In this episode, Christian Espinosa shares his career path, starting in the Airforce and the lessons he brought with him to his work in cybersecurity. Chrisitan also talks about his books, mainly "The Smartest Person in the Room," giving an overview of what you will learn by reading his book. Christian describes his keynote speaking, from his inspiration to become a keynote speaker to the theme of his speeches. He also talks about growing his personal brand and network. 5:29 – Christian talks ab...
Jan 16, 2024•37 min•Ep. 268
Billions of dollars in profit. Millions of fans captivated by her concerts. In 2023, Taylor Swift has been everywhere, and her omnipresence provides valuable lessons for the entire public relations industry. In PR, we dream of making our clients a hot commodity. We dream of sending consumers into a frenzy. We dream of going viral. Sometimes, dreams become reality, and that is the excitement of PR. With hard work and strategic execution, PR campaigns can truly change hearts and minds. Swift’s suc...
Jan 09, 2024•12 min•Ep. 267
In this episode, Nancy Marshall, The PR Maven®, speaks with Kathleen O'Heron, CEO and co- founder of Jynx Productions. Kathleen shares her professional journey, from her early fascination with film production and editing in high school and college, to co-founding Jynx Productions, a leading boutique media production company based in New England. She discusses the value of personal storytelling in achieving impactful personal branding and the documentary style of production that her company follo...
Dec 19, 2023•44 min•Ep. 266
Based on her 27 years as a journalist in Maine, Deirdre Stires (you might recognize her from her byline, Deirdre Fleming) shares what she was always looking for as a journalist and how PR people can be helpful. Deirdre talks about her recent transition to creating content for Bates College and why it is important to be a good writer when it comes to creating content. Deirdre also lists some of the content she enjoys consuming and some resources she has found helpful as a writer. 3:16 – Deirdre d...
Dec 12, 2023•41 min•Ep. 265
You may be using search engine optimization (SEO) to increase the traffic to your website, but are you using conversion rate optimization (CRO) to make use of that traffic? In this episode, Marty Greif defines CRO, explains what it can do for you and how you can start implementing it. Marty also talks about client success stories using CRO and a game changer you will want to know for your career. Learn about trust bars and the ugly baby test in this episode as well. 3:50 – Marty describes how he...
Dec 05, 2023•39 min•Ep. 264
In this episode, Steve McCausland returns to The PR Maven® Podcast to share more of his crisis communications wisdom. Starting with his background and career, Steve shares some examples of how to handle communicating during crises based on his 30+ years working for Maine Public Safety. Steve and Nancy also give a look into their crisis communications training process, including some of their most important tips. Steve and Nancy discuss how the media landscape has changed throughout their careers...
Nov 28, 2023•44 min•Ep. 263
I’ve run a public relations agency for more than three decades, so entrepreneurship runs in my blood. It’s honestly difficult to fathom life before, when I worked a traditional job and reported to a boss. Honestly, I was not cut out to be an employee. I was born to run my own business. These days, headlines like “How to be an entrepreneur” are a dime a dozen. It seems like everyone has secret tips and pieces of advice for those looking to be entrepreneurial, even if it means thinking outside the...
Nov 21, 2023•12 min•Ep. 262
In this episode, The PR Maven® Podcast celebrates five years and congratulates Bob Shultz, president and chief financial officer at Puritan Medical Products, for having the most popular episode of the year. Nancy and Bob talk about how Puritan adapted during the COVID pandemic and how they are diversifying now that demand for COVID swabs has decreased. Nancy and Bob also talk about the value of having a finance background in a leadership position. 3:17 – Bob explains how Puritan adapted to the d...
Nov 14, 2023•24 min•Ep. 261
As The PR Maven® Podcast awards the 2023 Golden Microphone, we are rereleasing the most popular guest episode of the past year. This year’s Golden Microphone Award winner is Bob Shultz, president and chief financial officer at Puritan Medical Products. Listen to this week’s encore episode as a refresher ahead of next week’s launch of a new episode with Bob! In episode 210, Nancy and Bob talked about Puritan Medical Products’ growth after ramping up production of their testing swabs for COVID-19 ...
Nov 07, 2023•43 min
It isn’t easy being a boss these days. The economy is up and down, and the labor market is unpredictable. Depending on the industry, some employers are struggling to attract and retain employees, while others are thriving. In public relations, I have seen it all in recent months: Some agencies refusing to hire, others hiring in abundance, some losing workers to their competitors, and others keeping employees for the long haul. During turbulent times, it is important for employers — in PR or not ...
