A really long time ago, you would bring your talent as a skilled communicator and creative thinker to a job as a Marketing or Communications Director. You didn’t need to know how to type, spell, or use anything but a phone with a flashing button because you had a secretary.
A short time ago, you would bring your talent as a skilled communicator and creative thinker to your job, as well as your knowledge of Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and maybe a little Excel. It was important to have some basic skills that would allow you to communicate via memos and presentations, and keep your lists and projects in order. Being a fast typist was important, too, since email was storming in and secretaries were disappearing.
Today, It is still very important to bring your talent as a skilled communicator and creative thinker, but your online presence is now paramount. Your online presence is all there is. It is where your staff, donors and volunteers congregate, organize and live. If you can’t quickly edit your website, use online software like Constant Contact or Vertical Response for email marketing, make a change to your Facebook page or send out a quick Tweet, it’s time to get on board. If you are resisting, stop. That direct line of communication with your public and your staff cannot be left solely to a 24-year-old intern.
The constant change can be exhausting and the learning curve can be steep, and it doesn't look like our doting secretaries are coming back, but think about the time you save no longer standing vigil at a fax machine.
