Small businesses are the very lifeblood of the equestrian and rural industry, and I’m delighted to use my blog as a way to help showcase these. This might be through ‘a few minutes with…’ or similar interviews where I interview people from small businesses I love, or even including small businesses as part of blogs I’m writing in the form of collaborations. I also use my blog to help educate small business owners, providing information and tips to help them really make progress in their businesses.

In addition to the articles you’ll find here, I do also put out a lot of content on my social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in particular, and also on my YouTube channel, to help inform and support small businesses on their journey.

And don’t forget about the Small & Supercharged Facebook group. This free group allows small businesses, particularly those connected to equestrian, canine and country industries, to chat, ask questions and network in a closed group. Search ‘Small & Supercharged’ on Facebook and answer the three questions to join in.

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Why You Don’t Need a PR Agency: The Small Business Guide to Free Press

Why You Don’t Need a PR Agency: The Small Business Guide to Free Press

If you run a small business, you already know the every penny counts.

When budgets are tight, every investment needs to actively move the needle and drive you closer to your goals. Unfortunately, traditional public relations (PR) is often viewed as a playground exclusive to big corporations with massive budgets, a luxury where you throw thousands of pounds at an agency and hope for the best.

But, you do not need to spend thousands of pounds on a PR agency to get featured in the press.

When done well, PR can reap monumental rewards for your brand awareness and your bottom line. And the best part? You can get started right now, by yourself, entirely for free.

If you are ready to stop letting a lack of budget hold your business back, here are the three essential steps to kickstart your own DIY PR journey.

1. Identify Your Gatekeepers

Before you write a single pitch or send a single email, you need to understand exactly who you are trying to speak to. Stop sending generic press releases to blind info@ email addresses. They’re a lot less likely to find the right person in a timely manner!

You need to identify the precise gatekeepers for the media sectors you are targeting:

  • Magazines and Newspapers: Look for specific section editors (such as the Business Editor, the Lifestyle Editor, or the Features Editor). If you are struggling to reach them, look for the editorial assistant of the publication first. They are fantastic allies and often help route great stories to the right desk, and also tell you who the right person is!

  • TV and Radio: Forget the presenters or the face of the show. You need to find the producers. They are the creative engines behind the scenes who actually curate the guest line-ups and choose the topics.

2. Study the Outlets

A terrible pitch is incredibly obvious. It’s usually a copy-and-paste mass email that offers zero value to the journalist. To stand out, you have to do the research time.

Pick the specific publication, radio slot, or website you want to be a part of and study it intensely:

  • What kind of recurring features do they run?

  • What specific topics does their audience engage with the most?

  • What is the tone, style, and rhythm of their content?

If you put the research time in first, your eventual pitch will make perfect sense to them. The journalist will instantly recognise that you understand their world, that you’ve done the work, and that you are there to add genuine value to their platform, rather than just begging for a free advert.

Pro Tip – Note down features and interviews you particularly enjoy/ed, this will come in useful for when you pitch as it shows you really have done the work!

3. Demolish the Fear of Rejection

Here is where most small business owners fall at the final hurdle. They do the mapping, they do the hours of deep research, and then they completely chicken out at the last second because they are terrified of getting a no.

Let me tell you something from personal experience: you will get ignored – a LOT – and that is completely fine.

Early in my career, I was ghosted more times than I can count. But every single time a pitch was met with radio silence, I didn’t view it as a failure. I viewed it as a data point. I analysed it, learned from it, and used it to sharpen my strategy for the next time. And I just kept going!

Because of that resilience, my pitch hit-rate today – and my clients’ hit-rate – is incredibly high. Rejection isn’t a wall if you don’t see it as that, it’s actually just feedback. The more times you put yourself in front of the right people, the higher your chances of success.

Building Your Asset for the Future

Even if an editor or producer turns you down initially, it doesn’t mean your effort was wasted. Sometimes your business simply isn’t a perfect fit for what they are working on at that moment, it’s a just a no for now.

However, by reaching out professionally, doing your homework, and presenting a high-value concept, you have made a great first impression. You are now on their radar. You can add them to your growing press list, nurture that relationship, and set yourself up for massive editorial wins down the line.

PR isn’t about having a massive corporate bank account. It’s about strategy, research, relationships, and having the guts to show up anyway. Again and again and again!

