Michelle Venorsky

It’s hard to say exactly what I do. I’ve been trying to explain to my family how I earn a living since 1998, and still struggle – especially now that social media is in the mix.

I care about two things: the customer (your customer) and the idea. Though technically my skillset is nearly 15 years of btoc PR work, the past six years have almost entirely been committed to the ever-changing world of social media. Regardless, I like to consider myself media agnostic. Meaning, it’s important to me first to learn about the challenge at hand and really think through with an integrated team the best way to solve it, before jumping to (insert tactic here) as the saving grace. And once we have a good handle on that challenge, then the fun begins – the ideation process. And there’s nothing greater in this business than this very act. Except perhaps bringing it – the big idea – to life.

In my current role, I’m charged with leading social media for the agency. We work together to take a deep-dive into understanding the digital mindset of your customer (their habits, where they live, how they engage, etc.). It’s also important for us to understand offline activities, too, and how everything would work together.

Though my focus now is entirely social communications, I am never without my PR hat. For I believe firmly that being a PR practitioner for so long has prepared me for today’s fun – yet incredibly challenging – new medium. I’m always thinking worst-case scenario so our clients are always prepared. A decade plus of working with the news media (and being a blogger myself) has taught me how best to work with citizen journalists. And being trained to think like a reporter has fostered a natural appreciation for creating good content. Content that people care about and want to naturally share.
Specialties

Social marketing programs developed and implemented for a variety of national, well-respected CPG brands.

Marketing communications, ideation, digital communications, social media, social CRM, emerging media, brand development, consumer and WOM marketing, media/blogger outreach, PR

Additionally, I am a fellow for the Society for New Communications Research and an accredited member of PRSA. I also author the popular food blog, ClevelandFoodie.com, since 2006.