Tagged: branding

#MuckedUp Chat: Branding for Journalists

  1. Branding, branding, branding.
    Now, it’s easier than ever for journalists to  build a brand with social media.
    There’s just one downside: it’s getting real out here… real noisy. 
    Thankfully, journalists have a few watering holes where we can go and drink from the foundation of knowledge (Yes. I really said “drink from the fountain of knowledge”. No shame in my game) .  One of these watering holes is Muck Rack, a digital destination where journalists can find each other on the Twittersphere.  I’ll be honest: if you’re not following Muck Rack, you’re losing.
    Wednesday night,  Muck Rack’s #MuckedUp chat was devoted to branding, from building your own brand, to the brand of a news organization. The takeaway from the chat: use the noise to your advantage!
    I Storified some of my favorite tweets from the chat. Check it out below:
    The September 11 edition of Muck Rack’s #MuckedUp twitter chat was all about how journalists can use social media to strengthen their brand.  I always jump at the chance to talk about social media strategy in the news business and engage with a few familiar faces twitter handles in the field, so this chat was right up my alley! We talked engagement, interaction, and creating a voice. Here are a few of my favorite #MuckedUp nuggets of knowledge, including some tweets of my own.
  2. muckrack
    Tonight we’re talking Branding for Journalists. Here’s some background: http://owl.li/dDO12 #muckedup
    Muck Rack
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:00:54
  3. Question 1: How do you use social media as a tool to brand yourself and create a unique voice as a journalist/ pr pro? Tell us you process. 
  4. profkrg
    Engagement is key. RT @znmeb: A1 It’s not a process – it’s communication – listening and talking #muckedup
    Kenna Griffin
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:09:32
  5. PRgirlAshley
    Q1 My “personal brand” is true to my actual voice. I’m transparent about who I am on social media as a reflection of who I am IRL. #Muckedup
    Ashley Wade
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:10:15
  6. jessebgillcrime
    Q1: I’ve used SM to establish for my readers what I specialize in, whether or not I’m tweeting about my own story. #muckedup #muckedup
    Jesse B. Gill
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:10:34
  7. incrediblekulk
    Q1. Do these journo chats, engage w/journos on Twitter during day. Etc etc. etc. You have to want to be on social media. #muckedup
    Joey Kulkin
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:15:28
  8. Question 2: What’s more important for creating a brand: publication you write for or your voice as a journo? What if you’re a freelancer? 