Want to Master Your Own PR Strategy?

Learning how to navigate the media landscape and pitching your business like a seasoned pro is entirely within your reach.

For insider PR tips, actionable tricks, and deep-dive breakdowns of the marketing campaigns making headlines right now, come and join the community on Instagram! Follow along at @rheafreemanpr and let’s start getting your business the visibility it deserves.

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How to Get the Press to Notice Your Business: 3 Non-Negotiable Rules

How to Get the Press to Notice Your Business: 3 Non-Negotiable Rules

Let’s be completely honest for a second. Getting the press to pay attention to your business, your new product, or your service can feel like trying to shout in a crowded stadium (and no one hearing!). You send off an email, you wait, and then absolutely nothing happens. This isn’t necessarily you, journalists are incredibly busy people.

It is incredibly frustrating. But more often than not, it isn’t because your business isn’t interesting, or your new product isn’t great. It could well be because that person’s inbox is overflowing with requests, but it can also be because your pitch didn’t give the journalist exactly what they needed to do their job.

Journalists, editors, and producers are some of the busiest people on the planet. They are drowning in deadlines and wading through hundreds of pitches a day. If you want them to pick up your story, you have to make it as easy as humanly possible for them to say “yes.”

If you want to drastically increase your chances of media success, you need to embed these three fundamental rules into your PR strategy.

1. High-Quality Imagery is Non-Negotiable

You could have the most life-altering product or the most inspiring business story in the world, but if your imagery is rubbish, your pitch is heading straight for the bin.

Think about it from their perspective: if a journalist loves your story but you haven’t provided a decent photo to run alongside it, they can’t publish it. You’ve stopped them in their tracks.

Here is what you need to keep in mind:

It doesn’t have to be a professional photoshoot. While professional shots are great, standard smartphones are incredible these days.

It does need to look professional. Your images must be crisp, clear, well-composed, and never blurry.

Watch your background. Make sure the background is tidy, decent, and fits your brand aesthetic.

Think about sizing. Provide high-resolution files that can be easily resized or cropped for print or digital.

Do everything you can to set yourself up for success from the very first click.

2. Keep Your Pitch Concise

It is tempting to write an essay when pitching your business. You want to explain everything from how you came up with the idea, your life history, your vision, for the future and maybe even where you went to primary school (I’m only half joking!).

Stop right there. They do not want your life story.

The golden rule of pitching the press is to keep it as concise as it can possibly be while still delivering the vital facts. Your email should be punchy and straight to the point.

💡 Insider PR Tip: If you absolutely have to add extra context or background details, do not clog up the main body of your email. Instead, create a clear ‘Notes to the Editor’ section right at the bottom. This keeps your introduction clean, while still giving them extra info if they choose to scroll down.

Before you hit send, ask yourself: ‘Is this extra paragraph helping my chances, or is it just making a busy editor close the document because they don’t have time to read it?’. If it’s the latter, you know what to do…

3. Include a Clear Call to Action

Let’s say the magic happens and a member of the press reads your pitch, loves your product, and wants to run the story. What do they do next?

If there isn’t a glaringly obvious next step staring them in the face, you are creating friction. You should never force a busy journalist to go on a weird, adventurous treasure hunt across the internet just to find your website or your imagery.

Make the next steps totally seamless. Inside the body of your email, explicitly state what to do next:

Provide a direct link. Always include your exact website address.

Offer more assets upfront. I always say something like, “If you need additional information or images, please let me know.”

If you like, link a shared folder. You could include a link to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder containing your press release and image library if you want. Do not, and I repeat DO NOT, send a link to a file that expires in a few days… you’re not helping them and that means you’re not helping yourself.

If they want to publish your business, make sure their readers actually know where to find you.

Want More Practical PR Tips?

Mastering your own PR doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s all about understanding what the media needs and delivering it to them on a silver platter.

For loads more actionable tips, behind-the-scenes tricks, and strategies to get your product or service the massive promotion it deserves, make sure you’re following me over on Instagram at @rheafreemanpr! Let’s get your business noticed.

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Let’s talk about Threads

Let’s talk about Threads

threads

Threads has been everywhere since it launched less than a week ago. With Meta’s latest app receiving 100 million plus sign ups (which is incredible) in just a few days, I wanted to share some tips and thoughts to help you get to grips with it (if you’d like to!). On this episode, I explain where it fits in the social media landscape, why I like it, what’s missing, and plenty more besides.


