Episode 73: The Truth Every Small Business Needs to Hear This Year
Are you still hesitant to start with PR this year?
Maybe, you already have a small business. However, you’re still stuck with the same beliefs and systems that are stopping you from getting the recognition you deserve.
Well, my friend, I’m here to tell you that it’s time to go bold right now.
And that starts by facing the truth that you need to hear.
This is the reality that I’m sharing with you—if you have a story to tell and you know that someone will benefit from it, you are the best person to tell that story!
It’s this exact mindset that has helped many small business founders in the Small Business PR community go from unknown to being seen, heard, and valued.
All that was made possible because they embraced their stories, mastered their message, and provided value to the right people.
In case you’re doubting yourself, I’m here to affirm that you can be like these small business heroes!
The fact that you’re here reading this is no accident.
That’s because you want to be changed by this truth and you want to see people transformed by your story.
All it takes is to accept the truth you need to hear and take the necessary actions.
So, in this episode, I’ll share with you the most important truth you need to hear for your small business. By revealing this truth, you’ll finally move forward and be inspired to share your message with the world through your small business.
“Traditionally, we've been told by the industry that we are in no position to tell our story, we have to depend on other people and pay them for access. I think that's changing. People realize that, no matter what you do, no one will be able to tell your story better than you can.”
-Gloria Chou
Join us in this eye-opening episode as we uncover the truth that every small business needs to hear this year. That’s because today is the time to make your message matter to the world and have you finally be seen, heard, and valued.
Topics We Cover in This Episode:
The truth on how people will continue to judge you
How the mindset of action sets you up for success
Is there a right time to start with PR?
Why you should know your message better than anyone
Facing the truth about the importance of your story
If you want to land your first feature for free without any connections, I want to invite you to watch my PR Secrets Masterclass where I reveal the exact methods thousands of bootstrapping small businesses use to hack their own PR and go from unknown to being a credible and sought-after industry expert. Register now at www.gloriachou.com/masterclass.
Resources Mentioned:
Join Gloria Chou's PR Community: Small Biz Pros: By Gloria Chou
Small Business PR Podcast: Episode # 65-Sharing the Journey of My Surgery
Additional Resources:
Join the Small Biz PR Pros FB group
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Here’s a glance at this episode…
[02:07] Nobody puts a dent in the universe, or does something to make an impact if they don't subject themselves to judgment. People will judge you, no matter what. They're gonna judge you for doing just what you're doing right now, for not doing anything for changing.
[03:27] Your mindset can only change through action, through practice, through testing those beliefs through putting it out into the world through getting feedback.
[03:58] If you're still waiting behind the scenes, if you're still waiting to get permission from people when is the right time for me to tell your story, I am here to tell you there is literally no right time.
[05:04] Because it all starts with you knowing how to tell your story. Your story is always going to be bigger than the product or service and the benefits and the features.
[10:05] But if you don't know your message, and how you can be a solution for people, and how you can be relevant to more people, you will never have a great ROI.
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Gloria Chou 0:00
You know, the other day, I was writing a pitch, a custom pitch for one of our PR starter pack members. And she was a designer of watercolors. And we started talking about Pantone color of the year. And usually, it's like who the hell cares, right if you're not a designer or an artist, but she told me something that was really striking. And I thought I want to share it with you because it speaks so much about kind of where we are in our journey as businesses, and how it's so important to take the leap from just absorbing information to actually actualizing it, which means all the information and tools and the strategies, they really don't mean anything unless you're actually going to test it and practice it and put it out there. So if you are hesitant to share your story, but you know, you know that someone out there can benefit from your story. And again, you're you're the best person to tell your story. This episode is for you. Hey, friends, I'm Gloria Chou, small business PR expert, award winning pitch writer and your unofficial Hypponen. Nothing makes me happier than seeing people get the recognition they deserve. And that starts with feeling more confident to go bigger with your message. So on this podcast, I will share with you the untraditional, yet proven strategies for PR marketing and creating more opportunity in your business. If you are ready to take control of your narrative and be your most unapologetic and confident self, you're in the right place. This is the Small Business PR podcast.
