Social Media – do I need to participate?

Table of Contents

Last week I went to an event about social media hosted by our PR association International Association of Business Communicators. The room was full of communication professionals, which is an indication of how much we’re craving information on how to incorporate more social media into our PR programs.

Blogs and Twitter were the hot topics, and consensus from the panellists (all of who have been blogging for years – Michael O’Connor Clarke, Mathew Ingram, Boyd Neil and Jennifer Evans) was that you have to participate. Conversations are happening online and we can’t control what’s being said. This leads to the question for many “how do I participate?” Having a presence is important, but in what form? For instance, should my CEO set-up a blog? Or as a PR professional should I be on tweeting on behalf of my client? The answer: it depends.

Companies have to put communications tools in place in order to work with and respond to the flurry of social media that’s changing the way we all communicate. For instance, honing skills to write key messages in minutes versus hours is critical in responding quickly to online conversations.

Because social media is evolving quickly many may be hesitant to jump in – however, like the panellists said participating is the first step. So start off slowly. For instance, blogging is new to us at BlueSky and we kicked off 2009 jumping in with both feet. Or join a conversation on a social networking site like Facebook on a personal level to learn how it works then see how you can apply it to your professional life.

Blog Posts by Keyword

Content Development

Effective, creative content is at the core of what we do. From B2B and B2C, our expertise spans article writing and storytelling, editorial planning, key messaging, video production and more. And we help ensure that your content gets seen. We amplify your brand’s story through an integrated, custom content strategy across digital, print, social and broadcast channels. We maximize owned, earned and paid media to amplify your message, making sure it gets in front of the right audience to drive the results you want.

VIEW OUR WORK

Corporate Communications

An integral part of any business, your brand reputation and corporate communication sets the tone with the public, your clients, employees and stakeholders – and we make sure you get the tone right. BlueSky helps you understand what matters to your audiences – both external and internal – and develops meaningful programs that resonate. We help clients with crisis and issues management, employee and executive communications, community relations and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Whether it’s a workplace fundraiser event, an annual report, infographics, HR video or speechwriting, we help you share your message with relevant stakeholders.

VIEW OUR WORK

Social Media

Social media demands an always on, two-way communication, transparency, and authentic interaction. More importantly, it demands strategy. We’ve managed social communities, developed social media guidelines and created engaging, impactful content, whether a short Instagram caption or long-form executive-published posts on LinkedIn. Through social listening tools and insights, we can make sure you’re talking about what matters most to your audience, and that your online and traditional PR efforts are integrated seamlessly and effectively.

VIEW OUR WORK

Public Affairs & Advocacy

Our in-depth experience providing integrated government relations, public affairs and strategic communications tailored to your needs helps our clients navigate the public policy process in order to successfully achieve central objectives. We work with you to better position your priorities within the current political landscape to ensure you’re able to gain the ear of key decision-makers and reach your goals.

VIEW OUR WORK

Influencer Marketing

When it comes to social influencers it’s not about who has the biggest audience, but about engagement, trust and authentic connection. We leverage valued relationships with nano- to celebrity-level creators, working collaboratively to ensure they deliver quality content that resonates with your target audience and is on-point with your brand messaging. Our winning formula requires a thoughtful approach that combines the right people, the right content and the right distribution to maximize engagement and drive impact at scale. You’ll see the results in our campaign evaluations – supported by numbers that exceed industry average performance.

VIEW OUR WORK

Media Relations & Media Training

In an environment that is increasingly pay-to-play, earned media remains the holy grail of coverage for brand credibility. Over the years we’ve developed solid relationships with traditional and online media, and we know the elements of success for securing interest from trusted journalists at top-notch publications. We excel at crafting tailored, compelling stories that help keep your brand top-of-mind across print, broadcast and digital channels. You’ll see the results through our media measurement and reporting and assess your share of voice (SOV) among competitors.

VIEW OUR WORK