Please note this transcript was generated by AI so apologies for any mistakes!

Pippa Goulden (00:02)
Hello and welcome back to another episode of PR Made Simple. So in last week's episode, I talked about the mindset shifts that had really helped me to nail my PR and get me out there and get me pitching for things that scared me. Today, I'm focusing on the habits and the physical things that I've incorporated into my schedule.

to make sure that I'm actually doing the PR. So I've worked on the mindset, but I've also worked on making sure that it is really part of my schedule and it's something that I'm incorporating into my work routine ongoing and this is how I do it. So the first thing I've done and I've really changed this since I started my business is that I prioritize it, I diarise it.

I make sure that it happens in my week and that it doesn't fall down the to-do list and get taken over by things that are, in inverted commas, more urgent or, you know, more needed to be done in that moment. Because I know, and I've seen the impact by me taking my foot off the pedal when it comes to my PR, and so for me, as a long-term business strategy, it's really important that I remain consistent.

So I block out time weekly to do my PR within the business. I also in my DIY PR membership have a monthly accountability session. So I do use that session as well to get my PR done. Obviously I'm answering questions that members might have and they are my priority with that, but I usually have actually quite a good chunk of time in that hour and a half where I can prioritize my own PR as well.

But also something that I've really noticed making a difference is that rather than doing big chunks of time every so often, actually turning it into a habit, a daily habit has made a real difference for me as well. So I try and do something every day. It doesn't always happen, but it does actually happen most days that I will do something, whether it's reaching out to somebody for pitching myself for their podcast.

or it's sending emails to events companies, or it's actually starting to plan the awards that I might want to enter this year, that kind of thing. So I'm making sure that daily I am incrementally making a difference to my PR. And I've noticed that that from a momentum perspective makes a massive difference. The second thing that I do, and I have done this from the beginning because it's kind of been ingrained in me through, you know, agency life and...

working on brands my whole career, but I set myself targets and that has not only helped me to get in the right mindset and push myself out of my comfort zone, it really helps me to keep me accountable. So I know realistically what I want to achieve. I break mine down into quarters and I know that I want to have a certain number of speaking opportunities a quarter. I know for me they are the key strategic thing.

that's going to shift the dial for my business. So that might be a podcast interview, it might be me speaking on a stage, it might be me doing guest sessions and other people's memberships. Looking for speaking opportunities is my priority.

And underneath that, I also then have targets for other PR opportunities, whether that's collaborations with other business owners or brands, or whether it's me writing an article for a magazine, for a newspaper, or for an online site, or for other brands as well. But setting myself those targets and keeping checking in on how I'm doing with those targets really helps me to keep the momentum going in my business.

The third thing I do is I have my PR brain on all the time. I am constantly looking for opportunities for myself and for my clients too, of course, but for myself. So I pick up magazines and papers that I might see in a station or a new publication that I spot. will spend the time doing the research. I keep an eye on what other people are doing as well. Not necessarily competitors, but it's more, I often use this,

somebody's doing really well in their PR who say for example is an ad specialist or an SEO specialist and I can see that they're being featured on podcasts or they're writing articles well for me I know that those places might be interested in PR if they're interested in somebody talking about ads for example or DIYing your SEO and for me that means that I'm constantly looking at new places to pitch myself at new opportunities that that might bring I'm very

much about staying in your own lane when it comes to running your business but sometimes it is useful to have a look at what other people are doing. Another thing that I do from a PR perspective and I think this is a really important one is keeping myself immersed in what's going on. It's something that I've really enjoyed doing and I've done it throughout my whole career.

but I really look at how people are changing the way they communicate or the way that they're using things differently, the way that they're hosting events differently, for example. I try and keep myself across a breadth of things when it comes to what's going on. I read the papers, I read the magazines. I don't spend a huge amount of time, but I do find myself spending that time doing it.