Exploring Threads – The New Social Media Platform

I’ve condensed this into seven questions as I’ve been doing a fair amount of TV and radio about this shiny new app, so I have picked out the recurring themes to deliver you a fast guide to help you on your Threads journey!

  1. What is Threads?Threads is a new text-based social media app closely integrated with Instagram, owned by Meta (formerly Facebook). Unlike Instagram’s focus on visuals, It emphasises text-based conversations, making it a platform for quick exchanges and engaging discussions.
  2. Do You Need Threads?Whether you need it depends on your preferences and social media strategy. I’m enjoying it and like its community-oriented approach.
  3. How to Get Started?Getting started with Threads is easy, especially if you have an existing Instagram account. The app seamlessly integrates with Instagram, carrying over your profile information and allowing you to jump right in.
  4. What Should You Post?While there’s no strict rule on what to post, focusing on conversation starters and engaging discussions aligns well with platform’s ethos. Quality conversation takes precedence over flashy visuals.
  5. What’s Missing?Currently, Threads lacks features like functional hashtag search and direct messages. However, it’s a young platform with lots of potential for growth and improvement.
  6. Do I Like It?So far, I’m enjoying it positive experience with Threads. The platform has a different vibes to others and there are some great conversations being shared.
  7. Should You Join?Whether you should join depends on your interest and willingness to explore new platforms. Being an early adopter presents opportunities to make a significant impact within the community should it become successful.

In summary, Threads offers a fresh take on social media, and really does focus on meaningful conversations over visual content. While it’s still evolving, joining early could potentially enhance your online presence and influence.

Small & Supercharged Book

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Unveiling the Power of Values- What are your values and why do they matter?

Unveiling the Power of Values- What are your values and why do they matter?

Ever wondered why values matter? Do you know what your values are? In this blog (and the podcast that was the inspiration behind it), we talk all about values. Let’s dive in.


The inspiration for this blog and podcast came from when I was doing my ILM Level 7 in coaching and mentoring. We did a lot of training around values and the importance of these, not just to us personally, but also from a coaching and mentoring point of view. Although I was fairly confident in identifying my clients’ values in a holistic way, through experimenting with values questionnaires, the results that were revealed really supported these assumptions, and what that meant in different situations.

However, it’s not just about recognising values, but articulating these too. A lot of values are ‘hard wired’ and seeds sown from a young age. Values are, usually, inherently deep within, but bringing them to the surface can provide clarity.

Value questionnaires

How can you do this? If you work with a coach or a mentor you can explore these, but you can also use value questionnaires and exercises to establish, understand, and prioritise values.  There’s a lot of value in working through such exercises for personal development. It can really help people to understand how they operate and why they make the choices they do. One way to do this is life values questionnaires, where individuals rate the importance of various values in their lives. This exercise helps in understanding personal priorities and making informed decisions.

Another level of values is beliefs, and often these are connected. Things like upbringing, family, and experiences shape can one’s belief system- and often we don’t know where these beliefs and the values that map to them started, but if we can uncover these beliefs and challenge as appropriate, it can have a big impact on our future career and even life.

Knowing and understanding one’s values can impact decision-making in various aspects of life, including career choices, relationships, and daily routines.

Neuroplasticity

But before you say that you’ve ‘always been like this’ and ‘can’t change’- I’ll stop you there. You can. The concept of neuroplasticity is an utter game changer for personal growth, allowing people to change and adapt over time. If you’re interested in this, I would definitely have a good look around at books on neuroplasticity- there are plenty out there.

And now it’s over to you. If you want to see how your values impact your world, reflect on your own values and consider how they might shape your decisions and actions.

Note: This recap provides a condensed summary of the podcast episode. For a more in-depth understanding, listening to the full episode is recommended.

Small & Supercharged Book

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When should you work for free?

When should you work for free? Navigating the Work-for-Free Landscape

Have you ever been asked to work for free? For exposure? For reach? Most people have, and there are some good reasons why working for free can pay, as I discuss in today’s episode. I talk about seven reasons why you might want to consider working for free and seven reasons why you should run for the hills. This is a blog of the podcast- as always, there’s a lot more detail in the podcast (you can listen below or anywhere else you listen to podcasts or below!), but the blog below provides a summary.

