Tales of a PR Enthusiast

When I told people that my first job as a media relations specialist was going to be with a startup company, some of them were a little hesitant. Seeing as there were only three of us working at the company, some thought it might be too risky and I wouldn’t get enough experience for my first big girl job. Fortunately, this was not the case. I gained some of the best PR experience and I gathered tons of knowledge on starting a business and making sure it grows successfully.

From my experience working as the media relations specialist for a startup company, I have developed four key rules to making sure your first PR job with a startup is successful.

1. Be Your Own Teacher
Knowing that I would be the only PR/media person working for the startup was a little overwhelming at first. Of course I had taken my PR classes in college and had PR internships, but I wanted to make sure I was doing my job as best as possible. One of the first things I did as my own teacher was read. I went to Barnes and Noble and purchased two extremely helpful books, “Dirty Little Secrets of Buzz” by David Seaman and “The Publicity Handbook” by David R. Yale with Andrew J. Carothers. Both of these books are excellent guides to helping your business, product or whatever it may be, to grow and build its brand successfully through PR tactics and strategies.



Another way to be your own teacher is to be aware and knowledgeable of all local media outlets, as well as national media outlets, that could benefit your company or product(s). For example, make a local and national media list comprised of print publications (i.e. magazines and newspapers), television and radio outlets. It would also be very beneficial to subscribe to some of the publications from your media list or visit their Web sites to be updated and aware of trending topics and research beat reporters who you could potentially pitch to.

This brings me to the next step of being your own teacher. You want to research the media and get to know them. Like I said, you want to subscribe or visit the media outlets’ Web sites to research reporters and get to know their work. Another way to get to know reporters is by using social media. If they are on Twitter, follow them. This way if they tweet a story idea or if they need interviews or sources for a story that relates to your company, send them a reply saying you can help. It’s kind of like a 140 character pitch. Using other Web sites, such as Help a Reporter Out (HARO), is a fast, simple way to know what reporters around the country need to complete a story. By signing up for free at www.helpareporter.com, you receive three e-mail updates a day with requests from reporters that need interviews or sources for a story. If you see a request that applies to your company, you can e-mail that reporter with the e-mail address they provide in their inquiry.

2. Be willing to ask for guidance
Don’t be afraid to turn to your mentors, old professors or colleagues for advice. You aren’t going to look stupid and no one is going to think any less of you. In fact, people will probably appreciate your efforts in making sure you are doing your job correctly. Asking advice from mentors, former professors or other colleagues will help guide you in the right direction and give you more confidence.

Using social media sites, like Twitter and LinkedIN, for guidance is also a good way to go. People on Twitter and LinkedIN are always looking to help others out. Whether it is giving advice, referring you to other people who can help, or suggesting certain blogs to read, your Twitter followers and LinkedIN connections can offer great advice and guidance.






3. Be responsible
Being responsible should come naturally in any situation, especially when you are working your first job for a startup company. But, sometimes you may feel overwhelmed and lose track of what you need to get done. That is why you need to stay organized, make deadlines, communicate with fellow team members and make sure you are getting your job done correctly. You also need to take initiative and be one step ahead of the game. You don’t want your fellow team members worrying that you aren’t reliable and are unable to complete your work tasks. In taking initiative, you earn trust and your company knows they can always rely on you.

To be responsible you need to be dedicated as well, which means working late nights, sacrificing some of your social life and maybe even relocating. Networking is also another part of dedication. Networking is a job in and of itself. Attending networking events, meetings and planning your own networking events involves a lot of time and dedication that you need to be willing to give.

4. Be passionate and confident
I will keep this one short, sweet and to the point. To be passionate and confident in your first job with a startup company you MUST love what you do, show passion and confidence when talking to others about your company and be optimistic.

By following these four guidelines, you will be on the right track to making your company successful and yourself successful as a PR/media professional.