BSO Podcast S2, E3 – The Power in Leveraging Public Relations with Heather Hawkins

by | May 14, 2019 | Podcast | 0 comments

leveraging public relations with heather hawkins

Today, I’m chatting with Heather Hawkins of Elevation Strategy, a PR agency that focuses on solopreneurs and personal brands. I’ll admit, I was totally not up to speed with how much momentum and reach is available to us solopreneurs through PR and traditional media outlets. In the world of social and building your own platforms, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that there is still a lot of power in utilizing those existing outlets and networks to grow your business in the way you want to. 

 

During our conversation, Heather busts some myths around the difficulty of PR, she shares her simple system for getting up and running and explains the power in leveraging public relations for developing a future proof brand. 

 

 

 

“Own your snowball.”

Some things we talk about in this episode:

 

  • Using strategic thinking
  • Input and the power of media coverage
  • By-lined content vs earned visibility space
  • Looking at media thoughtfully
  • Make outreach with natural conversation
  • Press releases are a crappy way to tell a story
  • Reach out to reporters with a direct email or on social media

 

Key takeaways:

 

  • Developing relationships for premium placement, “halo of endorsement”
  • Biggest hurdle people run into with PR: over PR it, over complicate it
  • A simple email is far more effective than a press release
  • If you can have a dinner party conversation, you can reach out to media
  • Create structure around your work and play

 

Tips for finding white space:

 

  • Wake up early

  • Meditate

  • Don’t open email until your kids wake up

    • Have your time then allow others in

  • Block out times for what you want to do every day

  • Ground yourself before you jump into work

 

Questions for Heather:

 

Q: What are you reading?

The Daily Stoic

I Lost My Tooth!

 

Q: What’s your superpower?

Fake: Ability to hear annoying mouth sounds without wanting to choke someone

Real: Clear sight for other people’s situations

 

Q: What’s an exciting mission you/your team/your family on now?

Empower people and reverse myths that are being propagated around individuals doing their own PR.

 

Helpful links mentioned:

 

Elevation Strategy

Help A Reporter

 

 

BONUS: Tips for Leveraging Public Relations 

 

  1. Who are you? What do you stand for? What problems does your target audience have?
  2. What media do you see yourself in?
    • Watch, listen, & engage
    • Understand what these outlets care about

 

 

Thank you so much for tuning in to the BrainSpace Optimized Podcast! Want more?

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