Advertise on podcast: Pitchin' and Sippin' with Lexie Smith

As an agency search consultant, Rachel Huff, President and Founder of Victoire & Co, builds brand-agency partnerships that drive long-term success. With a keen understanding of clients’ communications and business needs and a network of trusted marketing and communications agency connections, she guides companies toward their best agency fit. Prior to founding Victoire & Co, Rachel spent more than a decade at agencies, including on the accounting side, developing integrated communications campaigns for brands including John Hancock, Verizon, Ocean Spray, DraftKings, and CVS. In this episode, Rachel talks through her career journey and the agency world she was in for many years before founding her company, Victoire & Co. Rachel defines and decodes what an RFP (Request for Proposal) is for listeners and walks them through various types of proposals. She offers tips on how to create an effective RFP, how to submit a winning RFP proposal, what opportunities are worth pursuing, and more.  Here’s What You’ll Learn: What is an RFP (Request for Proposal)Detailed differences between types of RFPsTips on what should be included in a RFPOther names and acronyms used in lieu of an RFP - such as Client Brief or RFITips on how to win a client brief and Rachel’s thoughts on what opportunities are worth pursuingTips on defining your own brand and positioningTips on creating filters for evaluating client opportunitiesWhat decoding a brief looks like for Rachel and her companyWhat a search consultant does and the process of matching agencies and clientsThe importance of understanding what makes your brand and agency unique The different buckets to consider when looking at a prospective client’s goalsAnd more! Listener Links:  Company: Victoire & Co (pronounced Vik-TWAR)Website: https://www.victoireco.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmhuff/ Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about THEPRBAR Agency here: THEPRBARagency.comInstagram: @theprbar_inc

This week, Lexie Smith takes listeners through her process of mastering the art of crafting timely media pitches. This finely tuned methodology is built on Lexie’s foundation of 13+ years in the PR industry, leading to the founding of THEPRBAR inc. and her PR and Communications agency. Lexie walks the listener through ten elements that can make a story newsworthy and breaks down one area in particular: timeliness. She covers scenarios where businesses may have missed the timely window of opportunity and explain how to leverage the current news cycle to achieve the goal of a newsworthy story.   Here’s What You’ll Learn: What the Pre-Pitch Op Method is from THEPRBAR inc.How timely pitches make a story newsworthyTips on understanding editorial calendars as a way of understanding lead timesTips on writing questions to ask when crafting a pitch3 different factors to consider when deciding if a given pitch is timelyAnd more! Listener Links: Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about THEPRBAR Agency here: THEPRBARagency.comInstagram: @theprbar_incGo back to the homepage

Viveca Chow is a NYC Lifestyle Expert and the first Hong Kong born and raised Broadway musical performer, rewriting the international city’s history. Featured on NBC, CNN and Cheddar News, her storytelling skills seamlessly extend to her role as a Content Creator where she has effectively collaborated with and generated content for over 550 brands like Capital One and Samsung across various platforms. With a combined audience of 230k followers and over 100 million views and counting, she is passionate about promoting and uplifting AAPI businesses, as well as cultivating a community rooted in creativity, positivity, and adventure. In this episode, Lexie and Viveca talk about her journey from the world of entertainment to becoming an influencer and how she grew her audience to over 200k. Viveca details nailing an Instagram strategy and how to vet and land paid influencer partnerships.  Here’s What You’ll Learn: Viveca Chow’s journey in entertainment and on BroadwayTips on upleveling your instagram strategy Tips on posting frequency and her thoughts on quality over quantityIdeas on how to get started securing paid influencer partnershipsExamples of her paid partnerships How she goes about booking partnershipsHow to price or vet a paid influencer partnershipTips on writing the perfect hook and caption And more! Listener Links:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivecachow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vivecachowWebsite: https://www.helloitsviveca.com/Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about THEPRBAR Agency here: THEPRBARagency.comInstagram: @theprbar_inc

Jordi Lippe-McGraw is a seasoned freelance journalist with an eight-year tenure writing about travel, parenting, and wellness for esteemed outlets such as Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Vogue, Brides, The New York Times, Elle, and Forbes. She is also the creator and founder of PAK Rêve, a versatile travel bag line celebrated by Conde Nast Traveler for its innovative, modular design that keeps traveling parents organized and stylish. In this episode, Lexie and Jordi discuss the PR-sales connection, breaking down what press features can do (and not do) for a brand. Hear how Jordi got her start in freelance travel writing, the impact affiliate links have played on the industry, and the lessons she learned about landing product and brand features as a new founder.  Here’s What You’ll Learn: Jordi Lippe-McGraw’s career journey to nowHer thoughts on affiliate links in media, and the role they play in product selectionHow her experience of being a journalist assisted her founder journeyHer experience as a travel writer and some of her favorite places she’s visitedThe influence of affiliate links on journalists' stories and pitchesHow she prepared to pitch her own product pre-launchWhat data and results she’s seeing come from press after recently launching PAK RêveWith her writer hat on, she talks about her pitching needs and personal preferencesAnd more!  Listener Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordilippe/PakReve Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/pakreveTwitter: https://twitter.com/jordilippeWebsite: https://pakreve.comSign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

