Sarah Maguire, Founder Sarah Maguire PR
Sarah shares her journey from agency work to launching her own PR consulting agency, specializing in the food and beverage industry. Discover the leverage of founder-led brands and why they're gaining traction in the media landscape. Learn about the key factors that make a brand ready for PR, and gain insights into effective networking strategies for emerging brands. Tune in for valuable tips and stories that will leave you inspired and ready to take your brand to the next level.
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00:02 Hello everyone. Welcome back to a new episode of Emerging Brands podcast with Kelly Bennett. Today I have a very special guest someone I've been looking forward to interviewing after we had a really great conversation about what she does and how she works with brand.
00:21 So Sarah Maguire. Thank you so much for being on the show today. Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
00:28 It's been so fun meeting you in the last month and I'm really excited to be here too. Yes. Thank you.
00:33 So before we jump so much into PR and how you work with consumer package, good brands, food and beverage brands, I would love to hear how did you start your PR company?
00:47 Yeah, so I've been doing PR for about 10 years and really kind of found my niche in food and beverage in the last five years.
00:57 You know, we're two multiple different agencies and really kind of for the first few years in my career. I was really trying to figure out, okay, like what do I actually like to do?
01:05 And I don't really have many hobbies. One of the main hobbies I have is like eating and drinking and going out in New York City and obviously getting to travel when I can.
01:13 And so I kind of just like had this like aha moment of like, you know, I should just work in the food and beverage industry because that's what I like to do the most.
01:19 But I think I'm going to do the best work doing that. So you know, for the last few years before starting my own agency, I was working at Food in beverage, CPT brand, you know, agency is that really focused on that.
01:32 And then kind of the reason why I started my own kind of consulting agency was, you know, after 10 years, I had that like dream scenario where an old client called me and they said, you know, we really want to work with you.
01:44 And now you're agency and we just haven't been able to find that right PR since, you know, we left, left you.
01:49 So are you ready to like go out on your own? And I really feel like I was. I feel like I got, you know, a lot of, you know, a variety of PR experience, for the ton of great incredible founders and mentors and was ready to do this on my own and and felt like it was the right time.
02:02 So to be honest, you know, I had no, no real plan. I just kind of, you know, went out for it, now worked my butt off.
02:09 And it's going to be a few great, you know, first initial clients that kind of helped bring in some buzz.
02:14 And all of a sudden, you know, I came, I started May 2022 and probably by July, I had four clients on my roster.
02:21 So again, And it was just really like super hustling mode of figuring out the right type of clients because for the first time I got to be in that driver's seat and figuring out the clients that I wanted to work on.
02:32 So the kind of few things as I was creating my website and branding and figuring out what are my own mission and values were to work with brands that I truly was passionate about the product, made sure it was something I personally consume and want to advocate for that's something on the agency side
02:48 you really don't get to do and I think people understand media that but it's just really nice to finally being that you know control position you know work with really nice awesome people like the under the day like we're the biggest brand voice for these founders and these brands so making sure they're
03:01 just really nice humans is really important and then brands that you know are in the CBG space that maybe aren't household names yet but you know have the ambitions to be so you know really have a you know diverse portfolio of being in retail being online like having a healthy kind of growth mindset
03:18 And you know, are ready for that PR attention and just ready for storytelling and wanting a founder led brand. I feel like the end of the day, you know, consumers want to know who's behind the brand more than ever.
03:30 So it's really important to have brands who already have that founder out there. Because I think it also makes it super compelling of well, I'm going to choose the scroll of brands.
03:38 It's usually because of the founder or something cool in the product. So those are kind of the factors that kind of helped me start.
03:44 Of our PR. I took so many notes already of just what you were saying because there was so much there and I'm so excited to dive in.
03:54 A good thing that you said that I think is so encouraging and especially for someone who is maybe on that cusp of I've been in my career, I've been paying my I do, I'm having this feeling especially, think for service based brands like you and I.
04:15 It's knowing or feeling like you know, okay, this is the right time to branch out. And what I heard is that you actually got that nudge from someone reaching out to you and saying, hey, I want to just hire you.
