The Importance of Community & Marketing: I am joining the MarketingProfs Team
You’ve probably figured this out by now… being a part of a community (on and offline) is very important to me. Whether that community is a made up of peers, customers, friends, or advisors it doesn’t matter. The beauty of being a part of a marketing community is that the members are typically equally passionate, they care about the profession and everyone has something of value to offer.
Sure we all come at marketing with differing perspectives, experiences and practices; we often have strong debates about the future of marketing; and we often question where trends are leading us, but through it all being part of a community makes us confident, strong and smart marketers.
And marketing isn’t just a job to me―it’s a major part of who I am as a person (Go ahead, think it: she’s a marketing nerd!). Sure, there are other things in life that I enjoy like art, culture, history, politics, reading, movies, beer, cowgirl boots, scarves, but marketing is a passion that consumes the better part of my day (okay, I’ll fess up…nights and weekends too!).
What you might not know is that I’ve been engaged in social media for the past five years and have found a home in many online communities. You probably also don’t know that The Harte of Marketing is my second blog [my first was a blog under a nom de plume where I wrote about cowgirl boots, scarves, books and my (mis)adventures on eBay. Trust me...I know what it's like to get only a few comments over the years! 
]. Having been involved in social media as a consumer versus a marketer has provided me with a great deal of insight that pops out every once and a while.
Personally, I can’t think of a better way to put my actions where my words are then by joining the MarketingProfs team as Community Manager. I’ve been a long time fan of MarketingProfs and I’ve come to depend on them when I need an answer to a question or insights on solving a challenge. Truth be told, a bunch of my marketing smarts are a result of being a MarketingProfs member (and, well, sometimes I just needed that gut check, which was thankfully found).
Just like most community managers, part of my job is to engage in marketing and MarketingProfs communities on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other forums; to listen; and to make sure that we are delivering content that continues to be valuable and relevant to our members. I’ll also be the liaison between the community and the MarketingPofs team. There’s a whole lot more that goes into being a community manager, but I didn’t think you’d want a laundry list.
So, I guess you could say, there won’t be too many drastic changes…I’ll still be myself, marketing will still be my focus, conversation and engagement will still happen and I’ll still be blogging here and over at the Daily Fix. And, I’ll still tweet and retweet things regarding MarketingProfs, just like I always have. It’s just that I’ll be part of a much larger marketing community now (MarketingProfs has over 320,000 members! Wowza!).
And if you’re guessing that the uber-smart Ann Handley will be my boss, you’d be correct. I am really looking forward to joining Ann, Allen Weiss, Roy Young, Susanne Sicilian, Kathy Bushman, Shelley Ryan, Tara Curran, and the rest of the brilliant, creative and passionate MarketingProfs gang!
As for Harte Marketing and Communications, I’ll still be doing a wee bit of consulting with folks who truly need marketing and social media help, but it will no longer be my day-to-day focus.
Thanks for letting me share my exciting news!
Even More Goodness! Related Posts:
Tags: 56 Responses to “The Importance of Community & Marketing: I am joining the MarketingProfs Team”
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Yippeee! Congrats times three – this is great news!
Congrats, Beth! This sounds like the perfect fit for you. Looking forward to reading your contributions to Marketing Profs.
.-= amymengel´s last blog ..Tech Valley’s first Social Media Breakfast =-.
Beth – Congratulations to both you and MarketingProfs. This is a natural fit for anyone that knows you and has been following your work. I look forward to seeing your keen insights/thoughts in the marketingprof publications.
Congrats! This is a great fit! I have always looked forward to your tweets and blog posts; now I will get to here from you even more! Best of luck with your transition, and know you’ve got a great network to lean on if you need it! Best of luck!
Beth – Congratulations – I have learned a lot from your posts. What a great opportunity for you. Thanks for sharing!
Brent Pohlman
Midwest Laboratories
Super sweet! I’m very happy for you, and for what can only be viewed as the next step in building the Perfect Beth! Well, the Perfect Marketing Beth most certainly.
Success is all about embracing challenges and growing – you’re off to a fab start. Heather
Congrats Beth. They are lucky to have you!
Congrats and have fun!! I’ve also had the pleasure of working with Ann Handley, way back when she was with ClickZ. You are lucky indeed!
Excellent move for Marketing Profs — couldn’t find a better community manager. Congratulations, Beth!
Yes! We are lucky to have you!
Looking forward to getting some great stuff done together.
Welcome!
Just when I thought that team could not possibly get any smarter or better, they did. Terrific!!
.-= Frank Martin´s last blog ..It’s Time =-.
Great news – for you AND MarketingProfs! I’m so happy for you, Beth. I look forward to continuing to learn from your insights, ideas – and shopping exploits
Bravo!
Fanstastic!! They could not have made a better choice! Congratulations Beth!
Congratulations, Beth! I just discovered MarketingProfs a few months ago and have gotten much out of it (though I wish I could afford a membership so I could get even more. LOL)! I’m looking forward to what you have to offer!
Congratulations Beth. Looking forward to the insight and creativity you’ll bring to MarketingProfs.
.-= DaveMurr´s last blog ..Grand Traverse Pie Company, A Great Michigan Business =-.
I can’t wait! Welcome aboard Beth.
Grats Beth, you deserve it. MAYBE I’ll become a member now
Dave
Fabulous news! A natural fit for sure. Congratulations!
A perfect fit! Congrats to both of you — I look forward to seeing what fantastic things you whip up together!
Congratulations Beth. It’s a great fit for you and you’re going to do great!
Congrats Beth! Figures that the first time I meet you in person is at a MarketingProfs event (granted it was 2-3 weeks ago) and now you are working there as the CM. Cool stuff
.
