Jan 29, 2015

5 DIY Public Relations Solutions for Small Businesses

In the past, small businesses have been mistakenly led to believe a successful public relations campaign would require the assistance of a large agency demanding big fees. While hiring a top public relations firm is still out of the question for most small businesses, in our world of ever-increasing connectivity and ease of communication, successful PR efforts are no longer out of our reach! Here are five ridiculously useful (and entirely affordable) PR tips and tools that your small business can use today:

LinkedIn Pulse: Formerly known as ‘LinkedIn Today’, a very useful app that allows you to subscribe to news feeds, LinkedIn influencer posts, and Industry Channel news. It also allows other users to follow you even if they aren’t part of your network. These features make LinkedIn content more social, allowing users to discuss a topic/story with peers within your industry. Through these means, you have a ripe opportunity grow your influence and establish yourself as a thought leader.
Localist: Localist is an interactive online calendaring platform that aims to help small businesses with limited marketing resources manage promotional events. Online platform that allows small business owners to market their events and promote their content. This platform is also Google Analytics-friendly, so you can track conversations about your events, how many shares and follows events have, and other valuable insights.
Mention – This app makes media monitoring simple and fun. And yes, media monitoring is a major part of a successful PR campaign. Keeping tabs on what people say about your business helps to build relationships, generate leads, and protect your reputation. Mention also empowers you to respond to mentions of your brand, and share industry news that you find.
Handle Your Own PR (HYOPR) – This website gives free advice on how to manage your own public relations campaign, including how to write a press release and how to choose a strong angle to get your message across. HYORP is a free resource for small business owners but it also offers targeted media lists that users can purchase for as low as $80.
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) – If you’re a small business owner, HARO is a great way to get free press! This is a unique resource for connecting journalists with stories. While it’s not specifically for small business owners, it’s a fantastic opportunity to reach news outlets (such as The New York Times, ABC, etc.) right from your inbox. Journalists benefit from being able to connect with “expert” sources, and the sources benefit from getting media visibility for their business, projects, or services.