If you’re starting a career in public relations, the early days can feel overwhelming. You might be overwhelmed with tasks from your supervisor, wondering how you fit into agency life and curious how seasoned pros do their jobs so well. While there are many specialties in public relations – the best content person might not be the best at pitching stories – everyone who has succeeded in PR, even in the changing world of digital PR, has several things they do daily. Here are five practices that will help you start your career on the right foot, whether at a startup agency or a top PR firm.

1. Consume The News Daily: If there is one thing PR professionals do without fail, it’s to stay on top of the news. Try to read a wide range of news from multiple accredited sources each morning like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Forbes. This practice will keep you up to date and make you better at your job. The more you learn and know, the better you’ll be able to pitch and provide strategic advice to clients.
2. Double Check Everything: We’ve all sent something to a friend or family member via e-mail or text and regretted it. If something unintended goes to a client, you could jeopardize the business or even your job. Make sure you double-check anything before it goes to a client. This also allows you to spot typos and other embarrassing errors that diminish your credibility. 
3. Remember – There Are No Dumb Questions: A big part of your PR role is translating a client’s work or business for a large audience. If you don’t understand something, don’t expect journalists or readers to understand. Ask your clients lots of questions and make sure you understand what they do and their business proposition intimately.
4. Be Skeptical Of Social Media: PR pros operate in a much different landscape than even ten years ago. Social media allows rumors and false stories to spread like wildfire. Part of your job is to screen this material. Before you share something with a client, say a story pitch based on something you read on Twitter, ensure the story is legitimate.
5. Remember You Are In The Customer Service Business: Clients are not only partners but customers. Think about small things that make them happy, just like any return customer at a store. If they prefer morning meetings, make that time work. If they like to receive recommendations via simple bullet points, use their format. Do push back against requests that seem off base but remember to take care of your clients like they were sitting at a table in your restaurant.

Looking for help with pr strategy, digital pr, or public relations? MGP public relations is a top PR firm. Get in touch with us at hello@wearemgp.com

If you’re starting a career in public relations, the early days can feel overwhelming. You might be overwhelmed with tasks from your supervisor, wondering how you fit into agency life and curious how seasoned pros do their jobs so well. While there are many specialties in public relations – the best content person might not be the best at pitching stories – everyone who has succeeded in PR, even in the changing world of digital PR, has several things they do daily. Here are five practices that will help you start your career on the right foot, whether at a startup agency or a top PR firm.

1. Consume The News Daily: If there is one thing PR professionals do without fail, it’s to stay on top of the news. Try to read a wide range of news from multiple accredited sources each morning like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Forbes. This practice will keep you up to date and make you better at your job. The more you learn and know, the better you’ll be able to pitch and provide strategic advice to clients.
2. Double Check Everything: We’ve all sent something to a friend or family member via e-mail or text and regretted it. If something unintended goes to a client, you could jeopardize the business or even your job. Make sure you double-check anything before it goes to a client. This also allows you to spot typos and other embarrassing errors that diminish your credibility. 
3. Remember – There Are No Dumb Questions: A big part of your PR role is translating a client’s work or business for a large audience. If you don’t understand something, don’t expect journalists or readers to understand. Ask your clients lots of questions and make sure you understand what they do and their business proposition intimately.
4. Be Skeptical Of Social Media: PR pros operate in a much different landscape than even ten years ago. Social media allows rumors and false stories to spread like wildfire. Part of your job is to screen this material. Before you share something with a client, say a story pitch based on something you read on Twitter, ensure the story is legitimate.
5. Remember You Are In The Customer Service Business: Clients are not only partners but customers. Think about small things that make them happy, just like any return customer at a store. If they prefer morning meetings, make that time work. If they like to receive recommendations via simple bullet points, use their format. Do push back against requests that seem off base but remember to take care of your clients like they were sitting at a table in your restaurant.

Looking for help with pr strategy, digital pr, or public relations? MGP public relations is a top PR firm. Get in touch with us at hello@wearemgp.com