Now that all the research has been completed the next stage of our campaign is to decide our goals, objectives, and tactics. For this stage we broke our normal team of 11 into three small groups.
I found these small groups to be much more productive. After an initial brainstorming session, each group took a goal and created objectives for that goal. The numbers of objectives varied from five to 20, so we had to do some work to even them out and get a reasonable number for each goal.
The brainstorming and final decisions came from the group as a whole, but the small groups were great to accomplish the work in between these major meetings.
I was in a group with three other students for deciding on objectives. Between the four of us we were able to hash out a good number of possibilities and discuss the pros and cons of each. The smaller number allowed everyone to contribute and also cut down on the useless talk that a larger group can get sidetracked with.
By using smaller groups we were able to accomplish more in the same time frame and move on the the next stage of the campaign.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The Lab!
I am sitting in the campaigns labs at 2 p.m. on a Saturday. I have been here since 10:30 with all of my group. As it gets to the end we have all come together. Luckily I like my group otherwise I would have gone crazy by now.
This lab has been home for hours this week. In fact last night we just had pizza delivered to the lab. Hopefully my professor will not tell on us when she reads this, because food is techically illegal, but without it we would have gone insane.
I am on the editing team, so we have spent the hours pouring over numerous documents looking for spelling errors, and the infamous AP style. Without food my brian would not have been able to function.
I love/hate this lab. It has been helpful and a great central meeting place. However after hours in this confined room I feel like I am going crazy. I need to run screaming through the halls just to show myself that I can. I could leave the room at any point, but instead I sit here staring at this screen.
The computer has short walls coming out on each side closing me in. I sort of feel like I am in jail. I have to keep reminding myself that I will be released soon.
This lab has been home for hours this week. In fact last night we just had pizza delivered to the lab. Hopefully my professor will not tell on us when she reads this, because food is techically illegal, but without it we would have gone insane.
I am on the editing team, so we have spent the hours pouring over numerous documents looking for spelling errors, and the infamous AP style. Without food my brian would not have been able to function.
I love/hate this lab. It has been helpful and a great central meeting place. However after hours in this confined room I feel like I am going crazy. I need to run screaming through the halls just to show myself that I can. I could leave the room at any point, but instead I sit here staring at this screen.
The computer has short walls coming out on each side closing me in. I sort of feel like I am in jail. I have to keep reminding myself that I will be released soon.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Focus group positives
Well one focus group finally came together. After many phone calls I found six members of a local organization willing to help. A teammate and myself went in with all the equipment ready to go. Luckily we had tested it the night before because we had forgotten how to use tape cassettes. It took us a while to figure out how to get the tape to record. After many times yelling, "testing, testing, 1 2 3" into the microphone we finally got it working.
When we arrived at the meeting we were greeting with cookies. Our guests had treated us instead. I had forgotten that Subway cookies are the greatest, but was soon reminded.
After introductions and a brief welcome we started taping. Two hours later we finally finished. It took forever to find people who wanted to be involved, but once we did we could get them to stop. This group wanted to get their information and knowledge out there.
With this campaign being for a nonprofit foundation, we were able to use other nonprofit organizations working towards the same general goal. These people were passionate about the cause. They wanted to help in anyway possible. Once we found a time that several of them could attend, they were all for it. For the other groups we also tried to find people passionate about the cause, but without this direct tie it was much harder.
The only downside to so much information is I now have to transcribe this whole interview. I will have to reminded myself of the importance and success over and over again as I sit at my computer for , oh about 10 hours.
When we arrived at the meeting we were greeting with cookies. Our guests had treated us instead. I had forgotten that Subway cookies are the greatest, but was soon reminded.
After introductions and a brief welcome we started taping. Two hours later we finally finished. It took forever to find people who wanted to be involved, but once we did we could get them to stop. This group wanted to get their information and knowledge out there.
With this campaign being for a nonprofit foundation, we were able to use other nonprofit organizations working towards the same general goal. These people were passionate about the cause. They wanted to help in anyway possible. Once we found a time that several of them could attend, they were all for it. For the other groups we also tried to find people passionate about the cause, but without this direct tie it was much harder.
The only downside to so much information is I now have to transcribe this whole interview. I will have to reminded myself of the importance and success over and over again as I sit at my computer for , oh about 10 hours.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Stress with classes and campaigns!
As I get toward the end of the semester, my stress level is going through the roof. I have this campaign, and this BLOG!!! along with my history thesis and other classes. The main problem with a campaign for class is it can't be your only focus. 40 hours a week can not be devoted to this project, or even just a group of similar projects.
My thesis is due next week and that is not a fun experience. I can say I have enjoyed campaigns much more than my thesis seminar. I have at least eight pages left to write and I am loosing my mind. I am starting feel that I am writing with nothing to say on all my projects. It is very frustrating!
The campaign is narrowing down, so soon that pressure will be off and i can focusing completely on my history classes and thesis, and of course this darling blog.
