My new gig: inbound marketing at readMedia

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Forget the catchy lede. I’ve had this cat in the bag for a while now and it’s time to let it out: I have a new job!

Starting today(!), I’ll be heading up inbound marketing efforts for Albany-based readMedia. After seven years in corporate communications, I’m trading the manufacturing plant for a hip downtown office, the Blackberry for an iPhone, and the red tape of big company bureaucracy for an intimate start-up culture.

I’ve been working with readMedia as one of my consulting clients for the last several months and so when they offered me a full-time position, I already knew it would be a great fit. My new coworkers are fun, smart, and generally have good taste in beer (want to follow ‘em? Check out this Twitter list of readMedia employees I created).

So, what am I going to be doing? A lot of really cool stuff. I’ll be running the company’s paid and earned media campaigns, representing readMedia at trade shows and conferences, managing their social media presence and using inbound marketing to generate sales for the company. Right up my alley.

readMedia

A little background on my new company: readMedia is a software and media company whose platform allows organizations like governments, nonprofits, and schools to publish social media-enabled news releases online and distribute them directly to geographically-targeted media outlets. readMedia’s clients produced over a quarter of a million pieces of specialized, hyperlocal news content last year — like this story about a state worker selling drugs in the basement of the State Capitol. (Seriously. Only in New York. And maybe Illinois.)

The media landscape continues to change as newspapers shed the staff and resources that were traditionally devoted to covering local news — town board meetings, fundraisers and local events, students away at college being named to an honor society or making the dean’s list. But these types of stories are still important to local communities and form the original content that drives old, new and niche media stories within a community. readMedia gives its clients the tools to serve as their own beat reporters and publish high-quality, hyperlocal content online and to traditional media outlets.

I can’t even describe how excited I am to get settled in at readMedia and become a part of their team. I’ll still be organizing Social Media Breakfast Tech Valley (though likely with some more help) and blogging right here, but I’m stepping away from consulting to fully devote my time and brain waves to readMedia.

So many of you supported me throughout this past year by acting as mentors, sounding boards, collaborators, and friends. I’ll dispense with the Academy Awards-style mushiness, but I really do appreciate all of the great advice and input I’ve received as I transitioned from corporate communications to consulting and now to this new role. So simply, thank you.

Game on!

39 thoughts on “My new gig: inbound marketing at readMedia”

  21. Amy –

    Very nice! Thrilled for you. Welcome to the world of getting a regular paycheck. You’ll kick some ass.

    DJ Waldow
    Director of Community, Blue Sky Factory
    @djwaldow

  28. Congrats, Amy. So happy–and proud–of you. You’re going to do wonderfully well at readMedia. Just don’t let the iPhone go to your head ;)

    @arikhanson

  29. Thanks again, all. I’ve actually been on the road to Boston this afternoon – I’m already hard at work for readMedia and attending a conference for some of their higher ed customers. I really appreciate all the support and well wishes from you!

  32. Amy,

    I’m so excited for you! I’m so glad you decided to fully dedicate your time doing the things you LOVE to do! You are such a huge inspiration for me – I hope to follow in your footsteps one day.

    Have a blast in Utah!

  33. Rock on, Ms. Mengel! I know this is going to be so exciting for you, especially with the fantastic change of atmosphere and pace. You don’t need luck, you’ll be awesome. Wishing you tons of success in the weeks and months to come with readMedia! :)

  35. I’m beyond thrilled for you my dear – you deserve it! You’re going to do a phenomenal job as always! Looking forward to many more updates! Travel safely:-)

  37. Amy, wonderful news! Smart people with a good sense of social media are in such high demand, so and when I heard you got a new gig, I thought uh-oh, she’s heading to NYC or some metropolis. Must be the lovely weather keeping you here. Very happy for your continued success. See you next Friday.

  39. Pingback: The social media release is not a PR panacea — Mengel Musings by Amy Mengel