This first minisode of 2024 breaks down 7 things that host Lexie Smith and her team at THEPRBAR Agency are doing this month to reset their PR strategy for success in 2024. From collecting media kits to updating press kits to creating editorial calendars for clients, and more, hear how Lexie and THEPRBAR team are revamping their PR strategy to ensure a successful 2024. Here’s What You’ll Learn: What 2023 lessons THEPRBAR Agency team is reflecting onWhat types of businesses and entrepreneurs Lexie hopes to work with in 2024Tips for updating media listsTips on improving engagement tacticsTips on analyzing 2023 trend reports and applying them to 2024Tips on updating assets, refreshing headshots, and the resetting client media goalsWhat to look for and collect at the top of the yearAnd more!  Listener Links:  Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about THEPRBAR Agency here: THEPRBARagency.comInstagram: @theprbar_inc

Teresa Bigelow is the founder of boutique agency and career platform Spiral5. Throughout her 12+ years of experience in public relations, Teresa has worked with a wide variety of brands, from global media companies to music tech to psychedelics, helping to tell their diverse stories in the media. Her clients have been featured in the world’s leading publications, including Fast Company, New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, Forbes, TechCrunch, Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, New Yorker, Conde Nast Traveler, Psychology Today among others. As a professional writer, Teresa has contributed to Allure, Entrepreneur, and Salon. She has also been featured in Forbes and Brit+Co, and was recognized as a Rising Star Under 30 by PR News.  In this episode, Teresa shares her career journey, including how she got into PR and the founding of Spiral5. Learn what Spiral5 can offer small businesses and aspiring publicists and how her business model might revolutionize the world of indie and freelance PR.  Here’s What You’ll Learn: The inception story of Spiral5The concept of Spiral5 as an extension of your team instead of a big agencySpiral5's dual-functionality, designed by Teresa to meet diverse business needsTeresa’s contribution to the ‘incubator’ side of PR through Spiral5Teresa’s increased focus on the education aspects of PR, emphasizes that anyone can  acquire PR skillsHer initiative to make PR more accessible How she’s training more people to do PR and connect the dots for aspiring publicistsThe observed demand for virtual gatheringsThoughts on why businesses continue to employ agenciesThe significance of awareness about organizations like Spiral5And more!Listener Links:  Teresa’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tglow5/?hl=enSpiral5 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hispiral5/?hl=enWebsite: www.spiral5.com Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about THEPRBAR Agency here: THEPRBARagency.comInstagram: @theprbar_inc

Cloey Callahan is a Senior Reporter at Digiday Media's WorkLife, where she writes about evolving workplaces and workforces across different areas like technology, spaces, culture, DE&I, leadership, and talent. Before WorkLife, she was a General Assignment Reporter and Editor primarily covering local news across six counties in New York State's Hudson Valley region, where she was born and raised.  In this episode, Cloey and Host Lexie Smith discuss how to pitch WorkLife specifically, and how to source credible experts as a journalist. She also peels back the curtain on what she looks for when selecting sources for coverage, how she selects her coverage topics, and she shares her personal pitching preferences.  Here’s What You’ll Learn: Tips on how to pitch WorkLife for press coverageCloey Callahan’s career journeyHer thoughts on the new era of Twitter or ‘X’How she has seen success using Twitter / XTips on sourcing credible expertsLearn about Cloey’s podcast, The ReturnHow she sources guests for the podcastHer process for storyboardingHer personal pitching preferencesAnd more! Listener Links:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cloey-callahan-0174b0153/The Return Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-return/id1633534153Twitter: https://twitter.com/CloeyCallahanWebsite: https://www.worklife.news/author/cloeycallahan/ Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

Rachel Chang, a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of editorial experience, has built a successful career in travel and pop culture reporting. Formerly a Senior Editor at Us Weekly, Editor-in-Chief at J-14, and Entertainment Editor at CosmoGIRL!, today Rachel is a freelance writer and editor. She regularly contributes to Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, and has taken on editing projects for Tripadvisor and Time. Additionally, she has written for Lonely Planet, New York Times for Kids, Wall Street Journal’s Buy Side, Washington Post, and Hemispheres, among other media outlets.  In this week’s episode, Lexie Smith and Rachel Chang discuss Rachel’s career and her expertise in producing SEO-driven news pieces and stories. Rachel walks through her tips on how to incorporate more SEO-driven news writing into content and freelance work in the digital age of journalism.  Here’s What You’ll Learn: More about SEO-driven news writing and how it applies to journalism and storytellingRachel’s thoughts on the need to understand SEO as a journalistThe significant role of SEO in her work as a freelance journalistTips on incorporating SEO-driven content into writing Different SEO tools that she usesConnecting trending moments with specific beat coverage‘Formulas’ for headlines that generate viewsThe importance of humanizing pitchesHer personal pitching preferencesAnd more! Listener Links:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelschang/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelchang/Conde Nast Recent Articles: https://www.cntraveler.com/contributor/rachel-chang Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