The advice and wisdom I have gained from this experience is to never put things off. Stress builds when you have pushed everything to the end of the semester. When Roman Civilizations is your stress-free period, you really need to learn to breathe.
My thesis is due next week and that is not a fun experience. I can say I have enjoyed campaigns much more than my thesis seminar. I have at least eight pages left to write and I am loosing my mind. I am starting feel that I am writing with nothing to say on all my projects. It is very frustrating!
The campaign is narrowing down, so soon that pressure will be off and i can focusing completely on my history classes and thesis, and of course this darling blog.
The advice and wisdom I have gained from this experience is to never put things off. Stress builds when you have pushed everything to the end of the semester. When Roman Civilizations is your stress-free period, you really need to learn to breathe.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Pizza anyone? Focus groups troubles
The hardest part of any campaign research is getting people to talk to you, especially without a budget to pay them with. Focus groups are not most peoples idea of a good time. Apparently most would rather get their wisdom teeth pulled.
For our campaign we wanted to perform four focus groups with various organizations. We were able to accomplish one full group and several other Internet mailings or one-on-one interviews.
It is not that people were rude, they just were not interested. I will now volunteer for everyone. I will be the sucker you can pull in without pay, because I feel the pain of anyone trying to get these due without a budget.
A budget might have helped to give people an incentive to participate. However we offered to bring pizza and were still shoot down. An hour talking about trees and housing is a hard sell no matter what.
For our campaign we wanted to perform four focus groups with various organizations. We were able to accomplish one full group and several other Internet mailings or one-on-one interviews.
It is not that people were rude, they just were not interested. I will now volunteer for everyone. I will be the sucker you can pull in without pay, because I feel the pain of anyone trying to get these due without a budget.
A budget might have helped to give people an incentive to participate. However we offered to bring pizza and were still shoot down. An hour talking about trees and housing is a hard sell no matter what.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
PR and Street Corners
The audience is a central part of every PR campaign. One must consider who they are taking to before they can decide what to say. So someone must get into the minds of every potential audience. Surveys are a great way to find out what people think and feel about topics. As an undergrad, surveys mean working the street corners.
The first step is finding a place that allows any form of solicitation. My group searched many places, but only one store allowed us to perform the surveys. Our only other option was downtown street corners. Thank god for public forums!
Next we had to stand outside and try to convince people to actually take the survey. The proved extremely challenging. My favorite response was when those strolling along would suddenly start running saying, "I am in a hurry!" Downtown a group sitting on a bench staring into space, was also in a hurry. One lady stopped and took the time to look at the survey, but she misread the top. It said community survey, but she read it as community service. She handed it back saying she did not do community service.
After many hours on the corner, we completed enough surveys for our project. After we compile the information we hope to have a glimpse of how the community thinks, because speeching is always more effective if you know your audience.
The first step is finding a place that allows any form of solicitation. My group searched many places, but only one store allowed us to perform the surveys. Our only other option was downtown street corners. Thank god for public forums!
Next we had to stand outside and try to convince people to actually take the survey. The proved extremely challenging. My favorite response was when those strolling along would suddenly start running saying, "I am in a hurry!" Downtown a group sitting on a bench staring into space, was also in a hurry. One lady stopped and took the time to look at the survey, but she misread the top. It said community survey, but she read it as community service. She handed it back saying she did not do community service.
After many hours on the corner, we completed enough surveys for our project. After we compile the information we hope to have a glimpse of how the community thinks, because speeching is always more effective if you know your audience.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Research incentives
PR research is often everyone least favorite section of the campaigns process. No one really wants to spend hours over a computer or book reading through for information. Unfortunately it is an important part of the process, that can not be overlooked.
Lucky for me, I am a history nerd that does not really mind the research section, but few agree with me. Most describe the process as extremely boring. So why do we torture ourselves?
Well without the research a campaign would lack focus. It might be brilliant and inventive, but probably miss its mark. It is hard to aim without a focus. Research gives us that focus. We must understand the past, the mission, and the current attitudes to know where the campaign should aim.
With nine other people on my team, the research section went pretty smoothly. We all took one section and then came together to discuss. I spent a few hours staring at tax codes, but nothing compared to the hours I would have spent alone.
When I enter the "real world" I may not have a team to work with. I will then spend extreme amounts of time studying myself; because it is important. I guess at least in that one respect college will never end.
Lucky for me, I am a history nerd that does not really mind the research section, but few agree with me. Most describe the process as extremely boring. So why do we torture ourselves?
Well without the research a campaign would lack focus. It might be brilliant and inventive, but probably miss its mark. It is hard to aim without a focus. Research gives us that focus. We must understand the past, the mission, and the current attitudes to know where the campaign should aim.
With nine other people on my team, the research section went pretty smoothly. We all took one section and then came together to discuss. I spent a few hours staring at tax codes, but nothing compared to the hours I would have spent alone.
When I enter the "real world" I may not have a team to work with. I will then spend extreme amounts of time studying myself; because it is important. I guess at least in that one respect college will never end.
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