Member-only story
5 ways I’ve secured publicity
(without writing a press release)
There appears to be a myth going around that the foundation for good PR is by having a great contact list and wanging out a press release to hundreds of them.
For the record, this is not PR.
It is called spam.
While dispelling myths, can I also flag that PR is more than just having your name in the paper? It is everything you do that can change your relationship with the public, like, say, writing on Medium. Guest appearances on a podcast or hosting live talks can also be a great way to connect with your audience.
With that cleared up. Let’s talk about some of my favourite bits of exposure that were nowhere near a press release.
A free and primarily untapped resource is to use the #journorequest on Twitter. A quick search will reveal recent requests from media looking for spokespeople, case studies, tips and examples.
I saw a tweet from a property writer (note: not an obvious choice for a PR / small business / creative type, but we will talk about why we should put ourselves where we don’t belong another time). They were looking for examples of business successes that have allowed you to move. I pitched the following:
I didn’t lead with business stats but instead the human interest element despite the request leading on business success.
I shared on my Instagram that I was trying out living in France and remote working before we committed to making a move full-time. I often shared posts titled ‘Notes from France’ and gave behind-the-scenes videos from my stories.
One of my followers happened to spot a journalist who was compiling an article about working remotely, and I was able to link to a few of my Instagram posts for examples. She later sent me some Qs for me to respond to and chose some of the quotes for the more comprehensive feature.
