Turning a Network of PR Peers Into Solo Clients
July 2019
It was the summer after my junior year in college when I decided I no longer wanted to be a lawyer and hated where I was attending school. So, I quit — right before the finish line. I got a job and lived paycheck to paycheck.
Fast-forward seven years to when someone introduced me to public relations, and it was like the heavens opened and angels sang. This is what I was born to do. Six months later, I was re-enrolled in school, getting my degree in communication with a focus on public relations.
As the old gal in class, my priorities were much different from those of my classroom counterparts. I was there to learn, garner as much PR experience as I could and not worry about anyone else.
I joined PRSSA and acted as president for four semesters, where I became very close with PRSA Board members Fran Stephenson, APR, and Monica Faulkenberry, APR, who became my mentors. They fostered my growth, provided solid advice and helped me navigate the unique San Antonio PR landscape.
After graduation, I immediately joined the PRSA board as vice president of programs and continued building relationships.
Additionally, while attending school, I interned for several semesters with a local ad agency, which hired me as a PR account coordinator before graduation. During my six years there, I moved up quickly, accumulating tons of experience in multiple industries.
Advancing to a true position of leadership, though, was nearly impossible. I would have to replace the owner or his wife, which would never happen. I loved my clients and built strong relationships with them; I even call some of them friends. Work was great, but I felt like something was missing. I decided to go to graduate school and quit the agency.
One day I got a call from my favorite client saying she missed me and wanted to have lunch. This meeting was the pivotal moment in my career. She introduced me to my first solo client, who had enough work to support me part-time while I obtained my master’s degree.
The freedom of creating my own schedule, working anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection and being paid based on value was so liberating I decided to start my own business, MMPR. I knew it would take discipline, but both of my parents were self-employed, so it was in my blood.
The value of friendship
I was able to become an independent practitioner because of relationships. A friend introduced me to public relations. Had it not been for my relationships with my PRSA mentors, I would have never found the same success right out of school, much less have the courage to venture out on my own. And without the relationships I built with my clients, I wouldn’t have been given the referrals to start and expand my solo career.
I quickly realized that my success didn’t just hinge on what I knew, but who I knew. Now four years later, MMPR is 100 percent referrals and partnerships with other local solo PR pros.
What relationships are you building to further your career?
Maren Minchew is the owner of MMPR, an award-winning, virtual PR agency that specializes in media relations and corporate communications in San Antonio, Texas. Connect with her on Twitter @PRMaren.