The other thing that I do, and I've always done this throughout my career, but I think it's really important to understanding what's going on out in the wider world, is keeping myself immersed to what's going on. So I read papers, I read magazines, I use online sites, I use social media strategically rather than mindless scrolling, although I obviously do do that too, but I'm looking at what's going on. I'm looking at changes in the way people might do events. I'm looking in the way that panel events might be changing.

I'm looking at trends within podcasting and that kind of thing. So I'm looking at where I can keep abreast of things that are going on in the wider world. And this doesn't have to be hugely time consuming. I spend some time at the weekends usually looking through the papers and magazines to see what's going on. But often it's just, you know, a strategic scroll on Instagram or chatting to people about things that they're seeing differently, but being quite aware of it as making

sure that I am immersing myself in what's going on in the wider world and I've not just got my blinkers on and focused on what I'm doing myself. I'm also part of some really brilliant networks and communities and I find that they're really helpful for connecting with other people, for having really open and interesting conversations about how things are shifting and changing out there within the small business communities, within the solopreneur communities, to find out what is working for people and what's not.

that's something that I make sure that I do. I'm not just focused on me myself and I, I'm looking out there at what else is going on. Another thing that I do is I keep a list on my notes on my phone and I jot down ideas that I've had for pitching that might come to me when I'm out and about. I also have a media list that I keep up to date on my computer.

So I use a Google Sheet. used to use Excel, but I use Google Sheets now. Other people I know use Notion or ClickUp or other various different kind of online management tools. But basically it is just a list of relevant media opportunities, relevant other PR opportunities, so lists of podcasts. So even if I can't pitch to them there and then, I have an ongoing list that I can refer back to so that when I'm spending that PR time, it's easy for me to jump straight in and I'm not scrabbling around trying to find the right opportunity.

and stuff. So that's something ongoing that helps me to organize my PR time.

Something that works really well for me is I do dedicate time every week to networking and being parts of groups and communities. And that's something that I do really enjoy. It's part of kind of my being. I love connecting people. I love being present in these communities and helping them to thrive and to get to know other businesses or business owners and that kind of thing. But I also know that it's a really good way for helping me to get known for what I do. So I spend time

connecting with other people, answering questions where I can be helpful, contributing where I can within those specific communities. And I find that that helps a lot. It definitely helps with me getting recommended by people that I've never worked with before, you know, being talked about in the right places by the right people.

And the same as last week, this was a mindset one that I talked about last week, but it also goes to the accountability side of things and the habits, and that is I send the fucking email. I have stopped wasting time overthinking anymore. I get on and I do the do. So last week I sent an email to someone really scary and they've come back to me saying, yeah, brilliant, you're on our radar for when we start planning the next thing. I've got two people on my list this week that I am going to reach out.

out

to to invite them to be guests on my podcast because I think not only would they be really interesting and insightful for you to listen to them I know from a strategic PR perspective it would be great to kind of align myself with them they might say no but imagine if they say yes

So I am not overthinking, I am not spending that valuable time worrying and not actually getting on and taking the action. And that's what I really hope for you too. So for me, those habits are doing something daily, blocking out good chunks of time and not letting other things take over my PR time because I know how important it is to my business. Keeping myself immersed in what's going on out there,

an eye on what other people are doing because it will present me with new opportunities, spending time in groups and communities that I know are going to benefit me.

and sending the fucking email. So hopefully this has inspired you to do exactly the same and I would love you to let me know how you get on. And if you want to work with me then visit the prset.com you can use the code POD50 to get 50 % off your first month in my DIY PR membership. I have a one-to-one accelerator program. I have just announced the wait list for a brand new program that is aimed at social media managers.

marketeers, VAs and PAs who want to upskill themselves with PR and learn how to do it for their own clients. And I also have a waitlist for Get Known which is my amazing sprint that I'm doing at the moment which we will be starting again in the springtime. So that is for people who want to really focus on getting known for what they do, stepping out of the shadows. So come and visit me at theprset.com, connect with me Pippa the PR set on Instagram or LinkedIn. I am

Pippa Goulden, G-O-U-L-D-E-N, and I will see you again soon for another episode of PR Made Simple.