PR can help you land a position on a board by increasing your reputation and credibility as an expert in your field, as well as increasing the exposure of your brand and your business’ brand. While scoring a much sought after position on a board comes down to hard work and strong networks, one of the best ways to get recognised by board directors is by being seen in the media. PR can help you to improve your career opportunities in other areas as well. When you’re meeting a prospective board appointment or new employer, taking along a sample of media clippings that repeatedly mention your expertise will do wonders for your credibility and will stand you apart from the competition. The recruiter may even recognise your name from trade publications within the industry.
Here are some PR strategies and tips to help you gain more career opportunities or land a position on a board.
Position yourself as a known expert in the media When you use PR to position yourself as an expert in your field, it is your name and job title that is published for people in your industry or the general public to see. This helps build your credibility and in future circumstances when a journalist requires an expert in your field – it’s your name that comes to mind. Sometimes it’s hard to swallow the title ‘expert’. It might feel as though everybody’s an expert these days, but the truth is, you have knowledge in your particular field that others don’t and you can capitalise on this by offering ‘expert comment and opinion’ in your industry. The more you accept that you are an expert, the more everybody else will accept it too. Every story needs someone with expertise to add credibility to what the journalist is saying and the more you use PR to put yourself forward as an expert, the more credible your own profile becomes. Find media opportunities You can find media opportunities in your industry publications, newspapers, online or magazines. However, you don’t need to limit your expertise to the industry you work in, you have a multitude of experience and skills that others want to hear about. Put yourself forward as an expert on management, as an entrepreneur or for any other related business stories or columns. Be available for media interviews
It’s no secret that we all are incredibly busy, but by making room for a 15-minute media interview, you could be providing yourself and your company with thousands of dollars worth of PR value.
The more accessible you are to journalists, the more chance they’ll contact you when looking for an expert in your field. By simply saying yes a bit more, PR will begin to really work for you. Get media training Taking a phone interview or answering a few questions in front of camera might seem incredibly daunting, but with some decent media training, you’ll be better prepared to handle whatever is thrown at you. You might feel confident that you know what to say in an interview, but when you are placed in front of a reporter, you might not be able to find the right words to convey your message. You can then end up projecting an image that is less than flattering to yourself and your company. Even if you feel pretty confident with your key messages and handling journalists, having a trained professional sit with you and help you organise your thoughts and create the right image is something that can’t be underestimated. PR is important to enhance your personal profile and your business’ brand and help you achieve your next career move.
