PR Tips: Writing Begets Writing and Publicity Begets Publicity

Friday Feelings, PR, Marketing Tips for Women Entrepreneurs, Female Business Owners, Entrepreneurs

If there is anything I’ve learned over the past 30 years in entrepreneurship is that the woman who starts her own business must be willing to promote, publicize, and market herself without having narcissistic feelings about doing so. Gaining free marketing in the form of written articles, stories, press releases, and media attention are excellent ways for a new person in business with a limited budget to get their name and brand known. And, if they are good at it, the more publicity you gain, the more publicity opportunities come your way.

In preparing for a speech I was giving, I took a look at my own writing and publicity past to illustrate what I’m saying and how simply beginning to write and market yourself can help you excel in the media. Here is my personal trail of PR successes and how writing led to publicity, which led to more publicity:

• Had a poem published in elementary school in a national book
• Photographer for school yearbooks in Jr and Sr. Highschool
• Became an entrepreneur and learned how to write press releases to promote events
• Asked the Syracuse Post Standard to become a columnist which I eventually did for 11 years
• Submitted stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul
• Submitted stories to magazines through HARO (Help-A-Reporter-Out)’
• These led to being the first business blogger for the new Dear Abby – “Dear Amy” for six months
• Started blog in 2008 – Have been a blogger for 15 years
• Wrote and published my first book in 2019 called “Under the Rose-Colored Hat”
• Contributor to other books in 2021 – Unfettered Hearts: “Our Beauty Lies Within”
• Contribute regularly as a source for 55+ Magazine and Oswego County Magazine
• Writing popularity led to radio and television appearances due to my brand.
  
  Becoming a writer was never part of my business plan written in 1995, long before social media was even a marketing source, so free advertising has been worth thousands of dollars and built my resume for speaking. It can be the same for you.

Suggestions for you to become a writer, speaker, and better PR agent for your own company:

• Look at your background of written work – what does it comprise?
• Did you write in high school, college, post-college, in professional organizations
• Do you have information you can reuse on a blog?
• If you have social media marketing channels, you can share anything you write or get published for on social media marketing channels increasing your publicity and brand image.
• Write in an industry magazine or contribute to an industry blog – ask about it!
• Take past public speaking scripts and use them for marketing content.
• Sign up for writing classes
• Subscribe/Follow websites like
  Chicken Soup for the Soul  – Chicken Soup for the Soul
  H.A.R.O. – Help A Reporter Out – Help A Reporter | About | Help A Reporter
  On Linked In – Linked In Job Alerts – Freelance Writing – Daily Notifications Search all Jobs | LinkedIn

All I can tell you is that you have all you need to help your own brand by becoming an active writer, blogger, contributor to local news, and PR specialist, more than you know. I hope you start today with a plan to begin and prosper like I have for decades.