My profession

In college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I jumped around from major to major just like all students do. When I stumbled (and I do mean stumbled) into Public Relations, I felt it was fate stepping in and taking control of my scattered mind. As I graduated and started my first job with an agency in the Kansas City metro area, my feelings have been confirmed.

Now, my focus has been on how to improve and grow in this vast and ever-changing industry. What has caught my eye and made me want to dive deeper into Public Relations has been social media. Social media is just as complicated and diverse as Public Relations can be. In one instance, they are very similar and can be shown to be almost the same category. It is another way to obtain earned (free) media. How Public Relations agencies can use this new mechanism for its own benefit is the key to growing. Social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, have been a good start for agencies to help gain exposure with a younger crowd. Viral marketing has also taken off by spreading homemade to professional video clips. The list is deep and changes everyday. Trying to keep your mind wrapped around social media can make your head spin. Many agencies have their own departments now that stricly pay attention to social media. In smaller agencies, like the one I am in, we don't have the resources for that so it is up to us all to try and stay ahead of the curve.

What areas have you found interesting in social media? Has it helped or harmed your clients or yourself?