Episode #73: How Publicists Can Become Indispensable with Tamara Sykes
“If it's just sending out one tweet a week, start there. If it's writing one email newsletter, start there. Start small and find what works best for you. Make sure it's fun too. That will help you stay consistent and help you improve your own visibility.”
-Tamara Sykes on taking the leap of publicly sharing your successes/expertise
Although the media industry is constantly in flux, we have seen some significant changes over the past year that don’t inspire confidence in the current stability of things. In light of news regarding layoffs across all industries, how can publicists become indefensible and solidify their spot at the table? Our guest today, a fellow publicist and digital PR expert, tells us how publicists have lasting, positive effects on companies well beyond media placements, and makes the case for highlighting these wins more than ever before.
In this episode, you'll learn…
Why cross-collaboration is crucial for publicists to stay relevant
How to communicate and share your wins both privately and publicly (including social media!)
Real-world examples of modern-day PR campaigns and what they mean for the current state of PR and media
Our guest:
Tamara Sykes is a Caribbean-born PR pro who shapes brand narratives through impactful content and communications strategies. Currently, she’s an Account Director at Stacker. She's also a devoted mom and wife, channeling her expertise to empower ambitious women of color to live their best lives via her brand, Baydian Girl.
Love this episode? Subscribe on Apple Podcast and please leave us a review on iTunes!
Summary:
In this conversation, Tamara Sykes discusses how PR professionals can become indispensable to companies. She highlights the importance of contributing to company growth and making oneself less expendable. Tamara emphasizes the need for PR professionals to collaborate across departments and highlight their impact on generating leads and brand awareness. She also encourages PR professionals to be their own PR and showcase their accomplishments. Additionally, Tamara discusses the role of PR in storytelling and messaging, as well as the importance of building relationships and planting seeds for future opportunities. The conversation concludes with a case study on Solo Stove and Snoop Dogg's impact on the brand's growth. This conversation explores various PR campaigns and their impact on brand growth. It begins with a discussion about Snoop Dogg's well-being push and his ad campaign, which generated both positive and negative reactions. The conversation then shifts to Aerie's campaign on body inclusivity and Barbie's PR change. The importance of collaboration and self-promotion in the PR industry is also emphasized. The conversation concludes with practical tips for PR professionals to become indispensable.
Show Notes:
00:00— Introduction
01:08— Guest Introduction
03:00— The Current State of the Media Industry
06:07— How PR Professionals Contribute to Company Growth
09:54— Bragging About Accomplishments
12:14— Telling Stories and Messaging
18:23— Building Relationships and Planting Seeds
23:39— Using Different Platforms to Showcase Work
29:18— Case Study: Solo Stove and Snoop Dogg
30:26— Snoop Dogg's Well-Being Push
31:08— Snoop Dogg's Ad Campaign
32:22— The Backfire of the Ad Campaign
33:48— The Success of the Ad Campaign
35:15— Aerie's Campaign on Body Inclusivity
36:25— Barbie's PR Change
38:02— Collaboration and Bragging
39:20— Tips for PR Professionals
Connect with Tamara Sykes
Connect with Jackie & Britt
