Public relations

A collection of 72 posts

Authority brand

Visibility is easy. Credibility is rare.

The fundamentals of building credibility for one’s brand have not changed. Relationships. Trust. Genuine expertise shared generously. All as relevant today as they were a decade or more ago. What has changed, however, is where and how that credibility gets communicated and amplified - the channels, the tools, the

LinkedIn

The PR tactic hiding in plain sight that most people dismiss as frivolous

In a previous article I unpacked a concept I call Micro-Acts of PR, or MAPRs, explaining how small moves can build big reputations over time. In this issue, I want to show what that looks like in action and in doing so, reinforce a tactic we all know about but

Public relations

Micro-Acts of PR: Small moves that build big reputations

“The podcast appearance this month might lead to your dream client… next year.” I love that line from Ellen Donnelly, publisher of The Ask newsletter - it’s bang on! Why? Because it perfectly sums up how visibility, trust, and reputation actually work today. To be fair, it’s the

Thought leadership

Unpacking ARC - the professional transformation that moves leaders and experts from the margins into the frame

You have the expertise. The track record. The ideas that capture people’s attention. The insights that could shift conversations and open doors. But none of it matters if you’re standing in the margins, hidden largely from public view. You’re a credible professional, a solo practice owner or

Thought leadership

You're more visible than ever. So why aren't there more opportunities coming your way?

You’ve been putting in the work - showing up consistently, posting regularly, sharing insights - in an attempt to raise your professional profile and build your presence online. But the opportunities you expected - the inbound inquiries, the quality clients, the meaningful partnerships, the podcast interviews - aren’t

Authority brand

All the tactics in the world won’t save you without these two things

Should I be on YouTube? Start a podcast? Publish a Substack newsletter? Or write articles on LinkedIn (or is it better to post videos 🧐 )? And what about TikTok? I hear it’s better than Instagram for business. Maybe I should get out there and do more networking? Hmmm … Or set

Thought leadership

Why I’m returning to Substack (and what it says about the future of authority building)

After a year and a half of publishingmy newsletter Reputation OnRamp on the Beehiiv platform, I’ve made the decision to return to Substack - and rebrand the newsletter as Earn the Right. This isn’t just a platform switch. It’s a strategic recalibration. Over the past six months,

AI

Earned media has got its sexy back (and it’s time to get on board)

Once upon a time, earned media meant one thing: getting a story in the newspaper or being interviewed on the nightly news. That was the goalpost for visibility and credibility. And it still matters. But here’s the kicker: Earned media today is so much more, and it's

Thought leadership

These three profile-building opportunities are 'right under your nose' - are you missing out?

Okay folks … I’ve got three things for you to think about this week. This is relevant if you’re keen to raise your personal brand visibility, credibility and authority. Let’s unpack them one by one … 1. Newsletter on LinkedIn If long-form written content is something you do as

Marketing Communications

This is powerful: Why looking at your business through the twin lenses of PR and marketing could become a game-changer!

I’d like to run a concept by you and it might - just might - change the way you look at how you position and promote your business and professional personal brand. As business owners, we’re told constantly that we have to “do marketing”, but what the heck

Thought leadership

Credibility wins! How to beat the hucksters and wannabes at their own game

In last week’s blog post, I got on my soapbox (metaphorically), raised a pitchfork (still metaphorically speaking!) and let fly about the growing number of braggarts, spotlight seekers and bro’ marketers who are infecting social media. "In an online world increasingly inhabited by grandstanders, wannabes and hucksters, it’

Public relations

Tread warily folks: People talkin' crap about PR (again!)

It’s little wonder entrepreneurs professional experts are confused about (a) what PR is, and (b) how it can help them grow their brand and their business, when crap, as outlined below, pops up in people’s social feeds. I recently came across a LinkedIn post written by a so-called

Public relations

Take Dick Dastardly's advice: “Don’t just stand there, do something!”

