Name: Colby W. Gergen
Twitter name: Colbywg
Website/Blog link: http://www.colbywg.com
Area of Expertise: caffeine intake
Favorite cartoon character: Snoopy
First, tell me a little bit about yourself.
Well let’s see. I’m a strawberry blonde with blue-ish eyes, 5’10” and an athlete… oh, this isn’t a “long walks on the beach” thing? Drats.
I’m a junior at The University of Missouri working towards two degrees – Journalism in Strategic Communication and Sociology. I also have a minor in business, but who really counts that anyways? It’s called a minor for a reason.
If you’re really that enthralled by me, check out the about me on my blog. I don’t like writing about what I think is cool about myself. I just know that I run on caffeine and adrenaline. I work hard, but I have fun doing it.
When did you first become interested in social media? And, what’s the first social media site you joined?
That’s a good and tough question. As a music obsessed teenager/fledgling drummer, I was all over Myspace. It was probably the first social network I joined and the one I started to learn social media through. I didn’t realize it at the time, but running band pages for my friends would eventually lead to what I want to do as a professional – digital communications strategy.
How do you manage all your social media accounts (a.k.a. avoid social media overload)?
I try to keep my social media usage to a few places. I have an account with many places, as I can see future use for them, but for now I use a select few. Also, bookmark manager can be your best friend.
Describe your biggest social media-related success story?
A big one for me was landing an interview for my first grown-up job as a New Media Associate at a marketing firm. They found me and were impressed by my interaction on social media, which lead to an interview and then a paid, part-time position. I don’t like to say that social media “got me the job,” but it definitely opened the door.
Do you think social media is a lifestyle?
I don’t see it as a lifestyle. I see it as an integrated part of my life. To some people, it is a lifestyle, because they’re known mostly through social media. That’s okay, but I see it differently. Social media is a public extension of my life and personality. It’s my lifestyle with the volume cranked up.
If you can give one piece of advice to someone who is just now beginning to incorporate social media, what would it be?
Incorporate it personally? My best advice would be to find mentors, people you strive to be, and talk to them. I struggled for a long time to find my ‘voice’, the right balance of personal versus professional (which students are taught as the end-all-be-all), but I learned I was looking at it the wrong way. Just be yourself. Let your personality flourish and you’ll be fine.
Links:
Social Media Rock Stars: Interview with Rich DeMatteo
Social Media Rock Stars: Interview with Jenn Pedde
