We like to bring the Experts to you so GotCast recently sat down with Professional Publicist and Marketing Consultant (Political Figures, Technology Companies, and Authors) Ross Trumble. You can keep up with Ross on Twitter at @12ossT and thank him for his insight!
Ross, Let's discuss the marriage of Entertainment and Social Media. Who are some personalities or celebrities that you've discovered online because of their existing social presence?
Something I've found very useful about social media is discovering interesting people and having the ability to communicate back and forth with them. Author Tom Woods, who's done a lot of stuff on Youtube and he's very active on Facebook and blogs. Frank Rumbauskas, he's a sales guru.. author and business strategist. Great with Twitter and Facebook and actually got me on Twitter. And who doesn't love Jenna Marbles?
And you had asked prior to this conversation if it was important if our audience was familiar with these people... But social media isn't about reaching everyone, right? It's about finding your tribe...
I think that's the perfect way to put it. In the past, when you were looking for something interesting, you had 3 different basic options. Print, radio, television and only certain voices were heard... with social media there are so many different platforms! With TV and radio we were limited to a certain number of channels, with social media there is no slowing down and the possibilities are infinite. I may have heard of someone like Jenna Marbles who has had 450 million views but the possibility that my best friend hasn't even heard of her is pretty high.
So if you want to be the next Jenna Marbles, or dominate a certain arena... What are some basic steps to developing a social media audience?
I think the most basic step is A. You really have to decide what you're passionate about and go for it. B. Learn about your style and what works for you. For some people it might be video, others might be better at writing and a little bit more awkward on camera or video... and that's ok. It's really about finding an audience that's going to embrace your style and your passion so you have to decide and explore what those are. Otherwise, you'll come up insincere. It also doesn't hurt to get a major traditional media hit first and then caption your audience online. Traditional media still plays a major role in social media.
Are there specific ways to stand out amongst the social media chaos?
If you can find a way to use humor or pop culture while discussing a serious subject, you can really capture an audiences' attention without coming across overwhelming.
Have you ever purchased something or watched something on television because of something you've seen on Facebook or Twitter?
A lot of times I'll turn on a game because I'll see someone tweet about it. That has happened numerous times!
What is the biggest social media no-no...?
Airing out your dirty laundry, getting in to fights with people you know or making slanderous comments about a former employer, girlfriend, or boyfriend. Those are the biggest because you come across as someone who's not in control of their own domain.
Is there any aspect of social media that makes “the journey” for an actor, musician, or entertainer “easier?”
If you build an appealing enough brand that you can basically do for free... You can really come across as a talented subject. Being involved in PR and publicity, I've had numerous media inquiries and requests through my social media channels and I've had to do less outreach because of the brands I've built online. That is something that anyone can accomplish that is trying to get from point A to point B. Social media can lead to great, unexpected opportunities.
Thanks so much for your time, Ross!