Pitching PR

Shannon Lee Simmons is a CFP (Certified Financial Planner), CIM (Chartered Investment Manager, media personality, and founder of the New School of Finance.

As the Author of Worry-Free Money, Shannon is considered a trailblazer in the Canadian financial planning industry. Today, we discuss the financial aspect of being a PR freelancer and/or agency owner. Tune in to hear her great insights!

Topics:

• The New School of Finance
• How to financially plan for running your own business
• Opportunities for professional development
• How to finance professional development
• Pros and cons of hourly and flat rates
• The importance of keeping and organizing receipts
• How to bill appropriately
• Understanding business taxes
• The big mistake all freelancers make

This podcast is courtesy of Pitch Graphic Design, a Toronto based firm, whose goal is to provide quality graphic designs for Public Relations. If you would like to get in touch with Pitch, please fill out the contact form.

Resources:

New School of Finance

Shannon's Website

Worry-Free Money

Pitch Graphic Design on Instagram

Quotes:

"As a corporation, you get to choose how much money comes out of the corporation to be your personal income." -Shannon Lee Simmons

"Just making sure that you're up-to-date on what the government allows you to write off...it can be a bit sticky." -Shannon Lee Simmons

"The lack of tracking expenses and then not having enough money put aside for taxes. It is something that can kill your business." - Shannon Lee Simmons

In this episode, we'll be chatting with Megan Driscoll, CEO of Evolve MKD in New York City.

Megan (who founded Evolve MKD) was named one of PR Week's 40 Under 40 and has received over ten industry award-wins, including Female Entrepreneur of the Year – the agency is known for having a passionate staff and positive work environment.

Tune in to hear our discussion about creating this positive environment and how Megan intends to perpetuate this atmosphere.

Topics:

• What sets Evolve MKD apart
• Why internal culture is so important
• Creating a positive work environment
• How to measure the intangibles
• Mentoring

This podcast is courtesy of Pitch Graphic Design, a Toronto based design firm that works exclusively with PR Agencies. If you would like to get in touch with Pitch, please fill out the contact form.

Resources:

Evolve MKD

Evolve MKD on Facebook

Evolve MKD on Instagram

Evolve MKD on LinkedIn

Leslie has been on maternity leave for a year. Now, she is back working full time and has some knowledge to share with other working mothers. Tune in to hear Leslie's insights into managing a business while on maternity leave.

Topics:

• Setting boundaries for yourself
• Recognizing that something has to give
• Remaining flexible
• Adjusting plans as necessary
• The importance of delegation

This podcast is courtesy of Pitch Graphic Design, a Toronto based firm, whose goal is to provide quality graphic designs for Public Relations. If you would like to get in touch with Pitch, please fill out the contact form.

Resources:

Pitch Graphic Design on Instagram

Quotes:

"Sometimes boundary setting doesn't come easy...it can be as simple as saying 'no' to new projects or setting office hours." -Leslie Luce

"When we moved to a more structured sleep schedule, the windows I could work were limited to two hours and only over nap time." -Leslie Luce

"Don't be afraid to ask for help; it is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of greater self-awareness." -Leslie Luce

On this episode of Pitching PR, I get the opportunity to speak with Crosby Noricks, the founder and director of PR Couture. We discuss ways in which PR professionals can boost their reputation. Specifically, we talk about branding and raising your profile by applying to PR awards.

Growing up, Crosby loved fashion and wanted to find a way to incorporate that into her career. She found that PR was the best way to pursue her interests and particularly enjoyed creating business strategies. Her successful digital and traditional marketing track record include leading both in-house and large agency teams where she got to spearhead the social and digital footprint for brands like Charlotte Russe, Creative Nail Design (CND) and Sutter Home. She created PR Couture, a platform where she could pursue her specific interest, which was and is Fashion PR. Join us as she describes her professional journey and how PR Couture has boosted her professional profile.

