Analysis of BOA Newsroom

How user friendly is your banks newsroom? Bank of America offers the most important information to their customers in the center of the screen, to the right of the online newroom one can find most recent press releases written about BOA., And to the very left of the webpage one can find hyperlinks to the different topics regarding Bank of America or even online banking sections.

The overall use of BOA's online newsroom is very helpful and keeps customers, potential customers, and businesses connected to their finances in a easy accessible way. BOA even asks, "if the webpage the search engine directed the customers to the correct page(https://www.bankofamerica.com/search/Search.do?questionbox=feedback&searchSourceSite=&searchSourceDir=&searchSourceReferer=&locale=en_US)." And a customer or user of the BOA website can answer if the website was: "How well did we answer your question/help you find what one was seeking(https://www.bankofamerica.com/search/Search.do?questionbox=feedback&searchSourceSite=&searchSourceDir=&searchSourceReferer=&locale=en_US)?"

-"Extremely well
-Very well
-Fairly well
-Not too well
-Not at all(https://www.bankofamerica.com/search/Search.do?questionbox=feedback&searchSourceSite=&searchSourceDir=&searchSourceReferer=&locale=en_US)"

Based on the newsroom website I truly find BOA's website as a user friendly internet site. Is your banks newsroom user friendly?, easy to access?, and navigate through?

Bank of America's Target Market

Who does Bank of America target? Bank of America targets a wide range of different publics. For example, home owners, college students, business owners, and more. That was just to name a few of it's publics.

Bank of America target's college student's by offering many good benefits, such as, "free student checking for college student's as well as a student saving's account." Bank of America also has student credit cards to help college students. BOA refers any college student's or potential college student to visit the BOA student center.

Many of BOA's publics are college student's, small to major business owners, as well as it's own employees. It's important that college students know who their bank is targeting and how can BOA make your life a little less stressful.

As far as other publics, BOA says,"Our dedicated client teams serve the needs of growing companies with annual revenue over $2.5 million, middle-market and large corporations, institutional investors, financial institutions and government entities worldwide(http://www.bankofamerica.com/index.cfm?page=corp)."




www.bankofamerica.com
http://www.bankofamerica.com/studentbanking/

BOA is USING which MODEL of PR:Grunig & Hunt's Models of PR

According to Grunig and Hunt, there are 4 models of Public Relations. Which model does Bank of America currently use? It's important to understand the various methods a company uses. BOA uses the Two-Way Asymmetrical model coined by Grunig and Hunt.

"1. Press Agentry - publicity, celebrity PR etc. Accuracy and credibility not important.

2. Public Information - one way communication. Not a lot known about audience, but accuracy essential.

3. Two Way Asymmetric - receives feedback but aims to change attitudes not organizational practices.

4. Two Way Symmetric - gets feedback with view to changing practices; dialogue not monologue(http://www.prblogger.com/2005/10/grunig-hunts-4-models-of-pr/."

Based on research on how Bank of America operates, I came to the conclusion that Bank of America uses the Two-Way Asymmetric model. Again according to prblogger.com, "The two-way asymmetric model; receives feedback but aims to change attitudes not organizational practices.http://www.prblogger.com/2005/10/grunig-hunts-4-models-of-pr/.

Bank of Amercia has been commended in more than one way, especially on how they are involved with social media. BOA is accessible through myspace and through BOA's online community room which was recently added for customers to communicate with other BOA employees or customers. Bank of America is also mobile. If you have internet access on your cell phone you are connected to your finances anytime and anywhere.

By incorporating the Two-way Asymmetric model by Grunig and Hunt, it is safe to say that BOA intentions are to listen and learn from what their consumers are really saying.


Photo Cited

Bank of America :Table of Contents

My Fortune 500 company: Bank of AmericaFinal Project Blog

History
-http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/bank-of-america-history-and-overview.html

Grunig and Hunt's 4 Models of PR
-http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/boa-is-using-which-model-of-prgrunig.html

BOA Target Market
-http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/bank-of-americas-target-market.html

Challenges for BOA
-http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/challenges-for-bank-of-america.html

Awards or Honors
-http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/awards-or-honors-of-boa.html

BOA vs Groundswell
-http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/bank-of-america-vs-groundswell.html

BOA:The Newsroom
-http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/analysis-of-boa-newsroom.html

Careers with BOA:
-http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/careers-with-bank-of-america.html

Would I consider working for BOA?
-http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/should-i-consider-boa.html

Additional Part I:http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/two-additional-piecespart-i.html

Additional Part II:http://spiritofthesun.blogspot.com/2008/12/two-additional-pieces-part-ii.html

My Social Media Policy:Blog #4

Social media is still a fairly new concept that is being used more and more today by people all over the world. Some people might argue it's because technology is forever changing and others might say because people see it as something new, fun, and fresh.

Whatever ones reasonings maybe, I believe that having ones own social media policy can encourage others to take social media into consideration when deciding to explore the different kinds of social media out there.

