That Solo Life: The Solo PR Pro Podcast

That Solo Life, Episode 251: Finding Balance And Minimizing Burnout In A Chaotic World In this Episode In this episode of "That Solo Life," co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane delve into the topic of navigating fatigue and finding balance in the midst of global stressors and personal challenges. This Mental Health Awareness Month episode kicks off with a discussion about the impact of external factors such as the pandemic, economic instability, and political tensions on individuals' energy levels and overall well-being. Karen and Michelle reflect on the collective exhaustion felt by many in 2024, highlighting the ongoing effects of the pandemic and the relentless stream of stressors that continue to weigh on people. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing burnout, citing articles that discuss how work environments can contribute to physical and mental health issues. The conversation shifts to the changing landscape of work post-pandemic, with Karen and Michelle acknowledging the need for individuals to reassess their priorities and boundaries. They explore the challenges of returning to office work, the impact of technological advancements, and the importance of self-care practices in maintaining resilience. Throughout the episode, Karen and Michelle offer practical tips for managing stress and prioritizing well-being. They emphasize the significance of self-care routines, healthy eating habits, and coping mechanisms such as deep breathing and mindfulness. The hosts encourage listeners to set boundaries, prioritize their mental and physical health, and recognize the value of saying no to commitments that do not align with their well-being. As the episode concludes, Karen and Michelle underscore the importance of self-awareness and self-compassion in navigating the complexities of modern life. They challenge listeners to prioritize their own needs and to approach each day with a sense of balance and grace. The hosts invite feedback from the audience and share resources available on the Solo PR Pro website to support listeners in building their businesses and maintaining personal well-being. Tune in to "That Solo Life" for insightful discussions, practical tips, and inspiring conversations on navigating the challenges of solo entrepreneurship and finding balance in a fast-paced world. Episode Highlights: 00:01:19 - Global Fatigue and Burnout 00:04:01 - Shift in Work Dynamics 00:05:27 - Uncertainty and Event Attendance 00:09:48 - Frustrations with Corporate Expectations 00:10:09 - Self-Care and Well-being Practices 00:12:02 - Managing Energy and Reactions 00:13:09 - Embracing Grace and Understanding Sensitivities 00:16:05 - Setting Boundaries and Prioritizing Self-Care 00:17:05 - Finding Balance and Self-Awareness 00:18:09 - Encouragement to Prioritize Self-Care and Share the Podcast Resources: National Institute of Mental Health - Support and Resources988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Online ChatJob burnout: How to spot it and take actionWork Burnout: How It Affects Your Mental Health Enjoyed the episode? Please leave a review here - even a sentence helps. Share and tag us (@SoloPR, @SoloPRPro) on social media so that we can thank you personally! Your support helps us keep bringing you insightful content every week. Thank you for tuning in! Looking for more insights and support for your solo PR biz? Head over to Solo PR Pro and become part of our community. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for the latest tips and trends.

Welcome to another episode of That Solo Life, where we dive into the world of PR and marketing for independent professionals. In this episode, we discuss the power of personal branding in the PR industry. Publicists have recently been in the spotlight, from the Oscars to various articles highlighting their work. This recognition serves as a reminder for solo PR professionals like us to also focus on promoting ourselves, not just our clients. Karen and Michelle delve into the importance of personal branding and how it can impact our businesses. While some may feel uncomfortable with self-promotion, they emphasize the need to market your skills and expertise in order to attract clients and stand out in a competitive industry. The discussion offers practical tips for building a personal brand, from updating headshots to engaging on platforms like LinkedIn. We stress the value of sharing our knowledge and experiences, whether through writing articles, speaking engagements, or social media posts.

That Solo Life, Episode 249: How to Avoid the Dreaded Reviewer's Remorse In this Episode In this episode of "That Solo Life," Karen and Michelle dive into the common struggle of "reviewer's remorse" that many PR pros, marketers, and communicators face when working with clients. They discuss the frustration of finalizing a project, only to have last-minute changes or new reviewers throw a wrench into the process. They emphasize the importance of establishing a clear review process with clients, setting expectations early on, and limiting the number of reviewers to essential personnel. They also highlight the significance of trust between the client and the solo PR professional, ensuring that the end goal and messaging align seamlessly. Throughout the episode, the hosts stress the need for open communication, patience, and understanding when dealing with clients experiencing reviewer's remorse. Karen and Michelle discuss the need to provide practical tips, such as creating a document workflow process, setting clear review criteria, and allowing sufficient time for discussion and revisions. With personal anecdotes and insights, the episode aims to help fellow solo professionals streamline their review processes, minimize last-minute changes, and build stronger relationships with their clients. Tune in and let’s navigate the complexities of client feedback and strive to deliver the best possible outcomes in our solo careers. Episode Highlights: 00:01:19 - Reviewers' Remorse Discussion 00:04:09 - Minimizing Reviewers' Remorse Occurrence 00:07:04 - Digging for Core Issues 00:10:27 - Importance of Trust in the Review Process 00:11:29 - Considerations for Printed Pieces 00:11:52 - Limiting Number of Reviewers 00:13:18 - Streamlining Feedback and Input Enjoyed the episode? Please leave a review here - even a sentence helps. Share and tag us (@SoloPR, @SoloPRPro) on social media so that we can thank you personally! Your support helps us keep bringing you insightful content every week. Thank you for tuning in! Looking for more insights and support for your solo PR biz? Head over to Solo PR Pro and become part of our community. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for the latest tips and trends.