Topics:

• Thinking about/pursuing long-term career goals
• Personal branding online and offline
• How to build your professional reputation
• Thinking of reputation building as delivering value
• Launching the Bespoke Communication Awards and why awards play a role in branding
• Tips for streamlining the application process for awards
• Repurposing content to your advantage
• Elevating your reputation through generosity

Resources:

PR Couture

PR Couture email

Bespoke Communication Awards

Crosby Noricks' Website

PR Couture on Instagram

[email protected]

On Today's episode, I discuss the effects of a cluttered life with Ivanka Siolkowsky. We dive into the emotional and professional aspects of clutter and how to turn things around.

Ivanka Siolkowsky was once an extremely organized teacher who turned her passion into a professional organizing business. Her enthusiasm was driven by reading Marie Kondo's book and instituting the KonMarie method on her life. She now helps others cut down on clutter and organize their lives.

Topics:

• Marie Kondo and her KonMari method or organization
• Organizing by category instead of by room
• Looking critically at our work wardrobes
• Changing the way you fold to increase space
• Storing seasonal or weight-related clothing items
• The benefit of implementing the KonMari method to your work space/office
• Using the KonMari method when packing

This podcast is courtesy of Pitch Graphic Design, a Toronto based firm, whose goal is to provide quality graphic designs for Public Relations. If you would like to get in touch with Pitch, please fill out the contact form.

Resources and Links:

Ivanka's Tidy Moose Website

Tidy Moose Facebook

Tidy Moose Instagram @tidymoose

Tidy Moose YouTube

The Original KonMari Site

Quotes:

"[Clutter] has a…negative emotional effect on you." -Ivanka Siolkowsky

"You have a system that works for you and then things flow a little bit easier." -Ivanka Siolkowsky

"Order it in order of priority and importance." -Ivanka Siolkowsky

On today's podcast, I had the opportunity to speak with Nicole Murphy, an email marketing guru and fellow podcaster. We discuss the unknown benefits and misconceptions about email marketing, how to use email marketing to grow your agency and how to come back from email typos and mistakes.

Nicole has an extensive background in ecommerce and online marketing and now specializes in email marketing at Freshbooks and in her own marketing consultancy, Learn to Love Email. Having spent so much time working in this specific type of marketing, Nicole has a great breadth of knowledge to share with us.

Topics:

• E-mail is old, but not outdated
• Misconceptions about email marketing
• Avoiding being "spammy"
• Ways to use the data to improve your clients' content
• Strategies for content development
• Understanding what makes your business or your clients' business unique
• Finding your "written voice"
• The terror of email mishaps
• Steps for dealing with email marketing mistakes
• Emerging email marketing trends

This podcast is courtesy of Pitch Graphic Design, a Toronto based firm, whose goal is to provide quality graphic designs for Public Relations. If you would like to get in touch with Pitch, please fill out the contact form.

Resources and Links:

Learn to Love Email

Learn to Love Email Podcast

Learn to Love Email Blog

Nicole on Instagram

Freshbooks

Quotes:

"The second you hit that send button, you immediately start getting real time reporting…" -Nicole Murphy

"When you're developing a content strategy for your email marketing, the first step is to really understand what it is that makes you different." -Nicole Murphy

Today, I sit down with Ariel Rule, the blogger and owner of freelancefreedomfighter.com, in order to discuss business-related anxiety. Anxiety is a hefty topic and can greatly impact your agency or freelance business, so we go over the possible triggers and potential solutions in a fairly light-hearted and straightforward manner.

Besides being the blogger and owner of Freelancefreedomfighter.com, Ariel is also a creative entrepreneur and content marketing expert. She got her start in web design, which eventually led her to discover her love of writing. She now spends a lot of her time doing content marketing for other businesses.

Topics:

• The root of freelancer anxiety
• Why "faking it" isn't a good idea
• Appreciating your own capabilities
• Potential ways to combat anxiety
• Focusing on self-care
• The importance of community

This podcast is courtesy of Pitch Graphic Design, a Toronto based firm, whose goal is to provide quality graphic designs for Public Relations. If you would like to get in touch with Pitch, please fill out the contact form.

Resources and Links:

Freelance Freedom Fighter

Mommapreneur Mastermind Group

Ariel on Twitter

Ariel on Instagram

Today, I speak with Kim Dawson, who, among many things, is a business strategist and founder of K. Dawson Company. We discuss the ways in which hiring and investing in your PR agency and business can create growth, not just be a reaction to growth.

