Question

Read Case Activity: A Social Media Campaign for Yogurt Program on page 244.

Answer the questions in the Writing Prompt section and provide your opinion on the use of social media (based on the chapter) for the public relations activities part of their marketing plan. Participate in the discussion on Social Media with someone else in the course. This is page 244: The discussion on the previous pages examined ways in which an individual can formulate persuasive messages. The ability to use these techniques often leads to charges that public relations practitioners have great power to influence and manipulate people. In reality, the effectiveness of persuasive techniques is greatly exaggerated. Persuasion is not an exact science, and no surefire way exists to predict that people will be persuaded to believe a message or act on it. If persuasive techniques were as refined as the critics say, all people might be driving the same make of car, using the same soap, and voting for the same political candidate. This doesn’t happen because several variables intervene in the flow of persuasive messages. Elihu Katz says the two major intervening variables are selectivity and interpersonal relations; these are consistent with the limited-effects model of mass communication.

For purposes of discussion, the limitations on effective persuasive messages can be listed as:

(1) lack of message penetration,

(2) competing messages,

(3) self-selection, and

(4) self-perception.

This is a Public Relation Subject.

Answer 1

To find influencers - Influencers give brands a voice they could never use on their own. Social media influencers have massive digital followings that brands can tap into to promote offerings and protect reputations. When public relations professionals create relationships between brands and influencers, they're really adding another line of both promotion and defense the brand can use to its advantage.

To identify brand threats - Social listening gives professionals the power to understand the public's opinion before it turns into a trending topic. They can proactively find and address online threats and possibly prevent a major brand reputation crisis. To think like a public relations expert, consider using one of the dozens of social listening tools out there to understand what social media users really think.

To swiftly react to negative press - Social media is one of the first places people look for a brand's reaction to a negative claim. Public relations professionals may use a company account to craft and publish an immediate response and to direct the public to another medium for more information. Social media gives public relations professionals immediate access to a large, attentive audience.

To make announcements - Word travels fast on Twitter, so public relations professionals often use the platform to announce awards, product launches, and company updates. With captivating short snippets and links, professionals can reach a much wider audience via social media than traditional forums.

Social media is a natural fit for public relations and one of many tools businesses can use to protect and promote their reputations. When public relations and marketing teams combine their efforts on social media, brands often enjoy immediate positive results.