That Solo Life: Episode 248 The New Balancing Act of Communication In this Episode It’s a balancing act! Karen Swim, APR, of Solo PR, and Michelle Kane, of Voice Matters dive into the challenging topic of addressing current social and political conflicts in the workplace. The episode opens with a discussion about the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict and the protests happening across the United States, setting the stage for a conversation on how communication professionals can guide their clients through navigating these complex issues. The conversation also touches on the evolving role of public relations professionals in shaping conversations and promoting sanity in communication. Throughout the episode, we highlight the importance of maintaining open dialogue, fostering mutual respect, and creating safe spaces for discussions on contentious issues. As you listen, we hope that you will gain valuable insights and practical advice to help you face the complexities of addressing social and political conflicts in today's world. Episode Highlights: Resources: Cultural Intelligence in Communications Enjoyed the episode? Please leave a review here - even a sentence helps. Share and tag us (@SoloPR, @SoloPRPro) on social media so that we can thank you personally! Your support helps us keep bringing you insightful content every week. Thank you for tuning in! Looking for more insights and support for your solo PR biz? Head over to Solo PR Pro and become part of our community. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for the latest tips and trends.

That Solo Life: Episode 247 Everything Old is New Again In this Episode Karen Swim, APR, of Solo PR, and Michelle Kane, of Voice Matters delve into the importance of getting back to basics in our PR and marketing businesses. Today’s conversation is sparked by an email from Peter Shankman, the founder of the original "Help a Reporter Out" platform, which was eventually sold to a large corporation. Shankman has now launched a new platform called "Help Every Reporter Out," and in his announcement he shared his “back to basics” inspiration and how it led him to return to something he was no longer doing. As PR professionals, we often find ourselves constantly reinventing our workflows, tools, and client work in an effort to keep up with the ever-evolving industry. But new is not always better. Sometimes returning the old things can improve not only how we do our jobs but how we feel about them. We delve into the topic of technology, staying true to our natural skill sets and passions in our careers, and how the basics include having a supportive community of fellow professionals. Episode Highlights: Resources: free sign-up for PR Pros and JournalistsFrom Solo PR to Agency and Back Again Enjoyed the episode? Please leave a review here - even a sentence helps. Share and tag us (@SoloPR, @SoloPRPro) on social media so that we can thank you personally! Your support helps us keep bringing you insightful content every week. Thank you for tuning in! Looking for more insights and support for your solo PR biz? Head over to Solo PR Pro and become part of our community. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for the latest tips and trends.

That Solo Life: Episode 246 Ethical and Legal Challenges of the Modern PR Pro with Special Guest, Cayce Myers New episodes every Monday In this Episode "That Solo Life" podcast hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane sit down with Cayce Myers, Ph.D., LL.M., J.D., APR, an experienced public relations professional and author. In this episode, Myers discusses his latest book, "The Rules of Public Relations, Legal and Ethical Issues and Contemporary Practice," which tackles the intersection of public relations, law, and ethics. Myers emphasizes the importance of understanding the legal implications of PR crises and the need for transparency when using artificial intelligence (AI) in PR. He stresses that PR professionals have a responsibility to navigate the challenges of disinformation and misinformation during election years. Brands are advised to align their communication strategies with their mission, vision, and values. Throughout the episode, Myers draws from his extensive experience in the field to offer valuable insights into the ever-changing landscape of PR. Whether you're a seasoned PR professional or just starting out in the industry, this episode is packed with practical advice and thought-provoking conversations about the legal and ethical challenges surrounding public relations. Don’t miss out on this fascinating discussion! Cayce Myers, Ph.D., LL.M., J.D., APR Cayce Myers is a professor of public relations and director of graduate studies at the School of Communication at Virginia, where he researches and teaches about the legal, regulatory, and ethical aspects of public relations. As a lawyer who also holds a Ph.D. in mass communication, Myers has authored five books and sixty publications including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, law review articles, and trade press pieces, covering topics such as public relations history, strategy, political campaigns, and related laws and policies. His newest publication, "The Rules of Public Relations," delves into the current laws and ethical challenges in the field of PR practice. The release is scheduled for this July. Episode Highlights: Resources: PublisherAmazon Enjoyed the episode? Please leave a review here - even a sentence helps. Share and tag us (@SoloPR, @SoloPRPro) on social media so that we can thank you personally! Your support helps us keep bringing you insightful content every week. Thank you for tuning in! Looking for more insights and support for your solo PR biz? Head over to Solo PR Pro and become part of our community. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for the latest tips and trends. Say Thanks to Cayce Myers! If you liked this episode with Cayce Myers, please say thanks on LinkedIn and follow his author page on Amazon. Listen to the episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.

That Solo Life, Episode 244: Language, Landmines And The Peril Now Facing PR Pros That Solo Life, a podcast dedicated to PR professionals, marketers, and individuals who work for themselves. In this episode hosts, Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane from Voice Matters delve into the topic of avoiding generation gaps and cultural miscommunications. In our discussion, we highlight how the emergence of a multigenerational workforce and multicultural society has made communication more complex. Together, we explore examples of misunderstood terminology, redefined norms, and quickly shifting cultural contexts. All of which could potentially influence the reception of our messages and client communications. We also bring to the table the reality that not everyone has the same bank of references or base of knowledge. The universality of business references, iconic books, or even pop culture references is no longer a given. We navigate this landscape by encouraging PR professionals to provide context, or use universally understood language, thus facilitating clear and effective communication. We also examine political influences, shedding light on how political parties or global events can assign new meanings to well-known terms, creating potential pitfalls for those unaware. We encourage communicators to be savvy, removing barriers, biases, and assumptions to truly connect with diverse audiences. Closing the conversation, we impress upon our audience that everything communicates – the things we say and do (or don't do), often carry a message. PR professionals and communicators need to be involved in all sectors of an organization, as their insights could safeguard against reputation damage. Episode Highlights: More on this topic: Managing Across Generations Talking About My Generation Call to Action: Looking for more insights into the PR world? Head over to Solo PR Pro and become part of our community. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for the latest tips and trends. --- Enjoyed the episode? Give us a rating and share the episode with a colleague. Your support helps us keep bringing you insightful content every week. Thank you for tuning in!

