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 She explains why the old "I only want someone with the best contacts" mindset is outdated, why a promise of guaranteed coverage is a red flag, and why your story and strategy now matter more than anyone's rolodex.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 retireHow to pick channels when your time is the scarcest resourceWhy PR is a much bigger umbrella than media coverageWhen legacy media is worth it and when a niche podcast winsThe PESO framework explained in plain languageHow to promote a feature without feeling gross about itSimple ways to tie visibility back to actual revenueThe biggest mistake solopreneurs make doing PR aloneA starting plan for solopreneurs with almost no budgetChapters

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