Free PR Tools for Do-It-Yourself Publicity
If you are working with a tight budget like most entrepreneurs, you can do your own publicity. Here is a quick list of some of the free services available to help you build buzz and sales:
1. Learn simple steps to start your publicity efforts with StartupNation’s Guide to PR here.
2. Check out the free, PR Newswire/StartupNation PR Package here.
3. Here’s a list of sites where you can post your press releases for free (or at a discounted rate).
4. Check out www.yourpitchsucks.com. Here, you can send in your pitch, and some PR experts will review it and help you improve it. Veteran marketer Jim Kikral has developed a great way for entrepreneurs to learn how to pitch…for free!
5. Check out sites like PRWeb, PRNewswire, GasPedal (Word of Mouth Marketing), and HARO. Here, you will find great tips and information. Help a Reporter Out from Peter Shankman (HARO) offers daily e-mails to let you know exactly what reporters are looking for.
6. Finally, you can talk to fellow entrepreneurs about PR here at the StartupNation PR Forum. I am also available to answer your questions, and I offer a free report and information at www.rembrandtwrites.com.
There are many ways to generate publicity at no cost. It’s just a matter of doing your research to find the right information, people and services to help you and then making an effort to reach out to media members directly. And if you reach a snag along the way, please let me know! I’m here to help.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Thank you for the links. More than anything, it is about being patient and consistent with the avenues that you follow with publicity. They almost always seem to pan out in the end with a little healthy persistence.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Thanks for the tips. Times are tight and a lot of companies can benefit from saving a few bucks. Saving money is great but just as long as you invest what you have wisely in the things you need.
January 15th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Thanks for nice comments Robert and Nikki. There is a lot of help available to new entrepreneurs. It’s just a matter of taking the time to find the right resources and making the effort - especially when times are tough. All the best,
Melanie
January 15th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Hi Melanie,
Thanks for the tip about “My Pitch Sucks.” I’ll look into it and spread the word via my DIY publicity blog.
Another cool services is http://www.pressreleasegrader.com It’s free. Just “cut and paste” your press release draft into this easy online form and get an immediate grade on your press release for format and SEO purposes.
Those who want to listen to a one-hour audio file about making the most of their press releases can listen for free when they visit http://www.prleads.com/pressrelease. PR Leads Founder Dan Janal and I had a good conversation about this that was well researched, thanks to comments from dozens of publicists from all over the USA.
Finally, I’ve written 25 newspaper columns about DIY publicity, and folks can get them for free when they opt-it to receive the free Media-Savvy-to-Go ezine at http://www.mainstreetmediasavvy.com.
2009 is the DIY recession, and the timing has never been better to make the most of DIY publicity. There are abundant tools and resources to support success. The key is getting into inspired, consistent action!
Nancy Juetten
January 28th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Very good information here. As a journalist, I receive so many press releases that get erased before they even get opened. I sincerely hope every small business owner in the world sees your article–it’d save a bunch of time. Get great tips about running a small business. YORE Foundation
February 5th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
These are great tips. I also think that for those who still pay for PR (let’s face it, some of us have to), you can downgrade to not-quite-free, but more cost-effective. Like, instead of keeping a publicist on retainer, go with a pay-per-article-placed firm like Publicity Guaranteed