What to do..

I've been talking with friends lately about plans after graduation. Some have jobs lined up already, others have found internships and then there are the others. Some have decided to take some time off from PR, some are "killing time" until law or grad school, and then there are the others who just don't know. There are so many decisions to make and it can quickly become overwhelming. 

Here are some ways to help choose your path:

1. Listen to your instincts.

This primal tool is generally right.You should listen to your instincts but don't become a victim. Don't just move to Idaho because your instincts said to move there, but make a plan. Acknowledge the feeling then ask yourself why. Do you want to move there because a friend is? Or are there other reasons? 

2. Give yourself time.

Make a decision and then think about it for a day or two. If you decide to go into PR and two days later catch yourself thinking about how much you love something else and hate all of your PR classes, you need to stop and re-evaluate. Make a decision you are comfortable with two days later, in fact it would be even better if you were excited. 

3. Write it down.

Write your thoughts down. I always make a pros and cons list before a big decision. It helps clarify and organize my thoughts, and it's easier to discuss ideas when written down. Seeing the things you like versus what you dislike may really open your eyes.  

I recently bought a new car- in my head it seemed dumb to sell of a nice, low mileage, paid off Explorer and take out a loan to buy a Prius. But when I wrote it down and really thought things through, I was spending $500 on gas a month for the explorer. Now, my car payment is $290 and gas costs about $120 a month. I'm saving money.

Good luck to everyone who is about to begin a new venture. If you have have any suggestions on what helps you make a good decision, please share!

Spring Time

In most parts of the U.S., this is Spring time. However, here in South Georgia it's just a slight break from the winter rain before the stifling heat makes its way into town. To enjoy this weather, I'm making a Spring to-do list.

1. Find the time to ride my horses more. I haven't ridden in weeks, which is so out of character for me.
2. Run at least 3 times a week. I've seriously been slacking in the exercise department.
3. Go for drinks at the Rocks on the Roof- only the best view in Savannah
4. Go for a day trip with the girls- in serious need of some girl time
5. Finish The Hunger Games trilogy!
6. Enjoy my parents beautiful back yard (seen above)

What's on your Spring to-do list?

Social Media Plan

I am a mere 46 days away from graduation. When I am not scrambling to complete my work and school assignments, I am on the hunt for a job. Many of these positions require Social Media experience, which comes as no surprise. I have been surprised by the number of applications looking for individuals to create social media plans for their business.

I am well aware of social media, between personal experience, school and work requirements, I know how to handle myself on a variety of platforms. However, I have never made a true social media plan. Here is some information I found on socialmediatoday and thought would be helpful to others.

1.       Paint the big picture of the opportunities Social Media can provide

Suggestions include beginning your plan with startling statistics/quotes about social media and how many people are moving away from traditional media and towards social media.

2.       Define Social Media

Social media has so many meanings to people based on their knowledge and experience. Provide a specific yet all encompassing definition will provide a level platform to begin expressing ideas too. I really like the definition provided by socialmediatoday:

“Social media is user-generated content on the internet.  It’s created with free or inexpensive technology, is easy to update, and can reach a niche audience or millions.  It can be mere words in a blog, but also user-generated videos, photos, and audio.  It can be interactive with unfiltered comments from visitors.  And as user-generated content, it does away with controls associated with traditional media – and most of all, it removes the need for big media.”

3.       List tangible business goals

Upper management may not initially see the benefits of social media. This is the part of the plan where you should high light HOW social media will improve business. This can include building awareness, strengthen relationships, improve customer service, generate sales, etc.

4.       Plan a timeline of steps

This is your chance to plan the objectives. Have measureable/attainable goals set and when they will be accomplished by. This shows management you are working and not playing, while also giving you a timeline to accomplish things by.

5.       Set realistic Expectations

Make sure your management realizes that social media not guaranteed to do anything. Explain how it takes time to get a loyal following, some platforms may not pan out, etc.

6.       Ask for resources

Asking for training, help, a budget to get help make the best effort, etc. Unlimited access to the web via smart phone and laptop (if you don’t already have those)

7.       Decide who will be in charge of Social Media

Doing it internally, hiring a consultant group, etc. Lay out what you think the best options would be.

8.       End with an urgent call to action

End you plan with a call to action that shows the need to join social media. 

Klout Score

Recently, I've been running across mentions of a Klout Score. I probably shouldn't admit it, but I had no clue what they were referring to. So to enlighten my other readers who may not know, these are my findings and understanding of the Klout Score.

The Klout Score is a way for you to measure your online influence. Influence is defined as your ability to drive action which means responses, shares, etc. 

