💡 Guest bio

Mickie Kennedy stumbled into the world of PR and marketing while finishing up a poetry degree 27 years ago. After realizing that waiting tables and writing poetry was not sustainable, he transitioned into PR and founded eReleases, a PR service that helps businesses get their news to the media. His background in writing and creativity has helped him succeed in the PR world, and he continues to help businesses share their stories with the world.

ℹ️ Introduction

Welcome to another episode of Frugalpreneur, where we uncover cost-effective strategies for entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Mickie Kennedy, the expert behind ereleases, about the power of strategic press releases. Mickie emphasizes the importance of incorporating AI into workflow to stay competitive in the job market and shares invaluable PR tactics, including the success of curated press releases and personal storytelling. He also offers an hour-long masterclass on strategic releases and highlights the cost-effectiveness of 6 to 8 press releases compared to hiring a PR firm. Get ready to learn how to harness the impact of press releases without breaking the bank in this insightful conversation with Mickie Kennedy.

📚 Timestamped overview

00:00 Journalists write varied stories with data analysis.

04:55 Launched small business-focused PR service in 1998.

08:57 Journalists find 3rd Newswire too time-consuming.

11:06 Press releases syndication for website logo display.

13:02 Earned media drives emotional response and trust.

18:21 Incorporate personal stories into press release content.

19:57 Entrepreneurs thrive on unique selling propositions.

24:49 Request 100 responses, showcase on website.

26:15 Knowing AI is crucial for future job success.

29:03 Curated content is effective for website incorporation.

32:05 Media coverage boosted pandemic restaurant support initiative.

36:00 Positive impact of product on company's profits.

39:09 Few news outlets afford lengthy, award-winning articles.

41:40 Avoid clipping services, instead monitor using Google.

44:50 Cost-effective social media promotion and special rates.

❇️ Key topics and bullets

Importance of AI in Workflow and Future Job Market

- Incorporating AI into workflow to stay competitive in the future job market

Strategic Press Releases

- The importance of strategic press releases despite the high failure rate

- A free hour-long masterclass on strategic releases at ereleases.com/plan

- Utilizing top 10 or 20 lists of podcasts as a PR tactic

- Predictions and curated press releases involving multiple industry perspectives

- The success of a PR initiative for the dining bond during the pandemic

Effective PR Strategies for Podcasts

- Using ereleases for moving features over their network

- Avoiding copycat press release strategies

- Personal storytelling as an effective PR strategy for podcasters

- Highlighting unique selling propositions for startups

- Conducting surveys for statistical relevance and press release recognition

Crafting Compelling Press Releases

- Effective distribution strategies for press releases

- Utilizing use case studies and statistics to engage journalists

- Tracking media coverage through Google news and web searches

- Discouraging the use of clipping services and recommending efficient tracking methods

Mickie Kennedy’s Journey in PR and ereleases

- How Mickey Kennedy entered the PR industry

- The inception and growth of ereleases

- The importance of storytelling in press releases

- Recommendations on press release distribution services

Press Release Distribution and Impact

- The importance of targeted distribution over mass spamming

- The impact of PR Newswire and Business Wire in reaching journalists

- The effectiveness of a strategic PR campaign for getting press releases picked up

Cost-Effectiveness of Press Releases

- Comparison of cost-effectiveness of doing 6 to 8 releases versus hiring a PR firm

- The discounted new customer special for purchasing press release packages

- The potential cost of hiring a PR firm for fewer releases

Tracking Media Coverage

- Utilizing Google alerts and conducting searches with date parameters for comprehensive tracking

❓ Questions

1. How can incorporating AI into workflow help entrepreneurs and small businesses stay competitive in the future job market, as suggested by Mickie Kennedy?

2. Mickie Kennedy talks about the strategic importance of press releases, focusing on the 3% that work. What are your thoughts on the effectiveness of this approach for entrepreneurs?

3. How can creating top 10 or 20 lists of podcasts in a genre be leveraged as a PR tactic for podcasters, as suggested by Kennedy?

4. Mickie Kennedy emphasizes the value of personal storytelling in press releases. How can this approach humanize businesses and attract attention, particularly in the context of small businesses and startups?

5. In what ways can startups effectively highlight their unique selling proposition to differentiate themselves from competitors and generate buzz, as recommended by Kennedy?

6. Mickie Kennedy discusses the effectiveness of conducting surveys for press release recognition. How can this strategy help in building authority and attracting media attention for small businesses and entrepreneurs?

7. What are the key insights gained from Mickie Kennedy's advice on distributing press releases, particularly in relation to targeting trade publications for new hire announcements and avoiding newswire fees?

8. Mickie Kennedy highlights the importance of tracking media coverage efficiently. What are your thoughts on the recommended methods of monitoring traffic, asking inquiries, and using Google hacks for this purpose?

9. How can Mickie Kennedy's experience in building a successful press release distribution service be leveraged as inspiration for aspiring small business owners and entrepreneurs?

10. How do Mickie Kennedy's cost-effective strategies for press release distribution and the effectiveness of doing 6 to 8 releases compare to traditional PR firm costs, and what impact can this have on small businesses and entrepreneurs?

Resources:

https://www.ereleases.com/plan/

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PR, Publicity, and Media Coverage for Entrepreneurs and Podcasters (with Mickie Kennedy)

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