As that once-in-a-generation philosopher and entrepreneur Dick Dastardly once said: “Don’t just stand there, do something!” When it comes to raising one's profile and reputation in a way that’s purposeful and sustainable, I'm all for doing your homework and sketching out a strategic plan

personal branding

Three key attributes of business owners who are nailing their personal brand communications

For years I have worked closely with credible business owners, thought leaders and professional experts, helping them to cut through the noise, grow their profile and their influence, and build their business (and personal) brand. I’ve also interviewed hundreds more for my podcast, and delved into their stories, experiences,

Uncategorized

Beyond 'know-like-trust': Grow your business by focusing on these five forerunners to commercial success

If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you will have heard the phrase “know, like, trust” rolled out ad nauseam. It’s been drummed into us: To generate new business leads, to make the sale - particularly in service-based businesses - people need to know us,

personal branding

How self-respecting business owners can self-promote without feeling icky!

As the great Aretha Franklin once sang with gusto: R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Respect. It’s a word I refer to often, and one which I think is more important than ever in today’s digital-first world for what it represents. Respect for our audience. Respect for

Owned media

Build a growing audience for your brand: Looking at owned media through a PR lens with Andrés López-Varela

Welcome back to another insightful episode of "Become Your Own PR Machine," where we dive deep into strategies and ideas to help you build visibility, influence, trust and credibility for your business and personal brand. In this episode I’m joined by a true thought leader in the

Public relations

When it comes to content & digital communications, it's important to always ask yourself: "Why?"

You’re an ambitious owner of a growing service-based business. Maybe you’re a solopreneur wanting to carve out an expert niche for your professional personal brand. Regardless, your success is likely to hinge on how many people know who you are and what you’re all about, that they

Media relations

If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready!

As the saying goes: "If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready" - nowhere is this truer than in the media commentary game. If you work in a fast-moving issues-rich industry or environment and you want to elevate your profile as the go-to authority for

Public relations

Introducing POCKET PR ESSENTIALS - an audio-only micro-coaching series

UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH THE POWER OF PR, CONTENT AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS! Introducing Pocket PR Essentials (Vol. 1), my audio-only micro-coaching series for ambitious business owners and entrepreneurial professionals. THINK: * Training and inspiration in your pocket - listen on-the-go via your podcast app (yep, this is a

Public relations

Build the base: Put the reputational foundations in place

We all want to generate sustainable returns for our service-based business, but that's going to require more than some LinkedIn hack, reimagined sales funnel or 'proven' lead gen system (that maybe worked for someone else, but in all likelihood won't work for you). But

Thought leadership

Mark Schaefer is a modern-day PR marvel: What can we learn from him?

I’ve long said that some of the best exponents of modern-day public relations are not necessarily the trained professionals who practise PR on a day-to-day basis, but savvy business entrepreneurs who just ‘get’ this stuff and have the mindset and motivation to take action daily. Case in point … Mark

Digital communications

How to create more impact by harnessing the power of a ‘PR mindset’

Mastering PR, content and digital communications for the benefit of your brand and your business today requires some strategic and tactical nous. But more than anything, much of it will come down to mindset. After being deep in the PR and marketing communications trenches for 30 years, I can say

Become Your Own PR Machine podcast

Unlock the potential of your business through the power of PR (expansive interview)

This episode of my BECOME YOUR OWN PR MACHINE podcast, I am interviewed by culture and leadership expert, Tristan White, about the power of content and communication - it's an expansive conversation where I lay it all on the line! [ Tristan originally interviewed me on his Think Big,

Uncategorized

PR Essentials: Your toolkit for building visibility, influence and trust in today's noisy digital-first world

In today’s noisy digital marketplace, where bullshit and overhype is the name of the game, standing out in a way that’s both credible and respectful of consumers’ time and intellect is both an art and a science. But mostly, it’s about humanity: telling stories, adding value, sparking