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.

New Media Drivers License

 

You and New Media

The last time I went to class on a Saturday, I was in the 6^th grade (or was it high school?). On a cold Saturday morning, I woke up (very early I might add) to drive a little over an hour, in a snowstorm to attend my first class of my last semester of college. But, I wasn’t mad; in fact I was excited about it.

 

For the first time, Michigan State University created a class for students and professionals to learn more about New Media. It’s called New Media Drivers License. I first heard about this class while I was work at the APRR office when I met the instructor, Derek Mehraban. Just hearing some things he wanted to teach in the class made me want to take this class.

 

Right off the bat, I was amazed with the information that was presented to us in class! Although I was not new to the new media concept, I did learn new things in the class. One thing that this class helped me was by pushing me to start my own blog (finally I know!). This class will build on my current knowledge of social networking sites, blogs, and podcasting. But it will also teach me something new like about search engine optimization (SEO) and how it works.

I have two goals of what I want to get out of this class. First, I want to make my presence known in the new media world. If I can at least reach one person out there, that will make me very happy. Second, I want to be able to use the knowledge I gained from this class and become an asset in my future profession.

 

Check out the New Media Drivers License Web site.

Till next time.