One of EAST VILLAGE’s latest recruits is Olivia who joins the team as a Senior Account Executivee. In this 60 Seconds With, she shares how she was introduced to the world of PR, her takes on the industry and why Doc Marten would be her dream client!
- How did you get into PR?
I kind of fell into it really. I went into university with no idea of what I wanted to do when I grew up and hoped to find a bit of guidance along the way. I did an interdisciplinary course which included some media studies and really enjoyed those in particular; so, when my year abroad came around I decided to work rather than study and ended up choosing PR! The rest is history.
- Tell us a bit more about your role!
As a Senior Account Executive I am part of the team responsible for daily activities within the agency. That is anything from ideation and campaign planning, to drafting content and liaising with journalists. Basically, anything that works towards achieving client goals and EAST VILLAGE.’s own goals.
- What is your favourite part of the job?
I’d probably say the variety; Any PR exec working in an agency will tell you that no two days are the same and this is something I thrive on. Don’t get me wrong, it can be difficult to keep all of the plates in a row and ducks spinning but when the team works together to achieve a banging result, it is all worth it.
- What’s your go-to coffee order?
If we’re talking an iced coffee I’ll get as close to a caramel macchiato as I can. For a hot drink, a mocha does the job perfectly.
- Here’s a divisive question… dogs or cats?
I love dogs with all my heart but I’m a cat person through and through, so much so that for my 21st birthday I asked for a cat of my own (a Russian blue, if we’re being specific). That IOU is still outstanding unfortunately.
- What are your top three marketing tools that you can’t live without?
Thanks to the internet the list is always developing but I have to admit that Canva is consistently on the list; it is godsend in so many ways. Ahrefs is a tool I recently discovered and am still exploring but what I have discovered so far is helpful beyond measure – especially when it comes to reporting on results! Lastly, as someone who is often sending out press releases to a variety of contacts, tools like Propel have proved valuable for making target lists as well as sending out content to those lists and tracking progress.
- What is one top tip that you give every client about PR?
What a question! One thing I always like to make sure clients have is a clear set of goals so that we’re all on the same page. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being ambitious and excited but that can easily turn into a murky cloud of misunderstanding. Having a clear set of goals makes that ambition actionable and helps both sides stay on track as well as analyse what they did well, and not so well, at the end.
- What is your PR trend prediction for 2023 and beyond?
I think we’ve started to see marketing and PR collaborate more and more and can see that relationship only getting stronger. Using a variety of marketing tools, such as social media and influencer marketing, in conjunction with a PR campaign can be a great way for brands to get the most out of their strategy and really make an impact.
- Who would your dream client be and why?
I’d be lying if I didn’t say Dr. Martens, purely because I am utterly obsessed. They already have such a solid brand identity and I think that staying true to that whilst finding new ways to expand the reach even further would be an exciting challenge.
- Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get into the industry?
Take the leap! There is so much to learn and so many different ways to do one task that it can seem daunting at first but you’ll find your own way before long. Try out different processes, ask questions and do what works for you. The days can be hectic so finding your best way of working is crucial.