Running a small business is no easy task. You don’t have enough time, budget nor resources to grow your business and pursue activities that can enhance your business profile and attract new customers. A good public relation practice allows a firm to manage its public image. Bigger businesses have the resources to pursue and maintain good public relations. In fact, most have departments or units dedicated to coordinating activities around public relations. While you may not have sufficient resources to do the same as a small business owner, there are inexpensive PR strategies that you can apply to get your business known, seen and heard by the public.

1. Influencers - I am not referring to the celebrities and top personalities here. Instead, I am referring to Nano influencers. Everyday people like you with 5000, 10000 or even fewer followers. These categories of people have a high engagement rate. If you are able to establish a good relationship with them, you may even get them to work with you at an affordable rate or even for free.

2. Videos - In 2020, if you are not leveraging videos, you need to start already. Create a brand and personal videos to engage with your audience. They are most likely to click to watch you and listen to what you have to say. With your mobile phone, natural light, a tripod and an app like Inshot to edit, you are good to go. If you can’t create, then going live on Facebook or Instagram is your best bet.

3. Storytelling - Want to get people’s attention? Tell a story! A compelling story. It keeps people engaged and they remember you. This storytelling can be done via audio, video or text. Be authentic and don’t forget to tie the story to your business, product or service

4. Collaboration - Do you have access or a relationship with someone who has a good following? Come up with an easy to follow campaign or go live with them. That way, their audience gets to know you and vice versa.

5. Events - This is a super powerful tool. So when I hear small business owners say ‘I don’t like to attend events’, I am usually baffled. Bigger businesses leverage this so well and make a lot of money by connecting, establishing a relationship with a lead and then do business with them. These events don’t have to be only physical. There are webinars and virtual summits happening almost every other day. There are online communities that you can join as well.

6. PR firms - There are PR firms that actually help you with being on credible news outlets. No, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. It doesn’t look good when people search for your company and all they can find is social media links. Being on other news platform helps you get seen.

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