Hello Ello

Social media sites come and go but some are here for the long run. Facebook has been around for over 10 years and hasn’t had much competition in their realm of social media. Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Snapchat all offer something different from what Facebook offers. The hot social media platforms today offer their consumers something different that they want to use daily.

Ello is a new social media platform that is competing against Facebook for users and networking. Ello launched in July 2014 but is only open to people through invitations. People can go on their website and request an invitation to join. Ello promotes a social media site with no ads. Users can also not give their real name or other information they wish to not be shared.

In my opinion, Ello is trying to promote a laid back social media site that will target people who don’t want to revel their identities, teens, and potentially people who are tried of ads on Facebook. I personally don’t think I will try Ello. I’m content with all of the social media platforms that I participate in today. My friends say I’m obsessed with social media and I think they’re right. I like looking at each platform and how people use it on a day-to-day basis. When Twitter became a big thing with my friends I watched how many of them decided to use that platform. 

None of my friends are using Ello at the moment and I don’t see them trying it soon in the future. Ello is reaching the niche that it was intended to target. If this was the goal of the creators then they are succeeding. Over time I’m sure Ello will pick up and become a social media platform that comes across more people’s lips.   

It's all about being social!

The past couple of weeks in class we have been giving presentations on different social media platforms. We have covered it all from Facebook and Twitter to YouTube and podcasts. These presentations have given me a deeper insight to each of the different platforms. I now understand each of them better and have learned new facts that I didn’t know before.

I learned about the different circles people can join on Google + to stay connected to people with the same interests. Facebook is one of the better social media platforms for brands to promote their mission and values. Snapchat is becoming a social media platform that businesses are starting to use to stay connect with their customers by offering coupons and behind the scenes material. YouTube is a great way to advertise your business using quirky attention getting stratigies. Businesses are attempting to use as many social media platforms as possible to keep up with their consumers and to stay connected.

These presentations were extremely helpful for our social media project for the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech. Now that we have all heard presentations about the different platforms we can make our social media action plan or as like to call it our social media strategy guide. By looking at how different brands are using these social media platforms we have a better understanding of how we want to strategize our plan for the CLAHS.  

VT PRSSA takes on Washington D.C.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Public Relations Student Society of America National Conference in Washington D.C. Along with three other PRSSA members we left Thursday night for a trip filled with fun, sightseeing, assemblies, break out groups, and an agency tour.

Friday morning we arrived at our hotel and then left for an agency tour. The agency I visited was Burson-Marsteller. It was fascinating to tour a public relations agency and talk to the employers about their daily tasks and what they like most about working for Burson-Marsteller. They put us in a conference room and had multiple presentations about their company and sister companies. Keith Blackman, a Senior Director at Burson-Marsteller went over his career path and how he ended up at Burson-Marsteller. I always enjoy listening to people talk about their career paths and how they ended up where they are today.

After the agency tour we had different sessions throughout the weekend to attend about finding a mentor, chapter development, different types of communication, different communication jobs, and a break session about officer roles. I really enjoyed attending the break out session about student run firms. The Firm is a student run public relations agency that most PRSSA chapters offer to students. I’m currently serving as the Co-Director of The Firm for Virginia Tech's PRSSA Chapter. During this session I was able to talk to other directors about the challenges they face. We were able to pick one challenge that we all face and come up with a solution and tactics to solve this problem. This was definitely the most helpful session out of the conference.

I am very happy that I attended the PRSSA National Conference. Not only was I able to come back with ideas for The Firm, but I also gained a stronger friendship with the three other girls that attended. The Virginia Tech chapter of PRSSA also won the Star Chapter Award as well, and I’m glad we were in attendance to accept that award.

  

Facebook and Goggle+ and LinkedIn. Oh My!

Social media platforms are similar in purpose, but differ in name, design, and the type of content displayed. This week the #SocialHokies4264 had three groups present their social media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Goggle+. Each group explained the purpose of the social media account and how users interact with the platform.

 Almost everyone you meet will have a Facebook. It is the most common social media platform today. Facebook is extremely common on college campuses. Students use Facebook to connect with their friends, family, and for staying in communication for group projects.

           

Businesses also use Facebook for two-way communication with their consumers. Business can establish their brand on Facebook and the controlled messages they want to send to their public. Facebook is a smart tool for businesses to use to extend their brand from the store and online presence.

Goggle+ is another social media platform that is a hybrid between Facebook and Twitter. It allows users to interact with certain types of groups that share the same interests. If someone likes knitting, then they can join a circle that is just for people who knit. Goggle+ is allowing people to connect and share information to their friends, but it is also allowing them to narrow down their interests.

In my opinion, LinkedIn is the professional Facebook. LinkedIn is the social media platform for connecting people seeking jobs to future employers. People can post their resume, accomplishments, and what job title they are currently seeking. Having connections is a good way to network online with different people that have different job experiences. The more connections users have are helpful when looking for employment.

After learning more about these social media sites in class, I now understand each of them better from the business and consumer side of the platform.

An Avenue of Oaks

The summer before my junior year of high school my family took a vacation to Charleston, South Carolina. I had never been before and was looking forward to seeing all of the old plantations and the history surrounding Charleston. During the trip my mother and I visited three plantations: Boone Hall, Magnolia Plantation, and Drayton Hall. Each of these plantations were beautiful, displaying different styles of architecture between the 1600s to 1700s. Out of all of those plantations, Boone Hall stood out to me the most.

                                                    

Boone Hall was the first plantation that we toured. The views surrounding the plantation are magical. The alley of oaks leading up to the house is breath taking. People would stop their car as they enter the first gate to take a picture of nothing but live oak trees. To the right as you walk up the dirt path are open fields where you can sometimes see horses galloping about. To the left is the path to the cotton dock house, which sits by the water.

Since I was a little girl I have been fascinated with history and historical plantations. The history that surrounds this plantation is unbelievable. It was built in the mid 1700s before the Revolutionary War. The house, slave quarters, gin house, cotton dock house, and grounds are still original. The plantation is also one of the oldest working and living plantations in America. Pumpkins, strawberries, and other crops are still being produced today. 

The outside of the house and the avenue of oak trees leading up the house are often used in movies. The plantation has appeared in North and South, Queen, and The Notebook. The plantation is also used for special events, including weddings. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are just one of the many couples that have used Boone Hall Plantation as a backdrop for their wedding.

One day in the future I hope to visit Boone Hall again. The history and beauty that surrounds Boone Hall is something that can’t be reconstructed in a house in today’s time period. I want to be able to take my children one day, just like my mother took me when I was younger.