04:31 What gave you that confidence to say, okay. And make that leap because I'm sure or that was scary and exciting, but oh my gosh, can this really work?
04:45 Did you also do that at the same time of your full-time job? I would love to know a little bit of that because I feel like many people listening to this are in that in between stage.
04:56 Yeah, no, I think it's a really good question. I feel like it's a good few factors of one. Like I feel like I try every type of agency PR fit out there.
05:05 Really small boots, like three people. I've been a hundred person agencies. I've been into a thousand person, you know, big company and for my first like PR internship.
05:12 So I'd experience every different environment. I realize I'm pretty, you know, I like to be in the control position. I like to be straightforward with the clients.
05:20 I like to kind of like take that initiative and get to like really do what I want to do. And obviously when you have managers and bosses, that's sometimes it can be a little bit complex.
05:29 So I think one just really wanting to be like, look, I know what I'm doing and competent and knowing what I'm doing.
05:34 That I'm having to, you know, listen to people that are higher, that actually, I thought I didn't have the experience or knowledge to be given me the right direction or these clients the right direction.
05:44 So I think it was a little bit of truly like frustration. I'm just like, okay, I think I know better than some of the people I'm more human with.
05:51 And at this point, I'm doing this for 10 years, like what's holding me back? You know, another thing was I had some really close PR friends in this industry who had gone out on their own and I'd seen them succeed and obviously COVID was really tough for a lot of my freelance friends, but I had seen them kind of coming back and just having that flexibility and autonomy. And, you know, at the same time, this client that came back to me, she was someone I worked with, the two other agencies are really believing her mission, her product. I knew she would be a really great advocate for me in the industry. She was really well respected and it just felt like the right thing to be stupid not to say yes to. And also what was kind of interesting was she at first kind of was like trying to hire me in-house a little bit more so and figure out me and one other brand to work with. And so I was like, okay, I'll have insurance covered like it will be a little bit of an easier transition and then we really kind of quickly realized paper work wise so that was tougher but she was like, I'm really ready to help you network and find some other clients and you know that was kind of the perfect start to be like, okay, like I have someone who's like pushing for me has that you know has a track record with me. And I also frankly was like really burnt out. I think this is your industry. I was working on 12 brands at the time, managing 15 people.
07:03 I wasn't happy, you know? And so I think that under the day, that was the biggest impetus. It was just like, I want to reset.
07:09 Maybe I've realized for a few months, and I hated it. I go back to another agency. Like, I'm willing to take that risk. I was ready, and in financial position as well, you know, unfortunately, to have my parents support, and just, you know, do this, and take the time to travel and experience, you know, things that I I was, you know, stuck on the, you know, again, in that agency desk job side for so long that I was I really had that urge and I think it really pushed me to just go for it. And, you know, I'm so glad that a year plus, I'm still doing it. 07:36 So I love this so much. And you mentioned networking, which especially for a lot of founders in the early years, that could feel like a really daunting task.
07:47 It's something that even myself being an entrepreneur for 15 years now, I've struggled at times of that quote-unquote networking and putting yourself out there. What did you find was helpful for you to network in a more authentic, organic, because also PR networking is like, even next level networking, right? Like that's full throttle, really putting yourself out there. But what for you was that balance? Or if you found that balance of networking, putting your name out there, getting yourself in front of new potential clients or different people who refer you or for clients to you.
08:29 What what has that now looked like? I'm also asking for myself. I think you've been doing some great jobs. I haven't been doing it.
08:38 No, I appreciate that a lot. So I feel like it's a few ways. One, when we're in PR, we're constantly pitching and putting ourselves out there every day.
08:47 So like, right. I feel like it's also less of a fear factor of like, I'm not going to get a response or this feels like, you know, this is too much of a stretch.
08:54 Like, we're doing it everyday trying to get our clients top tier placements or to meet with journalists that, you know, maybe we don't personally know, which is a lot of the time. 09:01 So I think it's one just already having that, you know, mindset or like, I'll probably get more projected more than not just because that's become the everyday, like, norm of doing PR.
