We are so thankful for the mothers in our lives and the wisdom they have to offer. In celebration of Mother’s Day this year, we asked some of our favorite PR pros: “What’s one lesson motherhood has taught you – and how has it made you a better PR pro? Or, share a PR lesson that has made you a better mom?” Here’s what they had to say.
Here’s what they had to say:
“The bane of almost every mother’s existence is getting kids to do their chores, finish their homework, take a shower, etc. As a PR and marketing professional, I often find that news reporters and clients both need some gentle nudging to move a project along. Being a mother taught me creative, non confrontational ways to give persistent reminders — a skill that ensures pitches, articles and other deliverables cross the finish line.”
– Denise Nix
“The adage “It takes a village to raise a child” holds true in PR. Except we are raising children here, we’re elevating clients. But the sentiment is the same. In motherhood and working-mom mode, it’s important to cultivate relationships with people you can trust, people who are empathic and understanding, people who you respect and respect you in return. Most importantly, surround yourself with people you downright like!”
– Andrea Papagianis Camacho
“Whether you’re communicating to a toddler or target audience, your messaging should be simple. Being the mom of two (now grown) sons taught me that children have short attention spans and you must streamline what you have to say in a creative way. I apply this to PR and marketing, too. Why use 20 words when you can use 10? Why use a passive voice when kids and clients crave action and excitement? Keeping things simple is important whether you’re a mom or a PR pro!”
– Teresa Warren
“Being a mom is teaching me to explore what truly inspires people to take action. For example, I’ve spent months telling my toddler daughter to “brush her teeth to keep the sugar bugs away” because that is what motivates me. I recently took her to the dentist and heard the hygienist say “let’s make your teeth sparkle” which really excited my daughter. This expression clicks for her and gets her to take action with less resistance. Similarly, in marketing and PR, you should ask yourself what really motivates your customer. For example, if you sell new homes and you keep saying “buy now before interest rates go up”, only to realize your buyers’ true desire is to live near a great school, then your message isn’t going to motivate the buyer. And if you don’t know what their top motivator is — ask! Social media polls are a great way to start collecting information.”
– April Enriquez
“Being a working mom has taught me to consider the many different schedules that may need to be accommodated. For example, when helping clients plan events, I take them through the paces of whether the day and time will line up well with their target audience. For example, both college students and parents of school-aged kids may find early morning events difficult…for entirely different reasons!”
– Jennifer Whitelaw
“Thinking ahead/planning ahead is something I learned from my career that I’m applying to momlife. Drafting (most of) a recap press release ahead of an event is just like packing as much of my son’s backpack ahead of time as I can. It just makes things a little bit easier when it’s time to send the release/leave the house for daycare.”
– Julia McCann