Ask the Expert – PR for Small Businesses

I’ll be delivering a masterclass in conjunction with Get Set for Growth on 29 June and 6 July, titled ‘Ask the Expert – PR for Small Businesses’.

I was thrilled to be asked by Get Set for Growth to do a public relations workshop and even more pleased when the first session sold-out within a few days, leading to me being asked to do a repeat session.

PR offers many benefits for small businesses. Primarily it’s a very cost-effective way for you to promote your brand and its products and services. It has the power to reach a large target audience and nowadays, editorial has so much more credibility than advertising. With digital media, there is a longevity to editorial that we never used to enjoy – websites and blogs are often more powerful than traditional media.

In the workshop I’ll explain how to gain coverage in the press and run a public relations campaign. I’ll provide insider tips and cover key PR skills to help ensure you get your business heard including: how to spot a story, what media to target, how to write a news release and deal with journalists.

That all sounds very traditional but my approach to public relations converges with today’s marketing and so I’ll explain how PR has a key role to play in branding, storytelling, SEO, social media and content marketing; and how to combine public relations with these techniques as part of a wider PR campaign.

Ask the Expert – PR for Small Businesses is an event that is fully-funded by the Regional Growth Fund and open to all local businesses, however you need to complete Get Set for Growth’s registration and enrolment forms in order to participate. You can do this online via their website prior to attending or alternatively on the day, before the workshop starts.

The first workshop is sold-out and there is a waiting list, but the second session takes place on Wednesday 6 July at Basepoint in Southampton. Places must be booked in advance by clicking here.