Our latest interview is with Social Media/PR Director and writer/blogger for FIDO Friendly magazine, Carol Bryant.
Carol has traveled with dogs for over 15 years. With experience in both traditional and nontraditional media, Carol has given seminars at conferences and is a frequent contributor to radio, having appeared on Oprah Radio’s Gayle King Show and Animal Radio. This spring, Carol is appearing on several television segments in major markets with dog-oriented presentations. Her writing has produced training and advancement programs for usage by thousands of students in an online, e-learning capacity. Balancing hiking boots with heels is no easy task, but Carol wears the style with ease. She is responsible for creating and launching the FIDO Friendly blog, with an average monthly unique visitor count at 15,000 and is lauded for her two current Dog Writer’s Association of America nominations. http://www.carolbryantwriter.com and blog: http://blog.fidofriendly.com.
Now, let’s get right to the interview!
The Social Media Chef: Carol, tell us all about FIDO!
Carol Bryant: Now in its 11th year, FIDO Friendly is the only magazine dedicated to the travel and lifestyle of man’s best friend. Each bimonthly issue includes hotel and destination reviews, celebrity profiles of those making a difference in pet adoption and spay and neuter programs, health and wellness topics, and dog training advice.
Our blog has set the bark high, as we’re receiving over 15,000 unique new visitors per month and thousands more repeat visitors.
TSMC: What lessons did you learn during your professional journey?
CB: Learning to live the creed “Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” Eleanor Roosevelt. Learning to be tenacious and pursuing my dreams has been the greatest gift to self.
TSMC: What challenges does 2011 bring?
CB: FIDO Friendly magazine, in its 11th year, faces more of a digital presence and embraces the challenges and excitement of a new era. The face of the magazine world is changing but at its core, people still demand superior reporting, stories with fact and heart and divine images to match. FIDO Friendly is proud to continue to set the “bark” high and share this all-in-one package with readers.
TSCM: As my specialty is social media as well, I’d love to hear your view on the social media scene today.
CB: The sky is the limit. Companies are rightfully in the hands of the consumer. Gone are the “we guarantee you this is the best product ever” mantra if a company falls short. People will indeed share their views. The current state is promising and we are excited to see what comes next. If this is the explosion of social media, the tremors and after shocks are coming. Those who challenge them will succeed.
TSMC: Has it affected your business?
CB: Absolutely! We are able to communicate directly with our fans in real time. We know where people want to travel with their dogs, what they want to see, what factors are affecting them and target those needs, wants and desires more aptly. From a social perspective, the networking has been incredible. We are able to communicate with other dog lovers, bloggers, companies and writers in a way never been seen.
So many feel social media is a threat and they run from it. I don’t believe social media has even begun to reach its peak yet. When more and more companies and individuals come on board who were once hesitant, the sky’s the social limit.
TSMC: When it comes to opinion leaders, whom do you follow?
CB: Our pack of experts scours the latest in Fido trends, topics, places to explore and health issues canine guardians can’t ignore. We seek the best and brightest in their respective dog-oriented industries to contribute to FIDO Friendly.
TSMC: Looking to the future, what can we expect to see from FIDO?
CB: Our goal is to be the one-stop, all-inclusive travel and lifestyle resource for pet lovers, and help our fellow pet-friendly hotels, resorts and B & B’s increase their visibility and to use their pet-friendliness as an asset.
We will continue to have a presence in both print and digital, do radio and television interviews and segments and keep scouring the globe to bring dog lovers the best canine magazine.
—-
Again, our sincere thanks to Carol Bryant for sitting down and being interviewed! If you would like to be a featured player here on The Social Media Chef, get in touch with us via info@servedfreshmedia.com or contact us through our Facebook page by clicking here!
Love the interview. I’ve been following Carol’s blog and writing for a couple of years now. She is second to none in her writing. Enjoyed the interview. WTG, Carol and Fido Friendly.
FIDO Friendly is a phenomenal publication, and we absolutely love and adore it! Thanks so much for this article – it doesn’t get much better than getting to read about one of your faves on a fave site! Thx!