PR for Small Business: Why Hyperlocal Beats Forbes

<p>In this episode of <i><em>Do Small Business Like a Big Boss</em></i>, host Aisha Jorge Massengill sits down with Nicole Blake Baxter, founder of The Blake Agency, to discuss how small businesses can use public relations (PR) to build visibility, credibility, and stronger audience connections.</p><p>With over 20 years of experience, Nicole shares how to create an effective PR strategy without a big budget, why local media coverage matters, and how entrepreneurs can build their digital presence.</p><p>🎧 <b><strong>What You’ll Learn:</strong></b></p><ul><li>The difference between PR and marketing</li><li>Why local media coverage can be valuable</li><li>How to approach sales through storytelling</li><li>How to pitch articles to trade publications</li><li>How earned, paid, and owned media work together</li><li>How to start building your PR strategy</li></ul><p>⏱️ <b><strong>Episode Timestamps:</strong></b><br />00:43 – Introducing Nicole Blake Baxter<br />00:46 – PR vs. marketing<br />03:00 – Her music industry experience<br />07:29 – Starting her own agency<br />13:48 – Business partnerships and exit plans<br />18:50 – Landing her first clients<br />20:07 – Storytelling and sales<br />26:52 – Why she turns down short-term campaigns<br />28:31 – Local press vs. Forbes<br />33:01 – Building your digital footprint<br />34:47 – Pitching trade publications<br />39:50 – Getting started with PR<br />40:42 – Earned, paid, and owned media<br />44:50 – Finding The Blake Agency</p><p>👤 <b><strong>About the Guest:</strong></b><br />Nicole Blake Baxter is the founder and managing director of The Blake Agency, an Atlanta-based public relations firm serving clients nationwide. She has over 20 years of PR experience, beginning her career at Island Def Jam before launching her own agency.</p><p>🚀 <b><strong>Make Your Business Official!</strong></b><br />Join Aisha’s FREE weekly webinar to learn how to build, brand, and strengthen your business.</p><p>👉 Register: <a href="https://www.igotnext.co/training" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.igotnext.co/training</a></p><p>👉 <b><strong>Get Your FREE Legal Guide:</strong></b><br /><a href="https://smallbizzlegalguide.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://smallbizzlegalguide.com</a></p><p>🔗 <b><strong>Stay Connected with Sedgwick Andrews:</strong></b><br /><a href="https://linktr.ee/Sedgwick_Andrews_LC" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://linktr.ee/Sedgwick_Andrews_LC</a></p><p><b><strong>Podca