09:10 And two, like, I, you know, I ended up doing like a LinkedIn post just kind of putting it out there and that kind of when viral seems like the wrong word.
09:18 But it did get some attention, which was great that kind of snowballed until a lot of things. Another thing I really proud myself on was I really had very honest open relationships with all the clients and co-workers I've never worked with.
09:30 And so I think people knew exactly who they were going to, when they were referring to me, they knew exactly who I was. I wasn't someone that was a people pleaser. And so I feel that really helped in the sense of people knew who I was. It wasn't like, we worked together for six months and she was in the background. I feel like I should have a bigger personality that was memorable. And so that took advantage of that. And just also like I did a lot of, you know, networking with other PR friends and being like, hey, do you know anybody who's, you know, into CPG or who needs an extra hand right now. 10:02 And so I'm also on a, you know, a couple of really amazing, like PR networking groups was on Slack and on email that have been super helpful for climate referrals, you know, things like that. I've gone to Expo West, which is a really big like CBD great so, you know, in exchange for helping a brand, you know, helping their booth. And so just like being scrappy and putting yourself out there, I also think too, like, I always paid for when I was like on the agency side and taking those, you know, college, you know, student emails asking if they can like, you know, talk to you about your career. I feel like that was always, felt like the karma was coming back and I feel like it did kind of come back to full when I launched my own business and kind of did the same to other people and I think also the under the day our industry is so, so friendly and nice. Like it's super supportive. Like people generally do want to help out. I feel like in fashion and our beauty, it's a little bit more cutthroat and a little bit more protective of your, you know, your sources. But, and CBG people really tend to, you know, want to help in some of my really close, you know, new friends in the last year have been through this PR networking. And, you know, we're all pitching the same clients sometimes. And it's truly like the best person who's the best fit for the job wins.
11:05 And that's okay. Like, it's not, doesn't need to be so competitive and cutthroat, so I love that a lot because I think a lot of the hesitation behind networking and behind putting yourself out there obviously is rejection, right? That's usually people's biggest fear. So what it sounds like also is that through practice and honestly probably going under the assumption that you will get rejected, you've been able to build up this muscle that you don't necessarily overthink it that it's now second nature.
11:39 It should just always be pitching and focus on the next pitch versus being so tied to one one particular outcome.
11:48 It sounds like you are putting it out there constantly or consistently, I should say. And you are trusting that the right phase coming back to you as well.
11:58 I love that. Yeah. I think that's so true. And I think too, especially with like, I don't know why my mind just went to like client referrals and trying to like win clients and you know get that new business.
12:07 It's like putting that like nice perspective of not being over top on them and like understanding we all are like trying to do our jobs, but also like advocating for the brands that you really think are going to be the best fit like going after your dream brands and also saying notice some of those like referral calls, like I know right away that anything that's like coconut base I'm never going to like I don't like coconut so like I'm not going to waste so much time with that or if it's I remember that seeing that on your I want to say It was on your website, right? I did a podcast where I talked about it. Everyone thought it was the funniest thing, but it's like, this is the true mantra of me.
12:39 So again, it's just like, I know at brands of this point, I think really work well with my interest and track records. So I've just been more and more smart about doing that because it's a two-way street of networking and taking that initial call.
12:51 We're all busy, so being smart about it. And it sounds like to the fact that you niche down to food and beverage and also CPG.
13:00 Food and beverage brands, it sounds like that has also put you in rooms and spaces to be known for a particular aspect of PR.
13:10 Because PRs could be quite broad, right? So it sounds like that also, I'm sure has held with networking and referrals because now you have a specialty, you're known for something and you're personally really passionate about it.
13:24 Yeah, I think that's a great piece. Yeah, not to cut you off, but I feel like the leaning into the niche was actually really helpful. 13:31 I think a lot of, again, people come in and they want to say they're flexible and they're generalists. And like, technically, I am a generalist. 13:37 I've done PR for every type of industry from technology to healthcare entertainment, but I don't, you know, that's not my passion or interest.
13:43 Like, you know, I would do the best job working in the space. I'm also like going, you know, to the CBG now working events.
