In this insightful episode of the Talk About Digital Podcast, host Mark A Preston delves into the transformative role that PR can play in driving growth for small businesses. If you're a small business owner or an SME looking to boost your visibility, build trust, and attract new customers, this episode is packed with actionable advice on how to get started with PR and make it work for your business.

Unlike paid ads, PR offers you earned media exposure, which not only enhances your credibility but also builds long-term customer loyalty. Mark breaks down how to harness the power of public relations by focusing on the following:

• Why PR is Crucial for Customer Growth: Learn how PR can help your business establish a voice in your market, create trust, and generate a loyal customer base. Mark explains the long-term value of earned media coverage and why it’s more impactful than traditional advertising.
• Identifying Your Unique PR Story: Mark highlights one of the biggest mistakes small businesses make when approaching PR—treating it like an advertisement. He shares the key elements of a newsworthy PR story, such as uniqueness, timeliness, human interest, and local relevance. By thinking like a journalist, you’ll be better positioned to gain media coverage that matters.
• How to Get PR Exposure: From creating a press release to identifying the right journalists to pitch to, Mark shares his process for securing valuable media attention. He also offers a pro tip: use Google News to research what stories are getting published in your industry, giving you insights on how to craft your own compelling PR angles.
• Leverage Local Media for Exposure: One of the best starting points for small businesses is tapping into local media outlets. Mark’s TAD Takeaway for this episode is to leverage community-driven stories to build authentic local exposure. He explains how to pitch stories that highlight your business’s impact on the local community—whether through job creation, supporting local events, or offering unique services.

What Will You Gain?

By listening to this episode, you’ll walk away with practical, easy-to-implement PR tips that will help your business secure authentic media coverage. Whether it’s through local newspapers, radio stations, or online blogs, you’ll learn how to connect with the right journalists and tell stories that resonate with their audiences, driving trust and visibility for your brand.

If you’re ready to take your small business to the next level using the power of PR, this episode is an essential listen!