Comet Branding Radio: The evolution from a PR to social media state of mind
On Wednesday, July 1st at 11:00 a.m. Central, we will speak with Shannon Paul about how she evolved from a PR pro to a social media strategist and if/how more people will need to experience a similar journey very soon. Shannon is a Social Media Specialist for PEAK6, a well-known blogger and recently orchestrated social media initiatives for the NHL Detroit Red Wings. Please tune in.
Shannon offers an interesting perspective on moving from PR to social media and using blogs and other platforms for community development and engagement. She has shared progressive ideas on her blog and has even raked some PR pros over the coals in her own way. So, she will be a fun guest to have on the show.
Here is a little background on our guest.
Shannon Paul has a background in public relations and has been exploring the role of social media in professional communications since she was a university student when she proposed an independent study course that examined the use of blogs in mass communication.
She has been a featured speaker and panelist at several conferences and workshops on the subject of social media integration for business leaders and professional communicators including SXSW Interactive. In the past she has worked in New Media communications with the Detroit Red Wings where she helped the organization implement a social media strategy into its overall business development plan and served as the contributing editor for the organization’s Hockeytown Blog.
July 1, 2009 at 11:03 am #
Hello Sarah and Al
I listened to the show today, featuring Shannon.
Hate to admit it, but i do not know if I learned anything, other than being inappropriate seems to be a good quality.
I will listen again though. I like the format.
Craig
July 1, 2009 at 12:18 pm #
Craig, thanks for the comment and the feedback. It’s good to hear. Today’s show was a little more wacky than normal. So, maybe our points didn’t come across as clearly as we intended. We were basically trying to glean some insight from a woman who has transition from a PR pro to a social media strategist and learn what skills from PR has helped her transition. Shannon did share some very good points about how to handle communication in social media and how easily it can be screwed up. It will be interesting to watch from the sidelines as she launches social media initiatives in the financial sector – an industry that has largely been afraid or social media due to heavy regulations and so on. Hopefully you will give us another shot in the future. If there are topics you are interested in learning more about, please feel free to let us know. Thanks and be well.
July 2, 2009 at 4:37 pm #
Al and Sara,
Thanks so much for having me as a guest on the show and inviting me to share my experience with your listeners. I enjoyed our conversation very much and I hope others did, too.
July 2, 2009 at 5:20 pm #
Shannon, we really enjoyed having you on the show as well. Sorry for the wackiness due to the howling at the photo shoot next door. We look forward to meeting in person soon.
July 8, 2009 at 10:57 pm #
I didn’t take the time to listen to the broadcast, but I LOVE the idea of being a “social media strategist.” It sounds so sexy! Much better than being called a “flack,” that’s for sure. Is there an age limit for becoming a “social media strategist?” In my day, we were told not to “trust anyone over 30.” Does this hold true for social media strategists? I have 3 teenage daughters. Maybe they can help me on this quest. Right now, all they do is film my pitiful attempts at singing rap songs (I have to make up most of the words) and then they threaten me with posting them on U-Tube!
July 9, 2009 at 6:28 am #
I have to agree with you, Social Media Strategist does sound a bit better than flack. No doubt about it. There isn’t an age limit for this type of work. The best way to get started is to dive in and learn by doing it for yourself. No matter what, the social web is going to play a big part in the future of business communication. So, it’s good to get involved.