How To Be Okay Sucking At Stuff with Mary Davies [Podcast]

How To Be Okay Sucking At Stuff with Mary Davies [Podcast]

by | Oct 6, 2021 | Podcast, SEO, Social Media

In this week’s episode of the PR Talk Podcast, Amy is joined by Mary Davies as they chat about her Engage Conference presentation, insecurity, expectations, imposter syndrome, setting boundaries, and dealing with negative feedback.

Mary is the President, UX Consultant, and Social Media Manager at Beanstalk Internet Marketing. She began her career as a web designer in 2002 and quickly began to see the importance of SEO and Internet marketing as part of a powerful web presence.

Listen on Spotify
Listen on iTunes
Google Podcasts
Listen on Stitcher

Mary’s Engage Conference Presentation Title

Amy starts by asking Mary how she came up with the “How To Be Okay Sucking At Stuff” title for her presentation at the SEMpdx Engage Conference last summer. The Engage Marketing Conference is a two-day digital marketing conference featuring informative learning tracks and panel sessions designed to provide expert insight into the latest strategies and technological advancements in digital marketing, social media, content, UX/design, creative, advertising, SEO, paid media, and more. Mary had gone to several presentations herself and felt some titles were unclear. So she thought this title would be more straightforward. 

Although, she goes on to admit that it wasn’t entirely her idea. Someone at SEMpdx approached and pitched Mary about doing a presentation on the topic. At first, she was hesitant, but then decided this message needed to be out there. She had fun being able to get away from “technical marketing speak.”

 

Insecurities and Unreal Expectations

Amy asks Mary if she can go over some of the insecurity and expectation topics she touched on in her presentation. Mary explains that people need to remember they will not always succeed at everything they do. Today’s social media-driven world adds a further challenge to one’s insecurities because there can be a lot of negativity online. Mary adds she has even seen it when marketers are “torn to shreds” for even asking a question. 

Because people do not want to look silly in front of their peers, such negativity can make them afraid to ask questions or try something new. She believes that rings true for both newcomers and experienced professionals in the industry.

 

Dealing with Negative Pushback

Amy goes on to ask Mary if anyone has ever been rude to her and if she has any tips for dealing with that. Mary instantly responds, “Yes, they have.” She believes those who want to bring you down, are not the people you want to be working with. Mary then offers up this exceptional advice:

“I think that it’s easy for us to be fearful of people that are going to be really mean or snap at us. But at the same time, I always try to think, what would I do if someone else asked that question? What’s my natural inclination? Is it to lambaste them? Is it to make them feel terrible about it? No,it’s not. I’m actually gonna go the opposite route and try to make sure that they don’t feel bad for that; asking that question, or for whatever misunderstanding was there.”

Mary believes she has been fortunate that most pushback she receives isn’t from clients. She feels grateful to have clients that let her ask questions and take risks. Being an employer herself, she encourages her employees to do the same. Instead of putting people down, she thinks people should use that instance when they receive negative feedback as a learning experience about how they can become clearer.

Amy and Mary discuss much more in this episode, including perfectionism, mental health, managing burnout and finding the right client. Listen now to get these tips and more, from Mary.

Don’t Miss an Episode

You can access more great episodes by subscribing to the PR Talk podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify.

About the guest: Mary Davies

Mary Davies began her Internet career as a web designer in 2002. She founded and operated a successful web design firm by the name of Far-sited Web Design after attending college to hone her design skills. Through years of experience, Mary has honed her skills with a strong focus on user experience, conversions, social media, paid search, and organic SEO. Now, in her role as a principal at Beanstalk Internet Marketing, she focuses her passion on the user journey through all online platforms, whether it be paid search, social media, or onsite.

Connect and follow Mary on social media:

Mary Davies on PR Talk

This episode of PR Talk is brought to you by PRSA Oregon

Throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, PRSA provides members with networking, mentorship, skill building and professional development opportunities – whether you are a new professional fresh out of college or a skilled expert with 20 years in the industry. Check out PRSAoregon.org for more information on how membership can help you grow and connect.