Gloria Chou 1:23
So pantones Color of the Year is this really bold mode, like magenta color, it's really in your face. And it's just an unapologetic slap in your face, really. And it got me thinking because a few years ago, the colors were very muted, very kind of peaceful, calm status quo. And this year, it's like I am here, baby. And I'm drawing parallels between a lot of the things that I'm hearing in my community too. And as people start to transform what they think about PR, right, traditionally, we've been told by the industry that, you know, we are in no position to tell our story, we have to depend on other people and pay them for access. I think that's changing. I think people realize that, no matter what you do, no one will be able to tell your story better than you can. So I feel like the magenta bold color is telling us that none of these strategies and tools and trainings, really do a damn thing unless you're going to unapologetically use them and take up space in the world. Right. Now the next question might be, Well, Gloria, I know that you work a lot on our mindset, but I still am worried about not saying the right thing. Or if I press a certain button, what have I actually get featured, I don't know what to say. And it's like, here is the thing I want you to know, nobody puts a dent in the universe, or does something to make an impact. If they don't subject themselves to judgment, people will judge you, no matter what they're gonna judge you for doing just what you're doing right now, for not doing anything for changing. They're just gonna judge you for just anything, right? And time is passing no matter what. So why not lean in to the universe and unapologetically take up space this year with the Pantone color of the year screaming at us telling you that it is time for us to be present. To be bold, I just want to remind you, that you deserve to be seen, heard and valued. And that the only way, the only way we can truly rise up and make impact. And again, we're all here and make impact because I promise you, I don't care. If you are making cupcakes or fidget spinners, you did not get into the business to just have a quick money grab you did this to be a solution for somebody lean into that start with your why. And it starts with taking all the information and all the YouTube videos and all the podcast episodes you listen to and testing it out into the real world. Right. So again, I think I heard this from Patrice Washington, who was on my coach, Rick Mulready these podcasts. And she says the word mindset has this kind of stuck energy, where it's like it's living in your mind. But your mindset can only change through action, through practice, through testing those beliefs through putting it out into the world through getting feedback. And that is really what we try to do here in my PR community is breaking down this really complex thing that we've been told of like, we can't, we can't talk to the media, or we don't know how to do our own PR and really saying that we have all the tools within us. It's just a matter of applying the right strategies and frameworks and pressing that send button because everything you want is on the other side of a sudden button. So if you're still waiting behind the scenes, if you're still waiting to get permission from people of when is the right time for me to tell your story. I am here to tell you there is literally no right time, I think about when I started my business. And by the way, I never worked a day in a PR agency and ever worked in marketing. Who the hell am I to be helping 1000s of small businesses with their PR, right if I just stayed stuck in that mindset of I am not worthy. I don't have the degrees or the letters after my name or the industry context. All of the people who have gotten served and gotten transformation in my community, they would not have been able to experience a transformation because, you know, otherwise I would have just kept quiet at home. So because I was willing to put myself out there and try something, and fail, and put myself out there, and people start to listen, and they start to say, You know what, maybe there is something here about taking our PR into our own hands, and delegating it to someone in on our team, starting with me, first me mastering my message. And after I do that, I can delegate it into a system. That is what's going to transform the basis of all of my messaging, because it all starts with you knowing how to tell your story. And your story is always going to be bigger than the product or service and the benefits and the features. Right? It's going to be about where do you see the industry is going? What are the consumer sentiment? How can you be a solution for people? How can you lead with the issue? What is the point of view that maybe might be unpopular? But guess what, leaders who rise up and take a point of view? They're the ones that get people to say either hell yes, or hell no. You know, I released an episode a couple months ago about my journey that I shared after my surgery, my fibroid in my uterus, I got a 11 centimeter tumor removed, and then I went back to work without giving my body any rest. And I burned myself out. And through my journey of finding myself again, right, I realized so many things. And I'm at a point in my business where I am done, not trusting myself and asking for 10 to all 15 people's opinions, before I do something in my business and asking, What should I do next, because I know my stuff works. I know that everybody who's in my Facebook group who is here who wants to take control of their own story, they are here for it. So it is my responsibility to show up for all of you who are listening. And you know what, not everyone's gonna like that. Not everyone is going to be on board. And that's okay. Because the people who are really for you, they will lean all the