“A public relations professional is a bridge builder, building long-term relationships between a company or an organization and its publics based on two-way communication.”
~ Peter Jeff, Grand Rapids, Michigan public relations practitioner
 
I have always been a cheerleader. Not an actual cheerleader (except for a few years when I was very young) but a cheerleader in the sense of being a big supporter of others. I am constantly “team everyone else”, sometimes so much so that I talk other people up more than I promote myself. 

​P.S. - One sure sign of Imposter Syndrome is downplaying your knowledge or expertise and spending time putting attention on others, even though you know you’re just as - or more - experienced and capable. I’ve written about Imposter Syndrome, a few times, if you’re interested.
 
So, what is PR?
 
“Public relations is communicating what you believe in to important audiences, at the right time, to achieve a goal.”
~ Frank Walton, vice president of Ruder Finn Public Relations (1995)
 
Simply put – it’s the positive outreach that gets individuals and organizations noticed and in front of the public and their ideal clients and audiences. Don’t think of PR and publicists as a harried individual chasing after an out-of-control celebrity. Publicists are here for the GOOD, not just to help with unfortunate events and choices. (Although, that would be sort of fun, right?)
 
WHO needs a publicist?
 
Q: Who needs a publicist?
A: All public figures need a publicist.
Q: What’s a “public figure”?
A: Any person who wants to maintain or protect their image by getting coverage via print and digital publications, podcasts, radio, speaking engagements, and the like.
 
K2C has a lot of luck with authors – both fiction and nonfiction. I think becoming an author myself led me to attracting other authors. However, besides authors, nearly every person on this earth can benefit from a public relations campaign to spread positive news about themselves or the organizations they are associated with. 

Let’s break down the five reasons PR is a necessity.
 

1. PR amps up your other marketing initiatives. A proper PR campaign drives traffic to your website and encourage people to interact with you on social media.
   
   
2. It speeds up the Rule of 7. Did you know that approximately 2% of sales are made on the first contact and that approximately 80% of sales are made on the 5th contact*? The Rule of 7 is the cycle of seven touches necessary to make a sale. While a PR campaign shouldn’t be the ‘eggs in one basket’ approach to sales, it’s a nice addition to your other campaigns.
   
   
3. It’s a launch booster! If you’re launching a business, a book, or anything that you want attention for – the best way to spread the word is with a media campaign. Promoting an event or launch with a press release is the fastest way to get the word out.
   
   
4. PR can change how people view you or your business. Don’t let folks assume who you are or what you do. Provide the right message and change what people think about your brand.
   
   
5. Credibility. Seeing your name or your organization’s name “in lights” brings credibility. Speaking, contributing articles, and being interviewed are excellent forms of PR that can promote your brand and position you as an industry expert.

 
Expanding your network during COVID hasn’t been easy – I get it. If I hear the phrase “Zoom fatigue” one more time…

But, it’s not all a lost cause! You can still successfully promote yourself, your book, your company’s expansion, and all the good stuff that’s happening with a simple PR campaign. And, since so many people can benefit from a campaign, I’m offering a special for the month of February 2022.


Get the details on the Pitch Prep Package then, book a call with me and let’s get started!
 
And by the way this offer, for now, is only available to our newsletter subscribers and blog readers AND we are only accepting three clients for this package to provide the most value.
 
Let’s talk!
xo
Kel
​
*Source: SMEstrategy.net

Growing up, if someone asked me what “balance” meant, I guess I would’ve said “Staying on my bicycle.” I would have given a physical definition because I spent countless hours riding a pedal bike, around my neighborhood with my friends.

As an adult, I know better. I have chosen “BALANCE” as my word for 2022. Before I get into the reasons why, let’s look back at 2021. Ok, I know NO ONE wants to rewind, but here it goes anyway…

I chose “write” as my word for 2021 - and boy, did I write! I became a published author – a bestselling published author – and I wrote countless words for my business and our clients. From blogs to social media posts, to email campaigns and website content, to press releases and press pitches… I WROTE. And I loved every minute of it.

Now, in 2022 and in choosing “balance”, I’m hoping to learn to love this word as well. We all hear about learning to have a work / life balance… balance your family and your job. Take time for Y-O-U.

But what about people like me who consistently put others first?
What about the folks who worry about everyone else before they think of the consequences?

I guess I’ll find out because this year is going to be all about BALANCE!
 
Tell me – how do you create balance in your life?
​And if you’ve chosen a word for 2022, what is it?
Drop a comment or email me at kelli@k2creativellc.com.  

“Advertising is what you pay for; publicity is what you pray for.”

When you hear PR or Public Relations what do you think of? Many people picture a frazzled publicist frantically cleaning up the mess left behind by a celebrity. It’s so much more than that and it’s not all negative!
 
