From Voyeur to Participant. Digitally speaking, that is.

I guess it’s about time I started really getting into the world of online communications since I’ve been flirting around the edges of it long enough.  First though, I have to make a confession, the launch into ENGAGING online was more selfish than the altruistic “let’s take ASG to the next level” than it probably should have been.  Why?  Well, engaging with people on a wedding planning blog seemed a lot safer than venturing into the Marketing blogs and making some comment that showed exactly how little I know about all of this.  Yes, you now know my kryptonite – people may actually find out that I don’t really know everything and I’m not perfect.  Oh the horror!!!

I wasn’t totally inexperienced in online communications.  I’ve read LOADS of other people’s blogs on topics ranging from PR and Marketing to blogs on energy efficiency and, of course, wedding planning.   I use a load of cool tools like Google Reader to manage my RSS feeds; Facebook and MySpace to keep up with my friends; LinkedIn to build and maintain professional connections and now Twitter for, well, I’m not exactly sure on that yet, but I’ll write about that when I figure it out.  What I’m saying is that I’ve been out there, but until just recently it’s been more or less voyeristic.  I read (fine, lurked) a lot of information but I failed to ENGAGE with anyone.

What gave me the courage to finally give my voyeristic online persona life?  The realization that online it’s okay to make some mistakes because unlike that printed brochure where “public relations” permanently became ”pubic relations” (true story – I swear!) there’s real time editing and adjustments can be made on a moments notice.  Also, the PRSA 2008 National Conference’s amazing attendees and speakers.  After listenting to just two days of workshops on interactive communications, I realized – hey, I can totally do that too!  In reality, I’ve been doing it offline forever so why not take a chance?

So, my one request I make of you?  Be kind to the new girl.  I’ve decided that rather than hide what I don’t know, I’m going to write about what I discover as I try to learn so that anyone that stumbles upon this blog (or is an ASG CA team member and forced to read it) can follow along with me.  Yes, you can laugh when I get virtual pie in my face, but please hand me a towel and help me get out of the way of the next one.  Deal?

Alright.  That’s the intro and now let’s just get started.  I’m dishing up the first blog soon, so stay tuned, but in the meantime read this great piece on Entering the Rumor Mill from PRNews’ Digital PR Blog (which I’ve added to our blogroll as well).  Here’s a bit I particularly enjoyed:

So it is interesting: to truly succeed in the arena of digi PR, PR pros must learn to play a new game, feeding the rumor mills that fan the flames of the Internet. Those who prefer to play it by the vest, who don’t want to dirty themselves with the rascals of the Web, miss out on the ripple effect that is the 600 horsepower turbo charged news generating machine that is unrivaled by any other.

How’s that for a motivator?