Using Thought Leadership to Drive SEO [Podcast]

Using Thought Leadership to Drive SEO [Podcast]

by | Sep 22, 2021 | Content Marketing, Digital PR, Podcast, Public Relations, SEO, Thought Leadership

In this week’s episode of the PR Talk Podcast, we are featuring Amy’s presentation from the recent Engage Conference. She goes in-depth about how to use thought leadership for search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing. You can watch the presentation below or read all about it in a recent blog post Move Over Traditional Media: Why Thought Leadership is the New Public Relations.

Listen on Spotify
Listen on iTunes
Google Podcasts
Listen on Stitcher

Watch Amy’s presentation on this topic from the 2021 Engage Conference

 

Don’t Miss an Episode

You can access more great episodes by subscribing to the PR Talk podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify.

This episode of PR Talk is brought to you by PRSA Oregon

Throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, PRSA provides members with networking, mentorship, skill building and professional development opportunities – whether you are a new professional fresh out of college or a skilled expert with 20 years in the industry. Check out PRSAoregon.org for more information on how membership can help you grow and connect.

Visibility is Power with Roshanda Pratt [Podcast]

Visibility is Power with Roshanda Pratt [Podcast]

by | Sep 8, 2021 | Podcast, Public Relations, Social Media

In this week’s episode of the PR Talk Podcast, Amy has a conversation with Roshanda Pratt about visibility coaching, differences between working with men and women, confidence, vulnerability, and getting over your imperfections.

Roshanda is a storyteller strategist who is the CEO and Founder of The REP Network and The Rosho Live. In that capacity, Roshanda helps entrepreneurs and organizations boost their marketing return-on-investment (ROI) through brand storytelling and live video.

Listen on Spotify
Listen on iTunes
Google Podcasts
Listen on Stitcher

Visibility is Power

Amy begins by recounting to Roshanda that she had heard her say, “visibility is power.” Roshanda affirms that and says she believes there’s something compelling about showcasing your authentic self. She tells a story as an example: When she began her 20-year career as a  television news reporter she knew she always wanted to be on camera, yet she didn’t like how she looked on screen.

Even now, with so many ways for people to create content, Roshanda points out that many still struggle with showcasing themselves, such as not liking how they look or talk. However, once people learn confidence about how they are seen and heard, it opens up a world of opportunities. That’s why she believes visibility is power. 

 

Visibility is an Inside Job

Amy asks Roshanda why she didn’t like herself on video. Roshanda explains she lacked confidence and didn’t believe people would listen to or see her. She had to go through a personal journey of owning her authentic self. Through that work, she overcame her uncertainties and now she uses her growth experience to take her clients through an exercise to help them gain confidence on camera.

The exercise focuses on helping clients own their voices and appearance. Part of the exercise is helping clients understand that others aren’t focused on the things that you might worry they are. She believes what engages them most is to see the real you.

“I mean, unless I go and get surgery, this face is not going to change. So I had to really do some work in honoring who I am and be comfortable with ‘I am enough.’ And I’m enough for people who want to be in business with me.” It took time, but Roshanda learned that she is more than enough; and now she helps others realize that too.

 

Any Differences Between Working with Men or Women?

Amy also asked Roshanda what differences she sees between men and women who are seeking her help. Roshanda says there is definitely a difference. While women are more willing to open up and be vulnerable, she believes our society still hasn’t created a space where men feel like they can be vulnerable.

She goes on to talk about an experience she had while watching 30 for 30 with her husband. (30 for 30 is a series of documentary films that follow people and events in sports history.) While watching it, she went through a gamut of emotions from crying to laughing. Afterward, she told her husband the people featured in the film were showcasing their vulnerabilities and in sum, become more visible. 30 for 30 represents the kind of storytelling that is approachable for men, which illustrates how it takes different approaches to reach both men and women to help them grow.

Amy and Roshanda discuss much more in the entire episode, including her previous experience as a television news reporter, live vs. recorded video, and why video is essential. Listen now to get Roshanda’s tips about how to create good storytelling videos.

 

Don’t Miss an Episode

You can access more great episodes by subscribing to the PR Talk podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify.

