Episode 40
Tips to Land TV News Interviews with Felicia Perez
Welcome Felicia Perez, owner of FAR Public Relations, to Saturday Soundbites! Felicia has an incredible background in television news media and has a talent for crafting stories that get "hits."
Felicia is now a full-fledged entrepreneur and is running her own PR agency. Her skills, intuition, and deep book of contacts make her one of the top go-to PR pros. She is also a leader in the Houston chapter of PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) and is the 2021 President-Elect.
Join Felicia and Veronica as they exchange tips and strategies that anyone can use to grow their visibility strategy. Using your story to grow your brand and grow your business is one of the easiest things you can do!
Transcript
[00:00:00] Veronica: Hello. Hello and welcome to Saturday soundbites. I'm your host, Veronica Sofer. And we are going to talk about my favorite topic, visibility strategy, and that includes all things, advertising, marketing, public relations, branding, networking, everything. You need to get visibility for your brand and for your business.
[00:00:20] And I always bring to you some phenomenal guests that have great strategies and tips that will help you. And incorporating all of this into your visibility strategy, whether you have a traditional brick and mortar business, an online business, thinking about a business consulting, kind of everything in between.
[00:00:35] This is where you need to come and get your great tips and strategies to really make a difference in your business. So if you are listening on any of our podcasts, make sure you hit subscribe. We want to make sure that you do. Any of our episodes that we drop. And if you are watching on Facebook, go ahead and let us know comment.
[00:00:53] And my guests and I will be able to respond to you if you're catching the replay hashtag replay so we can go back and connect. So with that housekeeping out of the way, I'm going to introduce our, one of my favorite guests ever. Uh, this is Felicia. I'm bringing her up. She is fantastic. She's joining us from far public relations.
[00:01:13] Hello.
[00:01:14] Felicia: Hello,
[00:01:15] Veronica: how's it going? It's going fantastic. I am so excited about today's conversation because you have done my favorite thing. You've gone from traditional journalism to public relations, and this is exactly what people need to hear from someone like you, so that we can learn about all those great tips and strategies that you used in both parts of those businesses.
[00:01:36] So I'm just so excited. You're here today.
[00:01:39] Felicia: Thank you for having me. If I didn't meet her.
[00:01:42] Veronica: Yeah. Yeah. So tell us a little bit about yourself and kind of what got you to where you are.
[00:01:48] Felicia: Wow. Yeah, well, you know, I come from, you know, the TV news business, um, about 15 years of experience there and, um, and several years of experience then after that, when public relations on the other side of the aisle, um, starting off, yeah, I've worked at about five different news stations.
[00:02:06] Across both Arkansas and Texas and, uh, you know, worked my way up all the way from, you know, every single position there is in the newsroom. Um, pretty much, uh, was a reporter for a bit. And I was also a TV producer for the majority of it. And, um, then I got my master's in PR at the university of Houston.
[00:02:29] And, uh, and then I started practicing, uh, PR brilliant. Really what it comes down to is just telling stories and heartless of whether it's been in media or in public relations or communications period. It's all about telling, telling stories. So. Yeah,
[00:02:46] Veronica: absolutely. That's it. And that's really at its core, right?
[00:02:49] When you think about a visibility strategy, whether you're talking about advertising or marketing, or even branding, it's about telling a story. And so some of us come at it from different directions, but at the end of the day, we're just trying to share our story.
[00:03:03] Felicia: Yeah, absolutely. And I even, when it comes to, you know, TV news yet, it's, it's, you know, you see, of course, um, you know, whenever you come onto a scene as a reporter or whether you're covering, um, a feature story, even, you know, you try to get to the heart of the story and when it comes to public relations, you're trying to share that story with the media.
[00:03:21] So trying to get them to understand what's going on. So it really is just a big storytelling, um, aspects. And then when it comes to your. You want to be able to tell a story of your brand with that?
[00:03:33] Veronica: Yeah. And so, you know, we've worked together a little bit and I know how talented you are. I know about how, um, I can tell you strategize and you talk about angles and you always want to touch on something that maybe is connected to what's happening in today's world.
[00:03:48] So if you're a business owner and you not, you don't have a team of PR people advising you. What's like the one thing you need to be thinking about to help tell your story.
