"I write about extraordinary people who are the unsung heroes that may never get their shine, but they're the ones who change the world every single day." - Pauleanna Reid Pauleanna Reid is a purpose-driven entrepreneur and a senior contributor for none other than Forbes! Before landing her juicy Forbes gig, Pauleanna wrote for newspapers, blogs, and even tried her hand at writing novels and songs. Pauleanna has definitely paid her dues — and learned that it’s important to let your dreams evolve. Now, Pauleanna helps other business owners and leaders follow their own dreams through gaining media coverage that puts them in their best light and helps them reach new audiences! The right media coverage can build up your rep as an authority in your niche, bring attention to your latest power moves, and connect you with new groups of people who may NEED your products or services (and just not know it yet)! In this episode, you’re going to learn what Pauleanna looks for in a pitch, how to stand out from 999 others, and how to let your current audience do the heavy lifting! Get your shine on! Hit play to discover: How your pitches should change based on the publications you pitch to and the audience you’re trying to reach The interviews and profiles Pauleanna dreams about publishing (and what they have in common!) The hidden benefits of pitching small publications and podcasts If you love what Pauleanna has to say, then you DEFINITELY want to check out her workshop at the Mo’Mentum Personal Brand Experience in Miami — because my girl will be spilling the juice on how to come correct with your pitches and snag the media attention your business deserves! About Pauleanna Reid: Pauleanna Reid is a senior contributor at Forbes Women, the founder of The Writer’s Block, a full-service celebrity ghostwriting agency, and the founder of New Girl on the Block, a mentorship platform for millennial women dealing with major life and career transitions. Highlights: 02:02 Intro 03:02 Welcome, Pauleanna Reid! 06:28 Why media coverage is important 07:13 Pitch curation 08:17 What Pauleanna looks for 12:04 When not to pitch 13:20 Let your audience help you 15:20 Mo’Mentum Personal Brand Experience 17:36 Pauleanna’s dream interviews 22:55 Small platforms & podcasts 28:23 Take your time! 32:02 What’s next? Links To Visit: Pauleanna Reid http://newgirlontheblock.com https://ca.linkedin.com/in/pauleannareid Twitter: @pauleannar Instagram: @pauleannareid Mo’Mentum Personal Brand Experience http://bit.ly/momentumretreat Make sure you’re subscribed to The Juicy CEO Podcast and leave a rating and review! To win some Juicy CEO Swag, take a screenshot, tag me on Instagram @moniquebryan_co, and use the hashtag #TheJuicyCEO on social media. Stay Connected: Instagram: @moniquebryan_co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JuicyBrandSquad
"I write about extraordinary people who are the unsung heroes that may never get their shine, but they're the ones who change the world every single day."
- Pauleanna Reid
Pauleanna Reid is a purpose-driven entrepreneur and a senior contributor for none other than Forbes! Before landing her juicy Forbes gig, Pauleanna wrote for newspapers, blogs, and even tried her hand at writing novels and songs. Pauleanna has definitely paid her dues — and learned that it’s important to let your dreams evolve.
Now, Pauleanna helps other business owners and leaders follow their own dreams through gaining media coverage that puts them in their best light and helps them reach new audiences!
The right media coverage can build up your rep as an authority in your niche, bring attention to your latest power moves, and connect you with new groups of people who may NEED your products or services (and just not know it yet)!
In this episode, you’re going to learn what Pauleanna looks for in a pitch, how to stand out from 999 others, and how to let your current audience do the heavy lifting!
Get your shine on!
Hit play to discover:
If you love what Pauleanna has to say, then you DEFINITELY want to check out her workshop at the Mo’Mentum Personal Brand Experience in Miami — because my girl will be spilling the juice on how to come correct with your pitches and snag the media attention your business deserves!
About Pauleanna Reid: Pauleanna Reid is a senior contributor at Forbes Women, the founder of The Writer’s Block, a full-service celebrity ghostwriting agency, and the founder of New Girl on the Block, a mentorship platform for millennial women dealing with major life and career transitions.
Highlights:
02:02 Intro
03:02 Welcome, Pauleanna Reid!
06:28 Why media coverage is important
07:13 Pitch curation
08:17 What Pauleanna looks for
12:04 When not to pitch
13:20 Let your audience help you
15:20 Mo’Mentum Personal Brand Experience
17:36 Pauleanna’s dream interviews
22:55 Small platforms & podcasts
28:23 Take your time!
