Welcome to Edition 005 of The PRGM Post! As we enter the final stretch of 2024, we're focusing on something every PR pro needs but rarely makes time for: strategic reflection and intentional planning. This week's edition is your ultimate guide to closing out the year strong while setting yourself up for an impactful 2025.

From auditing your PR wins to predicting industry shifts, consider this your permission slip to pause, assess, and dream bigger for what's next.

AFFIRMATION OF THE WEEK:
I honor my growth by reflecting on my journey and boldly envisioning my next chapter.

LESSON OF THE WEEK:
The most strategic moves often start with a thoughtful pause.

THIS WEEK’S MOOD BOARD

mood: intentional reflection, strategic planning, and bold vision

🎁 This Week's PR Freebie: The Essential PR Audit Framework

Ready to reflect on your 2024 PR journey? We've created a streamlined framework to help you celebrate your wins, learn from your experiences, and set yourself up for an even stronger 2025.

Inside Your Quick-Start Framework:

• Campaign Highlights Tracker

• Media Wins Assessment

• Content Performance Review

• 2025 Priority Setting Guide

• Monthly Check-In System

Perfect for: PR pros planning their 2025 strategy, communications teams doing year-end reviews , freelancers evaluating their client work, and anyone ready to level up their PR game

Pro Tip: Block 30 minutes this week to complete your first review. Small, consistent audits lead to bigger wins!

[Download Your Framework]

🔮 Shape the Future: Call for 2025 PR Predictions

PR pros, we're building something special! We're collecting industry predictions for our end-of-year special edition, "The Future of PR: 2025 Vision."

What shifts do you see coming in:

• Media landscape evolution

• Technology integration

• Industry innovations

• Communications strategies

Your insights could be featured in our December special edition. Submit your predictions here.

The PR Pro's End-of-Year Strategy Guide

As the calendar winds down, it's time for that strategic pause we rarely give ourselves permission to take. Let's talk about closing out 2024 with intention and stepping into 2024 with clarity.

Relationship Review Time

Year-end isn't just about metrics – it's about strengthening the connections that drive our success. Now's the perfect moment to schedule those final check-ins with clients and stakeholders. Focus on celebrating shared wins, but don't shy away from addressing lingering concerns. These conversations aren't just about wrapping up 2024; they're laying the groundwork for stronger partnerships in 2025.

The Numbers Never Lie

Pull those receipts – all of them. We're talking coverage highlights, engagement metrics, and most importantly, impact on business goals. But here's the key: don't just collect data, tell its story. What trends emerged? Which strategies exceeded expectations? Where did you pivot successfully? This isn't just about reporting; it's about uncovering insights that will shape your 2025 strategy.

Team Dynamics & Development

Whether you're leading a team or part of one, end-of-year reflections should include honest conversations about growth. Look beyond traditional performance metrics. What skills did your team develop? Which projects brought out the best in everyone? Use these insights to map out professional development paths and collaborative goals for the coming year.

Smart Money Moves

Review your 2024 spending patterns with an eye toward 2025 opportunities. Where did investment yield the best returns? Which tools proved indispensable? What emerging technologies should you budget for? Remember: the goal isn't just to allocate resources – it's to create flexibility for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Vision Casting for 2025

This is where measurement meets ambition. Start with your data-backed insights, but don't be afraid to dream bigger. What industry shifts are you anticipating? How can you position your team or clients to lead rather than follow? Map out those content calendars and campaign strategies, but leave room for the unexpected moments that often yield the biggest wins.

The bottom line? Year-end planning isn't just about checking boxes – it's about creating a foundation for bold moves in 2024. Take the time to do it right.

💻  Comms Case Study: How Rhode Turned Consumer Insights Into Cultural Currency

Rhode, the beauty brand founded by Hailey Bieber, has adeptly transformed consumer insights into cultural phenomena, leading to some of the most talked-about beauty launches of 2024. Their success stems from a deep understanding of their audience and the ability to craft products and partnerships that resonate on multiple levels.

The Art of Social Listening

Rhode's innovative phone case, designed with a built-in holder for their Peptide Lip Treatment, exemplifies their commitment to addressing consumer needs. Recognizing that customers often juggle their phones and lip products, Rhode introduced a silicone case that securely holds their lip treatment, ensuring it's always within reach. This product not only sold out rapidly but also inspired other brands to develop similar accessories.

What PR Pros Can Learn: Start by setting aside 30 minutes each week to really analyze your community's conversations. What patterns emerge? What frustrations keep surfacing? These aren't just feedback points – they're potential headlines waiting to be written. Your next big PR win might be hiding in plain sight, in your comments section or customer service emails.

Strategic Partnerships

In August 2023, Rhode collaborated with Krispy Kreme to launch the Strawberry Glaze Peptide Lip Treatment, inspired by the doughnut chain's iconic Strawberry Glazed Doughnut. This partnership coincided with Krispy Kreme reintroducing the beloved doughnut flavor for a limited time, creating a nostalgic and shareable experience for consumers.

What PR Pros Can Learn: The best partnerships aren't about size – they're about story alignment. Identify three brands that share your audience but aren't direct competitors. How could you create value together? Sometimes the most compelling collaborations come from unexpected places, and often, they start with a simple DM.