Oct 31, 2023•11 min•Ep. 259
Did you know that there are millions of podcasts? Or that nearly 80% of U.S. adults listen to them? You don’t need me to state the obvious: Podcasting is big business. What’s less obvious is how to succeed as a podcaster. Which topics resonate most with your target audience? Who is your target audience? Which formats are the most popular? How often should you release a new podcast? Who should you interview, if anyone? I’ve been podcasting since 2018, long before the Covid-19 pandemic took podcas...
Oct 24, 2023•11 min•Ep. 258
In another column, I explained how LinkedIn is a useful social media platform for generating sales. And it’s true: LinkedIn can be monetized in a way that grows your business and strengthens your brand through your own “thought leadership.” But there is much, much more to LinkedIn than money. Too often, advertisers, marketers, and public relations practitioners look at social media platforms exclusively through the lens of self-interest — how they can benefit me, me, me. Right away, people ask: ...
Oct 17, 2023•11 min•Ep. 257
Can you imagine a time when we didn’t have emails? I remember when my late father, who was an electrical engineer for Westinghouse, first got email and his administrative assistant would print out all of the messages for him. He would then bring the emails home at night and write out his responses, so she could type and send them out for him the next day. What a time! I don’t know about you, but I process through hundreds of emails a day now. My fingers fly across my keyboard. (Thank goodness I ...
Oct 10, 2023•11 min•Ep. 256
When was the last time you took a good look at your business’s social media presence? Is it time for a social media audit? In this podcast episode, Lara Beckius, Marshall Communications’ 2023 intern, explains when and why you should complete a social media audit. Whether you want to make sure you are reaching your target audience or you want to expand your social media presence, Lara offers some tips for completing a social media audit and making sure you are moving in the right direction. 3:25 ...
Oct 03, 2023•28 min•Ep. 255
At last! A new episode with Tim Cotton is here! To wrap up our fifth anniversary celebration, we are proud to launch this new episode with the PR Maven® Podcast guest with the most popular episodes of all time. In this episode, Nancy catches up with Tim Cotton. Since his last episode, Tim has retired from the Bangor Police Department, but still manages their Facebook page, as well as his own. He has also published three books and is working on a fourth. Listen to Nancy and Tim’s conversation. 3:...
Sep 26, 2023•41 min•Ep. 254
As The PR Maven® Podcast continues celebrating 5 years, we are rereleasing our second most popular episode of all time, episode 60 with special guest, Tim Cotton. If you missed last week’s rerelease of the most popular episode on The PR Maven® Podcast, check out that episode here ! Tune in again next week for the release of a new episode with Tim coming out on September 26! In episode 60, Tim Cotton was celebrated as the guest with the most popular episode of the year at the first PR Maven® Podc...
Sep 19, 2023•32 min
As The PR Maven® Podcast celebrates 5 years, we are rereleasing our two most popular episodes of all time, episode 36 and episode 60, both with special guest, Tim Cotton. Whether you have been listening to The PR Maven® Podcast consistently from the beginning or you are a more recent or occasional listener, we hope you enjoy these encore episodes as we build up to the release of a new episode with Tim coming out on September 26! Let’s get excited! In episode 36, Nancy recorded her first episode ...
Sep 12, 2023•53 min
Getting the word out about your business requires a mix of marketing techniques, but should working with influencers be one of your marketing strategies? On the one hand, influencers can help spread the word about your business, but on the other, influencers can take advantage of businesses and have less credibility than journalists. In this episode, Karen Stabiner talks about the challenges and downsides of working with influencers, particularly in the restaurant industry. 3:57 – Karen shares h...
Sep 05, 2023•50 min•Ep. 253
Remember that person you met, but whose name you can’t remember? You had the most interesting conversation, but you don’t know how to reach out because a simple name has slipped your mind. Bob? Bill? Something else? We’ve all been there before. I pride myself on meeting new people and building new connections – personal or professional – and even I’m not immune to the occasional lapse in short-term memory. There was recently an individual who could help me with certain projects for work, but for...
Aug 29, 2023•11 min•Ep. 252
When should you rebrand? In the changing marketplace, you may want to rebrand at a different time now than you would have wanted to in the past. Listen as Paula and Derek Slayton explain when you should consider rebranding and if your current brand promise is still achievable. Paula and Derek also discuss the language of branding, how PR and advertising can work together and why you should continue investing in marketing or the relationships you have, even when money is tight. 3:26 – Derek expla...