32:02 What’s next?
Links To Visit:
Pauleanna Reid
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/pauleannareid
Twitter: @pauleannar
Instagram: @pauleannareid
Mo’Mentum Personal Brand Experience
Make sure you’re subscribed to The Juicy CEO Podcast and leave a rating and review! To win some Juicy CEO Swag, take a screenshot, tag me on Instagram @moniquebryan_co, and use the hashtag #TheJuicyCEO on social media.
Stay Connected:
Instagram: @moniquebryan_co
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/JuicyBrandSquad
[00:00:00] Pauleanna: Podcasting is really where every single person should be focusing their attention. I think that beyond the big publications, you should be focused on on podcasts because number one, you control your narrative. You don't put your narrative in the hands of a journalist. there are great journalists operate with integrity, but there are many that don't. And so it, it takes one story or one secrets you know, to be revealed for things to kind of unravel. So you want to also, when you're pitching, do your research on the journalists as well to make sure they have the integrity you're looking for, but the other thing is, yeah, Audio goes far and wide audio is passive content. So like, why wouldn't you want to be on those platforms? Like, I'm so surprised when people dismiss podcasts as well. Like that's really where it's at, because truth be told the digital world, the, you know, the physical publications, like the numbers are down, the readership is down.
So like, yes, of course. If you put on your website, banner that's. But honestly, if you have a business mindset and you have a very clear objective, a very clear goal, you would probably get on podcasts more, more often. Hello, my lovelies. We are about to welcome a guest who always brings the act right. And likes to tell it like it is, she is someone I admire for her resilience and her work ethic. And I am so excited every time I get to sit down and talk to this powerhouse.
[00:02:17] Monique: So I would like to introduce you to Pollyanna re. Who is a senior contributor at Forbes women and founder of the writer's block, a full service celebrity ghost writing agency. She is a purpose driven entrepreneur, and I am happy to say a new lead revealed retreat workshop host for an upcoming. Personal branding and business retreat.
And she is coming to talk all about how to come correct with your pitch and the key components you need to grab the media's attention. When she doesn't have a pen. In her hand, you can find Pollyanna mentoring, millennial women, and delivering university guest lectures on entrepreneurship lesson. You are about to welcome.
One of my favorite people welcome Pollyanna to the June.
[00:03:05] Pauleanna: I'm so happy to be here, girl.
[00:03:07] Monique: don't don't don't I always feel like I need my own music for each one of our guests. So just forgive me.
[00:03:12] Pauleanna: Yeah.
[00:03:14] Monique: So, I've been watching you online, like you have started the year. I feel like just, I probably, how you always start the year, just powerfully you're everywhere. I feel like you're, you're traveling, you're speaking, you know, you're also living your best life and I'm just so happy that you could fit us in to be here this morning.
And I'm going to hop right in and I would love it. If you could just start off by telling me. People a little bit about your story on how you actually started working at Forbes in the first place, because I know people hear forums and they're like, woo. Right. So, but girl, you worked for that. Tell him.
[00:03:45] Pauleanna: So, yeah, before I started at Forbes, I spent numerous years writing for newspapers across the country. Before I wrote for newspapers, I had a log. Before that I tried my hand at so many different types of writing stuff. Poetry songwriting. I thought I was going to be a novelist. Like there are so many different avenues that I tried and wasn't necessarily satisfied with.
And I would like to tell people that it's important to allow your dreams to evolve. Right. So Forbes was, wasn't always at the top of the list. I didn't even know. I didn't even know that this opportunity necessarily existed. But I think it's really about paying your dues. You know what I mean? It's not, it's not something that will get handed to you.
It's not something that. Most people, if not, EV nobody really knows how to get in. It's one of those, clubs where you have to know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody. It's not just a free for all, everyone doesn't get in the door, all the things. So, I guess because of my years of it, I wouldn't say, I guess I know because of my years of experience and because of the subject matter that I love to write about, which is female leaders who are shaping the future.
I. Was Privileged enough to have the opportunity to sit with one of the editors and in doing so. It still, I didn't get the part. I had to build a relationship with her. And it wasn't till a round table discussion. On a summer day in New York, I was sitting at the table with other journalists who were already writing for the platform and potential editors that I would work with.
