Succeed As Your Own Boss

ENDING SMALL BUSINESS FAILURE

  • Home
  • About
  • Book Melinda
  • Consulting
  • SBL Store
  • SmallBizLady University
  • Free Tools
  • Podcast
  • #Smallbizchat
    • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • We’re Hiring!
You are here: Home / Featured SmallBizChat / How to Get PR for Your Small Business

How to Get PR for Your Small Business

February 4, 2016 By Melinda Emerson Leave a Comment

Feel free to share...Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on google
Google
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on reddit
Reddit
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print

d3cfe823-e63d-44f9-8742-f31fb6304ee4Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9 pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with James Oliver, Jr, Owner, WeMontage (@WeMontage). James Oliver, Jr. is co-founder of the world’s cutest twins, and CEO of WeMontage.com, the world’s only website that lets you turn your fave photos into a large custom collage, on removable wallpaper. James is also a parent entrepreneur advocate via his blog at www.treplifedad.com, an alum of the tech startup accelerator, gener8tor.com, and is a contributing author for SheKnows media and GoDaddy’s small business blog, The Garage.

 

SmallBizLady: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PR?

James Oliver, Jr:  The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries says it best: PR is a powerful way to position a brand in consumers’ minds. While that book is over ten years old and the Immutable Laws may now be mutable, that still feels relevant to me today. Consumers are bombarded with marketing messages everywhere in a myriad of places, getting through the noise is hard. A PR hit from credible media aimed at your target audience can positively impact your brand/product awareness and sales.

 

SmallBizLady: SHOULD YOU PREPARE TO HANDLE INCREASED DEMAND FROM PR?

James Oliver, Jr.: YES! Before our feature on the TODAY show in 2014, I prepped an error page to apologize for outages http://cl.ly/3E032U0g003X #SmallBizChat. We were only down for 90 seconds. But I spent HOURS getting back to all who used the instructions on the error page. I got smarter for the second TODAY Show appearance. We reconfigured our servers and thankfully, the site didn’t crash. Here’s a link to the second TODAY Show segment: https://youtu.be/1vl1P201e_8.

 

SmallBizLady: SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A PR REP OR DO IT YOURSELF?

James Oliver, Jr.: Publicists can be VERY expensive, and not all are the same. Make sure they have tons of contacts relevant to media you want. You CAN hustle for PR on your own. That’s how I got the TODAY show, DIY Network, MarthaStewart.com, USA Today, and others. For $65/mo, I use justreachout.io; You can find articles relevant to your interests and the name/contact info writers. And justreachout.io helps with templates for writing appropriate emails to reporters.

 

SmallBizLady: DOES PR WORK?

James Oliver, Jr.: YES! 20% of my sales have come directly from PR. To me, that’s uncomfortably high, but that’s a separate business issue.

 

SmallBizLady:  IS ALL PR THE SAME?

James Oliver, Jr.: No. Some PR hits drive traffic & sales. Some, traffic only. Some, neither. You never know for sure which will work for business. I heard about a guy who spent thousands on inventory before a National morning show feature. And got NO sales from it. Ouch! Try to have a reasonable plan to manage increased sales. But don’t get burned, if things don’t go as you hoped.

 

SmallBizLady: HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT WHO TO PITCH FOR COVERAGE?

James Oliver, Jr.: Use tools that tell you who is writing articles relevant to your business industry. It’s a small investment to build your brand. I mentioned justreachout.io, which is $65/month – Which is a small price to pay if you get a few nice PR hits and more sales.

 

SmallBizLady: HOW DO YOU PITCH WRITERS/REPORTERS ONCE YOU FIND THEM?

James Oliver, Jr.: Email is the best since they hate getting phone calls. Knowing how to write cold emails is critical! Here’s how a cold email got my business featured on Cnet.com, which led to sales http://treplifedad.com/grinding/how-a-cold-email-got-my-company-featured-on-cnet-com.

