Blogs & Articles

Jules Brooke founder of Handle Your Own PR shares insights and knowledge of how to get PR fo your business.

Find the right media contacts​

When you are about to start your very own PR campaign, you need to make sure you contact the right media. When we say ‘right’, we mean the media that your target market reads, listens to or watches. So the very first task you have is to identify exactly WHO you are speaking to...

Celebrity LOTTO​

This week we discovered another little snippet of Handle Your Own PR in Mother & Baby magazine. A friend who is in the late stages of pregnancy picked it up in a sample bag at the hospital. It just reinforced a couple of things about PR that I thought were worth touching on: 1. It can be a slow burn – Simone...

Parenting list has even more contacts!​

I have just finished updating the parenting media list and have added a few more contacts for those of you that are thinking of sending out a media release about your cool new parenting product or service! Make sure you let your friends know as well. Simone recently attended...

Hit the ground running in 2011!​

We know what it’s like. You’re thinking about that list of Christmas presents you need to buy and the million parties you’ve got coming up. You’re dreaming about your summer holiday and the prawns and mangoes you’re going to eat. The last thing on your mind is getting publicity...

Be Prepared!​

Just got a great email from Mel Quick at greengoat.com.au who told us that she got a story straight away, the first time she sent her press release out! It makes us so proud to hear that you are having success with our media lists – and your talent of course! Either email us or post your story...

A couple of things to remember​

This week we discovered another little snippet of Handle Your Own PR in Mother & Baby magazine. A friend who is in the late stages of pregnancy picked it up in a sample bag at the hospital. It just reinforced a couple of things about PR that I thought were worth touching on...

Helping artist get publicity​

We have always thought that HYOPR would be a great service for people in the arts who need to publicise their work but on a shoestring budget. Of course, that’s why we set up the site in the first place and it’s not just small businesses that need help! Anyway...

Sue Papadoulis' Publicity Worshop​

My Favourite is a re-brand of the successful children’s and Mum’s store, Mummy’s Favourite which I purchased in August 2010. Having lived in London for the last 10 years I felt that there was a real need for a really slick gift website that specialized in design led gifts...

How do you keep bought lists up to date?​

Well Eleni there are a few ways. The media is a fickle industry and people do move around a lot. If you have an old list you can start by emailing the contacts on there and just ask if they are still the right person. Often if someone has left their bounce-back message...

Interview Tips​

So you’ve worked out a great story angle, bought or created a cracking media list, pitched your story, got a response and you’re going to be interviewed by an important magazine and radio station tomorrow. You’re quietly sh***ing yourself but you know you have to do this for the benefit of your business. Here are a few tips to get you through...

Startupsmart Article

My Best Mistake
How a spin-off business got us through the GFC


By Michelle Hammond
Friday, 29 June 2012

my-best-mistake-20120629-thumb Launching a spin-off site is one way to boost sales, but if the idea is poorly executed you could suffer setbacks rather than getting...

Dynamic Business Article

Jules Brooke and Simone Heydon had been running a full-service communications agency for six years when the GFC hit in 2008, and their client-base of SMB owners and entrepreneurs pulled the reigns on their marketing spend – hard.

In dire need of a new revenue stream, Brooke had what she...

BRW

I receive 50-­75 media releases, pitches and follow-­up calls/emails a day; when I was a section editor (Business End) that would be around 150-­200 a day. I don’t mind receiving them; I would rather receive them than not. It’s one avenue of knowing about the issues, personalities and nonsense management fads that are...

How to get Media to take notice of your business​

The NAB Small Business Summit was last week and it was a bit of a revelation! After missing the lunch (long story!) on Tuesday I turned up to see Rebecca Derrington from SourceBottle facilitate a panel discussion about ‘How to get the media to take notice of...

Music to your ears!​

How bloody hard is it to make it as a musician in this country. Yes, there are a select few that make it onto high profile TV talent shows and get a lucky break, but for most musos it’s a constant struggle. A struggle to get gigs, a struggle to get signed and a struggle to make a decent, reliable living. Yet the...

Business-to-business PR​

Today we thought you might like to change the focus a little – to business to business PR. It may not be as ‘sexy’ as product PR but for a lot of you, this is what you need. To tell other businesses about YOUR business.

Well, in essence, it’s not that different to any other kind of...

Webinar = Insights for all​

We had a great turn out for our lunchtime webinar just now. Some really unique questions added to the content. You can view the full hour of presentation and Q&A by clicking here. We’d love your thoughts on future interactions so be sure to watch it and then let us know...

HYOPR SMARTCOMPANY 29 OCT. 2013​

Handle Your Own PR is practicing what it preaches by getting mentioned in an article by Nina Hendy in a SmartCompany article from 29/10/13. The article identifies ways that sole traders can get exposure for little or no cost. Check out the article for...

Start your own positive PR cycle

We’ve updated the Clippings page on the site with more ideas about using one article to generate even more free publicity for your business. Read how now! Our lucky newsletter subscribers had this useful information emailed directly to them. Register now for the...

