PR Job Openings in Las Vegas

I decided to add job openings to my blog. Although I am still looking for a job myself, I like helping out. So I am helping spread the word for job openings.

Public Relations Specialist in Las Vegas

Passion Parties, Inc., a direct sales marketing company, has an immediate opening for Public Relations Specialist. The candidate must have a Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 5 years experience dealing with all forms of media, excellent communication skills, flexibility, and the ability to work as a team-player. Candidate must be self-motivated and goal-orientated. Must have experience in media coaching. Must have experience in Media Map, Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.

Media Outreach
• Campaign Development – Develop PR Strategy Plans
• Campaign/ Press Release Execution
• Develop press releases, media advisories, and pitch letters for journalists
• Track national media outlets and news for potential submission opportunities
• Research and build media matrix including contact information of reporters for outreach
• Schedule interview logistics for Passion Parties President, Communications Department and Independent Sales Representatives. (Please see: Interview Coordination)

Interview Coordination
• Obtain interview focus, duration, and format
• Develop Talking Points for interviews
• Develop Briefing Pages that include background on reporter and media outlet
• Research the legitimacy of media opportunity and make recommendations re: interview participation
• Identify and media coach Independent Sales Representatives

Miscellaneous Support
• Develop PR interface with Independent Sales Representatives
• Provide PR status reports
• Develop and maintain database of Independent Sales Representatives interested in participating in press interviews
• Upon request, write PR News Column articles
• Develop announcements to the Independent Sales Representatives on behalf of President
• Oversee processing of invoices related to PR

We offer competitive wages, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), short & long term disability, life insurance, supplemental insurance plans, legal services, three weeks of paid personal time and holidays.

E-mail your resume to Marjory@passionparties.com. Please attach salary history and requirements.

I’m Back!

Hello Everyone!

I am sorry for being gone so long. I had a lot on my plate (graduation, trying to find a job, my internship, and moving back to my home state). But, I will write an official post very soon…. well tomorrow.

Until next time….

My Article is in the FORUM!!!!

My article was published in the FORUM, the national newspaper for Public Relations Students Society of America. I interviewed Danielle Weller, an alumna of MSU, about her experience with PRSSA and how it being a member helped her with her current profession.

Check it out!

http://www.prssa.org/forum/default.aspx?articleid=67&issueid=21

Personal Branding at Its Worst

I haven’t had time to search around for topics for my blog. However, today was different.

I was reading my favorite gossip blog, PerezHilton.com and came across a posting that can be used as an example of personal branding. The post was a video taken by a employee (well ex-employee) of Domino’s Pizza showing her co-worker (who was also fired) doing disgusting things to the customer’s food (see video if you can stomach it). 

I am not a big fan of Domino’s, however after watching this video, I will definitely stay away. Of course they were fired. Not just because of what they did to the products. But for also branding the corporation in a negative way by using social media. We have to remember that we are in a new age of how information is being passed to one another and how we are portraying ourselves, whether it is offline or online.

It is very clear that they didn’t know the effect of posting a video on YouTube. And now this video will follow them for the rest of their lives. It may disappear from YouTube, but I am sure someone has uploaded it and re-distributed through another online video outlet. Because of this, Domino’s has some damage control to do in order to keep customers coming back. 

I thought the situation with the individual who lost her job offer because of what she said on Twitter would’ve showed how important it is to watch what you are saying or posting on the internet. Hopefully, this situation will make the overall message clear to everyone now. 

Remember, you are being watched 24/7 online.

Look Mom… I Got My License!

I got my license! My drivers license. That little piece of laminated card with my face and name on it. Now I can drive myself through the new media world with ease. In the last ten weeks of this class I have learned:

• To create and write my own blog
• Use online tools like Twitter and Facebook to promote myself and my blog page
• How to use traditional PR with new media to disburse information to the public, such as PR.com and www.free-press-release.com
• The basics of search engine optimization and how it can be properly used as a promotional tactic for any online content that I have
• How to fully immerse myself into the online world

I have written a lot of posts about the New Media Drivers License class at Michigan State University. And there is a reason why I did this. Not because it was required (which is was), but because this was one of the few classes I have taken at my four years at MSU where I was not only learning the information, but had fun learning it and was excited to tell anyone who was listening about what I learned from the class. I know this class will continue on as a regular class in the Advertising, PR, Retailing department at MSU. 

