Hot Topic: Sound and PR

Johnny and Sam are both on twitter: Johnny is listening to noisy traffic outside his window and Sam is listening to Saade in the basement, do you think the sounds they hear can affect their comments?

Answer is yes. Sound effects along with music are vitally effective tools at the disposal of various social network mediums. For example the radio, internet, television, etc. Using these effectively, they can intentionally trigger alerts, moods or provide certain information for the listener.

This may not be so hot but it is relevant and something that should be looked into further. With all the social media around us at our disposal we need to be careful with how we come across to various audiences. A PR professional needs to be aware of this, during crisis management the atmosphere needs to be be considered as it may hinder the audience's perception of the issue at hand.

Sound can evoke in a person such a strong opinion that they may feel compelled to call in and voice it. Therefore, sharing their opinion with other listeners who at that point, while listening, are part of the same network.


“Radio for example only uses sound to communicate. This is one of the media’s greatest strengths. Using sounds alone can create more effective pictures than most visual mediums. Listening to the radio, the listener creates their own pictures. These pictures are much stronger than most visuals because they are self-generated; they are the listener’s unique images.” -Link for further reading





Julian Treasure is the chairman of The Sound Agency, a consultancy group that helps clients like Honda and Nokia better their sounds to support their brand. On his blog , Julian recommends an online presentation called The Power Of Sound, created by Bob McCurdy at Clear Channel Radio Sales.

If facebook for example had sound effects for every cow that was found, every zombie that was killed, or applause for every person who was now in a relationship... facebook would drive me just a bit more insane than it already does.
So when you're driving home at five listening to hammer or whoever and it's bumper to bumper... think about why they don't play Ludacris: "Get out the Way!!"

Your Caffeine Inspired Star-ideas ONLINE!

Mystarbucksidea.com provides customers with the opportunity to have a voice in the services that they would like to receive from Starbucks. Customers simply go on the site, sign up and let their fresh ideas run loose. Other social media savvy customers go to the web site, read the ideas and give it a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down”.

From a PR perspective, having this social media campaign Starbucks is building their personal online brand. In this new era of social media, an online brand is almost at par with your own personal brand in terms of importance. As mentioned earlier in classes, if you’re not online you’re no one.

My Starbucks Idea is prime example of marketing using social media to connect with new target audiences in order to expand their customer count. It is a genius and highly affordable marketing tactic for Starbucks.

Customers have the opportunity to discuss various aspects of what they would either like to see change from an environmental perspective or to what creative flavours they would enjoy sipping on. Customers can now have a potential role in aiding in the corporation's growth.

So get your Starbucks drink-on and start talking, because they're listening!

(If you're already sipping on a latte, take a minute and check out some other wise opinions on this new social media campaign)

Rachel
Jeff
Auravelia
Zofia
Sara

Personally Branded Just For You

Here I am, all nicely and personally branded just for you...
Lots of love,
Anna Czerniawski

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