Applying PRISM Ascend to Personal Branding: A Solopreneur’s Transformation

The Power of a Personal Brand

When you think of a “brand,” it’s easy to picture big companies like Apple, Nike, or Coca-Cola. But in the modern business landscape, individuals are brands, too. For solopreneurs, coaches, consultants, and freelancers, building a distinct personal brand can be th differentiator that sets you apart in a crowded marketplace. The significance of personal branding goes beyond just having a pretty logo or an aesthetically pleasing social media feed; it’s about developing a cohesive, authentic, and memorable identity that aligns with your core values and attracts the right audience.

Yet, despite all the talk about personal branding, many solopreneurs are overwhelmed and uncertain about where to begin. They might have a patchwork of social media profiles, an underwhelming website, and an inconsistent message that doesn’t quite resonate with their desired clientele. This confusion often leads to missed opportunities, stalled growth, and a sense of imposter syndrome.

That’s where a structured methodology can help. PRISM Ascend is a framework designed to guide individuals and businesses through the complexities of branding and public relations. Developed by Marquet Media, it offers a comprehensive roadmap that addresses both the strategic and tactical elements of positioning oneself in the marketplace. Rather than a scattershot approach, PRISM Ascend ensures every component of your brand—your messaging, online presence, and networking efforts—works in harmony.

In this long-form narrative, we’ll follow the journey of a fictional (name) solopreneur—Sarah Evans (real client)—who used PRISM Ascend to revitalize her floundering personal brand. Along the way, you’ll see how the framework’s pillars combine to address real-world challenges, guide pivotal decisions, and deliver tangible results.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Sarah’s Starting Point

Learn where Sarah was before embracing PRISM Ascend: the confusion, challenges, and wake-up calls that led her to seek a structured solution.

Breaking Down PRISM

Explore the core elements of PRISM—Position, Relevance, Influence, Strategy, and Measurement—plus how they set the stage for personal branding success.

Unpacking Ascend

Understand how the Ascend phase takes the PRISM foundation and propels it forward through aligning, strategizing, creating, engaging, nurturing, and Dominate.

Applying PRISM Ascend: Step-by-Step

Follow Sarah’s progress as she uses each component to transform her brand, from clarity in messaging to networking strategies that open doors.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

No journey is perfect. Discover the hiccups, doubts, and course corrections Sarah faced and how she overcame them.

The Final Reveal

See the results: what Sarah’s brand looked like after the framework was implemented and the new opportunities that blossomed.

Your Takeaway

Gain insights on how to apply PRISM Ascend to your solopreneur journey, with tips on staying authentic and consistent throughout the process.

Read on if you’re ready to see how a real-life (or, in this case, realistic fictional) transformation unfolds using PRISM Ascend. Sarah’s story may mirror your own experiences—the frustration with an unclear identity, inconsistent digital footprints, and the feeling that you’re on the verge of something big if only you had the right roadmap. Let’s dive into how that roadmap took shape.

Part I: Sarah’s Starting Point

Sarah Evans was a freelance consultant specializing in leadership development for small tech startups. She saw tremendous potential in this niche; after all, startups are always looking to scale effectively, and leadership is often their Achilles’ heel. But despite her expertise and passion, Sarah felt like she was shouting into the void.

The Early Struggles

• Lack of Clear Messaging: On her LinkedIn profile, Sarah labeled herself a “Consultant, Coach, Strategist, Mentor,” switching terms almost randomly. While she posted occasional content on leadership, it lacked a cohesive narrative.

• An Inconsistent Online Presence: Sarah had a personal website—sarahevansconsulting.com—where she detailed her services, but the site looked outdated. She also had social media accounts, but they did not have unified branding elements or a consistent posting schedule.

• Difficulty Defining Her Target Audience: Although she aimed to serve tech startups, her language sometimes sounded too corporate. In other posts, she’d pivot to personal development for individuals. Prospective clients didn’t know if she was a B2B or a B2C coach.

• Underpricing and Undervaluing: Because her brand didn’t exude a high-level professional image, Sarah was undercharging—afraid that she couldn’t justify premium rates.

Over time, Sarah’s frustration grew. She attended various networking events and even tried paid advertising, but the results were lukewarm. She knew she needed a more strategic approach that integrated messaging, positioning, and visibility into a cohesive plan.

The Wake-Up Call

The turning point came when Sarah lost a potential client to a competitor whose credentials weren’t necessarily stronger but whose online presence and brand narrative were far more polished. In a feedback call, the prospect admitted: “We really liked you, but the other consultant just looked more established. Their website and social media presence spoke to our needs.”

That was all Sarah needed to hear. She realized that talent and expertise alone don’t permanently seal the deal in today’s digitally-driven world. Public perception and brand messaging can be the deciding factor. Determined not to lose another client to a more “put-together” competitor, Sarah researched structured branding frameworks. Her search eventually led her to PRISM Ascend from Marquet Media, a method that promised to streamline and empower entrepreneurs’ brand-building efforts.

Sarah booked a discovery call with a consultant who specialized in PRISM Ascend. Even from that initial conversation, she sensed the framework’s potential to provide clarity and alignment—two things her brand sorely lacked. Eager to start, Sarah signed on, ready to do the work required for a full-scale rebrand.

The next section covers the basics of PRISM, the framework's core engine, setting the stage for Sarah’s transformation.

Part II: Breaking Down PRISM

This foundational part of PRISM Ascend shapes how entrepreneurs and businesses approach brand building, ensuring each step is comprehensive and aligned with long-term objectives. Let’s explore each element and see how it laid the groundwork for Sarah’s brand revamp.

1. Proprietary Tools and Position

Positioning is about defining how you want to be perceived in the marketplace. It’s not just about the services you offer but the unique angle or value proposition that sets you apart. Under the PRISM framework:

• Market Segmentation: Identify which slice of the market aligns best with your expertise.

• Unique Value Proposition (UVP): Clarify the one thing you do better than anyone else—or at least differently enough to stand out.

• Competitive Analysis: Understand what your competitors offer and how to position yourself distinctly.

For Sarah, “Position” meant deciding she would serve tech startups looking to build leadership capacity. Instead of juggling corporate clients and individuals, she focused on the niche that resonated most with her interests and expertise.

2. Relationships and Relevance

Once you identify your position, you must ensure it’s relevant to your target audience’s needs. Relevance requires deep insight into the following:

• Pain Points and Desires: What keeps your target clients up at night? What do they dream of achieving?

• Tailored Messaging: What language resonates with them emotionally and pragmatically?

• Industry Trends: How do broader trends shape your audience’s priorities?

For Sarah, diving into Relevance meant researching tech startups' leadership challenges—things like rapid growth, remote teams, and scaling company culture. She shaped her messaging around these concerns, ensuring her brand promised solutions that felt directly applicable to those challenges.

