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Working, Wounded and Weary and Why It Matters

Today, we must be aware that many of us are just dealing with a lot of things in addition to doing our jobs. Compassion may be our greatest skill in navigating a workplace that is filled with wounded and weary people whose performance and perception may be colored by those experiences.

File BOI Paperwork to Avoid Fines

The end of the year can feel like a triathlon to Solo PR Pros. With a list longer than Santa Clause, you have an overwhelming amount of client and administrative tasks to complete before the ball drops on December 31. With proposals to finalize, contracts to renew,...

The Power of Personal Branding for PR Professionals

Public Relations professionals know the power of cultivating a strong brand. We spend our days crafting powerful stories and giving life to vision through meticulous planning and thoughtful execution. Yet, we often push our own brand building to the bottom of our...

From Solo PR Pro to Agency and Back Again

In an ever-evolving industry like public relations, change is not just a constant; it's a necessity. A recent episode of That Solo Life podcast, aptly titled "Breaking Up the Band – Becoming Solo Again," taps into a topic that resonates deeply with many in the PR...

Say No to Bad Clients in 2024

Solo public relations professionals work hard to win and maintain healthy client relationships, but a bad client can impact your confidence and sometimes your bank account. Thankfully, for most solo PR Pros, bad clients are the exception rather than the rule. Below...

Boost Your Income Without Raising Rates

Raising rates should be a part of every Solo PR Pro’s toolbox. However, it is not always feasible to raise rates for your current clients. This can be challenging in an economic landscape that has been rife with rising costs, and client layoffs. If you want to enhance...

Changing the World with Kindness

Today is World Kindness Day, and while we don’t normally celebrate every designated day on the calendar on this blog, we are here for this one. We are at a time in our history when mistrust, miscommunication and meanness seem to dominate the culture. As communication...

Hope and the Hard Things

Life for us all lately has felt like a gamma ray burst where bad meets really bad and forms supermassive bad. Yet, there is one word that has continued to ring in my heart, lifting me above the never-ending litany of things gone wrong and that word is hope. Hope is...

The Unspoken Mental Health Struggles in Public Relations

Mental health has been under the radar for far too long as many suffered in silence. The pandemic drove much needed change and mental health is gaining recognition as an important part of our overall well-being. Given the unique pressures of the public relations...

How PR Pros Can Find Their Secret Sauce

No one does PR like you. Communication professionals can learn from the same books, utilize the same tools and speak the same language, but each of us will have a unique way of practicing our craft. Running your own business illuminates those differences. You have the...

The Art of Selling for Communication Professionals

If you're a communications professional, you already have a knack for conveying messages. But when it comes to identifying, selling, and closing high-value business deals, it's a whole different ball game – especially if you don't consider yourself a natural-born...

Set Stretch Goals for a Strong 2023 Finish

This year has served up its share of plot twists but Solo PR Pros can still come out on top. As we approach the last leg of the year, it’s a great time to reflect on your accomplishments and set your sights on closing the year strong. Setting stretch goals — targets...

Should You Retire, Revise or Optimize Your Business Processes?

Efficient business processes are crucial for success as a Solo PR Pro, but not all processes stand the test of time (eyes on you fax machine). You want to continue to grow and be effective and to do that it is important to routinely evaluate the processes that we use...

Where the Buffalo Roam – The Power of Story for Solo PR Pros

While Solo PR Pros know the value of storytelling, Lisa Gerber has made it her superpower. In her recent newsletter (you can sign up here) she talked about the power of story. I could not stop thinking about it and am thrilled that she is allowing us to repost on the...

Are You Diminishing Your Professionalism?

Today WFH (work from home) is mainstream, but pre-pandemic Solo PR pros untethered from an office worked hard to prove they were as professional as their in-office colleagues. Business standards have become more relaxed. We have moved from suit and tie to athleisure,...

No Contract, No Service – Why You Need to Get It In Writing

Contracts are an essential tool for your Solo PR business. According to Law.com, “the law of contracts is at the heart of most business dealings; it is one of the three or four most significant areas of legal concern.”  Imagine walking into a store to buy a...

Polarized, Pissed Off and Pushing Through

We live in an era of cacophonous disagreement. Misinformation that was once spoken in the hushed corners of the internet are now mainstream with fervent supporters gleefully spreading their version of the gospel. The seeds of disinformation have taken root and become ideology. And if you think this is about politics, think again.

