Do It Yourself Public Relations: Learn how to carry out public relations on behalf of yourself, whether you have a standalone business or need to promote a specific project or your personal brand. Promotion through PR allows you to build and grow your brand or business by getting it in front of the right people. You put time and effort into your projects, but if nobody knows then nobody benefits from it, including you-that’s where PR comes in. By the end of the session you will have created a personalized PR plan and all the necessary materials to begin promoting yourself right away. We’ll cover the basics of branding and messaging; what is a media kit and how to make one; building a media list; how to pitch yourself; and crafting a PR plan.

Alessandra Pollina founded Pollina PR & Communications, a boutique PR and marketing agency, in 2012. Since then, the company has worked with exciting brands in the restaurant/hospitality, creative, beauty, and non-profit sectors, plus more. With a focus on strong branding that shines through every step of the way, Alessandra tells the story of each client in a way that grabs attention and creates a connection with their audiences. In addition to working with clients, Alessandra hosts in-person workshops and works one-on-one with business owners to teach them how to do their own PR or to develop communications and visibility strategy for their business.

Alessandra grew up in the hills of Vermont and attended Boston University’s College of Communication where she received a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations, with a minor in Anthropology. She now lives in Boston with her husband and 3-year-old son.