“Diane Ako PR” opens for business

I’ve decided to open a public relations firm, “Diane Ako PR.” I decided it at the end of March, and have been working the past couple of months to bring it to fruition. 

I specialize in media placements for traditional media (TV, newspaper, magazine, and radio) as well as online articles, but can handle a scope of public relations tasks that include media-training, crisis communications, producing company videos, and more.

My friend Catherine Toth Fox vigorously suggested it to me in mid-March when we saw each other at a media event. I don’t know what exactly she said that resonated with me, because about three dozen friends have suggested it over the past eight years and I have never been interested in running my own business. I suppose she was the messenger and the time was right. 

Cat is an editor at HONOLULU magazine. Our friend, Sean Morris, runs a small p.r. company, pretty much exactly like what I would be doing. I talked to him to gain a realistic perspective, and he was encouraging. So I decided to commit.

Though I worked mostly a journalist, I’ve helped friends with p.r. over the years and have even done it for a living; I like it, I can do it, I’m good at it. I like the idea of helping people. This whole “be your own boss” thing appeals to me in that I can set my own schedule and attend my daughter’s events. It’s important to me to be an involved mommy.

My web masters here have so graciously invited me to stay on as a blogger. (Nicest web admins ever.) I will for now, and I will also be blogging at DianeAko.com. 

Wish me luck! Thanks 🙂

More on Diane Ako PR at www.DianeAko.com.