Worry Wart.

Did I pick the right major? Do I just suck at life? Is anyone else confused/scared/nervous/down right retarded about life and college and their future in general???

In other news, the new scent by Ed Hardy is absolutely amazing. Just sayin.

moooooooovin' on!

Josh and I are finally all moved into the new house. It's been a stressful and hectic month, but I'm glad to finally be at "home." It's still weird not living at home with mom, but then again, I'm 22 and it's way past time for me to grow up.

I'll post pictures soon of all the paint jobs and basement remodel!

PT Loser...

So I have to do an update about my current vehicle situation, as frustrating as it seems.

I'll admit it. I hit a raccoon. Stupid fat raccoons. Am I even spelling raccoon correctly??

Anyway, I hit a raccoon and long story short... my car died the next day. As in totally blew up. I'm not even kidding you, my DIPSTICK MELTED! MELTED!! The thing is only like two inches long now. The man at the body shop told me I needed an entirely new engine. Whoa! How do these things happen to me??

After a lot of nervous waiting, insurance decided that they're going to pay for it. (*I cried I was so happy!) Then the real waiting began...

It's going on 2 straight weeks that I've been driving the dreaded PT Cruiser. I hate it. First of all, it's like the transvestite of all automobiles. It can't decide if it wants to be a car, truck, minivan, or hatchback. It's a little of everything. And I have an analog clock! What the hell, I'm going insane.

So if you see me driving around a stupid black PT LOSER and I look really pissed off... you know why.

I hope I get my Civic back soon!!

Lexi gets her ears pierced!

Anyone who read my blog posts over fall quarter knows how much I love my niece. And since all I ever do is work anymore, it seems as though she's the only interesting thing I have to talk about! Last week we took her to get her ears pierced, and let me tell you it was an experience! She was a trooper, though. She only cried a little bit- I think Aunt Casey was more upset than she was!


watching the lady get everything ready


aunt casey is starting to get nervous!!


it hurt just a little...



but then we were happy again!

Not cool, Aggy. Not cool.

I've been staring at my computer for about 2 hours now trying to decide what to write about for this d*** ethics paper.

Good thing I'm full of ideas (sarcasm). In all reality, I find it borderline unethical that we even enter this contest as part of our grade anyway. Shouldn't the entries be heartfelt with the writers entering because of feeling compelled to share something? NOT because their grade depends on it??

It's almost like bloggers being paid to blog. They lose their transparency and even their originality. The fact that I have to conjure up some sort of topic for an ethics contest to potentially win money because I'm being graded on it is pretty much the same thing.

Not cool, Aggy. Not cool.

Participation is the fabric wk10

The conclusion of Citizen Marketers left me with a renewed sense of faith in the future of social media. Like many people, I was a true skeptic of the Lonelygirl15 videos from the start. She seemed too posed and rehearsed for something as sporadic and candid as a YouTube video diary should be (as we've defined in our society). It's this system of checks and balances that applies to the world of social media and makes it so great. Those who care about social media (and probably even those who don't) are able to sniff out the "fakes" in the blink of an eye. It has become so easy to tell whether someone is being sincere or not. I'm confident that the future of social media is in good hands: ours!

One other quote that stood out in my mind was "Social media makes relationships easier to create and maintain because of participation, and participation is the fabric" (174). How true is that? There is no way that social media would work without participation. But the fact of the matter is there isn't anyone behind the curtain saying we MUST participate. The participation is voluntary. Just another example of how the power of one can turn into the power of many!

My Poll!

Alright my fellow social media students, answer me this: What has been your favorite lesson in social media throughout the course of this class?

Take the poll I placed in the left-hand column of my blog.

Thanks!

Social Media predictions of 2006... wk10

While searching for something to write about in PR/social media world this week, I came across an article written almost 2 years ago on the Communications Overtones blog maintained by Kami Huyse and Lauren Vargas. The title explained it all, and the blog outlined the 5 major trends of social media in 2006 that the writers felt would impact PR in 2007 and beyond. As a person from the "future," so to speak, I thought it would be interesting to review their predictions.

Firstly, I totally agree with the first trend on viral videos. I can only imagine how surprised the authors were when viral video avenues like YouTube not only met but exceeded their expectations as far as viral videos and social media.

I also agree that the misuse of social media has impacted PR in part, but it's also affected MANY people, not just those in public relations. It doesn't matter what the technology is, there will always be someone who abuses it. Another point was made about the 3D Internet movement. I'm not sure that I understand this concept fully, so I will have to say that I don't believe it caught on as much as predicted (or I could be completely wrong).

The new social media press release part made me smile really big! This could be because we worked on one in class, but at the same time it reassured me that this social media class has been worth it as far as teaching me skills I'll definitely use in the future. *Thanks Aggy!*

The only part of the blog I fully disagreed with was the fact that the authors felt that PR companies were getting shut out of social media sites and their services turned away. While that may have been a trend in the beginning, I'd say that now the companies are embracing any and all forms of PR in their social media world. Just look at how many companies have blogs maintained by their PR staff on their Web sites as one example.