3. Insights and Influence

Influence is about how you establish credibility and authority in your field. Under PRISM, building influence can involve:

• Thought Leadership Content: Articles, podcasts, webinars, and social media posts showcasing your expertise.

• Strategic Networking: Attending events, joining online forums, and connecting with industry leaders who can amplify your message.

• Media Relations: If applicable, pitching yourself to relevant media outlets or blogs can elevate your profile.

Recognizing she needed to stand out, Sarah embraced Influence by committing to writing monthly articles on leadership in tech startups and collaborating with a small but reputable industry blog. She also started engaging with startup founders’ communities on LinkedIn, offering quick, valuable insights to build trust and name recognition.

4. Simplified Workflow and Strategy

Strategy acts as the glue that binds your positioning, relevance, and influence together into a coherent action plan. It involves:

• Goal Setting: Defining clear, measurable objectives (e.g., “Land five new high-value clients in six months”).

• Roadmap Creation: Outlining specific tactics, timelines, and responsibilities.

• Resource Allocation: Deciding how to use your time, budget, and partnerships for maximum brand impact.

For Sarah, Strategy meant mapping out exactly how she would produce content, update her website, and network consistently. Instead of random marketing acts, she followed a structured timeline for social media posts, blog publishing, and outreach.

5. Messaging Development and Measurement

Finally, Measurement is tracking your efforts to see if they deliver desired results. Within PRISM, this includes:

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Metrics like social media engagement, website traffic, lead conversions, and client acquisition rates.

• Regular Reviews: Monthly or quarterly evaluations to see what’s working and what isn’t.

• Agility and Adjustments: Using data to pivot when necessary, ensuring your efforts align with your goals.

Sarah decided to track:

• LinkedIn engagement rates (likes, comments, shares) for her leadership tips.

• Website visitor-to-lead conversion rates after revamping her homepage messaging.

• Number of booked consultations that transitioned into paying clients.

Each PRISM element builds upon the previous one, creating a robust framework for brand strategy. But PRISM alone isn’t the entire story. The second half of PRISM Ascend—the “Ascend” process—turns these foundational concepts into a dynamic growth mechanism. Let’s look at how that came into play for Sarah.

Part III: Unpacking ASCEND

While PRISM helps solopreneurs like Sarah shape and strengthen their brand identity, Ascend is the action-oriented phase that propels that brand into the marketplace with momentum. Ascend is an acronym for:

1. Align

2. Strategize

3. Create

4. Engage

5. Nurture

6. Dominate

Let’s break each of these down.

1. Align

Alignment ensures that your brand—shaped by PRISM—matches your personal values, goals, and audience expectations. This involves refining your mission statement, clarifying your visual identity, and ensuring your messaging is consistent across all channels.

2. Strategize

While Strategy is part of PRISM, it becomes more granular in Ascend. After aligning your brand internally, you strategize specific tactical approaches to marketing, content creation, collaborations, and other growth avenues. Think of it as your brand’s detailed battle plan.

3. Create

This is the execution phase, where you develop the tangible elements of your brand:

• Website redesign

• Social media content

• Lead magnets, e-books, or courses

• Media kits or press releases (if relevant)

The emphasis is on high-quality deliverables that reflect your newly solidified brand position.

4. Engage

Even the best brand assets won’t go far if no one sees them. Engage is about sharing your message with the world:

• Consistent posting on social media

• Guest appearances (podcasts, blogs, webinars)

• Networking events or online communities

In short, this step activates your brand in the public sphere to attract your ideal clients.

5. Nurture

Once you start attracting interest, Nurture involves building relationships with potential and existing clients:

• Email marketing sequences to cultivate leads

• Personalized follow-ups after events or introductions

• Client appreciation to strengthen existing ties

By nurturing, you sustain the goodwill you’ve generated, turning interested parties into loyal advocates.

6. Dominate

Dominate is the final step where you aim to become a leading voice in your niche. This involves scaling your efforts:

• Expanding your media presence

• Launching signature programs

• Establishing high-level partnerships or joint ventures

• Becoming a go-to speaker or commentator in your field

With a clear brand and an engaged audience, you can now position yourself as a top authority and effectively dominate your corner of the market.

Now that we understand the conceptual framework of PRISM Ascend, let’s see how Sarah applied each step in her real-world transformation.

Part IV: Applying PRISM Ascend—Sarah’s Step-by-Step Journey

Step 1: Position (Within PRISM)

Sarah’s consultant from Marquet Media began by asking a simple but profound question: “Who do you serve, and why?” Sarah realized she had been casting a wide net—catering to large corporations, individual executives, and tech startups—out of fear of missing out on potential income.

However, the synergy was strongest with tech startups. She thrived in fast-paced environments and loved the innovation mindset common in these companies. Hence, the first phase of her Positioning involved:

1. Defining Her Core Niche:

   • Primary Audience: Tech startups in early to mid-stage growth (20–200 employees).

   • Secondary Audience: VC firms seeking leadership advisors for their portfolio companies.

2. UVP (Unique Value Proposition):

   • “I help tech startup leaders implement agile leadership strategies to rapidly scale without losing their founding culture or burning out their teams.”

Once she committed to this focus, Sarah felt a jolt of clarity. No longer was she “just another consultant.” She had a specialized identity geared toward a specific segment with very particular pain points.

Step 2: Relevance (Within PRISM)

With her Position sorted, Sarah had to make sure it resonated with the real-world concerns of tech founders. She did some hands-on research:

• Online Surveys: She created a quick Typeform survey distributed through her LinkedIn connections, asking tech founders about their top leadership challenges. The results highlighted issues like building trust in remote teams, retaining talent in competitive markets, and transitioning from a scrappy startup culture to a more structured company.

• One-on-One Interviews: Sarah scheduled calls with five startup founders she knew personally, asking them open-ended questions. She listened to their stories about chaotic hiring processes, communication breakdowns, and struggling to keep everyone aligned on a shared vision.

With this data, Sarah refined her language to address these pain points directly. She started referencing specific startup scenarios rather than speaking in generic leadership lingo. For instance, she mentioned the challenge of bringing on new hires during hyper-growth while preserving the original “hacker” culture. This level of specificity made her brand more relevant to potential clients.

Step 3: Influence (Within PRISM)

Now that Sarah had a clearly defined brand position and relevant messaging, she had to establish credibility.

• Monthly Leadership Columns: She secured a monthly column on a mid-tier tech publication’s blog through a connection. Her articles focused on actionable tips, such as “5 Steps to Retain Rockstar Developers in a Competitive Tech Environment.”

• LinkedIn Thought Leadership: Sarah became more strategic on LinkedIn, posting twice a week. She started a “#LeadershipTipsTuesday” series, each post offering a short but impactful insight for tech startup founders.

• Micro-Influencer Collaborations: She reached out to a well-known tech YouTuber who was exploring business leadership topics. Together, they recorded a 20-minute interview about avoiding burnout in early-stage startups. This cross-promotion put Sarah in front of a fresh audience interested in startup life.

