the full article, click here.

The "new" and improved Myspace.. Seriously

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding the launch of a completely new Myspace. As a past Myspace enthusiast and an avid user of social media, this story immediately caught my attention. Apparently, Justin Timberlake is behind the new site, and has been heavily promoting it. He tweeted: "THIS IS MYSPACE #thenewmyspace" with a link to the following video:

This is, of course, not the first time Myspace has attempted to make a comeback. However, after watching the teaser video equipped with a clever song entitled Heartbeat by JJAMZ, I have to admit that my interest is there and I am willing to give it a try. If you go to Myspace's main page, you can submit your e-mail in order to receive an invitation to join the site once it is complete.

The new Myspace allows users to scroll horizontally rather than vertically in a layout similar to that of Pinterest's. New features also allow users to post on Facebook and Twitter from the site, as well as transfer their photos and videos onto their new Myspace page. This indicates that Myspace does not intend to compete with these networks and will instead remain with its focus on music and artists. Myspace desires to be a platform where users are able to listen to music and connect with artists who share posts and songs with their fans. 

Although Specific Media and Timberlake have worked very hard to transform the outdated website into something catchy and entertaining since the purchase of it back in 2011, a successful comeback is still questionable. The answer will come when the site is officially launched and people decide whether or not to embrace it. To read the full ABC News article, click here.

Ensure your cover letter stands out in the PR world

Photo from Careerealism

When it comes to writing cover letters, some processes simply come easier than others. It is painless to write an amazing cover letter for a company you are passionate about. However, what happens when you know little about a company but are eager for the relevant experience? It becomes a little more difficult. Whatever the case, cover letters allow you to stand out and get your resume to the top of the hiring agent's desk. That is why it is essential to put your best foot forward in the process and follow the succeeding tips from The Hoohirewire:

• Structure and communicative skills are important, however, content is critical.
• Do research on the company beforehand. Address the letter to a specific person, find out about their clients, investigate their industry, and discuss at least one of their goals. 
• Read a recent post and find out the tone of the company, so you know whether to concoct a professional vs a creative cover letter.
• Devise an argument in which the hiring agent sees the addition of you to their team as the answer to one of their problems. Are they searching for someone with Sports PR experience or do they need someone with a knack for Twitter? Find this information out and put yourself out there. 
• Next, explain a specific strategy or plan you would follow to solve their current problem. Use specific numbers or percentages. Also, explain why you chose PR in relevancy of this job and be enthusiastic about your future at their company.
• Finally, make sure there are no grammatical errors and that it is less than one page in length. Personalize it somehow to make it really stand out.

Ultimately, your cover letter is the best way to get your foot in the door at a particular company. Be sure to make it personal, relevant, and catchy. 

The Communication Revolution

Photo taken from here

Although I am studying abroad this semester, I am taking two Communication classes which I am very excited for. I have found Communication Revolution to be particularly intriguing simply because I am taking it abroad. This is due to the fact that many of the students in my class live all over the world, including places like Italy, America, Japan, and Mexico. It is interesting to hear everyone's differing thoughts and feelings on the revolution of communication. It is often hard for us to all come to a conclusion, but one thing last class we were all able to agree on is the importance of social media in the business world.

This consensus drew my attention to a particular  Fox News article regarding a New York City restaurant owner, Sean Connolly, who was able to open three successful restaurants despite the struggling economy. He claims to have "majored in babes and minored in booze", yet is adamant that, "social media is as much a part of the job as anything else, and you'd be a fool to ignore it or fight it". 

Resources such as Yelp and Angie's List have always been seen as reliable sources of restaurant and venue reviews. However, recently even these sites have been accused of false reviews compiled by restaurant owners to make their establishment appear flawless.  

Connolly is aware of the impact Twitter can have from a particular instance in which Kanye West tweeted about Eatery's brunch, causing the establishment to go viral. However, he sees greater importance in outlets such as singleplatform.com, where Connolly is able to send specials and menu changes to them. They then update his social media platforms automatically while sending the same updated information to websites such as NYTimes.com and Urbanspoon. The revolutionary aspect surrounding social media is that it allows smaller restaurants to compete with their bigger counterparts, as long as they are able to keep a strong following. Ultimately, social media is a solid way to expand one's business because at this present moment, it is all about social word of mouth.

Would you wear these?

Photo via Mashable

New York Fashion Week consistently displays the most cutting-edge, fashion forward trends and styles for  all of the the fashion world to see. This week's past show was no different, yet it may have set a precedent for future collaboration between technology companies and fashion designers.

Google Glass made its fashion debut at the Dianne von Fustenberg's show in Lincoln Center. Models wore the newly devloped headset/eyeware products called "Glass" down the runway. The product is designed with capabilities similar to that of a smartphone including picture taking, message receiving, and other various functions. 

Google customized the glasses' color in order to complement Diane von Furstenberg's line. Additionally, action shots were taken by models on the runway, thus allowing for a perspective never experienced before, directly from the models themselves. 

To conclude the show, a celebratory runway lap was taken by Diane von Furstenberg and Yvan Mispelaere, creative director of DVF, both donning Glass. Sergey Brin, Google Glass and Google co-founder, also accompanied them. The collaboration appeared to be a huge success.

Despite all of this, however, I remain skeptical about the success of Glass. Will people want to essentially wear smart-phones on their faces? Will marketers target those who do not wear glasses or simply those who depend on glasses for poor eyesight? It will be interesting to see where this advancement goes and whether or not it will in time be the next big thing. 

To read the full Mashable article, click here.

Visuals are the New Content

With rising popularity of sites such as Pinterest and Instagram, it is evident that the appreciation of beautiful photography and breathtaking visuals has increased. Businesses are well aware of this fact and are in turn learning to "showcase" their products rather than simply talk about them. Personally, I follow various clothes stores and jewelry companies on Instagram. Numerous times, I have been prompted to go on their websites and purchase items after I have scrolled through something that caught my eye on my feed. I know that I am not alone and this seems to be the newest trend taking the marketing world by storm.

It is no secret that Social Media trends are constantly changing and evolving. However, I would say that this appears to be one that will be around for awhile. The exact revolution can be traced from lengthy blog posts, followed by brief Facebook statuses, to 140 character Twitter posts, and now finally Pinterest and Instagram posts. It is also much more convenient to simply snap a photo, rather than compose a detailed blog post when on the run. People are busier these days so they are more likely to look at a picture rather than read multiple paragraphs. In fact, a 2012 Study by ROI Research discovered that Social Media Users enjoy viewing their friends' or companies' photos more than any other posts and are more likely to respond in some way to these types of posts.

The evolution from content to visuals allows people to decide what they are interested in quickly and efficiently. Additionally, people can share companies' photos with their friends, increasing the traffic of the company's website while simultaneously encouraging engagement. Ultimately, this new trend is more convenient for both the consumer and the marketer. Companies that engage is this new type of communication will undoubtedly see success and improve their sales.

To read the full Fast Company article on the rise of visual social media, click here.

Hey! I'm Marguerite.

My name is Marguerite and I am officially taking over the blog manager position this week. First, I just wanted to thank Kerianne for being so helpful and showing me the basics of blogging. You did an amazing job and I hope you have a great year in Spain!
I am a junior at Marist majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Business. Currently, I am in Florence studying abroad. It's only day three and I am already obsessed. Back at Marist, I work at Marist Institute for Public Opinion and an account representative for North Road Communications. I am also an active member in H<3art1 and Marist Ambassadors. I lived in Gartland last year and am so thankful to be a part of the Marist community. Just wanted to post a little about myself and let you all know that I look forward to being Blog Manager. Thanks!