New Year, New Media
As we enter this new year, the adage "out with the old and in with the new"
seems to be popping up everywhere.
It certainly seems true
in today's Web 2.0 world. Time is at a premium. People want the news and they
want it now.
As technology rapidly changes the landscape of
media, don't forget the value of the tried-and-true.
After all, social media
and media relations do not exist as two separate schools of thought, but
rather a continuum.
The Times They Are a 'Changin'...
Mainstream media may
have a very different look in its future. Consider this remarkable Sports Illustrated demo of the new tablet reader.
Yes, the technology is amazing. Reading Sports Illustrated will
be a much different, more self-directed and satisfying experience - all enabled
by new technology. But it's important to remember that much of the same content is still
there.
A successful plan doesn't
require either social media OR public relations. It takes both! Consider
the successful marketing plan of Alice.com,
and how the social media effort boosted its mainstream media effort.
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same...
While
the fast, web-based world can seem a little scary at times, it's important to
remember that understanding how the media works is a valuable tool.
A
lot of the rules don't change: be prepared, be responsive, be an active
participant. As always, a proactive comprehensive media plan is essential
to any business plan, and now, so is a social
media component. 
When engaging social
media, get to know your audiences. Read and respond. Be an active
participant and encourage dialogue. The format may be new, but the approach is
still the same.
When you know how the media work, what they
need, when they need it and why, you can maximize your opportunity to share
important information about your business.
Some things never change.
At Vehr Communications, we can help
you better understand the changing media environment and how to leverage social
media. Please don't hesitate to contact us. Check out our Web site
to learn more about us.
Please visit our blog regularly. It's called 
Vehr Communications is the Cincinnati-area partner of IPREX, a global corporation of more than 80 leading independent public relations firms in major markets in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. 
