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

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.