Why Most Solopreneurs Are Doing PR Completely Backwards

Most solopreneurs think PR means getting into Forbes. PR strategist Haley Raymond says that belief is exactly why so much publicity effort goes nowhere. In this episode, Haley joins Carly and Joe to break down what public relations actually looks like for a business of one. She explains why the old "I only want someone with the best contacts" mindset is outdated, why a promise of guaranteed coverage is a red flag, and why your story and strategy now matter more than anyone's rolodex. You will hear the two part question Haley asks every client before choosing a single channel, why legacy media still works beautifully for local businesses, and why niche podcasts and Substack often move the needle more than a mention on a national network. She also walks through the PESO model created by Gini Dietrich, a simple way to see your paid, earned, shared, and owned channels as one connected ecosystem instead of a pile of to-dos. If you have ever landed a great feature and then heard crickets, Haley explains the promotion mistake almost everyone makes, plus how to track PR results without drowning in vanity metrics. And for anyone who dreads social media, good news. You do not have to talk to a camera to build visibility. **What you will learn** - The PR advice Haley wishes people would retire - How to pick channels when your time is the scarcest resource - Why PR is a much bigger umbrella than media coverage - When legacy media is worth it and when a niche podcast wins - The PESO framework explained in plain language - How to promote a feature without feeling gross about it - Simple ways to tie visibility back to actual revenue - The biggest mistake solopreneurs make doing PR alone - A starting plan for solopreneurs with almost no budget **Chapters** 00.01 The PR advice that makes Haley cringe 01.33 The intern who emailed a media contact list to the media 02.39 The first question to ask before choosing any channel 04.17 Why PR is much bigger than getting in the news 05.46 What to do if you genuinely hate social media 09.20 What legacy media actually means now 10.30 Local news versus niche podcasts for solopreneurs 3.09 The PESO framework explained 15.42 You landed the big feature and heard crickets 17.54 Measuring PR without chasing vanity metrics 20.30 The simple link trick that shows where leads come from 21.09 The biggest mistake solopreneurs make doing PR alone 22.49 First steps on a tiny budget 26.01 It's PR, not the ER 28.00 Where to find Haley **Connect with Haley Raymond** Website: haleyraymond.com LinkedIn If this episode helped, please leave a five-star review and share it with a friend who needs PR advice. Subscribe to The Life-First Solopreneur wherever you listen, including YouTube. 🌟 **Featured Resource: LifeStarr Intro for Solopreneurs** Are you building a business on your own and feeling like you’re going it alone? That stops today. **LifeStarr Intro** is a **free, forever membership** built especially for solopreneurs who want real support, real resources, and real community. When you join LifeStarr Intro, you unlock: - A **vibrant community** of like-minded solopreneurs for feedback, encouragement, and connection - The **LifeStarr productivity app (coming soon)**, built to support your workflow using GTD principles (that’s Tasks, Projects, Inbox that works) - **Live problem-solving meetups**, expert sessions and strategies...and you don’t pay a thing Total value: $65/month. Your cost? **Zero**. 👉 Ready to stop struggling solo and build a business that works *for* you? Join LifeStarr Intro for Free