Get your smart phones out! First member to comment with where the code took you gets double participation points!

Being out of the loop. If you’re anything like me, you know how frustrating this can be. As the new age of smart phones and rapidly changing technology is upon us, we are exposed to more and more effective ways to practice public relations but we don’t always fully understand them. So what are these funny looking squares we see everywhere?

This is a method that I’ve noticed gaining lots of popularity in the last year (especially on ads around campus) known as QR codes. We see them in magazines, on flyers, business cards, and even on popular websites like YouTube or Amazon. Asking around, it doesn’t seem like many college students are familiar with their purpose or function. They may seem odd or pointless at first, but when used correctly, QR codes can be an effective way to connect the public (or target audiences) to clients.

There is a lot of information about QR codes and their many uses in different industries around the world. I would like to briefly inform you about the basics of QR codes.

QR codes, short for “Quick Response” codes, were created in 1994 by Toyota to track cars during the manufacturing process. While commonly used in Japan, they have gained popularity in the U.S. in recent years. It is a barcode that links physical objects to more detailed information or online content. Its uses are  (as of 2011) used over a wide range of applications, including commercial tracking, entertainment and transport ticketing, product marketing and in-store product labeling. Examples of content a user might be “hard-linked” to can be a movie trailer, a website, coupons, photos, or mapped directions.

Accessing these codes is simple because all smart phones can download a free app that will scan the QR codes and link the user to the product content. The only issue here is that cell phone users without a smartphone can’t access the informative content QR codes provide. But it is very common for a non-smartphone user to have a friend around who could easily share the content with them. According to SmartOnline, in 2011, smart phones made up 54% of all mobile phone sales in the US.

QR codes are an essential tool in public relations because they are a quick and effective way to link audience/consumers to content regarding an event or product. Think about it; you’ve worked really hard on putting an event on campus together for your client. You make flyers and put them up with the basic information, but what if the readers of the flyers could quickly get hard-linked to your client’s Twitter account, YouTube video, or product discount coupon for coming to the event? It would make much more of an impact and add depth to your advertising.

Marc Lyne, a “Small is Beautiful” columnist for Search Engine Land, suggests creating QR codes to specifically link users to product details, contact details, offers or event details, competition details, coupons, Facebook or Twitter IDs, or links to videos.
(Check out his full article). Google and other online entities provide QR code generators.You can quickly and easily make your own for free! A simple one to start with is www.qrstuff.com!

We can see that these simple QR codes gives your audience the “inside look” at your product or event announcement, and you can get the content you want them to have, in their hands instantly. And now you know “the in” about the application of QR codes to
start enhancing your PR projects. I’ll bet we’ll continue to see many more QR codes as we grow and learn in the awesome industry of public relations.

If you ask Merriam-Webster, public relations is “the business of inducing the public to have understanding for and goodwill toward a person, firm, or institution.” Goodwill seems like a tricky word because it’s tough to truly measure someone’s “goodwill” towards a firm or client, and not all cases revolve around that feeling. Also, “inducing” might be a bit harsh. Public relations shouldn’t force so much as encourage audiences to accept an institution or client’s message by presenting clear, concise and honest communications.

According to the PRSA, “Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.” This is a much simpler and direct summation of what PR does: build relationships.

The PRSA definition also handles the issue of “goodwill.” Some PR situations will never be able to foster that mutual feeling: institutions like prisons and nuclear plants generally don’t garner warm and fuzzy feelings from their communities (though that would be an admirable PR goal). They can and should, however, maintain open and trusting relationships with their constituents.

Strong relationships, by nature, aren’t built around one party inducing another to do everything. Give and take must be fairly equal for a relationship to be successful and lasting, and this is where good PR professionals shine. Not only do they craft and deliver targeted communications, but they listen, learn, evaluate and begin the process anew.

This is especially important in the area of crisis communications. When disaster strikes – whether it’s a burst pipeline, a faulty product or a candidate’s gaffe – the public relations team must consider both the problem and the public’s reaction. Issues are rarely fixed by blindly following the standard operating procedures (though there should always be a crisis plan in place that can be readily adapted to the nuances of each situation). Any communications plan should be based upon both existing knowledge and evaluation of the public’s voice.

Once PR is boiled down to creating, evaluating and maintaining healthy relationships, practitioners may find that they still have the liberty to bend the field to their circumstances while upholding the industry’s ethics and standards. How do you define PR?

REMINDER: November 4th is the deadline for dues! Your payment of $75 for the year will cover benefits including new t-shirts, personalized PRSSA business cards, exclusive internship and job offers, mentors, PR application during workshops, agency tours (including a trip to Santa Barbara and an inside look at Madonna Inn), gaining advice from established speakers, and partial reimbursement for PRSSA events including National Conference and Assembly. This is money well spent! You can download the form (PRSSA membership form) and bring your payment to the meeting or drop it off in the Journalism Office!

See you tomorrow!

PRSSA info meeting-fall 2011-1

We are looking forward to seeing both new and familiar faces at this informational meeting during UU hour (11 a.m. to noon) on Tuesday, October 4th in Room 103 of the Graphic Arts building. Communication skills are beneficial to students of all majors (not just Journalism/PR – though they are crucial in this case), so come one, come all!

We will start with a brief overview of our organization and then outline some of the great workshops, speakers and activities we have planned.

Bring your questions to the kick-off meeting of what will surely be a fun year of professional development and bonding!

http://studentlife.calpoly.edu/orientation/wow/community/blockparty.asp