And you're talking about. All types of things that have were happening in the world at the time, bill Cosby was the hot topic. And I remember contemplating and having a discussion with myself about whether or not I should speak up, I wouldn't say it's imposter syndrome, but I didn't know how vulnerable.
And I decided to speak up. I raised my hand, I talked about my own experiences with sexual assault and I really do think it was that conversation and how I contributed value and my personal story to the environment that really sold it for her. She's like, you have something to say, and I like that.
[00:05:55] Monique: I love that. I didn't know that part about your story. And you are a master at relationship building and networking. That's one thing that I've learned from you over the years, that just, you know, what you were talking about, like nothing is going to be handed handed to you. You've got to go out, put your.
Out there and raise your hand. Right. And you know what you always love to say, what is it closed, closed mouths. Don't get fed.
I say that to my clients all the time now. So thank you so much for sharing that. And now, if people don't know your name after they Google you, they now, after hearing this, they definitely will.
And I would love if you can. let people know, like I know the power of media and how it can help, you know, leaders and business owners. But I would love from your perspective, how is getting media coverage beneficial to one's business or brand.
[00:06:40] Pauleanna: A plethora of reasons. I think primarily it positions you as an authority figure because when journalists are speaking about a certain topic, we want to talk to people who actually know their shit. Right. We want to talk to people who are at the top of their game. And you know, we're properly vetting.
So positions you as an authority. It could bring more eyeballs and more attention to something that you're working on. And then the other thing is I think it is a great way to better connect with other audiences. I always tell people when you're pitching, you should really think about who do I want to speak to.
You could be trying to speak to college kids. You could be trying to speak to mompreneurs. You could be trying to get the attention of investors and who you pitch and at what publication or vary, depending on the audience you're trying to target.
[00:07:33] Monique: I love that you said that because sometimes people think you've got that one pitch, you got that one pitch down and you just use it and reuse it and reuse it. But you're saying definitely like, know who you're trying to get in front of and curate it to them every single time. Do do the
[00:07:49] Pauleanna: And that requires research, which a lot of people don't like to do.
[00:07:52] Monique: Well, that's why so many, few people get selected, right?
[00:07:56] Pauleanna: I say no way more than I say it.
[00:07:58] Monique: you get tons of pitches. Cause I know you share a lot about this on social media.
[00:08:02] Pauleanna: I did a tweet recently
and I must have got about easily a thousand pitches from that one tweet I called out. I was like, Hey, like tag a friend, nominated friends. I'm looking for pitches. And I, I mean, I'm buried right now.
[00:08:16] Monique: Well, how do you, like when you get like a thousand pitches and that's great for other people to hear too, right? Like they just think that sometimes they send out stuff and it gets fall. It's falls on deaf ears. But when you're getting a thousand pitches, what is like something that you look for that out the gate that would jump out that even had them stand out a month, a thousand people.
[00:08:35] Pauleanna: Well, I here's the thing, right? I am looking for. The best out of the thousand amongst different categories. And so when I say best, it doesn't necessarily mean your social media following or even a presence. Right. I know a lot of dope people that actually don't have a social media. However, I'm looking for credentials, I'm looking for your professional background.
And most importantly, I'm looking for a strong news angle. I'm not interested in profiling people. I'm not interested in making any announcements. And I think a lot of people and some publications do focus on announcements, but I think a lot of people pick their nose and then expect someone to write about it.
Right. And it's like, We don't care. Like we don't, it's not new. And like, man, and it's sometimes like, I hate to just be so cut and dry with people, but like, I'll reply. What makes your pitch newsworthy? And they, you know, they think it's them like, I'm fantastic. And I should, you know, and they come from an ego-driven place, but it's like, your pitch has not solved a problem for the audience.
Your pitch has not, it's not positioned. To contribute to a conversation at large, whether it's a community level and industry level or you know, globally. it. Doesn't move the needle. But again, like a people before people pitch, they don't necessarily do the research because a lot of journalists now it's now uh, somewhat of a normal conversation, journalists will share Twitter threads and whatnot about what they're looking for.
Like, you know what I mean? Like you can dig and you can find, you can find blog posts, people write about what they look for in a pitch, but it's an easy way to get yourself disqualified. We can easily tell when you haven't done your research on us, even. So when someone, if I write up.
