Rural PR isn’t something anyone was talking about when I started my company. I grew up in a small town ‘in the middle of nowhere’ and reported on TV, for 20 years, in rural areas like Winchester, Virginia, Lafayette, Louisiana, Burlington, Vermont, and Watertown, New York. I know the value of where we live!

Rural QueenB Media exists because Vermont companies competing nationally and globally need someone who speaks both languages – rural authenticity and national media. I’m fluent in both.

The Queen Who Set The Bar

As for the rest of the story – the Queen Bee, Beyonce, popped into my head one day as I was thinking about business names. She’s fierce and vulnerable, and does life her own way. She owns her talent. I thought, “Can I really name my business after Beyonce?”

I was sitting alone in my office, on a weekend, thinking about Sasha Fierce when Rural QueenB Media was born!

I’ve been successfully telling rural business stories as a fractional PR partner for 8 years. Eight months ago – I decided on the name.

It took me a month to start using the name. There’s something about calling myself a ‘Queen’ that felt a little uncomfortable. Then, I thought, why not?

TikTok launched Rural QueenB. It felt like the safest place, where no one would notice. I know that sounds counterintuitive to marketing — I needed time to really OWN IT.

After I made the logo, I thought, ‘This is it! This is who I am as a human being.’.

I’ve never looked back!

Jersey Born, Vermont Bred

Rural (QueenB) is truly who I am, despite absolutely loving being in the middle of a city (London is my fave!).

I grew up in town of 7,000 the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. “The little sister” to the Kelley boys and with the run of the woods as my playground.

The Results are In

A few weeks ago, during a discussion on PR, a company President said, “If I google Rural QueenB, I’m sure Julie Kelley pops up.” That’s the goal of PR, Marketing, and Social, so I guess it’s good that I took the risk and called myself a queen.

I did it for myself and I’ll do it for your company.

Differentiate from your competition

Rural QueenB is a great example of standing out. I do the same thing with my client work. What makes you unique? Two weeks before a major merger for a solar company, I stepped in to help elevate the growth through PR. I labeled the experience, “Not Your Average Merger” and the BCorp got 12 media hits in 24 hours when the announcement was made. The storyline focused on what the company, SunCommon, did differently than most other mergers – barn parties, employee support partners, and handmade signs with blasting music as the new employees arrived for an onsite visit.

‘Stop Sending Press Releases’ as pitches

Reporter’s don’t have time to filter through 100’s of press releases a day. You need to have relationships with them and give them newsworthy angles, data, and the interviews they need – available when they ask for it. When Vermont Nut Free Chocolates celebrated its 25th anniversary, we leaned into the research being done to remove all eggs from their products. Reporters want scoops. They don’t want press releases after the fact.

Be Clear About WHO YOU ARE

I’m proud of my rural roots! In Rural America, we tend to put our heads down and ‘do the work’, but we can’t afford to just do that anymore. We need the world to know about what we’re building here. That’s where I come in! Helping Vermont and rural-based businesses become known for more than a “Help Wanted” sign outside a building or in a job listing helps whole communities thrive in Rural America. We deserve that!

Calling All Rural QueenB’s, Beau’s, and They’s

COMING SOON … a NEW podcast from Rural QueenB Media. Are you a Rural QueenB (or Beau or They) or know someone who is? Please introduce me! It’s time to elevate up the real talk about the brilliance of Rural America! I want to meet the people who are seismically shifting how we see rural.

🚫 NOT adding to an outdated narrative
🚫 NOT keeping us stuck where we are

Thanks friends for celebrating the buzz of Rural America with me!

Julie, Founder, Rural QueenB Media

Let’s chat on LinkedIn!