Solo PR Pro Blog
When communicating with clients and others, whenever possible consider using “we” versus “I.” Beyond being a “royal we,” the truth is we rarely operate completely alone and this language puts us on par with other agencies and companies the client deals with. For...
Do some of your best ideas come while you’re in the car or out in public? Me too! Today, most cellphones come with a voice memo capability, so take advantage of this as a way to capture those unexpected brainstorms without having to search for pens and paper (which,...
Here’s a secret: clients and colleagues can’t see you when you’re working remotely. OK, maybe that’s not a secret, but it’s a good thing to keep in mind to prevent over-sharing. Often, there’s no need to say “I can’t do a call at that time, I’m taking my daughter to...
The word "retainer" has a negative connotation to many clients (it raises fears that they will be billed for services they don't receive). Using alternative wording, such as "minimum monthly budget," "monthly allotment," or "monthly commitment" is often helpful during...
Networking doesn’t stop with potential clients. Put effort into meeting professionals with skills that are complementary to yours, so you can tap them when needed. It’s also beneficial to have a list of Solo PR Pros with expertise in industries you know nothing about...
It's a good idea to observe corporate email etiquette when emailing clients. This includes using a short but descriptive subject line (e.g., “Acme Product Newsletter Copy Attached”) and listing the recipients in order of their rank in the "to" and "cc" lines (for...
Keep a small notebook in your car to record mileage as-you-go for the business-related use of your vehicle. This includes not just visits to a client, but also driving to a networking event or meeting, trips to the office supply store, etc. With the increased IRS...
Always give yourself an internal deadline of (at least) 24 hours earlier than your client’s deadline on a small project, and one week earlier on a large one. You never know when a personal emergency or unforeseen snafu could come up, and this way you’ll be covered....
During the April 11 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros discussed working with friends/family members, recovering from a sudden client loss, involving employees from non-communication departments in social media initiatives, and how to best handle a vendor who...
The following is a guest post from Amanda DiSilvestro, Online Content Editor at Business.com. 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...
During the April 4 #solopr Twitter chat, independent PR pros discussed press release distribution, the Belvedere Vodka Facebook issue, and finding inexpensive graphic design services. In addition to the downloadable transcript in PDF, the following highlights some of...
Both Facebook's Timeline cover image requirements and the Profile image dimensions can present challenges to non-designers. We outline several quick, emergency methods to developing these images in the public post: Need Facebook Timeline Cover or Logo Help? Emergency...