[00:03:59] Felicia: You know, uh, first of all, I always think PR is a great investment. Um, you know, and that's, that's even, you know, if I wasn't being biased here, but I think PR is always a good investment, um, because there's different aspects of the audience that you really need to strategize.
[00:04:13] When you think about, you know, you don't want to just put, put something out there. We'll need a lot of people try that. Um, and it, it doesn't doesn't work. You, whenever you put something out there, you, you know, you, we want to make sure this is the best, uh, you know, the best part of your brand that you're putting out there for, for everybody to see it's it's your window to the world.
[00:04:32] Right. So, um, And there's a lot of different through social media, through your website, through, um, you know, even your press releases, um, any blogs you're writing, um, anything, any, anything that has your, your name of your business and your brand out there, you want to make sure you're putting the best face forward.
[00:04:52] And, um, and that means you're not just have hazardly, you know, like, Hey, you know, Uh, media coverage have me on your show. I think about the reason why he wants to be on that specific show. And then also what kind of news events are going around it. You don't just want to put yourself out there for a story that, uh, that, you know, maybe conflicts with something else that's going on in the news.
[00:05:14] And, um, you, if you're not aware of what what's going on in the news, then it kinda makes you, uh, it reflects badly on your brand.
[00:05:23] Veronica: So, yeah. Yeah, no, definitely. Would you say that it's harder now, um, post COVID or kind of at the tail end of COVID or do you think it's easier now? To reach out to media, especially television.
[00:05:36] Um, or do you feel like everyone is kind of changed the way we do business when it comes to pitching to get on TV?
[00:05:44] Felicia: It's it's changed. Um, and whether you want to look at it for the better or worse, uh, some things that have changed have been, um, for example, the news producers that reporters, and even some of the anchors are still reporting from home.
[00:05:58] That means that nobody's in the newsroom on. And I see nobody, they have assignments, desks, and they have editors and that kind of thing, but they're not allowing guests in the newsroom right now. Uh, so that means that everything's through zoom, um, which is, can again be a positive or negative there. That means that you have a wider reach.
[00:06:16] Um, if you're a lifestyle coach or, um, you know, if, if you're. You know, uh, I dunno, even mortgage lending that has like different states that you're involved. You can actually, you know, reach out to those different news stations in different markets without physically having to be there. That's travel time and, uh, you know, lodging and all of that kind of thing too.
[00:06:39] Um, and they actually liked having a wider reach of different guests. So, um, so there's the positive side of that. The, of course the negative being, um, That. Yeah. It's, it's not as connected, uh, as, as it was, um, you know, if you're, if you were, I guess that was, you know, that would go on the show sometimes they've cut out guests completely.
[00:07:01] Cause they don't like to have the, the zoom on there. So yeah, both, both edges of that.
[00:07:07] Veronica: Yeah. So it sounds like it could be it depending on your business model, it could work really great for you. Um, if it's, if it's something you're willing to do is put yourself out there in different markets. And that's probably exciting for someone who maybe lives in, um, you know, in a smaller community that doesn't have access to maybe a large media market and we're in a large media market.
[00:07:25] So for us, we probably like the ability to get that broader reach.
[00:07:30] Felicia: Oh, yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And, uh, you know, whenever you never, you do pitch, this one thing is to always, always think about, um, you know, not only just your, your audience and your brand, but also what's in it for them. Like what's, what's in it for them, what's in it for the why should, why should they care?
[00:07:48] Why should the reporter care? Why should the, their audience care about what your, uh, your brand is about? And, and there's so many different layers to the reasons why you can justify.
[00:07:59] Veronica: Yeah. Do you think, um, and I'm curious, cause I had a client ask me this recently. Do you think that the COVID angle is overplayed or do you think it's still gives you some leverage regardless of your
[00:08:10] Felicia: space?
[00:08:11] Oh, it 100% gives you leverage. Absolutely. And that's, um, I mean, if you can tie anything to what's what they're already covering. So for example, here in Houston, the big news of course, is the Astros. That is like number one king story right now. Uh, good luck trying to find your story this week. Right? Like anywhere and in the news, it's all, it's all.
[00:08:32] Astro's. Um, uh, so yeah, if you could find a way to tie your story in with the. That's that's a great way to do it. So you're, if you're a baker and you start, you know, you want to bake some Astros like cookies and that kind of thing, or if there's a giveaway or if there's like, even there's all sorts of different ways, you can tie your business.