MY SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

1. Connecting: Introduce yourself and tell me why you want to connect
My name is Reina. I am a graduating Public relations major and being connected to others through different social media forums is a great way to network and gain credibility. It's important that I am connect to social media so I can be aware of the many different aspects of communcation through a different form.
As far as introductions go in social media I believe that it is an effective way for one to express who they are, their interests, expectations, and or any other necessary information that maybe useful to others, so that they can get to communicate and connect to individuals on different levels.

2. Follow, add, friend: Being attentive to details of others Profiles:USE CAUTION

If you have absolutly no clue who is requesting you as a friend on the different social media forums, use extra caution in order to keep yourself protected from internet criminals. Knowing who you are dealing with through different social media forums is a safety issue and should not be taken lightly, especially due to the rise in criminal activity through the Net. Also, it is important that whomever you decide to friend has something educational or inspirational to help you grow intellectually in mind, body, and spirit.

3. Privacy, boundaries and safety: Keep work at work and personal issues at home

Friends and Family I must say can go in the same category because friends can be considered your family too. But it's important to keep a BOLD boundary between private home life and work life. Neither of the two should be shared unless it's in an appropriate manner,time, or place. What one does outside of work can affect how one's work views individuals that represent a company/s.

4. Signal to noise: If it's ignorance, unintelligent or offensive:DELETE!Why waste time?

I always make clear that if i see a repeated display of pure ignorance I will delete you with NO problems. Being able to have a discussion or debate about any topic with others should not be a game of who can scream the loudest to get heard better inorder to make a better point. When usres of social media forums constantly rant about issues or problems going on and are doing nothing to change it; why even waste your time on nonsense? All that energy can be used for something positive and life changing in a good manner.

5. Personal data and sharing: How close are we?


It's important to connect with people on many different levels, but only if it's appropriate. I'm not saying be paranoid about who you tell information to, but it's wise to let certain individuals be knowledgeable about you only on the things of interest based on the relationship between one another.For example, if it's a professional working level, stick to being professional and disclosing only information in the interest of the professional services or products.

6. My networking needs and uses: Staying connected to different and/or similar worlds

I joined facebook so that I could keep up with all my college friends, aquaintances, and work related or school related activitied, but since facebook has changed so much due to the consumer demand for different applications, facebook is has turned into a bit of a crazy, useful social media forum between more than just college students. I continue to use facebook to stay in touch with my college buddies. I use twitter as more of a professional way to keep up with things going on with business oriented or Public relation oriented people. My Myspace is more of a personal forum for myself to stay in touch with friends that have gone their separate ways and I feel like it's important to keep up with people you come in contact with and who have helped shape who you are today.

7. Must be CREDIBLE: Where's the proof

It's always good to have people who can pull some strings for you or yuor friends if in need, but can they really walk thet walk and not just talk the talk? Having credible sources and credentials is essential to being seen as credible.

8. Communication LEVEL: Are you easy to talk to? Understand? Clear

Can you communicate with others outside your levels of comfort and still be understood and not seen as an uneasy commumicator? This is important because you never know who might be testing your ability to effectively communicate messages.

DUCKIE

Corporate PR: Duckie

BUBBA

B- Business Oriented
U- Unique
B- Blogging
B- Back up your sources
A- Always be credible

BANK of AMERICA: Groundswell Blog entry #3

Is Bank of America adopting the Groundswell? Bank of America has been adopting the Groundswell, but they don't even know it! Lately, there has been much chaos due to the economic recession for the banking industry and many others, but Bank of America unlike some banks is still standing. Bank of America now has BOA alerts for customers with mobile internet access, so that they can take their finances wherever they go. BOA has also been seen on the new G3 mobil devices and is one of the only Banks recently to be availble to many of the customers on high end mobile devices. According to Kristen Nicoles article found on this site: http://mashable.com/2007/10/10/bank-of-america-socnet/, "BOA has launched a new kind of a social network," said Nicole. It can be found on the BOA main sign-in page of BOA. As technology advances and more people start to use and take advantage of the power of social media, one can find the usefulness of adopting the Groundswell. Even though BOA is using the Groundswell and they may not know it. It's important for any kind of business to learn and adopt the Groundswell, so that they can reach a larger audience and take advantage of other online forums. According to Nicoles article, another blogger suggested the following and recommended/commented the following: Mercedes-Benz, another old-economy company, is getting customers through online communities: http://www.designvsart.com/blog/?p=34. If BOA continues to really listen to their customers and continue using online media forums they could find really useful information from customers. One customer from this site:http://weblogs.redeyechicago.com/iphoneblog/2008/03/quick-thought-o.html, commented that BOA gave them a reality check and suggested that BOA get better credit card offers that are realistic and reasonable. Is your Bank really listening? Are they Talking to there customers? These are just a fe questions to consider when you think about how your Bank uses social media to reach you in your community. What they really are doing is adopting the Groundswell and they may not be aware of it! Are you aware of the Groundswell? If not visit: http://www.forrester.com/Groundswell/book.html

Cited:http://www.bankofamerica.com/index.cfm?page=corp
- http://jobs.myspace.com/a/ms-jobs/list/q-Bank+of+America
- http://mashable.com/2007/10/10/bank-of-america-socnet/

Review of a P.R. PODCAST

Heard, Reina
November 6,08
Corporate P.R. Podcast Review(Weeky Canandian Podcast on Public Relation) Inside PR:Terry Fallis and David Jones(Host) Discussion with: David Jones,Julie Rusciolelli, and Martin Waxman
Email address...insideprcomments@gmail.com(for additional comment on podcast)



Practice What You Preach?