How Solo PR Pros can Embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is a complex and important landscape to navigate in our roles as communicators. The topics can sometimes be uncomfortable but we must move past that discomfort to provide strategic counsel to our clients. You may not have a...

2022 Solo PR Pro Premium Member Accomplishments

It's time to send the year off in style by celebrating the accomplishments of our talented Solo PR Pro Premium members from the last 12 months. 2022 Solo PR Pro Premium member accomplishments Several of our members chimed in to share what they are most proud of...

5 Solos Share Their No. 1 Business Goal for 2023

Just because you’re a solo PR pro doesn’t mean you’re in this alone. There’s a whole community of like minded people you can lean on to achieve your goals. In this series, we ask five Solo PR Pro Premium members to share their best tips, tricks and resources for...

6 Professional Pet Peeves That Rankle PR Pros

What is it about your work that gets under your skin? No matter the profession, we all encounter workplace pet peeves in our interactions with colleagues, clients, vendors, journalists — you name it! In a recent episode of That Solo Life: The Solo PR Pro Podcast,...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet J.W. Arnold, APR, Fellow PRSA

J.W. Arnold knows what makes for a good story.  It’s an innate skill, but also comes from his background as a public affairs reporter for a regional chain of newspapers in western Missouri.   Today, as principal of PR firm PRDC, J.W. can not only...

How to navigate client planning for a new year

The new year is right around the corner, and, of course, you know what that means. It’s time to start thinking, if you haven’t already, about what’s in store for 2023. When it comes to planning for a new calendar year with your clients, every solo PR pro seems to...

Going Beyond Media Relations: Other Services Solo PR Pros Can Offer

A big misconception about public relations is that the only thing PR pros do is media relations. As we know, that couldn't be further from the truth.  Here's how the Public Relations Society of America defines public relations: “Public relations is a strategic...

34 Business Tools to Lighten The Load and Level Up Your Solo PR Game

Solo PR Pros are always on the hunt for great business tools. As a solo PR professional, you are an expert juggler — you keep all of your clients, projects, pitches, emails and processes flying through the air at top speed. Your work is often time-sensitive and highly...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Ebony Vaz

Ebony Vaz’s path to PR was a bit untraditional. “I’ve had quite an interesting background, but it’s funny how it all comes together with what I do now,” she explains. In college, Ebony studied industrial engineering — an area she was inspired to pursue after watching...

Back to School! 3 Solo PR Pros on Becoming an Adjunct Instructor

For many solo PR pros, the idea of becoming an adjunct instructor at a local college or university can be appealing. "Being an educator keeps me on my toes and forces me to know the latest trends, tips and techniques for working in communications," says Kristie...

Nomad, No Problem: How to Manage Your Business From Abroad

Jennifer Donovan always knew she wanted to live abroad. “I started traveling internationally in my teenage years,” she says. “I caught that wanderlust bug and realized I have a huge curiosity for other cultures, foods, languages and people.” After school, Jennifer...

3 Green Flags Solo PR Pros Should Seek Out in a Client

In solo PR and business owner circles, we talk a lot about red flags to keep an eye out for when prospecting, onboarding and working with new clients.  You know what we're talking about when we say red flags — clients who pay late (or worse, don't pay at all), clients...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Ben Finzel

Born and raised in Washington D.C., Ben Finzel's interest in politics and current events began when he was just a kid.  “Growing up in D.C., I think you either hate all of that because you’re surrounded by it, or you gravitate toward it,” he says. “For me, it was...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Jen Peterson

Jen Peterson didn’t start her career with the intention of running her own PR business, but after nearly 30 years in the industry, she’s definitely proven she’s in the right spot. No stranger to change, Jen grew up moving a lot. She lived up and down the East Coast,...

How to Better Manage Your Time (Instead of Letting It Manage You)

How do you manage your time? As solo PR pros, we have a lot to do — and not a lot of time to do it. If only there were more time in the day, the months, the years. Unfortunately, unless someone invents a way to expand time, we’re stuck with what we’ve got. But perhaps...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Daria Steigman

Two of Daria Steigman’s passions met at a crossroads during her college years. She grew up as the daughter of a U.S. diplomat, which meant her childhood was spent in several different locations around the globe, including the Congo, Libya, France, Nigeria and Gabon....