Female leaders who are shaping the future and you pitch me, you are not shaping the future of your age,
[00:10:28] Monique: guys, but you're not listening though, because she's going to get, you're going to get pitches after this. And you're like, Nope, you didn't hear me say shaping the
[00:10:35] Pauleanna: the future.
And like, and that's like, it's wide, but specific, right? So I'm not trying to. Dismiss what you may be doing, but if you are not shaping your industry, a conversation, the future the career potential of next gen, then it's, you're not a fit for me, but that doesn't mean you're not a fit for Forbes or business insider platform.
There's 12, there's over 2000 riders in the now. You know, you can try and find someone else, but I will say that I've developed a great reputation. And because of that, if I say, no, people just get so heartbroken and I'm like, no, like do your due diligence and trying to find a writer that has a swim lane that fits what you're pitching.
[00:11:18] Monique: I'm just like, as you're saying that I'm, I've been in all of those different scenarios where I did used to think out the gate, like, it is about you as like profiling you, like, if you just present yourself in a certain way and you've got all the right collateral and you're just like, I am amazing, people want to hear about.
Not thinking about it from a news angle, because that wasn't my background. Right. But I think the part about the research, like that rings true for whoever and whatever industry you're in. It's like, what is give people what they want and you being the person receiving it. You're the one, give me what I want.
Right. Which is that you actually gave a damn to look me up,
figured out you figured out how to get to me.
[00:12:04] Pauleanna: The other thing that bothers me quite a bit is when people will pitch me when they've already been featured. this is something I've actually never spoken on. So me personally, I understand that in mainstream media, a certain type of person always it gets featured. Okay. But I want to know a I'm committed to highlighting black voices.
B if you've already had your spotlight move out the way. Don't hit me again. Me personally, I know, I do know writers. They, you know, they may feature a talent twice because like maybe there, you know, there's an update or whatever, but me personally, if I've already written about you, it's very rare that I will write about you again, because I want to make room for first.
There's so many unsung heroes that may never get shine. And so like, you're trying to take up space two or three times, like, no, that's greedy. I'm not here.
[00:13:04] Monique: That's good to know though. That's really good to know because it, it gives some people, I mean, it gives over the rest of us hope, right? Where it's like, there will be space for you. And I love that. I love that. And there are, I do see, like, it's funny because when you see one person get featured, you do tend to see them get featured more and more and more.
It's like, there's this momentum that builds and you're like, wow, they're everywhere. Right. And I always automatically think they have like a PR agency or something behind them to make this
happen, which is
probably.
[00:13:34] Pauleanna: honestly, in all the time. I know, I know several peers of mine and they, here's the other thing too, right? So it's not, yes. If you have a great. Awesome. But the other thing is, if you are adult, we're going to hear about you, right? If you are making waves, if your audience is like, I'll give you a key example, I would do the call a few years ago.
And I said, I was looking for a specific type of woman who built a specific lane. And I had more than two dozen people tag drisha Hawk. Who's a girl, a good girlfriend of mine now. And I was like, whoa. Like I have my ear to the ground. I like I'm on the streets. I'm a host popping, but I'm like if two dozen people, which is her, it was her tribe.
If two dozen people are talking about this incredible woman, this is someone I need to know. Lo and behold, we ended up, you know, working on a, on a piece and it was absolutely brilliant and she was great. But. Your audience should also be, let your audience know what you are trying to achieve in your business.
And they will also, they will tag you and rally behind you and they will, you know, they will, they will sneak into our DMS. Right. And so that, cause there's a few different ways to get in the back door. It's not just always the traditional pitch.
[00:14:46] Monique: I love that piece because so often as business owners, we want to look like. We don't always bring in the audience piece because we're like, well, I got to look like I got it all together and they'll know about it when I've revealed the big thing. But I find like when you bring them in and they're on that journey with you, they're more likely to like recommend you to people.
So that is a great tip for everybody listening, let your audience know, let them be part of the journey. Let them go out here and be your sponsors for you because of. That would be like, wait a second. I know people. Why have I, why don't I know this person.
so is there anyone that you would love to interview that you haven't had a chance to interview yet?
And this could be like a specific person by name if you wanted to share, or it could just be even like in a certain industry.
[00:17:50] Pauleanna: That's a great question. I. I'm very fortunate to have interviewed many incredible people. Like people are, very shocked when they've seen who I've been able to pull to the table. Honestly, to answer that question directly, it will always be the anonymous extraordinary. And that's actually the name of a Ted talk that I love.
