How PR Can Elevate Your Brand, Regardless of Size with Brandi Sims.

Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as we discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income.

Brandi Sims is the founder and CEO of BrandInc PR. For 14 years, she has helped public figures, nonprofits, government agencies, authors, sports figures, corporations, and small to medium-sized businesses manage their reputations and tell their stories. Her clients have received major coverage from Forbes, ESPN, Fox News, The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan, and more. Here's my conversation with Brandi Sims.

What Is PR — and How Does It Differ from Marketing and Advertising?

Peter: Brandi, let's start with the basics. What is PR?

Brandi: PR is public relations, and at its core it's about reputation management. We help brands, public figures, and businesses of all sizes realize how important their reputation is — and find ways to communicate messaging that's consistent with their brand vision. PR is very much about word of mouth: what mediums are we using to share our story, and how effectively and consistently are we sharing it?

Marketing relies heavily on data and analytics to drive messaging. Advertising takes it a step further — you pay a set amount and your message gets placed, full stop. PR, by contrast, is earned media. We connect your story to the right audiences by pitching to outlets and building relationships on your behalf. All three serve a role in an integrated marketing campaign, and all three are equally important. You don't stop one because you've started another.

Why PR Matters for Small Businesses and Speakers

Peter: We tend to think of PR as something reserved for big companies with big budgets. Why is it important for speakers and small businesses too?

Brandi: That's a misconception I hear all the time. Every brand, no matter how small or large, needs to be investing in PR. Even if you can't hire anyone yet, there are simple in-house things you can do right now. Push out announcements. Is there a new product, a new service, a new team member? Share it. And anytime you have a speaking engagement — paid or not — share it with your audience. Say, "I've been featured here. I'd love for you to attend." You'd be surprised who's watching.

One of my clients shared a simple tweet about an event she was speaking at in LA. A Forbes contributor saw it and wanted to do a feature. From one social post to a Forbes placement — that's the power of consistency and showing up.

What Working with a PR Agency Looks Like

Brandi: Think of a PR agency as an extension of your team. We work on your behalf — pitching your business and brand to major and local outlets, finding partnership opportunities that make sense, and negotiating relationships behind the scenes while you stay front-facing and visible. Our role is to place you in positions where you can grow, where you get the exposure that reaches audiences who may not have known you existed. We are your in-house people, even as an outsourced service.

Publicist, PR Consultant, Public Affairs Specialist — What's the Difference?

Brandi: A PR consultant handles your media, manages your campaigns, and works with you long-term — ongoing, day-to-day communication support. A publicist is ideal for a single major event: a book launch, a press conference, a movie premiere. Hire them for that moment; when it's done, you're done. Public affairs gets into government and legislative territory — think press secretaries and Department of Defense communication specialists. And then there's crisis communications, which is its own specialty. When your brand is facing bad press or a major incident, you need an expert who knows exactly how to communicate to the public and the media in real time. If you haven't had a crisis yet, it's still worth knowing where to turn.

Peter: Brandi, how can my listeners connect with you?

Brandi: Visit us at brandincpr.com — we have resources, tips, and a contact page where you can tell us what you need. And you can follow us on social media at BrandInc PR for ongoing insights and trends in PR and communications.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.