Continued (Again): Take-Aways from @PRSADallas Comm Summit: The nitty gritty on #social media, #digital and #CSR

Today I am sharing the third and final tip I learned from PRSA Dallas Communications Summit. This very well may be the most talked about topic in PR today: social media. As the digital world continues to change, it is key for PR pros to stay on top of trends and best practices so we can advise and help our clients accordingly.

But first, in case you missed my previous blog post, you can check it out here. Taking the time to get to know your targeted media is another important part of PR that is often undervalued by practitioners. If you do overlook the value of media relationships, that will be the final nail in your coffin.

Take-Away #3: Your PR plan should incorporate traditional, social and digital media – but only if you’re ready to make the commitment.

This is probably one of the hottest topics in PR right now: how should businesses develop and execute their digital PR strategy? As C. Pharr’s Leah Ekmark Williams wrote recently, this is particularly tough for the B2B sector, which is still struggling to find its best medium of communication online. With the world of social media, mobile and online channels constantly changing, it is imperative to take a close look at your organization and analyze how you can best communicate with your constituents. Even more importantly, it is a “must” to evaluate your resources and determine if you’re ready to take-on the beast that is social media.

Here are some quick tips and insights I took away from Comm Summit’s “Creating a Digital Strategy” session:

• Social media is the best engagement tool for the price, but you must dedicate resources to make your social campaign successful. Before you embark on your social media journey, take a step back and look at where you want to take your company. Can social media help you get there? Know where you’re headed before implementing a social media plan.

• How we engage through social media can help (or destroy) our brand. Social media is unique in the way that it can break down the barriers between businesses and the public, but it is important to create and share compelling content that earns us the right to have a social presence.

• Get the most out of your PR and marketing efforts by promoting content via your social channels. With the growth of digital, news is able to hang around for a lot longer. Digital records will always be there, so be creative and think about creating “timeless, evergreen news.”

• Social and digital worlds are still evolving. No one is a social media expert yet.

This blog was contributed by Britney Schaeffer @baschaef

Continued (Again): Take-Aways from @PRSADallas Comm Summit: The nitty gritty on #social media, #digital and #CSR