Things I did right in my business

[fusion_builder_container type=”flex” hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” min_height=”” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” align_content=”stretch” flex_align_items=”flex-start” flex_justify_content=”flex-start” flex_column_spacing=”” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” container_tag=”div” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” status=”published” publish_date=”” class=”” id=”” spacing_medium=”” margin_top_medium=”” margin_bottom_medium=”” spacing_small=”” margin_top_small=”” margin_bottom_small=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_dimensions_medium=”” padding_top_medium=”” padding_right_medium=”” padding_bottom_medium=”” padding_left_medium=”” padding_dimensions_small=”” padding_top_small=”” padding_right_small=”” padding_bottom_small=”” padding_left_small=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” link_color=”” link_hover_color=”” border_sizes=”” border_sizes_top=”” border_sizes_right=”” border_sizes_bottom=”” border_sizes_left=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” box_shadow=”no” box_shadow_vertical=”” box_shadow_horizontal=”” box_shadow_blur=”0″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”” box_shadow_style=”” z_index=”” overflow=”” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_blend_mode=”none” video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” render_logics=”” absolute=”off” absolute_devices=”small,medium,large” sticky=”off” sticky_devices=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_background_color=”” sticky_height=”” sticky_offset=”” sticky_transition_offset=”0″ scroll_offset=”0″ animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ align_self=”auto” content_layout=”column” align_content=”flex-start” valign_content=”flex-start” content_wrap=”wrap” spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” type_medium=”” type_small=”” order_medium=”0″ order_small=”0″ dimension_spacing_medium=”” dimension_spacing_small=”” dimension_spacing=”” dimension_margin_medium=”” dimension_margin_small=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_medium=”” padding_small=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” hover_type=”none” border_sizes=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_radius=”” box_shadow=”no” dimension_box_shadow=”” box_shadow_blur=”0″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”” box_shadow_style=”” background_type=”single” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ background_color=”” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend_mode=”none” render_logics=”” filter_type=”regular” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″ animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no” border_position=”all”][fusion_title title_type=”text” rotation_effect=”bounceIn” display_time=”1200″ highlight_effect=”circle” loop_animation=”off” highlight_width=”9″ highlight_top_margin=”0″ before_text=”” rotation_text=”” highlight_text=”” after_text=”” title_link=”off” link_url=”” link_target=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” content_align_medium=”” content_align_small=”” content_align=”left” size=”1″ font_size=”” animated_font_size=”” fusion_font_family_title_font=”” fusion_font_variant_title_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_shadow=”no” text_shadow_vertical=”” text_shadow_horizontal=”” text_shadow_blur=”0″ text_shadow_color=”” margin_top_medium=”” margin_right_medium=”” margin_bottom_medium=”” margin_left_medium=”” margin_top_small=”” margin_right_small=”” margin_bottom_small=”” margin_left_small=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” margin_top_mobile=”” margin_bottom_mobile=”” text_color=”” animated_text_color=”” highlight_color=”” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” link_color=”” link_hover_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

Things I did right in my business

[/fusion_title][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

Last week for April Fool’s Day, I talked about the mistakes I made in my business – I also did some things right.

In fact, I must be doing quite a few things right because I’m still here, and succeeding, despite the pandemic!

You may see some things herer that you are not doing, yet… yet it’s never too late to start to work on them if relevant to your business.

If you want some help or support from me you can always book a power hour with me here – https://scott-media.mykajabi.com/pr-power-hour

13 business activities I did to help with my home-life balance, and helped my business grow:

1. Walked the walk – offered PR and did my own PR. As an expert in the field, how could I even consider not doing my own PR? I need to show people I know what I’m talking about, and doing my own PR does that.  They can see how my being seen, and my presence helps my business.

2. From day one, I began networking and making connections. Much of PR work is about who you know, and if you don’t make connections, you won’t get to meet the right people. Networking is one of the most important activities I took part in, and continue to take part in. Being involved, I meet new people, who will not always become clients – they may be, but they may be the person I need to help me connect to a new client, or, introduce them to a client I work with already. Networking is a little like a web, each time you make a connection, both you and their contacts grow.

3. I always knew that building a wide set of contacts was my super power. I have always understood this need for connections, since working in both local newspapers, radio and TV. I still retain many of those contacts and they continue to be important links when I’m working with my clients. They make a huge difference to me being able to match my clients to the right media outlets.

4. Gaining some experience within bigger PR companies to see what they did right – and what they did wrong was excellent insight for my own business. This has been helpful when clients come to me expecting miracles from PR. I can explain to them, that even with bigger companies, they won’t necessarily get a better service.

5. Always set aside cash for tax and bills and also marketing. I have never had to worry that I couldn’t afford this investment my business. Knowing money is set aside puts your mind at ease and you can get on with day to day work. Also, you can have fun spending money on your business when required, knowing it’s there.

6. Blogging to show my own expertise and experience. This is another way to keep you in front of peoples’ minds – you are present and you are serving your audience. I blog regularly and as well as on my own website, on other platforms too. You may not know who is reading your blog, but overtime, you build an audience of followers, who sometimes, after watching you, approach you, to work with you. This has happened to me over and over again. It also leads to opportunities to run workshop, webinars and to be a speaker.

7. I offered to do talks from the beginning, often sharing my journalistic experience. Giving talks is another great way to put you in front of prospective clients, as well as allowing people see you as an expert in your field. It is part of your own PR and marketing, and people are fascinated to learn how the media work, and how it can help them in their businesses.

8. I paid myself – to keep up my motivation. Lockdown 1 has been the only time when I’ve not done this. Being paid motivates you in different ways. To see how well you are doing and the amount you are making, through your own hard work – adds to your self-confidence and value; to be able to input to the family income. Too many business owners pay themselves last, I’ve done the opposite as my energy is what keeps the business going.

9. When my baby boy was one and I had just started my business, I took time off, and spent time with him. I went along to those school events, and he remembers this. My family is important and I always make time for them. They come first every time. When I worked as full-time employee, they didn’t always come first, because they didn’t come first for my employer. It’s different for me now. I don’t allow anyone to make me feel that they are more important than my family. If they do, I walk away because I can.

10. I included childcare costs in my finances, I knew giving up my childminder would mean I couldn’t take my business forward with any speed. Therefore I used some of my redundancy money to keep paying for childcare. This way I HAD to use time wisely to grow my business without feeling guilty.

11. Calling out bad behaviour is something I do without hesitation. Even now, I will not tolerate disrespect of me or those I care about in my private life or business. If I didn’t do so, I’d be acting disloyally to my family, friends and business colleagues. I take loyalty very seriously in my business and I walk away from anyone who is not loyal to me or who shows unjustified disrespect to those in my tight circle.

12. Marking milestones. I think it is very important to say ‘thank you’ to clients and other businesses by sending small gifts to recognise small milestones. This is about generally being grateful and letting people know you care about them, they are more than just another ‘notch’ in your business, or amongst your contacts. Generosity begets generosity!

13. TAKING ACTION – the best tip of all. It is absolutely no good sitting on your hands, wishing, hoping, planning and planning to do things, but not actually doing them! You have to act. Even if you make a mistake at least you’ve taken action.

Next week…talking about stress as it’s Stress Awareness Month.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]