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 business.

5 solo PR pros share their No. 1 business goal for 2022

We asked our panel of solo PR pros to share one of their business goals for the year ahead.

1. Melissa Vela-Williamson, MVW Communications

My No. 1 business goal for 2022 is to publish my public relations book! This public relations book will focus on helping students and journalists of color enter the field successfully.

The book is about the essentials new or aspiring PR pros of color need to know to succeed in public relations from their first day on the job. Readers will learn why the PR industry is a great fit for all types of people, what the industry best practices are today, and hard lessons of what not to do that will bridge them over the gap from a classroom or Hollywood understanding of PR to real-world successful practice.  

My team at MVW Communications will share updates about my book writing journey along the way. It’s a mountain to climb, but the words are coming swiftly and I fit writing in through synergistic ways each day. Even while walking my dog (thank you talk-to-text)! Anyone who is or has a client interested in writing a nonfiction book can contact me to learn all about my writing program.

2. Michael Ares, MDA Corporate Marketing, LLC

​​My primary business goal for 2020 is to find the right balance of client size and number. Truth be told, I’d rather have a small number of big clients vs. a wide variety of smaller clients. It isn’t that I don’t like variety — I absolutely do. But the overhead of dealing with multiple small clients is hard to justify from a business management standpoint.

That said, these personal and business preferences put me in an arguably tenuous position, stability-wise. With more than 80% of monthly billings coming from two clients and the rest made up of small, one-off projects, I recognize that if one — or both, God forbid — of those clients go away, I’d be scrambling.

3. Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, Fellow PRSA, Falcon Valley Group

In 2022, focusing on improving the quality of my business, not the quantity is my top business goal. Call it the Solo version of The Great Resignation. 

It's taken me two decades in business to recognize it's not to my benefit to fill my client pipeline at the expense of building in time to breathe. It's time to be more selective about working with clients who truly value my skills and counsel. 

Solos, we have earned this.

4. Sandra Fernandez, Big Oak Tree Media

One of the biggest goals for my business in 2022 is to create a marketing funnel and increase my client leads. This is something we’ve helped do for our clients — using storytelling and content to expand awareness of a business and bring in new prospects. 

As the pandemic continues and the way we connect with others remains mostly virtual, I must treat myself like a client and create a strategic approach to this essential part of my business. I look forward to meeting this challenge in the new year. 

5. Marcia Gomez, Blank Canvas Communications

My number one priority for 2022 is business development and growth. 

I am refocusing my attention on serving clients in the arts, food and education sectors as I have found those areas to be my sweet spot. 

I also plan to continue to serve as a consultant for boutique firms assisting them with multicultural clients, community partnerships and overall strategy development. Plans are in place and 2022 is the year to execute on those plans.

We want to hear from you! Share your 2022 business goal with us. Leave your response in the comments section below or tag us on social media using #solopr.