Creativity and Problem Solving Through the Lens of Writing With Rebekah Iliff
Rebekah is a Nashville, Tennessee based writer and entrepreneur. She joined the founding team of PRTech company Onclusive (formerly AirPR) in 2012, where she helped build the industry’s first PR attribution technology, while also convincing PR and Communications professionals to embrace data. Now she is on the Advisory Board, and is thrilled with the progress the company is making under new leadership.
Prior to this she has started one of the fastest growing PR firms called talkTECH with her dear friend Kristen Tischhauser-Grossi. She now has her own writing collective she calls WriteVest where she works on the types of projects she wants to work on and gets paid fairly for doing so. We talk about how PR, writing, journalism, blogging, and content creation using data has all changed. We also talk about how important it is to remember that there is another person on the other side of that computer screen.
Show Notes- [04:12] Rebecca built a Communications and PR Company. Then she was a co-founder and helped build are PR. She sense left that company and now launched right vest.
- [04:43] Her and her friend founded a percomplaony, now It’s AirPR
- [05:08] She took time of to just explore what was her passion and what does she love. We need factful writing and critical thinking. We need an outside perspective on things and people who can tell a thoughtful storyo.
- [06:02] There is a need for good writing that is thoughtful
- [07:12] It's important for professionals to dive into data, but there is also the creative side.
- [08:00] Being a good communicator doesn't mean you're able to write content that is compelling. After looking at different data points she discovered different content is for different customers.
- [09:03] There is a good need for good writing and content. The press release isn't the best way to tell a story.
- [10:31] PR was the writing. The sizzle came from the marketing. The role of PR is to adapt and be flexible when needed. What is going out is all considered PR.
- [12:55] Part of it being creative. Part of what you are doing is trying to connect with a customer base.
- [15:03] The thinking part is taking a topic and tying it into a granular topic.
- [17:51] Marketing, writing, and advertising all have to work together.
- [18:47] Everybody is media to day. Look at yourself as a publisher and storyteller.
- [19:49] We need good journalism, but we also need people created content.
- [20:50] Data shows us what's good and not good. Communicate effectively.
- [23:24] Look at the value of the content produces. Get paid as a creative person first.
- [26:05] How you share information when you have writer's block. Lock yourself in a cabin for four days or get out in nature. Reading good writing helps.
- [30:25] The biggest thing she has learned is that she doesn't know anything until she shows up.
- [32:28] Behind every computer screen is a person.
- [33:03] Be open to what comes. Don't take too much on and don't let it bother you when things don't turn out as they should.
- [34:32] After grief, you learn who your people are.
- [36:58] Important things are what matters, don't waste your energy on the little stuff.
- [39:36] It takes a lot of humility to be a good leader. Good leaders need to be able to listen.
- [40:50] We can only see if people show up consistently as the same person.
- [44:30] Do what brings you and work with people who align with your value system.