Great tips. I’m fortunate to be a working journalist in radio and tv who is crackin the nut in social media. To your point with regard to leveraging your community – we’re living in a time of mico-niches.
As you had suggested – it’s smart for journalists to move in the direction of creating product – but being as targeted as possible with their niche or skills is crucial.
My niche, for example is work/life culture/balance. I’ve been tracking and reporting on related trends for well over a decade and am writing and developing product around it.
Second – branding yourself as a speaker in your niche, while you are still a working journalist, is another path into the outside world.
Third – consulting – again as you suggested – is yet another alternative. Those who don’t dabble in media often have a difficult time articulating their mesage whether in a presser or in one’s talking points. There’s work in that arena.
There’s plenty of opportunity for journalists, but building cred is just as crucial as building community. It requires work and constant attention.
Thank you, Shama, for coming up with these great suggestions. Local print journalists could leverage their popularity by starting their own video broadcasts (as you have) as well as transitioning to online social media sites such as Facebook (as you mentioned) and Twitter. This could apply to any number of entrepreneurs who are struggling these days.
Great advice and i am working on that. not a journalist but i am a small business in the process of failing if i do not get a rebound soon, but finding online is helping a lot. Thanks for the video’s as they are also helping.
Shama Kabani (formerly Shama Hyder) has been dubbed "an online marketing shaman" and "a millennial master of the universe" by Fast Company. She is the President of The Marketing Zen Group, a full service web marketing firm. When not working directly with clients, Shama travels the world speaking on social media marketing.
Have a burning question you want addressed on the show? Marketing or otherwise? Ask Shama.
Want to work with Shama and her team? Check out The Marketing Zen Group, a full service web marketing firm, run by Shama and her world class team. Looking for a speaker? Want Shama to come speak at your event? Check out Shama's speaking page.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Shama,
Great stuff! As always you rock.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I work a lot with the Real Estate community and everything you advice for the Journalist – could be applied to the Real Estate Agent! Good stuff.
I have to go change my smoke detector batteries…
; )
February 17th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Hello Shama,
Great tips. I’m fortunate to be a working journalist in radio and tv who is crackin the nut in social media. To your point with regard to leveraging your community – we’re living in a time of mico-niches.
As you had suggested – it’s smart for journalists to move in the direction of creating product – but being as targeted as possible with their niche or skills is crucial.
My niche, for example is work/life culture/balance. I’ve been tracking and reporting on related trends for well over a decade and am writing and developing product around it.
Second – branding yourself as a speaker in your niche, while you are still a working journalist, is another path into the outside world.
Third – consulting – again as you suggested – is yet another alternative. Those who don’t dabble in media often have a difficult time articulating their mesage whether in a presser or in one’s talking points. There’s work in that arena.
There’s plenty of opportunity for journalists, but building cred is just as crucial as building community. It requires work and constant attention.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Thank you, Shama, for coming up with these great suggestions. Local print journalists could leverage their popularity by starting their own video broadcasts (as you have) as well as transitioning to online social media sites such as Facebook (as you mentioned) and Twitter. This could apply to any number of entrepreneurs who are struggling these days.
February 18th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Great advice and i am working on that. not a journalist but i am a small business in the process of failing if i do not get a rebound soon, but finding online is helping a lot. Thanks for the video’s as they are also helping.
William McCormick
February 18th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Another great episode as always! Keep up the good work!