Getting your business noticed by potential customers and the media can be a challenge, especially if you have a limited budget for marketing and advertising. However, there are many ways to earn free press and grow your business without spending a fortune. Here are 11 strategies that you can use to generate positive publicity and increase your sales.
1. Volunteer in the Local Community
One of the best ways to get free press and grow your business is to volunteer in the local community and support social causes that align with your values. By engaging in volunteer activities, you can create compelling human interest stories that resonate with local media outlets and showcase your commitment to social responsibility. This will not only help you build strong relationships with journalists, but also attract customers who share your values and want to support your business.
2. Write Engaging Guest Posts
Another effective way to get free press and grow your business is to write engaging guest posts and contribute to third-party platforms such as credible industry blogs or media outlets. This will not only give you an opportunity to score brand mentions on reputable platforms in your industry, but also enable you to generate traction for your business by reaching the audience of those platforms. You can also showcase your expertise and thought leadership by providing valuable insights and tips that can help solve the problems of your target market.
3. Sign Up for HARO and HAB2BW
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) and HAB2BW (Help a Blogger to Write) are two online platforms that connect journalists and bloggers with sources who can provide them with relevant information for their stories. By signing up for these platforms, you can get access to hundreds of queries from reporters and bloggers who are looking for experts in various fields. You can respond to these queries with your pitch and offer your insights, opinions, or data that can help them with their articles. If they find your pitch interesting, they will contact you for an interview or a quote, which can result in free press coverage for your business.
4. Get Involved in Your Chamber of Commerce
Your local chamber of commerce is a great resource for getting free press and growing your business. By getting involved in your chamber of commerce, you can network with other local businesses, participate in events and workshops, and access various opportunities for promotion and exposure. You can also leverage the credibility and authority of your chamber of commerce to boost your reputation and visibility in the market.
5. Build Relationships with Bloggers and Journalists
One of the most important aspects of getting free press and growing your business is building relationships with bloggers and journalists who cover topics related to your industry or niche. You can do this by following them on social media, commenting on their posts, sharing their content, sending them personalized emails, or offering them exclusive stories or tips. By building rapport and trust with them, you can increase your chances of getting featured or mentioned in their articles or podcasts.
6. Collaborate with Influencers and Podcasters
Influencers and podcasters have a large and loyal following that trusts their recommendations and opinions. By collaborating with influencers and podcasters who have a similar audience as yours, you can get free press and grow your business by tapping into their influence and reach. You can offer them free samples of your products or services, sponsor their content, invite them to review or test your products or services, or co-create content with them. This will help you generate buzz and word-of-mouth for your business, as well as drive traffic and leads to your website.
7. Grow Your Following on Social Media and Other Platforms
Social media and other online platforms such as YouTube, Medium, Quora, Reddit, etc., are powerful tools for getting free press and growing your business. By creating engaging and valuable content on these platforms, you can grow your following, establish your authority, and attract attention from the media and potential customers. You can also use these platforms to interact with your audience, answer their questions, solicit feedback, run contests or giveaways, or launch campaigns that can go viral.
8. Contribute Insights in Forums and Online Discussions
Another way to get free press and grow your business is to contribute insights in forums and online discussions where your target market hangs out. You can join relevant groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, Slack, etc., or participate in Q&A sites such as Quora or Reddit. By providing helpful answers, tips, or advice that can solve the problems of your potential customers, you can showcase your expertise, build trust, and generate interest in your business. You can also include a link to your website or blog in your signature or profile to drive traffic.
9. Apply for Business Awards
Applying for business awards is a great way to get free press and grow your business. By winning or being nominated for an award, you can gain recognition from the industry, the media, and the public. You can also use the award logo or badge on your website, social media, or marketing materials to enhance your credibility and reputation. You can find various business awards that suit your niche, size, or location by searching online or asking your network.
10. Create a Press Kit and a Press Release
A press kit and a press release are essential tools for getting free press and growing your business. A press kit is a document that contains all the information that a journalist or a blogger might need to write about your business, such as your company profile, your products or services, your achievements, your testimonials, your contact details, etc. A press release is a document that announces a newsworthy event or story related to your business, such as a product launch, a partnership, a milestone, etc. By creating a press kit and a press release, you can make it easier for the media to cover your business and generate publicity for you.
11. Pitch Your Story to the Media
The final and most important step to get free press and grow your business is to pitch your story to the media. You can do this by identifying the media outlets that are relevant to your industry or niche, finding the right journalists or bloggers who write about topics related to your business, crafting a personalized and compelling pitch that highlights the value and uniqueness of your story, and following up with them until you get a response. You can also use tools such as Cision or Muck Rack to find and contact journalists or bloggers.