That Solo Life, Episode 243: What They Think We Do, What We Really Do And How To Bridge The Gap Welcome to the latest episode of "That Solo Life", the podcast passionately crafted for PR professionals by PR professionals. In this conversation, your hosts Michelle Kane and Karen Swim take you through the frustrations and challenges of people not understanding the role of public relations and the overlooked intricacies of articulating and demonstrating the value of public relations to clients and the public. In this episode, you'll discover: Key Takeaways: Rate, Review & Share! If you found value in this episode, please rate and review our show, and share it with your networks. Connect and Discuss: Don't miss the opportunity to join the insightful discussions in the Solo PR Pro community. Connect with industry experts, exchange ideas, and get support from your colleagues. Listen, engage, and grow with "That Solo Life." Happy listening!

Show Notes for That Solo Life: Episode 242 In this episode: That Solo Life co-hosts, Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane talk about some of the insights from the "Muckrack 2024 State of Journalism" and discuss the emerging trends shaping media relations today. Episode Highlights: Muckrack 2024 State of Journalism Resources Mentioned: Read the report Call to Action: Looking for more insights into the PR world? Head over to Solo PR Pro and become part of our community. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter for the latest tips and trends. --- Enjoyed the episode? Give us a rating and share the episode with a colleague. Your support helps us keep bringing you insightful content every week. Thank you for tuning in!

In This Episode: Join us as we dissect the implications of the Department of Labor's recent rule changes and what it means for solo PR professionals. We welcome Nathan Gibson, an authority in Employment Law and Independent Contractor Compliance, who is the Senior Director at MBO Partners. Nathan provides in-depth insights on staying compliant and the potential impacts on solo public relations businesses. Episode Highlights: Featured Guest: Nathan Gibson, an expert in: Current Position: Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn for more insights and personalized advisory. Resources Mentioned: Solo PR Pro Premium Membership SignupMBO Partnershttp://eepurl.com/deC06f--- Be sure to subscribe to our podcast for more episodes packed with expert advice and the latest updates affecting solo PR professionals. Share your thoughts on this episode using #SoloPR and stay connected with us on our social media channels. Thank you for tuning in, and keep thriving in your solo PR career! Note: This podcast episode is not intended to serve as legal advice. For specific legal concerns related to the topics discussed, please consult a qualified attorney.

If you’re still feeling the effects of springing forward into daylight savings time, recovering from St. Patrick’s Day or are still wondering what is going on with the royals, in this episode we talk about it and how there’s a PR lesson in everything. Special Offer for Solo PR Pros, Freelance Consultants, and Small business owners: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free, game-changing Business Assessment Program. Be one of the first 1,000 savvy PR pros to join. Get News from Solo PR Pro: Join our email list. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:03): Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves, people like me, Michelle Kane with VoiceMatters, and Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro. Hey, Karen, how are you today? Karen Swim, APR (00:17): Hey, Michelle. How are you? I am, I wasn't drinking last night, but I was partying with my family. We threw my sister a big birthday bash, and so I have a party hangover. Michelle Kane (00:31): There we go. Karen Swim, APR (00:32): I'm not sure if you're seeing straight. I'm tired, but so happy. My voice just came back like an hour ago. Michelle Kane (00:39): Well, that was good. That was it. And for our listeners, this will hit March 18th, but we are recording this March 11, which is the day, also the day after the Oscar. So since that's my Super Bowl, I have an Oscar hangover. Not to mention, we all lost an hour this weekend to daylight savings, so we're all just kind of coming into this day going like, what? But we're here, so we're going to keep it a little light. We're dubbing this The Hangover Episode since, hey, not for nothing. It's going to be airing the day after St. Patrick's Day. So if you all do your due diligence, you'll be feeling like us when you hear this so, Karen Swim, APR (01:19): So true. Michelle Kane (01:20): We'll try and keep it a little quiet. Karen Swim, APR (01:21): Okay. Michelle Kane (01:24): But yeah, it was an interesting weekend, I have to say. And we're just really going to riff on some things that we have seen. Of course, the Oscars usually give you a lot of things to chew on. And during the Oscars as I was too, screening the event as I do, this weird thing came up with, in the UK it was Mother's Day, Mothering Sunday, and this weird thing came up with a photo that the Princess of Wales had posted with her kids, and four major – AP, Getty -- agencies issued a kill order for this photo, which apparently is not done very often. And due to it not being what they called a true photo, apparently there was some manipulation that caused concern. Now, I'm not going to wear a tinfoil hat today and get into the weeds of all the conspiracies of Catherine. Where is she? I mean, look, this is not Scientology and Shelly Miscavige. No, but it's just like you're already watching a major event and you're scrolling. What? Huh? And people are pointing out some Photoshop issues. And although to say AP is saying, look, we expect things like if you do some burning, you do some tone changes. Those are okay as if you're a comms pro. But I don't know, it was just weird. Another weird blip in our lives of where every day is like, huh? Karen Swim, APR (02:54): Yeah. What's interesting to me about the recall. And then she had to apologize. And so I think as communications professionals, we all know that we hire photographers for clients, for events, for headshots, and we edit the photos. I believe that we are all safely in the zone of what passes as ethical and truthful editing. Correct? Correct. You're editing out flaws, you're editing for a better resolution, but you're not changing the narrative or presenting something that may have been a previous photo as brand new. And we're starting, I feel like this leads into this whole new era where we are with AI being able to create things and to change things so easily. There's an AI tool for absolutely everything these days. And...

