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QUESTION ON Public Relations and Events Consultancy Business
I am a black woman who has been a public relations and events consultant for about 10 years. I have had a semi-steady stream of one-time clients and occasional long-term contracts. My clients speak highly of me, and my work is very good. I am multi-talented, creative and energetic. I have had great fun in this field and am fairly well known by many people in Tampa. Now at 46, I want to secure my future, but cannot seem to break out of the “small time” mode. I see peers who are getting big clients and making tons of money. I’d like to break into the speaking field as well. HELP!-
– Jacqueline
ANSWER
Advice by Tammy Harrison
Dear Jacqueline:
Congratulations on your ‘small’ successes! There are dozens of people behind you who would take what you have built in a heartbeat!
My best suggestion to you is to partner with non-competitive peers, to move into the business class you are seeking.
For instance, I wanted to find authors that needed ad campaigns. Those that I had previously worked with had small budgets, but I knew there were others who had reasonable budgets to run quality ad campaigns with. Therefore, I found a gal who was also working with authors and conversed with her about offering my services as a compliment to her services! We’ve run a few campaigns for her clients in the past year and they have all been quite successful. We don’t make money off of each other’s work, but it does allow us both to offer customers a much bigger opportunity to find the success they desired. In turn, I’ve spread my new pal’s name on to others and she’s done the same for me! We also get together on the phone a few times a month and just brainstorm about ways to grow our businesses and ways to offer more to others.
Another thing to remember is that YOU must be accessible to those you want to work with. Where do they dine? What associations are they involved in? Are there roundtable discussions that happen in your area?
Take the time to really make yourself accessible to your dream-clients — join groups and offer your services wherever you can! I have had repeat customers who come to me just because they heard I was associated with certain charities in town, or they saw my work through friends and acquaintances. I continually spend time working with the small business persons, but my philosophy is this: If I do well for them and earn their loyalty and trust, then they’ll grow and they’ll continue to bring their business (and increased budgets) to me!
Also check out the tips written by a PR professional on “How to Succeed in the Public Relations Business.
I hope this helps! As a PR person, you know that it’s all in the talk!
Best,
Tammy Harrison
Recommended Resources on How To Build a Public Relations and Events Consultancy Business
- Putting the Public Back in Public Relations: How Social Media Is Reinventing the Aging Business of PR
- Practice of Public Relations, The (11th Edition)
- Start Your Own Event Planning Business 3/E: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success
- The Business of Event Planning: Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Successful Special Events
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- Evernote
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- Mail.ru
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