When is it Time to Invest in Getting Press

Are you an entrepreneur who feels like you’ve a hit a plateau? You’re excited and ready to take things to the next level but uncertain on how to be more visible, right?

Good news! At Inspired Living we love to help entrepreneurs not only up-level their business, but become Industry Icons! A big part of becoming an Industry Icon is getting exposure.

Press can come in many different forms – television, radio, podcasts, articles, or various other media outlets. Have you noticed the “As Seen On” logos on other people’s sites (like ours) and wonder…“how the heck do I get those?!”

Today, I’m here to break it all down for you and will share at what point you should invest in press.

It’s time to invest when you’ve reached a level of success where you have a little bit of disposable income. Once you have this extra income that you can dedicate to gaining press, one option is to hire a publicist. Publicists can be great resources, however there is a chance that you could spent quite a bit of money on a retainer, and not get anything in return. Because there is no guarantee, if you are just starting out, you can also opt to seek out press opportunities yourself. You can submit yourself to editorials, podcasts, and local morning shows. All of these outlets are always looking new people and businesses to feature, and YOU are exactly what they are looking for! You’re an expert in your field, you have incredible wisdom, and a story to share with their audience.

Another thing to consider before you decide to pay for press, is what is the result? Will you be gaining more clients? Will your social media following increase? Will people be getting to know you better? Whatever it is that you are seeking to gain by getting press, you want to make sure that you have the team and systems in place to handle the influx in clients, or following you are about to receive. If you are currently working as a solopreneur, and don’t have the systems in place to handle the exposure that press would bring, you could risk not being able to leverage that exposure to its fullest potential.

One type of press opportunity that I would not hesitate to spend money on, is one that would give you the opportunity to share your story. There is nothing is more powerful than your story. When your audience understands the story behind your business, as well as your personal story, you build a rapport and authentic connection that cannot be built in any other way. When you have a media piece that is really touching, and people get to see a deeper level of you, your business grows. Even if this press opportunity costs you a bit more money than other opportunities, trust me, it is worth it! A 20 minutes interview with a host who can bring out your story that emotionally connects with your ideal client, will pay for itself over and over again. If you would like to apply to share the your story, and the story behind your business by being featured in the next ILTV Spotlight Interview, you may apply here.

“As Seen On” logos most certainly increase your credibility, but how do you get those? One way to do so, is by doing a press release. This is something that I would absolutely pay for. If you have a program, or you are doing a talk, I would invest in a press release. You have the option to submit yourself to different press wires online, or you can reach out to us here at Inspired Living, and we would be more than happy to help you!

Another question you want to ask yourself before you start to pay for press is “how big is my social media reach?” Right now, it is the people a big social media presence who are being put in the limelight. This means you need to ask yourself, “should I invest in publicity, or invest in my community?” In my opinion, I would invest in your community. With a larger community, you will automatically have a larger reach. One 30 second segment isn’t going to give you much longevity. With this being said, if you are trying to decide where to put your marketing dollars right now, before you hire a publicist, I would recommend building your own social media platform. Trust me, it’s worth it’s weight in gold.

I hope these tips have helped you decide where it is you want to spend your marketing dollars in the coming months! If you are still uncertain where your money is most well spent, we have an incredible team at Inspired Living that can help to guide you through your press journey! If you want to learn more, please contact us at [email protected]

I would love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment below, sharing where it is you are planning to spend your marketing dollars.

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