Annie Hanily is PR Manager at Lottie, an online care finder on a mission to simplify the process of finding and managing elder care.
She joined the company nearly three years ago in the SEO team and has since grown into her role as the PR lead. Today, she oversees all PR efforts for Lottie across both online and offline channels. Before joining Lottie, she held various marketing roles, including in digital marketing, social media, and SEO, before ultimately finding her feet in the world of PR.
Monday
Monday is all about getting the plan of action in motion. I start each week by reviewing news features and trending topics in the care sector. I find this very useful to see if there are any new stories relevant to Lottie. I check through recent Lottie press coverage and start pulling together our weekly report, ready for the team’s Monday meeting. It’s also the time when we align on weekly initiatives and upcoming media angles.
One of the things I love about my role is how closely PR and SEO work together at Lottie. We collaborate on everything from content strategy to positioning Lottie both online and offline in external press comments.
After a busy day of catch-up strategy planning. I wrap up Mondays with a Pilates class and prep for what’s usually my busiest day of the week, Tuesday in London.
Tuesday
Tuesday starts early (4:30 a.m.). I’m up super early to catch the train to London. However, I’m very fortunate to have a travel buddy for this journey. I commute to London with Harriet, Senior PR & SEO Manager at Lottie. Once we arrive at Euston, we treat ourselves to a well-earned breakfast and coffee before heading into the office.
This is my only day in the office each week, so it’s usually a very busy one. I pack in as much as I can, from catching up with colleagues, attending team meetings, refining upcoming campaigns or networking with fellow PRs.
Tuesday is the perfect day to align on business priorities and have those all-important in-person conversations. There’s always a mix of planning, creative discussions and social activities too.
After a busy day, I leave our office just before 6pm to get the train back to Manchester.
Wednesday
Wednesday is for follow-ups and focus. I use the day to action anything that came out of Tuesday’s meetings. I try to keep my calendar as meeting-free as possible so I can really get stuck into work. I often spend the majority of my time on Wednesday pitching, whether it’s around elderly care, policy news, or a new business launch. No two weeks are ever the same, which makes this part of the role especially exciting.
Thursday
On Thursday, I focus a lot of my time on pitching and media networking.
However, this week, I set aside time for a catch-up with my mentee as part of the University of Leeds mentoring scheme, which I joined last year. It’s such a rewarding part of my role, and recently, I’ve been reminded just how valuable those early career conversations can be. As a first-time mentor, I’ve also learned a lot, especially about building confidence and recognising that it’s okay to offer support even when you don’t have all the answers right away.
Friday
Fridays are for reflecting on the week and wrapping things up. I take the time to look back on the week, reflecting on what’s been achieved and actioned. Recently, I’ve started writing a ‘List of Weekly Wins, ’ which has been so useful for overcoming any moments of imposter syndrome.
I always share a weekly coverage update with the wider business so everyone knows what we’ve been working on and where they might spot Lottie in the press.
Before logging off for the weekend, I start planning key actions for the upcoming week. Anyone who knows me knows I love a to-do list (and the joy of ticking off completed actions), and having this ready to go ahead of a new week helps me switch off for the weekend, knowing everything’s in place to pick back up fresh on Monday morning.