The result? People began seeing Sarah as an authentic voice on leadership in tech, not just a consultant vaguely claiming expertise. Her voice carried weight because she consistently produced content that felt on-point and valuable.

Step 4: Strategy (Within PRISM)

Sarah’s next move was to unify everything into a cohesive strategy. She used a simple digital project management tool to break down tasks and goals for the next six months:

1. Website Overhaul:

   • She hired a freelance designer to revamp her site with a minimalist, tech-forward aesthetic.

   • The homepage highlight? A clear statement: “I Help Tech Startups Scale Their Teams and Culture—Without Burning Out.”

2. Lead Magnet and Email Marketing:

   • She wrote an e-book, "The Agile Leader’s Handbook for Tech Startups,” offering a condensed version of her core strategies.

   • Visitors to her site could download it in exchange for joining her email list.

3. Speaking Engagements:

   • Sarah set a goal to pitch herself for at least two tech-focused conferences or virtual summits within six months.

   • She prepared a signature talk on “Scaling Culture: How to Keep Your Startup Spirit Alive as You Grow.”

4. Quarterly Objectives:

   • Q1: Grow her email list to 1,000 active subscribers.

   • Q2: Secure three new high-value consulting clients.

   • Q2: Land a speaking slot at a recognized tech event.

By committing these objectives to writing, Sarah had a clear roadmap. It was no longer guesswork or piecemeal marketing; she knew exactly how her efforts connected to her end goals.

Step 5: Measurement (Within PRISM)

With the strategy in place, Sarah didn’t wait until the end of six months to gauge success. She set up simple but consistent measurement protocols:

• LinkedIn Engagement: She tracked likes, comments, and shares on her posts, aiming for a 10% increase month over month.

• Website Metrics: Using Google Analytics, she monitored unique visits, bounce rates, and download rates for her e-book.

• Client Acquisition Funnel: She tracked the number of discovery calls she booked each month, the number of formal proposals she received, and the number of proposals she received that turned into paying gigs.

Whenever a metric fell short, Sarah regrouped to see what might need adjusting. For example, if e-book downloads lagged, she experimented with new calls-to-action or tested a different landing page layout. This data-driven approach kept her from wasting time on strategies that didn’t work.

Step 6: Align (Within ASCEND)

Shifting to the Ascend half of the framework, the first step was aligning everything Sarah had done with her personal values and life goals. This was an introspective process:

• Mission Statement: She refined her mission: “Empower fast-moving tech startups with leadership principles that drive sustainable growth and foster inclusive, innovative cultures.”

• Value Check: Sarah listed her top five values—integrity, innovation, empathy, growth, and collaboration—and ensured each piece of content, service offering, and public statement reflected those values.

• Visual Cohesion: From her website color palette to her LinkedIn banner, Sarah’s new brand aesthetic aligned with a sleek, forward-thinking vibe that echoed tech culture.

Align was the stage where Sarah made sure every touchpoint—her Zoom background, her email signature, even her personal introduction at events—reflected the brand identity she had worked so hard to develop.

Step 7: Strategize (Within ASCEND)

This phase might sound repetitive because strategy is part of PRISM. But in Ascend, Strategize drills deeper into how you expand beyond your initial plan, building on the foundation you’ve created:

• Collaborative Opportunities: Sarah identified potential partners, including HR tech companies, specialized productivity apps, and startup accelerators, that could benefit from her expertise. She created proposals for content collaborations, co-hosted webinars, and brand partnerships.

• Scaling Content: She considered outsourcing some of her social media and blog writing to maintain consistency as her client workload grew.

• Automation and Systems: As leads increased, Sarah used CRM tools to automate follow-ups and schedule consultation calls.

At this point, Sarah was leveling up. The brand was set, the messaging was strong, and she had some early wins to prove her approach worked. Now, she needed to scale those efforts systematically.

Step 8: Create (Within ASCEND)

In the Create phase, Sarah focused on building high-impact content and resources that showcased her expertise and expanded her reach:

• Video Series: She launched a short video series called “Startup Leadership Minutes,” posted weekly on LinkedIn and YouTube. Each video was only three minutes long but addressed a common leadership challenge in tech.

• Case Studies: She formalized case studies from two recent client successes. These ended up on her website as downloadable PDFs, reinforcing social proof for prospective clients.

• Email Nurture Sequences: She developed a 7-part email series called “Leadership Accelerator,” which new subscribers received automatically. Each email offered a targeted tip or resource, building a relationship and gradually leading them to book a call.

Sarah’s brand wasn’t just theoretical—it was tangible and resource-rich, making it easy for prospective clients to see her value.

Step 9: Engage (Within ASCEND)

With robust content ready to share, Sarah ramped up her engagement efforts:

• Speaking at Virtual Summits: She pitched her “Scaling Culture” talk to three online tech summits. Two accepted her proposal, giving her access to audiences of startup founders and investors.

• Social Media Campaigns: Sarah used some ad spending to promote her new video series and expand her audience beyond her immediate network.

• Community Building: She created a private LinkedIn group called “Leadership for High-Growth Startups,” inviting founders and HR leads to join. She posted discussion prompts weekly, fostering a sense of community around her expertise.

This stage was about amplifying her brand voice. Because she’d laid the groundwork, her content felt seamless and professional. Her messaging was clear and consistent—so the more she engaged, the more potential clients recognized her value.

Step 10: Nurture (Within ASCEND)

Engagement generated new leads, and the Nurture phase kept them warm and informed:

• Personalized Follow-Ups: After the event, Sarah emailed each new contact to thank them and offer a free 30-minute call to discuss their unique leadership challenges.

• Value-Added Emails: She frequently sent curated articles, tips, or webinar invitations to her email list, making sure every message felt relevant to a tech startup’s struggles.

• Client Retention Programs: Sarah added monthly check-ins and a discounted group workshop rate for existing clients if they wanted her to train multiple departments.

As a result, Sarah’s pipeline stayed consistently active. Rather than letting leads go cold, she nurtured them with genuine interest and support, demonstrating her commitment to their success.

Step 11: Dominate (Within ASCEND)

By the time Sarah reached Dominate, she had established a sizable footprint in her niche. Her brand was recognized among tech founders, and referrals started streaming in. Dominate is where she moved from a credible option to the go-to authority:

• Signature Program Launch: She unveiled a 12-week group coaching program, “The Tech Leader’s Blueprint,” which sold out in its inaugural run.

• High-Level Partnerships: A major startup accelerator invited Sarah to be a resident leadership mentor, giving her monthly access to their new cohorts.

• Media Recognition: She received invitations to appear on entrepreneurship podcasts and was quoted in a few online tech news outlets.