The books were very helpful also. I plan to re-read them. You always miss something when you read a book the first time.

For my final presentation on my last day of class, I will talk about one thing that I am focusing my other time on: job hunting. How can new media help you find a job? Well I will talk about next week. I will ask those I have connected with this question and will write a blog soon. 

So what’s next for me? I will continue to blog. I will move my blog page to my own domain (www.lisaatufunwa.com). This move to a new domain will happen very soon, so expect a short posting about the new page!

Well, I am off to test-drive my license. Until next time.

From Traditional to Digital: The New PR

I’m sorry for not keeping up with my blog in a timely fashion. This week has been crazy and on top of that I’m getting sick. But onto today’s post.

In the past, media relations has always been a long process for me. Once the press release is finalized, I have to pitch it. So I have to pull out my good ol’ media contact list and call each contact (well those that pertain to the topic of the press release) and tell them about the press release and ask if I can send them a copy. From there I have to send it out and contact them again to see if they receive them. Sometimes I have to refresh their minds of what the press release is about and hope that they remember. Let’s just say the process is long. Although I love every aspect of media relations sometimes it can seem like an overdrawn process to reach your target audience.

However, there is a new way to do media relations in today’s tech savvy world. David Meerman Scott explains this new way in his book “The New Rules of Marketing and PR.” Instead of sending your press release to the middle person, it can be directly sent to your audience through the Web. Sounds crazy, however effective.

So I tried it. I wrote a press release about the class and David Meerman Scott. I created a free account on http://www.free-press-release.com. I submitted the press release on there and hope to help continue creating a buzz about the class and about his book.  There are other press release distribution sites, however the Web site I used was one of the few free sites. Here is a link of press release distribution sites. 

Want to see my press release. Click on the link here http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200903/1235977068.html

I am always open to comments and critics. I like to learn and grow to make me a better person and professional. So leave comments please!

And one more thing. If you are a PR/Marketing/Advertising student, professional, admirer, please pick up David Meerman Scott’s book “New Rules of Marketing and PR.” You will not be disappointed.

It’s A Whole New World

Yesterday I attended the Speed Networking event at MSU. Speed Networking is like speed dating, but your meeting and networking with professionals. I got to meet professionals from the fields of advertising, public relations, communication, and marketing. An overall advice from some of the professionals I met was that getting involved with digital media is important. Aspects of the traditional world is becoming intertwined with the new media world. It’s becoming faster to share the news, videos and pictures around the world. Individuals don’t have to wait to check their e-mail on their computers; they can receive it at a touch of a button on their phone or mp3 player (for those who have Wi-Fi capabilities on their players). You don’t have to be face-to-face to connect with another person. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking Web sites make it to where you can network with other professionals, potential clients or with someone of similar interests and hobbies. In essence, it is becoming vital to become a part of this new world.

There are some who are already transition into this new world. There are those who know about it but are hesitant to joint and then there are those who are either confused or don’t know anything about it, and it’s nothing to be ashamed about or viewed as a negative thing. Regardless of where your level of expertise on new media is, you may still have some things to learn about this world.

In my second post, I talked about a class that I was taking this semester called New Media Drivers License, which is being taught by Derek Mehraban. I am having a lot of fun in this class! I am also learning new things about new media that I didn’t know before. Taking this class will not only help me make a presence in the new media world but also become marketable to companies that I apply to for a job. This class has helped me with both. 

If you are trying to find your online voice, a professional who is trying to learn new public relations tactics, or just want to learn the basics, ADV 492 – New Media Drivers License is a class you need to take. So, if you’re in the state of Michigan and have two Saturdays to give up, then you should enroll. You will not be disappointed. To learn more about the class and see some of the assignments, go to the website and check it out. Also, go to the Facebook group, New Media Drivers License. 

If you’re already set and going to enroll for next semester, check out chrisg.com, a website that talks about the basics of new media.

Do You Want To Be On Top? Learn SEO

I recently Googled myself to see what will come up in the search. And I must say, I am impress. The first thing that showed up is my LinkedIn profile. How did I accomplish that? By planning and using specific keywords, relevant content and designs, it will allow my blogs, profile pages, published content and any other online marketing that I am creating to drive traffic to these Web sites. 

