Dear BAMf Podcast: Episode 45 with Erin Simpson

Dear BAMf // Episode 45: Erin Simpson of Brick Lane breaks down how to know when a startup needs an agency.

In this episode of the Dear BAMf podcast, we speak with Erin Simpson, Director of Marketing at Brick Lane PR & Strategic Communications, where she supports startups with PR and communication efforts. Erin has more than ten years of communications and public relations experience and previously led the communications team at Lyft in San Francisco. After introducing the concept of ridesharing to the public as the first comms hire, Erin acted as the primary company spokesperson and led messaging, strategy, and media relations for the brand. In this episode, Erin answers some tough marketing and PR questions from our listeners including this question about how to know when to bring on a PR agency:  

Dear BAMf,

I would love tips on helping startups figure out the point at which it is truly worthwhile for them to engage an agency on an ongoing basis versus a project announcement based.

Listen now to hear how Erin advises this writer to move forward.

Dear BAMf: Episode 45

Episode 45 highlights:

• (1:00) What is Brick Lane PR & Strategic Communications?

  Erin's first priority is her own PR firm, Brick Lane PR & Strategic Communications. She expands on the firm's purpose and the power of in-house experience saying, "We are a boutique agency working with startups. I joked that my first real agency job is my own agency, which I started after about 10 years in-house. I come at everything I think from that in-house bias and having worked with a lot of agencies in my career."

• (02:50) What are you most proud of accomplishing in the last 12 months?

  
  Erin's in-house bias is a source of pride for her. Erin continually encourages companies to empower themselves from within, suggesting that founders, "Hold off on hiring an agency because you really can do some of these basic things internally yourselves first." Erin has been able to create new business models to help companies and founders accomplish in-house PR. "In the last 12 months we've built that out and we ran a beta with a small number of companies, and we're gearing up to launch it in the next few months. So that's a separate program and piece of our business called PR for Founders."
  

• (05:30) What is your favorite way to tell a story?

  Erin's favorite way to tell a story is by combining newsworthy events. "We get in and see what other pieces we have to work with to wrap into this newsworthy moment and then figure out how to maximize it."

• (06:30) How do I know when to use a PR agency?

  Erin uses these 2 questions to suss out startups debating whether or not to use an agency. She asks, "Do you have a very specific business goal you're trying to achieve with your comms efforts?" This question helps Erin see if a startup understands why they are bringing on an agency and to assure it is not because of hollow initiatives. The next question Erin asks is, "Do you actually have a specific moment in time coming up that is news-driven and that would lend itself to doing a quick burst of activity." Erin suggests doing this for fund announcements, company launches, and other major newsworthy announcements.

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