Networking With an Etch-A-Sketch

Is anyone else out there baffled by the date on the calendar? I can’t believe that it is already May. This year is flying by. 

This quarter has been very busy but I’ve been able to attend my PRSSA meetings every other Wednesday night regularly.  All of the members (both communication students and non-communication students) gather in the journalism building munching on pizza and listening to guest professionals giving us advice on the exciting world of PR.  We had a resume and portfolio workshop where we our work got examined by real professionals two weeks ago.  I loved every second of the constructive criticism because I know that the information that I’m hearing now will help me after I graduate. 

As educational as the meetings are they are designed to be networking tools as well.  The atmosphere at PRSSA meetings is inviting, once you've met some friends.  We are all communication students and many of us are outgoing individuals, however the large, lecture room on the third floor of the journalism building can seem like a very overwhelming place.  Many times the room is silent when you first walk in except for the members who know each other.  I like to meet new people so I usually start a conversation with the people around me. Some are new to the meetings, others just haven't reached out to anyone.  They would all agree that once you know someone the room seems a lot more friendly. 

Franny Oxford has some great advice in an article on Ragan.com entitled "How to Talk to Strangers at Professional Events" which I feel could help people faced with similar problems.  I think many of us use these tips without even thinking about it, at least I know I have.  

Her recommedations on complimenting a person to start a conversation is great advice.  That's what I usually try to do to start a conversation.   I usually attempt to find something that the person can talk about.  Sometimes it might be the design on their T-Shirt, a unique necklace, etc.  It usually breaks the ice and if there is a story behind it the person will enjoy telling it.  

I have a networking trick that I'll share.  I was looking for a new phone case over Christmas break.  I searched through numerous websites before I found one that looked like an Etch-A-Sketch.  I thought it was great.  I sent it to my dad who was looking for something to get for me.  I had no idea that this simple Etch-A-Sketch would open so many doors.


As PR students we always have our phones nearby so having a unique case has been an easy conversation starter.  Most people have never seen this case before so they might ask me where I found it or why I have it.  The case shows that even thought I'm a professional I still like to have fun.  My Etch-A-Sketch iPhone has helped me network with people and start conversations that may have never existed before.  

The most important thing to take away from this article and my Etch-A-Sketch is that networking is mostly about showing interest in what other people are interested in.  Everyone has a unique story.  So the next time you're at a professional event, remember that everyone is nervous.  That desire to hide in the corner of the room is hitting everyone.  The key is moving past the nerves and learning another person's story.  Do your best to look for something to talk about.  It might be in the strangest places like a phone that looks like an Etch-A-Sketch. 


If anyone has any great networking tips or other fun tricks leave a comment.  I'd love to hear from fellow bloggers.  

The Wonderful World of Twitter

I love Twitter.  It is the best free marketing that we have in our digital world for clients currently.  As a communication student this means Twitter is just one of the mediums that we need to constantly learn and adapt with.  I love exploring how social media can enhance representing a client.  I’ve made a list of six tips I try to incorporate into my Twitter account. 

Blair’s Top 6 Tips On Twitter:

1. Try to stay up to date with current events and tweet them as they are happening.

            Last summer there was an earthquake in Columbus.  I felt it but I didn’t know what it was.  I logged in to Twitter and saw a few posts reporting it was an earthquake. I tweeted one myself. The earthquake was reported on Twitter faster then the local news stations.

2. Don’t just follow the companies and brands that you like, interact with them. 

            For example if I get frozen yogurt at Yagoot, I’ll send them a quick tweet to know how awesome it tasted. It’s a great way to introduce your followers to new things and it is also a way to personalize your Twitter.

3. Photos and links are your best friend.

            Words are great but we all know the saying, “a picture is worth 1,000 words.”  On a medium where your words are limited (who can say everything they want to in 140 characters or less anyway) a photo can fill in for the words you don’t have room to say.  This is the same with a link.  You can put a shortened link in your tweet that might take your followers to the facts and your tweet can just be an opinion about the news.  Pictures and links are the best way to personalize your tweets.       

4. Follow your friends but keep it professional.

            I’ve let those people who choose to interact with me on Twitter know that the professionalism of my account is important to me. I think it’s important to show that you have a human side and talk to your friends but there’s no reason to talk in a way that you wouldn’t be proud of.  Before I tweet anything I think whether I would be happy if it got retweeted.  If I would be embarrassed, I don’t post it. 

5. You can connect your Twitter with your LinkedIn but still control the posts that get posted.

            This was important for me because I did not want every single tweet that I submit to go to my professional LinkedIn account.  I keep my Twitter professional but my LinkedIn is even more professional.  I was taught at a Public Relations Society of America meeting how to set up my LinkedIn and Twitter so that only posts with #in will go from Twitter to LinkedIn.  I usually do this with relevant articles that I find on PR or other professional news.  This has been one of the best discoveries.  Not only is my LinkedIn staying current and active so that it appears in searches but it also stays clean.  I don’t post as frequently to my LinkedIn.  I was taught that once a week is good, but usually I only post when I find a quality article.    

6. Put screen shots of your tweets in you portfolio. 

I think that people forget that these are samples of your writing too.  In this social media savvy world they might even be more important samples of your writing.  Saying that you know how to use social media in an interview is different than being able to show examples of your sample tweets.  I try to keep some that have been retweeted and replied to.  At a recent interview I took a screenshot of the tweets that I had replied to for that company.  I showed them the conversation and explained how I was already following their projects.

The bottom line that I try to remember with my Twitter is to be myself.  I try to personalize my tweets as much as I possibly can.  I want my twitter to be a way for my followers or maybe a future employer to start to get to know me.  I try to be creative while maintain a professional account.    

Anyone else have some cool Twitter tips? Share them here.  Or follow me @BlairBlu.