CEO of Idea Grove, a unified PR and marketing agency, and author of the upcoming book “Trust Signals: Brand Building in a Post-Truth World.”
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PR agency professionals know that life often imitates art — specifically, in our case, the art of juggling.
Whether you’re new to the world of public relations or have been around the block a few times, you’re likely well aware of the lightning pace at which PR is evolving. Navigating through a career at a PR agency can be challenging.
As a longtime agency owner, I’d like to offer these 10 tips to help jumpstart your career and guide your professional growth.
1. Know your facts. Whether you’re publishing a tweet, a press release or a blog post for a client, it’s crucial that you know what you’re talking about. Double or even triple-check your facts before you publish. The last thing you want to do is to make a mistake you can’t retract.
2. Stay in the know. News is breaking all around us 24 hours a day. To stay informed, choose sources of news that will keep you updated on what’s happening in your clients’ industries and around the world. It would be embarrassing to let news about your client or their competitors pass by without your noticing.
3. Show attention to detail in your writing. An error in your writing can discredit you as a professional. It takes practice, but perfecting your spelling skills, ability to catch grammatical errors and familiarizing yourself with the AP Stylebook are good places to start.
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4. Step outside of your comfort zone. Don’t let new challenges make you anxious; embrace them. Challenge yourself to take on unfamiliar tasks. Ask if you can jump in on a new campaign. Work on something you don’t have a lot of experience in. This will help you grow and become a more well-rounded pro.
5. Know your strengths. There are many different aspects of public relations, and it’s impossible to be great at all of them. Discover the areas where you can contribute the most, showcasing your ability to shine in a particular area. And get help where you need it.
6. Pay attention to detail in the work of others. It’s important to keep your eyes peeled for mistakes in every work product you see before it goes to the client. Missing out on a glaring mistake could lose your agency a client, so it’s essential to review work carefully, whether or not you were the one who originally created it.
7. Become comfortable with research. Researching your clients, topics and industries can dramatically improve the quality and efficiency of your work. You’ll also feel much smarter and better prepared when talking with client executives and subject matter experts.
8. Master the art of multitasking. One great thing about public relations is that you will never be bored or stick to only one task throughout the day. That’s why working at a PR agency can often seem like a juggling act. And if you don’t learn how to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities, it’s easy to be left behind.
9. Learn from your mistakes. Know that you will make mistakes in your journey as a PR pro and that everyone who came before you made them too. Turn these experiences into lessons so you don’t make the same mistake twice. Learning from experiences — good and bad — is what creates a polished agency pro.
10. Love what you do. Last but not least, have passion for what you do. Finding joy in your work is not only the best way to stay engaged on a daily basis; it also leads to a more successful career and happier life.
Much of this advice has always been true but is even more important during times of rapid change. That’s when a solid foundation can make the difference between juggling balls in the air — or dropping them.
Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
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Author: Scott Baradell, Forbes Councils Member