About the guest: Roshanda Pratt, aka The Rosho Live

Roshanda Pratt is a storyteller strategist, live stream expert, speaker, and television news producer of more than a decade. She equips influencers, media personalities, and organizations with the tools needed to tap into the power of their story, amplify their voice, and monetize their story online.

Connect and follow The Rosho Live on social media:

The Rosho Live on PR Talk

This episode of PR Talk is brought to you by PRSA Oregon

Throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, PRSA provides members with networking, mentorship, skill building and professional development opportunities – whether you are a new professional fresh out of college or a skilled expert with 20 years in the industry. Check out PRSAoregon.org for more information on how membership can help you grow and connect.

Brand Journalism with Robert Johnson [Podcast]

Brand Journalism with Robert Johnson [Podcast]

by | Aug 25, 2021 | Podcast, Public Relations

Public Affairs, Podcasts, and Public Health 

In this week’s episode of the PR Talk Podcast, Amy speaks with Robert Johnson about the differences and similarities between public affairs and public relations, pitching policy, how to target an audience, and podcasting.

Robert is the Strategic Communications Officer at Riester Public Affairs and hosts two podcasts: PR Nation and Public Health Review. As the Strategic Communications Officer of Riester Public Affairs, Robert develops strategies to communicate vital information to target audiences and directs successful public relations plans for dozens of clients and organizations.

Listen on Spotify
Listen on iTunes
Google Podcasts
Listen on Stitcher

The Differences Between Public Affairs and PR

Amy asks Robert what he thinks the differences are between the two. Robert responds, saying he thinks the difference between public relations and public affairs is related to the kind of work being done. Public Affairs focuses on government work, lobbyists, lawyers, and so on. He believes the key difference is, in most cases in PR you’re pitching a product, while in public affairs, you’re most likely pitching policy.

In response, Amy asks, “Well, how do you pitch policy?” Robert says that it’s pretty much the same as PR, although turnaround time may be the differentiator in public affairs. He’s conducted many high-stress political campaigns that require high output and where the speed of information dissemination (and what’s being disseminated) can vary widely even in a day.

 

How Do You Reach Decision Makers?

Robert explains that he has stopped relying on outside media channels to get content broadcast or published. He tells Amy at his company he encourages clients to do more of their own storytelling essentially becoming their own newspaper publisher, radio broadcaster, or television journalist. 

“You have to use all these amazing tools, all the amazing talents that are now available to help tell stories and then create your own set of journalism channels/outreach pathways,” he says.

Amy agrees and notes that podcasts are one of those pathways, which his company helps create for clients. Robert adds, they also devote time to creating audio content and they have started offering video podcast work as well. In his experience, he understands how difficult it can be for companies to step into podcasting. That’s one of the motivations for the services his company offers — to help companies use tools like podcasting to share their news.

 

How Do You Get Your Audience to Review, Listen, or Read Your Blogs?

Robert says there are many different ways to start building a community around your content. You can target news media, use social media, use geo-targeting, and produce targeted lists. But, ultimately he explains, the best way to build community is to create a good product, have patience, and continue nurturing a relationship with your audience. He concludes, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to it; it mostly depends on how much work you’re willing to do and how patient you can be.

Amy and Robert talk about much more in the whole episode, including media channels to pitch, his experience as a press secretary, and his work in public health. Listen now to also hear about Amy’s affinity for the TV show Mad Men!

 

Don’t Miss an Episode

You can access more great episodes by subscribing to the PR Talk podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify.

About the guest: Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson has reported, managed, or campaigned on issues of all sizes, working with reporters covering the world as well as local communities. He ​​practices, studies, teaches, podcasts, and blogs about public relations and communications, drawing on more than 40 years of experience in public relations, political communications and campaign management, government crisis and public affairs, and broadcast and wire service journalism.

Connect and follow Robert on social media:

Robert Johnson on PR Talk

This episode of PR Talk is brought to you by PRSA Oregon

Throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, PRSA provides members with networking, mentorship, skill building and professional development opportunities – whether you are a new professional fresh out of college or a skilled expert with 20 years in the industry. Check out PRSAoregon.org for more information on how membership can help you grow and connect.