Positive Public Relations - A proper, prosperous, positive PR campaign includes outreach and connecting with:
Press and News Outlets
Social Media
Speaking Engagements
 
Negative Public Relations - Damage control includes:
Crisis Communication
Apology Messaging
Reputation Restoration

Public Relations is an important part of every marketing strategy. Sharing positive news about your organization and managing your personal brand should be at the top of your 2022 business plan. Here’s why:

• Credibility – Show off a bit! Your credibility can be solidified with a press release, print or digital story, or a speaking gig.
• Relationship Building – Let people get to know you and your brand. Build a relationship through social media or an in-person or live event or speaking engagement.
• Online Presence – Think SEO. Every time your company or your name lands on a website, that’s upping your search engine optimization game!
• Promote Brand Values – Show people what you’re about. Promote your values and people will naturally be drawn to you.
• Opportunity to Connect with New Clients / Customers – PR can bring in revenue. Every person who hears about you can be a potential client!

​So, can you run your own press campaign? The answer is "YES"... and here's how.

But, if you’d like K2 Creative & PR to help, we have multiple packages to fit just about any budget – starting at $350! Get all the scoop here, then book a 30-minute complimentary consultation. We’ll review your current PR initiatives, or lack thereof, and determine if it’s a fit for us to work together!
 
Here’s to a new year, new goals, new accomplishments, and a new outlook on public relations!
 
​Happy 2022!
~ Kel

What is a referral, by definition?

Here’s a great description, from HubSpot:
A business referral is when someone in your network recommends your business to a new prospect. This may happen spontaneously during organic conversation or as a result of conscious referral marketing efforts.
​
Referrals are an important part of any business. I grew my business strictly on referrals and the strong connections I built through nearly 20 years of networking. I have two binders full of business cards that I can sort through and use to connect people. Personally, I feel like there’s nothing better than making an introduction that results in a partnership!
 
Do you have a hard time ASKING for referrals? You don’t technically have to say the words, “Please refer me to a friend,” but it never hurts! And, if you’ve done a great job for someone, you SHOULD ask them to refer you. 

Here are my top 5 ways to get referrals:
1. Go Above and Beyond
Go the extra mile for your current clients. This can be done in many ways – get creative! When your current clients are happy, they’re going to tell people. And remember… When they’re not happy, they’re also going to tell people!

2. Have a Rewards Program
Create a rewards program for when a friend makes a referral that becomes a client. It doesn’t have to be fancy or break the bank – it could be a “Wall of Champions” in your office where you list their name and company, or a simple coffee gift card per referral.
​
3. Provide a Template
If you build it, they will refer! Provide the information for people to simply forward or copy and paste. Send what you already have for your marketing pieces in a simple format that’s easy to share. No one wants to spend time recreating the wheel!

4. Leverage Your Social Networks
It’s so easy to provide referrals via social media. A photo of a product you are happy with, or a description of a service that was top-notch goes a long way. Tag the person or company who provided your excellent experience and simply say how important referrals are!

5. Reciprocate!
You must be active in referring your friends and colleagues, too! Make sure it isn’t one-sided and you’re doing your part to help them grow their business as well.

Let’s hear it from you!

How do you make a good connection?
What is the best referral you’ve ever received and what did it lead to?
And, most importantly, what’s the best referral you’ve ever GIVEN to someone – and what happened?

WHO are you looking to connect with?
Who are your clients?
Share with me via email, or in the comments, and let's see if there is a biz card in my binder that will make a good referral!

​XO - Kel
Kelli@k2creativellc.com

Listen, I’m not really a “woo woo” kind of person. I question(ed) this whole mindset, energy, universe thing for a while now.
 
💯Can good things happen to you just by believing they will?
💯Is there such a thing as good karma?
💯Will you attract the right things when you eliminate the wrong ones?
 
The short answer, to all, is YES.
 
Within about a 2-week time span, some really crazy Mercury Retrograde stuff was happening to me... right before it was actually IN retrograde, which is a whole other thing... but for now:
​
💢It started with a negative – and completely unnecessary - back-and-forth with a colleague from my past,
💢got a little more intense when I walked out of a car dealership when we didn’t receive the deal we were promised,
💢and then came to a head when I decided to put the brakes on the Biz Bevs & Bites podcast.
 
Yeah, I know – that’s a lot.

I’ve always been one to wear my heart on my sleeve, stick up for the underdog, voice my opinion, and be very strong about my beliefs. I’ve always been a “yes” person. Then something clicked in 2020. Was it the pandemic? Was it just me getting “older and wiser”? Was it that I had time to reflect on everything I had been doing for others and saying “yes” to – and realizing how little I got in return?
 
