This week on the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast, we are doing another solo recording by your host and yours truly, Lexie Smith. This episode is focused on reviewing and analyzing the State of PR 2021 Report by Muck Rack. I help break down all the big numbers and stats recorded from the more than 1600 surveyed communications professionals into a digestible audio format. Tune in to learn all about how PR teams build relationships, measure success, and leverage technology in 2021 - I also pull in a few considerations and comparisons from the State of Journalism Report 2021. Here’s what you’ll learn:A recap of the State of PR 2021 Report - report information produced by  Muck RackWhich challenges your PR and communications team facesThe top challenges faced during the COVID-19 Era for PR ProfessionalsWhat tech and tools PR teams use to do their jobsAbout the different social media tools PR pros said were the most successfulWhat PR Pros say is most important in a successful pitch What journalists want from you in your pitches - a look back at the State of Journalism Report 2021Seeing how PR will likely be  refined within the next 5 years and the industry’s  opinions on suchAnd so much more, directly from your host! Find the Muckrack report here: https://info.muckrack.com/state-of-journalism-2021To listen to the State of Media and Journalism Report. Tune into Episode 28. Snag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgoodInterested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Instagram: @theprbar_incGo back to the homepage

Today we are talking with Jessica Abo who is a highly sought-after media trainer, storytelling coach, award-winning journalist, and best-selling author. Jessica started her public speaking career when she was only 15 years old and has spoken everywhere from TEDx, Facebook, Delta Airlines, Microsoft, WW, and the United Nations to hundreds of nonprofits and schools. Working more than 20+ years as a TV news anchor and reporter, Jessica has appeared on The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Access Hollywood, CBS, FOX, CNN, CNN Headline News, NY1, and more. Today, she uses her love of storytelling to produce content through her production company. You can watch Jessica's weekly business segments on Entrepreneur.com.In today’s episode we dive into getting camera ready (specifically how to go from camera shy to camera ready) she gives us tips on how to show up unfiltered and authentically on social media, and we go into a rapid fire on her top pitching do’s and don'ts. Her favorite beverage is triple threat, just like her.Here’s what you’ll learn:How Jessica Abo got into the world of journalism and public speakingThe birth and creation of her book, Unfiltered, How to Be as Happy as Happy as You Look on Social MediaHow to determine your curated content for being on cameraYou’ll hear about her new workshop, How to Go from Camera Shy to Camera ReadyWhen and how Jessica, as a member of the media, prefers to have pitches sent to herHow Jessica left the TV industry and got a book dealHow as a teenager, she got her own show with anNPR affiliate.How to curate the content you show on social media to truly reflect your brand and/or yourselfHow to get more comfortable with getting yourself out there, and becoming more ‘camera ready.’How to best prepare for media interviews…Her top pitching do’s and dont’sAnd so much more!! Learn more about Jessica’s latest workshop/summer special: https://jessicaabo.samcart.com/products/confident-on-cameraInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaabotv/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaabo/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaAboTV/Where to find her book: Unfiltered How to Be as Happy as You Look on Social Media: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unfiltered-jessica-abo/1128665978Entrepreneur.com Contribution: https://www.entrepreneur.com/video/series/jessica-aboWhere to find Jessica’s favorite drink, Lemon Perfect: https://lemonperfect.com/Snag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgoodInterested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Instagram: @theprbar_incGo back to the homepage

Rita Kakati-Shah is an award-winning gender, diversity, inclusion, and career strategist, best-selling author, TV show host, speaker and advisor to Fortune 500 companies, and the Founder and CEO of Uma, an international strategy, coaching and training platform that empowers confidence, inspires success and builds leadership and resilience in women and minorities. A keynote speaker and guest lecturer at academic institutions and global policy forums such as UNESCO (Paris), European Parliament (Brussels), Woman Who Matters (Moscow), and more, Rita’s expertise has been featured across many different media platforms such as the Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Fox News, Entrepreneur Magazine and Fast Company.In today’s episode Rita and I dive into the global media landscape, we talk about the importance of having a point of view - and how one can effectively go about developing such - her journey with PR, speaking, and beyond.Here’s what you’ll learn: How Rita started her career in finance, as one of very few women and people of color on the trading floorWhy Rita took time off from her career to raise her children for years and how raising a child is one of the hardest jobs a person to doHow employers would see her gap in employment and write her off as non-ambitious and ways to turn the strengths of mothership into workplace skillsThe reason behind the name of Rita’s company, Uma, and what the basis for the business isWays that confidence, networking, and connections play a factor in how your name gets out and the opportunities you receiveWhat media platforms Rita finds that US-based viewers/listeners respond the best to including podcasts, digital magazines, newspapers, TVWhat other global audiences prefer when it comes to the mediaRita’s favorite drink and how it differs based on where she is in the world, what time of day it is, and the mood that she’s inMuch more!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rita.kakati/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-kakati/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.kakatiTwitter: https://twitter.com/BeBoldBeUmaSnag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgoodInterested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Instagram: @theprbar_inc

