In addition to the downloadable transcript in PDF, the following highlights some of the most popular tweets from the chat:

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for the full discussion. Note that the transcript is in reverse chronological order.

If you weren’t able to join us this week, weigh in on the chat questions below!

The #solopr chat – held each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Eastern – is a weekly ritual for some of the most savvy Solo PR Pros on Twitter. Anyone with a Twitter account is welcome to participate – see Join Us for the #solopr Chat on Twitter to find out how!

For example:
I love to sing — but no one ever accused me of being the next American Idol. I’m more of a sing-a-long at the pub after one too many-kind of singer. No use trying to pursue it any further than that – no one would pay me to sing, so I don’t focus my time on making that happen.

On the other hand, I’m pretty good at large-scale project management: corralling disperse people, companies and information to make a long-term program work or a big deliverable come together within deadlines. Over the years, a number of clients have paid me pretty well to do this activity, and I have the gray hairs to prove it. I’ve discovered that though this can be a lucrative business offering for me, I’d rather work with someone else to manage the truly enormous projects.

What does this mean for you?
These are just a couple of my own personal examples of knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em. It’s often a challenge to stay centered and not get pulled away from our areas of focus, but recognizing what to relentlessly pursue – and perhaps even more importantly, when to pass – is critical to avoiding burnout and thriving as a successful, profitable consultant.

If you haven’t lately, be brutally honest with yourself and take some time to think through where you should be focusing. Share your experiences and decisions with us in the comments!

Along with many other industries, the practice of public relations is changing due to the rapid growth of email and social networking. As a whole, this change is good for those working in the PR field. Emailing allows a pro to work with multiple clients at once, it logs a record of all conversations so it’s easy to go back and double check any information, and it helps experts prioritize all of the work that needs to be done. You can email someone when it is convenient for you, and they can email you back when it is convenient for them. Social media is also great for the PR pro because it allows for the same type of convenience on a more personal level. You’re always connected to your clients through social media and can help promote your clients’ company through these popular channels.

However, this technology has distracted from the importance of face-to-face communication for many solo PR pros. I much prefer email because it’s faster and more convenient than setting up a meeting, yet this doesn’t mean that face-to-face meetings aren’t sometimes the best option.

There are certain situations where talking with a client face-to-face is necessary for success. Although many PR pros try to solve problems electronically, face-to-face interaction can add a lot to a conversation including facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. Consider some of the topics that warrant a face-to-face meeting for the best results:

1. Miscommunication – If you’re going back and forth with a client about a problem or an issue, and you simply can’t seem to understand each other, it’s time to call for a face to face meeting. Although these take a bit longer at the outset, they will help both parties solve the problem quicker and with less frustration overall.
2. Negotiation – Negotiation is supposed to be a back and forth. You don’t always want to give your clients time to talk themselves out of a potential new business arrangement, and email makes this easier. In addition, body language and eye contact can be important when negotiating, and this is lost with a phone call. Face-to-face meetings will help make sure that you can negotiate successfully, the way it was meant to be done.
3. Apologies – There is typically an idea that goes awry, or something that backfires, at one point in a PR pro’s career, and this often warrants an apology. A face-to-face apology shows that you’re willing to put yourself out there and do what you can to make things right. An email can sometimes seem cold and it can be hard to hear sincerity, so a face-to-face meeting will certainly make the apology more heartfelt.  
4. Celebrations – If you’ve been working with a client on a project that has concluded successfully, celebrations are in order. A thank you email will seem anti-climactic, and you want to make sure they know how much you appreciate working with them. Taking them out for lunch or after work drinks helps strengthen your human connection.

It’s up to the PR pro to decide when face-to-face communication is appropriate and when digital communication will do the trick. Although it’s often easier to sit behind a computer screen and interact, it’s important to remember face-to-face meetings can make a difference.

Amanda DiSilvestro writes on a wide range of topics for Business.com, the leading business directory that gives advice to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

1. How much “social media” presence will you have during the holidays (btwn Christmas & New Yr). Same as always or taking break? #solopr

2. What do you use for accounting software? Looking to switch at year end — Pros/cons? #solopr

3. How do you organize biz cards/new biz leads? organize leads, business cards, etc.? Programs used? #solopr

Be sure to check out thetranscript in PDF for the full discussion. Note that the transcript is in reverse chronological order.

If you weren’t able to join us this week, please let us know how you’d respond to the chat questions below!

The #solopr chat – held each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Eastern – is a weekly ritual for some of the most savvy Solo PR Pros on Twitter. Anyone with a Twitter account is welcome to participate – see Join Us for the #solopr Chat on Twitter to find out how!

Thanks to Jennifer Spivak for compiling this post.

1. What tool, if any, do you use for online bookmarking/sharing? #solopr

2. If low-profile prospect asks for references from your high profile clients, & you don’t want to share contact info, what to do? #solopr

3. Will you send a snail mail, ecard, enewsletter or other holiday greeting? #solopr

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for the full discussion. Note that the transcript is in reverse chronological order.

If you weren’t able to join us this week, please let us know how you’d respond to the chat questions below!

The #solopr chat – held each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Eastern – is a weekly ritual for some of the most savvy Solo PR Pros on Twitter. Anyone with a Twitter account is welcome to participate – see Join Us for the #solopr Chat on Twitter to find out how!

Thanks to Jennifer Spivak for compiling this post.