When a prospective client looked up “tech leadership coach,” Sarah’s name was increasingly mentioned, and her brand appeared polished and trustworthy at every digital touchpoint. This level of brand domination was not about ego but about ensuring her message and solutions were visible to the people who needed them most.

Part V: Challenges and Lessons Learned

No transformation is without bumps in the road. Sarah faced hurdles that tested her resolve—and her commitment to PRISM Ascend.

1. Time Constraints: Initially, Sarah struggled to balance client work with brand building. She had to learn to delegate or outsource tasks like basic social media scheduling.

2. Imposter Syndrome: When she first pitched summits and conference organizers, she felt anxious, questioning whether she belonged on stage. She pushed through thanks to a supportive peer network and her consultant’s guidance.

3. Overcomplication: At times, Sarah fell into “analysis paralysis,” trying to perfect every landing page or piece of content. She learned that consistent, good-enough content beats sporadic perfection.

4. Maintaining Authenticity: Sarah occasionally felt pressure to emulate other coaches she admired. Ultimately, she realized that her brand had to remain an authentic extension of her personality. Fake or forced branding rarely resonates in the long run.

Each challenge taught Sarah a valuable lesson about the importance of focus, resilience, collaboration, and authenticity in brand building. The PRISM Ascend framework provided guardrails, but Sarah still had to navigate her fears and habits.

Part VI: The Final Reveal—Sarah’s Transformed Brand

After nearly a year of dedicated effort, Sarah Evans emerged with a personal brand that reflected her genuine passion and expertise. Here’s a snapshot of what changed:

1. A Polished Online Presence:

   • Her website featured a clear brand statement, modern design, and client testimonials.

   • A unified color palette and logo gave her materials a signature look.

2. A Consistent Content Strategy:

   • Her LinkedIn was brimming with insightful content that tech founders eagerly engaged with.

   • A monthly column in a well-known industry blog further established her authority.

3. Robust Lead Generation and Conversion:

   • Her e-book was downloaded by 2,000+ startup leaders, funneling many into discovery calls.

   • She maintained a steady roster of high-value clients, 80% coming through organic referrals or content marketing.

4. Thought Leadership Recognition:

   • She was regularly invited as a panelist on webinars and virtual summits.

   • Her group coaching program, “The Tech Leader’s Blueprint,” became a sought-after crash course for new and aspiring startup CEOs.

The best part? Sarah no longer felt like she was chasing leads. Inbound requests became the norm, and word-of-mouth from satisfied clients expanded her influence. This newfound stability allowed her to be more selective, working on projects that excited her and aligned with her core values.

Part VII: Your Takeaway—How to Apply PRISM Ascend to Your Journey

Sarah’s story offers a blueprint for any solopreneur seeking to break through branding barriers. Here’s how you can adapt these lessons:

1. Dig Deep on Positioning

   • Be ruthless about defining your audience. Don’t try to appeal to everyone.

   • Ask: “What unique perspective or methodology do I bring?”

2. Ensure Relevance

   • Conduct audience research—surveys, interviews, or simple online polls—to discover real-world pain points.

   • Tailor your messaging to address those issues directly.

3. Build Influence Strategically

   • Pick 1–2 platforms where your audience is most active and create quality content there.

   • Seek out small wins (guest posts, podcasts) before aiming for major media placements.

4. Develop a Clear Strategy and System for Measurement

   • Set measurable goals (e.g., email subscribers, client bookings) and track your performance.

   • Stay flexible: if something isn’t working, don’t cling to it. Pivot based on data.

5. Align Your Brand with Your Values

   • If you’re not personally comfortable with how you’re presenting yourself, your audience will sense the inauthenticity.

   • Ensure your visual identity and tone reflect who you truly are.

6. Create Content and Resources That Solve Problems

   • Offer free tools, templates, or insights that showcase your expertise.

   • Make sure each piece of content ties back to your core value proposition.

7. Engage and Nurture

   • Don’t just broadcast—interact. Respond to comments, engage with your audience’s posts, and build genuine connections.

   • For new leads, follow up thoughtfully and offer them further value.

8. Dominate Your Niche Without Fear

   • Once you have a strong foundation, scale up your efforts.

   • Look for strategic partnerships, publish more in-depth content, and aim to become a key opinion leader in your specialty.

Above all, remember that brand transformation is a journey, not a single event. You’ll evolve, refine, and grow over time, and that’s perfectly natural. PRISM Ascend is designed to help you do so in a structured, purposeful way.

Embracing the Framework, Embracing Your Potential

Building a powerful personal brand as a solopreneur can feel like a balancing act—juggling the need for authenticity with market expectations, learning to communicate your value while staying humble, and pushing yourself into the spotlight without losing your sense of self. In Sarah’s case, the PRISM Ascend framework offered more than just a branding formula; it provided a holistic transformation that touched her mindset, business strategies, and client relationships.

Each letter in PRISM represents a critical pillar: Position, Relevance, Influence, Strategy, and Measurement. These pillars ensure you lay a rock-solid foundation for your brand. Then, the “Ascend” portion—align, Strategize, Create, Engage, Nurture, and Dominate—brings that foundation to life, guiding you through iterative steps of creation, interaction, and expansion in the marketplace.

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed in your branding journey, take heart in Sarah's example. Begin by defining who you truly serve and what unique value you bring. Talk to your market, refine your message, and be prepared to demonstrate your credibility through consistent, high-quality content and relationship-building. Create a clear blueprint with goals, and never forget to iterate as you learn what resonates.

By applying PRISM Ascend, you can sidestep the guesswork and chaos that often plague solopreneurs, replacing them with clarity, purpose and a roadmap for sustainable growth. It won’t happen overnight and won’t come without effort, but the payoff—a cohesive, compelling brand that draws the right clients to you—is well worth the journey.

A strong personal brand isn’t just about higher revenue or industry recognition; it’s about alignment—between who you are, what you offer, and the people you want to help. When you find that alignment, everything else becomes more straightforward. You’ll move through the business world with greater confidence, attract clients who genuinely appreciate what you do, and find that growth feels natural and scalable.

So, are you ready to embark on your own transformation? Take the first step: audit your current brand, pinpoint your niche, and ask yourself if your messaging truly resonates with those you want to serve. If not, it might be time to explore a structured approach like PRISM Ascend—an approach that doesn’t just raise your profile but ensures you become the best version of yourself in the process.

5 Quick Wins: Getting Press in Your First Month

Securing press coverage in the dynamic business world can significantly elevate your brand’s visibility, credibility, and growth trajectory. For female entrepreneurs stepping into the entrepreneurial arena, gaining media attention within the first month can set a strong foundation for sustained success.

At Marquet Media, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities of building a brand from the ground up. Leveraging our extensive experience and proprietary PRISM Ascend framework, we’ve identified five quick wins to help you secure press coverage swiftly and effectively in your first month. These strategies are designed to be actionable, efficient, and tailored to the needs of women-led businesses aiming to make a significant impact.

