As you saw in your Corporate Public Relations Syllabus and we’ve discussed in class, part of your grade in PRCA 3331 will come from your blog. After setting up your blog, let me know your blog address as a response to a discussion board question in our Facebook group for PRCA 3331. Then, write four blog posts, which are worth 50 points each.
Blog posts can be written informally and in the first person; that is, they don’t need to sound like a term paper. However, there’s still an expectation for proper grammar, spelling and capitalization. If you have questions about how informal is “too informal,” please let me know.
Blog Post #1
- Write about your One Week of Twitter Assignment
- 250 words minimum
- Due October 1, before class
Blog Post #2 (Option A)
- Review two or more public relations blogs (see some suggestions)
- Include hyperlinks to the blogs
- Add at least one tag to the post
- 250 words minimum
- Deadline:
TBDNovember 6
Blog Post #2 (Option B)
- Listen to at least one hour of a public relations or social media podcast. Here are some suggestions; or, you can choose one of your own.
- Include hyperlinks to the website or show notes of the podcasts
- Add at least two tags to the post
- 250 words minimum
- Deadline:
TBDNovember 6
Blog Post #3
- Describe how the Fortune 500 or Inc. 500 company you have chosen is using the groundswell.
- Include at least five hyperlinks in your post, including one to the company’s website.
- Add at least three tags to the post
- 250 words minimum
- Deadline: November 21, by 5:00
Blog Post #4 (NOTE: Details updated 12-1-09)
- Your personal social media policy (see a template of one at Smart Mobs)
- Add at least one tag to the post
- Deadline: December 3, before class December 5 before noon
Questions? You know where to find me . . .
Photo credit: “Typewriter Letters,” uploaded to Flickr on July 8, 2006 by Laineys Repertoire
Creating Your Presentation- Always create an opening slide with the title of your presentation, and perhaps a relevant graphic, along with your full name.
- Use a template that complements your subject.
- SmartArt adds to the presentation when you want to show your words graphically.
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As with any presentation, use the three-pronged rule
- tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em
- tell ‘em
- then tell ‘em what you told ‘em.
- Always use an objectives or agenda slide (for a preview) and a summary or conclusion slide.
- Remember the 6×6 Rule. . . six words per line, six lines per slide, never more than that.
- Don’t use sounds in your presentation. They may sound cute when you are rehearsing it, but they are distracting to your audience.
- Be consistent with the types of animation you use to introduce your bullet points. Or better yet, don’t use animation or fancy transitions.
- Stick to one graphic style throughout your presentation.
- Use Flickr as a source for photos to include. Look for ones with Creative Commons licenses.
- Want to see the World’s Worst PowerPoint?
Delivering Your Presentation
- Never let your audience see you navigate to your file. Have the projector’s picture muted until you are ready to show your slides.
- Speak to your audience, not the screen or monitor.
- Practice using the laser pointer (if you’re using one).
- When you’re not using your presentation, press B to blacken (or W to whiten) the screen. This helps the audience to focus on you, not the screen.
- If using YouTube video clips, pre-load them so that they are ready to go. Or use Tooble to download the videos, so there’s not a fear of the Internet lag.
Additionally, here are some general tips I share in my public speaking classes.
Our One Week of Twitter assignment begins on Tuesday, September 16, and will end at midnight on September 22. Your blog post about this experience is due before class on October 1.
Setting Up Your Twitter Account
- Go to Twitter. Click Get Started, and sign up. I prefer it if you use some version of your first and last name as your Twitter ID. (Avoid putting numbers in your Twitter ID, or you may appear like a spammer.)
- Upload a photo or avatar.
- Write a brief (140-character or fewer) bio. It’s good to mention that you’re a PR student.
Setting Up Your Follower List
- Go to the Twitter Accounts subject in your class’ Facebook group. Provide us with your Twitter ID.
- Click on the Twitter URL for each person in our class. For example, my Twitter URL is
- Over the course of the next week, send at least ten tweets (Twitter messages of 140 characters or less). Your tweets could concern something you’re doing or perhaps point others to something interesting or funny you read online. Maybe you could even pose a question that you’d like others to answer.
Additional Information
- Review my tips on how college students can use Twitter to their advantage.
- After the week is over, add a 250-word (minimum) post to your blog about the experience and what you got out of it. Be sure to include at least one way you might find value in continuing your account in Twitter. This blog post is due before class on October 1.
- There’s no requirement to maintain your Twitter account after this experiment is done; it will not affect your grade if you discontinue it. However, you might want to keep trying it for a while longer. I found it took me about a week to feel comfortable with it and really begin to learn its value.
Questions? Just send me a DM (direct message) or an @ (reply) in Twitter!
NOTE: Many thanks to Kaye Sweetser and Karen Russell for their ideas prompting this assignment.
So, you signed up for an account at WordPress, and you added an About page. Now what’s next? And how do you go about learning more to create a blog that reflects your personality and style?
Fortunately, WordPress offers many FAQ screencasts to help you with the step-by-step instructions. Here are a few of the best ones to help you get started on the right foot:
And though you may have a good handle on the technical aspects of blogging, remember that the technical side is only part of the blogging equation. Corinne Weisgerber, a professor at St. Edward’s University and fellow PROpenMic member, created this presentation for her Social Media for PR class. The emphasis? How blogging can help you create your personal brand online. Take a look. It’s worth the time.
Photo Credit: “1/365” uploaded to Flickr by PhotoJonny
So what the [bleep] IS social media, anyway?
To answer this question, PR Squared’s Todd Defren, sent a tweet in July alerting his followers to a great slide deck by Marta Z. Kagan. I’ve shared this presentation in my Public Speaking class (over the summer) and in my Making Connections: Facebook & Beyond class this fall.
Today, my Corporate PR class will learn from the wit and wisdom of Marta Z. Kagan. This presentation is clear, fresh and fun! Congratulations, Marta for earning an Honorable Mention from SlideShare in its 2008 World’s Best Presentation contest.
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The words that speakers used at the two political conventions show the themes that the parties have highlighted. Republican speakers have talked about reform and character far more frequently than the Democrats. And Republicans were more likely to talk about businesses and taxes, while Democrats were more likely to mention jobs or the economy.
