John O'Dwyer’s Post

I have 1 thing to say to PR professionals: I seriously respect you 🤝 🫡 I’ve had 70+ convos w/ folks in PR over the last month & I know one thing to be true - They work so fkn hard. There is so much effort that goes in, so much time, so much attention to detail to make sure everything is perfect. For example: they build a media list (I.e a hit list of outlets that would provide ideal coverage for a client) - here is how this process can look: 1-2 hrs brainstorming 🧠 2-5 hours searching for specific outlets 🔎 3-4 hours reviewing recent publications from said outlets 1-4 hours securing relevant contact info ℹ️ … This is all even before the pitch drafting process occurs. Hug your PR friends today :)

The media landscape is changing and agency teams need to learn how to adapt to strategically support clients in light of these shifts. Check out the latest edition of Words From #PR Execs: Walker Sands’ Annie Gudorf on the shifting earned media landscape https://bit.ly/3WIs2Eb

How a Coffee House Encounter Transformed My PR Pitch... During a business trip, I had a realization about the essence of PR. I was preparing to pitch a comprehensive PR strategy to a high-profile tech client. Stopping by a quaint coffee shop, I chatted the barista, who had a knack for making every customer feel special. He remembered people’s names and orders, making them feel valued. Inspired by his approach, I decided to incorporate this into my pitch. Instead of just presenting strategies and metrics, I shared his story. I explained how his personal touch and genuine interest transformed a simple transaction into a memorable experience. I emphasized that at Equations PR, we aim to build personal connections and tell authentic stories that resonate with people. The client’s CEO, who had been skeptical, suddenly leaned forward and said, “That’s exactly what we need.” We secured the account, not just because of our strategies, but because we understood the power of personal touch and storytelling in PR. This experience reinforced my belief that the heart of PR lies in creating genuine connections and making people feel valued.  #PersonalTouch #PublicRelations #PR

Some PR people hate when other PR pros brag about their relationships, citing “it’s the story that wins, not the people you know.” I don’t disagree. And I would never send a reporter a pitch that either a) didn’t fit their beat or b) was a nothing burger. But… Relationships matter. 🤝 There’s established trust. 🗣️ You can get feedback faster. 🧐 They’re willing to help you rethink or reshape a story. 🏃🏼♀️ They’re willing to go the extra mile and work with you if there’s potential or make connections to others on their editorial team. Every Comms team I’ve led, I’ve been adamant about having direct relationships with press. I established and led a virtual “Coffee with Comms” initiative throughout the pandemic, which doubled our coverage and broke us into new outlets we had never been featured in before. Ask each team member - “name three reporters you could text today to get real-time feedback on a pitch.” Don’t have it? Hone in on how much they’re relying on the agency and set some KPIs to help them form those critical relationships. The brand - and their personal brand - will benefit tenfold. #media #press #PR #comms #agency

During our recent webinar with PR coach Michael SMART PR on the art of following, we received more than 💯 questions from our live attendees! Check out our blog post for the 10 most upvoted questions along with Michael’s answers. A link to the full webinar recording is also included! https://lnkd.in/egbP9P4i #pitching #publicrelations #prprofessionals #pitchfollowup #mediarelations

Disruption means big changes, right? It means shifting your perspective on how you've done things in your business and how you might consider doing them in new ways. So, what's that actually mean for folks in PR, customers, clients, and the whole business scene? This article from Prowly highlights "The New Way of Doing Public Relations" https://lnkd.in/gJDG556x #VirtualPressRoom #DisruptivePR #StandingOutOnline

Anyone who's ever worked for a PR firm has heard some ill-informed executive say, "Why are we paying an agency? We can do it ourselves." 🤦♂️ Man, PR really gets the short shrift, doesn't it? It's so easy a monkey could do it. 🐒 If that were true, we'd all be out of business. It just isn't that easy, Mr. Executive. But people who are great at it can make it seem easy from the outside. When you put your foot in your mouth and it goes viral, the last thing you want is to do it yourself. And when you have a big announcement and you want that hit in the Wall Street Journal (you all want that; we want it, too!), it's seasoned PR pros who will understand what to pitch, how to pitch it, and who to pitch it to. We can find a home for the what if we have a good why. Just don't trip over a dollar to pick up a dime. There's plenty you can pile on to your team, but adding PR to their plates is always a bad idea.

This piece on Comms Business features our director and co-founder Xanthe Vaughan Williams. In it, she discusses the importance of using PR to communicate value in a competitive market, as well as outlining some steps that businesses can take to get the most out of their PR efforts. You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/enyh8SvB

An interesting recap of the PR basics from Xanthe Vaughan Williams. As a journalist I default to an idea that PR = media relations and winning ink for the client. But that diminishes the rest of the equation. When the all the elements are put together, and done correctly, it's a formidable offering. Of course doing the job correctly is easier said than done!

“PR drives opportunity…” At the top of 2024 we were faced with a viral tweet posing the question yet again: Is PR a scam? As a publicist and learner of the industry for 8+ years and counting (SMTPR)… its disheartening to hear these narratives about a field that myself and dear mentors/friends have worked tirelessly to help develop, and push forward in our communities. Telling stories and doing our part to impact culture while amplifying purposeful brands. So when Samantha E. McCoy suggested that her, Candice Nicole 🏆 Public Relations Expert, Regan Farley and I converse on the topic via IG Live, I didn’t hesitate to say yes! By the end of our 2-hr convo… it was quite clear to me the need to affirm our value as publicists amongst each other and our allies (even if some are just catching up). In conclusion, the return on PR for brands is access to opportunities… turning ideas into a multiplicity of results. When this is understood and respected, both publicists and businesses can work transparently with each other in mutually beneficial ways. What are your thoughts? Catch the replay and comment below: https://lnkd.in/eX52wfsH