MSU = Must Socialize Uniquely

After the presentation by Mr. Brad Mitchell it seems like MSU is doing it's part within the social networks. It is important for the University to use these networks to their advantage. MSU is targeting highschool students through these mediums to help them learn more about MSU and hopefully get them excited about the possibility of going to school here.

Mr. Mitchell is trying to use these social networks to his advantage, but he admits that he does not have enough time to devote to all of the networks due to his other commitments. It is very important for MSU to make sure that someone is devoting their full attention to these networks inorder to fully maximize their capabilities. One type of social network that we have not talked about in class that Mr. Mitchell is using is U-Tunes. This is a great network for professors, current students and future students to use for showing off the lectures. I think this is a great and new way to show off their professors to people all across the nation.

It is very important that companies who use these types of networks maximize their full potential. If a company only devotes a few hours a week to these networks their "customers" will be able to tell and could turn them off to their business.

The Forecast is Podcast

Podcasts are the new thing for getting information where you want it and when you want it.  Podcasts can be audio or video and can be put onto any media player like a computer or iPod.  That's what is so great about podcasts because you can get anything you want to watch put right onto your media player.  

A lot of companies already practice this new age technology like CNN and ESPN.  A person who watches either one or both, who can not be around a television, can automatically put their podcast on there iPod and watch it whenever they have a chance.  This is great for companies and the PR practitioner.  Being able to get information and keep your customers happy is essential to the success of the company.

If you want to learn the in and outs of Podcast visit http://www.commoncraft.com/podcasting. This site, Commoncraft, also explains RSS feeds, social media, twitter, blogs, social bookmarking (delicious).  It is a great site that breaks things down to a simple format.  

IMC Is The Way To Be

IMC is not a new term and in fact it has been around for well over a decade.  IMC, or integrated marketing communication, according to the Marketing Power Dictionary can be defined as a holistic approach to promote buying and selling.  What they mean by a holistic approach is that a companies marketing, promotion, advertising and public relations would be a cohesive approach.

There are many companies that put this approach into practice.  I believe that there are many reasons to hire a company that puts IMC to your advantage.  The main reason to hire a company like this is so that all of your outgoing messages between different media are consistent throughout.  Having a consistent message going to your public is very important.  A company would not like to send out three competing messages that communicate several messages to their customers.  By having a succinct approach and communicating one message to your customers will only help your business and help customers return for more than one purchase.

IMC is a great thing for any company.  Putting IMC into practice will only benefit your company.  Having the company's marketing, promotion, advertising and public relations done all at once by one company is why IMC is the way to be. 

After receiving Todd Defren's version of a Social Media News Release Template, Version 1.5 I thought it was very interesting and made me realize how dependent people are on the internet to get their information.  No need to read a book, newspaper or even a magazine anymore because it is easier, and sometimes cheaper, to get that information from your computer.

However, social media news releases are great tools for PR professionals.  By writing these types of press releases you get your information directly to your public.  There is no need of going through the media anymore if you do not want to.  These press releases also have very important rules to follow in order to get the press release noticed in searches more.  Two things a PR professional can do is enrich the press release with key words and also place links to certain pages within your website.  By doing just these two things can help your press release come up into searches and also place potential customers into your website. 

There are many new rules to using social media news releases and I am certain they will end up changing sooner than later.  As of right now PR professionals should use this type of release because it is yet another way to get your companies information directly to their public and potential customers.