TEN QUESTIONS: Saima Saeed

How did you get into PR?

My background was originally in Journalism and I actually fell into PR completely by accident. I started off working for the BBC and ITV and oddly enough landed a job at a one of the UK’s largest PR agencies in Manchester. I absolutely fell in love with the industry and gradually built up my knowledge and the confidence bit by bit. Eventually I decided to flee the nest and go it alone, soon after Storm PR was born.

Name a recent campaign you are involved with?

Storm PR is proud to be launching the Mary HD Send A Heart Campaign in aid of Bliss on November 20 2010 at the Printworks in Manchester City Centre at 1pm. All proceeds raised will go towards helping premature babies all over the UK.

We are over the moon to have huge names on board to support the Send A Heart Campaign including Rapper Tinchy Stryder, Rock Violinist Linzi Stoppard, International Boxer Amir Khan, C4 presenter Jasmine Harman, pop band Pearl and The Puppets as well as Cricker Sajid Mahmood.

Please log on to www.justgiving.com/MaryHDSendAHeartCamapign to find out more.

A special thanks to Paloma Design and John Lewis’s to make this amazing campaign possible!

Why do you think there has always been a tendency for small Asian businesses to ignore PR and marketing?

I think there a huge amount of small Asian businesses that would benefit from PR and Marketing. The truth is however that they are put off by the extortionate agency fees that many companies unfortunately seem to be charging.

When I set up my consultancy I had two clear goals in mind, affordability and trust. I don’t think Asian businesses realise how much of a positive impact PR can have on their business.

The media have such an important role to play when it comes to building up brand awareness.

Building up your companies brand reputation will not only increase your sales, but will ensure that your customers keep on coming back.

What obstacles did you overcome when you set-up your own business?

Setting up my own business was far from easy. It takes determination and a whole lot of perseverance.

Working as a freelance PR consultant means that you have to be rigorous and manage lots of client expectations all at once.

Trying to manage family time and work time can be difficult but once you get the balance, everything seems to fall into place. I’m a firm believer in thinking that every problem is there to be solved, you learn and grow as you go along.

Name one place in the world you would like to visit?

It would have to be Tokyo, Japan. I would spend all my time shopping…and eating!

You do quite a lot for charitable organisations. How important is it for companies like yours to do more for charity?

One of the special things about Storm PR is its charitable ethos. I have always felt that charities are a little bit more welcoming to crazy, wacky PR ideas – working to help people and communities in need not only makes me feel good about what I do but most importantly helps other who are less fortunate than me.

It’s a shame not all PR companies see this as ‘important’ but I can say from my own experiences, it’s the most touching feeling in the world when you know how much of an impact it really has on so many people.

What is the first thing you tell a small businesses looking to increase their brand awareness?

I always ask any business owner why their company is better than any of other out there.

Any business owner needs to believe 100% in their company, what it’s about and where they see it in ten years time.

Building brand awareness is about shouting about what your good at from the rooftops, that’s where I normally come in.

How important are social networking sites for specific businesses?

We are living in the most exciting times where information is available at the click of a button. Millions of people all over the world are now linked to each other through Facebook and Twitter – it’s so incredibly important for small businesses to harness the power of Social Networking, it’s free and if its done the right way, it can do your business wonders.

You meet a lot of successful Asian women. hat is the one thing you have in common?

The most amazing thing I have found listening and working with other Asian business women is their sheer determination to succeed. We all sort of have this innate quality to multi-task terribly well – Mumpreneurs like myself seem to juggle the baby, the household duties, the husband, the family and still have time to fit in the business.

It’s great to see more and more Asian women running their own successful businesses and working so hard to get what they want. Hat off to them all…

What plans have you got for Storm PR?

I have just set up my very own Virtual Woman’s Business Network in the North West.

It’s aimed at female Mumpreneurs and Entrepreneurs who can work with me over a set period of time to get their own PR and Marketing strategies in place for their own business.

I will work with them as a mentor, helping to write press releases, build up invaluable media contacts as well as building up their brand awareness over the internet.

There is a special introductory offer on for the first 10 ladies that join up so please drop me an email on Saima.saeed@stompr.co.uk for more details.