Talking Digital PR with Domenica D’Ottavio [Podcast]

Talking Digital PR with Domenica D’Ottavio [Podcast]

by | Aug 11, 2021 | Digital PR, Podcast, Public Relations

In this week’s episode of the PR Talk Podcast, Amy speaks with Domenica D’Ottavio about why you should incorporate data into your content, online mentions, tips on how to pitch, and how digital PR, link building, and content intertwine.

Domenica is a content marketer and digital PR manager at Fractl. During her nearly six years at the agency, she has spearheaded dozens of top-of-the-line industry research studies to glean new insights into content, social media, marketing tactics, and digital PR strategies.

Listen on Spotify
Listen on iTunes
Google Podcasts
Listen on Stitcher

The Link Between Digital PR, Link Building, and Content.

As you may know, getting links back to your site helps improve your Google search page rankings. Domenica talks about the more diverse and relevant links to that page will make your site rank higher and make it easier for people to find you. Domenica also believes that digital PR is the best way to build links, which is done by creating data-driven content and sharing that with journalists.

 

Online Mentions vs. Links

Amy tells Domenica that she has heard mentions are perhaps just as good or better than getting a link back to your website. Domenica says she believes that having a link is always going to be beneficial. She describes how many sites use “nofollow” link attribute (where they have links on their site, but they tell Google not to use/follow it). Even though they do this, she believes that the link still has tremendous value.

 

Incorporating Data and Design Elements Into Your Content

Domenica shared a few ways to gather the correct data for your content. She recommends using clients’ data they have obtained through their services or social media. And, she notes, you can also search for readily available government or public data. If you find some interesting data, use it to craft an angle/story around it and share it with journalists who cover that specific industry. There is another way to get data, which is to create your own. Domenica does this by creating surveys with various survey tools like SurveyMonkey. 

Domenica understands that data visualization is beneficial because it helps the reader quickly understand what the story is. Moreover, she points out that PR people highly outnumber journalists; and we are constantly sending them pitches. When you create an infographic or data visualization that easily explains your study, that helps journalists make a quicker decision. Then, if they liked your graphic, chances are they’d even include it in their story.

 

How do you pitch?

Domenica shares some of her findings from a study Fractl did in 2019, where they surveyed 500 journalists from The New York Times, BuzzFeed, Mashable, and more.

  1. Try not to send pitches that are too lengthy. 
    • 58% said the ideal length for a pitch was 100-200 words.
  2. 60% of journalists prefer one follow-up, and 25% prefer zero follow-ups.
  3. When is it acceptable to follow up? 
    • 57% said 3-7 days, and 25% said 1-2 days. 

Domenica says to wait for at least two, maybe three days, to contact them again, and she also suggests sending a follow-up that isn’t too demanding and perhaps even shares new information. 

Amy and Domenica go more in-depth on the differences between digital and traditional PR. They also talk about a practice called “Germ Swabs.” What are Germ Swabs? Find out by listening to the full podcast!

Don’t Miss an Episode

You can access more great episodes by subscribing to the PR Talk podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify.

About the guest: Domenica D’Ottavio

Domenica D’Ottavio is a content marketer and digital PR manager at Fractl. She has secured hundreds of top-tier placements for clients throughout her career at publishers like The New York Times, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Mashable, CNN, and TIME. Her advice and findings are also available on Moz, Search Engine Journal, Marketing Land, Marketing Profs, PR Daily, Content Marketing Institute, and more.

Connect and follow Domenica on social media:

Domenic D'Ottavio on PR Talk

This episode of PR Talk is brought to you by PRSA Oregon

Throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, PRSA provides members with networking, mentorship, skill building and professional development opportunities – whether you are a new professional fresh out of college or a skilled expert with 20 years in the industry. Check out PRSAoregon.org for more information on how membership can help you grow and connect.

