1) When do you decide to raise rates, and how do you do it?

2) What applications/services do you use for media coverage or social media measurement?

3) This week, @M_Heffernan had a blog post suggesting PR firms are a waste of money.  Thoughts?

4) Do you have Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance? What are the best rates/options?

Take a look at the chat transcript in PDF for some amazing insights from top Solo PR Pros. What would you like to add? 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!

This week we covered the following topics:

1) Are you charging more for social media services, or just including it in your programs?

2) How important is pricing power? Client wants to cut PR budget to 25% of original – should I cut bait?

3) Can or should PR pros play the role of reporter/blogger? Is it crossing an ethical line?

4) Do you have any clients that requires stringent legal reviews? If they make your stuff sound like gobbledygook, what do you do?

Once again, Kate Robbins showed she has a way with words by sharing one of the most popular quotes of the day:

I’ve been awfully generous this past year and it hasn’t bought me dry ground on earth or a place in heaven. I’d rather hear, “If you can get her,” than “You know who’s really cheap?

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for more pearls of wisdom. Do you agree with the chatters — any suggestions to add? Did anyone have fish for dinner last night?

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!

Image credit: laszlo-photo

1) What wire services have you used, and which do you prefer? Is wire distribution important these days?

2) How do solos collect on unpaid bills, and can the debts be written off on taxes?

3) Do you have 2 (or more) sets of fees for different services (e.g., consulting vs. social media training)? Fee differential?

4) Do you have clients treating PR and social media as separate things? How do you educate?

One of my favorite quotes of the day came from @KateRobins on the pitfalls of treating PR and social media as separate and distinct:

It’s like setting a table. Knives, forks, spoons. Can’t eat soup with a knife.

Be sure to check out the transcript in PDF for more terrific insights. What was your favorite quote from the chat? Any points to add to the discussion?

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!

1. When budgets are small, what methods do you use to track clips (both online and print)?
2. How do you “fire” a difficult client without being seen as responsible for the “challenges” of the situations they created?
3. How do you approach the “can I pick your brain for free” question?
4. How do you organize your time? With social media and other disruptions, how do you block out your day?

As a follow-on to the first question, there’s a discussion on the Solo PR Pros LinkedIn Group listing all of the monitoring tools from the chat – join the group and add your favorites to the list!

And be sure to check out the entire Twitter chat transcript in pdf for sage advice addressing these issues of interest to all independent PR consultants.

Have you encountered any of the situations we addressed? For those unable to participate in the Twitter chat, what would you add to the discussion?

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 the Join Us for the #solopr Chat on Twitter post to find out how!

@LauraScholz: I think it’s all about activating your network. It’s amazing how many people will come to you once you get the word out.

@LuAnnGlowacz: I was lucky to get pulled in by a friend (now client) w/ a PR budget, big dreams, & strong belief in me. Find your advocates.

@rockstarjen: I let everyone know I was going solo. I did my own little PR campaign before making the leap.

@krisTK Important to build connections outside of the workplace while employed-Your network will help you long after the job is gone

@Amynolanapr: My main client is an agency who subs work to me. A great mentor and advocate for me! Good to dev. relationships before going solo

@chatterboxpr: I worked freelance & part-time for 4 years while at an agency before leaving to start my own gig

Download the full #solopr chat transcript in PDF for more excellent advice on this and all the questions addressed this week, which included:

1. “I’m thinking of going solo. Would love to know how you secured clients before leaving your FT job?”
2. Are other #solopr ’s including images in their press releases? If so, how do you format?
3. Do you have a dollar limit for events you attend? How do you decide what to go to?

How did you get your start as a PR consultant? Share your tips 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!