It’s no secret the media landscape is changing and it’s only intensifying the effect on how PR pros do media relations. In this episode we talk about taking the time to evaluate our tactics and get creative to reach our client’s audiences. Special Offer for Solos: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free, game-changing Business Assessment Program. Be one of the first 1,000 savvy PR pros to join. Get News from Solo PR Pro: Join our email list. Transcript Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves, people like me, Michelle Kane, with VoiceMatters and my wonderful co-host, Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro. Hi Karen, how are you doing today? Speaker 2: Hello, Michelle. I'm doing good. We are currently in the month of March. I had a client that was asking me for Q1 stuff this week and I'm like, yeah, I'm going to give it to you when Q one's over. And they were like, it's still March. And I'm like, it barely started so that many people are feeling exactly like my client. Speaker 1: Yes, yes. I've had to remind myself what month, wait. Oh, okay. Speaker 2: It seems to be running over us. It's not that it seems like it's later in the month, it just feels like it's running over us and then backing up in reverse and doing it again. Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. I wonder if it's that we're just so eager to maybe get through this calendar year for many reasons or maybe just afraid of falling behind. I don't know. There are a lot of factors at work, I think. Yeah, stuff's been a lot. It's been a lot. And to add to that, I mean we talk about this often about how our job is as the storytellers for our clients to really sing their news and their praises and their efforts and how the media landscape has changed. And it's really even changed that I've seen on the hyper-local level that what used to be the extremely low hanging fruit of Yay you gave so-and-so a something, lemme send a picture and it would be an easy get. And it's not so much anymore, which in a way it's been kind of fun to pull back and think, alright, challenge time, how do we get more creative about telling our story to the people we want to see and hear it? So we thought we'd riff about that a little bit because I'm sure many of you out there are experiencing that on a number of levels Speaker 2: To say the least. Media relations has undergone a significant shift and a lot of that is really due to the shrinking number of outlets and the lack of money with publications. So in addition to layoffs, there's just fewer publications altogether. And then publications that even used to be free are now charging. So you can get in there if you for a fee, but then that really harms organizations like nonprofits and smaller companies that had a fair shot at doing some of those things. And those publications targeted their audience. I mean, I think the other thing, Michelle, and I'm sure that you're seeing this, is we really do have to take a step back and say, where's our audience at these days? Because it used to be pretty clear cut, but I feel like that is changing so much. And it's because coupled with the shrinking media outlets is that consumers do not trust institutions. They don't trust employers, they don't trust companies, they don't trust media outlets. And so where are people really going for their information, Speaker 1: Right? Because we also know that while some may give social media as the easy answer, that's not the complete picture either. There are people that you might think, oh, I bet you're on Facebook who don't have Facebook accounts, or are you doing TikTok? Are you not doing TikTok? So you really do. It's not as simple as it was not too long ago. Speaker 1: And I think in many ways, perhaps the answer is in hyper targeting your digital advertising efforts, but that's a whole other conversation for a whole other day. But perhaps even doing that to an...

Today we’re talking about the challenges we face as self-employed professionals in a world where certain sectors of the business world and governmental policies just don’t get us, favoring traditional employment over independent work. From pricing of tools and products to respecting the value solos bring to the table, it’s time to give solo PR pros our respect. Special Offer for Solos: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free, game-changing Business Assessment Program. Be one of the first 1,000 savvy PR pros to join. Get News from Solo PR Pro: Join our email list. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:02): Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves, people like me, Michelle Kane of VoiceMatters. And my ever steady co-host, Karen Swim with Solo PR Pro. Hey Karen, how are you today? Karen Swim, APR (00:19): Hey, Michelle. I forgot how to turn on the recording and use my mic and all those things and it hasn't been that long. Just my brain's all over the place today. Other than that, I'm great. How are you? Michelle Kane (00:32): Yeah, if I'm going to be honest, it's a little bit of a discombobulating day. I don't know. I didn't, some days are just like that, right? You make sure you read the email two or three times before you send, just to make sure Karen Swim, APR (00:46): I'm telling you. I mean, February is the shortest month, but it is really like it's gotten Napoleon syndrome this year. It's like, yes, I'm short, but I'm the big guy around here. I mean, it's really been shoving us around and showing us who's boss. Michelle Kane (01:03): I'm going to show you what's up. You're going to rue the day you talked crap about me. Karen Swim, APR (01:09): Yeah, call me the shortest month. Michelle Kane (01:12): Yeah, I'll show you. I'm going to stick around for a while. Oh my goodness. Yeah, for real, for real. And I think everyone is feeling it. It's always one of the most difficult months to just get through. Karen Swim, APR (01:26): Yeah, and it's short, but boy has it been jam packed and Michelle Kane (01:31): Yes, it's a lot. Karen Swim, APR (01:36): Yes, I'm ready for a spring break or something. Yeah, Michelle Kane (01:40): Well, and of course it has to be rude and be a leap year this year, so it's like I'm even going to add a day. Yeah, take that. Karen Swim, APR (01:49): Well, Michelle Kane (01:52): How can I flip this? Speaking of Napoleon complexes? No, (01:56): No. Maybe a little David and Goliath. Anyway, what we're going to talk about today or attempt to is just how, I don't think economy's the right word, but how our business world is set up really to favor the employed as opposed to the self-employed. We saw that with the pandemic where for the first time ever self-employed people, even though if you're a corporation of someone who is self-employed, you still pay unemployment tax. And yet what for the first time, oh, we could file for unemployment. Oh, well, gee, thank you very much. We too contribute to the economy, whatever. But we see it a lot as solos in the tools we use, and we've talked about that, touched on that before of course, but just how, oh, the enterprise version of this is only $12,000 a month. Well, thanks. Karen Swim, APR (02:57): Yeah. So it feels like this is one of the areas of discrimination that we never ever talk about, and it really is discriminatory because it's not just in the pricing, it's really the recognition and respect that many of us choose to be self-employed, and we're going to tackle that whole issue with the Department of Labor very, very soon with an expert. But to put it into context of where we're going with this is from the government. The US government does not like people that are self-employed. They don't understand people who are self-employed. When you say independent contractor, which is a big broad category and definition, the government...