[00:08:52] Then with the current news, um, news of the day, and sometimes that'll, that'll make like a little 22nd blurb on TV or. Like an online article or something, but you know, they pick up that and if you share it on social media and use the right hashtags, like the hashtag Hugh news, um, for example, you know, if you know, they reporters pick that up, they say, oh my gosh, that's fun.
[00:09:15] Something lighthearted really helps beating the hard news of the day, which, you know, we all know some of the, the tough stories that they've had to cover recently. Um, so. Yeah. You know, if you find a way to tie it into, even with COVID, cause he's talked about COVID being overplayed, it's not overplay that they're trying to find stories that are different and that can, can really reflect human interest.
[00:09:38] Um, and really the story again, storytelling. So, you know yeah. If, if you have a story to tell that is, um, something that really stands out and sometimes it takes a lot of self-reflection, um, it takes a look at, you know, who's working with you and your. Um, are you changing strategies on how you're doing business?
[00:09:57] Um, how are you helping other businesses maybe who, who are struggling with COVID, uh, and, and maybe working from home or that kind of thing. So there's so many different aspects you can cover and, um, it's about bringing, bringing it to also the right reporter and, um, bringing it to, you know, to, to attention to the, yet to the right people and, uh, and, and, uh, telling the story.
[00:10:21] Veronica: Yeah. Well, and you brought up a great point. How do you bring it to the attention of the right reporter? So, you know, luckily when people are working with us, we do that for them. Uh, that's our bread and butter, but what do business owners who don't have a PR team? How do they know how to reach out and connect with the right reporter or the right producer assignment
[00:10:40] Felicia: editor?
[00:10:41] You know, that is it's. This is such a great point to, to mention. Um, a lot of people say they want to be on TV. Right. Or they want to be in the newspaper, but they don't actually watch TV or read. And like, I always want to say so. So, you know, is there a certain reporter that you've followed this certain beat or something?
[00:11:02] And they're like, no, you know, I just, I, I just want him to have that publicity. I just want to say I was in the newspaper on the TV and I was like, well, the, the, you got to watch it. If you want to know, like, and then if, if you're not watching it is your target audience watching it is your target audience reading it.
[00:11:17] Think about that too. So maybe a trade publication might be better. Is there something that you're reading different that would be probably a best use of your time? Uh, so it's trying to think of what, the reason why you want to get on there, but yes, uh, watch the news, read the, read the newspapers, you know, go online, um, get sign up for the, um, news alerts on, on local TV stations, uh, you know, follow them on Twitter.
[00:11:42] There are several reporters and every single TV station. And, uh, whenever you start watching the news regularly, you realize that, um, that the reporters are in the same types of beats, um, or they're they're in a certain times a day. So you know, when to reach them, um, if it's a morning reporter, you know, they're going to probably be getting in around four o'clock in the morning sometimes earlier.
[00:12:05] Um, let's see. Well, and
[00:12:08] Veronica: that's a really great point because if they're early, you don't want to call or tweet at them at seven o'clock at night when they're going to bed, because they're going to be reporting first thing in the morning. And if you know that,
[00:12:19] Felicia: and that's, that's such a, like I've even sent press releases at two in the morning when I know that there's something happening that day and he, yeah, sure.
[00:12:26] Maybe I've already sent it the previous date, but I kid you not, there are over a thousand emails per day that they get. Over a thousand. Oh my God. I remember I was never able to clear my history as a producer. I, you just couldn't like, there are literally over a thousand emails a day for somebody to be upset that, Hey, why isn't the reporter getting back to me?
[00:12:49] Why isn't the producer getting back to me or did you, did you receive my press release? Um, it's it's really like they did. Sometimes they do need that extra nudge. Um, you know, which I think is very, very important to do. Um, cause it does kind of make your, your, your story stand out. I mean, there are hundreds of events that happen every weekend in Houston, just, just Houston alone.
[00:13:13] So trying to get your event to stand out is, is. Um, remarkable, if you can be able to do that. Right. Um, and it's usually because you have that human interest element or these other news news values that you add to it. But yeah, if, uh, you know, and it's, it's really, it's about yeah. Watching the news, um, you know, they know that they have two different meetings a day and TV news, so they have a morning meeting.