In this first minisode of season 6, Lexie Smith drops tips, strategies and hacks to try when pitching follow-ups. From free tools, to what to include in the body of the email pitch, Lexie shares how she and her team conduct thoughtful and relevant follow-ups at THEPRBAR Agency.  Here’s What You’ll Learn: How a recent Pitching SOS Training she conducted with a PR client inspired this episodeThe importance of sending follow-ups when pitching pressFree tools you can use to help in the follow-up processPitching Follow-Up Hacks & Strategies to TrySpecific platforms and items to research prior to sending a follow-up What to include in the body of an email pitch when following upAnd more! Listener Links:  Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

Elaine Ayensu Mensah is a fashion and luxury founder and strategic brand advisor. She has worked with brands across industries such as Netflix, HBO, Starz, British Fashion Council, London College of Fashion, Deloitte, and US Small Business Administration, to name a few). Her company, Showroom Etc. Provides a bridge between African designers, brands, and artists and the North American mass market through entertainment, media, retail, hospitality, and arts. Showroom Etc. Clients have been seen in blockbuster films, hit television shows, and Hollywood red carpets.  In this episode, Lexie and Elaine walk through Elaine’s career, exploring the twists and turns that have shaped her journey and led her to where she is today. Elaine breaks down the strategies behind how Showroom Etc. has landed TV product placements, film partnerships, and collaborations with major shows, networks, and studios across Hollywood.   Here’s What You’ll Learn: Elaine’s career journey The start and development of Showroom Etc.Showroom Etc.’s mission and Elaine’s commitment to promoting the world of African fashionHow she has landed major product placements across TV shows and film.How to enter the TV and film industry as a new fashion designer or brand. Who to pitch to land placements on TV, and how to cultivate long-lasting relationships. How the fee structure works when landing TV placementsWhen you’re ready to pursue these opportunities, and how to leverage the opportunity to increase salesAnd more! Listener Links:  Instagram - @elainemensah @showroometcetcLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainemensah/                 https://www.linkedin.com/company/showroometc/Website -  www.showroometc.comSign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

Michelle Songy is a serial tech entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Press Hook, a media relations platform that connects brands, media, publicists, and journalists. Recognized as a changemaker in the PR industry, Michelle recently earned her spot on PRWeek’s Dashboard 25, a list of the most influential people in communications technology, representing the enterprises that are shaping your tech stack. She has more than a decade of experience developing, managing, and marketing businesses from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. In this episode, Lexie and Michelle Michelle dive into Press Hook’s inception and growth over the years. They explore its evolution in the ever-changing landscape of journalism and media, particularly in relation to AI and media strategy. Michelle highlights how leveraging AI can enhance your media strategy.  Here’s What You’ll Learn: Michelle Songy’s background in media and journalismThe inception of Press HookAdvantages of using Press Hook for your businessHow to effectively use the Press Hook platform for your PR strategyTactics to enhance your media strategyTips on navigating the world of AI in relation to media and PRAnd More!Discount Code for Press Hook: pitchin50 Listener Links:  Social Media and Website Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellesongy/https://www.linkedin.com/company/presshook/https://www.instagram.com/thepresshook/https://www.presshook.comSign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

This episode is extra special, featuring a guest trifecta from the Qwoted team, the network and platform that fosters relationships between the media, experts, and PR talent. In this episode, Lexie Smith speaks with Vannyda Thach (Media Support Manager), Maddy Kislovsky (Head of Sales), and Shelby Bridges (Success Manager). Each guest breaks down their respective role with Qwoted, sharing insights into the platform’s uniqueness and how listeners can best utilize the platform to foster high-quality connections and land press! This episode highlights what sets Qwoted apart from other platforms and elaborates on how to leverage and operate the platform for success.  Here’s What You’ll Learn: More about what Qwoted is/doesQwoted's role in fostering connections with journalists and PR prosAdvantages of using Qwoted for your business and generating press contactsThe ins and outs of how Qwoted works - with insider tips and tricksExamples of successful networking and strategies for connections on QwoteedHow to use Qwoted and interface with it on a daily basisThe benefits of basic and pro Qwoted plansData insights into pitch performance through journalist connectionsHow PR pros and members of the media are using Qwoted successfullyAnd more!Listener Links: Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn more about Qwoted: https://www.qwoted.com/Instagram: @theprbar_inc