In this episode, Chip talks with Melissa Vela-Williamson of MVW Communications about her unique journey in public relations and the importance of content creation. Melissa shares her background, highlighting her non-traditional path into PR and her passion for using public relations for social good.



They discuss her focus on helping nonprofits and education clients, her role as a content creator, and her work as a columnist for the Public Relations Society of America. Melissa also delves into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her business and the strategic approaches she took to maintain client relationships and grow her firm.



They explore the significance of writing books and producing various types of content, emphasizing the value of building relationships and demonstrating thought leadership in the communications industry.



Key takeaways




* Melissa Vela-Williamson: “I took the first job I could get, which I always tell new grads to do, take anything near communications, just get employed. You’ll be more desirable if you’re employed.”



* Chip Griffin: “Contact work now is very common. I know a lot of kids who come out of college who go straight into contracting as opposed to when we were out there in the workforce at first, that was a very unusual thing to do until you had a fair amount of experience.”



* Melissa Vela-Williamson: “There’s a misconception that you write a book and that book’s going to make you a lot of money. Well, it could, but not in the way you might think.”



* Chip Griffin: “Often people talk about creating lead magnets and funnels and all of that kind of thing. But really in the agency world, we’re trying to build relationships with potential new clients.”




About Melissa Vela-Williamson



Melissa Vela-Williamson is an internationally recognized public relations strategist, author, PRSA national columnist, and podcast host. She is accredited in PR, is an elite PRSA Fellow, is certified in diversity and uses PR for social good through her boutique firm, MVW Communications.



Resources




* Connect with Melissa and follow MVW Communications on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram



* MVW Communications website



* Smart Talk Series podcast



* Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know book 



* Latinas in Public Relations: Shaping Communications, Communities, and Culture book



* Melissa...