Small Business PR
For small business owners and product founders who want to land organic PR, gift guide and podcast features, and show up in AI search—without ads or agencies.
The brands getting organic media coverage now are the ones that will show up in those AI recommendations, and own AI search visibility and AEO (answer engine optimization) before it gets saturated.
Shopify, Etsy, and other shopping sites are continuously being integrated with ChatGPT, and we’re making organic PR and marketing accessible to everyday small business owners, WOC and BIPOC founders, navigating this new era of AI search and SEO.
Start pitching gift guide editors, TV and podcast hosts, and journalists all year round—so your products show up when customers search for what you sell. No PR experience, connections, or big budget required.
Join us weekly as host Gloria Chou, the #1 small business PR coach, shares untraditional PR and AI visibility strategies with interviews from top-tier journalists, diverse founders, and online business experts.
Get her free AI visibility prompts and PR training you won’t find anywhere else.
Small Business PR
Why Being a Podcast Guest Should Be Your #1 Marketing Goal in 2025
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In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria dives deep into one of the biggest traps small business owners face today — PR scams and pay-to-play “features.” You know the ones: “Get featured in *40 Under 40 Innovative Entrepreneurs—fees apply.” Gloria pulls back the curtain on how to spot these fake “PR opportunities” and why they don’t give you the long-term authority, SEO, or credibility that earned media does.
After years of helping thousands of founders get featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Allure, and The New York Times — without paying a dime for placement — Gloria reveals the red flags to watch for and what real PR looks like.
What PR Isn’t — And Why It Matters
PR is not:
🚫 Paying to get featured in an “exclusive” list or award you’ve never heard of
🚫 Sending dozens of free samples just to get a mention
🚫 Paying contributors or influencers to write about you
That’s not earned media — that’s advertising. Real PR is when a journalist or editor chooses to feature you because your story, expertise, or brand serves their audience.
What PR Actually Is
✅ Earned editorial content — the kind that builds SEO, authority, and trust
✅ Relationship-driven, not transactional
✅ Long-term visibility, not one-and-done posts
Gloria breaks down why journalists want to hear from founders directly (not agencies), and how to craft your pitch using her CPR Method — Credibility, Point of View, Relevance — to stand out in their inbox.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- How to tell the difference between earned media and pay-to-play “PR” scams
- Why paying for “exclusive” features can hurt your brand credibility
- The exact mindset shift that turns your marketing message into a newsworthy story
- How earned PR compounds over time, bringing more features, backlinks, and authority
Final Thoughts
If you’re tired of wasting money on ads or “guaranteed” features that don’t move the needle, this episode will teach you how to take control of your PR — and do it the right way.
Resources Mentioned:
Get the AI Visibility + PR Training
Join the Small Biz PR Pros Facebook Group
DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr
Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou
Join Gloria Chou's PR Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/428633254951941
Additional Resources:
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