5 Tips for Working with the Media in 2022

Journalism has changed a lot over the last few years, but you don't have to feel left behind.  One thing that hasn't changed? Media relations remain an important part of the PR world. You can still provide valuable, unique and timely information to journalists....

Change is the New Normal: How to Keep Up With it All as a Solo PR Pro

Change is something you’re probably very familiar with as a small business owner. But the past few years have brought on a dizzying amount of pivoting, and it’s left most of us with a severe case of business whiplash.  Luckily, Chip Griffin, founder of Small Agency...

5 Solos Share How to Break Into A Different Sector of Business

Just because you’re a solo PR pro doesn’t mean you’re in this alone. There’s a whole community of like minded people you can lean on. In this monthly series, we ask five Solo PR Pro members to share their best tips, tricks and resources for managing their solo...

Uncertain Times: 12 Resources for Solo PR Pros

The last few years haven't been easy — for anyone. We have all had tough times as we have confronted unimaginable challenges. With loss, strife and conflict, it's difficult these days not to feel a bit despondent by the state of the world.  Maybe you've also felt...

A 5-Step Process for Crafting Compelling Stories

Stories are an essential part of how we communicate. Before babies even understand words, parents tell stories to soothe, entertain and teach them. As PR professionals, we must know how to translate the expertise of our company or clients into stories that capture...

4 Steps to Running a Fabulous Influencer Campaign

Influencer campaigns are risky and difficult, right? They don’t have to be.  The average influencer campaign budget is about $1,000, which makes engaging with influencers a realistic goal for your clients. There are ways to approach influencer campaigns for...

How To Handle — and Avoid — Late Payments as a Solo PR Pro

Dealing with a client who has missed a payment is no one’s favorite thing. As a solo PR pro, you would probably rather be writing a pitch or putting together a story — or doing literally anything other than following up on unpaid invoices. But missed payments happen....

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Stu Opperman, APR

Stu Opperman, APR hadn’t always planned on being a solopreneur. In fact, he hadn’t even intended on working in PR.  He developed a love of sports and print media at a young age, and set off to the University of Florida to pursue a degree in journalism.  When...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Shirley Johnson

For Shirley Johnson, taking on clients as a solo PR professional wasn’t part of some grand plan. It happened organically following many successful years in broadcast production and healthcare and pharmaceutical public relations.   After living in Chicago,...

5 Solos Share Their No. 1 Business Goal for 2022

Just because you’re a solo PR pro doesn’t mean you’re in this alone. There’s a whole community of like minded people you can lean on. In this series, we ask five Solo PR Pro Premium members to share their best tips, tricks and resources for managing their solo...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Bob Spoerl

Bob Spoerl has been ingrained in the media industry for about a decade, starting first as a journalist before transitioning to “the dark side” as a PR professional a few months into his professional career.  While studying journalism at UW Madison, Bob started...

Pitch Smarter: A Conversation With OnePitch Co-Founder Jered Martin

What would help you to pitch smarter — to better target your media list and pitch journalists the way they want to be pitched? How can you build stronger relationships with your media contacts when both you and they are juggling so many projects? The creators of...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Doug Levy

You could say Doug Levy was born to work in the media and communications industry.  He grew up in a family of avid news consumers — rifling through the New York Times and watching the evening news on TV were daily pastimes.  “I was that first grader who...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Susan Stoga

Ever since college, Susan Stoga had a passion for the fast pace of the media industry. Originally from suburban Chicago, Illinois, she studied journalism at the University of Iowa, getting her start reporting on elections as early as her sophomore year.  Upon...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Meredith LeJeune

Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, Meredith LeJeune got her start as a marketing and communications coordinator for Dominion Enterprises — a marketing services company serving the real estate, automotive and travel industries — doing a little bit of everything from...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Michael Ares

Over the course of 35 years in the PR industry, Michael Ares has worked with some of the biggest agencies out there, building and expanding investor relations and corporate communication teams at the likes of Edelman and Ketchum in Dallas and FleishmanHillard in...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Ellen Werther

Ellen Werther graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in English Literature when she was approached by a professor about potentially doing an internship at a small public relations agency recently acquired by Weber Shandwick.  Although she was only somewhat...

Spotlight on a Solo PR Pro: Meet Kahshanna Evans

Kahshanna Evans began her career in front of the camera, working with networks like ABC and NBC in roles ranging from commercials to small appearances and even a larger day-player role on Law & Order. Originally from Southern California, she had moved to New York...