When I resigned from a PR agency to go into business for myself, the company tried to sweeten the deal to keep me on staff. I was offered a $20,000 raise (which was a lot of money in 1995) and a promotion to two positions above the one I held (which would have had me leapfrogging over my boss!). Now, what does that say to you? To me, it told me that I was, in fact, being underpaid and under-appreciated (my previous attempts to get a promotion and a raise were denied). Rather than be tempted by this offer, I was ticked – and more sure than ever that I was doing the right thing.

Many potential Solo PR Pros are in similar situations – building someone else’s business with their sweat. If this is you and you’re dissatisfied, get your house in order, and then take the leap!

You may have heard some of the myths and think, “but I’m not a high-flyer, I’m not a risk taker, I’m [insert self-doubting fear here].” Let’s take a look at a couple common misgivings:

“I’m not a high-flyer”
Here’s a secret: there are many, many companies and organizations – often those with the biggest names, and the largest bank accounts – looking for public relations and marketing communications with substance over style.

For many years (before starting this blog), I flew under the radar. I didn’t go to a million networking events, pressing the flesh and dropping names. I still don’t have a prestigious mailing address or even an extensive fancy wardrobe. What’s more, most of my friends in the business – six-figure earners themselves – operate in a similar fashion.

Of course, there’s a place for the networking-intensive PR folk, especially when helping get a startup off the ground.  The good news is, there’s enough work out there for everyone. You can succeed, regardless of your work style.

In my experience, the clients looking for substance over style are the bread and butter of the independent PR profession. Most clients do not care one iota whether you have a swanky office. All they care about is that they receive better service, at a better value, than they would get from a traditional PR agency.

“I’m not a risk taker”

You don’t have to be a risk taker. Yes, it’s an act of faith to go into business for yourself, but here’s the best part: the most frightening period is right before you take the leap. Once you’ve told your boss you’re going, the fear is lifted almost immediately, and the excitement of what you’re about to do kicks in.

You’ve no doubt heard it said that “a bad day fishing is better than a good day working.” I’ve found that a bad day as a Solo PR Pro still beats working for someone else any day of the week!

Are you in that in-between state of wanting independence, but hesitating to take the leap? What’s holding you back (anonymous comments are welcome below)? If you’re a practicing indie pro, what advice would you offer to those just about to make the jump?

1. Do you work from home, or an off-site office? Pros/cons? #solopr

2. Do you know how much you want to grow? How do you decide? #solopr

3. What’s the best way to find contact info for press that you haven’t work with before? #solopr

4. How do you handle when clients have other priorities, not paying attention to PR program. deadlines etc.? #solopr

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for the full discussion. Note that the transcript is in reverse chronological order.

If you weren’t able to join us this week, please let us know how you’d respond to the chat questions below!

The #solopr chat – held each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Eastern – is a weekly ritual for some of the most savvy Solo PR Pros on Twitter. Anyone with a Twitter account is welcome to participate – see Join Us for the #solopr Chat on Twitter to find out how!

Thanks to Jennifer Spivak for compiling this post.

1. Have you used eLance or similar sites to find *subcontractors*? Success/fail? #solopr

2. What is the best way to enter PR competitions without revealing confidential information of your client? #solopr

3. Are you currently using a group-oriented auto-sharing tool for blog posts? Pros and cons? Do they have value for clients? #solopr

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for the full discussion. Note that our previous transcript service is down, so this week’s transcript is in reverse chronological order. We’re working to find an easier to read format.

If you weren’t able to join us this week, please let us know how you’d respond to the chat questions below!

The #solopr chat – held each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Eastern – is a weekly ritual for some of the most savvy Solo PR Pros on Twitter. Anyone with a Twitter account is welcome to participate – see Join Us for the #solopr Chat on Twitter to find out how!

Thanks to Jennifer Spivak for compiling this post.

1. How do you handle clients that don’t believe their targets use Social Media? for ex, one targeting the luxury traveler?

2. If a client wants to pump out 4 press releases a month, whether it’s newsworthy or not, what do you do?

3. As a new #solopr, would you give a big discount to a client who offers to or does actively help you grow your business?

4. Should someone start using a branded account on Twitter before their website is launched, or wait until there is a splash page?

5. PR named the #2 most stressful job: http://bit.ly/eTKXgP (h/t @cubanalaf). Is the #solopr life more or less stressful?

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for the full discussion. Note that our previous transcript service is down, so this week’s transcript is in reverse chronological order. We’re working to find an easier to read format.

If you weren’t able to join us this week, please let us know how you’d respond to the chat questions below!

The #solopr chat – held each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Eastern – is a weekly ritual for some of the most savvy Solo PR Pros on Twitter. Anyone with a Twitter account is welcome to participate – see Join Us for the #solopr Chat on Twitter to find out how!

Thanks to Jennifer Spivak for compiling this post.

1. Is it important to have a photo on LinkedIn?

2. Do you blog to promote your solo practice? If so, what tips can you share?

3. What style of blog design do you prefer? Likes/dislikes as a reader?

4. So many panels at #sxswi addressed aggregating content, 3rd party content and original content. How to balance all in one blog?

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for the full discussion. Note that our previous transcript service is down, so this week’s transcript is in reverse chronological order. We’re working to find an easier to read format.

If you weren’t able to join us this week, please let us know how you’d respond to the chat questions below!

The #solopr chat – held each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Eastern – is a weekly ritual for some of the most savvy Solo PR Pros on Twitter. Anyone with a Twitter account is welcome to participate – see Join Us for the #solopr Chat on Twitter to find out how!

Thanks to Jennifer Spivak for compiling this post.