Craela

okay, real talk: i used to think tiktok was just for viral dances and chaotic teens. but now?? it’s one of the most creatively freeing platforms i’ve used in a long time.

as someone who lives and breathes storytelling, visuals, and making things feel real, tiktok surprised me in the best way. it’s messy, fast, imperfect, and honestly? kinda brilliant for creatives.

so why does it work?

Because it doesn’t care if you’re perfectly polished, it wants you to show up.

You can post a shaky video of your sketchbook, a 10-second rant about your latest client chaos, or a “watch me make this graphic design choice I may or may not regret” voiceover… and it can still hit. You don’t need 10k followers. You just need a perspective.

the algorithm likes effort. originality. emotion. and that makes it magic for creatives.

where it fits in with craela creative

Craela Creative isn’t about looking flawless. It’s about process, personality, and saying, “Hey, look at this thing I made, it’s kind of weird and kind of cool.”

And TikTok? It lets me show that. the behind-the-scenes. The imperfect ideas. The half-formed thoughts that sometimes turn into full-blown inspiration. the messy drafts. the “this font is fighting me” moments. The “does this color combo make sense or am I spiraling” content.

it feels human. and i love that.

final thoughts

If you’re a creative, don’t sleep on TikTok. Don’t worry about being perfect. Just show up. Share your weird, beautiful, chaotic brain. Talk about your work. Talk about your struggles. Post the thing.

When I started Reputation Management Strategies, I had three goals:

Get better at researching during a crisis

Learn how to handle bad publicity

Write messages that actually work for real-life clients

Now that it’s over, I feel like I’ve actually checked all three off the list.

One thing I didn’t expect to learn was how important it is to plan ahead for a crisis. I always thought crisis communication was about reacting fast, but a lot of it is actually about being prepared before anything even happens. Knowing who’s allowed to talk to the media, having clear messages ready to go, and watching what people are saying on social media really matters.

A story that stuck with me was the one about TikTok creator Remi Bader. She made a video about being turned away from a horse ranch because of a weight limit that wasn’t listed online. Then, someone from the ranch responded rudely, and it blew up. Major news outlets picked it up, and Bon Jovi even commented on the situation. That story showed how fast a small issue can turn into a big deal if a company reacts the wrong way (Lisitza, 2022; Yasharoff, 2022).

Reputation Management Strategies also helped me get more confident in doing research. I used to kind of guess my way through it, but now I actually know how to find solid sources and back up what I’m saying.

Overall, I’m walking away from Reputation Management Strategies with tools I know I’ll use in the real world. Whether it’s for social media, press releases, or just staying calm when things get messy, I feel more ready for a future in PR.

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Sources:

Let’s talk about why TikTok is the app for PR pros.

If you’ve somehow missed the memo, TikTok is this short-form video app where you can share everything from funny clips to educational content, and even promote brands. It’s got this insane ability to make almost anything go viral, which is a dream come true for PR professionals. You can create engaging videos, hop on trends, and connect with audiences in ways that feel real and authentic.

And let’s not forget TikTok Shop! This feature is next-level for PR campaigns. You can tag products in your videos and let people buy them directly from the app.

TikTok is free to download and use, and you can access pretty much all of its core features without spending a dime. Need to create videos? Free. Track trends? Free. Engage with your audience? Yep, free.

That said, TikTok also has some paid features for businesses, like in-feed ads and hashtag challenges. These are great if you want to get extra fancy with your campaigns. And TikTok Shop? Totally free to set up, although they take a small commission on any sales.

But, what truly makes TikTok amazing for PR professionals? One word: algorithm. The “For You” page is like a magic wand that helps you reach people you didn’t even know existed. You don’t need a huge following to go viral, just good content. It’s the ultimate equalizer for small brands and PR teams.

TikTok’s biggest challenge? Keeping up. Trends on this app move faster than a caffeinated cheetah, and if you’re not paying attention, you might miss your chance to hop on the next big thing. It’s fun but exhausting, especially if you’re juggling other campaigns.

Also, while TikTok Shop is awesome, it can backfire if you lean too hard into the sales pitch. People are on TikTok for fun and authenticity, not a never-ending infomercial. So, if you’re using TikTok Shop, make sure your content feels natural and creative.

TikTok is great on both mobile and desktop, but they’re definitely not the same experience.

The mobile app is where the magic happens. It’s perfect for creating content, finding trends, and interacting with your audience.

The desktop version is more about strategy. It’s great for tracking analytics, managing TikTok Shop, and uploading videos you’ve edited elsewhere.

Basically, you’ll want to use both. Mobile is your creative playground, and desktop is your control center.

Here’s the bottom line: TikTok is the app for PR professionals. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s insanely effective. You can connect with your audience genuinely, stay ahead of trends, and even drive sales, all in one place.

Hi there! My names Michaela, but most know me as Mykie or Craela. I am a 23 year old Masters student at Full Sail University, on the road to earning my Masters in Public Relations.

I am...

An Artist

A Dancer

An Athlete

An Actor

A Singer

A Streamer

I'm Passionate About...

Art

Music

writing

traveling

gaming

For this Blog, I'll be posting stories, life updates, photos, and art. a great collections of things to be able to make all viewers have a reason to come by.

Most of my stories will be about things I'm passionate about such as; video games, Dance, traveling, and so on.

My Background

From a young age I've always been involved with art somehow. my grandmother being a painter and me spending most of my ime with her. she would paint everything around her house, from vases, to mason jars, to painting murals on her walls, and even painting a mural on her freezer.

ITs something I've always been exposed to, enough to where as i grew older, art became a major part of my life, to where I went to school to get my degree in the arts. I have a bachelors in art with an emphasis in storyboard and animation. Graduating in 2024, and am now working on my masters in public relations, but where does this fit in with each other?

I am a social media influencer. having a large amount of followers on sites like TikTok and Twitch. I have worked with different companies, promoting products and engaging with my audience. With my Masters in Public Relations, I will be able to better understand how to better step out of my boundaries of working behind a screen, but also being able to share my work and know how to properly advertise and share it.

My Blog as a Whole

My blog as a whole will be about the stories I write, the places i go, the projects I'm part of, and silly little life updates. My first few stories will be two tings that are close to me. One being my interview with the two heads of Nano Productions, a production team that im actively contributing my skill in, asking about the upcoming Murder Drones fan game thats set to release sometime in 2026. the second being a story about my Dance team and how they are preparing for their third championship ring as a team, but their first in the NCAA D2 devision.

Send off

I hope while you're hear, there are some things that start to interest you and want to keep you around, Just know that no two posts will ever be the same, which makes things just a little more interesting.

F.A.Q

Where did you get you undergrad?

Thomas More University, Crestview Hills, KY

How long have you been dancing?

I have been dancing since i was in kindergarten, but stopped, i got back into it my junior year of high school and danced all throughout college.

Do you have any pets?

I have so many! I have 4 cats, 2 green Anoles, 2 Bahaman Anoles, a Beta, 2 Tetra, and 5 Molly fish.

What games do you stream the most?

I primarily stream multiplayer games like Lethal company, Content Warning, Among Us, or Dead by Daylight, but I also play single player games such as The Sims 4 and The Classrooms.

What do you want to do with you degree?

My dream is to become a storyboard artist for companies such as Dreamworks of Paramount, but I also want to do public relations for The Detroit Lions, my favorite NFL team.

Where are you from?