Okay, confession time: I’m not really a morning person. A night owl by nature, I’d rather stay up until 2 or 3 a.m. and sleep till 9 the next morning. Given that my work day usually starts at 8 a.m. (or earlier), that’s not really an option. So what motivates me to get up in the morning, besides coffee? What excites me about taking on another day? As corny as it sounds, it’s pretty simple: I love what I do, I love doing it at KGBTexas, and I especially love this time in our industry.
We are going through a period of phenomenal change, with formerly stalwart media channels such as newspapers and television networks now simply trying to stay above water. Emerging in their place is social media. And emerging isn’t even really the right word. It’s here, and our clients are clamoring for us to explain the benefits and challenges that can be found within this new Web 2.0 (3.0?) evolution.
As PR practitioners, we have been presented with an amazing opportunity to expand our horizons and increase our knowledge, all the while helping our valued clients navigate these same waters. We are fortunate in that we can touch and experience much of the new “stuff” that’s out there. While not every platform, program, or application is the perfect fit for every client, it’s our job to kick the tires for them, and stay abreast of what’s available, what’s working, and what’s the right fit for them.
I still get a thrill when we place a great newspaper story or launch an effective ad campaign. But now there are new media channels that allow us to expand our client’s reach like never before, and believe me, that’s a better motivator for getting up in the morning than any cup of coffee.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post Elizabeth! I agree, it definitely feels like new social media outlets have given public relations a whole new workspace. It is incredible to see how quickly social media has opened the conversations about our clients, to our clients.
As someone who is newer to the field, I’m interested in seeing how seasoned pr professionals adapt to the social media world. It’s clear we are on the verge of something very exciting…
Marrissa-Thanks for your comment! It really is one of the most exciting times to be in PR. How lucky are we to be active partipants in such a seismic shift? And that fact that social media ideally suits my ADD tendencies doesn’t hurt either!