Launching a new business is an exhilarating journey filled with opportunities and challenges. Among the myriad tasks, securing press coverage is often a pivotal element that can propel your brand into the spotlight. Press enhances your brand’s credibility, drives traffic, generates leads, and fosters trust among your target audience. However, for startups and female entrepreneurs, navigating the media landscape can be daunting, especially when resources are limited and time is of the essence.

Marquet Media specializes in empowering female entrepreneurs through strategic PR and branding solutions. Our mission is to demystify the complexities of public relations, providing you with the tools and strategies needed to secure meaningful media coverage. By implementing these five quick wins, you can effectively position your brand, engage with the media, and achieve substantial press coverage within your first month of operation.

Quick Win 1: Craft a Compelling Press Release

A well-crafted press release is your first step toward gaining media attention. It serves as a formal announcement of your business, product launch, or significant milestone. Here’s how to create a press release that grabs attention:

1.1 Define Your News Angle

Identify what makes your business or announcement newsworthy. This could be a unique product, an innovative service, a significant achievement, or a social impact initiative. Your news angle should resonate with your target media outlets and align with their audience’s interests.

Example: If you’re launching a sustainable fashion line, highlight the eco-friendly materials, ethical manufacturing processes, and the positive environmental impact of your products.

1.2 Write a Clear and Engaging Headline

Your headline should be concise, informative, and compelling. It’s the first thing journalists see, so make it count. A strong headline encourages media outlets to read further.

Example: “EcoChic Launches Revolutionary Sustainable Fashion Line to Combat Fast Fashion”

1.3 Structure Your Press Release Effectively

A press release should follow the standard inverted pyramid format:

• Headline: Captures the essence of your announcement.

• Dateline: Includes the city and date when the announcement will be released.

• Introduction: Summarizes the key points—who, what, when, where, why, and how.

• Body: Provides detailed information, quotes from key stakeholders, and supporting data.

• Boilerplate: A brief overview of your company, including contact information.

1.4 Include Quotes and Data

Adding quotes from founders, industry experts, or satisfied customers adds credibility and a personal touch to your press release. You can also add interesting, relevant data, quotes, and statistics to back up your claims and demonstrate your business's impact.

Example: “"Our mission is to transform the fashion landscape by placing sustainability and eco-friendly materials at the forefront, all while maintaining a keen eye for style,” explains Jane Doe, the visionary Founder of EcoFashion. “Using 100% organic cotton and collaborating with fair-trade manufacturers, we guarantee that our collections embody elegance and uphold ethical practices at every step of the production process.”

1.5 Distribute Your Press Release Strategically

Target and send your press releases and pitches to media outlets that cover your industry. Use distribution services like PR Newswire or Business Wire for broader reach, but also consider sending personalized pitches to specific journalists and bloggers who are likely to be interested in your story.

Pro Tip: Tailor each press release to the publication’s style and audience. Personalization increases the likelihood of your release being picked up.

Quick Win 2: Leverage Social Media for Media Outreach

Social media is a great way to connect with editors, journalists, and influencers who can amplify your press coverage. Here’s how to effectively use social platforms to secure media attention:

2.1 Identify and Follow Relevant Journalists and Influencers

Research and create a list of journalists, bloggers, and influencers who cover your area of expertise. Follow them on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Example: If you’re in the wellness industry, identify wellness bloggers, health journalists, and fitness influencers who resonate with your brand values.

2.2 Share Valuable Content Regularly

Regularly posting valuable content on your social media channels establishes your brand as an authority in your field. Share insights, behind-the-scenes looks, success stories, and industry trends to engage your audience and attract media attention.

Example: Post about your sustainable practices, share customer testimonials, or highlight the artisans who help create your products.

2.3 Use Hashtags and Mentions Strategically

Use relevant hashtags to increase the organic visibility and reach of your posts. When sharing content that aligns with their interests, mention journalists or influencers. This can prompt them to engage with your brand and potentially cover your story.

Example: When posting about your new product line, use hashtags like #SustainableFashion, #WomenEntrepreneurs, or #EcoFriendly. Mention a wellness influencer who might be interested in your brand’s mission.

2.4 Engage in Conversations and Build Relationships

Participate in industry-related social media conversations. Join Twitter chats, LinkedIn groups, and Instagram Live sessions to connect with like-minded individuals and media professionals. Building genuine relationships can lead to media opportunities and collaborations.

Pro Tip: Don’t just promote your brand—provide value by sharing knowledge, answering questions, and supporting others in your network.

Quick Win 3: Optimize Your Website for Media Requests

Your website should serve as a hub for all media-related information. Optimizing it for media requests ensures journalists can easily find the information they need to cover your story.

3.1 Create a Dedicated Press Page

Develop a dedicated press page on your website that includes all essential information for journalists. This page should be accessible from your homepage and contain the following elements:

• About Your Company: A brief business overview, mission, and values.

• Press Releases: An archive of your latest press releases and media coverage.

• Media Kit: A downloadable media kit containing high-resolution logos, product images, company facts, and key executive bios.

• Contact Information: Clear contact details for your PR representative, including email and phone number.

3.2 Ensure Mobile-Friendliness and Fast Loading Times

Many journalists access information on the go, so ensure your mobile-friendly press page loads quickly. A seamless user experience encourages media professionals to engage with your content.

3.3 Incorporate SEO Best Practices

Optimize your press page with relevant keywords to improve its search engine ranking. Use SEO-friendly titles, meta descriptions, and alt text for images to enhance discoverability.

Example: Use keywords like “sustainable fashion press kit,” “female entrepreneur media contact,” or “EcoChic press releases” to attract relevant media searches.

3.4 Provide Clear and Concise Information

Journalists often have limited time, so present information clearly and concisely. Use images, videos, bullet points, headings, and short paragraphs to make your press page easy to scan and navigate.

Pro Tip: Include a FAQ section addressing common questions about your business, products, and mission to assist journalists in their coverage further.

Quick Win 4: Host a Media Event or Webinar

Hosting a media event or webinar provides a platform to showcase your expertise, products, and brand story directly to journalists and influencers. This interactive approach can generate substantial media interest and coverage.

4.1 Plan a Compelling Event Theme

Pick a theme that aligns with your business and brand’s mission and interests your target media audience. Whether it’s a product launch, industry panel, or educational webinar, ensure the theme is relevant and engaging.

Example: An eco-friendly beauty brand might host a webinar on “Sustainable Beauty Practices for the Modern Woman,” featuring industry experts and demonstrating their products’ eco-friendly benefits.

4.2 Invite Targeted Media Professionals

Curate a guest list of journalists, bloggers, and influencers likely to be interested in your event. Personalize invitations to make them feel valued and encourage attendance.

Example: Send personalized email invitations to beauty editors, lifestyle bloggers, and eco-conscious influencers, highlighting why the event is relevant to their audience.

