Starting your business with a limited budget can be difficult, as everything from creating your product to building your website seems to have some sort of cost associated with it. However, there’s one area of business that doesn’t necessarily have to cost any money: press.
Getting your company’s name out into the public and in front of potential customers by generating free press is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take to market your business. From writing guest posts on industry blogs to applying for business awards, there are numerous strategies you can use to get your company noticed.
Here, 11 members of Young Entrepreneur Council discuss just some of those methods and why they’re so effective at helping you positively grow your business.
1. Volunteer In The Local Community
Engaging in volunteer activities within the local community offers new entrepreneurs an effective and budget-friendly way to garner free press and foster business growth. By participating in community initiatives, entrepreneurs create compelling human interest stories that resonate with local media outlets, showcasing their commitment to social responsibility. This unique angle and authentic narrative not only build strong relationships with journalists but also align with consumers’ values, leading to lasting positive publicity and differentiation in the market. – Kazi Mamun, CANSOFT
2. Write Engaging Guest Posts
The best way new entrepreneurs can get free press to grow their business is by submitting guest posts and contributing to third-party platforms such as credible industry blogs or media outlets. This not only gives them an opportunity to score brand mentions on reputable platforms in their respective industry, but it also enables them to generate traction for their business by engaging the audience of said platforms. – Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
3. Sign Up For HARO and HAB2BW
The best way to get press with zero budget is to sign up for Help A Reporter Out (HARO) and Help A B2B Writer (HAB2BW). Both are free services, and you can sign up for topics that are relevant to your niche or industry. You’ll then get email alerts when someone is trying to write an article about your industry. If you provide a quote or some insights that make the writer’s article better, they’ll mention you. This is effective because it gets you free press in relevant articles and blog posts. It also helps you get backlinks, which is good for your SEO efforts. – Keith Shields, Designli
4. Get Involved In Your Chamber Of Commerce
Starting a business with a limited budget can take time and effort. However, new entrepreneurs can get free press by joining their local chamber of commerce. This option helps newcomers establish a relationship with the community and provides a platform for their business to receive free marketing and exposure. Networking with other companies can be incredibly valuable for new entrepreneurs. Connecting with like-minded individuals and local businesses opens up the possibility of forming new partnerships and collaborations that can help your business grow and thrive. Overall, joining the chamber of commerce can provide you with a valuable opportunity to connect with other companies and entrepreneurs in your community and help you build the relationships essential to success. – Michael Garrido, E-Valve Technologies
5. Build Relationships With Bloggers And Journalists
Try building relationships with bloggers and journalists—though, before that, you need to identify the ones in your niche. Then, start sharing their content on social media, commenting on their posts, liking their posts and more to grab their attention. This will help you build a long-term relationship with them, which can help you get covered in the news. – Josh Kohlbach, Wholesale Suite
6. Collaborate With Influencers And Podcasters
One easy way of getting free press to positively grow your business is through collaboration. There are so many podcasters and influencers in the digital market. Just reach out to them and ask if they would want to collaborate with you. Influencers and podcasters already have a built-in audience. So, by collaborating with them, you can get free promotions and highlight your business. – Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
7. Grow Your Following On Social Media And Other Platforms
Turn your web properties and social channels into your most effective press channel. Whether it’s your company’s LinkedIn page, blog, Twitter, Instagram, community Slack group, public WhatsApp group or other digital channels you manage, creating a dedicated and relevant subscriber following is a tool that keeps on giving. It’s free to start and gives you more control over the narrative. To build a strong community of followers for your business on these online properties, you must create relevant and impactful content and engagement. Not only are you able to directly share your press announcements and posts on demand, but you’ll also be able to track viewership and responses better than with traditional third-party press. – Nanxi Liu, Blaze.tech
8. Contribute Insights In Forums And Online Discussions
Get active in relevant forums and discussions! Share your knowledge, answer questions and engage with others in the community. Be helpful and authentic—people will notice! When you consistently provide valuable insights, others will see you as an authority. It’s not about shameless self-promotion; it’s about contributing meaningfully. As you build your reputation, more folks will trust your brand and might even recommend you to others. – Sujay Pawar, CartFlows
9. Strive To Create Viral Content
An effective way for new entrepreneurs to get free press is by creating viral content around your brand or offerings. This could be anything from an insightful infographic, a captivating or funny video, guerilla marketing content or any other unique content that is highly attractive and easily shareable. By leveraging the massive reach of the internet, viral content can create a buzz about your business that the media cannot ignore! When your super-popular content is eventually shared by the media, it reaches an even wider audience while adding credibility to your business. This free press can skyrocket your new brand’s visibility and reputation, leading to increased customer trust and business growth. – Vikas Agrawal, Infobrandz
10. Apply For Business Awards Or Competitions
Applying for business awards or competitions that recognize startups and entrepreneurs is one way to gain free press. Even if you don’t win, just placing as a finalist can generate media interest in your business. This approach does a few things, including increasing the credibility and validity of your business. It will also make it more attractive to journalists and potential customers. Additionally, media outlets often cover such events, providing an excellent opportunity for free press and exposure to a wider audience. – Bryce Welker, Crush The EA Exam
11. Attend Industry Events
We were able to get free press during our startup days by attending industry events in our local cities. Journalists are always there and willing to talk to up-and-coming business leaders, marketers and innovators for their next article. I suggest looking up local and online events so you can attend and meet other people in your industry. You’ll get a chance to put your name out there and shine a positive light on your new business. – Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
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