13:49 I know people outside of the media, PR world in this industry too. And that's really helpful. So I can understand, you know, when they're talking about the distributed your problems are they need you know fundraising help like I fully understand that landscape and that industry enough to I feel like
14:02 really you know be a good partner for them so yeah it's been really helpful just to figure out that and you should I would say absolutely and also something else you touched upon that I really love and it sounds also like a differentiator for your own personal brand is that you work with founder
14:18 led brands and so when someone thinks of a founder led brand how do you describe that to someone who maybe isn't sure like am I a founder led brand? 14:29 I'm not sure. I'm just kind of wearing all the hats right now because I'm being scrappy and getting my brand off the ground.
14:35 But how do you explain a founder led brand? Because again, that was something that really struck me when looking at your website and connecting with you.
14:43 Like, ooh, I love that verbiage. Oh nice. Honestly, one of the first agencies I went to once, I kind of threw out my food and beverage niche.
14:53 That was kind of their mantra was Founderled mission telling and I really saw like the proof firsthand of, you know, people want to know like who's behind that brand, right?
15:04 So when you're a Founderled, it's having that founder out there who's advocating for the brand on their behalf and you know, usually it's also like involved with the, you know, personal story or a launch story inspiring like what happened with the brand, you know, so, you know, having that, you know , really authentic storytelling moment and this is why this is our brand and this is what we've been doing and also being really vulnerable and putting yourself out there of like talking about your experience with them without the brand or the challenges that you know you're facing and I think that's so important to not just talk about your wins because you know median consumers are like wanting to hear about the vulnerability the more vulnerable you are the more you're gonna earn the trust the more people are gonna be like oh hey like I really did like that you know I think I'm gonna pick this brand over that brand in the grocery aisle because I heard them on a podcast And they just seem really cool and relatable and like I don't want to be friends with them. So I want to support their business. That goes a long way versus I think the more old school PR tactics of, you know, meeting training means to button up like it just sounds robotic and, you know, you have your story out there is one of the few things that distinguishes you so I think leaning into that
16:05 as much as possible and, you know, of course I have been talking to, you know, to people who maybe you're afraid that they're, you know, their side hustle they really need to keep it as a side hustle and that's fine. 16:14 You're just not a fit for what I do with PR so And that brings me to my next question as far as what are you finding that is resonating with media press especially in the food and beverage space.
16:34 I would love to hear your insight of what you're finding or what maybe you're also looking for as far as from a brand story or from a founder that you're like like, ooh, that's something I could work with that.
16:48 Anything catching your ears right now? So I think there's a good few factors in like what makes something, I would say like pitch ball to media, especially for what I do.
16:57 I think what obviously it's having this, you know, incredible compelling founder story and having, you know, really great personal narrative that works with the brand and outside the brand.
17:05 So I mean, the end of the day people want to learn, like if you have a founder with a really full hobby or, you know, a really interesting background or, you know, they travel a bunch to test the product out.
17:14 But even those little nuances are super interesting to media. I think also too, we've kind of been in this CBG bubble sometimes, and the better for you space, I feel like people are kind of over that.
17:26 They really, at the end of the day, want products to taste good that are interesting looking that at a compelling price point, can be found easily.
17:33 Those are some of the factors. When I take on brands too, I make sure that they are available at least online, and hopefully they are bigger now for retailer, Just because it makes my job a much easier every one's media audiences are based all over the country for the most part So only being available
17:50 locally is really really tough for media And I think to just you know making sure that you have a brand that's Truthfully just like not a white bro like that's like no It wants to really cover that obviously they're out there and it's just again That's something like I really try to maintain a client
18:06 roster where you know There's some diversity to it whether it's having females on there or you know like you know diverse backgrounds, but I think it's really important to somebody who is privileged white person in this space to pay it for it and have it a roster that kind of reflects not just what
18:20 I am. And I think there's just more storytelling and more people. More of these media publications are focusing on these months where it's not just women's history month, but it's women's history day or Hispanic leadership month, whatever it is.
18:37 There's just so many of these holidays that are great news hooks and really are you know they're finally kind of flipping that narrative and just you know talking about certain types of founders and you know people in the space.