The short answer, again, is YES.
 
I made a whole new group of friends over the pandemic – mostly from curating the book Twenty Won - and many of them are believers in the universe and positive mindset being the key to success. Some of them make a living by following and sharing these beliefs. So, when I determined that I wasn’t going to let that old co-worker get under my skin, when I walked out of that dealership (And went back in less than 30 minutes – long story, but we compromised.), and stopped production on the podcast – that was me saying “no” to doing things that I should not, could not, or did not want to do.

Don’t get me wrong, the podcast was FUN, and I learned so much from each guest. I truly appreciate each person for taking the time out of their crazy, busy lives to record with us. And I encourage anyone reading this to listen to the shows – you’ll learn something too, believe me! But the work involved was way more than I had anticipated. The hours I was spending on it were much better spent on building my business. I took that time and redirected it to networking and giving virtual presentations and within the first week my team and I signed three new clients … and a fourth is in the works.
​
Universe? Mindset? Positive energy?
​
Yes, yes, and yes!

I'm realizing that the best part of this isn't the time I've freed up... it's the amazing SUPPORT I've received from friends and colleagues. It's the feeling that I'm inspiring someone else to be brave and to let something go that might not be right for them.

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 A simple email message can do SO MUCH for someone who needs a little lift. This someone was me and once again, my tribe showed up. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 

"And that is how success and happiness come to fruition—when you know what a good fit is and what isn’t. Cheers to you for being courageous enough to try to yet something else completely new and adventurous, while also being humble enough to let it go when it gets in the way of family and personal time.  😊  Love ya, girlfriend!  Keep on keepin on!"

"You never cease to amaze me with your professionalism and how you are always building others up. You are so inspiring to me!"

"Thanks for sharing the news and being so candid about your experience. From what I have heard podcasting is like having a PT job. Kudos to you for giving it a go and having the courage to reel it in when it no longer worked for you. I still think you’ll make a great host….of something 😊"

👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻 THIS is what it's all about. 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻 

You have very few choices on how to stop doing something that's just not working for you, whether it is taking too much time, costing too much money, or just not making you happy. There are two choices, as far as I’m concerned.

✅ You can outsource it. I did it with my bookkeeping and it was one of the best business decisions I ever made – and I made that decision early on. I "in-source" with K2 Creative & PR’s social clients. My team is on the ready to take on any new social accounts and both Colleen and Melissa do a FANTASTIC job. If there’s something you can pay someone else to do in your business, GO FOR IT. This is how you scale your business and keep your sanity.
​
✅ You can end it. Just say “no” and move on. Change direction (Everyone is so tired of PIVOT.) and MOVE ON. 

When you change your mindset, good things happen.

In closing - remember:
❤ Be kind with your words.
❤ Be helpful with your heart.
❤ Remember that self-care is so very important!
❤ Always be supportive of others. It comes back.  
​❤ And... read up on this "woo woo" stuff!
XO - Kel

PS: If you need someone to coach you through the whole mindset, universe, future self, make positive changes - I have a few very close friends who I can refer you to. Colleagues who, unknowingly, helped me make a big business decision and in turn, a big life decision.
​People are listening to what you're saying, and reading what you’re sharing (social posts, blogs, etc.)... even if you don’t think they are.

In short - EVERYTHING.

But for real, the long answer is not as complicated as you may think. Podcasting should (and does) come naturally to me. I love to talk. A 7th grade teacher told my parents that if I worried about school work as much as I did playing relationship therapist and "Chatty Cathy" in the halls, I'd be getting straight A's. So maybe a gig where I get to talk is the right fit?

It is, however, a lot more work than I expected. It's not just chatting with an interesting person and handing it over to the producer to get it tweaked and uploaded. There's show notes, run of show notes, transcripts to decipher, blog posts to write, social media posts to create and schedule, guests to be scheduled, "thank you" emails to be sent, restaurants and wineries to visit... 

Wait... rewind. What is this Biz Bevs & Bites?
​
It's a podcast where that digs deep into business topics like (the BIZ) marketing, public relations, networking, and branding with entrepreneurs and professionals from across the globe! For real - we have a dear friend from Sydney, Australia! You’ll also get the inside scoop on the best restaurants and beverage providers in and around the city of Pittsburgh (the BEVS and the BITES).

Everyone wants more website hits, more social media followers with higher analytics, and ultimately - more business. With virtual options still being the best way to reach people, one must be creative in how they "get out there" and connect with potential clients.

​Here are some ways you can promote your business – without ever leaving your home office!

1. Get on podcasts. This might sound like a simple task, but there is a method to the madness. I’ve applied to be on many shows and only chosen for about a dozen of them. Sure, like anything else it’s a numbers game – just make sure you’re putting your efforts into shows that make sense for your and your business. And PS – I love podcasts so much and see such value in them, I started one!
   