 

SmallBizLady: HOW CAN YOU USE YOUR NETWORK TO GET PR?

James Oliver, Jr.: Over the holidays, I reached out to a wonderful group of bloggers in a Facebook group and 5 featured my business on their blog. I used LinkedIn to get introduced to someone who wrote about us on MarthaStewart.com said, ”WeMontage is a decor idea all home owners should know.” A media friend of mine reached out to his network with personal intros on LinkedIn. I got a feature on a major news outlet! You can do this! But you must build relationships and create value for people well before you make and ask of them!

 

SmallBizLady: CAN AFFILIATE MARKETING HELP GET PR?

James Oliver, Jr.: Yes! Affiliates will write articles about your business on their blog for a chance to make money when people buy from you. I had an affiliate write an article on my business, which a producer for the DIY Network show, “I Want That” then discovered! The producer contacted me and they did a feature of my business, which has aired several times. When it airs, I make sales.

 

SmallBizLady: DOES GETTING EXPOSURE FROM BLOGGERS HELP?

Dozens of bloggers have written about my business and we have gotten some sales from it. How well it works really depends. The exception is the affiliate post that landed us a feature on the DIY Network; I got lots of sales from that blog post.

 

SmallBizLady: SHOULD YOU RELY ONLY ON PR TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS?

James Oliver, Jr.: No. You should not rely on PR. If you get a few nice hits, you could get sales. But those are likely not sustainable. And PR is completely unpredictable as to whether or not it will happen – so much is out of your control. If the hit happens in the wrong place or if the outlet doesn’t share on social media, it’s possible no one will see it. There is so much uncertainty around PR, but you should try to do it because of the product/brand awareness it can create.

 

SmallBizLady: HOW DO YOU LEVERAGE INCREASED TRAFFIC FROM A GOOD PR HIT?

James Oliver, Jr.:

Make sure you have a way to get website visitors into your sales funnel when you get a nice PR hit. Collect email addresses and follow up using tools like Sumo Me (https://sumome.com/).

Collect email addresses and follow up. I use GetDrip.com to incentivize visitors to give me their email address, and I send a series of emails to convert them. Once the Get Drip users create an account, I use intercom.io to send another series of emails, which also helps convert. Intercom.io allows real-time chat with site visitors; a tremendous way to convert visitors to customers.

 

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9 pm ET; follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. Here’s how to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/1hZeIlz

For more tips on how to start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Feel free to share...Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on google
Google
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on reddit
Reddit
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print

Filed Under: Featured SmallBizChat, Q & A Interview, SmallBizChat, SmallBizChat Live+ Tagged With: @wemontage, Public Relations, small business public relations, SmallBizChat, SmallBizChat interviews

Fix Your Business Now!

Order SmallBizLady's new book Fix Your Business, 90-Day plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business. It includes the 12 Ps of Running a Successful Business and readers will finish the book with a new strategic plan to take their business to the next level.

About Melinda Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, social selling, and online marketing strategy. As CEO of Quintessence Group, her Philadelphia-based marketing consulting firm serves Fortune 500 brands that target the small business market. Clients include Amazon, Adobe, Verizon, VISA, Google, FedEx, Chase, American Express, The Hartford, and Pitney Bowes. She also has an online school, www.smallbizladyuniversity.com, that teaches people online marketing and how to start and grow a successful small business and publishes a blog SucceedAsYourOwnBoss.com. Her advice is widely read, reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She hosts The Smallbizchat Podcast and is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded, and Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • tiktok
  • pinterest
  • linkedin
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • feedburner

Sign up for the SmallBizLady BUZZ Newsletter and be the first to receive updates and details about upcoming events:

We’re proud to be part of the Mediaplanet Empowering Small Business campaign! The COVID-19 pandemic brought hardship and ruin on the nation’s small businesses, but there’s now reason for hope. Learn about the resources, support, and tools available to help your small business bounce back and grow stronger than ever by picking up a copy of the campaign in USA Today and reading it online here.