Today we’re talking with PR Pro Carolyn Sutton, Founding President of Carolyn Sutton PR, a boutique public relations firm specializing in local and national lifestyle clients, and Brand Your Brand™, a content creation company that creates meaningful, styled content for clients and brands across the country. With more than 18 years of public relations experience, Carolyn and her team go beyond the typical newsroom for stories by utilizing social media, bloggers, brand partnerships, relationships, and both online and traditional media to ensure each client’s story is told on multiple levels. Her clients have appeared in outlets such as Good Morning America, Bon Appetit, Family Circle, InStyle, The Oprah Magazine, Parenting, Real Simple, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, and many more.In today’s episode Carolyn walks us through annual news cycles, specifically how they work, and how you can create one of your own, what general lead times are in the world of lifestyle PR, she schools us on lookbooks, how she personally generates relationships with the media, and reminds us to never discount the power of local press. Here’s what you’ll learn:How Carolyn got her start at The Container Store in Dallas, which ignited her interest in organizing, targeting specific consumers, and opening stores, and then launching her own PR firm 12 years ago. Today she is the CEO of Carolyn Sutton PR and Brand Your Brand™.Tips on how to identify the proper media contacts and build long-lasting media relationships.How to cold pitch the media and land placement -  Carolyn herself got one of her clients into the New York Times recently through a cold pitch.What a news cycle is and how to create an annual news cycle for your company, brand, or client.She discusses lead times for print and digital within the lifestyle space. She talk about her own firm’s pitching lead time and strategies - she explains what a lookbook is, how to create one, and how to use it with the media.Why you shouldn’t neglect your local press and media.Visit Carolyn Sutton’s website to learn more about her content creation and services, or follow her on social media.Instagram: ​​https://www.instagram.com/carolynsuttonpr/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-sutton-2722a36/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolynsuttonpr/Snag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgoodInterested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Instagram: @theprbar_incOther episodes referenced in the show:Episode 10: News Releases, Pay for Plays + White Burgundy with Guest Trifecta Toni HarrisonEpisode 17: Meet the Media: Refinery29, Mailers + Riesling with Thatiana DiazGo back to the homepage

Gesche Haas is the Founder and CEO of Dreamers & Doers, a private collective that amplifies extraordinary entrepreneurial women through thought leadership, authentic connection, and access. Dreamers & Doers has built a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem of over 34,000 women globally and also publishes a monthly newsletter, The Digest, that curates top resources for female founders. Gesche has been featured on Bloomberg TV, CNNMoney, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Business Insider, Forbes, Fortune Magazine, Refinery29, Vice, and other major media outlets, as well as at the United Nations, where she spoke during the sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She is a regular content contributor to Nasdaq, Brit + Co, and 500 Startups. She has also won a multitude of awards including, but not limited to, Empowered Woman of the Year, Best Remote CEO, New York Talent Cultivators, Forbes Next 1000 2021, and many more. In today’s episode, we talk about all things Dreamers & Doers. We pull back the curtain on what goes into landing big media awards, what PR and visibility have done for Gesche and her community, the strategy behind her unique onboarding and membership process, and much more.Here’s what you’ll learn: What is Dreamers & Doers? Gesche talks about her collective and the “accident” that led her to start it. What is its differentiator?From brunch to business: Gesche walks us through the exact steps that she took to grow Dreamers & Doers.Gesche explains why they established a membership enrollment period and how it works. She also offers tips for anyone who is thinking about activating a similar strategy.What are the benefits for members? Gesche discusses the three pillars and why she chose visibility as one of them. She also discusses how they developed the media relationships to be able to offer such visibility opportunities.Gesche shares how awards and media features have helped her build credibility. How did she secure those awards? Gesche talks about the research and work you have to do to get a nomination first and offers tips to any entrepreneur looking to win an award themselves.What role did PR and social media play in Gesche’s career? She speaks about being strategic in your decision making and finding the right outlets that work for you and your audience.Learn more about Gesche Haas and visit Dreamers & Doers to sign up for their newsletter and check the next enrollment period.Instagram: @dreamersdoersFacebook: @dreamyhumansTwitter: @dreamyhumansLinkedIn: @gescheSnag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgoodInterested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Instagram: @theprbar_incGo back to the homepage

