With a bachelor’s degree in political science and government, and full fluency in Spanish, Kathryn Boudreau brings a fascinating background to her work in PR — which this Providence College grad does from her home base of Bogota, Columbia. As part of our ongoing Qwoted 100 series, Boudreau subscribes to the idea that consistency makes for a great show of PR professionalism. We couldn’t agree more.
Boudreau, the Remote Project Manager at Spread Great Ideas, shares her philosophy of public relations done well, and what it takes to stand out and get noticed by busy reporters.
Qwoted: What do you see as the future of PR—technologically, strategically, or in any category you’re passionate about?
Kathryn Boudreau: Though I have experience in public relations recruiting, my background and focus haven’t been in PR. I think tools, like Qwoted, that are creating a platform for experts, who don’t necessarily have a background in PR, to connect with reporters are the future.
Qwoted: What do you think you do that other PRs could learn from?
Boudreau: I think that consistency and quality are key when you’re writing to reporters. Pitching is something I try to do every day.
Qwoted: What’s your toughest challenge with reporters?
Boudreau: Sometimes you might write several pitches to a reporter with no feedback, this can be frustrating. However, you need to stick to it. Pitching is an art form and there is always room for improvement. By making a daily habit of sending a few pitches you work your writing muscle and you start building connections.
Qwoted: How do you approach breaking through the noise floor to get effective coverage?
Boudreau: I always take a look at the reporter’s profile and think about how I or the person I’m pitching would be the best fit for the article or site the reporter is writing on. I try to express this in the first sentence of my pitch, followed by an informative response to their request.
Qwoted: How does PR in 2023 square with the future of journalism?
Boudreau: I think journalists will continue to want more personalized information from their sources. Qwoted is a great way to connect directly with a source.
Qwoted: What advice would you give to those seeking to find an effective PR person?
Boudreau: Look for someone who is a self-starter, organized, and most importantly consistent. In order to secure regular media coverage and improve your pitches, you should be looking for someone who can dedicate at least 1 hour per weekday to the task.
Qwoted: What is your golden rule of PR?
Boudreau: Be kind, courteous, and helpful. Reporters need sources and the best way to be remembered is by being a helpful source.
Qwoted: Anything else to add?
Boudreau: I’m really appreciative of tools, like Qwoted, which have helped me elevate the profile of the small businesses that I work with. A lot of small companies and entrepreneurs who are starting out can benefit from tools like these. Public relations can be daunting, but you don’t need an in-house PR department or a PR agency to get your name out there. You really only need a few hours a week to dedicate to finding the right opportunities and pitching them. It’s not always an easy task to start, but once you make a habit out of it there are a lot of benefits.
You can connect with Kathryn Boudreau of Spread Great Ideas via email at katie@spreadgreatideas.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Lou Carlozo is Qwoted’s Editor in Chief and the Editor/Publisher of Talking Biz News. Email lou@qwoted.com or connect on LinkedIn.
