Let's Stay Connected
Studying Advertising and Public Relations at Grand Valley State University has taught me many things along the way, and one of the most important things was always staying connected. These days, it is hard to keep motivated after classes are done and that last zoom meeting of the day is over. I stay connected by following peers and people who inspire me in the Ad and PR world.
Why LinkedIn has increased in my daily social media usage
Recently, LinkedIn has been a social media app that keeps me in the loop of others and their accomplishments. LinkedIn allows students to connect with other students on a professional level, different from Twitter or Instagram. Users can see trending news articles relating to professional development and work fields, and majors. I genuinely enjoy scrolling through and seeing a new GrandPR blog written by my peers. Seeing achievements and life updates also motivates me to keep striving for better. In all honesty, I used LinkedIn to connect with others and as a daily affirmation and motivation app.
My daily learning tool is Instagram
Social media is one way I stay inspired and engaged in what other young advertising and public relations professionals are doing. Following other PRSSA chapters gives a good insight into what others are doing around the world. Inspiration and connections come in many shapes and forms. Companies and brands that actively interact and engage with their supporters or community make me want to follow and connect to understand their strategies and tactics. I think a lot of PR can be learned based on experience and looking at others' actions. One of the best apps that keeps me updated on conferences and webinars is Instagram. Following individual pages that keep everyone up to date and informs people on what to look at next.
Some Instagram profiles I follow to stay in the loop,
The conversation keeps me going
Another way to stay connected to the Advertising and Public Relations world is to communicate with the people in my classes or organization meetings and anyone I meet. Connections can happen at any time, and one never knows who they could share with and what they could learn. Staying involved in school helped me not only socially but in my classes. Listening and understanding multiple people and backgrounds gives me a different perspective and changes how I view the world. Communication can stir imagination quickly, and a team of people can brainstorm and bounce ideas off each other to create a bigger and better vision.
Overall, staying updated on what is going on around me at any chance I get pushes me to learn. Even social media can teach me new aspects of media relations every day. Constantly, I hear that social media is terrible and harms our mental health but being an Advertising and PR major, I take it all in, the good and the bad. Social media has helped me see the pros and cons when discussing advertising and public relations. Taking some time out of my day to casually scroll through Twitter increases my understanding of media. Seeing a campaign and examining it gives me valuable insight. So, keep happily scrolling and keep soaking up new information.
About Damaiya:
Damaiya is a student at Grand Valley State University studying Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Digital Studies. Damaiya currently an account associate at GrandPR and is eager to continue working on her media planning skills, media writing, and overall just skills regarding public relations in general. At the moment, Damaiya interns with a start-up boutique communications agency in the Metro-Detroit area. She actively involves herself in school and hopes to continue to learn new things as life goes on.