Episodes

In today’s episode, we cover two new updates in the digital marketing world. Google’s Zero Click Searches This Forbes article, Why You Can’t Neglect Your Google Presence Anymore, talks about how so many of us never leave the Search Engine Results Page: “In the first quarter of 2019, nearly 49% of all U.S. Google searches ended without a click. And, over 60% of mobile searches are zero-click searches. People are finding what they need right there on the Search Engine Results Page ( SERP).” Thi...

Today’s episode comes to you fresh from the PRSA 2019 International Conference, the annual gathering of public relations and communications professionals from across the globe. This year’s conference took place in San Diego, California, much to the delight of Karen, who will always be a SoCal girl at heart. Highlights of the three-day conference featured a keynote from Bob Woodward and a powerful session hearing the story of Laura Ling’s North Korean experience firsthand. Three main takeaways:...

Modern life moves fast. It’s a simple fact that you loathe, love, or tolerate. This is especially true for PR pros as we seek to serve our clients well, looking out for them and keeping their projects moving forward while working on our own innovative thinking and professional development. Part of the cause is an increase of incoming messaging from a variety of sources – text, instant messaging, project management platforms, and the like. We can let the open fire hose of information knock us ov...

In today’s episode of That Solo Life we ask the question, “Where Do You Work?” Not in what field or for which company but, where do you work? From a home office, a coffee shop, a co-working space, or perhaps you rent your own office space. The beauty of working independently means we have the option to choose the locations where we do our best work. So, where do you work? We want to hear about your best spaces to get work done. Visit us at soloprpro.com or contact us online to share, even send ...

In September 2019 the California legislature passed CA-AB5 aka The Gig Worker Bill. In short, according to this recap from the San Francisco Chronicle, AB5: “...codifies, clarifies and grants exemptions to a 2018 California Supreme Court decision called Dynamex. Both AB5 and Dynamex make it harder for companies to label workers as independent contractors. They use an ‘ABC’ test that says workers are employees if (A) they perform tasks under a company’s control, (B) their work is integral to the...

We all hit bumps in the road, no matter what profession we are in. In this episode we discuss ways to handle disappointments in our businesses and how we can learn from them and gain a fresh, motivating perspective. We’d love to hear from you! Share your tips - visit us at soloprpro.com or contact us online.

Like many of you who work hard in your professions, sometimes PR pros need a little levity. We need brain candy like Real Housewives, Property Brothers, or catching up on the latest chatter about the Royal Family. Sometimes, these pop culture moments dovetail with our work. Listen to this episode to find out what helps us stay in the know about pop culture and how it relates to the PR world. We’d love to hear from you! Visit us at soloprpro.com or contact us online.

In this episode, we are joined by longtime friend of Solo PR Pro, Craig Severinsen, founder of BrightWorksPR. Craig’s specialty is helping Marketing and PR entrepreneurs attract more clients for their business, which is right up our alley here at Solo PR Pro! Craig Severinsen’s specialty is helping entrepreneurs, especially those of us in the PR and marketing worlds, create systems to grow business, determining where is the best place to position yourself to be impactful and profitable. Within ...

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Lori Baker-Schena, co-founder of LeadHERship Consortium. She is a leadership consultant and professional speaker who works with individuals and businesses to achieve high levels of excellence, productivity and profitability. Dr. Baker-Schena brings to her clients 35 years as a healthcare public relations and marketing consultant, and 25 years as a tenured university professor teaching public relations and journalism. Dr. Baker-Schena holds a bachelor’s degree in Journa...

In this Labor Day episode, we decided to focus on what we like to do when we’re not working. We all need time to decompress and recharge if we’re going to stay at the top of our game. Sometimes that means a walk in the park, other times it’s parking ourselves on the couch for some binge watching. What helps you recharge? We want to know. Visit us at soloprpro.com or contact us online.

This episode of That Solo Life grew from a conversation in the Solo PR Pro members only Facebook group surrounding what happens when we get what we want, when the professional goal or “get” we’ve dreamed of happens, and we find ourselves fighting feelings of fear or imposter syndrome. Of course, we really DO want the success that we work so hard to achieve. Join us for this conversation about this thought pattern and how we can stay a step ahead of it in our work. We’d love to hear your experie...

