Can Press Releases Help Your Small Business? Yes, They Can!

Social media keeps us updated on everything constantly. However, it feels like press releases are a sort of dying art. Back in the days before social media, they were a way for brands to generate publicity, recognition, and good PR by creating a post for newspapers, magazines, and the like to publish. Now, we sort of do this every day with platforms like Twitter and Facebook that get the word out about brands much faster, whether they’re big or small.

The way businesses share news about their brands has changed over the years. But it doesn’t mean that the press release of old is no longer useful. Much like email, it can still be a good marketing tool for your brand, especially if you have a small business. Without the money and resources bigger businesses have, you need to be creative in getting the word out to your customers. A press release is a good way to do that and can be done even more efficiently with social media.

Here are five main reasons why press releases can help your small business.

Reasons Why Press Releases Can Benefit Small Businesses

1. They help control your business’s narrative.

Social media allows everyone to have an opinion on a brand and allows them to talk to you regarding feedback. So a press release is a good way to put you back in control over your business’s narrative. Something that stands out from all the social media chatter and noise.

According to an article written by Char Vandermeer on Horton, “a press release is your opportunity to articulate what’s important to you, share your intentions behind a service, explain your product’s unique value, and respond to claims that others may have made about you, your services, or your company.” This is especially important to consider if something about your business is making customers unhappy. If you can’t get opinions to change, it could damage your business’s reputation and/or credibility.

2. They help you stand out amongst your competitors.

As a small business, it’s even harder to keep up with the competition. This is especially true when you’re all likely using social media to give your business a boost. This is when it’s time to consider doing something different from the rest. A press release may be just the thing you need to stand out amongst your competitors. Show off your business’s strong points, or explain a product or service in more detail. Maybe even write press releases about an upcoming sale or special.

3. They will further help your SEO.

You’re likely already using search engine optimization (or SEO) tactics when writing and posting content for your small business. Using these same tactics in your press release can help it show up right away on Google and other search engines, drawing attention from current and potential customers. You can also get more out of your press releases by recycling them and turning them into other kinds of content, such as a blog post, according to an article written by Mary Lorenz on Cision.

4. They will give your social media platforms a boost.

Social media allows businesses to share stuff with their customers faster than they ever could with other means. This is why it’s so important to post a press release your business writes up onto your social media platforms. You will get immediate feedback from your customers. In turn, your customers will share your press release on their platforms and draw even more eyebrows to your business and its social media platforms.

5. They help you forge relationships with the media.

Do you have something concerning your small business that you want to get out to the media? A press release is still a good way to do this. According to Lorenz, journalists still receive press releases often and if they happen to come across one that’s relevant to what they’re discussing or posting, it could be the start of a good working relationship or building contacts for the future.

It’s also a win for your small business if your press releases go mainstream. Keep in mind though if you go down this path, that you should start with sending your press releases to local media first before national media.

So, can press releases, once seemingly a relic of the past, be helpful for your small business today? As the title indicates, yes, they can! For more information on press releases and how they can be beneficial to your small business, feel free to contact us.

Negative Reviews: How You Can Turn Them into Positive Ones

When considering a company for a new product or service, the first thing most people do is turn to Google to check their reviews. And not just the good reviews, but specifically the negative reviews. Small businesses are particularly susceptible to the power of reviews because they don’t have a huge marketing budget to back their reviews. So how can a small business make lemonade from the lemons of bad reviews?

Ways to Approach Negative Reviews

Growth Mindset

Negative reviews are an opportunity for reflection. When multiple reviews reference the same issue, this data can be invaluable to your business and its growth. An unknown problem is unsolvable. But an issue you are aware of is one you can address and correct for the future. Positive reviews reinforce the things you are doing well. However, they do not give you insight into areas where you can improve. One negative review can be the result of someone having a bad day. Still, if several negative reviews point in the same direction, it might be crucial knowledge that can allow you to move your business forward when addressed promptly and appropriately.

Businessman pointing at a neutral face icon, showing a concept of turning negative reviews.

Power Your Response

Businesses are operated by human beings. Humans make mistakes. People who leave negative reviews are disappointed in what went wrong. But their bigger concern is that someone else cares that something went wrong. They wouldn’t bother to post the review otherwise. Potential customers are as interested in your response to the problem as they are in the problem itself. Responding with compassion and willingness to make the situation right, regardless of whether you think the review is valid, gives a potential customer the confidence that should they have an issue, it will be promptly resolved. This in itself may be the push they need to get past any reservations a negative review may cause.

