Free Ways To Earn Publicity For Your Brand And Business

With every business in the world claiming their Facebook page and making a mark in the social media sphere, just being online isn’t enough to get publicity anymore. If you want to see publicity increase for your business, you need to do more than just show up. In the early days of operation, however, finding a marketing budget can be difficult. These free tips will help you get people talking.

Start on Social Media

If you don’t have your social media channels established yet, now is the time to get started. Facebook is a must-have, while other channels depend on your industry. Writers and artists spend a lot of time on Twitter, while visual artists, models, and media personalities enjoy Instagram. Food or craft related vendors can make a significant presence on Pinterest. And these are just the mainstream social media channels; more specialized channels exist in almost every industry.

Whatever social media channels will work best for your company to reach new customers, get involved. Don’t just promote your product, but work to create real connections with other users, so that your brand isn’t just about sales. It will also be about helping customers and making a difference.

Write a press release

Nearly any event can be turned into a news event worthy of a press release. While there are plenty of content marketers who specialize in press releases, a release is also one of the most simple pieces of marketing to write, since it follows such a specific format.

The purpose of a press release is to get a journalist interested in your story, although many press releases just get reprinted in whatever section of the paper or blog handles these things. To get your release noticed, start with the newsy item. You’ve just opened a new office, or hired a new executive, or have been in business for five years and are hosting a thank you event for your customers. Whatever it is you want to tell people, use a press release to make it happen.

You can also use press releases to fill a news section on your own website, giving yourself content that boosts your ratings with Google.

Get involved with a local charity

What are the key charities in your community? Is there one you’d like to support through a donation of time or money, or through a promotional event at your business? “Partnering with a charity can be a great way to get your business’s brand out in front of a whole bunch of new potential supporters who are already primed to view you as a positive company”, said Matei Gavril, CEO of PRMediaOnline It can also give you that newsy item you need to create a top-notch press release.

Approach local charities and tell them what you love about their mission, and how you can see a partnership working. Be open to their ideas as well; after all they know better than you do what they need.

React to current events

Another way to get fresh content on your blog or social media channels is to react to current events. If something big has happened in your industry, talk about it. If there’s something happening in your town, talk about it. Although reactions can be divisive, many Millennials look for the companies they support to take a stand on the important social issues of our time. By showing how you are different from the competition, you may be able to access this network of customers in a fresh and exciting way for your business.

Pitch guest posts

Have something to say, but worry that your channels don’t get enough views to make it worthwhile? Pitch your idea to other blogs in your industry to create a guest post. Waive any kind of fee in order to get a link back to your blog and social media channels; your payment is the exposure and the publicity.

To make this worthwhile, however, make sure that the sites you’re pitching actually a.) get more views than you do and b.) have users who will be interested in your niche, or else you’re giving your writing away for free.

Organize a group interview or panel

Want to create a statement about something in your industry? Talk to some of the experts near you and arrange a talk about the state of business in your area, or the rise and fall of your industry, or whatever makes sense for you and your fellow professionals. Feature this content digitally, and write a press release about it!

There are many ways to get publicity for your business without hiring a PR firm or spending a fortune on content marketing. What are some of your favorite suggestions?