Who Knows How to Allow People to Bid for Items Online?

So, remember a couple weeks back when I discussed using our online resources to post images of our items for auction? Well, our client, Jewish Family Service, has software to log in the photos and descriptions; however, we still have no idea how to set up a way for people to bid on the items. I am wondering if we post the photos and caption on the Facebook page if there is a way to do it from there. Is that even possible?

On top of not knowing how to set up a way for viewers to bid, I am wondering if we should post the items and descriptions as we receive them. Or should we just post them once we receive a certain number? Or maybe wait until we have all the items? But then if we wait too long, it leaves less time for viewers to bid. If anyone has any suggestions, they would be more than welcome. And if you know how to set up online bidding, please also let me know how to do so.

The Green M&M Taking a Roadtrip to LA from NY

So for the first time since I began following the Green M&M, her Twitter post did not involve something sexual. Yesterday she informed her fans that she was traveling from New York to Los Angeles for her Red Carpet week. I have to say, despite the snow she discusses (which I'll get to later), road trips are a blast! I mean, the farthest I have ever driven was seven hours away to Derry, New Hampshire, but I always wanted to take a cross-country trip. She seems to be looking for a friend with 4-wheel drive to get her there. Why she is not flying, I do not know.

Maybe she enjoys road trips as much as I do. There's nothing like being stuck in a car for hours with your companion, or yourself for that matter, singing bad karaoke. And I suppose it would be interesting to drive from a place having two feet of snow to a place having sunshine and no snow at all. I hope she posts pictures of her drive across the states, and maybe a few of the Red Carpet scene. All I have to say is, props to the Green M&M for finally discussing something non-sexual. Who else is glad to hear she's taken even the smallest break from being her promiscuous self?

The Green M&M at Fashion Week in Bryant Park

All week the Green M&M has been live at Fashion Week in Bryant Park, New York. As she sees herself as her own sort of fashion icon, she rather enjoyed the experience. She discusses the army of photographers taking her picture, the "glitter and Twitter" of the event, and how being short affords her a view of the backs of people's heads if you do not show up early for a seat. My personal favorite is her discussion of her front-row seat. She speaks of her height being an advantage at a runway show.

What makes the Green M&M so crazy and fascinating is her sexuality, and how comfortable she is with it. Not only is she comfortable enough to appear naked in Sports Illustrated, but she is comfortable enough in her sexuality to admit that she enjoys checking out the models... specifically their legs. Just when you thought she couldn't get any sexier, she makes the other M&Ms melt with pleasure by stating the advantages of her vantage point in the front row. Good for you Green! What do you gentlemen, and ladies think?

Using Social Media to gain bids at our auction

So this week my account team met with our clients to verify our plans for the Celebrity Auction we will be hosting for them in April. Among the ideas to come up were that as the items are received by Zebra, we post the photos online for people to see prior to the event. This idea was immediately agreed upon, and from it came another one. On top of posting the photos, we need to find a way to allow people to place bids online beforehand. That way, on the night of the auction, if no one bids higher than the online bidder our item will at least be sold to someone.

Though this seems to be a brilliant idea, no one on our team has any idea how to go about such a thing. I am sure it is simple and will not take much time, but if anyone knows how, please let us know. One idea is to somehow utilize Facebook for this task, and maybe my social media course can help our team out with this dilemma. If you know any better ways to go about this, by all means share your thoughts. In fact, I welcome new ideas.

Using SEO to host a Celebrity Auction for JFS of Wilkes-Barre

Last week I discussed the breakdown of my account team in my current Advanced PR class. This week, I would like to discuss how we will be putting our Search Engine Optimization (SEO) group to work within the account team. On Tuesday, April 27, 2010 the Wilkes-Barre chapter of Jewish Family Service will be having a Celebrity Auction, hosted by Zebra Communications and located in Wilkes University's Henry Student Center Ballroom. In order to prepare for the auction, our 11 student account team must begin to gather items to be auctioned off.

Once we gather these items, our SEO team will be posting photos of the items online. Along with postings of the items, this part of our team will need to patrol the Internet in search of fan bases, collectors, and the like. These target audiences will hopefully be our audience on the day of the event. However, without our PR and Social Media course here at Wilkes, many of these tasks would be daunting to our team. With the help of this course, we can further our reach and make our campaign more successful. After all, the proceeds from this event go to JFS of Wilkes-Barre, and they need a great deal of help this year with so many families in need.

Green M&M Over Sports Illustrated

Yesterday morning the Green M&M used twit pic to upload a picture of her posing in a sexy fashion on a bed of flowers. She haughtily stated that this may be reason enough for newsstands to spontaneously combust. As if her posing in a bed of what appear to be lillies isn't enough, when you click the link, she's right there, larger than life, on top of several Sports Illustrated magazines. She's covering up a good portion of an almost entirely naked blond swimsuit model, but not so much you can't tell what the cover looks like.

So here the Green M&M is again using her sex appeal to draw people in to the M&M brand. She is essentially saying that she's a hotter choice than this month's cover of Sports Illustrated. Oddly enough, she is sexy in this photo. She is laying with her ankles crossed, her eyes half closed, an arm behind her head, and her finger in her mouth. If I saw this poster at a newsstand, I might be tempted to pick it up myself. As far as newsstands spontaneously combusting, it's no wonder with this sexual overload. Look out, or burn up in flames!

SEO in Public Relations

Along with taking a Social Media course at Wilkes this semester, I am also taking Advanced Public Relations. Last semester I took the introduction course to PR, and everything we did was based off of traditional media. In a few short months, social media has taken over and transferred to the Public Relations field. Not only do we need to send media alerts, press releases and feature stories to the local newspapers, but we must also post everything online. Each account team is broken in to sections (i.e. Logistics, Media Relations, etc.). One of the sections, Search Engine Optimization (or SEO), is new this semester. Our professor is learning as she teaches this new type of PR work to us, and my social media class parallels this nicely. The SEO group must patrol the Internet to find out what people are saying about our clients, our upcoming events, and anything else that is related to our account. This portion of the team must also target online fan bases and mailing lists to expand the reach of our campaign. Though this is new, and a little intense, it offers an entirely different outlook on the Public Relations field. Is anyone as excited as me that we have so many more options than we used to?

And the oscar nomination goes to... the Green M&M

The Oscar nominations have been out since February 3rd and the Green M&M is wondering why there is no "Best Actress in an Animated TV Commercial" category. I have to say that I agree with her. The first time I saw the "M&M's Premium Almond" commercial with the Green M&M, I was amazed at how sexy an animated character could be. Just look at the way she makes the Red and Yellow M&M's melt!:

http://bit.ly/cVLMsc

Can you think of any better character to win such an award? I certainly can't. I'm not an M&M, but even I was melting from the heat she was giving off. If anyone agrees or even disagrees, please let me know. But honestly, how can you resist a green M&M talking seductively? The fact that she is chocolate is seductive in and of itself. I think the whole concept just works. Comments?