[00:13:39] Yeah. Yeah. So they have a morning meeting and an afternoon meeting. And so whenever you send your pitch, make sure it gets there before 8:00 AM because they have a 9:00 AM. Ah, yeah. And so, um, sometimes eight 30, sometimes nine, depending on the news station, but that's where they bring in their assignments desk, editor.
[00:13:55] And they bring in their, um, online, uh, web producers. They bring in reporters and the TV news producer. Before this for the first morning meeting, they look at first and foremost, what's going on in social because they say social first, every single TV stage, like with social first, what are people talking about?
[00:14:13] They want to know what people care about. And so, um, so social, social first, and then they go through the assignments, uh, desk, you know, what's going on today. Press conferences are being held. Um, what's on the docket for, you know, trials and, um, that kind of thing too. They said there's so much that's happening already.
[00:14:35] And then they have the reporters, the, each of the reporters have to have to bring to the table, you know, sometimes two or three different stories. Right. And so if you can reach those reporters before they come to that morning meeting, then um, then they have that story idea that they could pitch. It doesn't mean it's going to land, but it gives you a better chance of having, uh, having your story done that.
[00:14:57] The second meeting is held around like 1, 1 30 in the afternoon, and that's where the evening reporters. So, um, you know, a lot of times those dayside reporters have like, uh, you know, two different stories that they cover through the day, depending if there's breaking news, right. There's evening reporters really have to have like a deeper, like a deeper kinds of story ideas that to reach out to.
[00:15:17] So it's one times more investigative, even like things that have taken a couple of days to do, um, But a lot of times, it's the breaking news of the day and they kind of want to dig deeper into it. And so, uh, you know, it's, it's, you know, if you want to reach, if they have something that's a little bit harder news that, that after.
[00:15:35] Yeah, really good one to do. And so do you
[00:15:38] Veronica: think, and I'm so glad you explained the two meeting process, because I knew that I knew about the morning meeting. I didn't really understand the afternoon meeting, but that makes complete sense because I've had more luck pitching what I would consider fluffier stories or more feel good stories to the morning folks than I ever have in the afternoon folks.
[00:15:56] And that makes complete sense. Now that you explained how that works in the
[00:15:59] Felicia: news. Oh, yeah. And a lot of times those dayside reporters, um, if there happens to be breaking news, they're there, their stories sometimes get pushed to the 10:00 PM. Um, if they're having more feature story, right. So that's why, that's why you see some of that.
[00:16:12] Some of those feature stories are they're held for the 10:00 PM purposely. And they were like, this is a really great story. And they know that their, most of their audience watches at 10:00 PM. So, um, they're gonna keep the stories to go to the 10. So yeah, there's a lot of different if you, it depends on what story you have.
[00:16:29] That, that makes sense. If it is a fluffier, um, you know, feature kind of story, then definitely day side. Um, sometimes even planning something like that in advance, uh, if it's more evergreen and then if it's a harder news story, like, um, something that impacts, you know, um, maybe it's maybe it's his D or maybe it's the police, you know, w whatever it might be, if it's a little bit of a harder news angle to a new story that's already had.
[00:16:56] Then that's a really good one too. Um, had some, luckily, even with the, you know, some of the, um, like Isaiah factor, for example, you know, in, in P you know, pitching those in the afternoons and being able to say, Hey, this is, I have a great guest to take and talk on this subject. That's been a really big story throughout the day.
[00:17:14] And so, um, so yeah, if you can have something that ties into the new story of the day, absolutely send it before that 1:00 PM.
[00:17:22] Veronica: Yeah, no, those are great. Great, great tips. I love that. You mentioned social at the beginning and it really, so it's been awhile since I was in journalism school. I won't tell you how many 20, some odd years it's been since I've been in journalism, but I will tell you that, um, that was not obviously the, the, the way we were trained and taught.
[00:17:44] Do you feel like the last 10 or five years have really changed the way we do news and by D and the reason why I ask is I think by default PRP, I have to modify the way we pitch to adjust to news. I think we take the lead of whatever the newsroom is doing. And I'm curious, um, if you feel like social is really, you know, where folks need to be building their brand and as we're talking about PR
[00:18:09] Felicia: yeah.
