“How can I create a network that keeps me up-to-date with trends and people in the digital media and general media field to prepare for a professional transition next year?”
Creating a network of people and reference resources in the digital marketing space will take a little work, but by following the advice outlined here, results will come quickly.
First, talk with people who work in the field you’re transitioning to. Ask them what they’re reading and listening to offline and online to stay current. Find out what conferences and seminars they attend, who they follow on Twitter, and why. Ask them who else they know and respect in the digital space. Take classes in digital marketing. Go to industry events and meetups. Establish a detailed profile on Linkedin, create a Twitter account, and if you’re really ambitious, one on Facebook, too.
Download and install a tool like Tweetdeck and spend some time searching Twitter for keywords and topics that interest you then carefully comb the results to see who is talking about the things that turn you on – then follow a few of those people. It’s cool to sit back and listen for awhile (just don’t follow too many people too quickly or you may find your account locked out.)
Finally, network with anyone and everyone you know and let them know you’re making a move to a new field. Ask them to keep their ear to the ground and let you know if anything comes their way that might be a good fit for you. Be ready, though – once you rev up the machine and start doing the things I’ve outlined above, your transition may happen sooner than you anticipated!
Resources to get you started:
Technorati – search for blogs of interest
Linkedin – establish a professional profile
Twitter – join the conversation
Facebook – join friends, family, and colleagues on one of the largest social networks in the world
Google – from search to advanced trending, you’ll find a multitude of (free) tools you shouldn’t be without
MediaPost and AdvertisingAge – good sources of industry information
Got anything to add? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
You should follow me on twitter here.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This is helpful information. I strongly believe that time, networking and learning is the key to making a successful transition. However, I have spoken with many people in the media field lately who are advocating “branding yourself”. This strategy bothers me… while the job application and interview process clearly involves marketing yourself, including your experience, skills, and personality, you 1) also want to find a position that is a good match for you and 2) are not a product! — you are a person that can make a meaningful contribution to a team. Making a job transition is a personal experience and change, not a consumerist/materialistic campaign.
I hear you loud and clear, Katharine…but beg to differ. It’s all about you, the product. After all, what else do you have to sell, if not you? Everything else is a commodity, but ‘you’ are uniquely valuable…
This is great information. I have been a fan of google alerts for the time saving aspect that Marcello referenced. Another google product that I have grown to rely very heavily on. In my recent job search LinkedIn was a must! This was the quickest way to get word out to everyone about what I was looking for and the information is actual, not a listing from 8 months ago. Just another way the web has changed the way we operate our lives.
I personally love Google Alerts to receive automatically news on the keywords I’m specifically interested in, so I don’t have to remember to search everyday myself the news (web 3.0-ish, right?).
Wired.com and the magazine are actually good to have a 360° sexy overview on innovation that allows you a broader sight than the professional digital marketing/advertising websites.