How can I get free PR?

Question

How do I create PR for myself? From creating a media package to send to outlets to offering to be a guest on podcasts, what are ways to get free PR for a business?

Isaac Mashman · Answer

Companies and people rarely get free press coverage unless they position themselves as something worth paying attention to. Have you ever stopped to consider the number of emails journalists and media outlets receive on a daily basis? This is why you have to formulate your story and pitch in several short segments. No essay-length emails and always relate to the topic. If you're wondering how you can position yourself, try discussing some of your previous accolades or things that make you or your offering unique, in a personable way.

Omid Semino · Answer

Many times, entrepreneurs or business owners believe it is happenstance that a journalist reaches out to them, however, by being proactive, and offering yourself as a trusted media partner, you can be the first source that comes to mind to get that valuable free PR. While opportunities in which journalists reach out do present themselves, sometimes, those writing the articles, due to deadlines, will go to the first source they have access to, possibly eliminating your chances.

Yet by being proactive, and putting together a full media package to send to various outlets, that includes company and personal bios, related research, industry specifics, and areas of expertise, you will take much of the legwork out of their search for sources, bettering your chances they will reach out to you when needed. In creating easy access through a media package, you will ensure that when the time comes, yours will be the number they call.

Rachel Blank · Answer

If you organize an event where proceeds go toward a meaningful cause, there's a good chance you'll drum up some buzz in the news media. Events that include food, live music and silent auctions draw people in. Be sure to send press releases to local reporters in advance so that they can plan to attend.

Ilija Sekulov · Answer

My best strategy for free PR is to create some awards depending on your business and to create a blog post announcing all the winners in it. In that way, people will engage more with your brand and they will feel special. You will also get social media shares and word-of-mouth referrals. It's a win-win situation.

John Tian · Answer

For free publicity, find unique ways to collaborate with other local businesses. It could involve holding a joint-hosted party or letting another company use your location in exchange for social media or other digital media mentions. Other ideas include placing posters, flyers, or business cards in each other’s businesses. Leveraging the power of people in your industry could help you reach new audiences and attract more people within your target audience. Here, the primary mission is to get the contact information of the people in their groups and prioritize them based on how valuable they are.

Trey Ferro · Answer

Social media has endless opportunities for free PR. With social media, customer engagement is right at your fingertips and costs nothing. For instance, interacting with your customers via likes, comments and shares will create relationships that even the best-paid PR sometimes can't even achieve. Outside of your website and blog, social media is the best place to affordably and easily put your business out there.

Shawn Plummer · Answer

If you're using Google Alerts to find PR opportunities, you can likely advance your strategy by switching to Talkwalker. While that is a paid service, they do offer their free social media monitoring service that's top notch. Instagram, Facebook, and especially Twitter—you'll see up-and-coming hashtags and topics faster than with any other service I've tried.

Justin Soleimani · Answer

Establish a referral program. When you are true to your brand’s mission and deliver quality products and excellent customer service, your customers are sources of free PR. You can implement a rewards system by providing customers extra points or special deals when they refer others or write reviews. Both actions increase your brand visibility and reliability. Incentivize your customers to refer others, and enjoy the free PR.

Elliot Schwarcz · Answer

Send free samples of your products to influencers to try. If they love it, they’ll likely share the product either on social media or in a blog post. There’s no better PR than organic compliments from satisfied customers sharing your product with their followers. In today’s social media driven culture, word spreads fast when touted by popular online influencers!

Maja Kowalska · Answer

The best strategy to get free PR is to make sure that your data, story, or product brings actual value to the table. In order to do that, it’s necessary to get to know the journalist or outlet from whom you want to get a promotion. Once you know your potential partner, adapt your message to make it useful for them. Does it match the topics they write about, would it generate interest in their readers, is it currently trending? Make sure you’re not wasting their time, because building strong relationships is the key to successful PR.

Mitzi Runyan · Answer

Respond to journalist queries and receive backlinks and visibility. Platforms like Terkel and HARO add an SEO element to the conventional PR method by placing insights from thought leaders into articles; this in turn provides an audience for their brand. Both platforms have a free membership service and although Terkel offers a premium service, you can get a ton of bang for your buck by utilizing their system to increase your brand's authority while leaving a digital footprint all across the web.

Ross Kernez · Answer

Nothing is truly free, everything requires an exchange of some sort, be it energy, goods, etc. But one way to get PR without giving away money is to find a good cause to assist with your business and get involved with community projects. The projects will garner local media attention and if you ask nicely you could get some powerful backlinks from .gov websites. These links could be worth $$$$ in traffic. Plus you will meet other like-minded dedicated entrepreneurs and local government officials who can provide help & tips about receiving government-funded business grants and a wealth of other government business incentives that most entrepreneurs are too busy to know about.

Ross Kernez, Health Plan One

Kate Zmeevskaia · Answer

I believe in the approach that good content doesn't need 24/7 PR activities. My best advice is to put 80% of your efforts on building high-quality and relevant content. The best SEO and PR is just really good audience research and copywriting. Instead of sending thousands of spammy outreach emails asking for mentions, you’d better focus on creating value in a long-term prospect. Don’t make company-centric stories. Personalize PR outreach as much as possible, and offer only relevant content.

Maegan Griffin · Answer

If you want to get free PR, offer to be a guest on a relevant podcast within your industry. You can chat about your expertise, your background, how you got to where you are today, give advice, and more. You can utilize your expertise to offer valuable and actionable tips to the podcasts’ audiences and help promote your thought leadership. This can increase traffic to your website and ultimately get you more leads and sales.

How can I get free PR?: 14 Answers

Table of Contents

How can I get free PR?

Answer 1: It’s All About Positioning

Answer 2: Create a Media Package to Send to Outlets

Answer 3: Organize a Benefit

Answer 4: Give Awards Through Blog Posts

Answer 5: Network With Other Businesses

Answer 6: Gain PR Through Social Media

Answer 7: Set Alerts Through Talkwalker

Answer 8: Establish a Referral Program

Answer 9: Send Free Samples to Influencers

Answer 10: Bring Value to Journalists

Answer 11: Utilize Free Outreach Platforms

Answer 12: Get Involved With Community Projects

Answer 13: Create High-Quality Content

Answer 14: Offer to Be a Guest On Podcasts

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