What does it mean to have a “PR Vibe”?

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Last week, I was running errands and stopped in a pharmacy. Slightly exhausted from the week of interning and working at various positions, I was sure that I looked a bit unkempt at best.

Upon reaching the register, I began to have a conversation with the cashier, which eventually led her to ask me what my major was in college. When I said “public relations”, she smiled knowingly, and responded “that makes sense, you have a PR vibe”.

Not quite sure what she meant, I chalked it up to a compliment, and continued through my day. However, looking back at the conversation, I wondered what constitutes having a PR vibe.

After careful consideration, I believe that what makes PR folk recognizable is our open nature and ability to multi-task.

These two traits are shared among the best up and coming PR professionals, and are important for individuals to have in order to succeed in the field.

Specifically, mastering the art of communicating with anyone is incredibly important for PR jobs. If you work for an agency and have to speak to clients, press contacts, and more, you should be able to do so with ease.

Also, multi-tasking is an integral part of PR. Balancing multiple tasks at once is what PR folk are known for, and it comes in handy when hundreds of emails are flooding your inbox in a week and meetings are popping up on your calendar months in advance.

There is also something to be said about being exhausted. As a PR professional, you are going to be worn down and often feel as though the weight of the world is on your shoulders. However, what immediately makes a PR professional noticeable is their willingness to exceed expectations and continue working, even if they are ready to fall asleep at their desk!

So, if you are ever told you have a “PR vibe” about you, take it as a compliment. It most likely has nothing to do with the bags under your eyes, but rather your commitment to the field!

Managing Multiple Clients…Successfully

As aspiring PR professionals, we are constantly juggling multiple clients at any given time and this can bring upon confusion and potential mistakes. The following 4 steps to manage multiple clients will eliminate any potential for confusion or mistakes!

1. Work on each client a little each day- It is very easy to get caught up in one client and one project per day, but it is necessary to pay attention to each client a little each day. This reassures that all information is fresh in your head as well as being current on any news or happenings from your client. Ideally, you are checking each website at least once daily and setting Google alerts so you are up to date on everything.
2. Create a “cheat sheet”- A cheat sheet for each client is made up of any and all important information that would need to be accessed at any given moment. Important information could be the board of directors, mission statement, voice of social media, and background of the company as well as simple reminders of current projects. This is important because it is easy to forget small details but since they are important details, checking back quickly and easily is key.
3. Do not switch gears blindly- Moving from one project to another happens often but needs to be done with caution. Always check back to your cheat sheet for information when switching client projects and always triple check your emails and social media blasts; you do not want to be tweeting about animal rights from your alternative energy client. Each client has his or her own voice, so keeping track of this is important, one may be more conversation while another is strictly business. Make sure you have a document with where all of your client information is: file names, what colored flash drive or what Google Doc, it is important to know where this can be found at any time.
4. Social Media Planner- Along with your cheat sheet, you should also have a social media planner. Here you will lay out each tweet, Facebook update, and other posts for each client and have they scheduled. This planner will be your life and is of the upmost importance because a social media “voice” is the voice of your client. This information should also be in your cheat sheet, the voice and goal of your social media: funny, conversational, and factual. Regardless of the voice you chose, it must stay consistent. Having a social media planner will also ensure that you dedicate equal time to each of your client’s online profiles.

What tips do you have for managing multiple clients successfully? Let us know!

How To Multitask Successfully

Any PR pro will tell you that knowing how to multitask is a must. When clients are calling, pitches have to be sent out, and a staff needs to be managed, it's important that you know how to stay on top of everything without losing any attention to detail. It seems overwhelming, but the best of the best do it everyday. Here are 4 quick tips to help you multitask effectively:

1. Eliminate unnecessary tasks: When working on multiple tasks at one time, it's important that you stick to what has to be done. Taking the time out to browse through Facebook or Twitter could take away time that you need to complete pressing tasks. Remove the fluff from you schedule and stick to what is necessary.

2. Work on one thing at a time: Working on more than one thing at a time is a recipe for failure. It's impossible to juggle multiple things at one time and give everything your all. Make a to-do list and work your way down one task at a time.

3. Keep track of yourself: If you find yourself in a situation where you have to multitask, make sure you're writing down what has to be done, what has been done, and what can wait until later. Keep your list organized and orderly to get the most out of it.

4. Ask for help when you need it: If a project or assignment is becoming too much for you to handle, ask for help. It's never good to miss a deadline or turn in an assignment late. Communicate your workload with the people you work with, they won't want you to be overwhelmed and will most likely love to help you out.

How do you manage multitasking? Let us know!