Jan 27 2012

Penn State University Still Needs to Continue its Reputation Management Campaign

Even months later, Penn State continues its mission of reputation management after the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Jerry Sandusky was an assistant coach for the Nittany Lions’ football team that was accused of numerous counts of sexually abusing young boys. Needless to say, this has generated quite the controversy surrounding the institution and how it runs. Countless individuals and groups have publicly criticized the university on the internet and in the press.

Part of the reputation management campaign is dealing with the university’s decision to relieve long-time football head coach Joe Paterno from his job. Penn State received a lot of flak from alumni, former players, current students, and fans after the decision to dismiss Joe-Pa, as he is affectionately known. As what can only be seen as part of a PR campaign to satisfy fans, students, and alumni the university has also announced that it will be paying Joe Paterno as if he had retired and not been let go by the university. For fans of Joe-Pa this does not seem to be enough, they feel he shouldn’t have been let go in the first place.

While many on the connected to Penn State in some fashion disliked the firing, many on the outside saw it as a necessary step. Numerous people believed that Joe-Pa did not handle the situation properly; they believed that he should have done more than simply pass the initial accusations on to his superiors. Paterno believes that he did the correct thing by passing the basic information he was given to the proper channels, but does admit that he could have done more.

As a result of Sandusky’s actions, and even some of their own, or lack thereof, the event has affected the jobs of a few different employees of the university. Including the release of Sandusky and Paterno, the university let go the Athletic director at the time, Tim Curley, and former university vice president, Gary Schultz. As part of his duties, Schultz was in charge of directing campus police. Both men now face perjury and failure to report sexual abuse indictments.

In a recent town hall style meeting with alumni, current Penn State University President Rodney Erickson addressed the situation. He stated his belief that these allegations were not a university scandal, but only a Sandusky issue. While the individuals involved in this scandal have been let go by the university, it does continue to be a university issue. Jerry Sandusky will forever be linked to Penn State since he was a coach at the university while these acts were allegedly committed, so it will never be seen as only a “Sandusky Scandal”. The fact that other members of the college had a hand in sweeping the allegations under the rug and not reporting the initial accusations keep the scandal from being only a “Sandusky Scandal” too. Dealing with these issues and rebuilding a positive reputation will drag on for Penn State for several years.

Nov 05 2011

Social Media Marketing – 6 Key Components For Success

Social Media Marketing is attaining recognition more and more recently. This is because business owners are more aware of the awesome advantages this marketing medium provides when it comes to driving traffic to your website. In contrast to the conventional way of marketing where its one way communication from seller to potential customers informing them about the benefits of utilizing their goods, social media marketing is about connecting, that makes it more personal, intimate and actual. Social network advertising is more about helping others succeed, not selling your agenda.A few of the more popular and well populated Social Media sites are:Myspace.comFacebook.comLinkedin.comTwitter.comBebo.comFriendster.comHi5.com.I have created this guide to assist you in establishing an effective social media marketing strategy to drive traffic to your web site.

What we are going to go through are 6 important components that you should have in your technique so that you can create a potent and effective Social Media Marketing campaign.Let us begin.

Sign Up for free Accounts

Choose 1 or perhaps a few social media websites that you want to start with and sign up for a totally free account. Fill up your profile as totally as possible. As soon as you have created your accounts at your chosen websites and filled up your profile totally, you’re ready to begin networking and connecting with your people

Component 1: Your people

Social media websites consist of millions people and with all sorts of interests. Tapping into this pool of billions of every day users globally can assist in expanding your presence globally.What you need to do is look for and join, or, create your own groups, blogs, pages and forums around your particular topic or niche. This may allow you to be connected to a highly targeted audience base.

Component 2: Relationship Building – Provide valuable Opinions & Info for Free

Social Media Advertising provides you with a chance to be in service to individuals. You will be in a position to help them with their challenges and help them in addressing their concerns. So do it! This action builds your online status as a professional and a giving person. By providing quality info at no cost and going out of your way to help them solve their troubles you will connect with your audience at a much more actual and intimate level. The more you give, the more you get back.

Component 3: Quality Conversations – Connecting Through Blogs, Pictures, Updates and Videos

By connecting to an audience that is highly targeted, your quality of communication will be higher due to the similar interests and concerns. I suggest you really listen to their issues and what they want, to ensure that, you can better serve them in the future. This quality communication builds relationships and trust faster online than almost anything else between you and your audience. Also, make your Social Media site personal to ensure that these individuals get to see your profile, your picture and videos, that will get them to know you and like you even more.

Component 4: Do it Frequently & Consistently

The social profiles that come up highest on the search engines are the ones who are most active. So make an effort to contribute regularly and consistently. Plus, what happens by being consistent is that you will also give the unspoken message to your people that you can be counted on and you’re in it with them for the long term.

Component 5: Awareness of the advantages!

The biggest mistake beginners make is forgetting what’s in it for themselves in executing this technique. And then they quit or they don’t give 100% to it after awhile. Keep in mind, Social Media is cost-effective advertising! You can use LinkedIn to send the message that you are looking for new employees and use Twitter to send out quick messages about upcoming promotions. By being connected in social medias effectively, you show your clientele which you are transparent, authentic, up-to-date and most of all, you’re a actual person!

Component 6: Your Goal

Being known as a professional inside your field and building solid relationships with your individuals is not in itself the end result you’re looking for. You’ve got to keep in mind the goal you’re basically looking for is to drive traffic from this website to your main web site so that your main web site can convert them into being your clients. You’ll need to complete this by offering them a persuasive enough reason to visit to your website. You already have a relationship with them, and have heard their concerns. You know what they want, so provide a more detailed and detailedsolution to their problem that can only be reached through your web site. Then ask them to visit.Naturally, I’ve given you an overly basic version of starting a Social Media Marketing technique, however it is enough to get you started out. Best of luck.