18:48 I love that and I think also too that gives a founder who's been historically underrepresented in the space or whatever industry that they're in knowing that no media is looking for you.
19:02 They are looking for stories like yours because that's what's interesting and needed and desirable. For you, how do you explain to a founder and a brand that they're ready for PR, that they're ready for that next stage of growth?
19:21 I love what you said of being the brand voice and helping get their brand message out there. How does a brand know that they're ready for that next step?
19:32 Yeah, I mean, I think it, I mean, it's twofold, right? So it's either brands who are ready to like launch in this space and want that PR moment.
19:39 I think it's really critical to have that PR, someone in PR helping you launch your brand into this space because your marketing language is not going to resonate with media and consumerist necessarily.
19:51 So just making sure to have that time and prep. But also, if you're going to be ready for PR, you want me to make sure that PR person has a voice at the table is just important as the sales or finance person, for example.
20:04 Also having the resources in time to it, like PR can't work independently. We need to be knowing everything going on in your business, making sure you can commit to the biweekly meetings we do, or meet deadlines, or have the time to actually do the interviews and background calls.
20:20 At the same time, we're obviously pitching media at a ton of different stories, but it's up to you to really deliver and sell it through that makes it compelling.
20:27 Like, if you're really boring on the phone or you're too busy to take a call for a month, that's really tough for the PR person.
20:33 There's just, you know, we need to have flexibility and people who are ready to put themselves in the spotlight. You know, I think I know everything that's really common is this like soft launching versus actually launching a brand and when to put the PR in and I think the misconception is like, oh,
20:49 well, I'm soft launching. So, you know, I don't want the media attention right now, but I always tell brands you get one launch.
20:55 Like, media doesn't have two launch moments. And maybe you have a pre sale and you call it a pre sale.
21:00 You don't call it a soft launch. I think that's the better personal terminology I like to encourage clients and brands to use but you know it's it's it's a big news hook if you get one launch moment so just making sure you're ready for that and also like you know a lot of people think they can hire
21:15 PR a month in advance of their launching and it's you definitely need at least two to three months I would say to do it like a thoughtful job so you know you're creating that media-facing language you're doing the media training you're also especially for CPG food and beverage brands like you're having
21:29 that product trial and tested by media and especially if you're a brand where you have to cook something or something where you really need to see the lifestyle changes that's takes even longer so you know I tell brands like you know expect that when your package gets delivered they're 20 other brands
21:43 ahead of you and they're cute and so that's why it takes so much time so making sure even if you don't have that pretty product you know packaging ready at least they can try like the consumer would that's really important and then just having like your whole website ready like make sure you're ready
21:58 to hit you know have that traffic and you know your social media is teasing the brand in a way that's not going to get ruined any media exclusivity or that media unveil moments.
22:07 So you're kind of making sure everything's like working and you're ready to kind of do launch week, launch month interviews to it.
22:14 I have the time carved out for that. Yeah, hopefully that was helpful. That is so good. I'm also taking notes because this I know I'm going to be sending out this episode to many, many clients and many, many people.
22:27 So how does it work working with your brand? Sarah McGuire PR, how does that, how does that work for a brand?
22:38 Yeah, so the way I kind of figured out structuring this, obviously, it's been tweaked over the last year plus is making sure one that, you know, the brand, we've like signed on for three months.
22:47 I feel like that's a really healthy amount of time to understand, okay, are we, are we vibing, are we jelly, and are we a fit?
22:54 Is this product or brand a fit with media? Like what's the media reception? Like, you know, you kinda get to just understand that work cadence.
23:01 I also understand true, like these brands that are coming to me typically are, you know, really a true startup. You know, they might not have the financial budget to, you know, have longer than three months to really test something out like that.
23:14 And so I think it's really important just to like, you know, give it space in time but also like let's let's just like see after three months if this is working like do we have a lot of things in the pipeline you know are you being a good PR partner and then you know I'll do kind of the pillars I kind of do for my services are one just like the traditional like media relations so pitching your brand to a lot of different media verticals which is you know digital online broadcast print along with kind of this like thought leadership angle and the founder positioning.
