Recently, I decided to make a career move from Marketing to Public Relations. I’ve always been interested by the fast paced environment, and was excited to start this new chapter in my life.
One company that really caught my eye was Matter Communications. From the start, I knew there was something really special about Matter and I wanted to learn more about it. I decided to start applying for a position and even though I didn’t realize it at the time, through that process I learned a lot about PR. Below are three PR lessons I learned when eagerly courting Matter for a PR position.
1. Think targeted
I was sure to use LinkedIn and other online resources to find the right hiring manager and the correct contact information for positions at Matter. I didn’t send a mass email addressed, “To Whom It May Concern.”
When applying for a job and in PR, it’s all about finding the right contact. Anyone can use Google to find the email address of the News Desk or Managing Editor and send out a mass mail merge. The key is to set yourself apart. Put in the extra few minutes to do your research and find the most appropriate contact for what you are pitching. It will save you tons of time in the long run.
2. Let them know you are paying attention
Every week, I scanned for mentions of Matter in the news and new client updates to then turn this information around and highlight it in my cover letters in hopes of grabbing someone’s attention.
Like applying for a job, it’s important to be in the know and fully aware of who you are pitching. Scan. Read. Scan. You can’t expect to impact or be a part of industry news if you don’t know what is going on. Sign up for alerts, join social media communities and pick up the newspaper once in a while.
3. Be persistent
After I sent in the resumes, I would place a slew of follow up phone calls to Matter, hoping that each one might be The One that would open the doors and change my life forever.
Similar to following up on job applications, it is important to be persistent in PR. When pitching it is imperative to follow through with phone calls and make that personal connection. You never know if that next call turns out to be The One.
Overall, I’m glad that the years pursing Matter and keeping them top on my radar finally paid off. It has been a whirlwind adventure but I’m learning tons and loving every minute of it.