For many people, it seems 2009 was a year of challenges, changes and reinvention. That was certainly the case for me. I started the year reflecting and observing, reading the work of some of the smartest people in Marketing and Social Media (see a start to my list here), then took some time to define my place. I started Red Box Communications just before the end of the first quarter and am so happy to say today it was the right move for me. Still, while this year saw many changes, there is SO much I can improve upon and I’m anxious to kick off 2010 by focusing on the many aspects of positive change I can personally and collaboratively drive.
Content Strategy
I deliberately started Red Box with the intention of initially providing a fairly broad swath of communications services, knowing in my second year and beyond, I would hone this offering to my core. I plan to gradually start this move in the new year, particularly in the area of content strategy. I’m going back to my roots…not that I ever left them. I’m a writer and a media maker. I always have been. I got my first reporter gig at fifteen, and I never turned back. I’ve spent the past several months doing much more reading, observing and microblogging than substantive writing, and I miss it desperately. That stops now. Not only will I be holding myself to a regular blogging schedule and accepting more contributing writer opps, but I’m also placing a greater focus on content strategy and development as a client service. It’s already bearing out with my current clients, where this is a key need. Content is king, right? Time to return to the throne.
Social Media
There’s no shortage of social media consultants, but like many of us, I’m a firm believer that there really are no social media experts…yet. We’re all learning the latest and greatest every day. It’s such an exciting and rapidly evolving field. The best way to keep on top of it and to help clients benefit from it, is to stay engaged in it, to play and work with it, to explore and question, to test and retest, and to keep, well, social. After all, social media will always be about the people…the people who create it and the people who consume it. I’m excited to target my consulting on driving success for healthcare and non-profit organizations with social media, and you’ll see more of this from Red Box in 2010.
Events
This past year, events took on new meaning in my world, partly because of my evolved role, but also as social media became an increasing part. Whether large-scale conferences or impromptu Tweetups, I was fortunate to attend, speak at, and even organize events this year that created great opportunities for networking, collaboration and genuine community creation. I see this growing in 2010. One exciting development was being a part of the social media team at EMS Expo. We covered the event top to bottom and introduced many there to the power of social media for the first time. It has opened up many other opportunities for our team and we’re looking forward to tackling them with greater gusto in the new year.
Chronicles of EMS
All you have to do is take one look at the trailer to see why I’m excited about what this project will mean in 2010. It’s a unique new web series that promises to transform the way people view and understand EMS. Chronicles of EMS was created by paramedics, for paramedics, and uses entertainment and education to show the real stories of EMS practitioners, the challenges they face and how we can all have a role in shaping its future. The response has been amazing. Our lead sponsor, Zoll Medical, has shown us great support. Others are clamoring to join the sponsorship roster, and systems from around the globe are inquiring about filming. I’m thrilled to be a part of the team bringing this series to the world and can’t wait to devote more of my time to making it a success in 2010.
Non-Profit Marketing and Social Fundraising
One of the true joys of 2009 has been finding more time to devote to non-profit work, both for paying clients, and for the few organizations that have a deep personal connection to my life. I always knew this was tremendously rewarding work and that I wanted to do more of it. But taking a step away from corporate marketing allowed me to create this focus for Red Box, while also revealing a relatively untapped skill in fundraising. Whether it’s for personal endeavors (like my annual March for Babies and the Memory Walk) or for projects on behalf of my clients, I’m looking to leverage more of my social media channels and a smart blend of online and offline efforts to creating more positive change for non-profits in the coming year.
Geolocation Services
Speaking of social media channels, the rise of location-based services (Foursquare, Gowalla, etc.) is an exciting trend that I’m watching very closely. These applications have positive implications for consumers, businesses, healthcare organizations, public systems and non-profits alike. The opportunities are staggering. I’m exploring them now, sharing thoughts with some smart folks, and see some exciting changes coming soon.
Work/Life Flexibility
Talk about change. A year ago, I was still recovering from being a corporate marketer who worked something darn close to 24/7. And while I still work just as hard and sometimes just as long, it’s with a different purpose and a different design. I’ve found flexibility (notice, I didn’t say balance, because as my friend Leanne Chase says, balance implies one is always equal to the other and that’s rarely the case), and it has found me. My family is precious to me, and they need me more than ever. I have both a small child and aging parents, one of whom is struggling with Alzheimer’s and the other with caring for him. My time WILL be devoted to them AND to my work, and the key to making that work is flexibility…not to mention people in your life and on your client roster who understand how important that is. While I had accomplished a lot, I feel like last year I was still me-in-the-making. This year, I’m a business owner, an EMT, a blogger, a friend to more and, hopefully, the woman my family needs. Still, I can do much better, and I will.
It’s an ambitious list, but with focus and dedication, I know I can tackle it. So, what’s on your list of goals for 2010?
