Welcome to the latest edition of #FreeAdviceFriday – where we speak with leading representatives from across the PR industry.

This week we speak with the very accomplished Symon Madry – Practice Head, Technology and Business at Red Havas (scroll below to check out his impressive list of achievements!)

Here’s Symon’s advice for small businesses just starting out with PR:

One of the best ways to get your name, and that of your business out there, is to comment on issues that are topical or of importance to your industry. Customers and prospects can become more engaged and (even more) aware of your products and services, partners can see the value you could add to a relationship, and competitors may critically evaluate their own position.

This ‘thought leadership’ can exist in many forms but some of the easiest ways are to write an article that you can post to LinkedIn or self-publishing platforms like Medium. Additionally, you can provide comment or content ideas to media based on your area of expertise – for example, a personal trainer that has developed an at-home pandemic workout, or someone in professional services that’s found success in adapting to new ways of working, or managing a team, remotely.

Whatever you do, there are a few key points to keep in mind:

• Have a genuine voice. Talk on what you know and have credibility. As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”
• Be relatable. Connect with your audience via language, stories, and examples they can see in themselves. For example, don’t over-intellectualise to the point of obscuring your argument. Which reminds me…
• Have an actual argument. Don’t just collate and playback the established facts. Stand out and contribute an opinion, solution or vision that starts or redirects the conversation
• Play the long game. Avoid scoring endless cheap points, and if someone reads your opinion a few months apart then there should be a consistent message and point of view
• Speak only when warranted. Don’t cry wolf, and save your views and opinions for maximum impact; don’t just add to the noise
• Stand your ground. If you’re going to offer an opinion be prepared for people to disagree! If they do, it indicates engagement and relevancy

Symon Madry is Practice Head, Technology and Business at Red Havas. He was named CommsCon PR Professional of the Year 2020, and was Australia’s only finalist in the same category at the 2020 PR Awards Asia. Symon has developed and led thought leadership for some of the world’s biggest and best known organisations including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Bing, Motorola Solutions, eHarmony, and Cochlear. However, some of his favourite campaign involve telling small business stories, which he’s done on behalf of Google, MYOB, Reckon, and many more.

To learn more about effective PR and media pitching, check out The PR & Publicity Blueprint –  our 6 week online PR course and media relations masterclass which is jam packed full of everything you need to know to become PR and pitching pro in no time.