Strategic Growth for Women-Led Service Businesses

Simplify your marketing. Scale your business. Grow sustainably, without burning out.

You’re great at what you do.

But figuring out how to market and grow your business? That’s where it gets murky.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Let’s create a clear, focused marketing strategy that brings in qualified leads, positions you as a thought leader, and helps you scale with ease, without working around the clock.

You’re doing all the things, but wondering if they’re the right things.

You're smart.

You're driven.

You’re doing what everyone says “should” work. But…

❌ You feel scattered, like your marketing is all over the place

❌ You’re getting referrals, but growth feels painfully slow

❌ You know you need a plan, not more content or chaos

❌ You feel stretched too thin and worried about burning out

What if it could be simpler?

Here’s what we help you unlock:

✅ A clear strategy that aligns with your unique strengths and goals
✅ A marketing plan that feels doable and actually works
✅ Systems that support sustainable, scalable growth
✅ Support and expert guidance, so you’re not doing it all alone
Peace of mind knowing you’re building something that lasts

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what works, with less stress and more simplicity.

01.

MASTER YOUR MARKETING MASTERMIND

For female solopreneurs and small businesses

Get the blueprint, accountability, and expert coaching you need, alongside a supportive community of like-minded women.

Finally grow your business without doing it all alone.

02.

MARKETING STRATEGIST & CONSULTING ON DEMAND

For solopreneurs and small businesses

Grow your business with ease with our Monthly strategic support from your own marketing strategist; no fluff, just focused planning and insight when you need it most.

Get clear direction each month, so you know where to focus.

03.

SIMPLIFY TO SCALE ACCELERATOR

For growing small businesses looking to scale beyond 7 figures.

A 6-month (or longer) strategic engagement to create a 90-day marketing plan, streamline your messaging, and map your customer journey, with execution included.

Build a smarter growth plan, and execute with ease, that gets you ROI fast.

04.

MARKETING TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS

For small businesses and teams who need support on a specialized topic.

Custom workshops for your team on everything from strategy to implementation, led by Carrie Flynn, educator and CMO for multimillion-dollar brands.

Empower your team with simple marketing strategies & systems for sustainable growth.

Why It Works

Our Approach:

Strategy, Systems & Sustainability

Strategic Foundation
We don’t do one-size-fits-all.

We craft your growth strategy based on what works best for you.

Sustainable Systems
No more hustle-and-hope marketing.

We help you build repeatable, results-driven workflows.

Thoughtful Teaching
You’ll never feel overwhelmed or alone.

We teach, train, and support every step of the way.


Real Results, Real Women

Ready to stop spinning your wheels and start growing with clarity?

Let’s simplify your strategy, align your marketing, and build your business sustainably.

In our latest blog post, we dive into how small business owners can use earned media to get featured in the news—without needing a PR agency or paid ads.

How to Get Free PR: Earned Media Tips for Small Businesses

February 18, 20263 min read

How to Get Featured in the News:
Earned Media Tips for Small Business Owners

If you're a woman running a professional service business and want to get more visibility without burning out, you're in the right place.

I'm Carrie Flynn, a marketing strategist who believes in simple, sustainable marketing strategies that work long-term. One of my favorite underused tools? Earned media. Yes, we're talking about public relations (PR) without the overwhelm—earned media for small business that actually works.

What is Earned Media, and Why Should You Care?

Earned media means getting featured in news outlets, online publications, or print media without paying for it. Think of it as publicity you earn by being helpful, knowledgeable, and timely. Unlike paid ads or endless content creation, earned media is completely free and comes with several sustainable benefits:

Instant credibility — You're seen as an expert.

SEO boost — Your website can benefit from backlinks.

Wider reach — Get in front of audiences you might never meet otherwise.

Repurposable content — Use those features on your website, emails, and social media.

Why This Strategy Works

You’ve probably seen websites with an “As Seen In” section showing logos from news stations or publications. These aren’t just pretty graphics; they build trust. People want to work with businesses they know, like, and trust. Being featured in reputable media gives you a huge credibility bump and helps fast-track that trust factor.

How to Get Started with Earned Media

Let’s make this practical. Here are simple, actionable steps to help you dip your toes into earned media:

1. Watch the News

Stay aware of what’s happening locally and nationally. Is there a trending topic or breaking news related to your industry? This is your chance to step in with expertise.

2. Set Up Google Alerts

Create alerts for keywords in your industry to get daily summaries of related news. This keeps you ahead of trends and opportunities to pitch your insight.

3. Create a Media Pitch Template

Have a short, medium, and longer version of your pitch ready. Keep it concise and focused on how you can add value. You don’t need a fancy media kit to begin.

4. Sign Up for HARO

Help A Reporter Out (HARO) is a free platform where journalists look for expert sources. It’s a goldmine for small businesses looking for visibility.

5. Don’t Wait for Perfection

You don’t need a polished PR strategy to get started. One of my friends in IT saw a breaking news story about a tech outage, picked up the phone, and offered to speak on the issue. Within hours, he was interviewed by four different news stations.

FAQ

What is earned media in marketing?

Earned media is publicity you receive through unpaid means like news features, interviews, or digital mentions—it's free exposure earned through your expertise.

How can small businesses use earned media?

By watching for news opportunities, creating a simple pitch, and signing up for platforms like HARO, small business owners can gain visibility and credibility.

Does earned media improve SEO?

Yes! Being featured on high-authority sites provides valuable backlinks that help boost your search engine ranking.

Take Your First Step Today

Want to give this a try? Here’s your mini action plan:

Set a Google Alert for your top industry keywords.

Draft a short pitch email.

Sign up for HARO or another expert-matching service.

Look for a news story this week where you can offer insight—and send your pitch!

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start. If you try this strategy, tag me on LinkedIn or DM me—I’d love to hear your success story. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Simple and Sustainable Marketing Podcast for more practical tips to grow your business without the burnout.

media exposurePR tipssmall business PRSEO boostmarketing strategybusiness visibility
blog author image

Carrie Flynn

Carrie Flynn is a fractional CMO and growth marketing consultant who helps law and financial firms grow legacy businesses by planning their marketing actions in a strategic and sustainable way. Whether she’s helping firms expand into the online space or helping them leverage digital marketing to make a bigger impact, Carrie helps her clients earn a significant income without burning the candle at both ends.

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Carrie Flynn

Marketing Strategist & Consultant

ABOUT VIRTUAL SIMPLICITY

We’re Virtual Simplicity: A boutique marketing firm helping women-run service businesses grow with clarity and ease.

Our signature Simple Sustainable Marketing Method is designed for ambitious women like you: women who want strategy, support, and sanity as they grow.

With almost a decade of experience in strategy, teaching, and business development, we offer real, effective marketing systems that generate results without sacrificing your values or your life.

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