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Get Free Publicity for Your Business Using These Tools

So, you’re finally ready to take the PR plunge but may not have the budget yet to engage an agency.

You may be launching a new business or looking for some free media exposure for your brand. Wherever you are in your business journey, there is no denying that publicity will help take your business to the next level and reach a wide audience fast.

DIY PR can be a little daunting at first, but if you know where to look there are lots of free resources out there to help get you on your way to your first (or next) press hit.

1. HARO (www.helpareporter.com)

HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is an excellent tool for journalists and sources to connect. You get 3 x daily emails listing all of the topics and upcoming stories they are working on plus email details for you to send your pitch directly to them. The basic plan is free, and this resource is an awesome way to stay on top of any upcoming media opportunities suited to your brand.

Cost: Free (with optional upgrade)

2. Grammarly (www.grammarly.com)

Want someone to proof your content for free? Say hello to Grammarly. This free writing app enables users to make their messages, documents, and posts clear, mistake-free, and effective.

All you need to do is register a free account, and you can install their browser extension immediately to get started. Once installed, this plugin will check your copy across everywhere you write online (e.g., emails, social media, blogs, word, etc.). It’s straightforward to use, and once you have it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!

Cost: Free (with optional upgrade)

3. Google Alerts (www.google.com/alerts)

Google Alerts is a simple, but effective, way for you to track any mention of your brand online. It helps you keep an eye on the coverage your competitors or industry receives and also ensures that no media mention for your brand goes unnoticed.

You simply create an alert using a brand name or topic and select the frequency you’d like the alerts sent to you.

Cost: Free

4. #journorequest

Twitter is a journalist’s playground, and they are finding sources every day through the use of this hashtag.

Get into the habit of checking #journorequest daily to find out what stories are being worked on and if you may be a suitable contributor.

Cost: Free

5. LinkedIn Search (www.linkedin.com)

LinkedIn is a useful way for you to find journalists who may be suited to your brand/story. You can keyword search using things like journalist, reporter, and columnist – and to strengthen your search you can add in a word that represents your industry, e.g., “journalist beauty.”

LinkedIn also allows you to save searches so you can be notified when people who match your criteria join.

Free (with optional upgrade)

Each of the above tools is going to help you on your PR quest for more media mentions. We recommend trying one or two of these at a time, so you can truly evaluate what’s working for your business.

And if decide you need some extra support, we offer affordable DIY packages that will help take some of the load off!

Wishing you a future filled with publicity hits!