On this episode we're chatting about how different generations handle criticism, especially after some Super Bowl ad backlash. We dive into why tough love is key in PR and how it's essential for solo PR pros to get real with clients. Plus, we tackle the big question: How do we teach the next gen these crucial soft skills? Tune in for an honest, straight-talk session on the art of handling the hard stuff in PR. Special Offer for Solos: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free, game-changing Business Assessment Program. Be one of the first 1,000 savvy PR pros to join. Get News from Solo PR Pro: Join our email list. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:02): Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves, people like me, Michelle Kane, with VoiceMatters, and my wonderful co-host, Karen Swim with Solo PR Pro. Hi Karen. It's another week, another beautiful podcast time, not our goodness. Karen Swim, APR (00:22): Hi Michelle. I'm doing so well and just glad to be here and been in this time with you and our listeners. How are you doing? Michelle Kane (00:34): I'm doing well too. Yes, we're making it through February, which is fantastic. I was just talking to a client and we were both marveling at how it is flying by. Karen Swim, APR (00:45): It really is. I cannot believe that next week is the end of February. It's the last week in the month that went so quickly. Michelle Kane (00:54): Even with the extra day in it, it's just seems to be just going poof, which is fine. Karen Swim, APR (00:58): Yeah. Michelle Kane (00:59): It means more daylight for us to soak in and that's good. We've made it through the darkness of the season, so congratulations to all of us. And speaking of how darkness can have an impact, we're going to talk today actually about constructive criticism and how we're kind of sensing a little bit, we're feeling our generation a little bit in light of, I think, Karen, you brought up some comments over on LinkedIn about some Super Bowl ads and just some of the pushback that would you say, is it Gen Z mainly? What were you finding? Karen Swim, APR (01:43): Yeah, it's interesting. So there was some criticism of Super Bowl ads and for a certain generation of us it's like, okay, that's normal, right? Come in the marketing industry, push back at the criticism saying, let's all be kind. These people work so hard and it's the biggest stage, blah, blah, blah. And then another person of a different generation, older, not maybe a millennial, stepped up and said something completely different. Basically like Boohoo, get over yourself. And I thought that her point was well taken and I immediately saw that these were generational differences. So all of the people that were team know criticism were younger and all of the people that brought up the point of criticism is beneficial. Michelle Kane (02:42): Yeah, absolutely. Were older Karen Swim, APR (02:44): And it made me think about how this plays out in the PR profession, what it means to our clients and what it means to this new generation of practitioners. Michelle Kane (02:57): Yeah, that's very true because I mean, let's be honest, part of our job as PR practitioners is to be that voice of honesty, to bring the stark realism in, even if it's just to prepare people for the landscape they may face. I always borrow, I borrow a line from Billy Bragg and say, I am that little black cloud in a dress. That's my job. I'm not saying that I'm not coming at you to be negative or to put a downer on our efforts, but just this is the component that we need to keep in mind in everything we do that might happen. Yeah, it's Karen Swim, APR (03:36): Important. I love that line. That is such a perfect line, and I know it seems a little morose, but it cannot be more true for us as communicators that we have to deal in reality and we have to tactfully deliver news and we have to...