Pitching TV Coverage Via Satellite with Doug Simon [Podcast]

Pitching TV Coverage Via Satellite with Doug Simon [Podcast]

by | Jul 28, 2021 | Podcast, Public Relations

In this episode of the PR Talk Podcast, host Amy Rosenberg speaks with Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, an influencer marketing firm in New York that specializes in helping clients obtain valuable coverage on TV news for 35 years.

During their conversation, Amy and Doug discuss the mechanics of satellite media tours and how they’ve become even more effective as the pandemic has limited in-person interviews. Doug also shares a few tips for PR professionals interested in offering their own video press release services.

Listen on Spotify
Listen on iTunes
Google Podcasts
Listen on Stitcher

What Happened to Video News Releases?

D S Simon Media first made its name producing video news releases, which were essentially pre-packaged stories TV stations would run without editing. As Doug explains it, this practice became very controversial in the early 2000s for political reasons. As a result, TV news became reticent about using video produced outside the station. D S Simon Media had already developed satellite media tours to connect with local TV and now uses it as their primary method of media outreach.

 

Satellite Video Tours are Efficient & Effective

Every PR pro knows that TV coverage gets harder to obtain with each passing year. That’s what makes D S Simon Media’s approach to pitching TV so interesting. When a client reaches out for help, Doug first determines whether their story is interesting and if they have a spokesperson available for interviews. Then, Doug’s in-house booking team reaches out to TV stations with a crafted, client-approved pitch along with the tour date and available five or 10-minute interview slots.

Over five hours, Doug’s team can facilitate 25-30 remote interviews. Media members are free to ask whatever questions they want. However, as part of the process, D S Simon Media provides stations with a confirmation document containing a suggested lead-in and questions. Because tv reporters are so often pressed for time, and because the confirmation documents are prepared in a way that flows and makes sense, Doug says that 85-90% of reporters will ask the provided questions.

During the interview, the TV station producers connect with a D S Simon producer who can suggest and run related b-roll footage. A D S Simon media advisor also participates in every satellite video tour to communicate with reporters and provide feedback to the client in-between interviews.

 

COVID Made Satellite Tours Even More Valuable

Like many people, Doug was concerned about how his business would survive during the pandemic. The Monday after the NBA’s shutdown announcement in March 2020, David brought a team of engineers to rebuild his studio to accommodate remote video interviews. 

This move was critical. During the pandemic, nobody was going into stations for interviews. To make matters worse, connecting to TV stations from a studio with an in-person crew wasn’t safe either. Instead, Doug’s team used Zoom to connect their clients directly with TV stations for all their interviews. Doug believes this increased the authenticity of the interviews and allowed his team to access higher-level people because they didn’t have to go anywhere to get on TV.

 

Doug’s Tips for Using Video Effectively

Of course, Amy couldn’t resist asking Doug for a few tips on using video effectively. He reminded listeners that they’re telling a story. So ask yourself, am I delivering something I can pitch effectively, and will it provide value to my client when it’s on the air? Also, you’ll likely have more than three minutes for your video, which means you can send more than one message. So, try framing your story around the problem-solution format. Doug also recommends using an internal spokesperson whenever possible because that will make your stories more authentic.

There’s More from Doug Simon

Amy and Doug covered so much more during their conversation, including co-op media tours, how his firm can guarantee TV coverage and why he thinks every PR pro must have their own professional equipment for interviews, so make sure to tune in to the entire episode. 

While you’re at it, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the PR Talk podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify.

About the guest: Doug Simon

Doug Simon is the CEO of D S Simon Media, an award-winning Influencer Marketing firm that creates and distributes video to help turn an organization’s experts into influencers. Doug has appeared on CNN, Fox News Channel, Fox Business, NPR, PBS and Reuters regarding topical communications and marketing news. He has also provided commentary for The Huffington Post and USA Today. You can connect with Doug at [email protected].

Connect and follow Doug on social media:

Doug Simon on PR Talk

This episode of PR Talk is brought to you by PRSA Oregon

Throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, PRSA provides members with networking, mentorship, skill building and professional development opportunities – whether you are a new professional fresh out of college or a skilled expert with 20 years in the industry. Check out PRSAoregon.org for more information on how membership can help you grow and connect.