Tips For One-on-One Networking

People often say that PR is all about who you know.  And if that’s true, it’s no surprise that networking is so important!  With that, I’ve recently made it a personal goal of mine to network as much as possible.   From my experience and the advice of many others, I’ve compiled 5 important tips to successfully networking one-on-one.

1. Do the work.

When it comes to one-on-one networking, you are asking a big favor of someone: time.  So, be sure to work around his or her schedule completely.  Give them a few options of times to meet, and options for lunch or coffee, unless they insist on a specific meeting place.   The key is making it as easy as possible for them to want to give you their time. 

 
2.    It’s not about you…. Or at least that’s what you want them to think.
Never walk into a networking opportunity with a list of things that you want to get from the person.  Instead, find a way that you can help them.  How can you help grow their business?  They will return the favor.
 
3.    Be Yourself
This is too often overlooked in networking.  But it is so important to show your personality.  That is how you make connections with people, and remain memorable.  But remember, this isn’t lunch with your friends, so keep it professional too. 
 
4.    Don’t Dismiss Anything
You may find yourself in a situation where you think networking with someone will be a waste of time.  Maybe they’re not in your industry, or your not sure how you can help each other.  But don’t dismiss any opportunities.  There is always something to be gained from networking, even if you don’t see a short-term result.
 
5.    Stay in touch
Everyone knows to send the standard follow up email thanking him or her for their time and advice, but don’t stop there.  Stay in touch with everyone in your network!  Shoot them an email every once in a while to see how they’re doing, and keep up with their businesses.  Be sure to congratulate them about any recent success.  Maybe even send an email or handwritten card to everyone in your network over the holidays.

One of the most important things to remember about networking is that there is no specific formula.  And different things work for different people.  What are some things that you’ve learned from networking?  Let us know!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Chris Covone. 

Freelance Philly

Being involved in the public relations industry, people often ask what kind of PR you are interested in working in.   There are always some stock answers.  People often respond by saying they want to work in entertainment PR, fashion PR, non-profit PR, political PR, and so on.  However, I recently came across some young PR professionals who were exploring, in my opinion, a more nontraditional PR sector: freelance PR.  

Now, I think the idea of freelance PR gets pushed under the rug far too often. So many people dream of working for huge, widely successful PR firms, and who can blame them? But, these reputable firms didn’t just happen overnight; they had to start somewhere. Perhaps with a freelance vision?

With that thought in place, I started digging.  I wanted to learn as much as I could about this freelance PR scene, and I was surprised to find that entrepreneurial PR is actually booming in Philadelphia.  Below are two that really stood out to me, and are definitely something to think about for your next internship!

1.  The first that I came across is called Philly PR Girl.  As you will find in the website, the Philly PR Girl is actually an entrepreneur-minded young woman named Kate Marlys. Marlys launched her company in 2010 after 6 years of working in non-profit management.  Her vision includes building awareness for small business, and creating networking events in the city of Philadelphia. She offers a wide range of PR services, from social media to event planning to marketing collateral design.  Check her out @Philly_PR_Girl!

2.  The next is called Piqued PR. After landing on the beautifully designed website, you would never guess that Piqued PR was actually founded this year by former Immaculata University fashion merchandising student, Patricia Maristch. Aside from her fashion background, this young PR pro has had years of retail experience, and her services include everything from blogging to styling to brand development. Check her out @PiquedPR!

All this talk of freelance PR has me wondering, “What’s your PR vision?”  Share it with us! 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Chris Covone.

Manning PR

Everyday I hear more and more about how PR has become an industry dominated by women.  In fact, according to recent membership figures released by the Institute of Public Relations, women now outnumber men 60:40 in the public relations field.  This ratio is particularly relevant to me, as I represent one of only two men in a PRowl, and work for a group of three incredibly successful women in the Real Estate industry.  This got me thinking about how a man can succeed in an industry dominated by women.  So, to help aspiring male PR professionals, I’ve compiled my top three tips, from my experience thus far, to successfully working as a man in an industry dominated by women. 

1. Learn the Language - Learning the language of any industry is key to success. Any PR professional would agree there is a clear language and method of communicating associated with PR. So, keeping in mind that women dominate this industry, one could argue that women have written this language associated with PR. It is up to us men to become fluent in it. So men, pick up your Rosetta Stone, and start studying, because this is the first step to earning the same success as women in PR.
2. Dress to Impress - Dressing properly is such a beneficial but understated tool for men in PR.  More importantly, this is something that women in PR have been doing right for years.  Women in PR know how to professionally brand themselves with their clothes.  They know how to make a statement, and how to properly represent themselves.  But men can do it too! When choosing the perfect “dress to impress” outfit, remember to keep in mind your surroundings.  There is a time and place for everyone’s personal style.  It is up to you to know what to wear and when to wear it to make the right impression. Be sure to showcase your personality, and make a statement about yourself. 
3. Play to Your Strengths - Women have incredible strengths in this industry, but it is not these strengths alone that have made women into some of the gatekeepers of PR. It is how they’ve learned to use them for success.  For a man to find success in PR, you have to find your own strengths.  Brainstorm, boys!  What is it that makes you stand out?  What creative ideas do you have?  Figure it out, and leverage it to make you the person whose name everybody knows. 

Having had the opportunity to work with so many talented and intelligent women in both my job and in PRowl, I have seen first-hand why women have earned so much success in this industry.  But men can do it too!  With a little language study, a bold wardrobe, and a strengths-based strategy, you will have the foundation for success in PR. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Chris Covone.