In this episode, Karen and Michelle discuss the pitfalls of blindly following trends in the PR and marketing world. It’s important to keep strategies aligned with a brand's core values and mission. “Going viral” is not a meaningful goal if it doesn’t translate into meaningful engagement or revenue. Special Offer: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free, game-changing Business Assessment Program. Be one of the first 1,000 savvy PR pros to join. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:17): Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves. People like me, Michelle Kane, with VoiceMatters, and as ever, my wonderful co-host, the Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro. Hi Karen, how are you today? Karen Swim,, APR (00:35): Hi, Michelle. I'm nice and dry, which I understand is not the case with many across the country. Michelle Kane (00:41): So true. This is true. Karen Swim,, APR (00:43): How are you? Michelle Kane (00:44): I'm well. I'm well. By the time this airs though, this will have been at least a week or so ago, but we're in the midst of February, which shouldn't be a surprise that you get a big dump of snow, but it was definitely one of those storms that was supposed to be a nothing that turned into a something which always shakes up the day. I am spinning this for myself in that the cover of snow is making this rare sunshine that much brighter. So I'm soaking all that in. Karen Swim,, APR (01:09): Yeah, and the sunshine has definitely been rarer. This year I went ahead and invested in a happy light for myself because I was being affected by January where we had endless days of gray, dreary dark zero sunshine. Michelle Kane (01:26): Yes, yes. That is a wise investment. I had one of those and it broke, and I've yet to replace it, but given that I have a dark sense of humor, I'd make myself chuckle that even my sad lamp broke. I love that you call it a Happy Lamp. What do you do when sad lamp breaks. Karen Swim,, APR (01:46): Well, you replace it. Michelle Kane (01:51): Oh my goodness. So yes, being that, oh goodness, we're at that wonderful time in winter where we're smack between the Super Bowl and the Oscars. Karen Swim,, APR (02:03): Yes. Michelle Kane (02:03): Which for some is our own Super Bowl, but that's a topic for another day. But it brings to mind trends. Clients will see something that has hit the pop culture psyche in a way that everyone's talking about it, and next thing you know, we want to do something like that too. How can we take advantage of this? And I said that in that particular tone because it's not always appropriate, is it? Karen Swim,, APR (02:31): That's so true. And of course we have all had those clients that maybe saw something go viral and they want you to do something for them that will make them go viral. Of course, we all know as communication professionals, just as we can never guarantee media placement unless it's a paid opportunity, paid ethical opportunity that we can't guarantee whether something will go viral or not. No one knows what will go viral. That's sort of the surprise and the fun of it all is that you never know what's going to grab hold. And by the way, going viral doesn't always necessarily translate into revenue. It can translate into a fun moment. So I do think that for professional communications people as well as marketers, it's important to sort of have a framework that you can share with clients like a decision tree. And we talked about this before as it relates to social justice issues and things that are happening in the external world, you have a series of questions that you can work through, so that helps the client to become a little bit logical about whether or not this is something that they should tap into. Michelle Kane (03:49): I love that. I love that it brings to mind, I had the pleasure and good fortune a few years ago to sit through a nonprofit board...

The whole point of operating as a solo PR pro or small agency is the ability to build the business that is right for you. But let's face it, there are many people out there who are only going to be comfortable with a certain budget level. In this episode, we want to help you to think creatively about when someone comes your way and they maybe don't have the budget that you desire. Bonus: information about the exciting Solo PR Pro offer courtesy of Lettuce. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:03): Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves, people like me, Michelle Kane, with The VoiceMatters and my ever wonderful co-host, Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro. Hello, Karen. We're here. It's another wonderful episode. Karen Swim, APR (00:22): We are here in the dead of winter, but thankfully here, the sun is shining today. How are you doing, Michelle? Michelle Kane (00:31): I'm doing well. Sun is shining here as well in southeastern Pennsylvania, thank goodness. And what are we, I forget what the name of it is, but we're technically at the halfway point, so spring is on its way. I believe the Phillies equipment truck is leaving for Clearwater today for spring training. Karen Swim, APR (00:53): That’s nice. Michelle Kane (00:54): We had Phil doing his thing a couple weeks ago and that's all well and good. He predicted in early spring. But the true mark for us, Philly people is when the truck leaves baseball's on its way, Karen Swim, APR (01:08): Baseball is on its way. And you know what? That is good news for all of us because we look forward to spring the new season with hopefully some milder weather and longer days. So that's good. Yay. Baseball. Michelle Kane (01:23): That’s good. It's good. Karen Swim, APR (01:25): Right. The start of our baseball season is typically a bit nippy, sometimes snowy, but it's okay because we know that when baseball starts up, spring is on the way. Michelle Kane (01:37): Yes, and we'll be complaining about the heat soon enough. But when I think of spring, I think of opportunity and that's a bit of what we're going to talk about today because sometimes you're presented with client work, a client who has, it sounds like it's going to be a great project to work on. You really want to help them because if PR people, most of us, we love to just help people, but we also need to make money and sometimes the budget's not the best fit. So we're just going to chat about how you maneuver that, how you might make that work for you, or how you just might say maybe next time. I know we have often had those situations where, and I know it's crossed my path as well, where you'll be presented with a budget that's just like, it's just a no, it's a non-starter. You'll have those $500 tire kickers who say, well, my budget's very small. I either don’t know what it's, or well, last time we had $500. And you think, no, first of all, we recommend, unless God forbid, unless you have an electric bill that's overdue, don't do that to yourself. And secondly, my point of view with that is always I can't do the job you need for that low of a budget. So you're better off. Karen Swim, APR (03:08): And I think one of the things that we want to make sure that we do on this show is we want to always be upbeat, positive and support you in having the business that you want to have. And so I want to be clear that we are never about hustle culture or you have to want to be a millionaire. That is not us at all because we want you to be happy and that definition of happiness is different for all of us, but we also want you to value the work you do and the expertise that you bring to the table. But let's face it, there are many people out there who are only going to be comfortable with a certain budget level. So we want to help you to think creatively about when someone comes your way and they maybe don't have the budget that you desire. Are there...

