Many business owners want to publicise their business, product, or service but many just can’t afford to pay a professional ad or PR agency to do it for them. They know that people need to be aware of their product or service in order to get customers, yet what can you do if you don’t have the funds to market your business properly? Do it yourself!

Handle Your Own PR was created for sole traders, start-ups, entrepreneurs and micro businesses to run their own publicity campaigns. The website teaches people the tricks of the trade – from what to get together before you start, to how to write a good media release, the best way to contact the media, what the lead times are like for different types of media and much more. The site also sells media contact lists for those that are ready to send their story to journalists and editors in their target markets.

Jules Brooke has been running PR agency, Handle Communications, for many years.  She knows how powerful good publicity can be for a business.  She decided to create a website to help businesses without much marketing budget to run their own publicity campaigns. “PR is not rocket science but there are a few trade secrets,” says Jules, “you need a strong media release, some great media contacts and the time to dedicate to your campaign.”

From 2014, Handle Your Own PR also offers PR coaching. Jules will help SMEs discover what the best angle for their business is, offers encouragement and feedback to ensure there is a strong media release ready to go and will work with people so they understand what media they should target, and when. Jules can also train staff members who may have the capacity to run PR in-house but need to have someone to guide them for the first campaign and the strategy.

All of the media lists on the Handle Your Own PR website contain the names, phone numbers and email addresses of media who want to hear from relevant businesses.  “We have developed a lot of media relationships over the years,” says Jules, “and these media lists are full of people who have been specifically contacted about Handle Your Own PR and have agreed to be included.  They want to hear about great new businesses, products and services.”  

The media lists are broken down into specific categories such as parenting magazines, newspaper supplements or new business media so that people only pay for the media that is right for their campaign.

Handle Your Own PR also has media release writing services. “Some people just aren’t confident writers, no matter how great our release writing tips are,” Jules says. “So we can help with this crucial element of the campaign if required.”

What a DIY publicity campaign costs is really up to the business and their budget.  A solid, national campaign can be off the ground for as little as $1,000 (+GST).  For that you get a professionally written media release (or someone to offer feedback on a release you have written yourself) and at least two media lists – and then you’re off and running. 

The recently relaunched Handle Your Own PR website now contains a huge amount of free information, with more being added all the time. For instance, there is now a section where people can hear from the journalists themselves about what they are looking for when people pitch to them. The series is called ‘5 Minutes with the Media’ and is worth a look.

For businesses with a limited marketing budget, a PR campaign can make a huge difference in terms of sales, SEO (most media that publishes an article will provide links to your website) and general brand awareness. Take a look at www.handleyourownpr.com.au for an affordable marketing alternative.

About the Author:

Jules Brooke is the founder and owner of www.handleyourownpr.com.au, a website set up to help small businesses run their own PR campaigns. On the site she offers loads of free PR tips and advice as well as selling media contact lists. Jules also has Handle Your Own PR websites in the UK and the USA.