publicity tips for small business Archives

How to Turn Your Publicity Into MORE Publicity

Include the links to the article in your email signature with a call to action line such as, “Recently featured on the blog XYZ, read it here”. An email signature program such as WiseStamp will allow you to do this.

Add a link to the article in your website and/or shop’s About page, along with the line “Recently featured on the blog XYZ” to create credibility.

Add the mention to your website or shop banner.

Post to all of your social media sites, “We are honored to have our product featured this week on the XYZ blog” and be sure to tag the blog on all posts. They will likely share/retweet with their followers.

Go to the blog’s social media pages and post a message and/or comment on the post and thank them for including you.

Do the same on their Instagram and Pinterest pages, adding a comment, sharing and liking the post.

When you post/tweet the link to social media, also include the @Etsy or @Amazon tag (if you are an Etsy or Amazon store) in hopes that their social media people take note of your press and feel it is worth sharing on their social media sites.

Add any publicity you get to the back of your business card. This helps when handing it out to local shops for wholesale orders.

Approach a business writer at your local newspaper to see if you can turn this publicity into more publicity i.e. “Local business owner’s featured on XYZ blog”. Local press coverage will help to create interest among your local buyers as well as with local shops for wholesale offers.

Ask the blog if they have a “badge” or logo you can use on your site and in your marketing materials that says, “As seen on the XYZ blog”.

Include the mention and link in your monthly newsletter to customers.

Want me to write a pitch for you? Just see my very affordable Publicity Pitch Writing Service, for any type of product or business.

local publicity small business Want some free local publicity for your small business?

Did you know that your local newspaper reporter, the one who covers fashion, jewelry, home decor, weddings, food (not to mention the small business reporter) whatever it is that you sell, is desperate for a story right now?

This was actually one of the best pieces of advice I received at the start of my marketing career. Reporters are always looking for stories so give them one and you’ll be their best friend.

Do not discount the power of local media. Local media loves to support local businesses, and local customers love to buy from local businesses. Plus, publicity costs you nothing and could mean wide exposure, which typically results in sales. You can also use local publicity and turn it into national publicity.

How to Approach a Local Reporter

Email is probably the best way to approach a reporter with a story pitch. You can find their names and emails online at the newspaper’s website. You can also email the editor of the section, i.e. Food Editor, and they will assign it to a reporter.

If they have their editorial calendar online, even better, because they you can see upcoming articles and pitch accordingly.

Now if you live in a small town, you can approach your local town paper as well as the newspaper of the nearest largest city.

It can also be a local magazine, blog and/or lifestyle TV show.

Story Ideas to Pitch

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog post about How to Pitch to Editors, so you may want to check it out as a fresher, but here are some story ideas, just so you understand what to pitch:

Local Woman Finds Success with her Gluten-free Desserts Business
Valentine’s Gift Ideas from Local Shops
Local Artisans Finding Success on Etsy

Remember, the more specific the story pitch, the better. Don’t just give them a general, “If you are writing a story about Pet Products...” that won’t work. You want something more like, “If you are writing a story about How Fashionable Dog Accessories has become a billion dollar market…”