If you’re a freelancer, or run a small business, and would like press coverage to gain new clients and grow your profile, you’ll need a PR strategy. Having been featured in the Guardian, Sunday Times, Telegraph, Stylist, Grazia, Red and more – I can teach you how…
When I started my digital parenting and lifestyle magazine The Early Hour, I had a vision. It would be visited by thousands of people and the content would be shared far and wide. It’s great to set your aims high but it took me a while to realise that in order to do this, I’d need a strategy.
In time, I developed one. A wonderful mentor taught me how to find my ‘story’ so that I could get featured in the national newspapers and women’s magazines talking about my work on The Early Hour. This helped me to start growing a profile, got me a load of new readers for my website and led to freelance writing commissions and well-paid consultancy work.
In the three years since launching The Early Hour, I’ve been interviewed by publications including the Guardian, Sunday Times and Telegraph. I’ve spoken on BBC radio 5 and Woman’s Hour, at live events including Stylist Live and I’ve been featured on dozens of brilliant blogs and podcasts.
I’ve also written for nearly all the national newspapers plus women’s magazines including Red, Stylist, Grazia and this is both great PR for me, my website and now my book – The Freelance Mum – but also, when you write rather than being interviewed; you’re paid. Double win.
Last year, I was employed by Clementine App to help with content and PR. I got press coverage for Kim Palmer (the founder) and the app in the Guardian, who voted it one of the ‘seven apps every woman should own’, the Telegraph – a first-person piece – and on blogs and smaller websites.
Having worked as a journalist and editor, I know that the best person to pitch ideas for articles and broadcast interviews is the person who actually owns the story (ie. YOU). I’ll always publish a story written by someone with firsthand experience over a press release sent from a PR company.
Likewise, when I’m pitching to editors, they’re more likely to choose my article idea over one sent by a third-person PR. But it’s hard to know where to start, so I’ve designed a four-week online course to guide you step-by-step to becoming your very own PR person.
(And saving a shitload of money)
Each Monday, during the four weeks, I’ll give you an introduction to a new topic (within the PR sphere) and then set you a task. You’ll submit your ‘homework’ by Friday and I’ll give you feedback responding directly to your work. The four weeks will be structured like this…
Week 1: Finding your story
You’d like to secure coverage in the nationals or women’s mags – as you would like a more prominent profile and know this will lead to more work. But you’re not sure where to start. Firstly, you need your ‘story’. I’ll explain what this is and how to find yours (with examples). Your first exercise will be to write your story, and I’ll then give feedback and suggest how to improve it.
Week 2: Pitching
You have your story, but where should you pitch it? I’ll share all my pitching tricks – how, when, finding where to actually send it – and you’ll have an opportunity to write your first set of pitches, amended for different publications. I’ll edit, if necessary, so that they’re ready to be sent out. Also this week: why you should guest blog, going on radio/podcasts/TV and dealing with rejection.
Week 3: Becoming an expert
Following on from finding your story – you need to keep the story growing and evolving. You won’t just have one story and then be able to regurgitate this time and time again. So now it’s about becoming an expert in your field. You may already be an expert – but others won’t necessarily know this. We’ll look into the importance of having a blog, SEO, when to post and how. Also, picking up on and responding to news stories (and writing opinion pieces).
Week 4: Growing your online profile
You have a story, some press, a blog – how do you continue to grow your online profile? Through social media. We’ll discuss the best platforms for different businesses, how to use each platform, gaining new followers, getting mentions, what to post and when, competitions, collaborations and making the most of (free) Facebook groups designed for the ‘freelance mum’ community.
The details…
- Four-week online course
- There are only 10 spaces.
- Each Monday you’ll be set a task to be submitted by Friday and I’ll give you individual feedback over the weekend.
- It costs £295 (a lot cheaper than paying someone else to do your PR – even just for one day. This will set you up for life).