2020 was quite the year for the Social PR Secrets Podcast! We shared 93 new episodes with you and interviewed the best of the best of the PR, Communications, and Digital Marketing world. From SEO and crisis management to small business marketing and CMO, Lisa and her guests covered everything that matters in the digital marketing industry – including self-care, mental health and wellness, and productivity.
But more importantly, we discussed how to adapt to an ever-changing digital world and how to navigate the COVID-19 crisis and social justice movements as online marketing professionals. We gave you tips on working from home and underscored the importance of caring for your mental health.
We asked the guests from the top 10 Social PR Secrets episodes of 2020 to share ONE thing they want to accomplish in 2021. Listen (or re-listen) to the episodes and share!
1. Sarah Collins on Self-Care and Social Distancing for PR
How can professionals make the most out of quarantine? How should businesses adapt their PR strategy in the face of coronavirus? Why are detoxes so important right now? From the importance of exercising to how to best help your clients, Sarah Collins shared what the first few months of the pandemic taught her, both as a new mom and a social media and PR professional.
“Give yourself grace. There’s going to be times where you’re not going to have the exact outcome you want, accept it and move on, with grace.” – Sarah Collins
What is the ONE thing you want to accomplish in 2021?
Simplify
What’s a fave digital marketing tool, tip, or secret you can share that is working for you?
2. Andrew Seeley: Take Your Small Business to the Next Level
How can small businesses thrive during COVID-19? Why are PR and digital marketing indispensable even when your business is small? In this episode, Andrew Seeley, the Small Business Champion, shared his insights on developing small businesses through strategic marketing any small business can master.
“When small businesses do well the country and the world seem right.” – Andrew Seeley
What is the ONE thing you want to accomplish in 2021?
What’s a fave digital marketing tool, tip, or secret you can share that is working for you?
3. Rhonda Britten on Fearless Living and Public Relations
During this interview, Rhonda Britten shared how she developed her own exercises to process her pain, ultimately leading her to her dream career. She discussed her journey to becoming a life coach and how public relations affected her career.
“We are just moving our fears around, when in fact we really want to build a relationship with fear because that is how we will actually change how our brains work” – Rhonda Britten
4. Rand Fishkin on All Things Digital
In the 100th episode, Lisa Buyer interviewed Rand Fishkin, best-selling author, award-winning author of Lost and Founder, and co-founder of Spark Toro. He also happens to tweet about 30x a week on the topics of marketing, tech, and startups.
“Build companies that are great, not big.” – Rand Fishkin
What is the ONE thing you want to accomplish in 2021?
What’s a fave digital marketing tool, tip, or secret you can share that is working for you?
5. Fabiana Meléndez on Diversity, Digital, and Expectations
How to implement diversity marketing? What is holistic account management? How can you manage your clients’ expectations? Fabiana Meléndez has the answers. A successful publicist, she considers herself as part of the new school of PR, martinis included. Listen to one of the best episodes of 2020 to learn more about her unique insights on the ever-changing industry.
“Why would a client listen to your counsel if you’re not implementing it within your agency?” – Fabiana Meléndez
What is the ONE thing you want to accomplish in 2021?
What’s a fave digital marketing tool, tip, or secret you can share that is working for you?
6. Niraj Shah From Sudden Stroke to Meditation Business
In this episode, Lisa Buyer sat down with Niraj Shah, co-founder of Mind: Unlocked, an online meditation, and mental performance movement. The platform is science-led and focuses on a practical approach to help busy people feel less stressed, sleep better, and get more done. Niraj’s story is remarkable. The survivor of a stroke at only thirty, he turned his life around to focus on his health and wellbeing. When he started meditating, he knew he had found the key to recovery and decided to share it with the world, and Social PR Secrets listeners!
“I don’t want to be seen as one of these people using mental health just to make a buck.” – Niraj Shah
What is the ONE thing you want to accomplish in 2021?
What’s a fave digital marketing tool, tip, or secret you can share that is working for you?
7. Jessica Rafaeil: PR Myths Can Sabotage Your Success
What are the biggest myths about Public Relations? Why are they so far from reality? What is PR exactly? How do I make my PR firm’s job easier? In one of the most helpful episodes of Social PR Secrets ever, Jessica Rafaeil and Lisa Buyer answered all your questions about the true nature of PR. From understanding what PR professionals actually do to how press releases work, Jessica and Lisa covered it all!
“Any good PR agency is going to put the truth out there.” – Jessica Rafaeil
What is the ONE thing you want to accomplish in 2021?
What’s a fave digital marketing tool, tip, or secret you can share that is working for you?
8. Tony Wright: Reputation Management During Covid-19
After 9/11, Tony Wright was on the frontlines of crisis management for American Airlines. During COVID-19, he helped businesses adapt their digital communications to the pandemic. Tony Wright is one of the most respected experts in reputation management of the digital era so make sure to listen to this interview!
“The littlest slip up on social media can turn into a PR or reputation management nightmare.” – Tony Wright
9. Julie Hood: 6 Easy Steps to Create Your Own Online Course
In 2021, online courses will be indispensable to any successful PR strategy. Don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered! In this episode, Julie Hood from Course Creators HQ shares the six steps to start your own online course, plus plenty of tips!
“Online courses have the power to make changes in the world” – Julie Hood
What is the ONE thing you want to accomplish in 2021?
What’s a fave digital marketing tool, tip, or secret you can share that is working for you?
10. Juergen Berkessel’s Tips for SEO and Podcasts
In June, Lisa Buyer sat down with Juergen Berkessel, the Co-founder and creative director of PolyMash Design. Juergen is an expert on all things podcasting, digital strategy, and content marketing solutions. Tune in to hear their discussion on search engine optimization and podcasting.
“30% of the people out there search the internet, 20% find podcasts through recommendations from friends, 16% find it through social media posts” – Juergen Berkessel
What is the ONE thing you want to accomplish in 2021?
To better connect with and serve our existing audience, fans, and followers — instead of focusing merely on audience growth.
What’s a fave digital marketing tool, tip, or secret you can share that is working for you?
Currently experimenting with a new podcast interview format: One-to-many asynchronous interviews. The idea is to reach out to multiple parties with specific questions about a central topic. Resulting in an opinion “Round-Up”. The app involved collects audio responses in a DropBox folder — allowing the host to construct an episode from the responses and include their own opinions. While this lacks the intimacy of a “proper” interview, it does allow including many people in the same episode. The audio quality is good since it’s recorded locally. And the logistics are easier than scheduling multiple interviewees since it accommodates time zone differences. It is also a good format for brands due to more control over structure and content. I’ll be publishing tools, details, and examples on our blog, so sign up if interested at https://polymash.com/blog
11. Sarah Evans: Digital PR Innovation
In this episode, Lisa Buyer talks with Sarah Evans, one of the first PR professionals to have understood the importance of social media. Self-described as practical and tactical, Sarah knows all about the industry and understands its complexities and ever-changing trends. Sarah has always made it a point to share her knowledge, whether on her social media or with the media.
“The best way to build influence is by building it for others first.” – Sarah Evans
12. Pitching Journalists the Jabez Lebret Way
What’s the best way to get a journalist to cover your news? How do you become a writing contributor at an esteemed publication? Why isn’t ROI a complete enough measurement? In this episode, journalist and former agency owner Jabez LeBret shared his insider secrets on how to best reach journalists.
“Target journalists you admire once you feel worthy enough to be covered by them.” – Jabez LeBret
Thank you so much for spending 2020 with us. We hope Social PR Secrets brought you as much joy and growth as it brought us. Here’s to a healthy and Social PR-filled 2021!
