Getting Down and Dirty

Well, the start of my third year of pharmacy school is in full swing.  Classes have begun, projects have been started, and the late nights are beginning.  After the first week of classes, the only thing I wanted to do was have a relaxing weekend.  This was definitely accomplished!  Last Saturday, my friends and I participated in the annual mud volleyball tournament at Ohio Northern University (ONU).  This tournament is a long-standing tradition at ONU.  When the registration came out for this event, I was very hesitant to find a team and sign up.  I absolutely love the sport of volleyball, and have been very involved in this activity for numerous years.  I have coached elementary and junior high girls, and have played competitively throughout high school.  The thought of getting muddy in order to play volleyball, did not appeal to me at all.

My friends ended up convincing me to join their team for Saturday.  I woke up early that day, got dressed, and headed over to the courts.  The number of students that came out to support the event was astonishing.  There were over 100 teams signed up to participate in the tournament this year!  The tournament was single elimination, and the teams were ready to play.  Once our team was registered, we waited about an hour until it was our turn to play.  In the meantime, we took pictures and practiced before it was game time.  The time finally came, and we got into the muddy court.  The mud was a little on the cold side, and I quickly began sinking deeper into the ground.  I had a very hard time keeping my balance.  Our team did not come close to winning, but it was more about the memories that were made in the process.  After the game had ended, we dove into the mud.  Everyone on the team got down and dirty and was smiling, while having a good time.

After we left the courts, we took some more pictures.  Did you even play mud volleyball if you do not have the pictures to prove it?  Then, it was time to clean off.  We sprayed off with the hoses, and took a jump into the pond.  Even though I was a little skeptical to play mud volleyball, I had an amazing time.  I laughed, smiled, and enjoyed the day with my friends!  This was a perfect way to relax after the first week of classes.  It was great to catch up with my friends, and participate in such a large event that encompasses the entire campus.  Overall, playing mud volleyball will always be an experience I remember, and I hope to continue in this tradition again in the future!

Social Media & Political Campaigns

With the upcoming presidential debates and elections, social media will play a more critical role than ever before.  Individuals will be able to follow the debates through Twitter and Facebook, and post their concerns and comments.  For instance in the GOP debate that happened recently, viewers were able to follow the debate on their phones without having to sit down and watch the action live on the television.  If a person was watching the debate, they could post their reactions on social media for others to view and comment.  In addition to commenting on the debates, individuals will be able to connect with the campaign trails of the candidates and follow their journey to the actual election through social media channels.  Because of this, individuals can be more active and connected to the election trail.

However, government and politics are a sensitive issue for many people in today’s society.  With the freedom to post comments and reactions on social media, internal debates may arise.  Posts can be controversial and Twitter wars, for example, may ensue.  This is where people may want to think twice about what they post.  Everyone has the right to express their opinion, but they must remember that what they say will be posted on the Internet.  People will be able to back up their viewpoint and challenge existing views and ideas by replying to the initial post.  I guess the thing to remember here is that everyone is an individual with unique ideas.  Because of this, we must respect other viewpoints even if they disagree with our personal thoughts. 

Since social media is gaining rapid popularity, candidates can use this to see what people are thinking about their campaign so far.  Social media can also give insight into what the people are concerned about in the world.  It can help guide what issues should take higher priority in a campaign.  For instance, the economy may worry numerous individuals or possibly the future of the environment.  By looking at social media for these concerns, candidates can focus on the issues facing Americans today.  This way they can connect to the American people on a more personal level.  Overall, social media will play a pivotal role in the upcoming election and needs to be analyzed in order to have a strong presidential campaign.

Real-Time Relevance

After beginning to read Real-Time Marketing & PR by David Meerman Scott, I have come to realize the importance of acting fast during specific situations. Social media has become a way for companies to connect with their consumers on a real-time basis.  For me, I was intrigued by the companies that did not respond to the author when he reached out to them mostly through e-mail.  These are the top 100 companies in the United States, so why could they not take the time to at least make a simple response?  These companies are in the top 100 for a reason, so they should back up their high reputation.  I think I was really surprised at the companies who did send a response back, like Sysco, but never actually followed through with the final contact.  For me, when I say I am going to do something, I make sure to follow through on my word. 

Even though some companies are lacking on the social media end, some are making great strides.  The idea of having a specific individual and department dedicated to social media makes perfect sense to me.  As a business, you want to reach your consumers in a way that is convenient to them.  In today’s society, we are always on our phones and checking the Internet.  Because of this, it is a perfect medium to connect with your intended audience.  With information spreading at a fast rate because of the Internet, it is imperative to be prepared and have someone monitoring the social media channels whenever possible.  I also think setting up training programs about social media will continue to help companies flourish in this technological age.  Some companies are beginning to start this trend, but many are still stuck in their previous ways.  By learning how to connect through social media, new consumers may gain interest in a specific product or business. 

So why are companies still not utilizing social media to the best of their ability?  For me, this is a very hard question to answer.   I know it costs extra time and money to hire a specific individual, but the long-term benefits can prove to be worthwhile.  In addition, some companies are stuck in their old ways and may be afraid of change.  In order to be a successful and competitive company in today’s market, I think social media must be adapted into their business plan.  Without it, the company may lose their competitive edge and may not stand alone as one of the best.  Overall, social media is becoming very prevalent in all aspects of life, and must be utilized in order to survive.