Jennifer Berson joins us on the Guided Goals Podcast, and we’re going to talk about using social media for research. Jen is the President & Founder of Jeneration PR, a Public Relations & Social Media Marketing firm specializing in promoting beauty, baby, and lifestyle brands. Prior to founding Jeneration PR in 2005, Jennifer was a civil litigation attorney in Los Angeles.
Jen shares how she turned her passion project into her career, as well as ways to use social media for different types of research, her thoughts on work-life balance, and more.
Why use Social Media
It’s an amazing tool not just for connecting with other people. It’s a very powerful research and networking tool. You can test proof of concept, by testing on social media.
Jen recently launched a Facebook group, so she could share her tips, engage with the community, and facilitate conversations. It’s also an amazing resource for Jen, so she can figure out what people want and need.
Research Press
Use social media to follow, engage with, and connect with potential writers. Be genuine when you interact with others. Also, go for quality, not quantity.
Make a wish list of blogs and outlets that you would love to cover you and your business, and spend time reading their posts and interacting with them.
Research Trends and News
Use hashtags to find topics that are trending. Search via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social networks.
Jen says social media takes Google a step future; you don’t just search for information, you can use social media to seek people’s opinion and perceptions on areas of interest, whether professional or personal.
You can also turn to social media to do research if something is going on in your neighborhood (for instance if you are experiencing a cable outage).
Some Notes about Twitter
Don’t just retweet something you find interesting. Look at the source, click the link, and read it first.
To keep track of certain topics or influencers, use a service like TweetDeck to keep things organized. Jen has one column in her tweet deck for breaking news and another for people she likes to follow and attention. Also try Twitter lists to keep things organized.
Work-Life Balance
Be present in whatever you are doing in the moment, Jen suggests. Take time for yourself and don’t allow guilt to come into your thinking.
It’s never perfect, it’s never balance, you just do the best you can.
Personal Goal of the Week: Embrace the life you have chosen. If it’s not working for you, see what you need to do to alter it.
Professional Goal of the Week 1: Start a group or join a group.
Professional Goal of the Week 2: Follow some influencers. Ask your community who they follow to get ideas too.
Want to learn more about using social media for research? Listen to the entire interview on iTunes or Stitcher.
Watch the video:
The Guided Goals Podcast gives you the tools, direction, and resources you need to pursue your passion project. Thanks for tuning in.
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or SoundCloud, and leave a review.
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About Debra: A project catalyst, Debra Eckerling works with individuals and small businesses to create a strategy, set goals and manage their projects. Follow Debra @GuidedGoals, Like Guided Goals on Facebook, Subscribe to YouTube.
The Guided Goals Podcast gives you the tools, direction, and resources you need to pursue your passion project. Thanks for tuning in.
Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or SoundCloud, and leave a review.
* * *
About Debra: A project catalyst, Debra Eckerling works with individuals and small businesses to create a strategy, set goals and manage their projects. Follow Debra @GuidedGoals, Like Guided Goals on Facebook, Subscribe to YouTube.