Talking about extraordinary people who. Are virtually invisible pretty much. But they're the ones who change the world every single day. So I like speaking to women who you wouldn't necessarily know that they're the behind the scenes or the, the girl in the corner, or she's running this awesome business.
That's doing incredible work, but you know, she's just, you know, she's kind of busy just doing her thing. Like I'm always fascinated by those types of people.
Not necessarily the celebrity.
[00:18:42] Monique: That gives everybody listening. Hope.
[00:18:45] Pauleanna: Yes. And the other thing is the other thing I will say is I love interviewing individuals who people assume is a certain way or fits into a certain category, but I'm able to, go deep with them to change that perception to individuals that come to mind a Jordan. She had, did the red table talk. That was the only interview that she did after the incident.
And I reached out to her family and we actually spent several months building a rapport, a relationship, and you know, her manager, her mother Elizabeth granted me access and a lot of people, I mean the culture assumed one thing, right? And they're speaking with her, she's actually the most, one of the most incredible people I've ever met.
The sweetest woman I've ever met. She's a lot of philanthropy that people don't even know about that she doesn't even feel to bring forward because you know, people have a perception of her anyway. So like doing that interview was awesome. Another individual, her name is Sophie and she's a brilliant, brilliant.
Art director, painter she comes from, you know, a mother who's fine artist. And she is known as Drake's baby mother. And what's interesting is, people just labeled her for many years and that was it. No one decided to, to peek behind the hood, you know, go beyond the title.
And I took the time to get to know her and the story. First of all, it doesn't even mention Drake. Like I'm not, you know what I mean? I'm not a clickbait journalist. I, and I don't even have Drake's name in the title. Like this is an individual, this is a woman. This is a human being who is absolutely brilliant, who is shaping the future in her industry.
And I, I clap for the women who are under the radar, who people have. Discarded because you know, the media is bullshit.
[00:20:46] Monique: Come from the media specialist.
[00:20:47] Pauleanna: yeah. So those were two I've never shared I've. Yeah. I don't think I've ever shared that, but like, those are two stories that are really important to me. And I remember a friend of mine saying, why would you feature Jordan?
Why the fuck? Not like mind your business.
[00:20:59] Monique: You say that it's just like, I picture you say that even to somebody who is your friend and
the friend being like,
I shouldn't have went there with a poly. I should've
[00:21:09] Pauleanna: Oh my God. Yeah. Like don't question. Don't question. And people will come to me and they'll be like, know, they may pitch me. I made the Klein and they'd be like, well, you featured. Mind your business. Don't talk to me like that. And don't second. Guess who I've taken the time to research and get to know, you know what I mean?
Like you don't know what led up to that interview. You don't know what my angle is or what I was trying to accomplish with that interview, but like the jealousy, it needs to stop because when it's your time, God will move you to the front of the line. So shut up about it.
[00:21:43] Monique: Boom. That's going to be a soundbite right there, but also those people are probably didn't even read the article that you wrote.
They just saw the face. They don't give a damn. And it's so great because these are some of the types of the conversations that like I would have with you, like offline and stuff. So I love that everybody gets to like peek behind the curtain. It's like, guys, if you were coming in November, this is what you're getting. You're going to get Pollyanna three days real deal.
And I know a lot of my audience already knows you. I talk about you often. So to just be in that energy, I'm so grateful for, and I want to. I love that you're, you're always vulnerable. You always share. You're always keep it real. And you share so much about your own life, your journey, your story, your struggle, which I just, I always just respect, right?
Because it takes something to be able to do that in a public forum and leave yourself open to everybody's opinion, to sense comments and whatnot. And I know that can't always be easy, but you take it into dry. So I just want to say that first and foremost, but
[00:22:41] Pauleanna: Thank you. And I want to say one more thing
and it's so crazy that. We're, you know, we're sharing so much on this podcast episode, but imagine I have like an hour worth of things that the audience doesn't even know yet, which is going to be so good. So the other thing I wanted to say is like, when you are, people are attracted to shiny things.
Okay. And they have their heart set on Forbes Inc. Fast company business insider do not. Dismiss the smaller platforms, right? Don't turn your nose up at them. don't overlook them because it's important to be a hometown hero before you pitch on a global scale. Right. If nobody's talking about you, I may not necessarily fuck with you.
