Episodes

With so many options for your business to have a presence online – Facebook, LinkedIn, Medium, Twitter, Alignable, and more – do you really need a website? We say, “Yes!” A website is the online presence that you own – you pay for the domain name registration and hosting; you have full control over the content. Social media is space you “rent” in that you rely on that platform to stay in business and allow you to present your information in the way that suits you. You need both a website as y...

We are still in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis but we are at the point where we are starting to think about re-entry from quarantine. “Normal” is still a long way off so our responsibility as communications professionals is to guide our clients through this and to the opportunities that exist. And yes, there are opportunities to do business in creative – yes, even lucrative – ways and continue creating a loyal community of customers. Likewise, for our own businesses, how must we pivot to best...

As PR Pros, we’re used to managing crises. But COVID-19 is a crisis like no other, upending so much in our work and personal lives. How do we make sure we’re providing the leadership our clients, colleagues, and peers need from us while also practicing the self-care we need to keep going? Ken Byler, a Leadership Guide with his own practice, Higher Ground Consulting Group, joins us to share tactics we can begin using right now as we make our way through this time in our lives. Ken has been coac...

In today’s episode of That Solo Life, we discuss the various financial resources available to solos and small businesses with the CARES Act, including the Paycheck Protection Program, EIDL, Bridge Express Loans, and other programs from the SBA, and the expansion of unemployment compensation to include the self-employed. Regarding the latter, if anything, we hope this may bring the government up to speed with recognition of impact of the self-employed on the U.S. economy. This is especially true ...

In today’s episode of That Solo Life, we want to know: How are you? Really. How are you doing? Life is a lot these days with the emotion and uncertainty around the COVID-19 crisis. Economic relief is starting to become available. If you haven’t had a chance, visit the SBA website with the COVID-19 programs. It’s important to not allow this period of uncertainty to become paralyzing. Believe us when we say there is a way to cultivate business, even now. Be helpful, be empathetic, be open to new ...

In today’s episode of That Solo Life, we are checking in with YOU! We hope you are well and enjoy this conversation about the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on our business lives, our personal lives, and the world. From the relief available for independent contractors and the self-employed to suddenly having co-workers in the form of spouses now working from home, we cover it all. How are you navigating this new landscape? We’d love to hear your stories. Please share with us at soloprpro.com.

We remain in the thick of a COVID-19 world, where change comes by the day, even by the hour. Many of us who normally work from a home office as solos have gained new colleagues, with family members working from home and children home from school. How’s that going? We find ourselves busier than ever working to keep our clients’ constituencies informed yet with an eye on what this means for the economy and our businesses in the long run. Self-care is more important than ever. Be conscious of yo...

The arrival of COVID-19 has brought with it unique challenges for the business world and our communities across the globe. What does this mean for our businesses? For the normality of our lives? As of the recording of this podcast (on Wednesday, March 11, 2020), we are in taking things day-by-day mode, dealing with the progressing scenario. Rather than approach this event with fear, Solo PR Pro’s Karen Swim says, “Every challenge presents an opportunity for growth and improvement.” We hope this...

Let’s circle back and level-set to reach the business-critical ask. What? Right. Corporate speak. Why do corporations speak the way they do? Two recent articles, which we've been discussing in the Solo PR Pro Members' Facebook Group, brought this to mind: Molly Young, Vulture.com: Garbage Language Why Do Corporations Speak the Way They Do? Olga Khazan, The Atlantic: Corporate Buzzwords Are How Workers Pretend to Be Adults Why does the business world feel the need to complicate communicatio...

From webinars to conferences, blogs to heading back to the classroom, there are many ways for us to invest in ourselves and our work with ongoing professional development. It’s important to remember: Don’t be deterred if you can’t afford an expensive conference right away. There are many smaller, more cost-effective opportunities, in-person and online. The professional development you pursue doesn’t have to be PR-centric. Maybe it’s a creative writing conference, or a series on digital market...

As communications professionals our workdays are full of decisions. From making decisions in the best interests of our clients to making decisions about our businesses, some days there is little bandwidth left over for the simplest of choices, like what to eat for lunch or what to wear on any given day. Is this you? Then listen so you know you're not alone and to get some ideas on how to evade this feeling. How do you combat decision fatigue? We’d love to hear from you. Visit us at soloprpro.co...

Today, we are thrilled to have as our guest Gene Zaino, founder and executive chairman of MBO Partners, a company he launched to reinvent the way independent consultants and organizations work together. Gene is a nationally-recognized expert in the next way of working and he joins us today to discuss the impact of recent legislation -- in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and most recently the Federal level with the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 -- on the state of the indepen...