Seven reasons to work for free

1. Building Your Portfolio: We all start somewhere, and if you’re embarking on a new journey or career, you might lack experience. Doing some free or low-paid work can help you build a robust portfolio, showcasing your skills and capabilities.

2. Gaining Experience You Lack:  Sometimes, you need evidence of your abilities in a specific area. Working for free allows you to gain valuable experience, whether it’s in photography, public speaking, or any other skill you’re looking to develop.

3. Opening doors you can’t see: Free work can open unexpected doors. You might make valuable connections, get offered courses or training, or receive invitations to events that wouldn’t be on your radar otherwise.

4. Charity support: If it’s for a cause that is close to your heart, offering your services for free can be a way to make a charitable contribution.

5. Payment in Kind: In certain situations, receiving a higher-value item in exchange for your services might be worth considering. If the item/service aligns with your needs or interests, it can be a win-win.

6. Using It as a Stepping Stone: Sometimes, doing free work can serve as a stepping stone, opening doors to future opportunities or enabling you to qualify for something you aspire to do.

7. Passion: If a project or opportunity genuinely excites you and brings you joy, that alone can be a good reason to offer your services for free.

This is not an exhaustive list- at the end of the day it’s your time, and you can use it as you like!

Seven reasons not to work for free

1. Guilt Trips: If someone tries to manipulate you into working for free by playing on your emotions or making you feel guilty, it’s a red flag. Healthy discussions are fine; guilt trips, not so much.

2. Lack of Value: If a project offers no value to you, either in terms of brand promotion, personal development, or genuine interest, it might not be worth your time.

3. Extra Pressure: Taking on free work shouldn’t add excessive pressure to your already busy life. If it starts negatively impacting your well-being or other commitments, it might be time to reconsider.

4. Feeling Exploited: If you sense that someone is taking advantage of your skills and time without offering fair compensation or acknowledgment, it’s a clear sign to reassess the situation.

5. Effort vs. Payback: If the effort you’re putting into a project significantly outweighs the payback, whether in positive feelings or tangible benefits, it might not be a sustainable or wise endeavour.

6. Damaging Your Brand: If a project, whether paid or free, has the potential to harm your personal brand or professional reputation, strongly consider moving away from it (at speed!)

7. Your Gut Says No: Trust your instincts. If your gut feeling is telling you that something isn’t right or doesn’t align with your values and objectives, it’s perfectly acceptable to decline the opportunity.

In the end, the decision to work for free is yours and will be different to anyone else. It will probably depend on various factors such as your goals, values, and the specific circumstances of each opportunity. It’s crucial to know your worth, be open to discussions and, most importantly, be comfortable with the decisions you make regarding your time and energy.

Shameless plug- I wrote a book, called Small & Supercharged: Small Steps to Supercharged Your Brand on a Budget. If you’re in need of a good read to help you grow and scale your business, it’s highly recommended (by others who aren’t me!) See the Amazon reviews here!

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Being an influencer with Alanna Clarke

Being an influencer with Alanna Clarke- what’s it like being an equestrian influencer?

Alanna Clarke is a 20-year-old dressage rider, law student, and social media superstar with big followings across a range of platforms, brand deals, and some very exciting things to come. On this episode of the podcast (or blog, depending on how you’re consuming this!), we talk about her experiences as an influencer, challenges of this line of work, and lots more besides.

alanna clarke equestrian influencer

Alanna talks about her social media journey, and how she’s actually been involved with social media and growing her accounts since she was just 13. Lockdown prompted her to explore TikTok, where her funny horse-related videos gained traction. But it’s not just TikTok where Alanna’s numbers are impressive- she’s also got an incredible following on Instagram and has a growing subscriber base on YouTube. That said, as Alanna emphasises, it’s about more than the numbers…

How have the platforms and content evolved?

The desires and trends that create engagement have changed since Alanna started, and she talks about  the shift from creating videos in her bedroom to incorporating outdoor scenes with her horses. We talk about the importance of authenticity and staying true to yourself, especially as she navigates brand collaborations.

The Highs and Lows

Our conversation takes a more poignant turn as Alanna reflects on the challenges she’s faced, both online and offline. She talks about losing friendships and enduring online attacks from people she once considered friends. But there have also been a lot of highs, from meeting people at shows to working with brands and events.