Right. And the other thing is your pitch. Should fit into like your, when you are pitching to publications, it should fit into a larger marketing. Right. It should fit into it. Shouldn't just be like a one time. I just want this one hit, like That doesn't do anything. You know what I mean? It should fit into like, okay, we're going to roll.
This is a marketing plan or a rolling out for three to four months, three to six months. These are the maybe 50 small midsize and large publications and podcasts. We don't even talk about the fact that. Podcasting is really where every single person should be focusing their attention. I think that beyond the big publications, you should be focused on getting on podcasts because number one, you control your narrative.
You don't put your narrative in the hands of a journalist. Because there are great journalists operate with integrity, but there are many that don't. And so it, it takes one story or one secrets to be on, you know, to be revealed for things to kind of unravel. So you want to also, when you're pitching, like do your research on the journalists as well to make sure they have the integrity you're looking for, but the other thing is, yeah, audio.
Audio goes far and wide audio is passive content. So like, why wouldn't you want to be on those platforms? Like, I'm so surprised when people dismiss podcasts as well. Like that's really where it's at, because truth be told the digital world, the, you know, the physical publications, like the numbers are down, the readership is down.
So like, yes, of course. If you put on your website, banner that's. But honestly, you have a business mindset and you have a very clear objective, a very clear goal, you would probably get on podcasts more, more often.
[00:25:10] Monique: I a hundred percent agree they go. So it's like, when we think about taking the audio far wide, everywhere that person goes in their life, I'm just like, how do you, how do you not want to be in somebody's ear? Like, it's just, it's just so game-changing, I think about people's voices. There's things that I hear.
And I hear it later in that day, later in that monthly, in that life there's things that you said audio wise, that I'm like, this just repeats in my ear all the
[00:25:35] Pauleanna: Bro there's opportunities that land on my desk for me as a personal brand, as a result of podcast episodes that I've done years of.
You know what I mean? Like you just can't bro. You just cannot because the other thing is too, like some publications I've seen when the journalist has moved on at times I've seen articles get pulled down.
I've seen her. I mean, so like, you don't know what's going to go on in that space, like that article may or may not be there forever. Maybe the publication shuts down, like you don't, you don't know. Right. So I just, I don't know, girl, I like, I love talking to. Blogs and podcasts on a small and medium scale, you don't even know where they're going to end up.
They could be the number one podcast universe. You don't know.
[00:26:22] Monique: And that's so interesting that you say that because I see you on so many different, I don't want to say levels of podcasts, but levels of podcasts, like new people starting out
[00:26:32] Pauleanna: We'll have two views
[00:26:33] Monique: right. Where, and I, and I will admit sometimes I'll question it I'll be like, that's so interesting
[00:26:39] Pauleanna: And it could be a little ghetto too. Like I'm okay with that. I'm okay with that because you know what? I have been in situations where. I was approached to do a blockage of you. The blog was very new. So obviously the readership was very small. I did the interview and it turns out that one out of those two views happened to be another journalist at a national publication who then featured, and it was Claire magazine who then featured me on flare magazine.
And as a result, when you type in black ghostwriter, guess who pops up, guess what that did for my SEO. Guess how many celebrity names, politicians, business leaders, athletes have hired me have inquired about my services because I was on flare and because of flare and because that journalist found me on the small blog that had two.
[00:27:35] Monique: Oh, Mike, that is, that is a story for the ages right there. Like, I feel like This episode is where, like for weeks, like Intel, that anyone else let's say, I really don't care about it. I really don't care about
[00:27:45] Pauleanna: This is a good episode. This is a
good episode.
[00:27:49] Monique: No nuggets because you and I have talked a few times quite a few times, so I love the new new stuff comes out. Like, damn, I didn't know that at all. That is a really huge takeaway that being
on the smaller.
[00:28:02] Pauleanna: I got to play this back myself. Shit. I got to play this
back and write down these
[00:28:06] Monique: I won't give you the transcript. I'm going to give you the video, all of this stuff for you to go use repurpose, tell everybody, because this it's really, there's so much ego involved in starting out and trying to get into media and all of these things.
And please write about me and all the stuff.
[00:28:22] Pauleanna: I have one more thing.
One more thing.
Oh my gosh. Okay. Ooh.
Don'ts okay. I w I don't want to do a blanket statement. I'll talk for myself. I do not want to hear about the business that you launched within the last year. Like, there's something to be said again. We're, we're moving from announcements to newsworthy.
