Why is social media important to me as a PR professional?
There's no ignoring it. Social media is changing the way people interact with one
another and organizations, and the way they get their news. Last year, 77% of people
said they considered blogs a good way to get information about a company, according
to search engine marketing firm Redboots. And a survey by Brodeur Worldwide showed
that more than three out of four journalists look to blogs for story ideas and insight.
At the same time, people no longer want to read news. They want to interact with
it and influence opinions. Perhaps that's why 1 in 5 Internet users are on Twitter–up
from 1 in 10 just a few months ago (according to Pew Internet). If you don't want
to be left behind, you need to join the conversation now.
Why are there two tracks?
In talking to PR professionals, we found that most of them had one thing in common–the
desire to hone their social media skills and confidence. But there were big differences
in experience levels throughout the industry. Many people (that's right, you're
not alone) haven't created a Facebook® or LinkedIn® account. Or if they
have, they haven't made the leap to using it for serious professional results. Others
feel pretty savvy, but want to take the next step—making social media another core
tool in their communications kit.
How do I know which track is right for me?
If you don't have a Facebook account, or if you just aren't really comfortable interacting
on social media sites, the Basic Training track is for you. This is a great beginner
or refresher program, and a terrific opportunity to explore the benefits social
media has to offer you.
If you've mastered the basics of updating your status, Tweeting and connecting with
friends and colleagues, the Core Conditioning track will help you focus your social
media efforts toward furthering your professional communication goals. The Core
Conditioning track will help you more effectively monitor, measure and stay ahead
of emerging opportunities.
What will I learn in the Basic Training track?
The Basic Training track covers all the basics–from setting up a username
and strong, professional profiles to knowing how to listen effectively. We'll help
you sort through all the noise to target the right networks and groups, craft messaging
for new media, gauge the competition and enter the conversation. Not bad for 10
short days. Then, if you like, you can proceed right into the Core Conditioning
track to achieve expert status.
What will I learn in the Core Conditioning track?
The Core Conditioning track skips ahead to help you make the most of more sophisticated
tools and approaches. We'll help you manage your social networks, monitor what's
being said about your clients or your company, generate metrics, set up an RSS feed
or blog, determine appropriate promotional strategies and create strong networks
and relationships. In 10 days, you'll have bulked-up your skills exponentially.
What if I miss a workout?
Don't worry. While we recommend tackling a workout each day, you can complete them
at your convenience. Each workout includes a few key exercises, and some include
ways you can go the extra mile to really jump-start your success. You can push through
the whole workout in one session, or if you're short on time, come back and complete
extra steps later. We've done our best to keep the exercises short and manageable,
so you can complete workouts efficiently.
What if some of the workouts don't apply to my clients or industries?
You can simply sit out any workouts that don't apply to you. Spend a little more
time working on the areas you think need a little more attention, based on past
workouts, or rest for the day. The progression of the workouts is somewhat linear–we
continue to build in intensity as we move forward–but it's not so rigid that
skipping a workout will cause you to come up short at the end of the program.
How much does the program cost?
The SM 10X30 program is free, compliments of Marketwire. As a leader in leveraging
social media to further PR professionals' communication goals, we have created this
program to share our expertise and insights with you.
