In this week’s episode of Beyond the Bio, Sophie has pulled together some of her favourite conversations on PR. Whether you’re planning your first press push, wondering why your pitches keep going unanswered or trying to work out if your PR is paying for itself, this compilation draws on insight from four guests who’ve spent their careers on both sides of the headline.

This episode covers:

What good PR looks like behind the scenes and why reputation is built over years rather than a single campaign

What journalists are looking for when a pitch lands in their inbox

The pitching mistakes that get founders ignored

Why print coverage still carries weight

How to measure whether your PR is working

Striking the balance between proactive and reactive PR

Guests:

Evan Boyer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanboyer/

Website: www.leaderspr.com

Listen to the original episode: https://rss.com/podcasts/beyond-the-bio-with-sophie-milliken/3068584/

Carol Driver

Website: www.caroldriver.com

Instagram: @caroldriver

Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/howtomaketheheadlineswithcaroldriver/

Listen to the original episode: https://rss.com/podcasts/beyond-the-bio-with-sophie-milliken/2828314/

Kierian Cameron

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/cultleader

Website: https://brandcult.uk/

Instagram: @brand.cultuk

Listen to the original episode: https://rss.com/podcasts/beyond-the-bio-with-sophie-milliken/2479493/

Chris Norton

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisnorton2/

Website: https://prohibitionpr.co.uk/

Listen to the original episode: https://rss.com/podcasts/beyond-the-bio-with-sophie-milliken/2189682/

Connect with Sophie

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sophie-milliken

Instagram: @moja_sophie

Want to be a guest on Beyond the Bio? Do you have interesting ideas to share about how to raise your profile? We want to hear from you! Fill out the submission form here: https://www.sophiemilliken.co.uk/btb

This podcast is brought to you by Moja. Moja is an award-winning modern PR agency working with entrepreneurs and senior executives to get you known in your industry. See how your profile is currently performing: https://mym-btb.scoreapp.com/

What separates an award entry that makes the shortlist from one that gets passed over, when both businesses are doing equally good work?

In this solo episode, Sophie shares her practical advice on writing award entries, drawing on years of helping founders and senior leaders put themselves forward for recognition. She covers what judges are looking for, the mistakes that cost entrants marks, and the simple steps many people skip when they are rushing to meet a deadline. Sophie explains why you should always ask someone else to read your entry before you submit it, ideally a person who doesn’t know your business well enough to fill in the gaps for you. She talks about backing up every claim with evidence, from figures and growth numbers to client feedback, and how to make proper use of the supporting documents section rather than leaving it empty.

She also encourages entrants to get in touch with the organisers if they are unsure about a category or a question, something very few people think to do. The episode then turns to what happens next. If you are shortlisted or win, Sophie walks through how to make the most of it with a press release, social media posts and other ways to keep the recognition working for your profile long after the ceremony.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Why a second pair of eyes can improve your entry

Using evidence to support every claim you make

Making the most of the supporting documents section

Contacting the organisers for advice before you submit

What to do if you are shortlisted

How to share a win through press releases and social media

Connect with Sophie:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sophie-milliken

Instagram: @moja_sophie

Check out the Moja Awards page: https://thisismoja.com/services/awards/

Check out the North East Women of Excellence awards: https://www.northeastwomenofexcellenceawards.com/

Want to be a guest on Beyond the Bio? Do you have interesting ideas to share about how to raise your profile? We want to hear from you! Fill out the submission form here: https://www.sophiemilliken.co.uk/btb

This podcast is brought to you by Moja. Moja is an award-winning modern PR agency working with entrepreneurs and senior executives to get you known in your industry. See how your profile is currently performing: https://mym-btb.scoreapp.com/

What happens when you stop trying to show everything you can do and become known for one thing?

In this episode, Sophie is joined by Jo Living, Founder and CEO of Aces High London, to talk about building a personal brand around an unusual specialism.

After ten years in investment banking, personal loss led Jo to rethink her career and eventually build a business around poker. With no background in marketing or personal branding, she had to work out how to position herself, build credibility and get people to take notice.

Jo has also had to challenge some fairly entrenched perceptions of poker along the way, moving the conversation away from gambling, bluffing and boys’ nights and towards the skills that translate directly into business, including decision-making, negotiation, communication and confidence.

Sophie and Jo discuss why being known for something specific can make your personal brand stronger, how having a clear point of view helps you stand out and whether choosing a niche risks boxing you in. They also look at the role PR has played in building Jo’s profile and creating opportunities.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

Jo’s move from investment banking to entrepreneurship

Building a personal brand from scratch

Why an unusual specialism can become an advantage

Challenging perceptions and developing a clear point of view

Using PR to build credibility and open doors

The benefits and potential risks of becoming known for one thing

Connect with Jo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joliving/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/aceshighlondon/home/

https://www.aceshighlondon.com/

Connect with Sophie

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sophie-milliken

Instagram: @moja_sophie

Want to be a guest on Beyond the Bio?

Do you have interesting ideas to share about how to raise your profile? We want to hear from you! Fill out the submission form here: https://www.sophiemilliken.co.uk/btb

This podcast is brought to you by Moja. Moja is an award-winning modern PR agency working with entrepreneurs and senior executives to get you known in your industry. See how your profile is currently performing: https://mym-btb.scoreapp.com/