For both new and experienced solo PR professionals, a common question often arises: how should I determine my rates? Today, we will delve into key considerations when setting your pricing. Establishing your rate begins with a clear understanding of your overhead expenses and your profit margin objectives. Your overhead costs encompass various elements such as office space, equipment, rent/mortgage, utilities, computers, technology, and tools such as media databases, email, website, and subscriptions. While many solo practitioners include administrative fees in their client invoices to offset ..read more

Solo public relations professionals work hard to win and maintain healthy client relationships, but a bad client can impact your confidence and sometimes your bank account. Thankfully, for most solo PR Pros, bad clients are the exception rather than the rule. Below are a few tips that will help you keep the streak of great clients going in 2024! Learn to spot red flags The first step to avoiding bad clients is to recognize potential troublemakers. Beware of clients who set unrealistic expectations or have a history of disputes with previous PR professionals. For example, a client comes to you ..read more

In 2024, solo public relations professionals must adeptly navigate the digital landscape, leveraging data-driven strategies while contending with economic challenges. While “data-driven strategies” sounds like something out of the corporate jargon handbook, you may not realize how you can apply it to PR.  Understanding Audience Behavior PR professionals can use advanced analytics tools to gain deep insights into their target audience's preferences and behaviors. These tools can help you go beyond surface-level insights to uncover nuanced behaviors and preferences. This information is cruc ..read more

Living in Michigan, I am always checking the forecast before I make plans. I have multiple weather apps but have also learned to assume that on any given day, you should be prepared for rain or snow. The outlook for the PR business feels a lot like Michigan weather lately. Even when the forecast is bright and clear, we plan for rain, fog, tornadoes and volcanoes. Fortunately, this is second nature to those who work in communications. We are always prepared for the “what if’s” with a plan and a backup plan.  This year in PR definitely had all the seasons and a few freak occurrences to bala ..read more

Raising rates should be a part of every Solo PR Pro’s toolbox. However, it is not always feasible to raise rates for your current clients. This can be challenging in an economic landscape that has been rife with rising costs, and client layoffs. If you want to enhance your earnings in 2024 without raising rates, you can shift the focus to value optimization and diversification. Here are three robust strategies to expand your financial streams while maintaining current rate structures. Deep Dive into a Niche Generalists abound, but specialists thrive. Carving out a niche for yourself within can ..read more

Tis the season to wrap it all up and put a bow on it. In between the mad dash to finalize reports, budgets and campaigns, Solo PR Pros are also thinking about year-end client gifts for clients. A thoughtful gift is a great way to show appreciation to clients, but it also reinforces the relationship and sets the stage for continued collaboration. Here are a few ideas to help you check gift giving off your list this year. Give them a memorable experience Sometimes, the best gifts aren’t tangible. Offering an experience — like tickets to a sought-after event, a reservation at a renowned restauran ..read more

Today is World Kindness Day, and while we don’t normally celebrate every designated day on the calendar on this blog, we are here for this one. We are at a time in our history when mistrust, miscommunication and meanness seem to dominate the culture. As communication professionals we not only see it all, but are also subjected to it in our personal and professional lives. The theme of World Kindness Day (or week in some places) is “Be Kind Whenever Possible.” These simple words empower us to transform the toxicity and negativity that threatens to choke our humanity. Yes, the world is on fire a ..read more

As a solo PR Pro, you have the freedom and flexibility to remain truly solo or scale your solo PR business by adding contractors or employees. Today, with more companies adopting remote work there are fewer barriers than in the past for solos that desire to grow a bigger agency without going the traditional brick and mortar route. Transitioning from a one-person PR operation to managing a team can be a rewarding journey, but it's not without its challenges. In this blog post, we share some of the obstacles you might encounter, along with a few tips and strategies for growth in the PR industry ..read more

Life for us all lately has felt like a gamma ray burst where bad meets really bad and forms supermassive bad. Yet, there is one word that has continued to ring in my heart, lifting me above the never-ending litany of things gone wrong and that word is hope. Hope is the light that can lead our thoughts beyond the darkness of our present to dream, visualize and take action for better tomorrows. Hope, without it our hearts are sick. In the midst of layoffs, wars, hatred, and the day-to-day challenges of parenting, caregiving, running a business and making it through a day, there is hope. Let the ..read more

Mental health has been under the radar for far too long as many suffered in silence. The pandemic drove much needed change and mental health is gaining recognition as an important part of our overall well-being. Given the unique pressures of the public relations industry, especially for those running their own business, this new era of transparency is welcomed. In a recent episode of the That Solo Life podcast, we discussed the mental health concerns faced by PR professionals. PR professionals manage competing demands, protect reputations, and manage multiple details that others never notice ..read more