4.3 Provide Value and Engage Your Audience

Ensure that your event offers valuable insights, actionable takeaways, and opportunities for interaction. Incorporate Q&A sessions, live demonstrations, and panel discussions to keep attendees engaged.

Example: During a product launch webinar, demonstrate your products' unique features, share behind-the-scenes stories, and answer questions from the audience to create a dynamic and interactive experience.

4.4 Follow-Up with Attendees and Media

After the event is over, send personalized follow-up emails to attendees and media professionals. Thank them for participating, providing additional resources, and offering exclusive content or interviews to encourage further coverage.

Pro Tip: Include a link to the event recording, high-resolution images, and key takeaways to make it easy for journalists to reference and publish their stories.

Quick Win 5: Utilize Testimonials and Case Studies

Testimonials, quotes, and case studies are social proof that can persuade media professionals to cover your story. They demonstrate the real-world impact of your products or services and build trust and credibility for your brand.

5.1 Collect and Curate Authentic Testimonials

Gather testimonials from satisfied customers, partners, and industry experts. Ensure that each testimonial highlights specific benefits and positive experiences.

5.2 Develop Comprehensive Case Studies

Draft and offer detailed case studies that show how your products or services have solved certain client problems. Include measurable results, quotes, and before-and-after scenarios to provide a compelling narrative.

Example: A case study for a female entrepreneur using your PR services to secure media coverage and achieve a 200% increase in online sales can illustrate the effectiveness of your strategies.

5.3 Promote Testimonials and Case Studies to Media

Feature testimonials and case studies on your press page, website, and social media channels. Share them with journalists and bloggers as part of your media outreach to provide credible evidence of your brand’s success.

Pro Tip: Use visually appealing formats, such as video testimonials and interactive case studies, to enhance engagement and make your stories more memorable.

Implementing the Quick Wins: A Strategic Approach

Following this strategic approach is essential to implement these five quick wins effectively. Here’s how Marquet Media can help you integrate these strategies seamlessly into your first month’s PR efforts:

Leverage the PRISM Ascend Framework

Our proprietary PRISM Ascend framework is designed to guide you through each step of the PR process, ensuring that your strategies are well-planned, integrated, and scalable. From crafting compelling press releases to optimizing your media outreach, PRISM Ascend provides a structured approach that maximizes your chances of securing press coverage.

Automate and Streamline with AI Tools

Utilize AI and automation tools to streamline your PR tasks, saving you time and enhancing efficiency. Tools like Canva for design, HubSpot for CRM and email marketing, and Hootsuite for social media scheduling can automate repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on strategic initiatives.

Monitor and Measure Success

Monitor your PR efforts regularly using analytics tools to measure the effectiveness of your strategies. Track metrics such as media placements, website traffic numbers, social media growth and engagement, and lead generation to assess your progress and make data-driven adjustments.

Engage with Your Community

Foster a supportive community around your brand by talking to your audience and followers through social media, webinars, and interactive content. Building strong relationships with your followers enhances brand loyalty and increases the chances of your audience sharing your story with the media.

Securing press coverage in your first month is an ambitious, achievable goal with the right strategies and support. By implementing these five quick wins—crafting compelling press releases, leveraging social media, optimizing your website for media requests, hosting media events, and utilizing testimonials and case studies—you can effectively position your brand for media success. At Marquet Media, we are committed to empowering female entrepreneurs with the tools and expertise to navigate the PR landscape confidently.

Remember, building a strong media presence is not an overnight process. It requires consistency, strategic planning, and a willingness to authentically engage with the media and your audience. By following these actionable steps and leveraging our PRISM Ascend framework, you can overcome the initial challenges of securing press coverage and set your brand on a path to growth and visibility.

Take the next step in increasing your brand’s PR efforts. Contact Marquet Media today to discover how our tailored PR services can help you achieve your media goals and empower your business to thrive.

Why Data-Driven PR Is the Future: How Our PRISM Framework Leverages Analytics

In today’s digital era, public relations (PR) is no longer just about pitching stories or maintaining media relationships. It’s about leveraging data to shape strategies, measure impact, and refine messaging in real time. Data-driven PR allows brands to craft more targeted campaigns, better understand their audience, and achieve tangible results.

At Marquet Media, we’ve built our PRISM framework to harness the power of analytics, helping our clients stand out in the competitive landscape. In this post, we will share why data is crucial for PR success and how the PRISM framework uses analytics to drive exceptional client outcomes, with FemFounder as a prime example.

The Shift Toward Data-Driven PR

The PR industry has transformed over the past decade. What used to be an industry reliant on intuition and media relationships has evolved into one that values measurable outcomes and precision targeting. Today, PR professionals must be able to show the impact of their work using concrete data. The increasing popularity of digital channels, social media, and advanced data analytics tools has made it easier to quantify the effectiveness of PR strategies. Data-driven PR isn’t just a trend—it’s become an essential practice for those looking to thrive in a constantly evolving media landscape.

The Role of Data in Modern PR

1. Enhanced Audience Understanding: With analytics tools, PR professionals can delve into audience demographics, behaviors, and interests. Understanding your audience and what they care about allows for more effective message crafting and channel selection, ensuring your stories resonate with the right people.

2. Precise Targeting: Data allows PR teams to create campaigns that reach the right people at the right time. This precision is crucial for brands with niche audiences, like FemFounder, which caters to female entrepreneurs. Data ensures that resources are used efficiently, with messaging customized to the needs and preferences of each audience segment.

3. Measuring ROI: Traditional PR often struggled to quantify success. Today, data helps PR teams track media mentions, website traffic, engagement rates, and even conversions directly tied to PR efforts. These metrics prove the value of PR in a way that was previously difficult to achieve, helping clients know the return on investment.

4. Real-Time Adaptation: Data enables PR professionals to track the effectiveness of campaigns as they unfold. This means strategies can be adjusted quickly, ensuring that messaging remains relevant and impactful throughout the campaign’s lifecycle. It allows brands to pivot quickly when needed, maintaining momentum and adapting to the latest trends.

Introducing the PRISM Framework

The PRISM framework was born from recognizing that successful PR must be rooted in data and driven by insights. The PRISM model stands for Proprietary Tools, Relationship Building, Insights, Simplified Workflow, and Message Development. Each framework component uses analytics to ensure our PR strategies are effective, efficient, and aligned with our clients’ goals.

Proprietary Tools: Harnessing the Power of Data

Data is only as useful as the tools that capture it. At Marquet Media, we leverage proprietary tools that help us track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) across all channels. These tools allow us to monitor social media trends, track media coverage, analyze website performance, and gather sentiment analysis from various digital platforms.

Example from FemFounder: When FemFounder launched a new blog series aimed at female entrepreneurs, our tools allowed us to track engagement rates and click-throughs from social media channels. These insights showed that posts about work-life balance resonated most with the audience, leading us to create more content around this theme. As a result, FemFounder saw a 25% increase in time spent on its website.

