In the old days (okay now I feel old), PR professionals would read a couple of newspapers each morning and maybe flick through a few mags. Now before I can even check my emails and attempt to do some work, I first have to check Facebook, Twitter, Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, LinkedIn, Adnews, B & T, Mumbrella, Crikey, Dynamic Business Magazine, news.com.au, smartcompany and ninemsn.
Every time I think I’ve got my Google most-visited thumbnails sorted, I get an email from a colleague, client or friend saying ‘check this out’ and yep, there’s another site I should regularly visit.
Granted, some of these sites are similar in nature. Just choose one, you say? Nope! Can’t do that. Chances are the one I don’t check has the one story the others don’t and that will be the one story my client will refer to in an email I am about to receive.
Red PR is a lifestyle agency, so our clients cross over numerous industries from food and hospitality to business, beauty, IT and more. I can’t just read the Fin Review and Sydney Morning Herald or just check out Vogue and Perez Hilton. I need to be well-versed on what’s happening for all my clients.
To add to my daily routine I also check my clients’ websites, Twitter and Facebook pages and visit industry blogs like Mamamia, Beauty Heaven, Whingeing Pom and Melissa Hoyer.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the online space and the world it has opened up and I see the endless creative possibilities. But what happened to technology saving time? The online space is exploding at such a rapid pace I am somewhat dreading how many sites I will be reviewing each day this time next year – or even next month.
Thankfully Red PR and Blue by Red PR recently launched a social media division called Gen Red, dedicating full time staff solely to this space. Gen Red ensures my clients don’t miss any opportunities or related news and if there’s anything I have missed on my daily trawl they are sure to pick it up.
It is quite clear that with the speed in which the media industry is moving online and the explosion of social networking, my time spent in cyber space is only going to increase. On the upside, I know a little about a lot which makes for a very good conversation at dinner parties.