[00:18:10] And when it comes to, when, if you want, if, if TV news is your goal, right. If you know, or, or print news in any news is your whole. Yeah, Twitter is where it's at. And a lot of people don't, you know, they don't, they kind of like brush off Twitter sometimes. Cause they're like, yeah, you know, sometimes can get too political or like there's just like memes and whatever.
[00:18:30] Um, but using the right hashtags and tagging the right, uh, organizations, uh, that can really, it can really do a lot to push what your message is. And, um, Even direct messaging, following your reporters, commenting, engaging with them. You know, don't just try to pitch them a story and, and, and, you know, hoping that they're going to like it.
[00:18:50] You actually build relationships with these reporters. Um, think about what their mission is, their goal, and the more that you can help them. Because they have so much going on. Can you imagine you're getting into this morning meeting and you have like the story that you're supposed to cover for the first half of the day, and then you have another story you supposed to cover for the second half.
[00:19:08] Sometimes you're an MMJ, which is a multimedia journalist and you're like essentially a one man band where you're having to tug around the, the camera, the tripod, the lavalier, mics, everything with you, and then go do this story. Shoot all of it yourself. And then a report on it and then having to also update everybody through social media and they're having to do all that for that one story.
[00:19:30] And then having to write the online copy, having to edit their piece for, for on air. Um, so much is going on. Do you think you have time to check emails, um, already on social media? Um, if you're, if you're messaging them when they're already like having to. Uh, it's more likely to answer it. You're going to be able to talk with them and engage with them.
[00:19:50] They like knowing that people like their posts or like their story, or thought that that was funny or, um, you know, it just brings some positivity there. And so the more that they see your name, the more recognition and the more, they're more likely to pay attention to what you have to say. Yeah,
[00:20:06] Veronica: no, I love that.
[00:20:06] And I think that's true. I got in the habit honestly, of, um, sending press releases second as a secondary, um, way of connecting with folks. And I was just tweeting at them is tweet a reporter and say, oh my gosh, fantastic story. Especially if it was something I was doing for, um, maybe girl Scouts, I was a girl scout, um, cheek volunteer mom.
[00:20:27] And I would say our girl Scouts are doing this next Saturday. Here's and I would actually tweet at them and message them. Previous photos of things we have done. And we got to hit that way because I kind of gave them to your point earlier, a little bit of a visual of what you could expect. And I painted the picture and I kind of stepped out everything for them so that they weren't going to have to do a lot of that work.
[00:20:48] It was already done for them. I just need you to come bring your camera. And then you're done. I can give you everything else you
[00:20:54] Felicia: need. Yeah. And that's actually an, a fantastic point to make the easier you can make it for the Reaper producer reporter that you're pitching to the better it'll be. So sometimes I even write the copy for them.
[00:21:06] I mean, they don't have to use it verbatim, but a lot of times they do. Um, and it's, especially since I already have like the news writing backgrounds, um, you know, from, you know, having to write these stories on the fly, like you're, you're flying every single day, having it. The stories cranked out. Um, if the easier you make it for them, the more likely your story is going to be at, they have to go digging through finding that the real essence of your press release what the actual story is.
[00:21:31] Like, not just bullet points, you know, like this is what's happening. This is the person I have to interview. Like this is when, where, why, um, make it super, super quick for them. Like, even if that's the body of the email, if they want to know more, they can always check on, you know, your press release that you sent, or you can always reply back with more information.
[00:21:48] But make it easy for them. Just give them video and video, give them photos, um, all of those things. Yeah. The easier, easier you can make it. The, the, the, the easier your life is going to be to know. It's the more likely you're able to get your, your brand messaging out there. And the more visibility you can, you can.
[00:22:08] Veronica: Yeah, absolutely. And that just leads me to my last point. And that is when you asked the question, if your goal is to get on TV, if your goal is to get on pre print media, I always tell my clients what's the why behind it. So you want to get on TV. Okay. Cause you want to create a, you want to legitimize your brand.
[00:22:24] You want to be an expert in the field. And at the end of the day, you want to bring. Business in the door. So there's two parts to it. It's getting the media getting attention. And then what are we doing with it? And it's leveraging that next step and you're sharing it. You're using those hashtags. How do you kind of help people get to that next point?
[00:22:43] Now that you're on the PR side of the aisle, got the TV, what do they do with it?
