
Social Media/Online Community Consultant
Washington D.C. Metro Area

Social Media/Online Community Consultant
Washington D.C. Metro Area
Worked a lot with traditional online and Web 2.0 versions of social media. Supremely interested in the development of online communities and social communication, though with a healthy skepticism of the excesses of online utopianism. Side gigs throughout as evangelist for corporate blogging, transparency and engagement.
Writing, editing, blogging, product support, community engagement
(Self-Employed; Online Media industry)
December 2007 — Present (6 months)
Social media consultant for creating, incubating, and integrating online communities, by means of editorial programming and close collaboration with community product developers.
Advising companies on strategies and tactics for corporate blogging and authentic public communication via publicly-available social media tools.
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; TWX; Online Media industry)
July 2007 — December 2007 (6 months)
Conceptualize, launch, and edit the AIM Social Media Blog (http://socialmedia.aim.com), a group blog for the people behind AOL & AIM's messaging and social media products (including AIM, AIM Profiles, and AOL Community) with the goals of:
* Supporting and engaging users
* Connecting with employees throughout the company
* Interacting with the industry, blogosphere and world at large.
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; TWX; Internet industry)
May 2005 — June 2007 (2 years 2 months)
Support the AOL blog product (AOL Journals) by:
* Creating a blog to represent the voice of the product, address problems, highlight features, and engage the users (http://journals.aol.com/journalseditor/magicsmoke).
* Developing original programming for AOL's People Connection screens to promote the Journals product and spotlight user-generated content.
* Provide the user perspective in ongoing product development.
* Represent the AOL Community organization in blogging and social media trade events.
* Cajole, evangelize, and assist other individuals and groups within AOL to create their own blogs for public engagement.
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; TWX; Internet industry)
June 2002 — April 2005 (2 years 11 months)
Programmed content areas to highlight user-generated content and community areas on high-traffic, high-affinity Community inventory including the People Connection main screen, Buddy List Setup, and Expressions screen.
Supported AOL Expressions (including buddy icons, custom desktops, and SuperBuddies) by creating seasonal and event-based promotions, working with the product team to develop new expressions, and engaging users via an Expressions Factory blog and a weekly new Expressions newsletter with over one million subscribers.
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; TWX; Internet industry)
December 1996 — May 2002 (5 years 6 months)
Managed the home page of the most popular site on the Web (at the time -- PCMeter, Feb 1997), www.aol.com. Helped create and promote AOL NetFind; editorial responsibility for Web Channels, AIM, and NetMail content areas.
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; TWX; Internet industry)
April 1996 — November 1996 (8 months)
Developed services and features for AOL members' gateway to the Internet. Coordinated production, editorial, art, promotion and volunteer staffs; worked with external partners to launch content areas.