Social Media Leads To Editorial – And More

Not too long ago I wrote about being rather inept when it comes to social media. I still don’t have a Facebook page, and I am not planning on starting one anytime soon. I am having way too much fun with LinkedIn to want to spread my time thinner with managing more than two social media outlets. So for me, I focus on Twitter and LinkedIn. Here’s why.

LinkedIn Group Post Changes Magazine
A few months ago, I saw a posting on a LinkedIn group, the Life Science Executive Exchange, about research being conducted on CMOs. Wanting to know more, I picked up the phone and called the persons responsible for the post, Nigel Walker and Victor Coker of Nice Insight. They explained how they were gathering quarterly perception and awareness data about CMOs from end users in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. I was intrigued, and they invited me for a personal demonstration of what they developed. I was sold. As a result, Life Science Leader partnered with Nice Insight to develop a monthly feature – Outsourcing Insights. In addition, we worked with them to develop the CMO Leadership Awards and a special issue supplement recognizing CMO leaders in the areas of quality, reliability, accessibility, productivity, and regulatory compliance. Walker developed the research to benefit his customers. Life Science Leader publishes Outsourcing Insights to benefit our readers by helping to streamline the CMO vetting process for selecting strategic outsourcing partners. I recently noticed other media outlets picking up on the CMO leader insights we have been providing for the past six months. I believe imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And, it all started with LinkedIn. 

Tweet On This
As for Twitter, I was initially skeptical. Seems good for those in Hollywood, but would it benefit someone in my position? Soon I had my answer.

One day as I was checking out Twitter, I received a direct message from someone who saw one of my tweets asking about connecting on LinkedIn. I don’t link with total strangers, so I scheduled a phone call with this person, Meredith Bell of ProStar Coach. Bell and her business partner Denny Coates are in the field of leadership development. As we have a section in the magazine, Leadership Lessons, where we have contributed editorial from some of the world’s leading experts in the field of management and leadership, it seemed like a good fit. Not only was it a good fit editorially, but Bell reached out to some of the life science executives in her network. As a result, I have since had phone conversations with a CEO of a medical device start-up, a former biotech CEO, a top biotech consultant, and a bestselling leadership author. Many of these conversations are where I get ideas for my editor’s blog and editorial content. These conversations also help me stay up to date with what is going on in the industry from insiders’ perspectives. Lastly, it has resulted in the publishing of several Leadership Lessons article submissions. From skeptic to believer, I am now an avid Tweeter. If you are not sure how to get started, do what I did, read a book about social media. Then, have it. You never know what opportunity might find you.