Reading this blog made me wonder what PR practitioners are saying about current trends and what their predictions for the future may be. I guess we'll know in two years when we go back and read it (and probably laugh at how primitive we were, haha!)

Alexis' 1st Birthday! wk10

My niece, Alexis Marie, turned ONE on November 5th, but we had her birthday party today. She looked so cute in her little "Birthday Princess" badge and outfit. She had fun opening presents and playing in the cake! It's so hard to believe that this little angel has been in my life only a year. It seems like it's been a lifetime! I don't know what I ever did without her. She's truly had my heart since the day she was born. I look forward to many more birthday parties like this one. Enjoy the pictures!




Opening her present from Auntie Casey!

Icing face!


How cute can she be?!



Best friends for life :)



I love her so much <3

Do It Now video!

My video for the Do It Now campaign on organ donation:

you might need to turn up your volume, it didn't process so well after I uploaded it to YouTube...

New Influencers wk9

Every week I dread doing my reading comprehension posts because I never feel like I have anything new to say. This week is no different, and after reading chapter seven in the New Influencers book I'm even more confused as to what I believe.

As probably only Aggy will know, my PR post this week was how social media tools shouldn't be used by everyone. I had that in the back of my mind as I was reading for this week and it kept nagging at me how Gillin kept raving on it.

With quotes like "Social media is PR's turn to shine," and "No profession stands to influence social media more than public relations," I'd have to say that Gillin makes social media seem like the end-all-be-all of where PR is headed. While I definitely understand the advantages it holds for PR, I'm not certain that it is the ONLY thing we need to study and have going for us.

PR professionals still need to be creative and intuitive. We still need to be good writers and organizers with impeccable people skills. Those are things social media tools can't replace, and I think the author of New Influencers tends to get wrapped up in that too much.

Now there's something to Twitter about.

Twitteriocy... wk9

I knew someone would do it. Someone finally laid out the ground rules when it comes to PR firms using Twitter!

I came across a blog written by Jeremy Pepper entitled "Twitteriocy," which is supposedly the blending of Twitter and Idiot. The article is all about how NOT to be an idiot on Twitter. I found it highly amusing.

One thing that struck me is he said that Twitter, and even all of social media, is not for everyone (or every PR firm). In our class we seem to emphasize the fact that we'd better get used to social media as it is here to stay, but I definitely see his point. For me, I relate it to the 40-something year old mother of three who heads out to the mall wearing skinny jeans and a boobalicious low cut top. While skinny jeans are a hip fashion trend, I'm sure most mothers of three would agree they just don't fit like they should. And as for the sexy tops, well, let's face it; the girls just don't sit where they used to anymore...

This long and drawn out analogy hopefully proves my point! PR firms using Twitter just to be using Twitter, without any plan of action or knowledge or "the right body" should just stop. It only reflects badly on your skills. Leave Twitter for those who are more appropriately savvy.

Sick Sick Sick... wk 9

I hate it when the weather can't decide what it wants to do in Ada. Every time this happens I get sick. Ugh. It always happens at the most inconvenient times. I have several projects due this week, I have a packed work schedule, my niece is turning one on Wednesday, and I'm supposed to be going to watch my friend in a play. So if I seem a little out of it, just know I'm highly medicated and trying to kick this problem I call the Ada-disease.

In other news, I went and saw Relient K this weekend at the Newport in Columbus. For a band I don't normally listen to, they did an amazing job! I would definitely go see them again!

Buyer Personas... wk8

After reading Chapter 10 in The New Rules of Marketing and PR, I was definitely struck by some of the things Scott was saying. In order for a new PR strategy to be effective on the Web, we have to make sure we're thinking like/speaking to our buyer rather than our product/service.

To me, it only makes sense that these strategies change. Web sites and blogs get put on the internet for anyone, but are only found by people who want/need them. The only way for those people to find such sites and blogs are if they're tagged correctly or if they're giving the buyers the information they're seeking.

It makes me laugh when I think of the "NASCAR dads" or "security moms" examples of buyer personas, but when I really think about it, it's not a laughing matter! People really sat around and delved into the types of people they were trying to reach and provided a culmination of their research by creating these profiles.

If I had to give myself a buyer persona, I'd probably say this:

"Casey the college senior is a 4th year public relations major. She is 22 years old and ready to graduate next fall. She enjoys the bustling city life and would prefer to find a worthwhile job in the metro area. As a member of Generation Y, she is very independent and seeks a place she can use her talents and creativity without feeling restricted. She is well versed in the ways of Facebook, MySpace and YouTube and knows of several other avenues for seeking and finding information she needs. She will be looking for a job that offers those kinds offers those kinds of opportunities, utilizes them and is seeking potential employees such as herself."

That was actually kind of fun!

Double Deuces... wk8

Saturday, while most of my fellow PR majors were galavanting at the PRSSA Conference in Detroit, I was home celebrating my 22nd birthday!

My friends got together and put together dinner for me and we all watched the Bucks lose to Penn State... boo. So of course after the devastating loss we had to hit up the bars!