23:45 So making sure they're getting the budget, helping you, you know, with awards and speaking engagements and, you know, doing podcasts and really, you know, kind of honing in on really learning how to speak about yourself in the brand and doing panels and things like that.
23:59 And then it's this affiliate marketing side as well. So making sure that these brands don't want to leverage affiliates and just to give a quick, quick overview for your audience.
24:08 Right. The way that we're working right now is So nutritional advertising, they're using these affiliates, which are like done through certain platforms, which are those kind of like shoppable, clickable, you know, links and stories and media is getting a significant cut back and same with the platform
24:23 . But it's really the only way for these brands to compete with brands that are on Amazon all Walmart, these brands were, you know, they're getting even a bigger cut back from, you know, the full cart value, whatever that person's, you know, journey is on Amazon.
24:36 On so if they click on a article for example saying like you know best cereals you know that are healthy right now to eat and then you you know you buy you buy your cereal on Amazon but then you also stock up on all your household queen supplies like the media company will get a you know a good percentage
24:54 of that so that's why they're kind of there's always these 10 things about Amazon right now stories and so it is you know at the end of the day I think it's better to like leverage it and understand the affiliate space so you're not left behind.
25:07 So making sure it's ready brands, you know, that have a good digital presence, like this is really, really important. And, you know, I can help run the page and make sure that it's a really focused for PR, making sure that you're not getting a lot of coupon sites out there that can be really confusing
25:22 and overwhelming. And then another kind of thing I've been, you know, doing is obviously like figuring out how to, you know, encourage brands to, you know, I had the budget to do really special events with media because, again, food and beverage, nothing makes, it's just so helpful to have that media
25:40 interact with the founder but also get to try the product out in a way that would just really help them remember your brand versus the 10 others they can pick for a story around them.
25:50 And then also the, I call this VIP influencer kind of network relationship building where it's like I have gotten some really great contacts over the years of working in PR with you know at the celebrity agency I was working at and you know just some really amazing content creator or so getting your
26:06 product in their hands and then seeing it full you know do a fun unboxing or they create a recipe or they become like a brand ambassador or you know really you know it just depends on that and not really managing the fully like doing I'm not gonna run a brand social media or fully run their influencer
26:21 program but just kind of helping with those intros and you know getting again social media in PR like we should be working hand in hand to really make the most impact because you know the end of the the consumer is going to see your brand in a you know a story but also on a cool content creators you know pages and then also you know like in the grocery store in a cool shelf like you don't know what's going to lead to the purchase so I think it's just important to really like fully you know again be smart and strategic and and use every kind of you know angle and industry opportunity we can.
26:51 Sarah, I literally filled up two pages of notes while you were talking. I'm geeking out right now. This is such a valuable insight.
27:00 And I love how robust your services are, but also it's really straightforward. And that's not easy to find that balance, especially running your own business as a service-based provider.
27:19 And so I really love how you've carved out your own niche within a niche of how you provide PR services and then also in a more holistic way for the founder.
27:34 And that is such a unique offering and I'm sure that founders who work with you feel that because that is a really cool way of going about it.
27:45 Well, thank you. I mean, again, it's been a lot of a trial and error figure right now. What I actually like doing because I think when you're on the agency's side for 10 years, you kind of just, you do all these things and you're like, well, right.
27:55 You know, but I really like filling out those panel applications. So I'm not going to offer it to my founders or, yeah, it's a necessary evil site.
28:01 Well, but like again, like charging extra for that. So again, it's the little things where it's like tailoring what I personally like to do because at the end of the day, you want your PR person to enjoy working on the brand and not be playing this land of doing reports and all these things that aren't
28:16 necessary. You want them to be telling your story to media as much as possible. That's really what they're there for.
28:21 So that's a great point. To close out this conversation that I literally could talk to you for hours, I appreciate everything you've shared today.
28:32 Is there one last piece of advice you would give a emerging brand founder who, again, is on that cusp of, okay, I feel like I'm ready to move to the next stage with PR and getting my brand out there and getting myself out there and being more seen.
