Have you ever noticed that some people get their name in the spotlight over and over again?
You know, those experts in your industry who have a to-die-for section of shiny “As Featured In” logos on their website and are constantly getting featured in the media.
What’s their trick for getting publicity – and how do they keep the rest of their business afloat at the same time?
I’ll let you in on a little secret: It’s not because they’re smarter or more special than you. It’s because they’ve mastered the art of working with the media.
The truth is, these opportunities are well within YOUR reach, right now.
Don’t believe me?
Well, in this post I want to tell you about the simplest way to get the publicity you’ve always dreamed of.
The Power of Media to Grow Your Therapy Practice
In the first 12 months after launching my coaching business, I went from zero media presence to being featured in major publications including New York Magazine, Fast Company, Forbes, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Mashable and many more.
Today 90% of my email subscribers and clients come through the PR and press I get. 
Clients tell me they read my advice in an article and because it’s like a taste of working with me, they instantly reach out. Increasing my media presence has led to new opportunities such as speaking events, paid blogging, and interest from book publishers.
As a therapist or coach, getting consistent, high-profile press coverage can be one of the most useful techniques for growing your business. It drives lots of qualified traffic to your website. More importantly, it enhances your reputation and status as an expert in your field.
Building your credibility through publicity can help you:
- Stand out from your competition in a crowded marketplace
- Become easier to find online through Google searches and social media by improving your SEO and search rankings
- Gain powerful social proof, creating instant trust and credibility with your website visitors
- Draw in new clients, followers, and email subscribers as a result of increased exposure
Major media opportunities are available to you right now, whether you are just starting out in business or a seasoned pro.
It’s possible with the use of a powerful, free PR service called Help A Reporter Out or HARO.
What is Help A Reporter Out (HARO)?
You may have heard HARO mentioned on your business-building journey, perhaps in a Facebook group or on a podcast.
HARO is a completely free service that connects journalists and reporters with experts just like you.
Over 55,000 reporters use HARO, including those from top outlets like The Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Fast Company, Refinery 29 and more. HARO is also international. That means you will find journalists and media outlets from all over the globe including the UK, Australia, and Canada.
HARO is the best way to get publicity from places that seem unattainable. And because it has the most media opportunities on the web, it is the simplest, fastest to get media exposure for free.
The media opportunities on HARO cover the gamut from health and well-being topics to areas like careers, business, tech, relationships, and lifestyle. Regardless of your background or niche, you’re likely to find media opportunities that are the right fit for you.
Your first step is to register at helpareporter.com.
How HARO Works
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the HARO service works:
After you sign up for HARO, you will start getting three emails every weekday (Monday-Friday). There is a morning, afternoon, and evening email. HARO emails have a list of requests (called “queries”) from reporters looking for experts just like you who can share their advice.
Each email contains about 50-75 different requests from reporters. This adds up to over 150 more opportunities to get featured in the media every single day, delivered straight to your inbox at no cost.
If you spot a request that fits your expertise, you email the reporter. If the reporter opens your email and is interested in what you have to say then you may be quoted in an article or be interviewed. When that happens, you get exposure to the thousands or millions of readers of that publication. You can also get on TV, podcasts, and the radio.
HARO gives you a great opportunity to spread your message on a wider scale. It’s also a powerful tool that can help grow your business, your reputation, and your impact. After all, now more than ever, we need caring, compassionate voices like yours helping people live healthier lives. So get out there!
Discover how to have success with HARO
Sign up for my free training, “Media Made Easy: The Secrets To Getting Press Coverage (Even When You Have No Connections)” to discover TOP keys to getting visibility and building relationships with the media, even if you just launched your business.
About the Author
Melody Wilding is a licensed social worker and coach who help high-achievers mentally and emotionally thrive in their careers. When Melody started her practice a few years ago, she had zero clients and no credibility. Today she has a client waitlist, has given a TEDx talk with over 15,000 views, and has been featured in dozens of top media publications from Inc, Forbes, and Fast Company to Cosmo, Shape, and Glamour. Melody is also the creator of The Media Darling Method, an online course that teaches therapists how to land major publicity that grows their private practice and personal brands.
©2018 Melody Wilding. All rights reserved.
Photos courtesy of Unsplash.com.
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Sharon Martin
Sharon Martin has a passion for clinical supervision, mentoring new social workers, blogging, and reading all things social work related. She is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years in the field. Sharon has worked extensively in Bay Area non-profits and successfully runs a private counseling practice in San Jose. Sharon writes regularly for PsychCentral and the Good Men Project. She's also the author of The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism.
