Small Business PR

How To Get Into Oprah's Favorite Things As A First Time Founder

• Gloria Chou • Episode 188

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In this powerful episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, we sit down with Marcia Hacker, founder of Sauipe Swim—a sustainable, size-inclusive swimwear brand that has been featured in Oprah Daily (print + online!), BuzzFeed, and Brides.

Once skeptical and burned by traditional PR agencies, Marcia reveals how she took control of her media strategy using Gloria’s PR Starter Pack—and landed national press coverage without spending a dime on traditional PR or sending out dozens of free samples.

If you’re a product-based business owner, eCommerce founder, or indie brand looking for high-impact, cost-free press, this episode is your blueprint for media success.

How to Land Free Press by Serving Journalists, Not Selling—The CPR Pitching Method, PR Mistakes to Avoid, and a Year-Round Gift Guide Strategy

  • Why pitching journalists is about serving their audience—not selling your product
  • How to use LinkedIn and email tracking tools to build lasting media relationships
  • The CPR pitching method to land both press features and wholesale accounts
  • How to avoid the most common PR mistakes—like sample overspending or vague pitches
  • A repeatable, seasonal PR system to land spots in gift guides and holiday roundups


If you’re a small business or product-based founder, you don’t need a pricey PR agency to get featured in top-tier media. Marcia Hacker’s story proves that strategic, relationship-driven pitching can land major wins—like Oprah, BuzzFeed, and Brides—without ad spend or free samples.

Focus on audience relevance, use tools like LinkedIn and email tracking, and apply the CPR method to build lasting media relationships. With a repeatable system, you can land press year-round—especially during high-ROI seasons like holiday gift guides.

Start pitching, follow up consistently, and watch your visibility grow.

Product Businesses! Download my free HOW TO GET INTO A GIFT GUIDE/PRODUCT ROUND UP roadmap for free HERE to get more sales and traffic to your site this season.

If you want to land your first feature for free without any connections, I want to invite you to watch my PR Secrets Masterclass, where I reveal the exact methods thousands of bootstrapping small businesses use to hack their own PR and go from unknown to being a credible and sought-after industry expert. Register now at www.gloriachoupr.com/masterclass.   

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Gloria Chou

Host