Tailored Media Relations

Rhode's media strategy involves crafting distinct narratives for various platforms. In business outlets, they highlight their rapid growth and innovative approaches. Beauty publications delve into product formulations and skincare benefits, while mainstream media showcases Rhode's mission to make luxury skincare accessible and enjoyable. This multifaceted approach ensures broad and effective coverage.

What PR Pros Can Learn: Before announcing anything, map out at least three different angles for three different audiences. A product launch should have a business angle, a consumer angle, and a cultural angle at minimum. Test your narratives with your community first – their reaction often predicts media interest and provides valuable quotes for pitches.

Engaging Activations

At events like Coachella, Rhode implemented interactive activations, such as photo booths offering festival-goers samples of their lip tints. These engagements generate user-generated content and foster a community of brand advocates, enhancing Rhode's presence both online and offline.

What PR Pros Can Learn: Create moments that make content creation irresistible. Before planning any activation, ask yourself: Would I want to share this? Would I want to participate? The best PR activations don't feel like PR at all – they feel like experiences people naturally want to capture and share.

The Bottom Line: Making It Work For Your Brand

The ultimate lesson from Rhode isn't about having a celebrity founder or a massive budget – it's about turning insights into stories worth telling. Here's your action plan:

1. Create a "Pattern Recognition" document to track recurring community feedback and conversations

2. Develop a partnership wishlist based on audience overlap, not just brand size

3. Build a story matrix for each announcement (Business/Consumer/Cultural angles)

4. Test narratives with your community before going to media

5. Transform every product moment into a shareable experience

Remember: The most powerful PR strategies don't just generate coverage – they generate conversations. Your job isn't just to get people talking; it's to give them something worth talking about.

💬 Send To The GroupChat 

Do:

• Audit Time Block two hours this week for your year-end audit. Use our framework to make it painless (and maybe even fun?).

• Future Vision Submit your 2025 predictions! Your insights could help shape our industry's future.

• Gratitude Practice Reach out to one person who supported your PR journey this year. Could be a mentor, client, or colleague who made a difference.

💼 Who’s Hiring

• Director, Global PR | Tiffany & Co

• Director, Strategic Communications & Media Relations | The Rockefeller Foundation

• Public Relations Manager | CAVA

• Head of External Communications | AIG

• Senior Manager Communications | Coinbase

• Senior Public Relations Manager | ALO Yoga

• Director of Public Relations/VIP | Alice & Olivia

• Manager, Publicity and Communications | Warner Bros Discovery

• Director, Public Relations & Influencer Marketing, Americas | Huda Beauty

Currently, hiring? Looking for your next gig? Head to our career center to apply to our partner listings or post your job opening.

✨ Community Corner

❤️ PR Pros We're Inspired By

There's building a PR agency, and then there's creating pathways that fundamentally shift how brands connect with culture. Alexa Palacios-Pierre is doing the latter.

The Journey: With over a decade of experience spanning both in-house and agency roles at powerhouses like Gap Inc., Net-a-Porter Group, and Samsung US, Alexa brings a unique perspective to the communications landscape. But it was founding Connectivity that truly showcased her vision for what strategic communications could be. Her approach? Equal parts intuition and methodology, always with an eye on the bigger cultural picture.

The Impact: Alexa's recent work with Seven Daughters Wines exemplifies her ability to create meaningful cultural connections. With Academy Award-nominated actor Taraji P. Henson as strategic advisor and creative collaborator, Connectivity didn't just support in relaunching a brand – they supported reimagining what wine industry partnerships could look like. The campaign, powered by a Black women-led team, demonstrates Alexa’s commitment to not just telling stories, but shifting narratives.

Beyond the Headlines: While building Connectivity's impressive client roster, Alexa is also the force behind Us for Her, a social impact initiative addressing women-centered issues. And perhaps her most impressive balancing act? Running a growing agency while being a present mother to fraternal twins, Luc and Ella.

🎯 Enrollment for Life’s a Pitch is Still Open!

Remember when we told you our community member Tequilla White was cooking up something major? Well, it's here – and it's exactly what your PR strategy needs to kick off 2025.

Introducing: Life's A Pitch

Our go-to media expert and founder of TWPR is opening the doors to her signature 6-week intensive that's already helped countless brands break through the noise and land the coverage they deserve.

Why This Program Hits Different:

Think of it as your personal PR accelerator. Over six weeks, you'll work directly with Tequila to:

• Transform your pitch game from "maybe later" to "must cover"

• Build a credibility-driving media strategy that actually works

• Master the art of storytelling that makes journalists want more

[Register For The Program Here →]

That's a wrap for Edition 005! Whether you're auditing your 2024 wins, predicting 2025 trends, or planning your next strategic move, remember that you too have everything you need to make it happen.

Until next week, keep reflecting, keep predicting, and keep pushing our industry forward!

Kindly Circling Back Forever, The PR Girl Manifesto Team

P.S. Don't forget to submit your 2025 predictions! We can't wait to feature your insights in our special end-of-year edition. 🔮

P.S. Got a PR win you want to share? A burning question for our experts? Or maybe you just want to say hi? Hit reply to this email or drop us a line via [email protected] – we read every message!

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