Tweeting....How to NOT make those 140 characters the bane of your existence.

Studying PR and Events at university is one thing, but going out into the real world and putting what you’ve learnt into practice, is a whole other ball game. Sure we learn how to write a press release, how to cross platform, how to event plan, the list goes on, but one thing that never really hit me until my first day (which honestly was quiet naïve), was that in the real world, each organisation would carry out these duties in a slightly different manner suited to them.

One thing that has been helping me are the templates WAM has for their interns. Templates range from how they style their social media posts (one template for each platform), how they format their online news posts and event posts as well as image sizes needed for certain tasks. Regardless of the templates, some tasks definitely take me much longer than others. As mentioned in my previous blog, the dreaded tweet. Fitting your ‘when, where, why, what’ and everything else in between, as well making your tweet sound fun, interesting and intriguing in a 140 characters. How? Just how?!

Slowly (very slowly) but surely, I started a little process to help me improve my attempts, time and overall quality of my tasks. For each day I write the date up the top and the number of what internship day it is, (for example: 5 October 2016, Day #14).

                                                 

[Day No. of internship; Date]

For each task I write the number it is for the day and then write the time I started. Below that, I take notes of the task I need to carry out. From there, I write down any important information that I need to keep in mind. After each task, my boss has a quick look through my work to see what I have done. Below my notes on the task, I write ‘TIPS’ and highlight this in green (or whichever colour you so desire). Any tips that my boss gives me regarding the task I write down. Once task is completed, I write my finish time.

 

[Task No; Start and finish time; Task details; Boss's tips]

The reason behind the time keeping and tips is for reflection. If I where to work on the same / similar task in the future, the tips help me realise areas in which I need to improve and how to tackle them. The time is for me to see (once I had done same / similar tasks a few times), if I had improved on my speed in task completion. Saying this, I still need to keep in mind to keep up the quality of the work.

In general, tweets are still my weakest point (and currently the bane of my existence), but through this process I have seen improvement, which has been very encouraging.

ON A SIDE NOTE:

Here’s an Instagram picture of myself on the WAM Instagram account promoting WAMFest 2016. Four days of music craziness (good craziness might I add). 

[WAM Instagram post promoting WAMFest 2016]

If anyone is interested about finding out more on these events, feel free to ask me or check out the event pages:

WAMCon:
https://www.facebook.com/events/531744090357321/
Two days of guest speakers (locally, nationally and internationally) regarding the music industry.
Friday 4th November (Followed by Friday showcases - bands and solo artists performing)
Saturday 5th November.

 SATURDAY SPECTACULAR:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1589460191359404/
One crazy night of FREE MUSIC! Over 11 venues and 50+ bands and solo acts.

- Dharshini
Curtin Bentley
17648358