What is your role at Shift Key?
As Chief Content Officer, I’m usually the last person to edit and review written materials before they’re sent to the client. I also drive our internal content strategy.
How did your background prepare you for this position?
While working for my college newspaper, I realized I was likely a stronger editor than writer. I am all about details.
I want to know the “why” and “what makes people tick,” which has served me well. I have worked for political campaigns, public affairs offices, marketing and audio branding agencies, even a company where we did music for TV shows.
Sure, most of these jobs used my writing or editing skills in some way, but they were also very detail-oriented jobs that honed project management skills. I learned how to quickly become knowledgeable and fluid in different industries, which has been a great template toward quickly absorbing a brand that we must communicate on behalf of.
You’ve got an extensive background in music. How has deep knowledge of that industry affected your work in content marketing and public relations?
No matter what I do professionally, a part of my heart will remain in the world of music. In addition to being a musician myself, I love the creative process of working in music and with musicians. They, along with writers are creative people, so there are some interesting parallels. Music can be used to forge emotional connections with TV shows, characters and even brands — and a lot of my previous work has focused on that — but the written word can obviously do the same.
The work we do at Shift Key isn’t very different in that sense — we’re telling stories for brands and helping them grow a loyal customer base. My husband is still in the music business as a professional songwriter and producer. In fact, he co-wrote Big Machine Label Group artist Cassadee Pope’s new single, “I Am Invincible.” Here’s a shameless plug: Check it out and request it on your local country radio stations!
Thus far, what’s been the most interesting project you’ve worked on?
I recently worked on producing a radio show for a client. We did media training working with the client to prepare them for the show. I really enjoyed that process, then researching and writing the show content. As an unexpected bonus, my music background came into play when I helped select the theme song.
Outside of Shift Key, what do you do for fun?
I have a 2-year-old — the things I do for fun now have really changed since he was born. A fun activity now is simply an outing with all of us being together. When we get the rare chance for a date night, we almost always go see live music.
Plus, my husband and I are still involved in a band called Totsy. We just had a song placed in a new Sam Rockwell/Anna Kendrick movie called “Mr. Right.” The song is called “Boom Boom Room.” We’re pretty excited about that!
You and Shift Key’s Jan Risher share Mississippi roots. How does that shared geographical and cultural background shape the work “y’all” do?
I find it fascinating really. It’s something we frequently discuss. At Shift Key, we talk a lot about content marketing being storytelling for brands, and I find Southerners are generally wonderful storytellers. Well, Jan truly is one of the best storytellers or journalists that I’ve ever known personally. I think her writing style greatly shapes the work we do, which is also a wonderful thing.
I have followed Jan’s work since the beginning of time, because Jan babysat for my family and has known me since I was just two or three years old! If that’s not spilling my tea! How often do you get a chance to work with people who understand you at such a level?
Our families are friends with many shared connections, and we both already understand the way each other thinks. There’s something valuable and wonderful about that shared understanding and respect for the way we grew up. Granted, we both moved away and each had different professional and personal experiences since, but we’ve found those strong Mississippi roots to be a wonderful asset working together.
What else do you think people need to know to understand you and the work you do?
In the past year, I’ve learned so much about how Shift Key can help businesses — there’s such value in our services whether they’re small or large organizations. I’ve always been someone who loves words. To see the value that our writers can bring to the table for these businesses — I’m very proud of that work!
This is work our clients hang on their walls long after our engagement is done. Plus, all the media placements Joelle Polisky is able to get for our clients is overwhelming. It’s the kind of work that truly takes a business to another level!
BLOG IMAGE CREDIT: Stacey Boyett is pictured lower right, as part of Totsy band. www.totsyband.com.
Stacey can be seen sans costume, with the rest of the Shift Key staff here: http://goshiftkey.com/story/.
At Shift Key, we make communication capital. We are journalists who know how to create original content, the foundational layer of digital marketing. We understand audience and the information your audience wants — whether you are an agency, brand, company or non-profit. Content is the bedrock of digital marketing. Shift Key creates unique and informative content that feeds marketing activities across a mounting number of channels, generating buzz for brands and leads for products and services.