Diane Schwartz is the CEO of Ragan Communications, a media and training company that serves communicators with best-in-class events, training, membership organizations and award-winning service journalism with the Ragan, PR Daily, Communications Week, and Workplace Wellness Insider brands. She joined Ragan in 2019 after 23 years at Access Intelligence, where she was senior vice president and group publisher of the Media Communications Group. A former journalist and author of two unfinished books, Diane serves on the board of the Institute of Public Relations, is a wish granter for Make-A-Wish and an avid volunteer. In today’s episode we learn all about the amazing Ragan Brands that Diane represents, what’s in store for the future of PR, a term called Mixternal Relations, service journalism, how to create meaningful relationships with the media and so much more.Here’s what you’ll learn: Diane’s path, from being a reporter for a daily newspaper to becoming the CEO of Ragan Communications.What services does Ragan Communications have to offer? Diane explains the different brands inside Ragan and the information each one of them has for the communicators.What is PR Daily? Diane walks us through the content on the site, how they stay on top of the news, and explains what she means by Mixternal Relations inside a company.How can you become a contributor to PR Daily? Diane talks about what they are looking for and things you should keep in mind if you want to pitch them.Diane discusses the changes in the PR industry in the last year and what we can expect in the future.Diane shares some golden PR tips for cultivating relationships with reporters and members of the media. Visit Ragan, PR Daily, and Workplace Wellness to find useful information for all communicators. You can also follow Diane on social media:LinkedIn: @dianeschwartzInterested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Instagram: @theprbar_incGo back to the homepage

Olivia Christian has been working as a brand strategist for over 15 years. Through her workshop, Own Your Story, Olivia coaches professional teams and one-on-one clients in a methodology for crafting a concise and compelling personal brand story.  She has shared her workshop with international audiences including corporate teams at Google, Twitter, and Visa, at conferences like Girlbossrally, and The Best Me Conference, and for non-profit organizations like Female Founder Collective. She’s the Executive Producer and host of The Game Last Night, and recently, she became an author after publishing her first book, “Ask Olivia: An Entrepreneur's Advice on the Entrepreneurial Life”—and by the way, it was a paid deal with Vistaprint!In today’s episode, we talk about how to Own Your Story, where to get started in landing big-name partnerships, and how to make it on stage. She shares an exclusive perk to my listeners, and much, much more.Here’s what you’ll learn: Own Your Story. Olivia coaches people to create a concise and compelling personal brand story, as a way to introduce themselves and engage their audience.Olivia talks about her clients: how she started with female entrepreneurs and nonprofits and ended up being invited to share her work at Google, Facebook, and Twitter. Becoming a speaker. Olivia has some advice for those that are starting or looking to land their first stage. Olivia talks about how she launched her own sportscast and became an author. For her, it was all about pushing herself and creating those opportunities.How did she land a big-name partnership? Olivia shares her strategy on social media and things that you should keep in mind when developing your pitch.Check Olivia’s website to learn more about her workshops and to know where you can buy her book. For our listeners, Olivia has a special Promo Code! Just type THEPRBAR and receive a 25% discount on your workshop purchase.Instagram: @oliviachristian.coLinkedIn: @oliviachristian1Twitter: @game_lastnightYouTube ChannelLearn more about the Ready Set Coach Program launching the week of July 12, 2021Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Instagram: @theprbar_incGo back to the homepage

Today’s guest, Giselle Ugarte is the definition of a guest trifecta—although her resume and skill set go far beyond the power three. A former radio personality, television host, and, at one point, a full-time blogger, today Giselle is a motivational speaker, online performance coach, marketing consultant, and a social media early adopter, influencer, and master of TikTok with more than 60M views, and counting.  In 2021 she officially launched Action-Forward, which exists to educate forward-facing influencers, entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders to use the power of social media to build new revenue streams and attract meaningful online communities.Today’s episode is full of powerful lessons on personal and professional growth. She discusses how to identify what social media platform is going to be the next big thing—all while introducing us to an all-new community-centric social app called Greenroom—literally fresh off the press, how to grow organically…and so much more.Here’s what you’ll learn:Giselle’s journey in the media. From working on a radio station, to launching her own YouTube channel when YouTubers were not a thing as a way to build her career and get on TV.Giselle shares one tip she received when she started her journey: learn a little bit of everything in your career. She discusses how that can help you to be better at your business and with the people you work with. How Giselle discovered which is going to be the next big social media app? And how is she able to adapt to each platform? She gives us a heads-up of the next big thing: Greenroom - recently purchased by SpotifyAction-Forward: Giselle’s new project is all about creating strategies and coaching entrepreneurs, influencers, and thought-leaders in building a community and making meaningful connections on social media.Visit Giselle Ugarte to know about her Action-Forward and services, or follow her on social media.Instagram: @giselleugarteTikTok: @giselle.ugarteLinkedIn: @giselleugarteLearn more about the Ready Set Coach Program launching the week of July 12, 2021.Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Instagram: @theprbar_incVisit the website 

