Presentation to Euprera Spring Symposium

Euprera Spring Symposium

February 2010By Ben Cotton

[email protected]/bencottonwww.socialwebthing.comwww.linkedin.com/in/bencotton

socialwebthing.com

Introduction• Blogging since 2007

• Studied BA (Hons) Public Relations and graduated in 2008

• Worked in the Leeds Met press office, Yorkshire CCC PR dept and PR research centre

• Currently working in the Edelman UK Digital team, Spook Media

socialwebthing.com

Why?

• To be heard/indulge passion for writing/show I have an opinion

• Different stage in my career – gone from student to practitioner

• Wanted a new focus on social media

• Wordpress – industry standard

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Gained

Unintended consequences:

• Networking opportunities

• Raised my profile

• Gained a job

• Discovered a niche

• Improved my writing

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Top 5 Posts

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• List of 2010 PR Grad Schemes

• Q&A with Edelman HR ace

• Internships available at Shine

• Q&A with high flying SAE

• Social Media guidelines – be social and get involved

Promotion

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Feedback

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How’s it helped me?

• SWT has enabled me to network with industry colleagues

• Formulate an opinion on industry issues

• Increase personal SEO

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The future

• Maintain social media, PR and employability focus

• Do I want to chase page views? Accept advertising?

• Become a messagboard/fourm

• Who knows?!

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Tips

• Differentiate

• Answer a need

• Engage. Avoid broadcasting, create a dialogue

• Shout! Build an audience, comment, promote

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Q&A

Any questions?

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Thank you

Contact details

[email protected]

www.twitter.com/bencotton

www.socialwebthing.com

www.linkedin.com/in/bencotton

socialwebthing.com