  9. twatan
    A2. Combo of both – you can grow your personal voice by having a good looking outlet handle in your personal bio. #MuckedUp
    Natan Edelsburg
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:16:56
  10. jessebgillcrime
    Q2: I’ve been freelancing for a while and I put my own voice out there first, then link to outlets I work for. #muckedup #muckedup
    Jesse B. Gill
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:18:00
  11. ErikDeutsch
    #muckedup re. Q2 – if your news outlet is little known, you have to take the lead w/branding… if it’s a household name, you leverage that.
    Erik Deutsch
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:18:17
  12. mdpitman
    #muckedup A2: I’m a staffer, so I build my own brand, and I by transitive property, you represent your news org.
    Michael Pitman
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:19:23
  13. averyholton
    .@muckrack Blended branding is key. Your voice should be woven into your work, too. #muckedup
    Avery Holton
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:18:48
  14. Of course, you can’t talk about social media without having the “personal” vs “professional” discussion. In the case of Twitter, how can journalists combine personal tweets with professional ones… if at all?
  15. nilesmedia
    @adampopescu @muckrack #muckedup I’ve considered starting separate accounts to pursue those different lines of interest.
    Hilary Niles
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:16:06
  16. incrediblekulk
    I don’t believe in sep. Twitter handles. Twitter is what it is, it’s OK to tweet professional/personal. #muckedup
    Joey Kulkin
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:18:10
  17. ShaunaReporter
    A2: If you use a twitter account only for professional tweets, you run the risk of looking like a newswire. (1/2) #muckedUp
    shauna stuart
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:22:37
  18. ShaunaReporter
    A2. (2/2) Using a twitter personally allows you to incorporate other social media elements (ex. 4square) w/out seeming awkward. #muckedUp
    shauna stuart
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:25:21
  19. tim_herrera
    @muckrack @shaunareporter if you’re a good, reliable, varied newswire, nothing wrong with that. some people’s careers are built on it.
    Tim Herrera
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:24:56
  20. ShaunaReporter
    @tim_herrera @muckrack It’s your job as a journalist to be good and reliable. Weaving in personal tweets shouldn’t change that. #MuckedUp
    shauna stuart
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:29:29
  21. Question 3: How do you create a consistent voice for your brand if you’re a journo that writes on multiple beats? Or freelances? 
  22. profkrg
    A3: If your brand is you, the beat shouldn’t matter. #muckedup
    Kenna Griffin
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:26:21
  23. jghellum
    As long as you are credible at it. RT @muckrack: RT @adampopescu: RT @profkrg: A3: If your brand is you, the beat shouldnt matter. #muckedup
    Jennifer Gaie Hellum
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:31:14
  24. profkrg
    A3: You should be doing more than promoting your own content. You should be communicating as a professional, not a beat publicist. #muckedup
    Kenna Griffin
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:26:55
  25. nilesmedia
    @muckrack #muckedup A3: Consistency doesn’t have to mean narrow scope. Versatility can be a brand trait. And quality is the most important.
    Hilary Niles
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:27:34
  26. mdpitman
    #muckedup W/ multiple beats, there are commonalities – government, sports, cops/crime. Find the commonality and build it from there.
    Michael Pitman
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:27:33
  27. jessebgillcrime
    A3: As a freelancer, the voice comes from the way I frame each story, regardless of the topic. I could be better at it. #muckedup #muckedup
    Jesse B. Gill
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:27:35
  28. jghellum
    A3: Your brand says what you uniquely bring to tthe niche you cover, why your audience should trust you. It should be portable. #muckedup
    Jennifer Gaie Hellum
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:29:38
  29. ShaunaReporter
    Q3 If twitter is interfering w/ your voice or getting in the way of your credibility/ brand, then you aren’t using it properly. #muckedUp
    shauna stuart
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:34:06
  30. ShaunaReporter
    A3: Twitter and other social media are supposed to enhance newsgathering and storytelling. Not get in the way of it. #muckedUp
    shauna stuart
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:35:53
  31. averyholton
    Lifecast when you can/appropriate. No one wants a tweet bot/robot. #muckedup @muckrack
    Avery Holton
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:33:07
  32. Question 4: What are the best tips/ advice to give journos/pr who want to create and sustain a brand. Share your secret sauce (if you can) 
  33. jessebgillcrime
    A4: Break news and break it in a fun way. #muckedup #muckedup
    Jesse B. Gill
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:42:18
  34. znmeb
    A4 There are so many cliches out there that answer this, but for me, it boils down to “don’t be an asshole” #muckedup
    M. Edward Borasky
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:42:18
  35. mdpitman
    A4: Be consistent. Don’t be an info dump. Interact (it’s call SOCIAL media for a reason). Use a social media manager, ie HootSuite #muckedup
    Michael Pitman
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:43:43
  36. incrediblekulk
    Q4. Have fun. Be serious, sure. But relax, have fun. #muckedup
    Joey Kulkin
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:44:08
  37. ivanlajara
    @muckrack A4. Be yourself. #muckedup
    Ivan Lajara
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:44:42
  38. jghellum
    A4: Define what makes you unique, based on your personality, talents, skills and life experience. Communicate it clearly. #muckedup
    Jennifer Gaie Hellum
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:45:04
  39. adampopescu
    @MissBeaE good pt “don’t overuse Tweetdeck to retweet the same story in the exact way…followers will notice and lose interest” #muckedup
    Adam Popescu
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:47:22
  40. MissBeaE
    A. 4 It’s okay to share some behind the scenes moments. It allows followers/fans more of a personal relationship to your brand. #Muckedup
    Beatrice Peterson
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:48:40
  41. ShaunaReporter
    A4: Not to be cliche, but try new things. And after you try, talk about it. Actually BE SOCIAL on social media! #muckedUp
    shauna stuart
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:49:39
  42. ShaunaReporter
    *scary music* @muckrack
    MT @jghellum: @adampopescu @jessebgillcrime If u can’t express what makes you valuable, you have no brand. #muckedup
    shauna stuart
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 17:50:59
  43. Question 5: Name names. Who are some journos who have built a stong brand that you respect? What have you learned from them? Tips?
  44. adampopescu
    RT @jghellum: @muckrack Journos with strong brands: @AntDeRosa @jaketapper @DonGonyea @AugensteinWTOP @NorahODonnell @andycarvin #muckedup
    Adam Popescu
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 18:00:02
  45. adampopescu
    A5: Follow @RunGomez @Roeberg @louispeitzman @maxzimbert @FruzsE @ablaze @johnpaul young journos on the come up! #muckedup
    Adam Popescu
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 18:01:54
  46. jghellum
    Yes! More journos with strong brands MT @ivanlajara: @muckrack A5. @acarvin @stevebuttry @ckanal @nytjim #muckedup
    Jennifer Gaie Hellum
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 18:00:04
  47. ShaunaReporter
    One young journo who had built a strong digital resume/ brand is @producerMatthew. #muckedUp
    shauna stuart
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 18:02:00
  48. ShaunaReporter
    A5: Another journo w/ a great digital footprint and brand = @jennydeluxe #muckedUp
    shauna stuart
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 18:04:04
  49. incrediblekulk
    The writers who move me: @mtaibbi @macgregorespn @mysecondempire @kvanvalkenburg. Top-shelf reporting/ideas/writing. #muckedup
    Joey Kulkin
    Tue, Sep 11 2012 18:02:48
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