As a solo PR pro or small agency, is it ever a good idea to outsource your sales? It depends. In this episode we talk about how there is no right or wrong answer, only the answer that works for you and your business. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:03): Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves, people like me, Michelle Kane, with VoiceMatters and my wonderful co-host, Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro. How are you today, Karen? Karen Swim, APR (00:18): I am a little bit cold, a little bit sad because as we are recording this, we now know that the Detroit Lions will not be in the Super Bowl this year, but other than that, life is good. How are you? Michelle Kane (00:35): I'm good. I'm so sorry you can join. The ranks of the football season is over for us. It's never fun, especially the Lions had such a great run this year. My gosh, I was hoping they would get there. Just to shake things up a little bit. Karen Swim, APR (00:53): I had hope too, for the first time since I've lived in Michigan, I actually had hope that our football team would be in the Super Bowl. I'd never had hope before if I'm being completely honest, but Michelle Kane (01:05): Well, Karen Swim, APR (01:05): That doesn't, what are you going to do Michelle Kane (01:07): That makes it hurt a little more? So I get that. Totally get that. Anyway, but today we'll focus on bright, shiny new things. Actually, today we're going to talk about something that's been bopping around in our thoughts for a while. Should you outsource your sales for your solo business? Sometimes you think, huh, I'm a solo. What does that entail? Why would I want to do that? But at the same time, I don't know about you, but last time I had my resume, updated my resume like an overhaul. I had someone else do it, I hired it out. Sometimes talking about yourself and selling yourself is far more difficult than selling your clients. I remember getting the product, the resume back and reading it and thinking, who is this person? I did that, Karen Swim, APR (02:02): And I think that's why I can see the appeal of all of these new agencies that have popped up that want to do the sales process for you, because this is a very, very common pain point for solos. I mean, very common where everyone is like, how do I bring on business? And if you did not come from a traditional agency where business development is required as part of your role, then it can be very uncomfortable to figure this out. You don't really know how to sell and people equate sales with, here's what I see. I was in sales and I manage sales teams. So when you say the word sell to many people, they instantly think that it somehow means overcoming someone's will. So it feels like force process of overcoming someone's will to get what you want. That is not what sales is at all. It really isn't. You're not forcing someone to choose you. You are talking to people who have problems and to gather you're collaboratively coming up with a solution. Sometimes that solution isn't you. That's a part of the sales process. Sometimes it is something that you actually can solve. And so the key is to find the people that have the problems that you actually can solve. So there's firms out there, and I get it. I get the appeal and I understand why there's so many firms that are now in this space. Part of it is because many people are trying to find other avenues for PR careers as they're transitioning out of PR because of the changing landscape. And some people are very good at the sales process, they're great at discovery, they're great at having these sales conversations, and for other people, it's not their natural talent. But is it a good idea? And if so, when is it a good idea? Michelle Kane (04:08): Yeah, I mean, even as you're giving all these pros and cons, I often, my first question would be, okay, so if I hire someone to do outsourcing my sales because I...

As we begin 2024, there are a lot of unsettling developments in the media industry. Layoffs and the shuttering of legacy media – it can cause a panic. But we know that change is constant and there is always a way forward. Axios article: "Challenger" firms rising: Top PR talent defect from big agencies Transcript Michelle Kane (00:02): Thank you for joining us for another episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves, people like me, Michelle Kane, with VoiceMatters, and I am joined by my wonderful co-host, Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro. Hi Karen, how are you? Karen Swim, APR (00:19): I'm doing great, Michelle. How are you doing? Michelle Kane (00:22): Oh, I'm doing really well. Thank you. I can't complain because no one wants to hear it anyway, there Karen Swim, APR (00:29): You haven't. I think that we're all in that same boat. We actually all could complain, probably judging by the way, 2024 starting off. Not nice 24, Michelle Kane (00:40): Not Karen Swim, APR (00:40): Nice. Michelle Kane (00:41): It's being a little rude. Maybe it'll start rude and end nice. Who knows? But speaking of not being okay, we want to talk a little bit about the PR panic that we've seen and felt in the air. I mean, there's been a ton of uncertainty as the years go on the pandemic, just our sources diminishing, our media pitching being so much more difficult on an ever increasing pace. And there was an article in Axios recently that sort of speaks to that, but it sort of speaks to an overall theme of the pivot of pivoting to something new that the Axios piece specifically was speaking about the rise of challenger firms. How much of the top talent is leaving the larger PR agencies and either striking out on their own or forming smaller concerns, which, gosh, that sounds so familiar. Is there a model about that, about being a solo PR pro? So if you're listening to this as a solo, you're like, I've already done that, but it's just interesting to note for sure. Karen Swim, APR (02:03): Yeah, I think what's also not in that particular piece that we are definitely seeing a lot of is that we're seeing PR people as well as the media pivot their careers in different ways. So we're seeing PR people turn away from delivering PR services to serving the PR industry. So we've seen all kinds of PR sales agencies pop up. We're seeing paid media services, we're seeing people start newswires or database companies, or they're coaching, they're doing something adjacent to PR but not doing pr. And when you really think about it, because it can be a little bit disconcerting when you are bombarded with all of these changes, and you're also bombarded on a personal basis with how these changes are impacting your day-to-day job, the traditional job market has been tumultuous since the pandemic. And so it tracks that. We're seeing some of that chaos impact the PR industry. And let us not forget, unfortunately, that the industry at large for so many years has been driven by traditional PR services, meaning your in-house or it's a big agency. So that chaos now in the broader workforce market is really coming home to roost for PR people and automation has kicked it into a whole different gear. (03:48): So we're seeing a lot of uncertainty about not only the economy, but the work market, how much you have to work with, how much you'll be able to get resources to do the job you do. What people really think about your job is they are like, could I replace some of these functions or could I downsize and have two people do what a team used to do? Because I have automation? And those are all fair questions, but it definitely can be a little nauseating for PR people watching the spin and trying to figure out, okay, how do I keep my footing in the midst of all this? Michelle Kane (04:27): Right? And it can be very disconcerting and disturbing. I mean, look, we know that traditional outlets have been losing advertising...

