Scott Allen Education: University of Texas Location: Bastrop, Texas Highlights CEO of a media consulting firm, offering his expertise to the best media practices for businessesCo-author of two books about doing business onlineWorked independently as a social media strategist from 2002-2016Former contributor for The Balance Small Business Experience Scott Allen contributed 80 articles to The Balance in more than six years. As a current media consultant and the former social innovation architect for General Motors, he seeks ways to utilize social media in business operations. Prior to that, he worked independently as a social media strategist for 14 years, helping clients turn virtual relationships into real business. He co-authored two books: "The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online" in 2005, and "The Emergence of The Relationship Economy: The New Order of Things to Come" in 2008. Education Scott has a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Texas. About The Balance The Balance, a Dotdash Meredith brand, makes money easy to understand. We give people tools they need to not only make smart financial decisions but also prepare for the experiences they will have along the way. Our team of expert writers and editors have extensive qualifications in the topics they cover, and many of them have MBAs, PhDs, CFPs, and other advanced degrees and professional certifications. We require our writers to use primary sources in their articles, which are also approved by our Financial Review Board and fact-checked. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.