public relations is tricky, tricky

Lately I've been tackling the issue of public relations for our little business. It's a wild new world for me.

Last Friday I met with the first of the firms I've contacted to date. A start-up comprised of a man-woman team with complementary talents. Tomorrow I have a call arranged with another firm, an established player with a huge portfolio that is frankly a bit intimidating. Then on Friday there's someone who straddles the line between translation and marketing; an interesting position and a good alternative to straight-up translation given the sort of marketing work that we're now doing.

Today I met over lunch with someone who's been making a living in this country as a foreign speech writer. He gave me some invaluable advice as far as the sort of skills to look for in Japanese PR consultants, and suggested some angles on our sales pitches that I hadn't previously considered. He's also going to put me in touch with someone who's been in the jewelry industry for decades, and who might have a few business ideas to discuss.

Quite a difference to my previous life of fading away in one bank or another.