March Meeting: Learn the Secrets of Social Media Analytics

Our March PRSSA meeting is right around the corner, and this month's topic is Social Media Analytics. As PR professionals, we will always be proving why we are important and how we contribute financially to a company. Social media is particularly tricking to track if you do not know what you are doing.

Many of us know how to set up a Facebook page, create a Twitter handle or even upload a video on YouTube. However, a well-kept secret is how to prove those tools are beneficial. Jen Welton, vice president of the Springfield Social Media Club, is going to come and teach us how to track our social media efforts with free tools like Hootesuite, Tweekdeck and Google Alerts.

Also, come hear about Lauren Harris' experience at PRSSA National Assembly. We will also be providing information on our upcoming elections: possible new bylaws and applications for running for the executive board. Lastly, everyone will get a first look at what is being planned for PRSSA 2012.

This is a meeting you don't want to miss! Invite any friends that would benefit from Jen's presentation.

Leaving a Personal Touch: Job Shadowing with Mallory Roth

About a week ago, I had the privilege of job shadowing Mallory Roth, Educator and Enthusiast at Askinosie Chocolate. Her job entails planning special events at the factory, assisting the Marketing Director, following up with clients and brainstorming creative ways to show current customers appreciation. Askinosie Chocolate is a chocolate factory in Springfield, Mo., that focuses on specialty dark chocolate bars. They source all of their cacao beans from the farmers directly and work to create a more sustainable trade system with the farmers.

I have always admired the business model Askinosie follows, and I love their chocolate, so I was thrilled to spend time with Mallory at the factory.  It was incredible to see the behind the scenes of the delicious chocolate making and watch the entire process. I learned so much about customer service and the chocolate industry.

A Personalized Thank You is Always Better

Mallory shared many things about her duties with me, but what will stay with me is the time and effort she puts into thanking clients. She said that it is important for her to research each client before sending him or her a thank you. She likes to use the medium of communication that each client prefers: phone, email, snail mail, etc. She also tries to personalize gifts. For example, if someone has a favorite chocolate to order, she may send some to the client as a thank you. She said that she tries to think outside of the chocolate box as well sending people gifts that they will truly appreciate.


Write Everything Down


Talking to Mallory also reminded me the importance of writing everything down. Mallory has a very organized system to keep track of calls, emails, thank you cards, etc. No one likes to receive duplicate emails or to be left out of communication. A notepad, lists and Excel can be a PR girl's best friend when dealing with client relations.


I thoroughly enjoyed my second job shadowing with PRSSA, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of this great opportunity; you never know where the connection might lead. Just like Mallory, remember to always thank people you job shadow with a personal touch. 


Bethany Parry—Vice President: Bethany is a senior at Missouri State University studying Public Relations and Spanish. As Vice President, she promotes professional development, manages communications, and supports the president in anyway needed. You can contact her at Bethany08@live.missouristate.edu or follow her on Twitter at @bparry08.

Mad Men Season 5 Premiere Party!

To all those Mad Men fans out there, the wait is almost over. In less than two weeks, Don Draper will grace all of our television sets once more, and we will get transported to the 1960's all over again.

In celebration of this highly anticipate two-hour premiere, Missouri State's Chapter of PRSSA and Missouri State's Ad Club is hosting a premiere party on March 25 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Marion Apartments.

Come dressed in your best 60's garb and ready to jump into the world of advertising! There will be themed refreshments, networking opportunities and of course, Mad Men. The event is at the theater at Marion Apartments on 1745 South Marion (near Sunshine and Kansas Expressway).

The party is open and FREE to anyone who would like to attend, so invite your friends, internship supervisors and classmates. No one wants to miss this premiere!

If you have yet to explore the world of Mad Men, come by anyway for a great opportunity to mingle with your fellow students and some local professionals while enjoying a TV pop culture icon. After all, we Missourians must stick together as John Hamm, the actor who plays Don Draper, is from St. Louis, Mo.

For more information, check out the Facebook event.

The Wait is Almost Over!

Bowling for Details

I am currently an event coordinator intern with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks. I am helping plan Big Brothers Big Sister’s 27^th annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake that will take place over several weekends in March. Bowl For Kids’ Sake is a bowling event where community members and local professionals come together to raise money for the kids of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks. Last year Bowl For Kids’ Sake has more than 1,000 participants and raised over $120,000.

 If you do not have an internship yet, I strongly encourage all students and young professionals to get one. You can learn so much from working with a professional and by being around them on a daily basis. So far I have better learned how to go about promoting an event through the media and social media, improved my phone and interpersonal skills, and learned how truly important every detail of an event is.

The main thing that I will be taking away from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks is how extremely important details truly are. Double and triple checking everything you do is key to the success of an event. Additionally, if your details are not exact it could be the difference from client re-hiring you or dropping you, which in some cases could ruin your reputation in the professional world. For example, I am currently working a lot with multiple spread sheets and cold calling and if the two do not have the same information on it, it could mean the difference for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks getting a sponsorship or donation or not. No matter what professional path you chose to go down, details will be there and you better make sure that they are right or it could be disastrous.

Sara Ryan is a senior graduating in May from Missouri State University with a major in Public Relations and a minor in Business. Sara has interned with the Discovery Center of Springfield and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks. She is currently a member of Public Relations Student Society of America, Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honors Fraternity and Delta Zeta Sorority. Sara is from St. Louis, Missouri.