Proof of a media release working

A 16-year-old girl has been referred to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for emailing out a fake press release on behalf of gas drilling company Metgasco” is the first sentence of the article.It must have been a pretty effective press release if ASIC is involved...

Why not try a DIY PR package?​

We’ve put together our packages for all levels of DIY PRers. With prices starting at $95+gst there is a package perfect for every business.

You can start with a Handshake if you’re looking for good value PR tools, move up to Holding Hands if you want a bit more help or go all out with...

How to put together a TV pitch​

Whether you want publicity for your brand, your business or yourself, TV is the ‘Holy Grail’ of PR. We all dream of seeing our brand on TV, and even more so when it’s being featured within the programming, not the advertising.

In today’s world of multiple TV channels...

Why PR is crucial for start Ups?

Jules Brooke’s, HYOPR founder and co-owner, article is featured on the Inside Small Business Website. A great read for any business just starting out as she explains how DIY PR can save you lots of money versus advertising. She also explains the basic steps to getting free publicity for your small business...

Which DIY PR options is best for your business

In this week’s newsletter, we reviewed the pros and cons of the different options small businesses have for DIY tools and services. It’s easy to get confused and end up doing the wrong thing for your brand or product.

When we talk about DIY PR, we are usually referring...

Why not try a DIY PR package?​

We’ve put together our packages for all levels of DIY PRers. With prices starting at $95+gst there is a package perfect for every business.

You can start with a Handshake if you’re looking for good value PR tools, move up to Holding Hands if you want a bit more help or go all out with...

How to put together a TV pitch​

Whether you want publicity for your brand, your business or yourself, TV is the ‘Holy Grail’ of PR. We all dream of seeing our brand on TV, and even more so when it’s being featured within the programming, not the advertising.

In today’s world of multiple TV channels...

Why PR is crucial for start Ups?

Jules Brooke’s, HYOPR founder and co-owner, article is featured on the Inside Small Business Website. A great read for any business just starting out as she explains how DIY PR can save you lots of money versus advertising. She also explains the basic steps to getting free publicity for your small business...

Which DIY PR options is best for your business

In this week’s newsletter, we reviewed the pros and cons of the different options small businesses have for DIY tools and services. It’s easy to get confused and end up doing the wrong thing for your brand or product.

When we talk about DIY PR, we are usually referring...

How to get your product on TV for FREE!​

Products are slightly different when it comes to getting them into the shows or programming. TV Publicity (or Product Placement) is very different, and much cheaper, than buying ad space. However, you are limited unless you have a spokesperson ready...

How HYOP's Founder got into PR by accident?​

After starting a successful graphic design company in her twenties, Jules left her full-time job when her son was born. When her son was one year old, Jules was keen to find her next business endeavour. Bemoaning her struggle to get traction with her next business...

Maximize your success by knowing your target market and media​

Getting your target media right is crucial for the success of your PR campaign. Pitching a cute parenting story to the Australian Financial Review is unlikely to get picked up, as the AFR is quite obviously not the right target. Sometimes though...

How Kay Ledson handled her own PR​

When Kay Ledson’s son shattered three vertebrae in a horror snowboarding accident 18 years ago, doctors told her we would be paralysed for life. Four and a half months later, he walked out of the hospital.
Now, this determined Australian grandmother is walking across the US to bring attention to her message...

An interview with Freelance Journalist and Editor John Burfitt​

John Burfitt is a highly qualified media industry specialist. He is a freelance journalist/editor for a dozen national publications including Escape, News.com.au, TV Week, Restaurant & Catering, International Traveller and Bite.

1. What is the most...

Matt Ferro got some great results when he Handled his own PR​

Even a Hollywood filmmaker needs some PR from time to time. So when Matt Ferro needed to get the word out about his new film production company on a strictly limited budget, he turned to Handle Your Own PR.

Matt is a native New Yorker who fell in love with...

An interview with the editor of Virgin Voyeur Magazine on finding out how to get into their magazine

As editor of the Virgin Australia in-flight magazine, Kirsten Rowlingson is inundated with media releases on a daily basis. To make it into her magazine, keep your release short, to the point and go easy on the follow up...

What happens when you go on TV for an interview?

I thought you might like an outline of what will happen when you are asked to do a TV chat show interview. Remember they are not there to try and catch you out. They want you to be comfortable and feel relaxed. They are just interested in your story and want to help you sell the book! Relax and enjoy it...

Chee Pearsall​

1 - Turkish Murkish will be on Studio 10 on Thurday 28 April. It will be part of a giveaway and they will use their own models. I found this lead via a call out on SourceBottle and the producer contacted me right away. I just spoke with her and she is happy to do more promo's thoughout the year leading up to Chirstmas...

Melbourne Headache Centre​

He felt that his business and technique needed explaining and that PR would be the most effective way to get his message out. Together, Jules and Roger decided to use a case study from one of his patients as the ‘hook’ for his story and after writing his media release, he pitched...