28:49 Any other piece of advice you would leave someone with? I mean, I think what's really important is the end of the day, PR is not going to drive sales.
28:58 I think that's a really big misconception and a really big push from a lot of founders when we start to work together.
29:04 And so, you know, the end of the day, it's just making sure that you're ready for that general brand awareness, and that can be through so many different avenues.
29:11 So why making sure that you understand if you want sales, like put that money into social media marketing spend, like PR is not the right fit for you.
29:18 And that's totally okay. Like some people have really ambitious brand growth goals that they need to meet. And PR just might not be the right avenue.
29:25 But to like making sure you really have the resources and dedication to like growing and sustaining the PR relationship. So So, you know, I think it's also figuring out, okay, I have this, you know, you find your budget, but do you want to consult and do you want to, you know, a small agency?
29:40 Do you want to big agency? What are those real differences? And to me, the going with the kind of, you know, consulting, you know, agency format that I have, you get somebody who's, you know, had hopefully at least like five to seven years of experience, they know, they know who to pitch, they know
29:54 the stories that are going to land, they understand the industry, they really can be strategic and nimble, you know, versus, you know, a bigger agency, you know, they might able to help you with these bigger initiatives and really complex campaigns you're working on, but very quickly you're going to
30:07 start working with the junior as most junior person on the team. Those president founders and BP's are going to disappear from the meetings.
30:14 There's going to be a ton of processes you're going to have to go through. And it's just going to be a little bit harder to be super nimble and fast and quick.
30:20 And immediately, especially in this landscape, you want someone who can hop on a news jack trend, the cool TikTok trend that your client's a perfect fit for.
30:28 Or if your client's product sells out, like doing those sellout stories versus, just not saying, I don't have the bandwidth or a second of meeting for four hours with another client all day on an offsite.
30:40 So I think again, it's just figuring out what is gonna lend you the results you want and just interviewing, I'm making sure to interview at least a few people really understand who's on your client roster?
30:50 What are your favorite brands to work on? What are you personally like to cook and consume and eat and drink?
30:55 Is this gonna be a real natural fit because you want someone who's really a brand advocate for you. So again, I loved every single word that you share today. 31:05 I took so many notes. I can't wait to send this to every client I've ever had, ever, ever, ever. I so appreciate it.
31:16 You've been a great work. So this was really, really valuable because a PR is one of those aspects of building a brand that I think is very mystical to many people including myself and I've even worked with publicists over the years on certain brands and even I was like walk me through exactly how this 31:36 works right and so I really appreciate how you've made your PR strategy very tangible and tactile and also adjusting expectations so someone can really wrap their head around what and why and how it works and how that fits within the scope of building their brand and scaling their brand.
32:01 And you just are so passionate about it also that it radiates off. And so I just really again appreciate everything you share today because I know this is going to be super super helpful.
32:14 Yeah, I mean, I think at the end of the day, PR should not be some big mystery. Like you should know exactly where your PR agency is doing and if you don't have that sense and they probably aren't doing the work you think they're doing.
32:23 Like I think that's just the biggest red flag. So again, just really, you know, having that really healthy, trusting relationship with your PR person or team, I think really helps, you know, get the best results.
32:34 And you know, that's what it's about at the end of the day. It's just getting your brand out there as much as possible and planning that big today's show hit or whatever your dream, you know, press moment is like that.
32:43 That's what we're all working for. So love it. How can someone find you, connect with you, learn more about your services?
32:53 Yeah, so I have a website, saramaguarrepair.com. The kind of explains all the services, has work examples, case studies if you need them.
33:02 I'm also on LinkedIn and Instagram with saramaguarPR, saramaguar.com on LinkedIn. So by me and then my email is sarat saramaguarrepair.com and McGuire is still on M-A-G-U-I-R-E.
33:15 So yeah, I'm hoping I would love to anyone that wants to, you know, chat about PR has questions. I'm always happy to help amazing. 33:24 Thank you again. I'll put all the links to your website and all the places to find you in the show notes.
33:30 Thank you Sarah again for taking the time to talk PR. This was an incredible episode and thank you everyone for listening and I'll see you on the next episode. 33:39 Bye.
