Farewell University, Hello College

So as my four years as a comm student at Laurier are coming to an end, I thought I would let you all know what I am doing next year, and how blogging will remain to play a prominent role in my career path.

Next year I am going to college for Corporate Communications and Public Relations. Since the internet has become such a popular space for people to interact, create opportunities and share information, most businesses are actively also engaging in the internet and setting up blogs representing their brand, products or services. Since PR is all about protecting the brand, and ensuring the brand remains strongly and positively recognized by the public eye, the blog has actually become quite an important tool for PR. This is because blogs provide the the perfect way to promote your brands image, product and service.

Blogs are very helpful PR tool because they provide a sense of personalization that is very intimate online, a real person is blogging about in the face of the company, people gain a connection to the writter, a trust is formed and therefore this bridges a connection between the company and readers/ consumers. In the past PR has been known to present manipulative messages to the public, to "spin" messages in order to make the company look good. The blog shifts away from this idea, and creates a more communicative and interactive space where the face of the company (blogger) is having a conversation or dialogue with readers. This approach of open discussion enhances the perception of honesty and trust, and by delievering messages straight to readers, they gain a trust for the company, which will in turn create life long clients.

In addition, blogging is a great tool for PR because the blog acts as a vehicle for release news about the company, and being the first to release consistent news is always a positive way to reach mass amounts of people. The blog allows PR people to write about their industry, comment on their products, provide people with up to date company news, and events which may be of interest to readers, and it proves to be successful as people feel an intimate connection with these corporate blogs. Instead of finding out about the company news from the newspaper or television, the blog strengthens the brand online. As PR is all about being on top of new media, and maintaining a strong brand name, the blog is a great tool to use.

I am really looking forward to my program next year! We will be taking classes on event planning and crisis management. I think posting events on a corporate blog is so much more effective than hearing about them on the news. I really look forward to learning all about PR and how new social media has become an active tool for corporations!

Goodbye for now Active Citizens at Laurier!