7 Ways to Maximize Your PR Programs

This year has been an especially challenging time to conduct business, and that makes it even more important to take care of the business that you have. Solo PR Pros need to ensure that they are optimizing value for clients, and are able to demonstrate results for PR...

PR, Progress and the Pain in the Process

Twenty years ago, we could not have imagined that we would use our phones to bank, do business, open doors and thwart burglars, yet it is a common reality that we now take for granted. That device that was once solely used for voice-to-voice calls now rarely gets used...

How to Master Sales as a Solo PR Pro

This post was originally published on 10/1/2019 and has been lightly updated. In episode 16 of the That Solo Life podcast, we were joined by longtime friend of Solo PR Pro, Craig Severinsen, founder of BrightWorksPR. Craig’s specialty is helping Marketing and PR...

COVID 19 and Crisis Communications

This is a guest post courtesy of Solo PR Pro Premium member, Michael Ares, Principal Owner of MDA Corporate Marketing, LLC. Coronavirus (now officially COVID19) has spread from China to dozens of countries on six continents, and the impact has rippled across the...

How Solo PR Pros Can Weather Economic Storms

As a Solo PR Pro, negative predictions about the economy can be unsettling. However, many solos have not only survived in a terrible economy but thrived. In fact, a downturn can be a boom period for Solo PR Pros, with companies needing the expertise and efficiency...

How to Keep Love Alive in Client Relationships

Signing a new client is one of the greatest joys of solo life. There were other suitors, but they chose you. As you embark on those bright and shiny new client relationships, it’s hard to imagine the luster ever wearing off, but it can and does. In this post we share...

Groundhogs, Grey Days and Creating Your Own Spring

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow and we are in for an early spring. But Solo PR Pros need not rely on the fickle predictions of a rodent to predict the forecast for their business. Listed below are three things that you can do to ensure that you have spring...

Get Your Empathy On

A Case Study in Using Emotional Intelligence to Diffuse an Organizational Crisis This is a guest post from Solo PR Pro Premium Member, Karen Couf-Cohen. This post first appeared on The Association for Women In Communications blog. What should an organization do when a...

How to Own the Sales Process

In episode 16 of the That Solo Life podcast, we were joined by longtime friend of Solo PR Pro, Craig Severinsen, founder of BrightWorksPR. Craig’s specialty is helping Marketing and PR entrepreneurs attract more clients for their business. In this post, we recap some...

PR and Technology 2019 Trends

There’s no doubt that technology continues to have an impact on the PR industry. So much so that the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism issues an annual Global Communications Report based on survey results from PR professionals and students and, new...

The Importance of Adaptability

Adaptability is inherent in the job of being a professional communicator. We know more than others that change is a constant. As a solo PR Pro the ability to adapt - processes, skills and perspective - can be crucial to your success and longevity. In this TED Talk,...

2019 Meeker Report Highlights

Photo by Thom on Unsplash It’s here! Mary Meeker’s report on 2019 Internet Trends. When sharing the report, she stated, “If it feels like we’re all drinking from a data firehose, it’s because we are.” The report focuses on the “impact of the Internet on...

Search Engine Optimization is a PR Pro’s Friend

Do thoughts of how to use search engine optimization (SEO) make your head spin? It’s OK. And, guess what? You are probably in better shape than you realize because SEO has come a long way from its white vs. black hat, keyword-gaming origins. These days SEO is based on...

5 Tips to Set the Table for Success in the New Year

In a few short weeks, we will be blowing noise makers and singing “Auld Lang Syne” as we close out another year. Before this year becomes a Facebook memory, there are five things you can do to set the table for your business success in the new year. Secret ingredients...

Solo PR Guide to Instagram Ads

Instagram is more than mouthwatering food photos and lusty travel pictures, it can be a powerful business tool for solo PR pros. Instagram has over 800 million users and 25 million business profiles. Those businesses range from solos to large corporations and span...

Solo PR Pros Pick Best Apps for Running a Business on the Go

Written by Michelle Kane, Solo PR Pro Premium Member and Head Honcho of Voice Matters, LLC Working as solo consultants, many with virtual teams, we depend on our technology. Email, Cloud Services, Skype, etc., it allows us to work together and move our client work...