Aug 22, 2023•36 min•Ep. 251
With the emergence of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence chatbots, many professionals are concerned about AI’s impact on their respective industries. On a daily basis, the anxiety and nervousness are palpable. Will ChatGPT disrupt my industry? Will it replace my job? How do I compete with AI? These questions are common and legitimate, and the answers to them remain to be seen. That’s the nature of disruption: It’s not easy to predict whether and to what extent the status quo will change, ...
Aug 15, 2023•11 min•Ep. 250
In November 2000, Scotty Wentzell was born with a serious congenital heart defect and a chromosomal disorder that causes physical and developmental delays. With the help of his parents, Lisa and Scott, and many organizations specializing in assisting people of many different abilities, Scotty has been able to go on amazing adventures throughout his life. Recently, Lisa co-authored a book with Heidi Bullen named, “A Dog and His Boy, The Adventures of Spillway and Scotty,” detailing the adventures...
Aug 08, 2023•44 min•Ep. 249
What is a changemaker and who can become one? In this episode, Dr. Patti Talbot defines what a changemaker is and explains that you don’t need to be someone extraordinarily special to make the change you want to see. Patti emphasizes working together to make change and shares some success stories from working with changemakers. Patti also talks about her career in education, founding Blue Roads Education Group, creating her podcast (On Your Own Terms) and public speaking. 3:16 – Patti talks abou...
Aug 01, 2023•27 min•Ep. 248
Video content is a powerful tool on most social media platforms, so having a channel on YouTube, a social media platform predominately made up of video content, can be beneficial to your business. Not only is YouTube another platform to share your video content and reach your audience, but it is also a powerful search engine that helps expand your audience. In this episode, find out how to use YouTube for your business and some content ideas to get you started. 1:11 – Why you should create a You...
Jul 25, 2023•11 min•Ep. 247
Jason Mudd brings his PR expertise to this episode as he talks about PR’s role in your marketing strategy. Jason starts by giving some background about himself and then dives into some common PR mistakes, topics, tips and trends. Jason explains the difference between PR and advertising and why PR is so effective compared to advertising. Jason also shares an example of how it is important to take a holistic approach to your marketing or PR strategy. 3:18 – Jason explains how he took the “traditio...
Jul 18, 2023•49 min•Ep. 246
Not all professions teach you how to run a business during your studies. What do you do when you open your own business but don’t know how to promote it? In this episode, Dr. Phil Finemore talks about his career path and how he launched his own business. Dr. Phil shares some of the ways he learned to promote WorkFitME Mobile PT using networking to grow his audience. Dr. Phil also describes his approach to physical therapy and Nancy shares her physical therapy journey. 3:55 – Dr. Phil explains ho...
Jul 11, 2023•28 min•Ep. 245
Twitter has been in the news a lot recently following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company. While Twitter has undergone many changes and faced criticism recently, the platform is still a great place to help your business connect with the media and with your audience. In this episode, Nancy takes a look at some of the reasons you should consider creating a Twitter account and how to use Twitter once your account has been created. 1:04 – Why you should create a Twitter profile for your business....
Jul 04, 2023•12 min•Ep. 244
Let’s face it: Public speaking is hard. It can be scary, too. There’s an old saying that people fear public speaking even over death, and there is some truth to it. Millions of Americans are terrified of speaking in public. It’s understandable: Many people think that going on stage lays them bare. It can feel like the audience sees inside your brain or your soul. But over time, repetition mitigates that dread or fear. Practice may not make perfect since public speaking is still difficult, but it...
Jun 27, 2023•11 min•Ep. 243
Instagram is an important social media platform for businesses that have great visuals to share with their audience, such as delicious food photos, cute animals and much more. Instagram’s largest audience is comprised of people ages 18 – 34. If your core audience falls into that age group, this is another good reason for your business to be on Instagram. In this episode, find out how to create an Instagram profile, make a post, and determine what content you should be posting and when. This epis...
Jun 20, 2023•13 min•Ep. 242
LinkedIn is a business-focused social media platform that is excellent for professional networking and recruiting. For this reason, LinkedIn is very important for your business. Not only does it help connect your business with potential employees, but it helps show your company culture and allows employees to connect with one another on the platform. LinkedIn’s “About” section also ranks very well on Google, helping boost your search engine rankings. In this episode, find out how to get set up a...
Jun 13, 2023•11 min•Ep. 241