To break down what goes into the measurement, here are the three concepts considered: 

True Reach: How many people you influence

Amplification: How much you influence them

Network Impact: The influence of your network

Using services, such as the Klout Score, will be beneficial to both individuals and businesses. Online presence is everything and we should be aware of the influence of our online actions. An interesting tidbit, the common score is 20. When I linked this blog, my Twitter and Facebook accounts, my score was 12. Obviously needs improvement, but I'll keep working on it.

Kony 2012

If you've been on any news site or Facebook within the last few days, you've probably heard of Kony 2012. For those of you who haven't here's the scoop: Kony 2012 is a video launched by Invisible Children. This group uses creativity to produce visual messages in support of ending child armies.


The actual Invisible Children are child soldiers whose lives are living hell. Most are kidnapped from their homes/villages when they are very young (sometimes as young as 5), then they are forced into the military and drugged so that they have no fear. If they try to escape, they are captured and killed in front of other children to set an example. These children are raped (many girls serve as sex slaves), treated like servants and are the first sent into battle. They are offered up as sacrifices against trained armies in an effort to save older soldiers lives.


Back to Kony 2012 though. The intention of the video was to harness the powers of social media and make a change in the world. Joseph Kony (the man at the top of this blog) has been in hiding since 2006, and this video is an effort to familiarize the entire world with his face and the travesties he has committed in an effort to capture him. High aspirations, but it seems to be working.


According to an article by wtop.com (based out of Washington, D.C.), the video was posted to YouTube on March 5 (2012). By Thursday morning (March 8) the video had already been played 30 million times. When I looked at 7:30 a.m. March 9, the video had over 55 million views.


I have seen opposition to this ideas behind this video and don't understand. Although I am well aware of the issues faced in the U.S, we are all apart of one global community. I agree we need to "fix" the issues at home, but we don't have an issue like this at home. We don't have children being forced off to war at 5, our children sign up at 18 if they WANT too. It takes five seconds to share a video on Facebook, 30 minutes to watch the entire video, and then you can choose if you want to act based on the information you've heard. 


If the United States were ever in a position to have these types of horrors on our soil, I pray that other parts of the world would respond the way I have seen most of my friends respond- by sharing the information and helping to spread the world. This is a call to action; something as small as sharing the page is answering that call and helping to support the child soldiers of Africa. I hope that this video makes it harder for Kony to stay underground. Maybe someone will have the courage to disclose his hideout information now that there is global support and we can all hope, for the sake of the children, that this comes to an end.


I have also seen debates about the negative ramifications of the video. Mainly, the timing of its release and the validity behind the information used in the video. Many question the timing because there are already U.S. troops in Uganda looking for Kony, they also question it because most of the resistance is no longer in Uganda, but in places such as the DRC. Regardless, this video raises awareness of child soldiers. No matter where they are, it needs to be stopped. 


Regarding the informative content of the video, it started with pictures/videos of the producers son. What makes anyone think that this wouldn't be opinion based? If I wanted the straight facts, I wouldn't be relying on social media to spit this into my lap. The video was not designed to show you the efforts taken by Ugandan government because that's not the point of it. The point was to show you the travesties faced by child soldiers and for the global community to respond in order to rid the world of child soldiers.

Get More Sh!t Done

Ever heard of Senioritis? Are you Googling it now, to keep putting off that assignment that's due in an hour? Probably a good sign you are suffering from the disease of procrastination.
If you're like me, there comes a time where you just don't want to do something, whether that's clean, homework, or run- it can be a variety of things you're putting off. While browsing on Pinterest, and putting off doing some catch-up reading for class, I found a list of items to help you "Get More Sh!t Done."
Here are some highlights for your reading pleasure, plus the full list here:
Create Routines-Making a routine (and sticking to it) is one of the "easiest" ways to get stuff done (especially if it's something you don't want to do). Having a set gym time, every day and a time that everyone knows, may help motivate you to actually go through with it.
Eat the Frogs- According to this group, that means do the thing you least want to do, first. It makes sense to get it over with and be done with whatever is holding back your productivity.
Silence your Phone- This may be one of the toughest for many of us to do. I have alerts for calls, texts,  Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, GroupMe and numerous other apps. Cutting my self away from all of those connections it tough, but proves to be one of the most beneficial ways to boost my productivity.

There were lots of great tips on this site. Maybe next week will be even more productive then this one!

Google Glasses

I found this tidbit several days ago, but midterms have gotten in the way of my blog posting.
Essentially, Google is using android technology to build a pair of glasses that will relate information on the eye pieces. The glasses will include "a camera and audio inputs and outputs." It could potentially include facial recognition software down the road. 
I am all for technology, but this takes it too far. How creepy is it to think that you can be walking through a store and someone will zoom in on your face and instantly know everything about you? Or that they can secretly be taking your picture or videoing you (which is already done enough)?
To me, this product doesn't say "innovative idea to make the people more social," it screams "Hello, stalkers! I'm the product for you!"
Hopefully, someone comes to their senses and this product is never released to the general public.