way in, and the people who are not, then they will exit and kindly know where the door is that's on them. So all I'm trying to say is, you cannot a wanderer in this kind of wishy washy, maybe space, it is time, it is time to buy a repelling people attract those people who are really going to be transformed by your message, somebody out there can be helped greatly by you sharing your message in its imperfect form. So don't worry about the people that are going to say no, that are going to unsubscribe, that's actually a good thing. Because you don't actually rise up and make a dent in people's universes, you don't actually shift perspective. And that's what we're here to do. You don't shift perspectives, without a couple of people saying no, thank you. So this year, I challenge you along with me and I got your back to go bold or go home, it means that it might take you places that are a bit uncomfortable and sending emails to people into the interwebs into this dark internet hole that you might be afraid of sharing. But here's one thing I learned from sending hundreds of emails to 10s of 1000s of people, the more vulnerable, the more personal that I got. And without censoring myself, and having everything be grammatically correct and perfectly written. That is what has allowed me to build the community that is what has allowed people to actually respond to the email and say, Glory, I've never responded to any of the emails you've written until now, thank you so much for sending this email. Right. So don't be afraid to get unsubscribes don't be afraid to repel people, because that's when you will actually attract the people who are there for you who are really a part of your tribe. And so I encourage you this year to go bold, or go home. And here's one little piece that I will leave you with more than just people are gonna judge you no matter what because they will and time is passing by it no matter what because we aren't the time is passing by is right now. Right? We need people more than ever to share their perspective. Why? Because with internet with social media, we have so many people taking up all this space. Why have it not be you. It's not fair for the internet, and the group industry to be occupied by only the same people. It's time to mix it up. It's time for the Underdogs. And the people who maybe traditionally haven't really gotten a chance to speak at the table for them to speak. And it starts with you doing the sacred work of advocating for yourself, right? If you don't do the sacred work, of pitching yourself and seeking for a more diverse representation in the media, then people won't really know about your story. I mean, the fact that more black women start businesses more than any other demographic, and we don't see that being represented in media just shows how far we have to go. So I encourage you, my friend, if you know that you have a story worth sharing and we all do. Will you this year, commit to rolling up your sleeves or Killing your message so that you can tell that message because you are the person that can tell your story better than better than anyone else. Now once you master that message and I teach you in the PRS starter pack and also in my PR masterclass if you haven't watched it yet go to gloriachoupr.com/masterclass. That's gloriachoupr.com/masterclass, doing the work of defining your message clarifying your story, clarifying your voice, your tone, your your message, and how you communicate that that is the number one most game changing thing you can do for your business this year.
Gloria Chou 10:32
You can hire all the agencies in the world. But if you don't know your message, and how you can be a solution for people, and how you can be relevant to more people, you will never have a great ROI. Because you're depending on other people to extract the best parts of your story when you know the best parts of your story. That is all I want to leave you with. You got this. And just like pantones Color of the Year is screaming loudly at us. Right? It is bold as pink color. It is very unapologetic, maybe now is the time to just take up space and do it. Because the few haters and the people who judge you that is a low price and pay for making a dent in the universe for the better. As always, thank you so much for being here for being a part of our diverse community of people who are rewriting the narrative of the media representation and what an entrepreneur looks like, and how PR is done. I applaud you for being Trailblazers for being a part of this. Together, we are making the media landscape more diverse. And we will allow more people to be represented in media, their stories, their backgrounds, and the founders right that's more inclusive and diverse reflecting of what the small business landscape really looks like. Right and that's people from all lived experiences. So this work, my friend is absolutely sacred to me, and I got your back. Now let's go get it. Hey, small business hero. Did you know that you can get featured for free on outlets like Forbes, The New York Times, Marie Claire Pop Sugar and so many more, even if you're not yet launched? Or if you don't have any connection? That's right. That's why I invite you to watch my PR Secrets masterclass, where I reveal the exact methods 1000s of bootstrapping small businesses use to have their own PR and go from unknown to being a credible and sought after industry expert. Now if you want to land your first press feature, get on a podcast, secure a VIP speaking gig or just reach out to that very intimidating editor. This class will show you exactly how to do it. Register now at Gloria Chou pr.com/masterclass. That's Gloria Chou c-h-o-u pr.com/masterclass. So you can get featured in 30 days without spending a penny on ads or agencies. Best of all, this is completely free. So get in there and let's get you featured.