Working in public relations can be a wild ride. From dealing with various types of clients to interacting with numerous journalists and media outlets, no two days are the same. Our Co-Founder and COO, Jered Martin, took to Twitter to connect with PR professionals to talk about their roles. We were amazed by the fantastic responses. Additionally, we enjoyed the communal conversation that this sparked between fellow PR professionals. See what Twitter’s PR professionals had to say about their roles in this dynamic and crazy industry in response to Jered's tweet:
Tell me you work in #PR without telling me you work in PR. #prrequest
— 🤙 Jered Martin 🤙 (@JmoMonk) January 12, 2021
Let's dive into the 17 signs you work in public relations:
Starting off, many of the responses centered around the constant adaptability PR professionals need to have. Whether it be juggling different clients’ needs or maneuvering through today’s crazy news cycle, PR pros are always on their toes ready to interpret, adjust, and execute.
Every day of this global health/wildfire/government coup crisis. pic.twitter.com/mGJ94d1JE3
— Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores408) January 12, 2021
"Sometimes I'll start a sentence and I don't even know where it's going. I just hope I find it along the way. Like an improv conversation. An improversation." pic.twitter.com/Y3Wsn2L4Sj
— Christopher Barboza (@ChrisBarbozaPR) January 12, 2021
Agency life is always a dynamic business. PR pros are no stranger to maneuvering the various needs of their client. These PR pros shared their feelings that we all can relate to around managing client relationships and expectations:
Client: "I need to be in the WSJ or at least Vogue by tomorrow."
*internally screams*— Kathryn Brown (Reinhardt) (@kat_reinhardt) January 12, 2021
I contact the news media and occasionally they write about my company.
— Matt Longman (@MediaGuy29) January 12, 2021
Every prospect client: I’d really like to be in Forbes, but I’m on a budget and not sure if I’m ready to invest in PR.
— Kristen Shea (@ksgauthier) January 13, 2021
Get me interviews.
Here's some interviews
No not those interviews— Barry King (@Bazking8) January 13, 2021
I haven’t slept a full 8 hours since 2019, I’ve thought of 3 pitch angles for your business since you gave me your elevator pitch, no I cannot guarantee you a placement and NO I cannot just write an article on you and send it to a journalist to publish.
— beth booker (@itsbethbooker) January 13, 2021
Additionally, working on behalf of your client often requires you to make efforts in establishing them as a thought leader. Whether you are writing content about them or pitching them to the media as sources, PR professionals learn quickly how to familiarize themselves with their clients’ industries to successfully communicate and land coverage.
I have pretended to be CEOs in AI, Drones, Construction, Graphic Design software industries and more for various thought leadership articles. #theartofghostwriting pic.twitter.com/yKpGDl2akZ
— Carole Barrow (@SanFranWriter) January 12, 2021
I use the words "thought leadership" at least 15 times a day.
— Katrina Cameron (@KatCameron91) January 12, 2021
I constantly want to write "thot leadership" to write my notes faster but don't want anyone getting the wrong idea
— Oscar Acevedo (@AH_Defender) January 13, 2021
We can’t talk PR without talking about media relations. From fostering relationships with journalists to managing the waves of pitch rejections, it’s necessary to develop a resilient attitude and low ego.
I stalk journalist on Twitter
— Jackie Jacobs (@MsJackieJacobs) January 12, 2021
I stalk people to make sure that when I send them an email, they feel warm and cozy and not an urgent need to call the police.
— Reetta Ilo (@ReettaIlo) January 13, 2021
"Hello, thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, we're going to pass on this opportunity as it's not in line with what we're looking for at the moment..." 😭
— Katya Pavlevych (@Kpavlevych) January 12, 2021
"No one ever responds to my emails. Ever"
— Natalie Bartels (@NatalieRBartels) January 12, 2021
And not only are you pitching writers, but you’re also the one writing, editing, and...editing some more.
I wear all black all the time and can write talking points in under :30.
— marlawhite/WHPR (@marlawhite) January 12, 2021
Good story but can you get them to change the headline?
— Ian Curwen (@iancurwen) January 13, 2021
"Someone edited my email. That's normal."
— Whitney Wells (@whitpwells) January 12, 2021
In addition to our 17 signs, we wanted to include these bonus tweets just had to be mentioned because they are just so true.
In an industry which is two-thirds female, men still held 64% of seats in the boardroom in 2020 #PR
— Global WPR (@globalwpr) January 13, 2021
— Mary Borstelmann (@maryborstelmann) January 12, 2021
I listen to "Coffee with a journalist", survive on coffee and check my emails constantly.
— Irina Karelina (@tellmeyourfable) January 12, 2021
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If you're someone who loves getting the behind-the-scenes scoop on journalists, be sure to subscribe to our Coffee with a Journalist podcast. Each week, we are joined by journalists from your favorite media outlets to discuss their work, how they manage pitches, and their answers to our audience-submitted questions. For a taste and listen to our full episode with Alejandro de la Garza of TIME.
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