By Marie Bradby
Debra Locker was but similar whatever TV journalist, slogging away at multiple stories on deadline too working long hours too holidays.
But she wanted to possess got her ain concern earlier she turned 40, then inwards 2008 when she was 37, she started Locker Public Relations. With that move, she has built a niche PR theatre that specializes inwards the luxury beauty too health industry. Her Louisville-based way has fifty-fifty developed the clout to nation clients on national TV, including The TODAY Show, The Doctors, too MSNBC’s Your Business; and inwards national magazines too websites such as Marie Claire, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, too Forbes.com.
“As a journalist, I liked helping people tell amazing stories,” says Debra, 44, whose journalism career included jobs at WLKY inwards Louisville too WKYT inwards Lexington. She says she’s all the same able to hit that, but straightaway it’s amongst to a greater extent than fourth dimension too idea because she is non having to tell these stories on deadline every day. “Now I am telling stories on behalf of my clients.”
Debra’s TV jobs helped her educate personal relationships amongst hosts too producers who moved to the national level. Later, every bit a corporate PR specialist amongst the International Spa Association, she built relationships amongst lifestyle editors of varying media inwards New York.
As a one-person agency, she keeps solely a one-half dozen minor concern clients that she carefully chooses. “I tend to operate amongst really strong women entrepreneurs inwards the lifestyle too health area,” says Debra, who amongst her hubby Ron Griffin has a 9-year-old son, Bryce, too ii Great Pyrenees dogs, Jackie too Pete.
Debra’s longest running client is the someone who was too her outset client: Celeste Hilling, founder too CEO of Skin Authority based inwards San Diego, California. “I seat 8 to nine months of operate into my society earlier starting it,” Debra says. “I told her, if I hit this, would you lot hold upwardly my client? She said, ‘Yes!’ For Skin Authority, I was able to utilization roughly of the contacts I already had.”
How hit you lot choice a slap-up client? A lot of it is knowing which clients aren’t correct for you. They possess got to hold upwardly very, really comfortable amongst you. You are the i prepping them too making them experience comfortable. It’s too near picking someone who’s going to hold upwardly your friend too who you lot don’t hear hanging out amongst or talking to on the telephone a lot. It’s really much a partnership.
What should a client hit earlier hiring a PR firm? Make certain you lot know your create too your story. Until you lot know those things, you lot can’t hire a PR theatre to tell it.
How hit you lot create media relationships? When you lot tin regard amongst a journalist personally, hit it. Coffee too luncheon are acceptable invitations. Additionally, popular off friends amongst them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, connect on LinkedIn too Google +, subscribe to their blog, too read their articles. Journalists appreciate knowing that people taste their work.
How hit you lot larn the give-and-take out? Everyone you lot know should know near your company. Ideas for beingness an effective ‘big mouth’ include: speaking near your concern to charitable too civic groups, placing gift certificates too production baskets inwards charity auctions, too beingness a resources for schools, nonprofits, too others on your expertise.
What near networking? Make local connections past times inviting the community into your business. Partner amongst a eating theatre or like-minded concern to create this a larger event. Offer helpful education, calorie-free bites, gift certificates for a futurity visit, etc. Local media may hold upwardly interested inwards promoting the event.
How tin you lot drive traffic to your business? If you lot possess got a service-driven concern such every bit a restaurant, spa, salon, or wearable store, invite local TV hosts too reporters inwards for a tour too production testing or treatment. Their word-of-mouth is probable to convey inwards novel customers too possible coverage.
Social media tips? Live your brand. Offer your expertise on social media past times putting yourself out at that topographic point every bit a reliable resource. Always hold upwardly positive over social media. You may hold upwardly having the worst twenty-four threescore minutes menses always at your facility, but you lot definitely don’t desire to vent near it on Facebook!
How tin you lot lead hold your Internet image? Google yourself too your concern or create advert a few times per month. Make certain the results are instance of the picture you lot desire potential clients to see. If they are not, consider beingness to a greater extent than active on Google + amongst practiced advice too tidings near your brand. Google + has first-class SEO power. Sumber http://www.todayswomannow.com/
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Debra Locker simplified her career past times changing it when she started her ain world relations business. |
Debra Locker was but similar whatever TV journalist, slogging away at multiple stories on deadline too working long hours too holidays.
