This semester I was lucky enough to sign up for a class called Topics in Public Relations. This class has given me the knowledge and confidence to understand and strive in many areas of Public Relations. Throughout this semester we have spent much of our time learning very new concepts for me as a PR major. However, Their are two topics that have stood out as two of the most important aspects to Social Media and Public Relations. These two topics are; online reputation and social media audits. Throughout the class we have learned how important these two aspects of PR truly are.
Online Reputation is hands down one of the most important aspects in Public Relations. The ability to project yourself in the public how you want you and your company to be soon is so crucial in the world we live in today. Although our world has spun into an online and social media world we are finding that there are many downfalls in creating a world and a brand all online. It is important in this day and age that we focus on who we are both in life and online. A company's reputation is everything. once discovering the importance of a good online reputation it is also important to learn how to properly manage online reputation. It is crucial fin PR to maintain a spotless and positive reputation. With the importance and need for online reputation there are many ways to learn tips on just how to create a positive online reputation. I find this topic very important, for not only my future in PR but even displaying my personal online reputation. A good online reputation is important for everyone from companies, businesses, and personal online platforms.
The second is social media audits. Throughout this course I was given an amazing opportunity to have the ability to create social media audits for The Kennesaw State University Admissions. After completing the social media audit for KSU Admissions I was able to see just how important it is to audit your social media platforms. It is important to realize that running social media platforms is a full time job. It is important for all businesses and companies to maintain a presence online. In order to control and determine the success of a social media platform it is important to complete a social media audit. There are many forms of audits all important as the next. For a quick audit there are even sites for a successful 15 Minute Audit. I believe that Social Media Audits are important in every aspect of PR. It is not okay to just move through the motions, success must be judged, and this can be measured through a social media audit. I also find social media audits important for me, because it showed me that a social media audit proves that Social media accounts and Public Relations is not an easy job, but it is hard work. Work that many times is 24/7.
So what does this mean for the future of Social Media? Experts have stated that social media will continue to grow daily. They also predict that social media will create a bigger influence in consumer purchasing and online shopping. The expansion of Media ads and paid advertisement will begin to flood or social media platforms. I believe as the future unfolds companies will learn that the use of social media for advertisement is not only the most cost efficient, but the most successful way to reach consumers. So this means that consumers have the power. If social media takes a turn to focus on consumers and advertisement then these public hold all the power.
This will lead to business and companies having to fight for spots of advertisement on social media platforms. For example, the future will create a financial battle for advertisement space. I believe this will lead to a greater increase in auto-playing video ads. We have already started to see a few of these on social media platforms such as Spotify and Pandora. Companies will learn that advertisement will need to be short and hold the greatest influence to consumers in the shortest amount of time. Social media advertisements like these will lead the public to move to find the next biggest, greatest, and non-polluted social media platform.
As far as future applications are concerned, I believe that messaging applications will be the new future. Looking at the success of applications such as Snapchat and WhatsApp, I started searching for the newest and future application for messaging Apps. I found an application known as WeChat. This application is one of the most advanced messaging apps to date. WeChat not only offers the ability for parties to communicate on a personal level, but it gives the option to connect with a third party. These applications are integrating other services to influence the future of their applications. For WeChat they are beginning to look and location based services, such as ordering taxis, downloading interactive maps, purchasing tickets, and much more.
These future predictions and trends are important to Public Relations, because it is our duty and responsibility to expand and bend with the times and trends. Public Relations is designed to create communication between publics. For PR it is important to be malleable and allow the trends to create new goals, and needs for PR Professionals. The PR field will never be the same as we know it. We must learn to move with changes. Our field is not designed to be stationary and unmovable. That the beauty behind having the ability to grow and expand our goals.
