Question 1

How early do I need to pitch for holiday gift guides?

Accepted Answer

Most national gift guides work 3–6 months in advance. For December features, pitch July to September. Digital outlets have shorter lead times but still require early pitching.

Question 2

Do I need a PR agency to get into gift guides?

Accepted Answer

No. Many small businesses land gift guide features without a PR agency. A strong pitch, good images, accurate pricing, and a link are the main requirements.

Question 3

What should I include in a gift guide pitch?

Accepted Answer

Include a short intro, what problem your product solves, price, link, product details, and high-quality images. Keep it under 8–10 sentences.

Question 4

What types of products get featured in gift guides?

Accepted Answer

Products with strong use cases, good photography, and compelling founder stories in categories like wellness, beauty, home, kids, tech, and novelty perform best.

Question 5

What is the AI Visibility playlist?

Accepted Answer

The AI Visibility playlist is a curated series of podcast episodes teaching small businesses how to combine AI tools and PR to increase brand visibility and media features.

Question 6

How does AI help with PR?

Accepted Answer

AI speeds up research, identifies story angles, drafts pitch variations, and helps founders understand which topics are trending. It can reduce PR time by over 50%.

Question 7

Do I need to be tech-savvy to use AI for PR?

Accepted Answer

No. Anyone can use tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity for pitching, angle creation, and research with simple prompts.

Question 8

What is PR for small businesses?

Accepted Answer

Small business PR focuses on earning media coverage through storytelling, pitching, and credibility—not paid ads. It helps build trust and visibility.

Question 9

Is PR different from marketing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Marketing is what you say about your brand. PR is what others say about you. PR builds credibility through earned media, not paid placements.

Question 10

Can small businesses do PR without hiring an agency?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. With strong angles, a clear pitch structure, and good timing, small businesses can land national media features.

Question 11

What does DIY PR mean?

Accepted Answer

DIY PR means pitching the media directly without hiring a publicist. It involves crafting your own pitches, understanding lead times, and building relationships.

Question 12

Is DIY PR effective?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many founders land major features in top publications through clear storytelling and a strong pitch framework.

Question 13

What skills do I need for DIY PR?

Accepted Answer

Clear writing, understanding your audience, and identifying a relevant angle. No connections or previous PR experience required.

Question 14

What is PR for product-based businesses?

Accepted Answer

Product PR helps physical product brands get featured in gift guides, roundups, and magazines to boost visibility and credibility.

Question 15

What do journalists look for in product pitches?

Accepted Answer

High-quality images, accurate pricing, a compelling story, and clear links. A concise pitch with essential details performs best.

Question 16

Can small product brands get into national publications?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many small brands get featured in major publications like BuzzFeed, Forbes, and Real Simple with strong positioning and timing.

Question 17

How is ChatGPT changing online search for ecommerce?

Accepted Answer

ChatGPT now recommends products directly in conversational search results. Brands with strong PR and media features are more likely to appear.

Question 18

How does the Shopify and ChatGPT integration work?

Accepted Answer

Shopify merchants can use AI-powered search where customers ask questions and receive tailored product recommendations based on descriptions, reviews, and media mentions.

Question 19

How can brands increase their chances of appearing in AI search results?

Accepted Answer

Brands with strong PR, authoritative backlinks, optimized product descriptions, and clear metadata are more likely to be recommended by AI models.