Solo PR Pro | Successful Freelance PR Consulting » marketing

Holiday Pitching, Renegade Spokespeople, and More

Kellye Crane — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:04:03 +0000

This week’s #solopr Twitter chat was once again a fast-moving hour full of useful tips from some of the top pros in PR consulting nationwide. We covered some timely topics this week, covering the following questions:

1. Is there a “dead zone” around the US 4th of July holiday (meaning, is it difficult to communicate during this time? Slow time for news?)? How do you handle?

2. Where are most of your new clients/prospects coming from today?

3. The Gen McChrystal interview scandal fallout continues, and the PR person who set it up has “resigned.” Has your spokesperson ever gone off message? What do you do?

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for real-world insights on these topics that you can apply today. What are your experiences – let us know in the comments!

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!

New Business, PR Timing, and More

Kellye Crane — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:55:19 +0000

As part of this week’s #solopr Twitter chat, pros in PR consulting offered insights on a wide-range of topics, addressing the following questions:

1. When in between projects and working to gain new business, what are the best practices?

2. I graduated in December and am thinking of doing solo PR offering social media and other PR services. Good idea in this economy?

3. What’s the best way to space out PR communications (like press release etc.) to have all year coverage?

4. How often do you like to see posts on your favorite blogs? Is there such a thing as too much content?

Be sure to check out the transcript inPDF for tons more wisdom. What do you think — how would you weigh in on this discussion?

Thinking Big Picture

Kellye Crane — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:08:37 +0000

During the #solopr Twitter chat this week, we addressed questions from the community that centered around looking at the big picture for your business. The topics included:

1) How do you know when it’s time to start hiring staff and turn your solo practice into an independent agency?

2) How can I demonstrate my value/sell myself as a PR consultant without giving away all my secrets?

3) Any tips for how to think and act like an entrepreneur?

To find out what top independent PR consultants had to say on these important issues, download the transcript in PDF. What would you add?

What Are You?

Kellye Crane — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:39:19 +0000

During this week’s #solopr chat on Twitter, we had a lively conversation that included the pros and cons of the various labels we use for ourselves. Is it better to position oneself as a consultant, freelancer, independent contractor, or some other title?

This discussion made clear that there are many different perceptions and connotations, often changing based on your skillset or industry of specialization. Here’s just a sampling of the opinions:

@CaSuPe15: I think a consultant develops suggestions for a PR strategy, and a freelancer would take the next step and implement it

@rockstarjen: I see freelancers as more behind the scenes (don’t manage clients, etc.), supporting solos, agencies, etc.

@karenswim: “Freelancer” the label does have baggage, but see that changing & “consultant” is not always viewed favorably

@KCDPR: I think the word freelance has a stigma of “cheaper” attached to it as well. Consultant encompasses a lot of areas of expertise.

@ActiveIngreds: Often times I refer to myself as a partner vs freelancer or consultant because of issues with both that I’ve faced.

@Power_of_M: I think consultant is overused, and not specific, and freelancer implies creative trade… not lesser-skilled… A copywriting ‘freelancer’ as an example, is not a consultant. They are a doer. But a great one is highly strategic & billable.

@akenn: To me a freelancer is a sub-contractor; a consultant is the lead.

@PRProSanDiego: Sole practitioner is my preferred term. This is what lawyers call themselves. It denotes expertise worth paying for.

@KeeyanaHall: A consultant will offer strategic advice. A freelancer takes strategic advice & gets “down & dirty” w/implementation.

@jillvan: I once used the term “freelance” with a client, and he freaked b/c to him, it implied I wasn’t going to be around much.

@IndigoSevenPR: I think it makes you more credible when you say you are a consultant than a freelancer when competing with PR firms.

For dozens more fascinating comments on this topic, be sure to check out the chat transcript. The key is to know what your clients are looking for in the solo PR pro they’re seeking. If you’ll be providing copywriting services, “freelancer” might be the right description. But if you’ll handle their PR in its entirety, “consultant” could be a better fit. Regardless, it’s enlightening to know about the different perceptions and keep in mind there’s not just one right answer.

Also during the chat, we discussed whether you can be a Solo PR Pro right out of college. Though many thought it would be too difficult to pull this off effectively, a few of our participants – including @zakmo and @SoloDovePR – said they have done just that.

The fact that some entry-level PR pros (not those noted above) are being asked to accept “full-time freelance” positions, sans benefits, was disturbing and noted as illegal by several on the chat. For additional background, @PaulaJohns shared a CNN article: Auditors crack down on ‘independent contractors’.

What do you think – are there any advantages or pitfalls to the various Solo PR Pro monikers we didn’t discuss? Have you learned any lessons around the way you position your business? Please let us know in the comments!

On a side note, I’m happy to announce that I’ve created a Solo PR Twitter list, and on Tweepml you can now follow the members of this list with one click! If you’re not on the list and would like to be, just let me know.

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!

Photo credit: Marco Belluci

@PaulaJohns shared a CNN article: Auditors crack down on ‘independent contractors’.

Parting Ways with a Client, and More

Kellye Crane — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:36:46 +0000

As part of this week’s #solopr Twitter chat, PR consultants offered insights on a variety of important issues, including the following:

1) Do you provide a client with a variable rate sheet, or just say “this is what I charge?”

2) How are other #solopr pros creatively using their Web sites for self promotion?

3) What do you do when you’ve become bored with a client?

4) How do you resign a client?

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for interesting insights and discussion on these topics. What do you think — any points to add? Let us know your two cents in the comments!