As a college student, majoring in Public Relations,we are already under the impression that after we graduate we are going to enter a job and do the "grunt" work for a long period of time. No more press releases,media contact lists, campaigns, Right? Well, according to Inside PR, (podcast #135),"We will be doing the grunt work even in our senior experience."

This shocked me because I never thought even when I do get to the point in my life being in a senior level in public relations I would have to still be doing the writing portion. But it makes sense that "as you grow more knowledgable in the field, your responsibility adds up, never lessens(podcast #135)."

A Couple Tips for Senior Applicants:
- it's ok to delegate authority, but not responsibility(you are in charge) - Get into the skin of client:Never let your jr. staff know more about your client than you do.
- prepare your team(they'll follow)
-Manage in stages(evaluate members to develop them)
- Have control and take responsibility
-Listening(Never say, "Thats how we have always done this."

Do you practice what you preach? When do you stop doing the grunt work? Media lists,media calls,generation results from reports.When do you stop? Never you always will be talking,developing,rehearsing materials....the more you do the more you get good at it..."The more senior you get in the business, the more you do it." Is it all fun and games? No,you must maintain that level of professionalism and work ethics.

According to Inside PR #135,It's important that you care for your clients. How do you get pple to care? Make them part of the team! You have to feel part of a team. When one is down, pick up the slack.Help each other and teach one another.

In addition to David(InsidePR #135), from a review with Joe Thornly's 3 D's for senior persons:
1.)Delagate(Get people assigned to things)3 is always better than 1
2.)Demand( Get the best work, NO MATTER WHAT and make sure you do what you have to do to get excellent work.
3.)Deliver( Take responsibility,Accountability) By doing these things one can be better him or herself as a Public Relations practicioner.

I as a Public Relations major, would have to agree with this podcast's information. It's very useful to any Public Relations student majoring in the PR field."A team can form,but it takes more than just bending together to make up a team," (InsidePR #135). What do you do when your Senior is lazy? According to InsidePR podcast(#135), by following these few simple tips and the three D's can help ensure that you become a well develped senior even if your boss isn't.


Reference:
Jones, David.(2008):Practice What You Preach.

Peer Review Article

Heard, Reina
Peer Review Assignment(Revised)
October 23, 2008

Article Review on Blogs and Business Conversations By: Srividya Raghavan

When you think of blogging what comes to mind? Does social media come to mind?When I first thought of blogging I thought it was a way for people to vent publicly or privately about products,personal life, and or just to rant. Quickly, I learned that it's not about just about ranting. It's about listening. And through listening you find out what your customers want,needs,satisfactions, or dissatisfactions are. According to this article, Srividya Raghavan (2006) said,"The Internet has moved human interaction to a virtual dimension."

I learned that blogging has been a big part of many businesses and those companies all over the world listen to rational and logical customers on their blog sites. Many people ask why businesses choose to blog. Well, I find it quite simple to answer. It’s because companies pay big bucks to hear what their customers have to say and what their wants and needs are. According to Raghavan (2006),"The World Wide Web has helped create online communities that link to one another and form a complicated web of interactions."

"Corporations that operate in these environs have begun to listen to the ‘voice’ of their communities and participate in their ‘conversations’. Blogs are quickly emerging as a useful media of participating in consumer conversations(Raghavan,2006)."I was actually surprised by how many blogs are being counted as being more credible and how useful most of the blogs about companies are being major influencers in consumer’s lives.

This article stresses how technology's role is affecting social media and how company's and people's role in communicating with the consumers are vastly changing. Recently, I have learned much about what social media is and how it can be applied to everyday life.With social media forums such as Twitter.com, facebook.com, and myspace.com a person can learn alot about how companies and or consumers feel about a product or service.


I would personally like to know more about if the companies find it worth reading or is it only to make the consumers feel like they have a so in the products? This could be relevant to my fortune 500 company Bank of America in the fact that Bank of America has lots of customer’s with ideas and if there is some type of blog site that listened to the consumers ideas or thoughts then the too could benefit from using blogs as a source of staying connected to their service/product provider.

I believe that by allowing various focus groups and or consumers to experience the social media networks about their company allows for the company to know what kind of relationship/s they have with various consumers or potential consumers based on others reviews to products or services.

REFERENCES

Raghavan, S. (2006). Blogs and Business Conversations.


Article Title: Blogs and Business Conversations
Srividya Raghavan
Srividya Raghavan is Doctoral Fellow, ICFAI Institute for Management Teachers, Hyderabad. E-mail: srividya_rags@yahoo.com .