Friends: More than just titles, yes, we’ve got talent. Proven, measured, referenced and real! I’ve put together a trusted team of industry experts adding to The Buyer Group’s PR mix including investor relations, search pros, senior editors, social media elites, digital die-hards, and WOM (word of mouth) brand junkies.

Growth: Looks like I’m in the right industry. This week’s NYT said the PR industry will continue to grow at a steady pace. “Little growth is forecast to come from shrinking traditional media, instead, it will be drawn from areas like public relations.” Social media spending is expected to balloon to over $3.1 billion between now and 2014, while the trusted PR industry is predicted to lead all media growth according to this week’s New York Times article.

Speaking of social media, Interactive Producer Sarah Van Elzen and I host monthly social media webinars for clients like ShopToEarth @shoptoearth, a 80,000+ eco-friendly business network, as well as boating industry leaders Monterey Boats @monterey_boats.

Milestones: I welcome the latest addition to the client roster, RSource, a business services company specializing in revenue cycle management. In other words, they help collect debt and keep the cash flowing so you can focus on running your business. Healthcare, credit card companies and business leasing are the sweet spots for RSource. Follow them @RSourceNews.

Follows: I’m hitting the road next week to share all things search and social at @SESSanJose in California during August 10-14. I’ll be speaking on two panels: Using Search for Missing Persons and Using Twitter as a PR Tool. Stay tuned for an email from me with my full line up of sessions I’ll be attending. And, if you are in the mood for search, follow me through the conference @lisabuyer on Twitter.

Sidebar: TBG client Roy Oppenehiem @oplaw is hosting a free seminar tomorrow: “Should you Walk? Real Estate Workshop” if you or anyone you know needs advice on buying, selling or saving a home. Roy can help.

Hope you’re having a fabulous summer.

Lisa
P.S. Last but not least special thanks to our University of Florida summer intern Matt Innes @mattinnes who is now, all things social. We will be continuing to work with him virtually in the Fall as he returns to Gainesville for his last semester as a Gator.

Also, if you’re on Facebook, become a fan of The Buyer Group for current event schedules and blog posts.

A study released this week titled “Communications Industry Forecast” from the private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson, indicates that despite all the bad news swirling about the media industry, it is expected to be the third-fastest-growing economic sector over the next five years, according to The New York Times article by Stephanie Clifford.

“Almost none of that growth is forecast to come from shrinking traditional media, however,” Clifford wrote. “Instead, it will be drawn from areas like word-of-mouth marketing and public relations (with a 9.2 percent compound annual growth rate from 2008 through 2013), branded entertainment (9.3 percent) and the Internet and mobile devices (10.2 percent).”