Amy Jo Martin founded Digital Royalty three years ago to help companies, celebrities, professional sports leagues, teams and athletes build, measure and monetize their digital universe. In addition, Digital Royalty provides customized social media education programs through Digital Royalty University, which offers a comprehensive curriculum blending strategic and tactical training. In October 2012, Amy Jo published the New York Times Bestseller, Renegades Write the Rules.
Amy Jo herself has nearly 1.3 million Twitter followers and she travels the world to speak about the latest trends in social media, how to monetize various social platforms, and how to successfully build a personal brand by utilizing social media. Her audiences have varied from the Harvard Business School and National Sports Forum to the Design Leadership Summit in Venice, Italy. Amy is also a regular contributor to news outlets including the Harvard Business Review and Sports Business Journal. She and Digital Royalty have been featured in top-tier media outlets including Vanity Fair, TIME, Forbes, The New York Times, Fast Company, ESPN SportsCenter, USA Today, MSNBC and Newsweek.
Digital Royalty’s clients include: Shaquille O’Neal, FOX Sports, The X-Factor, Chicago White Sox, UFC and Dana White, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Los Angeles Kings, Jabbawockeeez, Doubletree by Hilton, Tony Hsieh CEO of Zappos.com and author of the The New York Times#1 Bestseller, Delivering Happiness, Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Amy, tell us a little about what it is you do?
I help people humanize their brand and deliver value to their audience through social media channels. I encourage others tell their stories virtually and design their own day.
How important would you say having a social media presence is for businesses these days?
With over a billion people on Facebook alone, it would be irresponsible not to have a social media presence. Social media isn’t really “media”, it’s just communication. It’s more like the telephone and less like the television. Would you not answer your phone if someone were calling?
What three bits of advice would you give a business that is taking their first steps into the world of social media?
1. Humans connect with humans, not logos. You have to humanize your brand to really connect with your followers.
2. Be a social rocket scientist. Your mixture of measurement and creativity is your X factor. Magic happens when we combine numbers with an emotional connection.
3. Don’t forget the importance of your personal brand. Your personality, confidence, and the way you conduct yourself define your brand.
What do you think the future holds for social media?
Fatigue, consolidation, and the continuing struggle to remain relevant are definite trends today. There are simply too many options out there. People are busy, so social media platforms must continue to find interesting ways to engage users. With so many choices to choose from, simplicity and value reign, as evidenced by the success of platforms like Instagram. Too many platforms try to appeal to everyone; the best ones do one thing and do it right.
What is the coolest fact about Giraffes you know?
A giraffe is able to clean its ears with its own tongue!
This has to be one of our best interviews so far, we’d like to thank Amy Jo for her time in allowing us to interview her. We hope you’ve picked up some things here, it’s almost impossible to not! For more of Amy Jo – you can check out her blog here.
Image source: speakers.ca
