| How to get free PR to drive traffic to your website | | | | Step Three: If you see an article on a subject that |
| is easier than you think if you use Help A Reporter | | | | might apply to you, click on the email that is always |
| Out. I'll tell you a little about "HARO", and then I'll tell | | | | included in the request, and give a three line blurb |
| what happened to Best Small Biz Help when we | | | | about you. Don't make it too long. Make it compelling. |
| responded to an article request. | | | | You're selling yourself. |
| First, do you know what HARO is? It stands for | | | | Step Four: Wait for the reporter to contact you. |
| "Help A Reporter Out". The website link is listed | | | | Step Five: Set up a time for the phone interview. |
| below in the resource box. The site functions like a | | | | Step Six: The article gets published and your name is |
| marriage broker between reporters doing stories on | | | | read as an expert by hundreds, maybe thousands of |
| particular topics and subject matter experts they can | | | | people. |
| quote in their stories. | | | | When I find an article that could use my experience, |
| Sometimes the reporter is on a tight deadline writing | | | | my response includes an introduction and little about |
| articles on Bio Tech and Healthcare, Business and | | | | my street creds. Something like this: "I've taught |
| Finance, Education, Entertainment and Media, High | | | | hundreds of small business owners through the Levin |
| Tech, Lifestyle and Fitness, Public Policy and | | | | Institute in NYC across dozens of industries. I know |
| Government, Travel, and General.They need to | | | | what small business owners are going through. Would |
| interview subject matter experts for article content. | | | | love to discuss some case studies with you." |
| They often need to find qualified people quickly. | | | | I give the reporter a reason to call me. When he or |
| I wanted to learn how to get free PR to drive traffic | | | | she reads my quick introduction, he/she knows I |
| to a website, so signed up to receive the HARO | | | | have relevant, valuable experience. Reporters won't |
| feed. It's really easy. It's the sign up on the right side | | | | waste their time if they interview me. Think about |
| of the homepage. The left side is for reporters to | | | | the things that make your experience stand out. Is it |
| sign up. | | | | your education? Is it a project you worked on? Is it |
| Once you're a member (which is free to you), you'll | | | | a company you worked for that has high brand |
| receive requests from reporters doing articles that | | | | recognition? Reporters are always looking for the |
| might be relevant to your experience. Here are | | | | unique angle. Give it to them when you respond to a |
| some of the topics from today's feed: | | | | query. |
| Weird/ Funny Roadsigns | | | | It's gold to a reporter. It's interesting. I don't give |
| Looking for A Handwriting Analyst | | | | information, I tell stories that illustrate ideas. It's all |
| Seeking An Expert on Construction Accounts | | | | real-world, based on first-hand knowledge. It's also |
| Receivables | | | | interesting for the writer. It's new content for them. |
| Quick Tips for Landlords | | | | That's a compelling read for the visitors who will read |
| Education Issues | | | | the final article, right? |
| IT Careers in the Financial Sector | | | | For every three inquiries you respond to, you might |
| Need Experts on Time Management | | | | get one reporter to actually interview you. I think |
| Healthy Snacks for Summer Camp | | | | those are pretty great odds considering what you'd |
| Cancer and Nutrition | | | | have to pay a PR agent to get that interview. |
| Everyday, the topics change. Last month, I received | | | | Does it take a little time? Yes, but it's sooooo worth |
| a HARO feed. One query came from the owner of | | | | it. After a while, you'll become expert at scanning the |
| CommuniquePR. She asked, what small business | | | | list of proposed articles. It won't take but two |
| websites did people like and trust? Two colleagues | | | | minutes to scan the list. Then add another two |
| who know Best Small Biz Help well and who have | | | | minutes to respond to one or two requests. I also |
| attended my talks and seminars answered with | | | | have created a standard response I can just cut, |
| glowing testimonials. | | | | paste and customize for a query. Now it takes me |
| Communique PR checked out Best Small Biz Help and | | | | even less time to respond. |
| saw we were all about content-rich training and | | | | Once you've been interviewed a few times, a |
| support for solopreneurs. They named us one of | | | | beautiful thing starts to happen. Reporters begin to |
| their Top 10 Websites for Small Businesses last | | | | call you directly. That's when you know your free pr |
| month as a result of the testimonials. This gave us | | | | is really working. The more you're interviewed, the |
| tremendous credibility for a website that has only | | | | more your name and brand shows up in cyberspace. |
| been out for less than three months. | | | | The more your name shows up in cyberspace, the |
| Free PR is very powerful; far more powerful than | | | | more backlinks your website will get. The more |
| paid advertising. Why? Because it's an objective | | | | backlinks your website gets, the more people know |
| source that has nothing to gain by touting who you | | | | about about you. The more people know about |
| are. That's true in the print world. It's true online. It | | | | you, the more traffic will show up to your |
| builds credibility and trust a lot faster with broad | | | | website. All that for maybe ten minutes a day, |
| audiences. | | | | total. |
| How to get free PR to drive traffic to a website? | | | | Did this process cost you any money? No. Not one |
| Step One: If you want to get mentioned in an article, | | | | dime. What's the value of being quoted in an article? |
| sign up to receive the HARO feed see live link below. | | | | Ask a PR agent. They'll tell you it's worth hundreds or |
| Step Two: Scan the feed when you receive it. You'll | | | | even thousands of dollars if you had to hire an agent |
| know which categories your expertise tends to fall | | | | to get a single interview for you. |
| into. Scan the whole list to see if you feel qualified to | | | | It's a great investment of your time. Help A Reporter |
| speak to any of the subjects the reporter needs to | | | | makes it super easy for you. The automatic feed, |
| write about. Sometimes, your personal life | | | | the email addresses to respond to, makes it almost |
| experiences or hobbies qualify you to speak on | | | | fool proof. I've been interviewed five times in the last |
| subjects. It's not always just the professional work | | | | two months. Love that! |
| you've done. | | | | |