Yes I wrote a blog about this yesterday. We all want to be noticed, now we have to do it in 150 characters, no waste for thought. We have to be as concrete in what we do to be able to name it and claim it as well as express to others in a way that they want to know who we are as well as be enticed by it. This is a perfect label, Presence Engineer and it must have worked because I bit the hook. Thanks

Michael:

Your post is right on--and you know how I feel about it. I'm really glad to see you make that point. Seeing folks in your industry view things in that fashion makes it better for the folks like me in the industries that rely on you guys to engineer that presence. It's just good to know that you guys really get it because it lets us out here know that we'll be learning it from you all along the way. It really should apply to everything we do. Thanks for sharing that thought.

Hey Michael, thanks for the reply - yup I get what you're saying.. to some extent that's why we'd put "more than creativity", because it definitely requires thought and strategy: around the time a lot of people were going online without really thinking about how or why they were creating presence. port80 has changed since I left and is now a specialist security consultancy - there's stuff on the web archive but it's patchy. I've been away for 10 years or so burying myself in the development of my own social businesses that blend the online and real worlds. Follow me on Twitter, I'm about to roll out plenty of new stuff :) Continue your great work!

I guess we are, yes. In fact, about 12 years ago in 1997, I opened my business website by saying that "creating presence" through the internet was more than just about creativity. You're right, all of this journey is about creating, engineering, presence. It's on the web archive somewhere - port80.com

I love the term "presence engineers" it made me look at how I am engineering my own presence.

I found two definitions for engineer that I really liked.

Webster's Third New International Dictionary: n - 2. obs - a person who designs, invents or contrives B: a crafty schemer: PLOTTER.

3. C: a person who carries through and enterprise or brings about a result esp. by skillful or artful contrivance.

Sheila

Hi Michael,

Interesting and thought-provoking article. Chris Brogan's post led me here, now I am a subscriber!

New to the on-line marketing and blogger space since September 2008, attended BlogWorld Expo 2008 and Affiliate Summit West 2009 as a guest of the execs.

Learning PPC and studying how to be a good web-citizen for the long term.

Respectfully,

Nicholas Chase
www.twitter.com/nachase

Yes. Creating presence is branding at it's subtle best.

What I love about “Presence Engineers” is that, ironically, by definition, it is future thinking. What is going to “put someone in the present moment” tomorrow, next week, next year? Our jobs as marketers becomes one of continually orchestrating those moments of engagement. Whether or not you’ve coined a phrase remains to be seen, but your idea is spot on, Michael. Thank you!

Thanks for the post. It seems like the only roles that have a fairly consistent job description from the time I began my professional career until now are those in the C- Suite. Some evolution, but still, for the most part the same overall responsibilities.

I like Giles comment about Presence Strategists or perhaps Presence Designers, might be more fitting for Marketing and PR.

Could not have said it better. I believe this is part of the problem we have at the moment in our society. Instead of relishing the moment we are living in, many people are scared because of the economy, layoffs, etc. Most people are heavily vested in the compartmentalized way of thinking that you refer to.

I have always considered myself to be an artist on top of a marketer since I work with multicultural markets and entertainment. I don't like to put myself in a box b/c at the end of the day we are looking to communicate and engage possible consumers, like you said, no matter how we achieve that end result.

Great thinking-I am looking forward to reading more.

Michael, now I know what it is we do. Thanks for your insightful post. I chuckled reading Chris Brogan's mention this morning - he knows the same Michael Calienes that I do. Thanks friend - you are the creative epicenter of the region.

Michael: I only wish the furniture industry which is the vertical I work in,, could understand the term you have coined. It is brilliant. If I said, though, to my clients, I am a presence engineer for the furniture industry,they would just roll their eyes. What I could say, would say and will say, is this: My objective is to increase the presence of your furniture/bedding brand across the appropriate social media platforms by engaging with your potential customers in ways and places which are attuned to their lifestyles and relevant to their informational needs.

And, THEN, to shorten it: "I create and manage your online social media presence in order to deliver value to your business."

As I am writing this, I am now at my personal "nugget." The really great idea, for me, would be this: If I said to someone in the furniture business, "I work online as a "presence creator" for your brand" they would SORT'VE get it but it would certainly lead to this, "What does that really MEAN?" And, THAT would be a very valuable opening for me to get into a deeper discussion with them.