Working with brands

Working with brands is a big part of working as an influencer, so we chat about this and Alanna shares a challenging experience with a brand, which really highlighted the importance of clear communication in influencer partnerships. Alanna has learnt a lot from working with brands and shares plenty of tips around how to develop and nurture good relationships that work for everyone.

Influencer marketing evolution

Influencer marketing continues to grow in popularity- whether this is through short or longer term projects. Alanna explains how she prefers longer-term connections with brands and why this is. We also look to the future of equestrian influencer marketing and influencer marketing as a whole, how working with influencers is a rising trend, and how major brands that used to support athletes are now seeing the huge value that influencers can bring to their marketing efforts and seeking relationships in those areas. We both predict a continued shift towards influencers as key players in brand promotion within the equestrian space. We also both agree on the value that influencers can bring to the table. However, this depends on many factors including relatability, authenticity, and ability to connect with their audience. This can set them apart from traditional marketing avenues. The conversation highlights the missed opportunities for top athletes who may not fully embrace influencer marketing.

Payment?

We talk about payment… as this is an interesting topic and one that is a regular discussion in influencer and brand circles. Alanna argues that influencers, especially those for whom influencing is a full-time job, should be compensated for their time, effort, and creativity. We talk about the struggle of determining fair compensation, considering factors like product value and content requirements, especially when equestrian influencer marketing is a fairly new marketing proposition to many businesses.

I loved chatting to Alanna about all things influencer, and if you’d like to follow her and see what she gets up to on her social media platforms, you can do so by following the links below:

Alanna Clarke Instagram

Alanna Clarke TikTok

Alanna Clarke YouTube

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Connecting the rural world with podcasting with Ben Eagle

Connecting the rural world with podcasting with Ben Eagle

ben Eagle ruralpodmedia

Podcasting continues to grow in popularity, and today I’m joined by someone who has not one, but two podcasts- Ben Eagle from RuralPodmedia. Ben is known for hosting two fantastic podcasts, “Meet the Farmers” and “Rural Business Focus”, and today we’re going to find out all about Ben, his journey, his podcasts and more.

Ben’s farming roots

Ben’s roots are deeply embedded in farming. Having grown up on a dairy farm, Ben’s childhood was intertwined with the cows and farming life, but a challenging period in the 1990s led to significant changes, including selling the cows and transitioning to an arable farm.

What happened next?

Ben’s varied interests and desire to explore different avenues led him to travel, to brewing beer as his first business, working as an assistant at a school in Norfolk, and eventually pursuing a degree in environmental history at Bristol University. But the farming bug never left, and during his university years, Ben spent his summers working on farms, delving into his farming roots. Simultaneously, he volunteered with conservation organisations like the National Trust and Avon Wildlife Trust, gaining practical knowledge and experience. In fact, his first paid job after university was with the Essex Wildlife Trust.

What about farming?

Despite his background, Ben actively avoided farming for a while, encouraged by his dad to explore other possibilities. However, his interest in agriculture persisted, leading him to pursue an agriculture course at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester. This marked the beginning of his deeper involvement in farming.

During this time, Ben started the “Meet the Farmers” podcast, initially focused on sharing farming stories with a conservation audience. He realised the importance of listening to farmers and reshaped his own perspective on agriculture.

A pivotal point

During 2017, Ben’s own challenges saw him returning to the family farm, which turned out to be a pivotal moment in his life. He also bought into a friend’s sheep flock, deepening his connection with the farm and gaining a renewed sense of purpose. This led to further business and community based ventures, based at the farm, with community being something that has been important from the podcasting point of view too.

Focus, the birth of his second podcast, and the start of RuralPodMedia

Rural Business Focus came about when Ben realised the power of finding focus, really zeroing in on what he wanted to do in his life. He looked at where he felt he could give the most value, and make the most difference. There was the seed of an idea that was around communications work, podcasting, and with lockdown and the surge in podcasting, people started reaching out to Ben for help. And so RuralPodMedia was born.

To find out more about Ben, follow him on Instagram.