[00:22:49] Felicia: Yeah. You know, it's, uh, you want to, you definitely want to. You know, keep can also continue. Following, can keep in contact with the reporter who did your story. Um, and as far as, you know, moving forward with, with your story to make sure that you, you, you get that third-party validation and essentially say extort it to the extreme.
[00:23:11] Um, but yeah, you make sure it's on your website. You make sure that, you know, uh, it's on your social media. Um, maybe you even write a blog about it. Like you can do so much more to expand on. And really, I think one of the main reasons why people do like to have that exposure through TV is, uh, is to have that, that third-party validation.
[00:23:32] And that's, that really is like saying, okay, there's this, uh, public public institution that says that what we're doing is, is valid. And so it's, it kind of gives it, you know, that lends itself, that credibility, right. Yeah. So, um, you know, I think, you know, think about the why, and I think he made a very important part, a very important, um, you know, point on that, on that section is, think about the why, um, why, why are you wanting this publicity and this visibility?
[00:24:04] Um, is it too, um, you know, is, is it is to get people to visit your website more? Is it to get people to buy your products or, uh, Services, um, you know, think about, you know, where your audience is, where do they, where do they live? Um, and you know, what's the, what, what are they listening to? What are they watching?
[00:24:26] And sometimes that means, you know, getting into marketing. Aspect of things. Maybe you want to do a targeted ad, you know, for Spotify, you know, for example, um, which sometimes I think gets left in the left in the, uh, the weeds a little bit, but you know, it's, you know, maybe it's radio maybe, um, you know, it just, it could be, if it, depending on what your demographic is, think, look at the, look at the, uh, Reports from the ratings periods in who, who these, uh, different, uh, TV stations or radio stations, or whoever's reaching look at their ratings, which what done every quarter, essentially the four times a year.
[00:25:08] Um, you know, and so just think about the why, and then, then you go into the more strategy of like, you know, of the new go to the tactics portion of actually reaching out to those, uh, within your stride.
[00:25:20] Veronica: Yeah, no, that makes complete sense. And I like the idea of forecasting that out because sometimes when we're working with clients and teams, um, they may have like a launch coming out, whether it's a service launch or a product launch, or maybe a book launch and say, okay, in this quarter, we're going to focus on this and this quarter, we're going to focus on that.
[00:25:37] And that helps people really manage. Their budgets too, and they can move it into, um, maybe email marketing campaign is a PR I'm trying to get on TV component of it. And so it really helps I think, to, to lay that out. And when you have a team that can help you with that fantastic. And you don't have to, you certainly don't have to, but I think it helps to understand the why behind everything you're doing so that your dollar spent well.
[00:26:03] Felicia: Yeah, and I, I, what I like to do with my clients even is go through this entire, um, this, this entire process of making sure that, you know, Just jumped right into the tactics and just start pitching for what? Right. What's what's the real meaning behind it. So we initially go through a discovery phase and so this discovery phase goes through, you know, um, where are they at currently?
[00:26:27] How many followers they have on social media? So they get a website with their products. Selling is lot like right now. Um, maybe how many speaking engagements they have, you know, and any, any, anything like that, that they w where are you at right now? And be candid about it. Don't sugarcoat it. Be very candid about where you are right now.
[00:26:46] And then you look at, okay, where do I want to be? And then you look at who do I need to get?
[00:26:54] then it goes into the whole process and the strategy of building that, um, you research reaches your research, your market, um, research. Your competitors can not stress that enough. You gotta know who you're up against. Um, no, there no their rates, no. What makes you different and unique? What are your strengths?
[00:27:12] What are your weaknesses? And be very candid about that. You know, we self-reflective. Um, and then you can start building out the communications plan and that communications plan has your essentially your mission of what you want to accomplish. And then it goes into more of the tactical part of it, or how do we get there?
[00:27:31] And then, so then you do the execution, part of that, where maybe that does include media relations. Sometimes it includes marketing and advertising. Um, so, you know, looking, looking at all of the different, um, The elements or different, um, things at your disposal, um, to, to create that execution aspect. And then, uh, I think something that gets overlooked a lot of time is more on the insights that you do afterward.
[00:27:56] So we look at all right, what, what's this in this campaign period say it was 16. For, for this entire, uh, you know, communications plan, you look back and say, okay, what, what did it, what do you write? What did, what could have been done better? Um, and again, be very candid about it. And then you move forward.
