Still unsure of how a creative press release can help your small business? Look no further than Sweet Soaps, a customized soap-maker (and small business) that embeds images onto bars of soap. The owner, Ellen Cagnassola, has just finished a banner year in 2009 in which she experienced an incredible amount of growth due in large part to public relations and social media. But here’s the thing....

Whether you are starting from scratch or seeking to grow an established business, public relations gives you the power to reach your target audience through highly credible, third-party sources. While there are dozens of ways to kick off a successful PR campaign, many businesses overlook the most obvious and close-to-home approach: philanthropy. I’m not talking about writing a check to your favo...

For many new business owners, press releases are viewed as sales pieces to be distributed to members of the media. Most think a well-written press release will generate an influx of phone calls from reporters and producers desperate to cover company news. Unfortunately, since few announcements address issues of important national interest such as a cure to cancer or a new energy source, this rarel...

Just because you’re a small business doesn’t mean your public relations strategy has to be limited.  It just means that it has to be incredibly focused with specific goals in mind. As a small business owner, you need to focus your PR around thought leadership as this is where you can have the most impact. What does this mean in terms of actionable steps for a small business owner? 1. Carve ou...

If you watch “60 Minutes,” you know the pressure a company or person feels when it’s under media scrutiny.  But crises don’t just happen to big companies, they can also happen to small business.  An accident at the business site, a disgruntled employee reveals unflattering details about the business, or a customer complains about the company’s products or services will often bring a re...

Marketing is a positive way to help your business grow whether it is small or large. There are many ways for small businesses to get its product and/or business more exposure. #1. Do it yourself. Doing your own PR and marketing may take up some of your day but it can be worth your while. It can help you save money and establish a relationship with others that you meet while networking your busines...