#167: The Truth About PR: Why Your Business Can't Ignore It | Mickie Kennedy

In this episode of the Play Big Faster Podcast, we dive into the world of public relations with Mickie Kennedy, president of eReleases and expert in press release distribution. Mickie shares his journey from poet to PR professional, explaining how he revolutionized the industry by focusing on story-driven press releases. He discusses the importance of earned media, the power of newswires like PR Newswire, and how small businesses can leverage PR to boost their visibility and credibility. You will learn about the relationship between PR, advertising, and marketing, as well as practical tips for measuring PR success through metrics like increased leads and improved conversion rates. Whether you're a startup founder or an established business owner looking to enhance your media presence, this episode provides actionable advice on how to play big faster in the world of public relations. If you found value in Mickie Kennedy's insights on leveraging PR for your business, take a moment to leave us a review. Your feedback helps other entrepreneurs discover the Play Big Faster podcast and join our community of forward-thinking business leaders.   TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:00 - From MFA to PR: Mickie Kennedy's press release journey 00:02:00 - Story arc strategy: Crafting newsworthy press releases 00:03:00 - eReleases and PR Newswire: Revolutionizing wire distribution 00:05:00 - PR vs. advertising: Earned media's impact on ROI  00:06:00 - PR Newswire and Business Wire: The media visibility duopoly 00:08:00 - Email pitching crisis: Why journalists prefer newswires  00:10:00 - Measuring PR success: Conversion rates and earned media metrics 00:12:00 - Strategic releases: Leveraging surveys for media pickup  00:14:00 - Product launch press releases: Incorporating use case studies 00:16:00 - Trade associations: Amplifying your press release's reach  00:18:00 - The 3% rule: Secrets of high-performing press releases 00:20:00 - Small business PR advantage: Authenticity trumps corporate image  00:22:00 - Boilerplate brilliance: Weaving origin stories into press releases  00:23:00 - PR for entrepreneurs: Embracing vulnerability for media attention