4 Tips to Get Newsworthy Topics Out of Clients

This is a guest post by Brad Shorr,  Director of Content Strategy at Straight North, an Internet marketing agency in Chicago that provides SEO, PPC and web design services. With more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience, Brad has been featured in leading...

Life’s a Beach for the Solo PR Pro

Hot temperatures and long days have us all longing to spend more time at the beach.  This month #solopr is  joining forces with #SMChat for a combo beach-themed Twitter chat on July 11 at 1 pm ET. Join us from your desk or deck chair as we discuss the topics below....

7 Surprising Things About Being Your Own Boss

This post was originally published on October 11, 2016 and updated on May 22, 2018. Independent work, once a mere fantasy for weary corporate warriors is a mainstream alternative for millions of people. In fact, independents make up 34% of the US workforce. The ease...

How to be a PR Rainmaker

The following is a guest post from Tom McMakin, CEO of Profitable Ideas Exchange (PIE).  Ashley looked out her office window on Broadway over at the Flatiron Building and counted the floors, calculating the approximate number of people who worked there.  It was...

Basic Guide to PR Planning

Strategic planning forms the cornerstone of what we do as communications consultants, and provides the foundation that allows us to gain consensus and chart a strategic course for – and with – our clients. What differentiates top consultants from others – including...

18 Cognitive Biases that can Impact Public Relations

Public relations professionals must often challenge perception to ensure that internal bias does not erode intended communication efforts.  There have been many recent examples of disastrous results when bias is unchecked and communications campaigns are received...

Self-Promotion is Not Evil

Many professionals have a hard time using their professional skills to promote their business. You are bold and confident when doing work for clients but uncomfortable putting those same skills to use to promote yourself and your business. By failing to do PR for...

Public Relations and Me Too

On this blog, we address topics relevant to public relations. This post remains true to that mission. Sexual harassment and abuse are pervasive in every industry, including communications. In the wake of the public revelations about Harvey Weinstein, men and women...

Changing How We Measure and Report What We Do

There are signs that the economy may be slowing down. Many clients are capping programs, pausing until the new year, or passing on spending at all. Whether we're in for a recession or a boom PR professionals must make a change in how they sell and manage clients. The...

Funny Horrifying and Sadly True Client Tales

The sun is shining, taxes are paid and it is the perfect time to take a laugh break. For today’s post, we asked a wide range of communication professionals to share their stories on the outrageous things clients have said to them. There was no shortage of hilarious...

When a Client Becomes Somebody You Used to Know

At some point in your public relations career, it is likely that a client will fire you. There are times that the firing is mostly amicable and can be due to budget cutbacks or the client deciding to bring the work in-house. At other times, it can be a gut-wrenching...

How Not to Get Eaten by Economic Zombies

This post was originally published at Words For Hire and has been updated with additional information. I am convinced that if aliens invaded the earth, they would eat the communicators first. This belief has been shaped by years of watching public relations and...

Chaos, Capes and the Value of PR Pros

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity.” Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities Who knew that an opening line written in 1859 would so...

Improve Your Content Marketing with Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a treasure chest of information, but it can intimidate even the most seasoned professional. It can be difficult to understand all of the metrics and more importantly how to apply them to our work. In this infographic from Salesforce Canada, you'll...

Goal, Set, Measure

Measurement is crucial to public relations, social media, and communication consultants. As Peter Drucker said, "you can't manage what you don't measure." In a profession that is often misunderstood and sometimes undervalued, it is more important than ever to be able...

Fear, Change and the Future of Communications

The press release is dead! The blog is dead, long live social media! Out with social media, in with mobile! Virtual reality will replace everything! Sounding the death knell on a communication tactic is as old as mankind and will likely never change. Today,...

Chat Recap: Gender Pay Gap, and More

On the fourth Wednesday in April, we held one of our traditional Q&A chats, where top independent communication professionals shared thought leadership, tips and advice in response to questions submitted by the community (learn how to join us here). On April...

#SoloPR Topic Chat: Your Career Track as an Entrepreneur

The growth question is one that all successful entrepreneurs face at some point in their business. There is plenty of advice for determining if, when and how you grow your business. However, one facet of growth that is not widely discussed is professional growth. As a...

Karen Swim to Lead Solo PR Pro

Today, we’re happy to share news of a transition that has been underway for many weeks. Long-time Solo PR Pro Premium member and frequent collaborator Karen Swim, who has worked alongside founder Kellye Crane since the blog was launched in 2008, has taken ownership of...