Relationship Building: Data-Enhanced Connections

While data is essential, the human element remains a cornerstone of effective PR. However, data enhances our ability to build and maintain media relationships. Using data analytics, we can identify which journalists and bloggers are writing about topics relevant to our clients, track engagement with past stories, and craft pitches that align with their interests.

Example from FemFounder: Our data-driven approach identified key journalists in the startup and wellness spaces who frequently covered female entrepreneurship. By targeting these journalists with tailored pitches, we secured media placements for FemFounder in leading publications like Inc. and SheKnows, resulting in a 25% increase in media mentions.

Insights: Transforming Data into Strategy

Insights are the fuel that powers effective PR strategies. Our team uses data to uncover trends, understand audience preferences, and identify emerging opportunities in the media landscape. With the PRISM framework, we turn raw data into actionable insights that guide our messaging and outreach efforts.

Example from FemFounder: We discovered that conversations around “female founders” and “work-from-home challenges” were trending among FemFounder’s target audience through a social listening exercise. This insight led us to launch a blog series and webinar addressing these topics, which quickly became some of the most popular content on the site. This data-driven pivot increased FemFounder’s blog traffic by 30% within two months.

Simplified Workflow: Efficiency through Automation

Data and analytics can be complex, but our PRISM framework simplifies the process, ensuring that our team spends less on manual tasks and more on strategic initiatives. By automating data collection and reporting, we create a streamlined workflow that allows us to focus on crafting compelling narratives and building relationships.

Example from FemFounder: By automating our monthly media monitoring reports, we saved significant time, which allowed us to focus more on strategic partnerships and content creation. This efficiency helped us secure an exclusive interview series with high-profile female entrepreneurs, further boosting FemFounder’s credibility.

Message Development: Data-Driven Storytelling

Data isn’t just about numbers; it’s about storytelling. The PRISM framework uses data to refine messaging, ensuring that every press release, social media post, and email campaign speaks directly to the audience’s needs and desires. By A/B testing headlines and analyzing engagement data, we can continuously refine our approach for better results.

Example from FemFounder: By analyzing the open and click-through rates of FemFounder’s email campaigns, we discovered that subject lines featuring phrases like “exclusive access” and “founder tips” performed the best. We used this insight to adjust our messaging across channels, resulting in a 22% increase in email engagement.

The Future of PR is Data-Driven

The PR industry is at a turning point, with data and analytics playing an increasingly central role in shaping strategies. Brands embracing a data-driven PR approach are better positioned to navigate today’s media landscape. Here’s why data-driven PR is not just a trend but the future of the industry:

1. AI and Predictive Analytics in PR: AI tools can analyze large datasets to identify patterns, predict media trends, and suggest optimal times for press releases and social media posts. Predictive analytics can forecast audience reactions to different messages, allowing PR teams to fine-tune their campaigns before they go live.

2. Personalized PR Campaigns: Data allows brands to craft highly customized PR campaigns that speak directly to individual interests and preferences. By analyzing customer data, PR teams can segment audiences and tailor their messaging, leading to higher engagement and more meaningful connections.

3. The Integration of PR and Digital Marketing: Data has blurred the lines between PR and digital marketing. Today’s most successful PR campaigns integrate with SEO strategies, social media marketing, and content creation. This ensures consistent messaging across all channels and allows brands to leverage PR coverage to drive website traffic, improve search rankings, and generate leads.

Real-World Results: FemFounder’s Data-Driven Success

The PRISM framework has transformed how FemFounder approaches PR, allowing the brand to leverage data for better results. Here are some of the key successes achieved through our data-driven approach:

1. Increased Website Traffic by 35%: By analyzing which topics resonated most with FemFounder’s audience, we optimized the content strategy to focus on high-performing themes. This led to a 35% increase in organic website traffic over 10 months.

2. Growth in Email Subscribers: Through A/B testing of subject lines and content, we refined FemFounder’s email marketing strategy, growing the subscriber list by 100,000 members in less than a year. This new audience directly contributed to a 27% boost in inquiries for Marquet Media’s PR services.

3. Secured High-Profile Media Placements: Using data to target journalists covering the startup and wellness spaces, we secured features in top-tier publications like Forbes, Allure, and FastCompany. These placements significantly increased FemFounder’s visibility and credibility, attracting more collaborators and partnerships.

Conclusion: Embrace the Future with Data-Driven PR

Data-driven PR is not just about numbers; it’s about making informed decisions that amplify your brand’s story and drive meaningful results. At Marquet Media, our PRISM framework leverages data to craft PR strategies that are both strategic and agile, allowing us to adjust and refine our approach in real-time. For brands like FemFounder, data-driven PR has been a game-changer, helping us connect with the right audiences, build lasting media relationships, and achieve measurable success.

If you’re ready to take your PR efforts to the next level with a data-driven approach, contact us at Marquet Media. Let’s explore how our PRISM framework can help you achieve your PR goals, amplify your brand’s message, and build a more engaged and loyal audience. Together, we’ll transform data into insights and insights into success.

Publicity 101: 6 Proven Tips to Secure PR for Your Startup or Small Business

Getting publicity for your small business or startup can seem like an insurmountable task for even the most seasoned founder, entrepreneur, speaker, or coach. But it doesn’t have to be. When you have the right knowledge and tools in your marketing arsenal, securing media coverage in any publication or on any podcast or television show is attainable. 

 Continue reading to learn how you can secure media coverage for your startup or small business within the next 30 days! You will save tens of thousands of dollars on hiring a public relations agency.  

If you’re a small business owner, coach, speaker or startup founder, crafting a compelling story for the media can seem like an overwhelming and intimidating task. It’s one thing to produce content for your social media channels, your company blog, your email newsletter, or communicate with customers over email and a live chat, but it’s an entirely new ball game to come up with content for a journalist, editor, television producer, or podcast host.

It’s important to understand that publicity is crucial to the long-term success of any business; however, trying to figure out what story or pitching angle that will resonate with the media the most is very difficult even when you have a PR background or a newspaper or magazine’s editorial calendar in front of you. So, don’t be fooled—PR people have just as hard of a time as regular entrepreneurs. 

But to help you maximize your chances of securing media coverage while shortening your learning curve, I’m going to share my top tried-and-true PR tips below.

1.     PR Newsworthiness and Media Interest: Figure out what makes you and your small business or startup newsworthy to secure publicity. Before you pitch any story, you will need to determine what makes your business newsworthy. A newsworthy story can be anything from a prestigious new hire, opening a new office in a new city, releasing a book, taking a controversial stand, or hosting an event. Announcing the launch or the release of something can be considered newsworthy. Just keep in mind why the media should care about this launch and how this angle will be of interest to whatever outlet you’re pitching. My best piece of PR advice is to consider how your story will help the media or be of interest to the media’s audience/viewership.

