ALL PHOTOS TAKEN FROM INSTAGRAM @angelaaaxo
Hello and welcome back to the third content strategy blog! This week was my favourite presenter we’ve had so far due to our common interest in music and travel, and the fact that we listen and like a lot of the same artists like Taylor Swift, The 1975, Jonas Brothers and Olivia Rodrigo, just to name a few. We were introduced to Toronto based copywriter at Accenture and content creator Angela McLean. As a graduate from the Toronto Metropolitan University formerly known as Ryerson University’s, school of journalism, McLean has over 15 years of experience working in communications and marketing. As a published writer since the age of seven, McLean has since appeared in several outlets such as the Toronto Star, Girls Life, Vervegirl and Much. McLean has also interviewed and met numerous celebrities including singers Tate McRae and Niall Horan and actors Glen Powell and Jacob Elordi.
In addition to those ventures, she attends and reports on events and red carpets including Canadian Music Week and many Disney movie premieres. McLean has lended herself to sharing her experiences with students and professionals at different places including the REC entertainment conference, Humber College and right here at the University of Guelph-Humber! McLean started her presentation by stating that she’s been writing for as long as she could remember, seven years old to be exact. Another similarity between us is that she has always been drawn to the idea of storytelling, sharing experiences, and capturing moments. It’s not about writing and storytelling, but rather about wanting to share those experiences with the world through the capturing of images. As a landscape and nature photographer, I can never pass up the opportunity to capture those brief moments of peace and serenity when everything is in its original state. Back to Angela, her passion for telling stories helped her land her first major break when she chosen to review a Hilary Duff concert. A few years later, she was able to speak with Hilary and have an interview with her. From that moment on, her career took off. She started writing about pop culture, music, and movies for several teen magazines like Vervegirl. She also wrote kid-friendly movie reviews for the Toronto Star Newspaper and had her own column. Her work eventually inspired her to pursue a career in journalism and professional communication at Toronto Metropolitan University as it developed throughout the years. Her time there opened doors to a variety of options in the communications field, including marketing and social media roles, PR internships, and more. Fast-forward to the present, when she is employed as a copywriter at the multinational business consulting firm Accenture, helping a wide range of customers with content creation from social media strategy to blogs. Her position combines planning, content management, and copywriting, so she can apply all of the knowledge she has gained thus far. Her statement that maintaining brand consistency is one of the most crucial components of content management was one of the best parts of her talk, in my opinion. Furthermore, it was enlightening and enjoyable to hear her acknowledge that while managing content may feel stressful, it can be especially so when juggling various projects, campaigns, and platforms. Many individuals, including me, can relate to her statement that Canva is her go-to tool for designing because it can be used for a variety of tasks, such as making resumes, cards, invitations, and presentations. Canva’s straightforward interface makes it ideal for rapid, on-the-go design work. Its easy-to-use and free features make it perfect for content managers who need to produce polished visuals fast. She stated that Canva is a must-have for every content creator because of its versatility, which allows her to quickly create graphics, remove backgrounds, and edit photographs. Another excellent tip I got from her talk was that, even though it can be difficult to create content that connects with audiences, it’s crucial to continue being flexible since what works for one group of people may not resonate with another. The process frequently involves trial and error, particularly when experimenting with novel concepts or formats. Repurposing content for different platforms shouldn’t be fearful; just choose a different approach or format that works. I was thrilled to hear her say that witnessing the impact of one’s work is among the most fulfilling parts of creating material and working on projects where the material eventually connects with the audience and creates enthusiasm and engagement after a lot of trial and error. There’s nothing more fulfilling than knowing that your work has genuinely connected with people, whether it’s through a series of interviews with business executives or an entertaining campaign that sparks conversation. Her main recommendation to anyone aspiring to work in content management is to fully commit to the brand. Learn about their campaigns and competition whether you’re handling their social media accounts or conducting a job interview. Making original suggestions based on current trends can make you stand out. In the end, content management is about being true to yourself, flexible, and aware of your audience at all times. The landscape is always changing, regardless of how well-prepared or structured you are, and success frequently depends on your capacity to adapt while adhering to the essential message of your brand. So why don’t you give yourself a try?! Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing next week’s presenter! 🙂
– Taahirah Baksh – 10/3/24 –