Meet ProFASHIONal: President of Danika Daly PR

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Reality Chic – in pink

If you first want to tell us a little bit about yourself, and what it is you’re currently doing?

At Danika Daly PR we work with emerging designers to build their brand from scratch and gain exposure through press coverage, social media and events.

How did you first get your foot in the door of fashion PR?

When I first graduated from college I got an internship with a boutique PR firm. While I was there I made sure I was always on top of fashion news, blogs/websites and constantly studying magazines so I knew everything that was going on in fashion at the time, trends, etc. I assisted the president of the company with all of the fashion and beauty clients, and eventually as I climbed my way up the ladder I was the senior account executive of the fashion/beauty division.

At what point did you realize that you wanted to start your own company, & what were some of the first steps you took to really get it going?

I was told by many people, including my old bosses, that I should start my own PR firm. Eventually, I started to take on freelance projects, and as my projects grew, I decided to take everyone’s advice. I made sure I did a lot of research on business, tools, social platforms, and built a Fashion PR Bible to be sure I was ready. Before I knew it, I was running a fashion PR agency.

Fashion PR seems to be one those hot career choices for girls out of college. Can you give some advice or tips on how to get hired in public relations in todays economy?

Get lots of internship experience under your belt. Companies want to see that you have experience other than just college courses.

Network at different events and online via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterestm Tumblr and other networks.

Start a blog. It’s a great way to show your love for fashion and your writing skills.

For those who haven’t got hired right out of college, do you have any recommendations on what to do to eventually make their way back into PR?

Again, internships are a great way to get experience and build a strong resume.

What is it exactly that fashion PR firms handle for their clients?

Fashion PR firms gain exposure for their clients. We work with clients on branding, image, photo shoots, garnering press, social media presence, setup interviews, coordinate events and more.

Could you take us through a day of being the president of Danika Daly PR, & what are some of the tasks you do as the head of your company?

My days vary. Some days I may be at my desk pitching editors, bloggers and stylists all day. Other days I may have back-to-back meetings, photo shoots or TV segments.

It seems bloggers are becoming more influential, do you see bloggers impacting fashion, and do you see more and more of your clients starting their own blogs?

Bloggers have made a tremendous impact on fashion. People look to them for the latest trends and style inspiration, sometimes more so than they do magazines. For any of my clients who do not have a blog, I urge them to create one or we do it for them, and in some cases create content and maintain the blog on their behalf.

Have you noticed a lot more brands wanting to work with bloggers, and how does Danika Daly go about working with bloggers?

A lot more brands do want to work with bloggers. At Danika Daly PR, we interact with the bloggers by commenting on posts, tweeting, liking posts on Facebook, commenting on Instagram and more. Generating relationships with bloggers sets the stage for later on when you want to send gifts and/or samples of your client’s collection.

What is the most & least glamorous part of your job?

The most glamorous part of my job is going to events, meeting people and wearing my clients’ brands. The least glamorous part of PR is the long hours. Some days I find myself working into the wee hours of the morning, and I have to force myself to rest.

Is there any last advice you’d like to give those looking to have a career like yours?

Gain experience. The best time to get an internship with a fashion PR firm is during fashion week when the pressure is on. If you can get into the internship at least a month prior to fashion week, you will see and be a part of a lot of things happening at once.

Last but not least, are there any new projects you’re currently working on that you’d like to share?

We are always working on new projects from client website updates to new social media strategies, fashion week shows and more.