.-= Stuart Foster´s last blog ..How to be Free in the Social Web’s Uncharted Territory =-.
Congratulations, Beth! Very exciting news for you and MarketingProfs! Your new position seems like a perfect fit & you sound excited. Best of luck!
@libbykrah
The only problem I have with this move is that I can’t decide if I’m more excited for you for joining Marketing Profs, or for Ann for getting to work with you! I have as much respect for you and the Marketing Profs team as anyone in social media, and I’ve always shared your admiration for the job Marketing Profs does in producing top content.
AND…you have always blown me away with how quickly and easily you created a vibrant community here on this blog. Remember I told you months ago that I didn’t think you realized how well you were doing? I still don’t think you do, the type of content you create here and the interaction you have with your readers usually takes yearS of hard work and smartitude to develop, and you created it all in a handful of months.
That’s why I don’t know who got the better end of the deal here, so I’ll just be happy that two of my favorite people in the world will now be combining their brilliance
Congratulations Beth! You’re one of the first people I followed on Twitter and helped me learn quite a bit since then. Enjoy the new gig!
Exciting news for you, your fans and Marketing Profs, Beth!
.-= Jen Wilbur´s last blog ..rockstarjen: @brucefriedman late train! Hope you can sleep. =-.
Congratulations! Mack Collier put me on to you. Love that I’ve now got your blog feeding into my iGoogle.
Wow! That’s all I can say. Wow! Oh, and congrats. You are an inspiration.
Congratulations, Beth! You’re perfect for that position!
Hip, hip, hooray! Can’t wait for the magic to happen now that you’re part of our gang, Beth. Nice going!
Hey Beth – congrats! Very well deserved. You’ll be great and MP is lucky to have you!
Congratulations Beth. This seems like a great move for both of you.
Having followed you both since when I started on twitter you both offer great information and insight – it’s a great match. Congratulations to you both.
WOWIE! Those kiddos won’t know how much they’ve missed you until a year or two…but when they do, they will be ACHING/
Aside from that, I’m looking forward to seeing what you, Ann and the crew at MarketingProfs will be cooking up
Hooray! Great news for you, for Marketing Profs, and for the Social Media community. I’m fans of you all. All the best to you, Beth.
.-= Lisa Hickey´s last blog ..We are all curators of the world. =-.
Wow…its like a sister going off to college… very cool and a very good fit. Like Amber at Radian, this makes sense. A logical presentation that I could not be happier for. Awesome Beth…
Congratulations Beth – Great news for you and smart move for Marketing Profs.
Beth, I am absolutely thrilled for both you and Marketing Profs!!! Congratulations!!
Beth, I want to congratulate both you and Marketing Profs on a marriage made in heaven!
Beth Harte and Ann Handley! that’s quite the dynamic duo. Fantastic news, congratulations.
Cool! Congratulations!
Mazel Tov, Beth! Does this mean you’re moving to Beantown?
.-= Ari Herzog´s last blog ..Piloting Social Media as an Astronaut =-.
Congrats Beth! Sounds like an incredible opportunity for you and all of us that follow you on Twitter and read your blog.
Ann, a brilliant decision on your part to add one of the smartest marketers I’ve met (virtually) to your team.
Congratulations Beth!!!! I think you found your perfect job!
See, I’m still around, quiet, but I still read all your stuff.
I saw your post on Social Median and it lead me to check out MarketingProfs – have now signed up to both the site and the LinkedIn Group and very much look forward to reading more of your articles there!
Brilliant move by MarketingProfs. They could not have found anyone more suited for this position – i will look forward to learning a bunch more as you get more involved in this new venture.
Congrats on the gig.
I am sure you are going to have great success there. I have been to the community but am not really active there.
[...] I’ve recently joined on as the MarketingProfs Community Manager and part of my job is to get to know our members and fans. I am here to listen to you, and help everyone to connect better and easier as a community, whether that’s with each other or with MarketingProfs. [...]
@Everyone, Thank you SO much! I am really excited to be a part of the MarketinProfs team and will do everything I can to support all our members no matter how small or large the request. Not to mention it will be fun to be a marketer in a company that’s all about marketing! [I think I need a t-shirt that says "World's Biggest Marketing Nerd!"
]
@ChristaMiller, glad you discovered MarketingProfs! Let me know if you ever need finding anything specific.
@DavidSpinks, knowing you and your passion for marketing and social media, I’d say you’d really get a lot out of it… I know I have through the years and that’s no bunk mister!
@MackCollier, you are too kind! What can I say… I talk, A LOT!
It’s funny for years co-workers thought I was nuts because I’d pick up the phone and call customers and the media without hesitation (last time I checked they were people, not two-headed monsters). I guess social media and community has just allowed me to be myself. BTW, I like the word smartitude, we should use it more often!
@BrandonZeman, I am honored!
@Kirsty, thanks for adding me to your reader!
Looking forward to connecting more.
@MarcMeyer, you crack me up!
@AriHerzog, staying put in Philly.
@VeronicaGiggey, I’ve missed you!
How are things?
@JasperBlake, thanks for signing up for MarketingProfs! Let’s be sure to connect.
YAAAY! Congratulations!! I’ll wear my cowgirl boots in your honor tomorrow.
Beth,
So glad for you!! And also for MarketingProfs. I’ve been a MP fan & member for several years and I think this is a great move for you & a real bonus for the MP family. Congratulations!
.-= Mandy Vavrinak´s last blog ..Mandy_Vavrinak: My Top 10 Sources of Content Inspiration http://tinyurl.com/kuplkz (awesome list!!) =-.