A Call To Action...Or More Talk?

Over the weekend, Steve Rubel posted his Jerry Maguire-like “Call to Action” for the PR industry, an ambitious, albeit quasi-controversial effort to get the PR community smart on social media.  And yes, Voce was invited along with a handful of our big agency cousins to participate via the New PR Wiki, which we accepted, although honestly, it wasn't without some deliberation.

Personally, I didn't dig the exclusivity of the thing or the fact that we were responding to a call to action from arguably a biased source -- as well-intentioned as I think Steve really is with this project.  But with that said, like it or not, there is a *real* problem brewing in the form of a social media literacy gap within our industry right now and while I don't think this effort alone is going to fix that, it can't hurt things either.  So if in some small way our team here can share what we've learned the last few years actually *applying* social media-based tools, strategies and tactics to our client programs, in an effort to raise industry awareness to some degree, then so be it.  I can't see how that's a bad thing.  The conversation has to start somewhere....

Update: Access to the wiki is now open to the public -- high fives to Steve Rubel and the others involved for acknowledging the importance of having many voices in this conversation.  I hope those that cried foul around the exclusivity of the wiki will now be just as quick to step forward and contribute something.

Related Posts:
Wiki Debate on PR Opens to Firms of All Sizes (Steve Rubel)
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back (Jeremy Pepper)
Going The Distance...(me again)

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Business, PR, PR 2.0, Social Media, Voce

Comments

[Jeremy Pepper]

I just rather it be run by a less self-interested party. Some people are altruistic. Others are not, but are more interested in their position in the blogosphere.

I look forward to reading what Voce has learned in actually doing such outreach, instead of those that just launch blogs for clients and call that "blogger relations."

[Mike Manuel]

I hear you, Pepper, it's just funny that so many people spew Cluetrain dogma about "participating in the conversation" and "embracing social media" yet they can't swallow their own counsel and get past five dudes talking about PR in some small corner of the Web without them.

Anyway...I'm actually glad the wiki is open now, hopefully others will jump on board and share their stuff (which includes you, homey). I'm going to continue to talk with the gang here and hash out the best way to highlight our client work without it looking like the shill-job I see other folks doing righ now. More to come...

[Sam Flemming]

We are helping companies in China monitor social media (similar approaches as Intelliseek, Buzzmetrics etc.). Blogs and especially message boards are very hot here, so the desire to understand and levarage social media is very large. We can "listen," but our clients always want more...how to engage without simply seeding messages? While we tell clients non-transparent seeding is futile and dangerous, we don't have a great answer for alternatives without getting into seemingly complicated, largely un-tested/un-proven and "client can't control the message" tools like wikis. Product blogs such as those for Vespa are great...but not a great fit for all clients. I would be interested in hearing real life cases that would help to answer the client question: "Yes, we understand social media is important, and I understand what they are saying about me....now what do I do?"

[Robin Stavisky]

Mike,
I so agree, and wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your terrific post and blog. I follow your observations regularly, and it's a breath of fresh air for the like minded PR 2.0 person. All the best and keep writing. Robin

[Mart]

Donec eris felix, multos numerabis amicos.