Guest Speaking and Networking

Bethanie Lunn, Managing Director of Huge Promotions Ltd aka ‘Huge PR’ speaks to Striding Out about her role in managing an innovative fashion and lifestyle PR Company and how to boost your company profile the way she does… 

I often get asked what PR is and what it involves and there are many answers to this complex question.  Mine?  PR is about thinking on your feet, selling ideas and making things happen.  PR is opinion management and creating positive publicity, creating a recognized name and image for brands, products, people and services.  PR is the difference between a brand being ‘known’ and ‘unknown’. My role as MD for Huge Promotions Ltd is a very varied one, involving an awful lot of multi tasking.  Being based between office and on location, my role involves a lot of traveling and no day is ever the same!   

My responsibilities include business development, managing clients and staff, creating and implementing memorable stunts, composing new angles to attract publicity for our clients and making all of this (and more) happen smoothly and consistently. I also teach part time and promote my company, attracting both business and new work experience candidates –and even future employees!  I teach at four different universities across the UK in the areas of fashion forecasting, marketing, fashion in society and ‘My Story’ where I share the successes and pitfalls of having set up my own business, offering transferable skills for any other budding entrepreneurs. 

Offering yourself for lecturing will promote your company as well as spread word of mouth – it is a great form of advertising.  The more people you meet, the more contacts you make – which is a must for an individual or brand that wants to be seen and heard.  I also advise that you go to as many networking events as possible – you never know who you will meet who will prove to be a useful contact.  The best networking is natural, and just requires some planning, the ability to hold a conversation, and the goodwill and manners to put others first. Seize the moment: Don’t leave a gathering without speaking to the person you need to talk to. Rather than making a pitch there and then, exchange business cards and suggest that you follow up with a call or email within the next few days, and importantly – keep to that promise! Most of all, for a raised company profile – the media can make or break you – so get them on side.  A PR Company will offer you specialist expertise in approaching and handling the media in order to maximise the exposure and coverage of your company.  Give me a call to find out how we can help you, or follow these bite size tips: 

• The best PRs have all the information at their fingertips, and are ready to back-up-photos and more information. 

• Research the market - read the paper you are targeting, watch the TV programme.   

• Read the section of the newspaper you are trying to target a press release at - a clever PR will know what a particular editor will pick up. 

•  PRs need to think of a good news angle, of something that will make a good picture.  Know what you are speaking about, and why it will be useful for them specifically! 

• What’s Your Angle?  Why should a publication write about you?  Know this, and remember key details to make the relationship between PR and journalist more genuine and effective.

Bethanie Lunn, MD of Huge Promotions www.hugepromotions.co.uk 

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