It’s the word that most people hear and instantly cringe at… ”Networking.” We hate to tell you, but throughout all of your f*%$ ups on the way to being a PR pro, the most important thing you do will be networking.
Before you assume that we’re talking about going to a fancy convention in high heels with a bunch of white-collar men, hear us out. In this day and age, a lot of your connections will be made digitally. It’s time to dig up the username and password for the Linkedin account that your college professor forced you to make. We know Linkedin is no secret in the professional world, but how many of us actually use it the right way?
None of this advice will work if you’re not strategic. I mean this is public relations after all. Instead of just requesting every single page that is suggested to you and closing your laptop, pause! Build your network with people who are in the same field as you and may actually like the content you post. We’re not telling you to be close-minded, but if you’re a budding publicist, why are you requesting 20 different chemical engineers that have three mutual connections? We’ll use our expertise to say they probably won’t care about your latest press release or social media campaign… So start connecting with more people in your field.
ENGAGE! Posting isn’t just for CEOs and big company pages. It doesn’t matter how well-seasoned you are, or unseasoned for that matter. If you have a piece of work you’re proud of, post it to Linkedin! You never know who will see your work and want to take a chance on you or give you advice.
You’re not a failure just because you haven’t become BFFS with the CEO of a major company. Don’t underestimate Linkedin Groups. Groups like Public Relations and Communications Professionals will connect you with other PR pros and show you relevant posts. We’ll tell you a secret.. If you're a member of the same group as another user, LinkedIn allows you to send up to 15 free personal messages to your group members each month… don’t overlook this one. PR is all about building connections, right?
Market yourself like you would with your own client. Your success as a professional goes right along with your client's success.
Too shy? Our team at Media Maison is bold enough to give you that push. Let’s get in touch.