This month, Sussex Exclusive columnist, Sharon Bolt shares her experience.
I attended Laid Bear Networking, (LBN) at The Bear Pub in Horsham on Friday 13 March. When I arrived I was warmly welcomed by many smiling faces, including the wonderful Dee Blick who was speaking that morning. I was delighted to find herbal tea on offer (peppermint being my favourite), alongside regular tea, coffee and Danish pastries for people to help themselves to.
We had time to get to know each other before the talk started and Alice Chambers, the founder of LBN did a wonderful job of remembering everyone’s names, introducing them to the group and inviting them to share who they are and what they do.
The talk
The speakers were the amazing Dee Blick, commissioning editor and columnist for Sussex Exclusive, and the brilliant Lucy Pitts, Editor and Co-Founder of Sussex Exclusive. I was excited to hear them talk about PR and they certainly did not disappoint.
Dee spoke from both sides of the fence. She has secured major publicity in countless media outlets and works as a commissioning editor, so she knows exactly how the game is played from every angle. Her key message was clear: it is not about featuring your business, it is about how you can add value to the readers.
Some of the standout points from Dee:
- Research the publication thoroughly. Buy it, read it, understand what angles have not yet been covered that you could bring.
- Find out whether they favour opinion pieces, how-to lists or roundups and pitch accordingly.
- Research the editor. Do they have a book or a cause? How can you support them?
- Build relationships over time. Like, share and comment on their social media posts. Read their book and genuinely engage with their work.
Lucy gave us a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at life as an Editor in Chief. She shared the example of a business that contacted her wanting to announce a new MD. That alone is not interesting to Sussex Exclusive readers, so she said no but spotted an angle that would genuinely resonate with her audience and suggested it. They declined, wanting to stick with their original idea.
What a missed opportunity. Sussex Exclusive reaches three million views on the quarterly newsletter and 40,000 website views a month. Just imagine what that type of exposure could mean for your business.
Lucy’s golden rule was simple: make the editor’s job easy. They are juggling many plates and the pitches that land are the ones that make their job easier and are ready to run.
People were taking notes on their phones and writing things down throughout. The whole talk was music to my ears. I mentor established business owners on how to get major publicity and I found myself nodding along constantly thinking, it’s true.
Dee and Lucy also generously shared exactly how they like to be pitched, which was such a gift for anyone in that room.
The people
There were so many wonderful people there. Mark, a freelance journalist with a wealth of experience, who afterwards shared some fascinating stories of when he interviewed the Gallagher brothers and Mick Jagger. Bonni Foulds, an estate agent who also does dog sitting and Annette Gardener who does home staging and decluttering. There was also Emma Rogers who helps turn your idea into a trading business within 45 days, Laura Osman, a Leadership and Development coach, Rachael Hale, an award-winning construction and home interiors copywriter and so many other talented people.
It was also a joy to meet people I had only known online, including Carole Coleman, a City and Guilds qualified interior designer who combines budget-conscious solutions with a strong sense of style and Stephen Toward from Stoves Dining, a Michelin-trained chef. We discovered we had both worked and travelled in Relais and Chateaux hotels and even share a second language in German.
Final thoughts
I made some wonderful contacts and had a thoroughly enjoyable morning. If I am being completely honest, the seating layout created what felt like two separate alcove rooms, which meant you could not always see or hear clearly when people were introducing themselves from the other section.
So, would I recommend it?
Yes definitely. The friendliness and calibre of people in the room was genuinely impressive. If you are looking for a networking group where you will meet serious, high-quality business owners, this one is worth your time.
About Sharon
Sharon Bolt is The Mindset Media Expert and Founder of Get Free Publicity Today. She’s spent over two decades securing regular BBC features and national media coverage for her celebrity dog training business, Good Dogs! and uses that proven record to mentor established entrepreneurs towards the same high-level media visibility. Through her exclusive Magnetic Media Review, Sharon reveals the strategy for becoming a regularly featured authority with powerful expert positioning. Sharon writes dual monthly columns for Sussex Exclusive on mindset/PR and dog training. Her dog training methods have been trusted by celebrity clients and over 26,000 students across 175 countries.
You can find out more at: www.getfreepublicitytoday.com
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