Once upon a time Aristotle said something along of the lines of “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” We like to think that Aristotle was giving PR practitioners the blueprint to success through this statement.
Taking Aristotle’s words in relation to PR – it’s important to understand that being a phenomenal Public Relations professional is not a single act. There is no “kick-ass-everyday” serum or “one thing” that propels you from “good” to “great”. In our industry, PR is something that you work at every-day, steadily gaining expertise in your craft.
However, as seasoned PR Girls, we’ve found that there are some “Daily Do’s” that are consistent with great PR people.
1. They commit to learning one new thing about PR daily.
The PR industry doesn’t stop evolving – so you should never stop learning. Get familiar with platforms that cover growing trends in the Public Relations: PR Daily, Cision, and countless blogs + platforms, etc. Learn something new or interesting each day by reading these platforms. It keeps you aware of what’s going on, as well as keeping you in tune with new tactics that can be used for your projects.
2. They check in with at least one person in their professional network.
Great PR professionals understand that building relationships is important – but even more important is maintaining these relationships. People enjoy doing work with individuals they like. A very easy way to show that you appreciate your professional connections is by checking in. Send an email over to the editor who featured your client last month – see how they’re doing. You never know if they might be looking for new material. The point is maintaining relationships allow you to not only build strong contacts, but to establish yourself as one of the PR professionals that cares beyond a pitch placement.
3. They spend at least 30 minutes a day doing research.
Yes, research. It doesn’t stop after “the proposal” stage of your PR efforts. Even if you’re in the middle of your campaign you should still be doing research. Have any new competitors turned up in the past few weeks? Is there something that you’re overlooking regarding your client? All these are questions that can be answered if you’re continuously doing primary and secondary research about your client’s place in the market. Do your homework – and keep doing your homework.
4. They prioritize their day.
PR is a career where you’re continuously juggling multiple large-scale projects and responsibilities. It is very easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to get done. PR professionals who succeed plan ahead. Create a to-do list at the end of every day so that you are aware of what must be taken care of the following day. Prioritizing each day allows you to be prepared to jump the hurdle before you come face to face with it.
Is there anything you do every-day in your PR efforts that have helped to strengthen your abilities as a PR Pro? What tips would you add to this list? Let us know!