Got a product or service to sell? Press coverage will help with this.
I’m a journalist for the Guardian, Stylist, Telegraph etc and have been featured as a business owner on Woman’s Hour, Forbes, Times – and almost every other major print/broadcast channel. So let me teach you how to pitch to get featured, grow your profile and become the ‘go-to’ person in your field when the media are looking for comment…
It’s hard to know where to start with PR. How do you approach the national papers and magazines? What do you need to do to be invited onto podcasts, and interviewed for blogs? This online course will teach you how to write a captivating story promoting your business, as well as the art of pitching (where, when, how).
You are the best person to tell your story. But there’s a knack to getting journalists, editors, bloggers and podcast hosts to listen to you. Having been featured in the Guardian, Sunday Times, Telegraph, Stylist, Grazia, Red, on BBC Radio (including Woman’s Hour) and the Sunday Times Style podcast – I can teach you how to do it.
After completing this course, my students have gone on to be commissioned by national newspapers, featured in magazines with huge readerships and are continuing to grow their online profiles, armed with the tricks I shared. Would you like to join them?
Here’s the course outline…
Module 1: Finding your story
You’d like to secure coverage in the nationals or magazines – as you would like a more prominent profile and know this will lead to more work. But you’re not sure where to start. Firstly, you need your ‘story’. I’ll explain what this is and how to find yours (with examples). Your first exercise will be to write your story.
Module 2: Pitching
You have your story, but where should you pitch it? I’ll share all my pitching tricks – how, when, finding where to actually send it – and you’ll have an opportunity to write your first set of pitches, amended for different publications. Also this week: why you should guest blog, going on radio/podcasts/TV and dealing with rejection.
Module 3: Becoming an expert
Following on from finding your story – you need to keep the story growing and evolving. You won’t just have one story and then be able to regurgitate this time and time again. So now it’s about becoming an expert in your field. You may already be an expert – but others won’t necessarily know this. We’ll look into the importance of having a blog, SEO, when to post and how. Also, picking up on and responding to news stories (and writing opinion pieces).
Module 4: Growing your online profile
You have a story, some press, a blog – how do you continue to grow your online profile? Through social media. We’ll discuss the best platforms for different businesses, how to use each platform, gaining new followers, getting mentions, what to post and when, competitions, collaborations and making the most of (free) Facebook groups designed for the freelance community.
The details…
- Online course, start whenever you’re ready.
- You’ll be given access to exercises, advice, tips – and set tasks. You access this whenever you like (you don’t have to sign in at a particular time).
- Course materials in text and audio format.
- Join our closed group where you can network with other freelancers and business owners, and get exclusive PR tips and advice.
- You’ll have access to this course for six months, so you can keep dipping in and out, as you like, during that period
Testimonials
“If you’re sitting on the fence about doing Annie’s PR course – hop off and get on it! Here I am in the Daily Express today WITH a mention of my business and website address.” Hayley Comber-Berry
“I am so glad I decided to do your PR course. Your knowledge and insight is brilliant, and I am feeling confident to put it into practice now.” Sally Bastard
“Soooooo – good news. I pitched ‘my story’ to BBC and they are looking to feature it with testimonials from my clients and a word from me. I’m so excited that I took Annie’s course on PR. My mind is literally LIT right now to share ‘my story’ with the world. It’s given me a confidence boost.” April Laugh
“I sent off my pitch to Metro this morning and just got a response. Obviously it’s still in the early stages, but I’m excited to even have a response from him!” Amy B
“Got stuck in this morning with two pitches sent off and just got this back from [a major] magazine: they very rarely take commissions but have made it on the next feature list to discuss” Katie Tucker
“Courier Mag got back to me… this has given me a big boost!” Laura Alvarado
“This has been a super useful exercise and so great to know how to approach the publishers. It’s always felt far too daunting although with some insider knowledge, suddenly it feels easier and more reachable. It’s also made me realise how many places there are where I can tell my story.” Alice Derbyshire
“I have loved this course and I really don’t want it to end.” Eirlie C
About me
I’m Annie Ridout: journalist, author and entrepreneur.
After launching my first lifestyle platform – The Early Hour – I pitched for press coverage and was interviewed by publications including the Guardian, Sunday Times and Telegraph. I spoke on BBC radio 5 and Woman’s Hour, at live events including Stylist Live and was featured on dozens of brilliant blogs and podcasts. I was editing The Early Hour and commissioning writers so I had the advantage of knowing what a good pitch looked like.
And as a journalist, I’ve also written for nearly all the national newspapers, women’s magazines including Red, Stylist, Grazia – and I’m a regular Forbes contributor. This is both great PR for me, my website and now my books – The Freelance Mum, Shy and Raise your SQ – but also, when you write rather than being interviewed; you’re paid. Double win.
Lastly, I’ve helped hundreds of other women to secure amazing press coverage through this online course. They’ve been featured in their dream publications, having learned the art of pitching (publications including the Guardian, Stylist, the Observer). Many have also been commissioned to write the articles themselves, and some have even secured columns off the back of this course.