An entreprenista at heart, today’s guest—Stephanie Cartin walked away from her corporate career in 2012 to follow her passion to launch SocialFly, a leading social-first digital and influencer marketing agency based in New York City that has been named to Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies two years in a row. Stephanie is also the co-host of the Entreprenista Podcast and the co-founder of Entreprenista, a platform to highlight successful female founders. Also a co-author, Stephanie has shared her knowledge and expertise in Bloomberg, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Refinery29, and CheddarTV. Stephanie is the recent recipient of the SmartCEO Brava Award, which recognizes the top female CEOs in New York, and a Stevie Award for Women Run Workplace of the Year. In today’s episode, we dive into the world of entrepreneurship, how Stephanie recently launched Entreprenista’s newest membership community, the role PR has played in her career, how press affects SEO, and much more. Here’s what you’ll learn: Stephanie’s entrepreneurial journey. How she saw the opportunities that social media would bring in the early days of Facebook and how and why she co-founded SocialFly, a social-first digital and influencer marketing agency.What is Entreprenista and how did it start? Stephanie talks about her passion to help other entrepreneurs build their businesses. She goes into how Entreprenista developed from a podcast to a media site, and now, a full networking community.Her business plan. Stephanie shares how she and her co-founder built their business. Stephanie talks about how to stand out in a saturated market. With so many communities nowadays, you have to figure out how to make yours different. Stephanie explains their research and how they use social media to connect with their audience.What can media features do for you? Stephanie reviews how you can use press to create and build your credibility.Backlinks, SEO, and PR. She uses DigiCards, a product that they developed, as an example. Join The Entreprenista League. Visit SocialFly to know more about their services and Entreprenista to find out more about their community and resources. And don’t forget to check out DigiCards.Instagram: @stephjillcartin @entreprenistas @socialfly Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Instagram: @theprbar_inc Visit the website  

We are kicking off season 2 with the one and only Fatou Barry—a Guinean-born, NYC-raised cultural strategist best known for her work in communications and community building. Fatou is the founder of AB Media Group and PR Girl Manifesto, a digital community of over 40,000 professionals in the communications field. The community works to re-imagine the PR and Communications space while supporting its constituents through access to resources, fellowship and mentorship. Fatou’s work is influenced by her desire to bridge equity gaps for young womxn of color. She has created several spaces to grow and nurture this community by sharing knowledge and experience to generate opportunities. This includes the launch of Hold The Press, a grassroots initiative co-founded by Fatou that calls for action, accountability, and transparency in the Public Relations industry for Black people.In today’s episode, we talk about how to build a highly engaged community, the next major call to action that is needed in the Public Relations industry—and the world—and how anyone from a single comms professional to a founder of a global agency can support the Hold The Press Initiative.Here’s what you’ll learn: Fatou shares her non-linear journey into PR, from building fan pages in high school to finally landing her first job doing PR and social media to eventually starting her own agency.What led her to found PR Girl Manifesto? Fatou talks about the importance of building a diverse community in the PR industry.Fatou discussed how she organically grew the PR Girl Manifesto community.Fatou co-founded Hold The Press - An initiative to call for action inside the PR Industry. Fatou explains their work, the reception they had and what they ask and request from all companies and professionals within the industry.What can you do? Fatou believes that everyone can help to build a more diverse industry. She asks you to be an accomplice.Fatou talks about her work with AB Media Group: a multidisciplinary agency committed to helping brands to develop their community and have a social impact. Join the PR Girl Manifesto. Visit Hold The Press and learn how you can contribute to their work. Black in PR Series. Check AB Media Group services.Instagram: @itsfatoub @prgirlmanifesto @holdthe_press @heyabmgInterested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.Follow THEPRBAR inc. on Instagram: @theprbar_inc Visit THEPRBAR inc. website.