5 New Year’s Resolutions for PR Professionals
by Haley McGahey
I am someone who is motivated by goals, to-do lists, accomplishments both big and small, and checking items off. That said, it should come as no surprise that I very much enjoy making lists of resolutions or goals. The new year is always a time of reflection and attempts to improve in all areas of my life for me whether these resolutions are personal, health-related, or professional.
This post outlines some of the work-related resolutions I’ve set for myself this year and how they relate to growth for professionals in the public relations industry.
Resolution #1: Vary my connections.
The marketing industry in Charlotte is close-knit. Agency and in-house professionals attend the same networking and continuing education events, are a part of the same clubs, and, all in all, work to encourage and build up one another. It is a community I’m very grateful for. However, there is something to be said for a variety of connections. Why not further connect with professionals in the industries my clients are in? I’m a fitness instructor on the side so why not find deeper ways to engage with people in that industry and see how our professional experiences might be able to support each other? Regardless of your industry or niche within that industry, there is always a way to find broader circles to make yourself a part of. More often than not, this helps you and your own business by putting you in front of people who didn’t know you existed or who could use your services to benefit their own businesses.
When it comes to PR, there is a lot of room for growth for me when it comes to the contacts I have outside of my communications and journalism realm. As humans, it is easy for us to stick close to what we know. For me, that is others in my profession or a similar one. When it comes to PR work, I’m pitching to the same groups and individuals, many of which I work with on other projects. The people I will meet by varying my connections have ever more connections (both in my industry and not) that could help share my stories. Furthermore, they are possibly people that might want to work with me. I get excited when I think of the possibilities branching out and varying my connections has!
Resolution #2: Become the Influencer I Want to be Influenced by.
Google defines influencer marketing as:
“a form of marketing that has emerged from a variety of recent practices and studies, in which focus is placed on specific key individuals (or types of individual) rather than the target market as a whole”
In content marketing, PR, and digital marketing as a whole, influencers play a big role, and their significance is only growing year over year. I’m always on the lookout for influencers. Be it people I can work with to spread the story I’m telling, individuals who are spreading stories that I could learn and gain something from, or online presences that educate me in my person life (insert my “pop culture” twitter list including @enews and @GiulianaRancic). Why not work to be that type of an influence for others? Embarking on a detailed look at your own online presence and influence and then taking it to the next level will go hand in hand with resolving to vary connections. The more content you’re putting out there, the larger your reach and the more variety of people will be attracted to you. Resolutions that share a common purpose and result allow them to be even easier to implement.
Resolution #3: Test More.
I can be really good at the comfort zone. I’ve been out of college long enough to know what tactics and channels work well and, sometimes, as much as I don’t like to admit it, I’m great at sticking to those and recreating the wheel with each project. Results stay steady, clients stay happy, things are fine. Marketing is always changing, business is always changing, and, let’s be real, the world is always changing. Why am I not changing how I do things? Resolving to try more nontraditional approaches to PR and my work in general by spending more time testing and evaluating what will continue to work and what might work better is big for me this year. When I start to let my mind wander to what could happen if I did this the possibilities just keep coming… #nomorehamsterwheelallowed
Resolution #4: Learn something new every single day.
This should be the easiest of the five resolutions I’m sharing here. There is always something to learn and always someplace or someone to learn from. This is going to include reading more relevant books and literature pertaining to my role, further engaging with other PR professionals to learn what they’re doing and how it is working and how I can possibly alter what I’m doing to garner greater results. I think this is such a great resolution for anyone – regardless of your role in life or work! We all have room to learn and grow and will become better human beings by doing so.
Resolutions #5: Designate Electronics Free Time.
This goal is part work-related and part personal. Resetting and refueling are so big for me. I need some time at night, when I’m not sleeping, to turn off and let my mind and body take a break from the day. When I intentionally do this I’m so much more ready to go in the morning and alert and intentional with my work.
In PR, it is often expected to be turned on all of the time. While it is good to be plugged in and available at nontraditional times of day, it is also important for your own health to take a mental break, even if it is small, each day. My goal is to either turn off all electronics an hour before I go to bed at night, or, wake up an hour earlier and give myself time to get ready for the day before checking email or twitter. Think of how much more focused you’ll be when you are turned on if you aim to allow this little break each day.
What work-related or PR-focused resolutions do you have this year? Let us know in the comments below!
Want more news and insights from our team? Click the button below to subscribe to our blog and receive consistent updates.