Networking and Public Relations have long been two crucial ways for business owners and entrepreneurs to gain exposure for their product or service, stay top of mind with clients and customers, and expand their referral sources.
So what happens when a 20-month pandemic turns the usual forms of networking and PR on their head?
Join me and my guest, Ellen Keiley, CPC, distinguished P.R. / Marketing / Business Development Coach, on Tuesday, November 16 at 5pm, for some tips to help small and mid-sized businesses with this very salient topic.
About Ellen Keiley:
LinkedIn
By Segment
3:09 – 15:27- Eric introduces today’s episode by introducing today’s guest, Ellen Kiley, the founder and president of EMK Consulting Group, as well as the topic of the episode, networking and PR during the pandemic. Eric discusses how crucial networking is for business owners for getting their brand and their products out in the world, and that the pandemic has severely hindered the traditional forms of networking. Ellen explains how she enjoys networking, and that it is an important aspect of her business practice. Ellen explains her background in PR and marketing, and what got her on that career path. Eric and Ellen discuss why a business owner would want to attract media coverage, beyond the potential to get new clients. They continue to discuss how new client retention continues a long time after the initial media appearance or networking, Ellen going in depth on her experiences with this phenomenon. Ellen explains how weekly columns as well as one off articles are a good form of exposure, explaining how her weekly column has helped her countless times gain new clients.
17:42 – 31:01 – Eric and Ellen discuss common obstacles that businesses and individuals face in networking and PR due to the pandemic. Ellen goes in depth on how those who have excelled in in-person networking events are struggling due to the changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and goes on to explain how people need to adapt to the new networking technologies that have become popular during the pandemic. The two discuss the humanizing aspect of zoom, and whether or not that has helped people to connect on a personal level through networking. Ellen discusses how talking to clients on a personal level is important to her, though this zoom networking environment will be changing zoom. The two discuss the impact the pandemic has had on the ability that businesses and individuals have to get in the media. Eric discusses his experience as an employment law attorney throughout the pandemic that he’s been called upon more for advice relating to the pandemic both individually and in the media. Ellen discusses the kinds of firms she focuses on for her clients, and how most of her clients tend to be mid size firms, though there are many exceptions. The two discuss earned media, where someone gets media exposure that comes with a lot of respect due to one’s expertise that got them that earned media.
33:06 – 48:05 – Ellen gives an anecdote about how she was able to give a client with low media exposure to high and positive exposure. She explains that she is able to regularly get all of her clients in the media. The two discuss the coaching aspect of Ellen’s company, and how she not only helps business owners with their PR but also coaches them through it. She explains how she helps her clients with PR and networking, specifically putting a focus on the importance of a good public bio. Ellen explains how many media coverage opportunities often lead to more opportunities, piggybacking on each other. She also explains the differences between the coaching side and PR side of her career. The two discuss the importance of having confidence when networking and how Ellen helps her clients gain this confidence through her coaching. Ellen goes in depth about a specific experience when helping a client in gaining this confidence, and how it helped her client tremendously when networking and making media appearances. The two continue to discuss coaching, and different techniques Ellen makes use of when coaching with clients.
50:03 – 58:41 – Eric and Ellen discuss new trends in marketing and PR that have cropped up throughout the pandemic, with a specific focus on a podcast and video format. Ellen explains the ‘non-traditional’ media forms that she gets her clients on for media exposure, such as podcasts that align with what they do in their career. Eric explains how interconnected marketing, PR, and networking are, and how running this show has exposed him to this interconnectedness. The two go in depth on how people often think that when participating in networking and PR they often think they go into one or the other, when in reality they should be getting into both. Ellen explains how she helps guide them in this aspect, setting up a plan with their strengths in mind.
About Employment Law Today
Helping Business With Employment Law Issues.
For many business owners, it can be overwhelming to keep up and comply with the federal and state labor and employment laws that govern how they run their business. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there are new laws and regulations regarding hiring, firing, and workplace practices and protocols — all of which can increase business owners’ anxieties about regaining traction or thriving again. On my weekly show, we will be discussing the most common employment law related questions and challenges that business owners have been facing in these uncertain times.
The show will have three main goals: (1) to inform businesses about employment law updates, (2) to inspire businesses by giving them the tools to move forward, and (3) to demonstrate how some business owners have overcome their employment law problems, walked through the challenges imposed by this pandemic, and have taken steps to regain traction during the reopening phases of this pandemic.
Our guests will include professionals who advise businesses from an H.R., legal, and financial perspective, along with thriving business owners who will share their experiences and insights into running a successful company while complying with labor and employment law mandates during COVID-19.