Valley PR Blog

Just do it!

By Charlotte Risch on July 2nd, 2008 In Social Media

Whenever I am at a PRSA or business event, I run into a lot of people who read Valley PR Blog. Its so rewarding to know we are a resource and that you like us, you really like us!  But, many of the people who recognize my name from the blog say reading it is about as far as they will go with social media. They tell me they don’t really know how to comment or are not sure they want to start a Facebook page or learn how to Twitter. Well, I just want you to know that its really not that scary or hard to jump into the social media world. I promise! I am currently in the process of putting together my own blog about my clients and am encouraging them to discover new ways to communicate online.

If I can share one very easy way to dip your toes into this social media pool it is to just start by commenting on blogs that interest you. How do you find a blog you like? Easy. Google the interest you have and “Blog”. Once you start some online conversations, move a little further in and open up a Facebook or Linkedin profile and find out who else you know is doing it too. You may be surprised!  It just takes babysteps and the only way to learn is to just dive in and start. I am still learning (just ask Dan and Len), but I know in the long run social media will not only help me, but it will help my clients too. But you don’t know until you try, right?

So come on…Just do it! Here are some easy local PR-related ways to start out:

Create a profile on Facebook and become friends with bizAZ and Arizona Woman magazine.

Its not local, but its funny and frightening–Start reading and commenting on the Bad Pitch Blog (and hope you don’t see your name or pitch on there!)

Follow Peter Shankman on Twitter. He’s always full of fun commentary. Also, get on his list for Help a Reporter Out.

Read reporter blogs. Jaimee Rose of Arizona Republic and Sam Mittelsteadt at the EV Tribune are my faves… or any one of the numerous reporter blogs many print publications are now requiring of their staff.

Comment on the articles from the Phoenix Business Journal.

FOX 10 has tons of blogs!

See what the local PR peeps are talking about on their blogs: Off Madison or HMA are two that come to mind.

See…a few, easy fun ways to Just do it! So when you run into me, I want to hear how you’ve mastered social media…or, at least clicked on some of the above links mentioned and made progress beyond reading them.

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