By Sonia Schnee | Posted Wednesday, January 11, 2023

PR. Public Relations. What is it exactly? Getting yourself seen and heard on television, the radio, in print, and online. How easy is it? Not very, if you’re trying to do it on your own. That’s where Ronica Cleary, Founder/Owner of Cleary Strategies, can help. If you’re a thought leader who’s trying to get in front of a larger audience, or a brand with an intriguing backstory, you’ll want to read this interview.

What's your name, where are you from, and what do you do?

My name is Ronica Cleary, I was raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and today I run Cleary Strategies, a full service public relations agency.

Tell us about your business, Cleary Strategies.

Cleary Strategies is a full service public relations agency. We help our clients navigate what is called “earned media” - earned media being different from paid media or advertising. Instead of paying for advertising, we work to help our clients earn media attention for their newsworthy expertise or brand. Every day you’ll find Cleary Strategies clients on television, radio, print, podcast, or digital. It is a thrill!

Who do you help and how do you help them?

Our clients are thought leaders who can provide commentary on newsworthy events/issues or brands with unique founder stories. We represent a wide range of clients who fall into these criteria (think anyone from a financial analyst or doctor, to an alcohol or food brand), and we can work with potential clients to find their expertise/thought leadership potential or help a brand develop their founder story into something that is newsworthy.

Is there any aspect of your work/your industry that is misunderstood?

The greatest misconception about public relations is that we can just call our friends in the media to get our clients on television or in print. While friends in the media industry are nice to have, nothing replaces a high quality pitch that is a good fit for the outlet you are pitching. Calling on friends in the business for a favor is my least favorite thing to do. Instead, we craft meaningful pitches and then find good fitting outlets and reporters to send them to - this is how we bring our clients consistent media wins.

What inspired you to start your business?

When I founded Cleary Strategies in 2018, I planned to provide a broad range of communications services to clients. I quickly learned I had a specific skill set in public relations that was in demand - my ability to successfully pitch and place our clients on television, in large part because of my experience inside of a newsroom. I pivoted from a broad-based communications company to a results-driven public relations agency.

What is your mission/values?

Our mission is twofold:

● We aim to be a successful connector and strategist on behalf of our interesting, newsworthy, compelling, and vetted clients, as they seek to earn ongoing media attention for their expertise, brand, story, and opinion. In doing so, we improve their credibility, brand awareness, and name recognition.

● We aim to be a reliable resource to bookers, producers, journalists, and reporters, when they seek expert sources and meaningful stories to share with their viewers, readers, and listeners. In doing so, we strengthen our media relationships so that we can better serve our clients.

What makes Cleary Strategies stand out?

While we place our clients across all media platforms (digital, print, radio, podcast, and television), we are exceptional at placing clients on television in particular. This is something that makes us stand out from other PR agencies and is in large part because of my background in television. Prior to launching Cleary Strategies, I had a successful career in television journalism where I reported on programming that aired in some of the most competitive media markets in America: New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. This experience in television newsrooms helps us to understand what it takes to stand out in a TV pitch and bring our clients the successful television placements they deserve.

Ronica Cleary reporting at live press conference.png

Ronica Cleary reporting in front of the US Capitol.png

Do you have any words of advice or encouragement for small business owners, artists, or entrepreneurs?

I often say that entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. If you are thinking about launching a business, be sure you have a clear “why” because you will often need to go back to that to remind yourself to stick to it when things are challenging or feel overwhelming. Having a why makes it easier to keep going.