[00:28:48] Monique: Newsworthy future
shaping.
[00:28:50] Pauleanna: I can't tell you how many times I have responded to an email pitch and I simply said, circle back in a year or two.
I want to see if this is the real deal, holy field. I want to see where you take your company. I'm not going to be the journalist to announce that you've launched your business. And it flops in six months. Like, you know what I mean? Like people want to. Oh, my God. I get like so many people pitched to me and they, you know, they want to be in business inside and they want to be in forums and all the things.
And like, you're not seasoned.
You know what I mean? You're not, you're not seasoned. You haven't taken the time to really establish yourself. You know, I just, you're new to your industry. Like if I were to think of the top five people in your industry, you are not one of those names.
Take your time. These publications are not going anywhere.
What is the rush? You feel me?
[00:29:43] Monique: 110% knowing That you've got some, I always say like for every person who's going to feature your, putting your reputation on the. Just as much as they are trying to like big up their reputation. So showing that you've got staying power, right? It's like nobody wants to have this amazing feature. And literally you can not be found in three to six months.
[00:30:04] Pauleanna: That happens to a mutual friend of ours. I won't say her name, but there was a lot of hype around a business that was coming out. She got featured in as she's from Toronto, she got featured everywhere. I'll share her name with you afterwards. She copied, she got featured everywhere. TV, podcasts, all the big publications.
Everyone's anticipating that this shit is coming out and it never did what the fuck. No, like that's not cute. nobody's going to be checking for her the next time she has something to launch. We don't care. We don't want to hear about it. Like I'm telling you this is chess and too many people are playing connected.
[00:30:47] Monique: I used to love connect four, but it's that simplicity? Oh my goodness. Dropping the gems. That's some scary. That is some scary shit that happened to a friend of mine too. She had like over a hundred thousand dollars in publicity for her fashion line. She couldn't get the fashion line. And it just, it was gone just like that.
The trust is gone and it's so like once the trust is gone, like establishing that again, like good luck, super, super tough. I love it. Slow and steady wins the race guys. Take your time to establish yourself. Take your time to establish your audience, your voice, your message. Some staying power, some credibility before you're like, look at me, look at me.
Look at me. Look.
So people just to give you some nuggets, this is what you can expect. And more, if you were one of the very select few who ended up getting their ticket and coming and joining us in Miami
I just, this is just like gotten me so high for what's to come because you just never know what else is going to come out.
There's like the, what we've planned. To teach you guys, but there's all of those nuanced conversations that are going to happen in between. And that's really what I'm looking forward to. But Pollyanna, I would love it. If you just told everyone, what are you looking forward to? You're coming to Miami with us.
You're spending three and a half days. I haven't even got to spend three and a half days with Pollyanna before, so I don't know about y'all, but it just might be me or her. I have to say.
[00:32:14] Pauleanna: It's going to be great. I just, you know, I'm looking forward to answering any questions people have, I'm looking forward to creating customized pitches. Like I'm going to help you on the spot with your pitches. You know, like I'll be there for three days, it's more than enough time to ask questions, get your answers, write your pitch and have me particulate.
You know, why not have me critique it on the spot? one thing to the last thing I'll say is, you know, writers have friends who are writers. So since some cases, if it's not a good fit for me, I have a Rolodex of other writers at essence and Ebony and I mean a million other publications, O magazine, Inc.
All of them. And sometimes, honestly, if it's not a good fit for me, I'll toss it over to a friend. So like you definitely, always, you always want to try and send that pitch, treat your shot. Cause you never know what's gonna.
[00:33:04] Monique: Oh, my gosh. I love that. I love that. And guys, I just don't know what could be more valuable than that. There's just so many people walking blind, trying to pitch, and you can't ask the journalist that you're pitching. Can You critique my pitch? So this is like a very, very rare opportunity. So guys, all I can say is don't sleep on it, period.
Pollyanna, I want to thank you so much for being here for sharing yourself the way You
always do.
[00:33:28] Pauleanna: You sound bites about.
[00:33:30] Monique: but we're just going to just grab them and grab them and grab them. And we're just going to release them over the next few months. And I just I'm, I'm just, I can't be more excited than this. This I'm so excited.
[00:33:40] Pauleanna: I mean, so no, I'm excited too. Thanks for having me.
[00:33:43] Monique: Thank you.