How do you use your PR connections to gain new opportunities?

PR is all about making genuine relations in the industry, you must have heard about this term- Everytime you call a PR professional their cell phones would be busy. It is indeed important to realise that your PR game is nothing without your connections. Use linkedin, I feel this platform is best for making connections, then go for offline events start and talk to people in a polite way dont sell. At the end your network is your networth.

Create goals that are achievable - don't try to change your trajectory with your first few interactions. They answers rely on the extent of your relationships, not in addition to them. This requires cultivating relationships and deliberately expanding your network in ways that aligns with your goals.

With the power of Linkedin, comes responsibility. Be thoughtful and deliberate with the people you bring into your network. Do not feel obligated to accept every network connection. It is more powerful to have a few that align with you industry, your goals, and the REAL relationships you wish to build, rather than focus on the fluff of having many 'followers'.

Make sure that your story is benefiting both your brand as well as the journalist and the media outlet that you are targeting.

When crafting a pitch, it's effective to identify any personal connections your media contact might have with the story. Consider the following: - Have they recently written about a topic closely related to your story? - Can you recall a conversation in which you or they touched on this subject? - Do they have any personal interests, educational background, or past experiences that might align with your story and make it more pertinent to them? I typically employ this personalized approach with several key media contacts per story, then releasing it more generically to the rest of the list.

Make sure to not disturb your media contact. I would say stay in touch when you have anything relevant to share with them. Of course, you can reach out for a favour sometimes but don't overdo it.

Be organized & prepared for any PR Campaign, including your personal campaign seeking new opportunities. One of the best practises ever is to have your excel DB with your inventory of contacts, categorised, contact details & useful notes to remind you of strong points from your perspective. Once you build it (with cloud backup for safety), you keep updating it regularly, and on regular milestones & major yearly events, you send greetings & and resurrect communications with network. So when you want to start any PR campaign - including yours - you go to your contacts' DB & filter it upon the campaign needs, including finding new opportunities' target! Always update it as much & back it up regularly!