That Solo Life Episode 339: Why Smart Solos Are Watching These Five Trends Right Now
Episode Summary
Karen and Michelle are back with one of their favorite formats — a roundup of what's happening in the world right now and what it means for solo and small agency PR, communications, and marketing professionals. From the growing opportunities in internal communications to a telling shift in how and where people place their trust, the co-hosts cover five timely topics shaping the landscape for independent practitioners. The conversation is grounded, practical, and delivered with the candor and warmth that listeners have come to expect — including a solid reminder that measurement isn't going anywhere, social media strategy is getting smarter (not louder), and community may be the most underrated channel in your toolkit right now.
Episode Highlights
- [01:22] Internal Comms Is an Opportunity Worth Claiming: Internal communications has long been part of the broader comms picture, but many solos have treated it as someone else's territory. Karen and Michelle make the case for why that should change. When companies lack strong internal comms, external clarity suffers — and that's where solos can step in to add real strategic value. As Karen puts it: you cannot have external clarity with internal confusion.
- [05:35] Trust Is Getting Smaller and More Local: The latest Edelman Trust Barometer data points to a meaningful cultural shift: amid economic anxiety, geopolitical tension, and AI disruption, people are narrowing their trust to smaller, more familiar circles. For solo PR pros, this is a signal worth acting on. Leaning into local relationships, nurturing offline connections, and building genuine community may matter more right now than any amount of digital thought leadership.
- [09:11] Measurement Is Still Non-Negotiable: Measurement continues to be a source of stress across the industry — but Karen reframes it: it doesn't have to mean complicated dashboards. It means connecting your strategies to what actually matters to your clients, tracking impact rather than just activity, and being able to have honest conversations when outcomes fall short. Solos who are fluent in measurement have a genuine competitive edge — and there are excellent free resources to help build that fluency.
- [12:20] Social Strategy Is About Intention, Not Volume: The era of 'post more' is over. Pew Research and broader industry data are confirming what communicators have known for a while: what matters is why you're on a platform, not how often. Karen and Michelle encourage solos and their clients to audit their social presence every six months — who are you actually reaching, and is this platform still the right place to reach them? Chasing algorithms isn't a strategy.
- [14:58] Community Is a Communications Channel: Pew Research highlights a growing trend: people are turning to niche online communities — like Reddit — to find answers that broad searches and AI can't provide. For PR pros, this is a reminder that community building is a long game, but one with serious returns. The fundamental truth still holds: people buy from people they know, like, and trust — and that means amplifying real voices and real customer experiences, not just polished messaging.
Resources & Additional Information
Host & Show Info
That Solo Life is a podcast created for public relations, communication, and marketing professionals who work as independent and small practitioners. Hosted by Karen Swim, APR, founder of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane, Principal of Voice Matters, the show delivers expert insights, encouragement, and practical advice for solo PR pros navigating today's dynamic professional landscape.
Listen to all episodes and catch up on previous conversations at thatsololife.com.
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