But she wanted to possess got her ain concern earlier she turned 40, then inwards 2008 when she was 37, she started Locker Public Relations. With that move, she has built a niche PR theatre that specializes inwards the luxury beauty too health industry. Her Louisville-based way has fifty-fifty developed the clout to nation clients on national TV, including The TODAY Show, The Doctors, too MSNBC’s Your Business; and inwards national magazines too websites such as Marie Claire, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, too Forbes.com.
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Knowing how to found too maintain goodness relationships amongst fundamental people inside the journalism field, became an property for Debra inwards the evolution of the business. |
“As a journalist, I liked helping people tell amazing stories,” says Debra, 44, whose journalism career included jobs at WLKY inwards Louisville too WKYT inwards Lexington. She says she’s all the same able to hit that, but straightaway it’s amongst to a greater extent than fourth dimension too idea because she is non having to tell these stories on deadline every day. “Now I am telling stories on behalf of my clients.”
Debra’s TV jobs helped her educate personal relationships amongst hosts too producers who moved to the national level. Later, every bit a corporate PR specialist amongst the International Spa Association, she built relationships amongst lifestyle editors of varying media inwards New York.
![]() |
Choosing clients who experience comfortable amongst her is an of import purpose of Debra's concern methodology. |
As a one-person agency, she keeps solely a one-half dozen minor concern clients that she carefully chooses. “I tend to operate amongst really strong women entrepreneurs inwards the lifestyle too health area,” says Debra, who amongst her hubby Ron Griffin has a 9-year-old son, Bryce, too ii Great Pyrenees dogs, Jackie too Pete.
Debra’s longest running client is the someone who was too her outset client: Celeste Hilling, founder too CEO of Skin Authority based inwards San Diego, California. “I seat 8 to nine months of operate into my society earlier starting it,” Debra says. “I told her, if I hit this, would you lot hold upwardly my client? She said, ‘Yes!’ For Skin Authority, I was able to utilization roughly of the contacts I already had.”
![]() |
Debra's resourcefulness too strategic thinking every bit a world relations specialist has been a large property for the company. |
How hit you lot choice a slap-up client? A lot of it is knowing which clients aren’t correct for you. They possess got to hold upwardly very, really comfortable amongst you. You are the i prepping them too making them experience comfortable. It’s too near picking someone who’s going to hold upwardly your friend too who you lot don’t hear hanging out amongst or talking to on the telephone a lot. It’s really much a partnership.
What should a client hit earlier hiring a PR firm? Make certain you lot know your create too your story. Until you lot know those things, you lot can’t hire a PR theatre to tell it.
How hit you lot create media relationships? When you lot tin regard amongst a journalist personally, hit it. Coffee too luncheon are acceptable invitations. Additionally, popular off friends amongst them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, connect on LinkedIn too Google +, subscribe to their blog, too read their articles. Journalists appreciate knowing that people taste their work.
How hit you lot larn the give-and-take out? Everyone you lot know should know near your company. Ideas for beingness an effective ‘big mouth’ include: speaking near your concern to charitable too civic groups, placing gift certificates too production baskets inwards charity auctions, too beingness a resources for schools, nonprofits, too others on your expertise.
What near networking? Make local connections past times inviting the community into your business. Partner amongst a eating theatre or like-minded concern to create this a larger event. Offer helpful education, calorie-free bites, gift certificates for a futurity visit, etc. Local media may hold upwardly interested inwards promoting the event.
How tin you lot drive traffic to your business? If you lot possess got a service-driven concern such every bit a restaurant, spa, salon, or wearable store, invite local TV hosts too reporters inwards for a tour too production testing or treatment. Their word-of-mouth is probable to convey inwards novel customers too possible coverage.
Social media tips? Live your brand. Offer your expertise on social media past times putting yourself out at that topographic point every bit a reliable resource. Always hold upwardly positive over social media. You may hold upwardly having the worst twenty-four threescore minutes menses always at your facility, but you lot definitely don’t desire to vent near it on Facebook!
How tin you lot lead hold your Internet image? Google yourself too your concern or create advert a few times per month. Make certain the results are instance of the picture you lot desire potential clients to see. If they are not, consider beingness to a greater extent than active on Google + amongst practiced advice too tidings near your brand. Google + has first-class SEO power. Sumber http://www.todayswomannow.com/