While I've decided I'm pretty much over the bar scene, it's still nice to go out here and there with the people I love and enjoy some drinking games and Bud Light... not to mention, my best friend Captain Morgan :)

It feels so weird to say that I'm 22. It's like once you turn 21 there really aren't any birthdays to look forward to anymore. The only fun part about this age is the fact that I can call it "double deuces." Don't make fun of me, you know it sounds cool...

Next important age: 63 (retirement). And the countdown begins!

Sodahead Polls.... wk 8

For the past several weeks we've all been learning about how social media provides a place for people all over the world to interact one-on-one by way of the internet.

To me, social media represents a lot of how I go about my every day.. whether it's on Facebook, MySpace or YouTube... I'm pretty sure I visit each site multiple times daily.

In the YouTube community, one of my favorite people to watch is Supricky06. The channel is run by a man named Chris from Los Angeles, and he basically just uses his channel to voice his opinion on a plethora of topics from his "man talk" episodes answering viewer questions, to his random rants about things that make him mad.

In the following video, Supricky poses a question that he also posted on another social media site, Sodahead. Sodahead is a place for posting poll questions and people have the chance to respond using your predetermined answers as well as by leaving comments. Supricky's video is about whether or not gay marriage should be legal. While I know this topic has been beaten to a pulp, I feel he makes a good argument. So of course I watched the video then visited Sodahead to voice my opinion! You should too!

Viral Marketing wk7

The viral marketing chapter in the New Influencers book was very interesting. After reading, I have to agree with something that was said within the first few pages. Gillin states that viral marketing, "is an inherently risky strategy. A viable message that doesn't catch on is a waste" (pg 180). It's amazing to me how many people are willing to take such a risk. You can have an idea, put it out there and it may catch on or it may not. It seems as though you really have nothing to lose but everything to gain. This is possibly why viral marketing is so attractive.

I've also wondered the same question B.L. Ochman wondered when he started his viral campaign "Up Your Budget": HOW DO PEOPLE FIND THIS STUFF??

The person starts a Web site that sends $10,000 to sixteen U.S. cities and basically allows any person to take the clues and try to be the first to find the money. Are there people who sit around all day just thinking, "hmm, maybe there's a Web site out there that will send me on a scavenger hunt for money?!" I'd really hope that isn't true, but sites like those and PostSecret, and Ethics Crisis that catch on and garnish tons of popularity still make me wonder HOW?

RSS feeds to your iPhone.... wk7

Can I first say that technology is the bane of my existence? I come home from work last night only to find that my internet is completely down for reasons I do not understand... leaving me an HOUR to go do homework at the library before it closed. Needless to say, I went to finish my research paper and had no time left for social media, which of course, requires my use of the internet.

But I digress.

This morning I rushed to the PAC lab to peruse Digg to find an article to use for my PR/Social Media blog. I came across this article explaining that new technology exists from Apple for people to turn any RSS feed into an application for their iPhone. After talking about RSS feeds extensively in our social media class, I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to actually understand this!!

Imagine the opportunities of turning ANY RSS feed you want into an application for your phone. This makes it so that any person can be the creator of his or her own personalized phone. No longer to we have to wait for applications to be created for us, we get to do the creating for ourselves! What will they come up with next?

Best $13 I've Spent in a While... wk7

I love Wal-mart. It's like the mecca for all college students, I believe. One of my favorite sections is the video/music area. They have the best movies for the cheapest price! Today I bought a 3-disc set of the American Pie trilogy... you know, American Pie, American Pie 2 and American Wedding... for a whopping $13!! What a steal!!

(For all those wondering, I don't count the Naked Mile, Band Camp or Beta House in the series because they were spin-offs and don't have all the original characters.)

Those movies bring me back in the day where we'd go on "group dates" of about 10 guys and girls to the movies since we were technically too young to date, but those hormones raged anyway (and parents were cool with group stuff!). It seems so long ago, but those were some of the best times I can remember from junior high/early high school! I'm definitely pumped about watching these movies again (probably for the millionth time!) and reminiscing. That is, once I have my life back after I finish this dreaded 15 page paper!!

Tag, You're It! wk 6

Though I'm not a huge fan of the New Influencers book, I have to say that chapter nine began to spark my interest when it discussed the use of tags.

Unlike with my difficulty in wrapping my head around what an RSS feed is, I tend to think that tags are self-explanitory devices. I'd always noticed them at the bottom of articles or blogs, and I knew that tags played a huge part in the success of search engines, but I never knew just how important that made them in the grand scheme of social media!

One thing I will give this book, is the fact that for every subject brought up, Gillin will give about 5 examples to help clarify. I never knew that there were sites on the Web set up to specifically track tags and what they say. TagWorld, and del.icio.us are especially interesting to me after I checked them out and did a few searches. The possibilities are endless! It's amazing that I could probably sit around all day thinking of ways I'd like to be able to search for information, by what category, and there would be some specialized Web site out there that will do just what I wish!

With technology we're always wondering, "what will they think of next?" but with so much out there already, I have to sit back and wonder, "is there anything left to think of?"