To listen to ‘Meet The Farmers’ – listen on Apple

To listen to ‘Rural Business Focus’- listen on Apple

(The podcasts are also available on other podcasting platforms)

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What are your tribe doing to you? How your circle impacts your life

What are your tribe doing to you? How your circle impacts your life

Have you ever thought about how the people you hang out with, people in your tribe, have a profound effect on so many aspects of your life? This could be your personal development, your business, your motivation and even your mental health. Surrounding yourself with the right people is crucial, and I want to delve into that today, drawing from my own experiences. This is the blog version of the podcast below. There’s a LOT more in there- listen here or subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

Does our tribe influence us?

I’ve encountered this theme many times in my life, and it continues to be a significant aspect of my journey. When facing challenges like a lack of motivation or feelings of pessimism, it’s essential to look at ourselves and what we can do/are doing, but we must also consider the impact of the people around us. The way our tribe feels and behaves directly influences us, and the ripple effect of this can be huge- whether that’s positive or negative.

One popular thought, often attributed to Jim Rohn, suggests that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. However, I believe that the influence extends beyond just five individuals. In Seth Godin’s book, called Tribes, he explains how these groups, vital for survival in the past, now represent the supportive people around us who lift us up and support our journeys.

Mastermind is a great example of the positives of a good tribe

Thinking about this, I thoughts about my experiences with Mastermind, my membership group, which is a tribe I’m incredibly proud to be a part of. This community shows, day in day out, the positive impact of a tribe. The supportive community within Mastermind facilitates learning, sharing, and overcoming challenges. Being surrounded by individuals striving for growth significantly impacts on the motivation of others. It’s magical to see. But when you see it and understand the power that the community/communities you’re involved with has, it’s a bit of a game changer.

Another example is connected to a qualification I’m working on.  I’m currently pursuing my ILM Level 7 in senior and executive business coaching and mentoring—a challenging journey (it’s the equivalent of a Masters in nine months) made better by the supportive cohort. Here, everyone brings something to the table, the vibe on our training calls is brilliant, and the Whatsapp group chat carries this on beyond the sessions too.

As we navigate through life, sharing our highs and lows with our immediate circle, we must observe how their responses affect us. If our tribe is supportive and genuinely excited for us, it positively influences our motivation and energy levels. Conversely, a negative or pessimistic tribe can weigh us down, even affecting our pursuit of ambitious goals.

Tribes extend to social media too

Expanding this concept to social media, the content we consume and the people we follow contribute significantly to our mindset. Being mindful of the impact of online connections is crucial. If our feeds are filled with negativity, it can seep into the way we feel and think. And this isn’t OK.

The people we surround ourselves with, both in-person and online, influence our mindset and, consequently, our success and happiness. It’s crucial to assess the impact of our tribe and, when possible, curate a positive and supportive circle that aligns with our goals.

Shameless plug alert! I mentioned Small & Supercharged Mastermind earlier, but it really is an incredible place to learn, develop and grow your business. Find out more here.

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How to get national PR for free

Do you want to feature in the national press? Let’s talk about how to get national PR for free!

Ever thought ‘I wonder how I can be featured there?’ Well, if your ‘there’ is in the national press (whether this is radio, TV, newspaper, magazine or website) then you’re going to LOVE this blog, and the corresponding podcast that you can listen to below (or on Apple/Spotify/wherever you listen to podcasts).


Featuring in the press can do wonders for your personal brand, business, and overall visibility. It can elevate you to a status of your own, establishing you as an expert and boost your credibility. Now, you might be thinking, “Sounds great, but isn’t it expensive?” Well, here’s the secret: it doesn’t have to be.

Get featured in the national press for free

In fact, I’ve been featured in various national press outlets, and on this episode of the podcast, I’m going to spill the beans on exactly how I did it.

But before we dive in, if you find this exciting and are looking for more in-depth guidance, check out the Small and Supercharged Mastermind group on my website. It’s a fantastic community where we delve into detailed marketing masterclasses each month.

Back to the juicy details of securing national PR. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not as daunting as it seems. The key is putting in the effort, and let’s face it, what worthwhile achievement doesn’t require some work?

You can pay for leads, or find your own

You can approach this in two ways: throwing money or throwing time. If you’re swimming in cash, you could hire a publicist or have an in-house PR expert. Buying ad space is also an option, but here’s the thing – I’m here to tell you that you don’t need a massive budget to get featured in the national press.

So, how did I do it? Over the past few months, I’ve secured features in Metro, Stylist, GB News, The Independent, iNews, and Thrive Global, just to name a few. And guess what? I did it all for free with a bit of time and effort.