[00:28:14] Okay, well, let's look at the next six months and what we can do. So you'll continually improving your brand. If you can, if you, if you keep this, keep this going. So
[00:28:24] Veronica: language, you're speaking about love languages. I love strategy.
[00:28:29] Felicia: Yes. And it's all about, you know, you want to get results and it's, I think it's so hard as someone who's in the public relations professions to show your value and show your worth whenever, you know, like, well, what's the money value on you?
[00:28:40] I'm spending this much on, on your services. What am I really getting in return? Right. Sometimes. With the money dollar sign on that, it's more on getting that brand reputation or even crisis communications plans, um, which can really can really sink a brand, uh, can really sink a business if you don't have a good crisis communications plan there, it also think of business.
[00:29:02] If you don't have good PR public relations, whenever you're sending out social media. Yeah. It's kind of tone deaf, um, and it gets, it has negative reaction, so that can again, get people to boycott your business, like all this kinds of things. So, um, you know, you're, you're, you can't really put necessarily a monetary value on that as.
[00:29:24] So the agent can do is, is see the increase of like other certain measurements for your brand. So that means like website visits and followers and engagement, especially engagement is bigger than followers on social media. You want to make sure people who are following you are also into what your. Yeah.
[00:29:41] Yeah, no,
[00:29:42] Veronica: I love it. And I had to tell you the level of expertise it takes to do this when you really get to the core of that is, is important. And, um, I know that there's probably people out there listening, going. Yeah, that all sounds great. I, how can you do that for me? So how can people work with you?
[00:29:57] Tell us about
[00:29:58] Felicia: that. Yeah, absolutely. Um, well, I, I, um, let me personally, I own. Public relations. Uh, and so you can contact me there that email you see there on your screen, Felicia Farr, public relations.com. Um, you know, really what, what I try to do is, is bring your brands into focus, right? This far part of the far public relations aspect of that.
[00:30:21] As your Houston media maker over here, uh, you know, I think to simplify your messages, um, you know, sometimes taking something that's very complicated and simplifying it to where you can, um, you can tell your story and focus on your business outcomes. And so, um, my goal is to make sure that people know who.
[00:30:38] Yeah. And so that's, that's, that's what I'm about. And I work with, you know, all different levels from nonprofit to, you know, small businesses to even corporate teams. Um, so just, uh, it can just email me there and, um, I'd be happy to talk. That's awesome.
[00:30:54] Veronica: And for those of you listening on the podcast, I will be sure to put that in the podcast notes.
[00:30:59] Awesome. Felicia, thank you. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead.
[00:31:02] Felicia: One more thing. I also want to mention, um, if you are interested in more public relations, uh, information and even webinars and that kind of thing, um, Okay. Houston is a great place to connect and I'll be president of hearsay, uh, this coming next, this coming year.
[00:31:18] So 2022. Um, and I invite you to come out to the networking events. I'd be happy to talk with you a little bit more there as well. We have a meet the mentors event coming up, um, on the November 18th. Uh, and we also have a, more of a social event happening, uh, called mingle bells. And. Oh, that's all right. So please, uh, you know, if you want to know more about public relations or just know more about joining the organization to, um, please, please reach out to me or, um, or come out to one of the events.
[00:31:47] Veronica: That's fantastic. Good plug for PRC, for sure. And guys, it's not just local. They've got different chapters all over the country. So, um, look them up. Perez.org, I believe is the national one, but you can find some really great people. If you want to connect with someone that's maybe more regional to you, then I highly recommend there, but thank you, Felicia.
[00:32:06] It has been a blast having you on the show.
[00:32:09] Felicia: Thank you so much.
[00:32:11] Veronica: Great. That's fantastic guys. So thrilled that we had a chance to talk about all the things I love. Felicia was really speaking my love language. We've been able to partner on a couple of projects together, and I got to tell you she's a phenomenal public relations practitioner.
[00:32:24] She's a strategist and she gets it. So don't forget to reach out to her. Her email address is there in the show notes. And with that, I'm going to wrap up this. Episode of Saturday soundbites, where we talk all things, visibility, strategy, marketing, advertising, branding, public relations, you name it. So with that, I am sending you lots of positive energy and light, and we'll see you next time.