Social Media Reading For Traditional Communicators

09.01.20

Confused? Social media is increasingly changing the landscape for professional communicators. Whether you work in internal communications, crisis management, strategic PR, or any number of other disciplines, it’s hard to deny the influence of social media tools on our work.

For long-time practitioners, it’s natural that these tools can be overwhelming. Some people like Shel Holtz, Neville Hobson, Terry Fallis and Joe Thornley, made the adjustment look easy. Some others, however, are still waiting for the bubble to burst. However, it appears it’s not about to happen.

As mainstream media outlets continue to downsize (Canwest, the Globe and Mail and Sun-Times Media Group are just a few examples) and TV networks fragment, we’re seeing more and more people get their news online. Traditional outlets are adding blogging functionality and bona-fide blogs to their websites, and even tools like Twitter, considered niche and cutting-edge just a few months ago, are receiving mainstream attention.

Amidst all this, what’s an old-school public relations guy to do?

Answer: Read… and learn. Get yourself a Google Reader account (here’s how to set up Google Reader), subscribe to a few sites and start reading.

These tools aren’t rocket science to learn, but there’s a change in thinking that needs to happen.

If you’re just dipping your toe into the murky new world of online communications, here are a few sites to get you started.

Big-picture thinking

Internal communications

Crisis communications

Strategic communications

This is a tiny cross-section of sites that I read on a regular basis. To those of you who are more established in this space – which categories/sites would you add to this list?

Let me know in the comments and I’ll update the post.

Posted in: 101, social media

Tags: , ,

  • http://theparallaxview.com russell

    and they might also jump right into Twitter too….

  • http://www.propr.ca Joseph Thornley

    Being mentioned in the company of Shel, Neville and Terry. Doesn’t happen to me every day. Thank you Dave. ;-)

  • http://www.virtualeyesee.com/blog Natasha D’Souza

    EyeSee is a blog that is focused on social media 101. It breaks down social media concepts in a way that is easy to understand by the beginner. Inspires them by talking about how these tools can be used creatively. Provides geek updates on the “camp” movement.

  • http://www.twitter.com/nav_een Naveen

    Thanks Dave for this post. It would be helpful to have some links showing examples of social media tools in action, such as social media press releases (like “how-to’s”).

  • http://twitter.com/chrisbrogan/statuses/1135756508 chrisbrogan (Chris Brogan)

    Twitter Comment


    Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/DT/statuses/1135759695 DT (David Terrar)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/jeanghalo/statuses/1135764454 jeanghalo (Jean Ghalo)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan: Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/ihsieh/statuses/1135768279 ihsieh (Eric Hsieh)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan: Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/socialmediawiz/statuses/1135778568 socialmediawiz (socialmediawiz)

    Twitter Comment


    ani625 ∫0⇒∞: Social Media Reading For Traditional Communicators (via FriendFeed) [link to post]

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/zenzenzen/statuses/1135800140 zenzenzen (Jeff A Delezen)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan: Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/robfargo/statuses/1135818596 robfargo (Rob Davis)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan: Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/kpkfusion/statuses/1135845890 kpkfusion (Kim Patrick Kobza)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @ davefleet New blog post: Social Media Reading For Traditional Communicators – [link to post]

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/Ways2earn/statuses/1135863801 Ways2earn (Khaja Moinuddin)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/TheLovableRogue/statuses/1135884553 TheLovableRogue (Christopher Kelly)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan Dave Fleet provides some great resources for developing social media insight [link to post]

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/anthonyrstevens/statuses/1135898894 anthonyrstevens (anthonyrstevens)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan: Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/sparklinks/statuses/1136008252 sparklinks (sparklinks)

    Twitter Comment


    Social Media Reading For Traditional Communicators [link to post]

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/woodycarr/statuses/1136023852 woodycarr (Woody Carr)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan: Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://twitter.com/bquintana/statuses/1136058120 bquintana (Brandon Quintana)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan: Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators.

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • http://social-networking-north.com Social Networking North

    A great list, thanks – a few new blogs there for me to explore. Don’t forget to follow the authors on Twitter too!!

  • http://twitter.com/LawD/statuses/1136088057 LawD (Laurie Dean Baird)

    Twitter Comment


    RT @chrisbrogan Great resource from @davefleet – [link to post] – list of social media reading for traditional communicators

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

  • Patrice Cloutier

    Good list Dave … pretty much what I read every morning …in good part thanks to you !

    I’ve added specific blogs in the same line as gerald barron’s … and other EM sites across the world …

  • http://PRWeb.com Mario Bonilla

    Dave this is a great resource. Something I will share with the growing number of agency/PR depts of company’s that have let their AOR go/traditional PR practitioners and individual start ups that come to us everyday looking for help. There is no ‘magic wand’, education and consistency will help them achieve goals.

  • http://solosocialmedia.blogspot.com/ Lisa Wilberding

    Good advice Dave. I posted a blog recently about who has influenced me over the past couple of years regarding social media. Aside from your blog;), I also mention some of the essentials you recommend. I coin you and other influencers my “indirect biz consultants” as I kick off a new social media venture. Thanks for all your help and I look forward to more guidance as it evolves (daily)!

  • http://twitter.com/francinegeller/statuses/1137684642 francinegeller (francinegeller)

    Twitter Comment


    RT thanks Chris! [link to post]

    – Posted using Chat Catcher

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  • http://www.7veils.com Lauren MacEwen

    This is a great list. Chris Brogan is a constant source of information and inspiration. Thanks!

  • mellymelp

    Livefyre is treating your site well :)