In this bite-sized episode of 3 Spoonies, hosts Karen, Jo, and Claire welcome back PR and marketing consultant Liz from Escape the Village for a practical Q&A on getting visible with PR. If you’re a small or rural business trying not to stay “a little secret,” this one’s packed with actionable advice.
Episode Snapshot
- Topic: Marketing with PR
- Guest: Liz, founder of Escape the Village (marketing consultancy for local and rural businesses). Find out more about Liz here.
- Format: Community Q&A
Community Q&A Highlights
- What PR mediums should you use?
- A healthy mix works best (radio, podcasts, online articles, etc.).
- Start where you feel most comfortable to build confidence, then expand.
- Avoid doing too many at once to prevent overwhelm.
- Can you scan and upload magazine articles to your website?
- No—copyright issues make this a big no.
- Do this instead:
- Link to online versions (you’ll often get a helpful backlink).
- Use “As seen in [Publication]” on your site and marketing.
- Keep clippings for your own records, but don’t publish scans.
- If a paper or magazine doesn’t run your article, can you send it elsewhere?
- Absolutely—PR is a numbers game.
- If you offered someone first dibs, give them a short window. If it’s a no or you don’t hear back, move on.
- If pitching multiple journalists at the same publication, be transparent. Let them know who else you’ve contacted to avoid awkwardness.
- How long should you wait before following up?
- Follow up after 2–3 days with a quick “just checking this didn’t slip your inbox.”
- Follow up once more. If no response, assume it’s a pass and pitch elsewhere.
- Practical cadence: send in batches of 10–15 per week, follow up that week, then move to the next batch the following week.
- If two outlets want it at once, disclose and decide who to proceed with. The other outlet might still run the story without you.
- Not confident writing pitches?
- Use freely available templates for PR pitches and press releases—search for “PR pitch template” and review examples.
- Remember: with a pitch, you’re not writing the full story—the journalist will. Pitches are often easier than full press releases.
- You’ll get better with practice.
Quick PR Workflow Cheat Sheet
- Choose 1–2 comfortable mediums to start.
- Draft a short pitch using a template.
- Send in small weekly batches (10–15 contacts).
- Follow up after 2–3 days; follow up once more if needed.
- Track who you’ve contacted (and at which publication).
- If no response, move on and keep pitching.
- Celebrate and share wins: link to online coverage and use “As seen in” for print.
What’s New from Liz
Escape the Village is relaunching Focus Hours—dedicated time slots for DIY-ers who want guidance, accountability, and a little handholding with their marketing and PR. Keep an eye on their social channels for booking details. Find out more about Liz here.
You can find all the ways to watch and listen to the full episode here.
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