Management Memo: Social Media

Shreveport Times interview with John Andrew Prime

A Shreveport native and graduate of C.E. Byrd High School and LSU-Shreveport, Amy O’Pry Massey may perhaps be best remembered by Times readers as the highly visible and vocal leader of the Shreveport YWCA during its last phase of operation when it struggled to remain open in the face of a financial crisis.

 Massey also is active in animal protection and adoption/neuter/spay efforts locally. She also has a presence in crime victims rights efforts, as a sister of 1996 homicide victim Kristi Gwen O’Pry.

 The newly married 35-year-old is the owner of O’Pry Consulting, Public Relations and Business Development, which provides Web design, content management and social media marketing for clients across the United States.

Question: With today’s financial environment, how are you coping with the changing economic landscape? Are you hiring less or more, drawing in or expanding? How would you explain your strategy for dealing with today’s business environment?

Answer: Flexibility, likability and durability are some of the greatest assets for growing any business. In today’s market, it is not enough to provide a product or service; we must give our clients that “extra” that makes them want to come back. With this serving as my professional model, business continues to grow.

Question: Social media is a big thing these days, with Facebook and Twitter and such. How are you using, or how do you plan to utilize, social media?

Answer: Social media has been remarkable for growing business. The Internet has allowed me to gain clients from around the country and grow their professional profiles and clientele base from my home office. LinkedIn also serves as a great tool for connecting with business professionals and building recommendations for my clients and my company.

Question: How do you handle employee or staff use of social media if and when it involves or mentions your business?

Answer: My suggestion is to encourage employees to get involved with boosting your company’s online presence in a positive light. Social media is a great way let the world know who you are and what you do while building a connection with your team and community.

Question: What advice would you give someone planning to go into a business or management career today?

Answer: Regardless of your profession, be credible, passionate and good at what you do! Having a personalized and up-to-date website and social media page will assist you in building your professional image. It’s also important to make as many connections as you can in the community, so getting involved with the local chambers of commerce, business associations and other groups is a great way to connect and inform others about the services your company offers.

Visit O'Pry Consulting, Public Relations and Business Development online - www.opryconsulting.com.

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