There are seasons in every solo PR pro’s career. If you’ve built a successful virtual or micro agency but you’re feeling burnt out and considering paring down your practice to a solo endeavor, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:03): Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves, people like me, Michelle Kane, with VoiceMatters, and my wonderful co-host, Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro. Hi Karen. How you doing? Karen Swim, APR (00:19): I am grateful, Michelle, grateful to be here, grateful for a new year, all of the things. How are you? Michelle Kane (00:26): I think that is wonderful. I too am even though, yeah, I feel like so far my theme has been discombobulation, but I think that's because everyone's back and just trying to get things organized for the weeks to come. So out of the perceived chaos, clarity, just work in the list. It's all we can do. Karen Swim, APR (00:50): I think we're all feeling discombobulated. And that's a nice segue into our topic today. Michelle Kane (00:59): Yes, it is. Yes. Today we're going to talk about, we often talk about solos who set up their shops as virtual agencies and really micro agencies, but what if you'd just rather prefer either making that shift or you just like working as a straight up solo? We haven't talked about that too much lately, and I think that's a lot of, that's where many of us sit. I know that's where I sit. I'll pull people onto a team, but I gratefully both consciously and just the way I have designed my business, I don't have people at the ready depending on my plate of work for theirs. It's just they're fellow solos I guess I would say. And we just try to work together. Karen Swim, APR (01:55): And so there are seasons in every solo's career. I think sometimes we forget that. We forget that just as in a corporate career, our careers will not always look the same year after year after year. There's nothing wrong with running a small agency. I do the same thing. However, I've had periods where it's less stressful to just do the work and to be on your own and as you said, to tap into help when you need help with something or to have somebody like an administrative person that can help with reports and help with some of the administrative tasks. And so I think that this topic arose because last year, so many solos and people, period, just professionals, people that were working were not happy in their jobs. And I want to speak to those people who have built that agency, have a team of people, but you are feeling the weight of it and you are burned out. You're not sure if you even want to continue this job. Here is another option if you're not quite ready to pivot out of PR and do something completely different. Michelle Kane (03:24): Right, right. I think in many cases, working as a pure solo gives you a little more fluidity. Karen Swim, APR (03:32): It does Michelle Kane (03:33): The direction that you can take your work. Karen Swim, APR (03:37): It definitely does. I feel like when it's just you and I've had those periods, it can be beautiful because in a weird way, you feel like you have more control over your time because you can do things exactly when you want them exactly the way that you want to. And so there's a freedom that comes with it being just you, just you and the work. I will also say for me personally, in those periods when it's just been me, it's allowed me to once again touch and feel all of the work and reconnecting with that, even if it doesn't all go as planned initially, as you streamline down to just yourself, there is something satisfying about that. And it allows you to spot things that you can improve. Because when you take your hands off of the day-to-Day and the tactical, and you step into that role of leader full on, you do, and you have to become disconnected from the day-to-Day work out of necessity because...

Did you start the new year determined to keep a calm and purposeful pace? How’s that going so far? In this episode, Karen and Michelle talk about how it is – really, it is – possible to be as productive as ever and stay off the hamster wheel. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:03): Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves. People like me, Michelle Kane with VoiceMatters, and my wonderful co-host, Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro. I don't know, maybe I'm working on a theme song for you. Karen Swim, APR (00:25): I love a good theme song. I think we should all have a theme song. Michelle Kane (00:30): My friends and I used to joke about that. What would be your walkup song? Of course, I don't have a good idea at the moment, but Karen Swim, APR (00:36): Yeah, when you're a speaker, you have those songs. I have songs that get me going, and sometimes I have a few that I have on rotation like, okay, I need my song. It's mine. But I mean personalized custom theme song. I think we should all have one. Michelle Kane (00:53): Yeah, absolutely. All right, well, that's something for all of us to think about and hit us up at soloprpro.com if you have some of them ready. But that kind of aligns with our topic today, since we are likely around mid-January by now, and the newness of the year might be the luster might be falling off and fading. So we want to talk about all the ways that we can keep ourselves motivated and keep ourselves shiny and just ready for this year, ready to make it as best a year as we can. And if that's a walkup song, awesome. Karen Swim, APR (01:37): I love it. We all know what happens in January, bright shiny new year and we're ready for it, blank slate. And we're all full of, we're coming off that holidays where we celebrate it, although this year we're exhausted, but January's a good month. It's fresh, and we have these resolutions or these goals that we set collectively not just as solos, and then somewhere around mid-month, a lot of stuff starts to fall away because reality hits. Yet you come back to an inbox that's overflowing and your clients want stuff and the dog threw up and the kids got kicked out of school. There's projects due. There's too many athletic events. Your mother-in-law's is being a pain, whatever it is, life intervenes and suddenly those goals you miss a day, then another day, then another day, and then it's just a memory. Michelle Kane (02:41): Right. Then you're back on the hamster wheel. Karen Swim, APR (02:44): Yeah, you're on the hamster wheel. So what today we want to just talk about some of the ways that we can keep that positive momentum that comes in January going through the rest of the year. Michelle Kane (02:59): Yeah. I think one way that I'm really trying to be conscious of is to just take a pause when you sense that steamroll mentality or when that steamroll activity is about to set off and it does help, I think for nothing else, the primary point of I do have the power to take even 30 seconds and say, okay, what's next? And I think if you allow yourself those moments, even if it's just once a day, I think you'll see that your sticktoitiveness is definitely helpful. Yeah. Let's face it, by the time this time of year hits, we've blown through all the Christmas chocolates, so our sugar cravings are kicking in and we're like, what do you mean? I only have rice cakes and maybe you've finally taken down the holiday lights, which I am always sad about. I'm thinking leave them up through February. Winter is bleak enough. But I think just taking whatever time you need to reset yourself as often as you need to, I think is one helpful way. Karen Swim, APR (04:23): I also think getting in the habit of gratitude, so we know that gratitude journals or writing something you're thankful for on a piece of paper, putting it in a jar, so now you have a jar that you're collecting that you just pull out. But...