branding

Go That Extra Mile

Go That Extra Mile

We all need words of encouragement sometimes. I am talking about words that go beyond “Don’t Give Up” or “Believe in Yourself.” I am not knocking them because I share this advice and will continue to do so. Those words are important. But, let me share what a friend told me recently about success. He said, “You have to out work your opponent.” That is powerful. You have to be willing to go that extra mile (sometimes, ten extra miles). You may have to stay up a little later or study a little harder and that’s okay. Do what you have to do to ensure you and your business make it to the top.

PR in Your Back Pocket

I use my blog to motivate and share tips I think will be beneficial. My lessons as a small business owner never cease to amaze me. I continue to grow and learn. It’s important that I maintain my skills and be willing to expand myself, which will benefit my clients. It’s important for any business, especially a new company, to know and understand its brand. It’s also important to know that how the business shares that brand with others is key. So, I have a few public relations (PR) tips that you can keep in your back pocket.

I did research to gather some of the advice. But, many tidbits come from the school and experience of little ole’ me (Angela Spears Communication). You have to build relationships. You’ve probably heard the saying that people buy from those they trust. If they don’t know your brand, they will not use your product. So, don’t be afraid to get to acquainted with people. Those relationships can produce positive results such as partnerships or sponsorships. This leads to another key component of PR which is communication. You have to be able to tell your story effectively. You also have to know when, where and how often to spread the news. You don’t want to over saturate the market.

This next piece of advice is crucial. Sometimes, businesses (or people) don’t think they need public relations consultation until it’s too late. Bottom line, invest in the service while things are going well. Do not wait for a crisis to try to share your story. I hope you can pull some of these tips out of your back pocket when you need them or better yet just call me. (This is a shameless plug… I know! LOL)

Sharing Your Story... In All the Right Places

A day in the life of an entrepreneur is always very busy. Of course, it’s no different for this business lady (my favorite uncle still calls me this). From creating strategic media plans to pitching stories to promote my clients to attending networking events, this all means very little sleep, but I enjoy it! I had the opportunity recently to share tips with other female business owners about marketing and storytelling.

I love a good story. You have to find unique ways to share that story. Storytelling attracted me to the news industry. (Yes, I’m still a news junkie.) That storytelling will help you market your product or client. But first, it’s important to know and understand your brand, which is simply your promise to your customer.

Other key factors are to know how and where to market your story. Sometimes, we go to the wrong places to pitch ideas or sell products. (I have been there and done that!) You don’t want to exclude any potential opportunity to make a profit. But, please know that you have to be strategic in where you market your goods. Your services may not be for everyone and that’s okay. Identify your key area and find creative ways to market your brand and tell that dynamic story!