L-O-V-E – Love! Since this episode falls near Valentine’s Day we decided to talk about the ways you love your work, your business, your solo life! 2020 has already presented its own challenges -- AB5 and its Federal counterpart the PROAct, it’s an election year, and more. Join us and get some ideas on how to keep the spark. How do you show love for your business? We want to know! Visit us at soloprpro.com to share.

PR Pros, marketers, creatives, we know that much of our work requires “energy out” behavior. To stay mentally and physically healthy, we need to take the time to replenish bodies and minds. It’s easy for negative thoughts to take hold if you are physically or mentally run down. It isn’t helped by the truth that many PR pros are wired to be overthinkers. It helps us succeed professionally but can also lead to unnecessary rumination. In today’s episode, we share our experiences and talk about wa...

Working for yourself is great, with many items in the “pro” column. Two of the potential challenges for many solo practitioners? Asking for client feedback and reviewing ourselves. In today’s episode, we discuss several ways to solicit this information from clients and put systems in place to measure our own professional progress. How about you? How do you check in with your clients, with yourself, to make sure you are achieving goals and serving your clients well? Visit us at soloprpro.com to ...

In this episode of That Solo Life we give an update on how California Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5) is already penalizing solo entrepreneurs, independent workers, and small business owners and what you can do to prepare should similar legislation come your way. Then we switch gears to share excellent advice from our brain trust of Solo PR Pro “smarties” who have so generously shared advice for anyone considering starting a business in PR, marketing, or any other field. We touch on a few points in this...

2020 is here. What do you want to achieve over the next 12 months? How will you get there? In today’s episode we discuss the importance of setting personal and professional goals and the many methods of achieving those goals. What are your goals? How do you keep your momentum? We want to know - contact us online to share your thoughts. One of the ways to achieve your goals is to share them with your friends and peers. When you become a member of Solo PR Pro, you have access to our private Face...

It’s a new year, the perfect time to look at what’s ahead and that’s just what the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations has done with their newly-released piece, The Top Public Relations Career Trends of 2020. From the growing importance of data and analytics in PR to the need for PR pros to be creative in their work, learn how you can fine-tune your skillset to make 2020 a great year! We’d like to thank Mary Barber of The Barber Group for sharing this article in our Solo PR Pro Premium Me...

As we close out the year, no, wait, the DECADE, we take a moment to reflect on the past year, talk about ways Solos celebrate the holidays (Oh yes, here is the link to the BBC’s self-employed holiday party video.), and how to reset and recharge for 2020. Want more Solo PR Pro? Visit us at soloprpro.com or contact us online to share your thoughts.

Hard to believe, but 2019 will soon come to a close. What does that mean for your business as you strive to end the year strong? From bookkeeping to budget projections, strategy to business development, we discuss ways to both close out the year with clarity and prepare for success in 2020. What items are on your year-end business checklist? Visit us at soloprpro.com or contact us online to share your thoughts.

In today's episode of That Solo Life we're joined by Caitlin Copple Masingill, the founder and president of Full Swing Public Relations, a micro-agency that helps women leaders to shape and share their stories. Today she shares how her business has flourished by targeting a niche that aligns with her talents and her purpose as well as refusing to accept work that does not align with the value of her work. Sounds good, doesn't it? Listen and learn how she does it. What are your tactics for build...

The holidays are here and, just like Santa, PR Pros are checking their lists and checking them twice. If you purchase client gifts (and know that it is ok if you don’t), listen to this episode where we discuss our favorite ways to show our clients our appreciation at the holidays and throughout the year. What clever and cool item have you sent your clients at the holidays? We want to know! Visit us at soloprpro.com or contact us online to share your thoughts.

As solo business owners, Karen and Michelle are grateful for a landscape and technology that allows for making a living as Michelle puts it, “with Wi-Fi and a dream.” In this episode of That Solo Life, Karen and Michelle focus on this week of the Thanksgiving holiday with a conversation about gratitude. What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving of 2019? Visit us at soloprpro.com or contact us online to share your thoughts.

The holidays bring an extra set of pressures, personally and professionally. How can you experience this holiday season with joy? Listen to this episode, where we discuss managing expectations (Isn’t it always about managing expectations?) and creating a mindset where we maintain our productivity in our business and allow room for the joy of the season. How do you navigate the holiday season as a solo business owner? Visit us at soloprpro.com or contact us online to share your thoughts.