Chat Recap: Big Brands, Bold Steps and the Freedom to be You

This week big brands made bold moves in fighting inaccuracies and managing their reputation, which made for great discussion during the June 25 #Solo PR twitter chart.  An international group of independent communication professionals weighed in with opinions and...

Chat Recap: Elevators, Beaches, Control and Taking the High Road

On May 14,  independent communication pros representing a broad range of industries gathered for the weekly #solopr Twitter chat. These diverse pros discussed the following topics of interest: What do you do when you have to work w/another agency as part of client...

Chat Re-cap: Balance, Burn Out and Bringing it in 2014

During the November 6 #solopr Twitter chat, independent communications professionals discussed the following topics of interest:  How do you "leave work" when you work from home? #solopr  What do you do when you've lost that "loving" feeling about your business?...

Generalist/Specialist, Image Consulting, & More

During the October 12 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros discussed bad PR stories, image consulting, & more. Specifically, the following questions were addressed: 1. Is it better for a #solopr pro to be a generalist or a specialist? 2. Recently, a PR pro...

Holiday Press, Increasing Clientele, & More

During the October 5 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros shared insight on helping clients find value, garnering holiday press, increasing clientele, & more. Specifically, the following questions were addressed: 1. Client's focused on deliverable that may...

Solo For The Long Haul, TechCrunch Drama, & More

During the September 14 #solopr Twitter chat, which was guest moderated by Amy Sept of Nimbyist Communications, independent PR pros discussed handling former clients, being solo for the long haul, the current TechCrunch drama, and interesting uses of PR. Specifically,...

Work Situations, Inattentive Clients, & More

During the July 27 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros discussed work situations, growth goals, contacting press, and inattentive clients. Specifically, the following questions were addressed: 1. Do you work from home, or an off-site office? Pros/cons? #solopr...

Blogging, Scandals, & More

During the July 20 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros shared insight on blog etiquette, overseas scandals, & working with subcontractors. The following questions helped guide the conversation: 1. I have a new personal blog. Not sure if I need to do a...

Radio, ProfNet, Measurement, & More

During the May 25 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros discussed radio placements, ProfNet Connect, PR as a dirty word, and biggest measurement challenges.  Specifically, the following questions were addressed: 1. This article (by a radio person) on "Why Radio...

Time-Keeping, Media Connections, & Small Biz Publicity

During the April 27 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros discussed time-keeping systems, connecting with the media, and generating publicity for small businesses. Specifically, the following questions were addressed: 1. What do you use for time keeping...

Social Media Non-Believers, Stubborn Clients, & More

During the April 20 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros shared valuable insight on social media non-believers, stubborn clients, offering discounts, Twitter best practices, and the stressful world of PR. The following questions helped guide the conversation: 1....

Upscale Clients, Membership Sites, Firing An Under-Performer, & More

During the March 30 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros discussed dealing with upscale clients, pursuing membership sites, firing someone who's under-performing,  and journalists' social media behavior. The following questions were addressed: 1. If client has...

Paying for Online Content, PR Measurement, Retweets, & More

During the March 23 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros discussed paying for online content, PR measurement tools, retweets, and information overload. The following questions helped guide the conversation: 1. Interesting post on @spinsucks re: what will people...

New Clients, PR Platforms, & Twitter Habits

During the March 16 #solopr Twitter chat, solo PR pros shared insight on announcing new clients, using services like HARO and Profnet, and changes in people's Twitter habits. The following questions were addressed: 1. Do you announce new clients? 2. Do you use HARO...

Avoiding Spam, the Definition of PR, & More

During the March 9 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros touched upon avoiding spam, the definition of PR, partnering with non-profits, and marketing your services as a subcontractor. The following questions help guide the conversation: 1. How do you avoid sending...

7 Lessons PR Pros Can Learn from Bruce Buschel

Before, during and after last week’s flurry of posts in response to the New York Times piece, the excellent Solo PR Pros LinkedIn Group continued the conversation with insightful comments and observations. Community member Christa Miller (who was the first to post the...

10 Foolproof Ways to Waste Money on PR

There's yet another anti-PR article making the rounds, and this time it was printed in none other than the New York Times. When I first saw it, I thought it lacked substance and hoped it would go away. But like any anti-PR article in a major publication, this thing...

