We were lucky to catch up with Lexie Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lexie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

I have witnessed several significant trends that are actively reshaping the way the public relations and media industry operate. The first trend worth highlighting is the increasing prominence of editorial affiliate link programs. In a digital and social landscape saturated with content, publishers are increasingly adopting the practice of requiring product-based brands to offer affiliate commissions to secure editorial inclusion. This move aims to help struggling publishers compete and generate revenue in a highly competitive environment.

Another momentous shift is the ongoing transition from in-house newsrooms to a growing reliance on freelance professionals. This transformation can be attributed to a variety of factors, including the introduction of AI, the pandemic heightening the workforce’s desire for remote work, and declining revenue streams for traditional media outlets. I forecast masthead shrinkage to continue as publishers opt to outsource.

In my opinion, it’s critical for both sides of our industry – journalists and publicists – to adapt to these evolving circumstances or, at the very least, understand how these shifts may impact their daily workflows and income.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve been in the world of PR for more than 13 years. I’ve held senior and executive roles in PR agencies, pioneered and ran in-house PR departments, and served as a VP at one of the ‘Fastest Growing Companies in America’ (Inc. Magazine & Financial Times). I’ve spoken at conferences and universities worldwide and coached hundreds of entrepreneurs and professionals on how to do their own PR. Having seen and worked in the PR industry from many diverse perspectives and positions enabled me to confidently craft what became the foundational curriculum that I still to this day teach at my first entrepreneurial venture, THEPRBAR inc.

Today, I am the Founder and CEO of THEPRBAR inc., a PR coaching platform and resource hub, THEPRBAR Agency, a boutique PR agency serving the tech, lifestyle, hospitality, and CPG industries, the Host of the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ Podcast, and the Co-Founder of the Ready Set Coach community. While the details of my professional journey are well-documented online, the one thing that I hope to one day be professionally known for is redefining how business owners define and utilize public relations.

The joke I often make is, “PR has bad PR”. I’d like to change that.

I hope that anyone who has worked with any number of my brands will confidently attest that investing in PR is the best business decision they ever made.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Early on when building my brand, I would teach and coach anyone and everyone who would listen for free. I was overly generous with my knowledge, with no expectations of any sort of guaranteed monetary return. This enabled me to get in front of diverse audiences, create an immediate impact, and generate a reputation very much in alignment with my brand and mission. Organically, these opportunities drove word of mouth that attracted new clientele. As my business has grown, and my plate has become more full, I have had to be more selective with where and when I offer my knowledge. That being said, I still try to donate my time whenever I can.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I love a good Meet Cute! This story actually pertains to my second business, Ready Set Coach. I met my Co-Founder, Emily Merrell, at an in-person conference in Los Angeles in February of 2020 (yes, the month BEFORE the world shut down.) She approached me initially thinking “THEPRBAR” was a physical bar she could one day host an event at. We immediately bonded over our mutual dislike of the conference we were attending and became virtual friends thereafter. Fast forward some six or so months later, and she and I routinely found ourselves in “client-offs” (she too was a business coach.) What could have easily become a controversial situation, instead inspired a collaboration. Today, we are co-founders and remain dear friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: theprbaragency.com, theprbarinc.com, readysetcoachcommunity.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/theprbar_inc ; instagram.com/readysetcoachcommunity
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-smith-pr/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LexieSmithPR
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzFTPWlp-vErfOCyM3bGHZQ

Image Credits
Rachel Wakefield Photography