360DigitalInfluence

Sarah brings seven years of experience leveraging the power of the social web for national non-profit organizations, government agencies, and corporations. As a SeniorDigital Strategist with Ogilvy’s 360 Digital Influence Team, she currently works with clients such as DuPont, AHRQ, HHS, and NIH. She develops strategic social media campaigns that meet her client’s business and communications goals.

Sarah was a part of the Ford Motor Company team that won a PR Week award for the Best Use of Social/Digital Media in 2010. The program was designed to improve Ford’s reputation and broaden the types of people discussing Ford online, which previously was limited to auto bloggers and other auto enthusiasts. Sarah led two blogger engagement programs that encouraged moms, tech enthusiasts, green bloggers and men’s and women’s lifestyle sites to have a drive experience with a Ford vehicle and share their story online. The programs reached 3.75 million unique monthly visitors and garnered 75 posts, in addition to dramatically changing people’s perception of Ford and hitting brand key messages.

Sarah has extensive experience speaking on social media and developing training programs for clients. She has been invited to speak at several health marketing conferences including the CDC’s National Conference on Health Communication Marketing and Media and the National Public Health Information Coalition on Twitter Best Practices for Health Communicators. She’s also been a guest lecturer at Georgetown, George Washington University and John Hopkins University.

Prior to joining Ogilvy PR, Sarah worked for the American Red Cross where she implemented social marketing programs that supported preparedness, blood donation, and fundraising.   She provided PR support for the “Be Red Cross Ready” line of preparedness products, led disaster fundraising communications, and provided strategic communication guidance to the online fundraising program.   In her role, she was heavily involved in online communications and social media engagement -  working with the Facebook Causes application to implement a charity gift program benefiting the Red Cross and several other top non-profit organizations.

Sarah began her career at the Hodges Partnership, a public relations agency in Richmond, VA.  Her clients included the Virginia Department of Taxation’s Tax Amnesty Program, Comfort Zone Camp and REACH, a non-profit that assists the uninsured in Richmond.  She assisted with major media relations campaigns and event management.

Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Virginia. She resides in Arlington, VA. She tweets about PR, social media, word of mouth marketing and life at @SarahVanVelsor