Desirae L. Benson

Interview by Kisha Green

Debunking the Mystery around PR with Desirae L. Benson

La Sheera Lee: What intrigues you about PR?

Desirae L. Benson: When it comes to PR, there are so many levels. It’s the process of it all that pulls me in the most. Everything surrounding PR is rigorous, mysterious, and always exciting. Let’s not forget the overall glamour of being involved with red carpet events, executing great campaigns, and bringing huge smiles to the faces of my many wonderful and dynamic clients.

LL: What is the number one misconception you feel people have about your line of work?

DLB: The question is asking for the number one misconception although there are many! (laugh) So, let me first say that with any industry, there are bound to be misconceptions and with PR, there can be some confusion about what our job entails.

From my point of view, oftentimes the misconception that really stands out is that a publicist can do absolutely anything. In essence we can, (laugh) but in reality…it doesn’t always work out like that. There are expectations and then there is what can reasonably be done for a client, whether it’s an individual or a large corporation. Such as life, there are no guarantees. For instance, a client may want to be on the front page of their local newspaper or headline a national talk show right out of the gate. PR is not linear…there should be publicity coming in, and it can hit heavy at times, while other times it can be slow. There are levels to it all. We start fires in a good way, and we also put out the bad ones.

LL: How has social media changed the landscape of PR?

DLB: It has definitely expanded PR. Think about it, social media is global. There’s no getting around it. I have worked with clients who have a love/hate relationship with social media. Some are not used to it, and many simply do not have the time for it because they are busy building their companies, working their 9-5’s, or creatively concentrating on their own personal next big thing.

As a publicist, I use social media to share information and to obtain information that is useful for my clients. One post can be shared multiple times… there’s power in that. The biggest corporations in the world have social media accounts. That is telling in and of itself. To truly understand the reach it can have, you must be all in.

LL: Do you provide social media coaching?

DLB: I speak with my clients on a regular basis about their unique content and share strategies that have proven to be beneficial for growth on and offline. As far as someone reaching out to me about individually coaching them regarding social media, no. However, my clients reap the benefits of all that I know when it comes to tried, true, and even the latest methods to expand their reach beyond their own demographics. I do offer a social media package where my focus is only to grow a client’s online and social media presence. People can find out more about this by setting up a phone consultation with me. I do them each week on Tuesday and Thursday.

LL: How has the cancel culture impacted your work?

DLB: It hasn’t. Fortunately, the term “cancel culture” is also fading as it should. This hasn’t impacted any of my clients either. Granted, there are some undesirable people in our world who have done despicable things— and they should not be receiving any glory, positive recognition or attention that would highlight them in the media. There are so many uplifting and inspirational stories to share instead. It is my hope that cancel culture tactics fall off completely and showcasing positive happenings and people, breeds even more positivity in our world. We need it.

LL: What are some key steps to cultivating a good working relationship with your PR expert?

DLB: Be transparent, share your thoughts about where you are as compared to where you desire to be. Keep your publicist informed about what is happening with you. We cannot help you if we don’t know you.

LL: How can people connect with you?

DLB: To set up a phone consultation with me, potential clients can send an email at: DesiraeBBB@gmail.com and I will provide information on my process. Here is my website and social media links:

www.AdayInTheLifeOfDesirae.com

https://www.facebook.com/Desiraebrockington

https://www.instagram.com/desiraebbb/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/desirae-benson-2a7468202

https://www.tiktok.com/@desiraebenson?_t=8WQRC70NMzb&_r=1