Kim received her degree in Accounting and pursued a career as a CPA, before realizing her passion for health and wellness. Upon getting her Master's in Nutrition, Kim practiced as a nutritionist. Shortly thereafter, she opened K. Dawson Company, a business designed to help other women entrepreneurs achieve their goals.

Topics:

• The success tipping point
• Investing in your agency and business rather than saving
• Why hiring will make you money, not cost you money
• Methods for hiring the right team
• Outsourcing social media
• Teaming up with other PR professionals when funds are low
• Managing your financial resources
• The importance of Graphic Design
• Creating office culture

This podcast is courtesy of Pitch Graphic Design, a Toronto based firm, whose goal is to provide quality graphic designs for Public Relations. If you would like to get in touch with Pitch, please fill out the contact form.

Resources and Links:

K.Dawson Company

Kim on Twitter

Kim on Facebook

Pitching PR Mainpage

Pitch Graphic Design on Instagram

Quotes:

"You actually make more money when you hire." -Kim Dawson

"As you grow, you have to grow your efforts to delegate…" -Kim Dawson

On today's podcast, I have the opportunity to speak with Riana Topan, who is a communications fellow at the Aga Khan Foundation in Uganda. We discuss the benefits of setting career goals at the start of a new year and how to turn these goals into action.

Riana graduated with an arts degree, which she later spun into a career in communications. She uses her expertise as someone who successfully changed her career path to offer great insight into how to set short and long-term career goals.

Topics:

• Why we set goals in the New Year

• How to evaluate your current job status

• Envisioning your ideal future

• Making plans to achieve your career goals

• Putting plans into action

• Evaluating your progress

• Long-term vs. short-term planning

• What is a "medium-term" goals and why are they so important

• Building a timeline for each set of goals

This podcast is courtesy of Pitch Graphic Design, a Toronto based firm, whose goal is to provide quality graphic designs for Public Relations. If you would like to get in touch with Pitch, please fill out the contact form.

Links and Resources:

Riana on LinkedIn

Pitching PR Mainpage

Pitch Graphic Design on Instagram

Quotes:

"Though the holidays are inevitably busy, this season is a great time to pause and reflect on all you've done in the past twelve months." –Riana Topan

"More often than not, setting a career plan like this will extend well beyond the next calendar year." –Riana Topan

"You'll be much better off if you're able to adapt to challenges as they arise and take advantage of new opportunities that come your way…" –Riana Topan

Today's podcast is the first in a two-part series about the key learnings from professionals who have started their own agencies. I sit down with three of the five small business owners and get into what they've learned, the importance of these discoveries, and how others can implement these ideas.

Aly Tsourounis, the first interviewee, started Hank PR over a year ago and specializes in consumer PR. She has also worked in PR for nine years. I also speak with Erin Richard of Hype PR, which she calls a "virtual agency"; Erin employs one full time worker and relies on a team of freelance employees. Finally, I talk to Laurie Weir of Next PR, which is in its infancy, as it was started less than a year ago. Laurie worked at various agencies for fourteen years before deciding she wanted to strike out on her own. Join me as I delve into the successes and pitfalls of running your own PR agency with these engaging women.

Topics:

• Making connections
• Learning when to say, "No"
• Having a can-do attitude
• Finding your niche
• Employing freelancers to build up your small business
• "Proceeding with caution" when your name is on the line
• Remembering to listen
• Tracking your time
• Finding a trustworthy accountant who understands small business
• Operating with transparency
• Defining your brand

This podcast is courtesy of Pitch Graphic Design, a Toronto based firm, whose goal is to provide quality graphic designs for Public Relations. If you would like to get in touch with Pitch, please fill out the contact form.

Links and Resources:

PR Couture Website

Hank PR Website

Hype PR Website

Next PR Instagram

Next PR Twitter

The East Room

Pitching PR Mainpage

Pitch Graphic Design on Instagram

Quotes:

"Connections are everything. For those of us that work in PR…it's our bread and butter." -Aly Tsourounis

"When you become your own business owner, you can also get bogged down in the strategic growth of your business…so it is important to remember to stay on the front lines." -Leslie Luce

"I found it really, really beneficial to invest up front in a really good designer." -Laurie Weir