In this episode of That Solo Life we discuss one of the aspects of work-life we might think we leave behind when going solo: office politics. People are complex and all business is based on relationship so However, as savvy PR pros, we have the advantage of our communications tactics to put into use in these situations. Ideally, we try to steer clear of whatever might be causing static within your client organization. When that’s not possible, pull out the good old artful redirect when in conve...

Solo PR Pro life provides flexibility in our daily routines, but it’s often not until life hits hard that we truly appreciate being our own bosses. In today’s episode our guest is Solo PR Pro member Daria Steigman, founder of Steigman Communications. She shares how she took her show on the road earlier this year as a means of processing and recalibrating following the loss of her parents within a short span of time. We discuss how you can prepare for when crisis hits, how to maximize your produc...

There’s no doubt that technology continues to have an impact on the PR industry. So much so that the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism issues an annual Global Communications Report based on survey results from PR professionals and students and, new this year, CEOs of small, mid-size, and large organizations. In this episode of That Solo Life, we discuss their findings and what they mean for our industry and the way we do our work. Look for more takeaways from this report on t...

A recent Money.com article by Laura Belgray, I Spent $300 on One Uber Ride (And Would Do It Again in a Second). Here's Why I Don't Regret It, led to a discussion here at That Solo Life about what aspects of our work and lives in general cause us significant stress and how can we offset it. In the article, Belgray shares about her experience as she prepared to attend a writing retreat. The destination was accessible by train but the more she thought about getting to the train on time, switching ...

Have you taken your vacation? If your response is “No,” you are not alone. Taking time off is a challenge as a solopreneur. Sometimes it’s because we’re too busy to get away. Often we’re either reluctant to step away from our business or simply never get around to making the plan to take time off. It is important to take time off because we need to regain perspective, get inspired, and simply rest. These summer months are the ideal time to plan a getaway. Corporate life tends to slow down in th...

Today’s episode was inspired by a recent MuckRack article pointing out the two major ways PR pros can be annoying to journalists: PR agencies requiring staff to use pitching techniques that no longer suit the current journalism landscape and client expectations focused on producing call logs over long-term results. Rather than become another barrier to journalists doing their jobs, how can we improve on this? Education: help clients understand the value of moving away from a focus of activity ...

The secret to managing it all? Don’t. Wait, what? It’s true. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s a signal to stop and do an evaluation. You may even want to schedule a business retreat so you can truly focus on your business. You may have too much on your plate. Take a look at whether your clients are profitable. Is it time to raise your rates, expand your team, or turn away business? As a business owner, you get to choose. Choose what is best for you. Some tips to keep your work life in ch...

In this episode of That Solo Life we discuss the situations where it would have been wise to take the time to think things through and seek feedback from colleagues before moving forward with an idea. We get it, life moves fast in PR and in the business world, but maintaining credibility – yours and your client’s – is key.

Does it feel as though every holiday is used as either a branding opportunity or an excuse to sell something? A recent article in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, How Earth Day Became Public Relations Day, prompted this question. Newsjacking or creating a promotion aligned with a holiday isn’t necessarily wrong but as PR practitioners we want to be mindful that it is the most authentic way to have a voice within the context of the particular holiday. Join us as we discuss how to best navigate ...

Today we’re joined by our guest, Dr. Glenn McElhinney. He is president and CEO of Transformed 4 Life, a company helping people to experience wholeness through change in mind, heart, and behavior. He brings over 35 years of experience in counseling and consulting individuals, couples, families and organizations. Dr. McElhinney was an associate professor of psychology for over ten years, holds a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinit...

Going solo in business is scary, no matter your career path. In today’s episode, we talk about fear, what it means to us, and what it might mean to you. Know this: Fear never really goes away, and that’s okay. The fear that you don’t know enough or you’re not doing it right is more common than you think. (And guess what, you DO know enough and you ARE doing it right.) Embrace the things you’re not as good at and move on. Take those cues as openings for collaboration. Welcome the “good scare...

What is That Solo Life? It’s a podcast all about keeping it real and talking about the topics that affect solo business owners, especially those in the public relations and communications world. Co-hosted by Karen Swim, founder of Words for Hire and owner of Solo PR Pro and Michelle Kane, founder of VoiceMatters, the goal of this podcast is to bring the community and knowledge of Solo PR Pro to a new channel. Listen to this first episode to learn more about the origins of Solo PR Pro and what i...