*** Small stages lead to big ones. Narrow niches lead to national news. You don’t start on Broadway - you start 'off Broadway' ***

This week’s featured track is FROM THE TRENCHES — in-depth conversations with experienced operators working at the sharp end of PR, media and communications.

We're flipping things this week - instead host Trevor Young doing the interviewing, today he's the one being interviewed.

This episode is a replay of a conversation Trevor had with Tom Schwab on the The Podcast Interview Marketing Show (you can find the original interview here).

Let's get into it!

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EPISODE OVERVIEW:

Forget fireworks, build momentum!

Trevor Young and Tom Schwab, founder of Interview Valet, unpack Trevor's Rolling Thunder Strategy - a blueprint for growing credibility, authority, and a brand that actually lasts.

What you’ll learn:

• Why one big publicity moment isn’t as powerful as consistent, niche exposure
• How to play the long game in branding and earned media
• The crucial difference between earned authority and manufactured influence
• How AI is changing how people find and trust you
• Steps to becoming the go-to expert in your industry

Notable highlights:

• Don’t chase tier one media exposure -start with niche podcasts and industry blogs
• Build trust with the right people, not just big audiences
• AI is now doing your research; credibility online = credibility in its results
• Reputation creators vs indie content creators - focus on impact, not vanity metrics
• Consistent effort creates “Rolling Thunder”: start small, grow big, amplify everything

Action steps:

1. Pick your niche and own your voice
2. Create one owned media channel (blog, newsletter, podcast, or YouTube)
3. Secure guest spots or articles in specialised industry spaces
4. Keep a log of your media, amplify it on socials, build your authority wall
5. Focus on credibility before conversions - earning trust is earning future business

Subscribe & connect:

• Get more wisdom: Earn the Right newsletter on Substack (earntheright.co)
• Follow Trevor Young and Tom Schwab on LinkedIn
• Check out Tom's podcast - The Podcast Interview Marketing Show

This episode's featured track is POCKET PR ESSENTIALS - your audio playbook for mastering PR, content and digital communications for your business, and personal brand.

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DID YOU KNOW MUCH OF YOUR 'MARKETING' IS ACTUALLY PR?

As we heard in a previous episode (312: POCKET PR ESSENTIALS / Unpacking public relations: Busting myths), PR is largely misunderstood in the business world.

But so too is marketing, which is often equated simply to running ads or any activity that promotes a brand.

There are a few differences between PR and marketing, with no shortage of crossover between the two.

Understanding these differences will give you an edge over those who are perennially confused and thus get caught in the trap of just 'doing stuff' without understanding why.

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ABOUT EARN THE RIGHT:

EARN THE RIGHT is an audio channel for reputation-based authority building, and turning credibility into real-world recognition and opportunity.

Hosted by Trevor Young, it’s for credible founders, experts, and solo practitioners who’ve earned their stripes and are ready to amplify their voice with integrity.

Across four distinct (but interrelated) tracks -

1. From The Trenches
2. The Pay-off
3. Pocket PR Essentials
4. In The Arena

— you’ll get the ideas, stories, and strategies that help you cut through the noise and build lasting authority.

Subscribe to the EARN THE RIGHT newsletter - EarnTheRight.co

This episode's featured track is IN THE ARENA - Trevor Young’s unfiltered take on earning authority in real time — sharp, strategic riffs on content, credibility, connection, and the courage to keep showing up.

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What’s the real difference between your personal brand and your reputation - and why does it matter?

In this solo episode, Trevor cuts through the hype to break down why chasing a flashy personal brand without a foundation of reputation is a recipe for disaster. He unpacks:

• Why some people gain massive online followings but can’t sustain long-term influence
• The crucial distinction between personal brand (the story you tell the world) and reputation (the story others tell about you)
• How over-investing in branding before building credibility leads to “substance signal inversion”
• Why reputation is built on evidence, not spin, and why it always outlasts flashy marketing tricks
• Smart, actionable steps for strengthening your reputation and syncing it with your personal brand
• The power of earned authority and how to leverage third-party validation to amplify your message
• Why longevity, trust, and congruence make up the secret sauce for sustainable success

Whether you’re in the trenches of entrepreneurship or just starting to think strategically about your own professional presence, this episode delivers hard-won wisdom and practical insight on how to mesh brand and reputation for the long game.

Listen now and make sure your personal brand stands on the solid ground of real reputation.

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P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe and share if you found this valuable ~ thanks!