Real Time Public Relations

Part five of “Share This” focuses on the importance of monitoring and measurement in social media. Phillip Sheldrake, author of chapter 17, emphases the importance of real-time public relations. In the public relations field, monitoring is simply not enough. You need to utilize real-time communication in order to keep up with your audience in the digital world. “Real Time Marketing and PR” by David Meerman Scott also focuses on the topic of real-time communication. Needless to say, reacting in real-time is not a want in todays society, but a need.

Public relations is the building and maintaining of mutually beneficial relationships. Communication needs to be two-way and symmetrical in order to be successful. Building and maintaining relationships is still important in public relations but other key tools have evolved over time. Social media, for example, has completely reinvented the public relations field. Social media allows conversations to play out in just seconds. Companies need to be able to react in real time and make decisions quickly and efficiently while engaging with users.

Social media allows companies to be the eyes, ears and mouths of the company. By monitoring and listening on social media, you are able to see first hand what your audience expects from you. By monitoring and listening to customers online, you are able to react and respond in real-time to customers. Being able to communicate with your audience establishes trust and credibility with your target audience.

As a public relations professional, you can potentially be in charge of your companies’ social presence. If so, remember transparency is essential in the digital world. Social media allows companies to become transparent and be a source for real-time information. You are no longer able to “fake it.” Your target audience will notice and move on to another company.

Social media is rapidly changing and will continue to do so. It is important as a future professional to stay with the trends and use social media as an advantage. By reacting in real-time, customers and companies have the opportunity to build mutually beneficial relationships. 

KIND Bears

Looking for a new healthy snack? Try KIND snacks. KIND snacks are gluten free and non GMO (genetically modified organisms) granola and granola bars. It’s not easy for college students to eat healthy, or really anyone for that matter. The KIND movement tries to make healthy eating into a habit. KIND snacks are “focused on making the world a little kinder.” KIND’s mission is to inspire people to do the kind thing for their body. By eating KIND snacks, you are able to snack on something tasty and good for your body at the same time. With five flavors, KIND snacks offers a variety of choices for consumers to try when looking for a healthy alternative.

The KIND movement has spread nationwide. KIND Bears is Ohio Northern’s own KIND movement. Students of the Ohio Northern’s PRSSA chapter are promoting KIND snacks and encouraging students to be kind to their bodies and engage in a healthier lifestyle. Members of KIND Bears are doing stretches and warm up exercise with various sports teams on campus like the football, volleyball and cross country teams. The KIND Bears team will also be handing out KIND snacks in King Horn in the near future. Keep your eyes open! By promoting KIND snacks on campus, the KIND Bears are hoping to bring awareness on how to be kind to your body and the benefits of doing so.

I have not personally tried KIND snacks but with all the buzz on campus about KIND snacks, I’m looking forward to trying them. The KIND movement increases brand awareness which is a brilliant PR move for KIND snacks. Bringing awareness about a healthy snack brand to college campuses will potentially increase their sales and target audience. I’m looking forward to see how the KIND brands develops in the near future. Hopefully they will add tasty new flavors to their line. If you want to learn more about KIND snacks, join ONU PRSSA in their mission to live a healthier, kinder lifestyle.