Thanks for opening up the conversation around your great idea..I think it will help me communicate my value prop in a much more intriguing way!

And, thanks to Chris Brogan for linking to you this morning. I would not have found your post had it not been for HIS post about it!

However, right now, when people in the furniture industry go to Google and type in " furniture social media" they find me. They would not know to type in "furniture presence creator!" so I can't yet use this in my profile due to keyword issues!

Thanks again.

Interesting post. I like the idea of the Presence Engineer, but would suggest another alternative. What about "Connection Engineer?" Might not have the same ring to it, but isn't presence really only half of the battle?

I agree with you, Michael, and I appreciate this post -- it's wonderfully thought-provoking. It seems to me that the ubiquity you mention is easier to achieve than the relevance. Your own ambition can drive you to achieve the ubiquity, but relevance grows out of an ability to really ascertain what your customers need to know and how they need to be empowered to engage with you.

I totally agree, Michael. In the dying days of my involvement with the music business, it was this crisis of understanding what role to play in an industry experiencing a sea change that ultimately caused me to leave it. Though my role as a PR practitioner is seemingly constrained, you're right, with the advent of social media and the line between media content developer and public relations professional blurs, we do need a new term to try and encompass what it is we do for our clients... and ourselves. Presence engineer is a good start. Thanks for providing something to try and get my mind around today.

Presence engineering - or architecture - seems like one of those fields like rock or classical music... it's hard to make a living at it, working full-time. The few "rock stars" are making a lot. Most everyone else who's interested has to add presence architecture/engineering to the mix of their regular skills.

Seeing the term ‘presence engineer’ (or architect) certainly made me stop and think twice, and that always helps you to look at something old in a new way. I like the idea because it conveys a dynamic existence, not a one-shot ad, a blitz or campaign. ‘Presence’ isn’t something we do, it’s what and who we are. Now if only the ‘right channels’ didn’t change every day!

I like the description 'presence engineers'. Web2 has really fragmented what presence is all about - it's hard to find a truly captive audience these days as there is so much content and so many delivery channels. I kind of also like the idea of 'gravitas engineers', but that's another story :-)

Michael,

Excellent post. "Ubiquitous" is a word that perfectly discribes the presense created through usign social media.

John

I totally buy into Presence Engineer moniker -- and believe that the "trifecta" also includes "Authority" -- the payload -- the message that one hopes conveys value, and "Reputation," the collective assessment of the communities in which you are present. Of course for some (like me) all three are the same person!

Great trigger post.

exactly.

We need to go just one step further... We need to engineer presence in the future :)

Excellent, it does have a ring of sense to it. I like Presence Architects as well for those who develop strategies or Presence Strategist...and there is so much in terms of strategy; the right content, the right tools and the right process of growing a presence.

The website is dead. It may be a focal point for an organization, but to be seen and understood, the footprint must be expanded across the right channels.

Promise - Tools - Bargain

Michael-

First time I've heard that term, but is potentially fitting. I think we are in the age of instant information, and the more relevant you make yourself, the better. Part of that is communicating to the mediums the market asks for. Of course, for those of us in the services business, we can assist others get a handle on this for their own purpose.

As I think of it, engineer implies medium only, perhaps we are more than that, as we also must have a compelling message to feed that medium, which resonates with followers. What about conversation engineers? (as you have done so well here in this very post) :-)

I love the thinking Michael. Please expand on the 'engineer' comparison. Are engineers artistic enough? Are we presence Architects? Architects build with design and art and the future place in mind, or they used to...

Couldn't have said it better, Michael. In todays ever-evolving media landscape we find ourselves as a new breed of thinkers and doers with the world as our medium. Find a wall, paint it. Have a great interactive concept, make it an iPhone app. Have a great idea and a hand-held camera, go viral. The idea is, eyes are everywhere and world is now open to allow you to reach those eyes in an infinite amount of avenues. Audiences no longer need us to breakthrough, they want to invite us in. That is why as you specified "presence" is key. Create presence, combined that with compelling content and the world you are trying to reach will find it and engage with it.

We are no longer advertisers we are brand advocates.