Larry Browne, a member of OnSIP's Support Team, was recently named one of the "Top 100 Bloggers" on the Patch community news site nationwide. Patch.com is a "community-specific news, information and engagement platform driven by passionate and experienced news media professionals." It is a resourceful way to find out what is going on and happening in your local community, and a great way to interact with others in your immediate area.
Larry has been blogging on Patch.com since November 2010, although he has been a passionate photojournalist since his high school years. "I've done a lot of writing with my pictures. Having a platform without newsprint limitations is exciting!" says Larry. Upon finding out that he was in the "Top 100 Bloggers" in the Patch community (which boasts over 22,000 bloggers), Larry was astonished,"It was a complete surprise, and a very pleasant one. It's always great to be complimented, and to be in the 100 of over 22k, that's humbling."
Recently Larry attended a blog seminar, SoMeBizLife . At this seminar, he discussed (in a three-person panel) the multitude of social media delivery platforms that are currently available, the ones to use, and how to use them. Larry currently manages the social media for the Doylestown, PA Fire Department, where he has served as a volunteer firefighter for the past 13 years.
He explained during the seminar that "Social media lets organizations get ahead of traditional media by allowing them to post what they want, when they want. There are no deadlines, no print or time restrictions, and they're the sole editors and judges of their content." At the fire company, they have 2 Facebook pages, a Twitter feed, a website and contribute regularly to Doylestown Patch. The success of these various social media outlets proves his point, Larry says, "It has allowed us to get much more news to our local audience faster with more details than the local newspapers, which have to ration the amount of local news based on demand and coverage area, which includes many more non-profits competing for space."
Not only is Larry a top blogger, a social media expert, and an exceptional firefighter, but he is also a top-notch father, as well as a talented photographer, an instructor at Bucks County Public Safety Training Center , and the President of FirePixx Industries. How does he do it all, you ask? Well, I myself had the same question. "My daughter Megan is 11 and expects to be a firefighter as soon as she can. She's a big part of our fire company family already and has been since she's been able to walk. It's a delicate balance, and my wife will tell you that I'm often unbalanced, but I love it all so I do what I can when I can, and manage a little sleep in between."
To check out some of Larry's blog posts on Patch, click here.