   
2. Get interviewed for digital and print publications. This one is also a no-brainer for me, as I love to write! But not everyone can get the thoughts from their head onto paper. That’s where hiring a ghostwriter comes in! Not only have I written pieces for myself, but I’ve also written them for clients and have had success getting accepted. Two awesome resources to keep checking in on is Authority Magazine and Thrive Global. These media outlets are always looking for content.
   
   
3. BLOG! While you’re writing, create blog posts for your own website. Not a wordsmith? K2C & PR can ghostwrite blogs for you too!
   
   
4. Embrace social media. I know, I know – it can be a huge time suck, but you can reach a lot of people really quickly with social posts. And I’m not talking just throwing anything out there. Make Your Message Matter with strong content, a great CTA (call to action), and eye-catching graphics.
   
   
5. VIDEO! Whether you use Facebook Live or create a YouTube channel, people love to watch videos. Always think, “What do people want to hear?” and be consistent. Plan out what you’re going to say – and change it up! Sometimes a monologue of just one person speaking can become boring. Ask friends to hop on with you and chat back and forth or do it “interview style”. Set your friend up with questions to ask you that will help promote your business and you do the same for them!

When it comes to media attention, it’s hard to know where to start.

JUST START!

And if you need help, K2C & PR is just a click away!

- Kelli Komondor

Ok, so back to me. I am sitting outside - on a cool night FINALLY - and I am listening to her latest podcast from her most recent endeavor, Biz Bevs & Bites, a podcast she created with Cindy Ellek, which digs deep into business topics like marketing, public relations, networking and branding. 

As a 23 year old being thrown into the networking world of Pittsburgh, it was nice to have Kelli by my side. Now, you get to as well. The words and wisdom these women have to share…well it’s just amazing. I invite you to follow along their journey and learn everything you need to know, not only about networking, but also the food and drinks Pittsburgh has to offer.
​
​So, grab a drink and your favorite snack. Let's settle in and follow these ladies around the beautiful city of Pittsburgh.

- Melissa Pravlik, Social & Web Strategist

Anyone who has watched the television show "Friends" is probably chuckling right now. If you're not familiar, please watch this clip from the iconic episode with Ross, Rachel, and Chandler moving a couch in a stairwell.

​I mean, he had a sketch - why didn't it fit?

Sometimes the best laid plans just don't work. Being flexible and willing to pivot is important, in moving furniture and in life. 

The past 12+ months have been nothing but pivoting for me (and most of you, I'm sure!) - personally and professionally. Who leaves the corporate world and starts their own business, then pulls together an anthology of 21 female entrepreneurs - during a global pandemic?  🖐🏻🖐🏻🖐🏻 *raises hand* 

Now I'm sort of pivoting again with a slight rebrand to K2 Creative, LLC.

I caught the public relations (PR) bug and it made me realize how much I love promoting others, and apparently I'm pretty good at it too! 

From this point forward K2 Creative, LLC is K2 Creative & PR. It just makes sense to include the public relations portion of what I do in the company name. Right now, I'm representing five entrepreneurs (including myself) as their publicist. My success rate is pretty darn good too. I'm forming relationships with podcast hosts, print and digital media outlets, and others who are in search of great stories and great guests and interviews. My clients make my job so easy - they're all educational, entertaining, and inspiring. I'm thankful!

Here's what I've learned:

📣The definition of public relations is the professional maintenance of a favorable public image by a company or other organization, or a famous person. 
📣 A publicist is responsible for shaping the image of the person and/or company they're representing. Publicists help build the brand and spread the organization's message. In other words, they "Make Their Message Matter" with positive press.
📣 BUT... PR isn't just about the shaping and branding by the publicist - it's about getting clients in front of the right media outlets so they can shape and brand themselves. It's about giving clients an opportunity to shine with podcasts, with in-person and livestream speaking engagements, and by providing their expertise to print and digital publications.
📣 Public relations is really about human one-to-one connection. Sending out a mass email isn't the way to go, but a well-crafted email specific to the outlet is. The easier, faster route doesn't work.
📣 It's truly investing in my clients by being a confidant, a cheerleader, and a dedicated part of their team. 

So, while it's not a huge change, it's enough to share with my connections. If you need a press pitch or a press release - yes, they are different! - or a media sheet, let's chat! If you're asking what any of those three items are, PLEASE let's chat! I'm offering a PR Special for a limited time. Check it out!

PS: Thanks to Colleen for the super quick turn around on the logo refresh. She never disappoints! Maybe you should work with her for your company branding - or rebranding...

by: Kelli Komondor