Getting your first PR with Stephanie Blanchard

Welcome to the first season of our new podcast.  Help- I started a business, now what?  At the beginning, there are so many decisions to make and so many things to do.  It can feel like everyone else has their business figured out. It can also be really easy to compare your brand new starter business to others that are well established. In this podcast, we will talk about all those hairy first big steps that come with starting a business. 

Our third episode features Stephanie Blanchard of Artisan Joy Magazine. She will share key things to think about to prepare for PR.  So many small businesses have limited marketing budgets at the beginning, so we discuss how to go about getting free PR in the early days of your business. Find Stephanie here on Instagram.  Check out the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or read the transcript below. We’ve even included timestamps in case you want to zero in on one part of the show.

Episode 2 Transcription

00:00.16 Amber

Hello and welcome to the Help I started a business now what show. Otherwise known as the now what show- where we help new business owners those that have started their business in the last three years. We help you demystify all those things you’re supposed to be doing in business. Today I’m welcoming Stephanie from Artisan Joy a fellow publication in in the artisan space as well. So welcome to the show Stephanie and can you tell people a little bit about yourself and your background.

00:33.30 Stephanie Blanchard

Sure. Hi I’m ah Stephanie Blanchard I’m the publisher and editor in chief of artisan joy magazine. It’s a startup publication I started it in 2021. It started as a website and I interview creative entrepreneurs Also known as artpreneurs or art business owners. The reason why I started artistan joy back then was because I was a freelance writer I always wanted to work for a publication. But I had been in the freelance world I had just been writing for other businesses. So I really wanted to start something but I could never come up with the right subject because I felt like everything had been done and then one day this was in the middle of covid. It occurred to me that um you know I like making things but even more so I like talking to people who make and sell things. Whether at an art market or out I just I’m just always fascinated by those people. So I decided to start to writing about them so over the last couple of years I’ve fine tuned. You know what artistan joy is all about artists and Joy. Our mission is really to promote the work of creative entrepreneurs. So we’re a magazine and website that is a cheerleader for small business owners and small creative business owners.

02:00.20 Amber

Fantastic. So we’re here today to talk about that dreaded topic of PR and getting coverage for your business when you’re new. So let’s dive in and talk a little bit about things that people should be thinking about before they start approaching people. You don’t want to just cold approach people without having really thought through what your strategy is for the business. So can you offer a few suggestions for our listeners about things that they should prepare? Before they even get started with doing PR.

02:38.60 Stephanie Blanchard

Yes, so the very first thing that I would say is to think about your story and why you started your business because writers are looking for a good story to tell and people who own businesses will hear that in you know, just in marketing typical marketing advice about you know you know what is your story? So first think about that and can you write it in a paragraph? You could design earrings. But what’s the story behind it? Why are you designing earrings and what inspires you? So I think that is the very first thing I would say to a new business owner about getting press is Have your story down. That’s the first thing.

03:34.70 Amber

I like the “have your story down succinctly” like in a you need to initially start with a small paragraph. If it’s a novel people won’t read it.

03:40.43 Stephanie Blanchard

Yes.

03:50.83 Amber

When you’re going to talk with them because it’ll be overwhelming for the person that you’re sending it to. So I love that idea of have your story together before you start pitching – once you’ve got your story together with the hook or what’s a little unique or that influences that what else should you think about? Before you start reaching out for PR.