Let me explain. Search engine optimization or SEO is a way to reach your audience by providing great content and have a way to cater to their needs. Your publish content on the Internet must be “search engine friendly.” In his book, “The New Rules of Marketing and PR,” David Meerman Scott gives this definition of SEO: “Search engine optimization is the art and science of ensuring that the words and phrases on your site, blog, and other on-line content are found by the search engines and that, once found, your site is given the highest ranking possible in the natural search results.” Sounds easy, right? Believe me, you can get to the top on search engine sites.

Mediacollege.com explains how to use your keywords effectively on your page, blog, and profile to get the highest ranking possible. Here are a few things they noted in their article:

 

• Page Titles should use be short and describe the content accurately. Using keywords can be used also
• Search engines place an emphasis text and descriptions that are in heading tags (h1, h2, h3…). Use the list of keywords you have in these tags
• Make sure to have common words and text that your expected audience will search for on sites like Google and Yahoo!

 

Other ways to get to the top is by joining sites like Digg and del.icio.us and bookmarking the links to your pages on these websites. Use keywords from your pages for your tag words.

If you have Firefox, download the Google Toolbar. There is an Page Rank application to check the ranking of any page on the scale from 1-10. When I checked the ranking of my LinkedIn page it was 5/10.

Check out this site, The Digital Bus, for the basic on SEO. For more information, check out Google’s SEO Starter Guide and SEO Basics. 

Use these basics and check out recommended Web sites. Follow these tips and you too can get to the top of the rankings. 

Till Next Time.

Can They Come Back?

In the past couple of weeks, celebrities have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. With A-Rod dealing with his confession to using steroids years ago, Michael Phelps getting caught getting high and Chris Brown dealing with legal issues for his altercation with “ex” girlfriend Rihanna, you can’t help but to wonder whether if their images and careers can be saved.

A-Rod and Phelps admitted their mistakes and made their apologizes. However, can their careers over come this hiccup and continue being prominent sports figures? 

While A-Rod and Phelps speak out about their mistake, Brown has yet to speak to the media or even an apology to his fans or Rihanna. But there has been some rumors that he has been using Facebook to express feelings and comments through his statuses. If this is true, why would Chris Brown make his statements through Facebook and not through the media to the general public? Shouldn’t his PR people advice him against making comments on his “private” profile page? 

With new media having a influence right now, it may be a little difficult to begin damage control. Everyone is expressing their opinions, creating their own stories of what happen or starting negative websites. Pictures like these have been circulating around the web. Will this cause a slower stride back to the top?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a crisis, the number one rule is to own up to your mistake and apologize. Lying and keeping quiet will only make things worse.

Before commenting, please read this article from E! http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b99660_chris_browns_career_totally_doomed.html

Find Me Online – Social Networking

 

Lisa Atufunwa's Facebook

Social networking has become a very popular the past couple of years. I first began using social networking sites when I signed up for an account on BlackPlanet.com when I was in the 7th grade. During that time, it was more about meeting new people and keeping in touch with friends. On my Blackplanet profile page, I added pictures of my favorite music artists, talked about my interests, and gave personal shoutouts to my closest friends. Then, my interests on social networking sites were to meet new people with common interests, like music, movies, and sports.

 

Today, I continue creating profiles on social networking sites, but my interests on these sites have changed from when I was in middle school. I use sites like Facebook or Myspace to network with those who are in the entertainment, sports, and public relations/advertising industries. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are becoming more a way to connect with professionals, whether it is to network to build your list of clients or to connect with someone who can help you with finding a job. I currently “tweet” about the opportunities I have with PRSSA, school, work, and my quest to finding a entry-level position in public relations. I also use LinkedIn as a way to connect with more professionals who may not have a Facebook or Twitter account. In addition, it can serve as a mini online resume. 

If you have a Twitter account, you can follow me @lisaatufunwa. To see some of my experiences, view my LinkedIn page. And you can always Facebook me (when you are adding me, add the one with just “Lisa Atufunwa.” The other Lisa is my cousin’s wife). I am open to meeting new people. I believe that everyone is here to teach you something or help you out. So, don’t hesitate to find me online. Can’t wait to connect with you.

Lisa Atufunwa's Twitter Page

 

 

Till next time.