Ben Cotton is a member of the Edelman Digital team and is based out of the agency's Dublin office where he works on a mix of Irish, UK and global clients. His role is varied, but can best be described as helping brands to listen, understand and engage within social media.
A keen blogger since 2007, Ben launched blog Social Web Thing in October 2009 as he sought to focus more on social media, with the intention of landing a social media agency role, and within two months he found himself with a fantastic offer to join Edelman. In the following months, his blog went on to win a european award at the Euprera Spring Symposium and received nominations for the some comms awards and CRAPPs. All in all, 2010 was quite a year for Ben and the blog, and in addition to his own space, he is also an occasional guest blogger for the Edelman Digital, Tweasier and Behind the Spin blogs.
Ben's PR experience is varied – and this is reflected in currently working for an agency that is making digital the focal point of its communications offering. He has also been a PR researcher, freelancer, as well as working in a busy press office and a famous cricket club. From these roles Ben found himself heavily involved in corporate communications, stakeholder engagement, case study research and social media. However, it's the online and in particular, social media side of communications that interests Ben most and led him to Edelman.
Ben has also worked with the Centre for Public Relations Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University and has been acknowledged in Planning and Managing Public Relations Campaigns and the Carnegie Official History of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. In his spare time he has undertaken social media projects for the Family Holiday Association, Supporters Direct and Councilor James Bond.