Let me take you back to how it all started. While I’m deeply immersed supporting my clients and helping them find opportunities to grow and promote themselves, my personal promotion often takes a backseat. But during the holidays, when things quieted down a bit, I decided to explore what I could achieve in a short amount of time.

Being a frequent guest on local radio and a regular contributor to various publications, I was no stranger to media exposure. However, I felt the urge to venture more into the mainstream media. So, I turned to Twitter and started engaging with journalist requests.

#journorequest is a secret weapon

The #journorequest hashtag on Twitter is a goldmine for opportunities. Journalists, both local and national, use these requests to find people for interviews and insights. The beauty of it is that it’s accessible to everyone, and it’s free. It’s a platform where journalists broadcast their needs, seeking experts, opinions, and personal stories.

Now, not every response was met with positivity, but that’s part of the game. You don’t always have to talk about your business; these requests often centre around personal stories and experiences. For instance, I shared insights about being a mum and even discussed my dog in response to a question about 2022 highlights.

Be aware of what journalists want and need

Timing and responsiveness are crucial in this game. Journalists work on tight deadlines, so being quick and concise in your replies is paramount. While not every pitch will land you a feature, don’t be discouraged. The ones that do can open doors to unexpected opportunities.

It’s a really good idea to follow journalists posting these requests. Engage with them beyond just responding to requests; show genuine interest in their work. Building a rapport can increase your chances of being on their radar when relevant opportunities arise.

National or niche?

National press coverage is lovely, but the power of niche press can also do great things. Your target audience might be more engaged with specialised publications that directly relate to your products or services.

Getting featured in the national press doesn’t have to be an unattainable dream. With a bit of time, effort, you can elevate your personal brand and business without breaking the bank.

Shameless plug alert- want to know more about how to grow your brand on a budget? You’ll love my best-selling book, Small & Supercharged- small steps to supercharge your brand on a budget. Enjoy!

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The making of Mochara with Tara Keoshgarian

The making of Mochara with Tara Keoshgarian

Mochara with Tara Keoshgarian

You may know Mochara for its cosy base layers, sweatshirts and other equestrian athleisure pieces, but do you know the story behind the brand and its plans for the future? Well, on today’s podcast (or blog, depending on whether you’re here to read this or listen below!), we’re going into all the detail…

Introducing Tara and Mochara

Tara launched Mochara in June 2019 when she was just 20. The brand, named after her horse Buddy (meaning “my friend” in Gaelic), originated from Tara’s desire to design versatile clothes that could transition seamlessly from the stable to everyday activities. As a university student studying equestrian sports science at Hartpury, Tara identified a gap in the market for equestrian clothing that wasn’t overly branded, allowing riders to effortlessly move from the yard to lectures or the gym without changing outfits.

Where did the idea for Mochara come from?

While in her final year at university, Tara observed the inconvenience of changing clothes between various activities, especially as a busy student with horses. The idea for Mochara emerged from her wish to create stylish, multifunctional clothing that riders could wear beyond the equestrian setting. Tara aimed to fill the gap with clothing that didn’t scream “equestrian” and could be worn casually without drawing unwanted attention.

What did COVID do to Mochara?

Despite the challenges, Tara highlights the positives of COVID-19 on the business, such as increased online visibility and the continued support of customers who were still active in caring for their horses and sought comfortable and stylish activewear. COVID was such a strange time for so many businesses, and although the rollercoaster of business still continues, the way that the landscape changed overnight was something we’d never experienced before (and, hopefully, won’t again).

Building a community 

Mochara’s success is not only attributed to its products but also to the sense of community and relatability Tara has cultivated. By using real riders, non-professional models, and involving customers in decision making processes, Mochara has created an authentic brand experience that resonates with its audience.

Working with influencers and brand ambassadors

Tara shares insights into working with influencers and brand ambassadors. She emphasises the importance of collaboration with individuals who genuinely appreciate the brand and its products, as opposed to those seeking free products.

What’s next for Mochara?

Looking ahead, Tara discusses Mochara’s plans for the future, including exploring investment opportunities to fuel the brand’s global expansion. With a focus on product design, inventory, and team expansion, Mochara aims to strengthen its presence in both the UK and the US.

To find out more about Tara and the brilliant Mochara brand, find them on…

Instagram

The Mochara website

Facebook

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