StreetStyleChi
by Alex Moresco
Conference Call 101: How to Chat With Brands
In the past few weeks I have talked about the FTC Blogger Guidelines and how Edelman is changing the data analytics game for bloggers- last week was How To Pitch. Your goal after sending a pitch should always be to get XYZ Brand PR person on a call.
A simple phone call is something that is often overlooked, but can make a great impression on someone. One of the things that has stuck with me through my years in PR was Hillary Sawchuk of A Drink With telling me that when you want to work with someone, always try to get them on the phone. It is much, much harder for someone to say no to you on the phone than via email. Phone calls can be scary, especially if you are like me and do not particularly love chatting on the phone.
Below are some helpful tips for brand phone calls and a sample call agenda that I use for calls with clients and the people I work with for my clients. It helps me stay organized and not feel unprepared.
Organizing a call can be difficult- but including extra information in the calendar invite helps to keep everyone on the same page.
- Title the call invite with your name and the brands name.
- Put a quick discussion overview so your team is prepared. If it is just you, it gives you a simple guide so you do not get stuck in an awkward silence.
- Always put the titles and contact numbers or emails of everyone joining the call. This helps call attendees to know who is from where so there is no confusion.
- Use a service like FreeConferenceCall.com. FCC gives you a free dial in number and access code. Using FCC looks professional, and helps avoid confusion about who is calling who.
Knowing what to ask can be tricky. Here are some sample questions that you can talk through with your brand:
- What are their initiatives for the year?
- What is the brand’s target demographic?
- How would they describe their current consumer?
- When does the brand plan their budget?
- Is social media a top priority for them?
- What information can you provide them?
- Do you have any upcoming initiatives you are trying to promote?
<3 Al
Alexandra Moresco is the owner and founder of A Moresco PR + Digital Strategy.
One Comment on “Conference Call 101: How to Chat With Brands”
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This was really helpful! I’m a new blogger, so it will take a while before I get to the point where I’m doing this, but thanks for such an insightful post nonetheless.