2.     Where Your Story Can Fit in What Outlets and What Columns: Now that you know what makes your business newsworthy, it’s time to determine where your story can fit in what types of publications, as well as which column. I encourage you to read all of the websites, blogs, magazines, and newspapers, as well as watch/listen to the television stations and podcasts where your story can fit.

Start by looking at your local news. If you own a restaurant or brick-and-mortar business, then your story can fit into your local newspaper, magazine, or on a local television segment. However, if you own an e-commerce shop, then depending on what you sell, your story can fit into a wide range of media. For instance, if you own a women’s apparel brand, you may be able to secure publicity on ELLE.com or Glamour.com. If you own a SaaS business, then try looking at Mashable.com or business outlets. Determining where your story can fit is just as important as figuring out what makes your business newsworthy enough to generate PR.

3.     Create The Media List of Your Top 10 Outlets: Now that you know why you and your business could be considered interesting to the media as well as which outlets that may want to run your story, it’s time to figure out which media professionals to pitch. I like to build my media lists in Google Sheets and segment it by Name, Outlet, Title, Location, Email, Beat(s), and Status (so you can keep track of who you pitched and when). Beats are topics that editors cover, btw. Keeping a spreadsheet allows me to know who, when, and what I pitched and helps me stay organized because it’s easy to forget who you pitched and when with what story angle. There’s nothing more annoying to journalists than sending the same pitches to them over and over again.

Please note--today it’s easier than ever to find the right media contact through LinkedIn.com, on Twitter, or Instagram. You can also find the right media contacts by looking at the masthead of a magazine, newspaper, or website. If email addresses are not visible, you can use this useful tool to find out the right email format. This resource will show you the format for the largest and notable magazines, websites, and newspapers.

4.     Start Building a Relationship with the Media Before Pitching Your Story: So now that you have your media list, it’s time to build a connection before pitching your story. But I’m sure you’re asking, “Kristin, how do I introduce myself to an editor or journalist without sounding awkward or like an idiot?” Well, I like to reach out to an editor or journalist before I pitch them, so they become familiar with who I am and the types of clients I represent. A short introduction goes a long way. I would use an introduction like the following one.

Subject Line: Introduction to Name or Company Name

Hi Name, (Make sure you spell their name correctly because it shows laziness if you don’t).  

I read your (article name) in (X publication) and I found it useful (in Y way). I wanted to reach out to introduce myself. I’m (name) and I do (insert job title), and in case you’re ever in need of (X), I’m available to comment on:

·      Topic 1

·      Topic 2

·      Topic 3

·      Topic 4

·      Topic 5

Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kristin 

End with a short media bio. Here’s an example of mine.

In some cases, you will hear back from the editor or journalist, which is exactly what you want to happen. When you do hear back, be sure to respond within 24 hours with what the journalist is asking for, if not sooner. But if you don’t receive a response, it’s okay because now they’ve seen your name and your pitch yourself accordingly. Just be polite and respectful when you do send your pitch.

5.     Making Sure to Pitch Your Story to the Right Media Professionals: Okay, so you’ve reached out to the top 10 outlets to introduce yourself to all of the places where you want to be featured, but now you’re stumped on how to draft a pitch that someone actually wants to read and respond to. Your pitch should be relevant and timely, as well as concise and written in the tone of the outlet in which you’re pitching. Your pitch’s subject line should include who, what, and why, the text of the pitch should be fewer than 500 words, answer the five W’s and how in the first paragraph, include a handful of bullet points, and a media bio or boilerplate. Here’s an example of an outline/format of a pitch that I use for all pitches.

Subject Line: Include What You’re Pitching, When, and What Type of Story You Are Pitching  

Hi Name,

You recognize what beat the editor covers and the topic you're pitching (one sentence)

Your introduction (one sentence)

What/who you're pitching and how it relates to the editor's readership (one to two sentences) Why/where/when/how you're pitching it (one to two sentences)

Five to seven bullet points (each one has its own line)

Closing (one line)

Contact information (Telephone number, company, and email address)

Bio or Boilerplate (Four to five lines) Website (one line)

Social Media links (two lines)

If you haven’t heard back from an editor, journalist, or television producer after the first pitch, you can follow up two more times (over the course of two weeks) before marking that publication’s pitch a “no” and moving into the next publication. It doesn’t necessarily mean you were rejected, but it’s more than your story wasn’t the right fit at that time. It happens all of the time, so try not to let it bother you. You can always reach out with a new angle a few months later. 

6.     Syndicate your placements to leverage bigger media opportunities: You’ve secured publicity—a story on an industry website or the digital version of a national magazine or newspaper. That’s very exciting but it’s only the first step. To ensure you promote this credibility and attract more and larger media opportunities, you should syndicate your media features. Here are a few ways we encourage our clients to promote their publicity features.

·      Social Media: Promote all of your publicity features on your social media networks. Twitter.com, LinkedIn.com, Facebook.com, and Instagram.com are the best places to promote your PR stories.

·      Videos: Create videos featuring your publicity stories and upload them to Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, and YouTube.

·      Email Marketing: If you send out newsletters, include all of your media features in the footer of the emails. These features enhance your credibility.

·      Email Signatures: Include links to your publicity in your email signatures.

·      Your Website: Add a media or press page to your website and include an “As Featured In” section on your website’s homepage. Featuring press on a single banner on the homepage is a great way to show off those media placements along with increasing your credibility.

·      Tag the Media that Cover You and Your Small Business on Social Media: Tag all the media in your social media posts that featured you. In some cases, they will repost your posts. This also helps make the editor’s job easier because the media run will get more traffic, reads, and shares.

·      Blogging: Write blog posts about each PR feature. This is great for showing off your credibility and can help improve search engine rankings.

·      Internal Team: Ask your team members to promote any and all features in their email signatures.

·      Content Syndication: Create a publication on Medium.com and post all of your media features there.

Keep in mind, if an editor or television sees you were featured in a top-tier publication—whether it’s on your website or in a magazine or newspaper--they will be more likely to reach out to you for a comment or quote, over someone who has not had any publicity. A perfect example of this is, a client of mine had been featured in many top-tier women’s publications, so an editor from one of the biggest women’s beauty magazines used her expertise and quote over all of the other experts in her field. This was due to the fact that my client had earned a tremendous amount of publicity and was notable.  

o   Please remember this one thing when it comes to content syndication, Google can penalize your content if it’s duplicated on multiple websites. My recommendation would be to add canonical tags to your duplicate content to prevent any penalties. You can learn more about canonical tags here.  

Getting publicity for your startup or small business can seem like a grueling task for an entrepreneur, but if you follow the six steps above, it will make the process of getting PR a lot easier than hiring a PR firm--which can cost in the mid-four to low five figures per month.