DIY PR, Down Payments, Going Solo, & More

During the February 9 #solopr Twitter chat, solo PR pros discussed the Do-it-Yourself PR mindset, how to handle being dissatisfied with an outside vendor's work, how to prepare for a solo PR career while at an agency, and trying new mobile tactics for PR....

Mobile and Public Relations: Making the Most of this Untapped Duo

As regular readers of this blog know, I'm a big believer in integrating public relations across the previously entrenched silos of marketing communications. Because our job is to shine a light on marketing initiatives and communicate with our publics, PR can play a...

Outreach Methods & Back-Up Plans

During the January 26 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros discussed their preferred methods for contacting media and influencers. In addition, these solo PRs shared their opinions on having a back-up/succession plan in the case of a family emergency, illness,...

Blogger Relations – from a Blogger’s Perspective

Blogger relations is an activity only growing in importance for PR pros as the media landscape continues to shift. When bloggers speak on the topic, we often hear cranky pronouncements about the uselessness of PR people, which can too easily be written off as the...

How do you distribute news?

This week’s #solopr chat – held each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Eastern on Twitter – got into the nitty gritty of one of the top issues facing PR professionals today: news distribution. Be sure to check out the transcript here in PDF, or online, for astute insights from...

Why Entrepreneurs Should Hire Solo PR Pros

In the world of entrepreneurial ventures and startups, there are frequent discussions of whether Public Relations is necessary (in fact, a Google search for the phrase “pr is dead” [in quotes, lowercase] returns 119,000 entries!). The question resurfaced this week as...

Using Social Media – Come Out from Behind the Curtain

Most PR consultants have been trained from early in our careers to work behind the scenes. We've typically served clients or company executives as the spokespeople, and it's deeply ingrained that the spotlight should shine on them alone.  Today, it's time to come out...

Success Stories: Narciso Tovar

Having recently established himself as full-time Solo PR Pro, Narciso Tovar of Big Noise Communications has more than 13 years of public relations expertise with a remarkable track record. He considers himself both a teacher and student in external communications and...

Success Stories: Jen Wilbur

Solo PR Pro successes come from all walks of life, and everyone's story is unique. Since each PR and MarCom consultant makes his or her own rules, there's much we can learn from the experiences of others. To that end, I'm thrilled to unveil our first interview in what...

Are You Ready for Faster PR?

This is the first guest post on Solo PR Pro, and it comes from popular PR blogger Scott Hepburn. Scott is a copywriter for PRstore, a full-service marketing and PR company with franchises nationwide. He blogs at Media Emerging and plays devil’s advocate on Twitter as...

Modern PR: The Next Wave

Whether you call it PR 2.0, New PR, or some other catchy moniker, it’s clear that public relations is moving into a new age. As we’ve noted, Modern PR means evolving, adapting and embracing new challenges. At the forefront of this evolution is PR’s incorporation of a...

Modern PR: The Media’s Changing… with You or Without You

Despite some reports to the contrary, the media is not dying. But there are dramatic changes taking place and, chances are, this is not completely news to you. As PR pros, most of us have seen long-time relationships with key reporters end as they get laid off and...

Modern PR: New Incentives to Behave Professionally

We know they’re out there. The people who say they’re in PR, but they really just play a numbers game – sending as many emails as possible, in hopes of getting a small percentage of recipients to cover their clients. In fact, most of us have probably competed for...

Modern PR Series: What You Need to Know About Public Relations Today

The times they are a’changin. If you’re working in marketing communications or PR, you’ve no doubt encountered this already. With the now fast-changing media landscape, in many ways we’re in the Wild Wild West. The rules have yet to be established, and not everyone...

Welcome to Solo PR Pro!

I decided to start Solo PR Pro because I’m often asked to recommend online resources that focus just on independent PR and Marketing Communications consultants… and I realized there really aren’t any. Solo PR Pros have a great life, and I firmly believe that more...

Why Public Relations Consulting?

Are you looking to break free of the cubicle? With the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicting that public relations as a field will continue to grow by 18 percent from 2006 to 2016, there are many opportunities to do just that as an independent PR consultant....

Who can be a Solo PR Pro?

While this blog has “PR” in the name, I believe professionals in a wide variety of disciplines can learn from each other here. Yes, I know many of these occupations don’t fall under the banner of public relations, but independents in these fields share many issues,...