Get a FREE Chapter of SmallBizLady’s Book,
"Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, Revised and Expanded"!

Become Your Own Boss

Most Popular Posts

>Seven Ways to be More Profitable in Your Small Business
> 7 Ways to Attract Customers to Your Small Business
> 6 Tips for Managing Small Business Finances
> How to Run a Successful Multilevel Marketing Business
> 10 Ways to Grow Your Small Business With Instagram
> How to Sell on Facebook
> How to Get Over the Fear of Starting a New Business

Featured Videos

Bloomberg News Interview
How to Support Small Businesses During the Holidays

National Speakers Association
Winter Conference

Fox 29 Philadelphia
'Small Biz Lady' gives best advice for starting a new business in the New Year

Fox Business
Starting a Business

MSNBC
The importance of job mentoring for women

#SmallBizChat Live
National Small Business Week: Q&A

Good Day Philadelphia
Expert Shares Tips on How to Become Your Own Boss

Testimonials

Become Your Own Boss is a must read if you’re thinking of launching a business of your own.
Jean Chatzky, Bestselling Author of Money 911 and Financial Editor of NBC’s Today Show
Great step-by-step advice for anyone looking to start their own business.
Andrew C. Taylor, Chairman, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Melinda Emerson has written a remarkable book. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to make the transition from working girl to successfully working it, as an entrepreneur.
Cynthia McClain-Hill, Past President, National Association of Women Business Owners
The perfect companion for those planning to go out on their own. Melinda delivers firsthand practical advice on how to be the successful entrepreneur. Read it if you want to get it right the first time.
Kenneth L. Shropshire, Professor at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
If you are looking for a versatile speaker who can talk about how to grow small businesses or get started with social media, look no further.
Heather Van Sickle Executive Director, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
Her wit and depth of subject knowledge were entertaining and empowering. Melinda is definitely on our short list of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders we look to invite back in the near future.
Tennille M. Robinson Senior content & Event producer for Inc. magazine
Melinda Emerson, “SmallBizLady,” is an engaging and witty speaker and a great addition to any conference. Her terrific presentation and compelling delivery give people the information they need and want to become their own bosses and grow success… Read more
Laurie Dalton White Conference Director, Pennsylvania Conference for Women
Melinda Emerson has been a fantastic small business and social media resource for the Pitney Bowes team. Not only is she personable and easy to work with, but she also has an innate understanding of the small business audience. My marketing programs … Read more
Justin Amendola, Former VP, Global SMB Digital Strategy, Pitney Bowes

Latest #SmallBizChat

May 2025 #SmallBizChat: How to Position Your Brand with Multicultural Markets

#Smallbizchat Podcast LIVE is a monthly video interview show where small business owners can get answers to their questions. The focus of #Smallbizchat is to end small business failure by helping participants succeed as your own boss. Please join us live every third Wednesday of the month from 8-9 pm ET Live on my SmallBizLady Facebook […]

Fix Your Business Q&A Video

Recent Posts

  • May 2025 #SmallBizChat: How to Position Your Brand with Multicultural Markets
  • How to Tighten Your Sales Infrastructure (Before Your Bank Account Screams for Help)
  • The SmallBizChat Podcast: How Giving a TEDx Talk Can Benefit Your Business with Dr. Dan Young
  • 10 Critical AI Automated Workflows to Elevate Your Small Business
  • The SmallBizChat Podcast: How to License and Sell Your Content with Mitch Axelrod

#SmallBizChat

  • SmallBizChat Archive
  • @SmallBizLady

Business Advice

  • How to Start

SmallBizLady Store

Products

Free Chapter

Get In Touch

  • FAQ
  • Be a #SmallBizChat Guest
  • Contact Us
Copyright © 2025
Quintessence Entertainment, Inc
PO Box 280
Drexel Hill, PA 19026
(610) 352-0680
Privacy Policy · Refund Policy

Let’s Connect

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • tiktok
  • pinterest
  • linkedin
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • feedburner