Create Opportunity

Sometimes, negative reviews are based on a misunderstanding. The customer may have expected service to include a feature that it did not. In this case, you can politely direct them back to the portion of your website that clearly explains what is included and direct them to the other service you offer that fills the need they were expecting. Even if this customer doesn’t return, you have responded in a polite, emphatic way. Thereby, letting others reading the review see how you respond to conflict while giving you another avenue to point out additional services you offer.

Are Bad Reviews Better Than No Reviews?

The goal is certainly not to amass lemon reviews so that you can use them for marketing lemonade. Ultimately, having a strategy to ask for reviews consistently will ensure that the number of positive reviews far outweighs negative ones. Customers who have a positive experience are more likely to go about their day and share their experience by word of mouth than by leaving a review without a request or incentive to do so. However, a perceived negative experience will evoke emotions in need of expression to a wider audience. Making the best of those reviews can turn a negative into a positive for your business.

Need Help?

Small business owners have a lot on their plate. Toast Local specializes in helping small and medium-sized businesses maximize their marketing efforts. We don’t believe in taking shortcuts, but over time, we will make sure to put your best foot forward online. If you have questions or think we might make a good partner, please contact us for a free Google listing review. We try to leave every potential client with one action item to help improve their marketing efforts. We’d love to do the same for you.

Local Businesses Supported In March 2021

We interact with other small businesses online to learn about their stories and even find inspiration.  Then we try to give a little back by posting links to their profiles.  In some cases, we will post their business information on our blog or do a quick podcast post just to help them build awareness and improve their search optimization.  Below you will find the local businesses supported in March 2021.

Supporting local businesses is a passion of ours.  If you would like to join us in that passion just follow us on Instagram.  Helping these companies with a like or comment can go a long way.  If you would like some help with your local SEO marketing or Google My Business listing please feel free to fill out the form on the right or contact us.  Cheers to supporting local businesses!

Local Businesses Supported In March 2021

Burr & Berry Coffee

1221 Transformation Ln
Indian Land, SC 29707

(704) 313-0760

Locally owned/operated, independent specialty coffee & tea.

The Brickyard Downtown

85 W Boston St
Chandler, AZ 85225

(480) 963-1373

Fun restaurant and bar that believes in nourishment, community & creativity.  Check out their specialty cocktails.

Reads & Company

234 Bridge St
Phoenixville, PA 19460

(484) 920-3695

Reads & Company is a first-class independent bookstore with an extensive events schedule, carefully-curated inventory, and an exceptional commitment to readers, authors, publishers, and their hometown region.

CashmereRED

221 E Colorado Ave
Telluride, CO 81435

(970) 728-8088

CashmereRED works closely with leading mills in Scotland and the USA to design timeless pieces that will be passed down for generations.

Local Businesses Supported In February

Most small business owners struggle daily to get the word out about their brand.  It is surprising that even businesses that have been around for decades will still hear “I drive by here all of the time and I never knew you were here!”

We found these great businesses via social media and shared a bit of their story online.  We would like to take it a step further by sharing their information here to help the worldwide web point to their site.

Supporting local businesses is a passion of ours.  If you would like to join us in that passion just follow us on Instagram.  Helping these companies with a like or comment can go a long way.

Leather Repair Small Business Marketing

Rago Brothers Shoe & Leather Repair

142 Speedwell Ave
Morristown, NJ 07960

(973) 539-7949

With 100+ years of leather repair expertise, Rago Brothers is a family-owned and operated shop in Morristown, NJ.

Pilates Studio Local SEO Marketing

Whole Living Pilates

1750 Telstar Dr #120
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

(719) 204-3104

Whole Living Pilates is Colorado Springs’ premier boutique Pilates studio. They offer small group Pilates classes, private, one-on-one Pilates sessions to create a holistic experience for your fitness needs.

Shop Local Cupcake Marketing

Bleu Moon Bakery 

Las Vegas, Nevada

All of their treats are 100% vegan/plant-based always!

local brewery seo marketing

True Anomaly Brewing Company

2012 Dallas St
Houston, TX 77003

(346) 704-5701

Brewery with Taproom, focusing on Belgian Ales, Hop-forward Ales, and Mixed Fermentation + Sour Ales