PR Tips for Small Businesses That Want to Rock 2021
I don’t know if you feel it too, but I think my business is going to go to the next level in 2021. After all that we went through surviving 2020, I feel like I can take on the world.
Don’t you?
While 2020 was truly a difficult year, the silver lining is that we can come out with expanded confidence as small business owners: We know how to adapt and get through tough times and now it’s time to get to the good times.
If you feel like you can also take on the world this year, remember there’s no better way to boost your business forward than landing some stellar media placements. Here are a few PR tips that will launch your 2021.
1. Book TV interviews all over the country while you can
TV interviews and news segments had to make huge shifts during the pandemic because it wasn’t safe to have guests come into a studio. As a result, I noticed right away that I could land my clients interviews in further markets since travel wasn’t an issue. Whereas before, TV interviews were mostly limited to how far the studio or the client was willing to travel.
Remote interviews aren’t as fun as visiting a studio but they’re a good way to expand your reach.
Since news stations are willing to consider guests from a larger geographic market, now is the time to go for it. It’s hard to say if this trend will last after the pandemic ends, so my first tip for 2021 is to get in as many TV interviews around the country as you can.
2. Establish yourself as a thought leader on podcasts
The podcast trend has been growing for a while. There is a podcast about everything and each show tends to get a super loyal following. This means that as a guest of a podcast, you gain access to a highly targeted audience and their trust in the hosts extends to you.
We’re talking about a Major. Credibilty. Boost.
As a podcast guest, you have a lot of control over your message and more time to talk about it. Other formats like TV limit their segments to five minutes or less, but podcasts can last half an hour or more. So be prepared to talk about your industry at length.
If you aim to be a thought leader in your industry this year, my advice is to start by pitching yourself to podcasts in your industry. (And don’t worry, you don’t have to start a podcast yourself for this to work.) Search Google for “Your industry + podcast” to find relevant shows for your expertise, then send a carefully crafted pitch letting them know why they should feature you on their show.
3. Pitch your local media!
If you’re new to PR, 2021 should be about pitching your local media. Local media loves to cover local businesses and is a great place to start. Once your local media puts your name out there, it’ll be a lot easier to get the attention of national publications too.
Of course, if you are new to PR, you may need to learn the basics of PR first. If this is you, be sure to check out my free PR training. PR is an incredibly affordable way to get your brand in the spotlight, but is often overlooked by small business owners simply because they don’t know how the media works.
This year, you can get an edge by learning how to communicate with the media, and landing your brand in local and national publications, podcasts, and on TV. You can do it!