<p><b>Digital PR has become one of the most powerful SEO multipliers for small businesses</b>—but most owners still think PR is just press releases. In this episode of the <i>Marketing Guides for Small Business Podcast</i>, the team breaks down how <b>modern digital PR drives rankings, E-E-A-T authority, brand visibility, and trust at scale</b>.</p> <p>Ken, Paul, Ian, and Jeff dive into <b>real-world tactics</b> including media outreach, expert sourcing platforms like HARO/Help a Reporter Out, link-earning strategies, data-driven storytelling, thought leadership, and how AI is transforming both the PR pitch process and newsroom workflows.</p> <p>You’ll learn <b>how Google evaluates authority</b>, the role of <b>high-quality backlinks</b>, what makes journalists actually respond, and the <b>PR assets every small business should develop right now</b>.</p> <p>If you want more organic traffic, stronger brand credibility, and more people talking about your business—this episode is a must-listen.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>⏱ <b>TIMESTAMPED TABLE OF CONTENTS</b></p> <p><b>00:00 – Welcome &amp; Episode Overview</b></p> <p> The hosts introduce the topic of digital PR, why it's misunderstood, and how it connects to SEO, trust, and visibility.</p> <p><b>00:30 – What <i>Is</i> Digital PR?</b></p> <p> Ken explains how digital PR differs from traditional PR and why online media coverage matters more today.</p> <p><b>00:52 – Press Releases vs. True PR</b></p> <p> Why a single press release isn’t enough—and what modern PR campaigns actually look like.</p> <p><b>01:40 – Why Digital PR Matters for SEO</b></p> <p> How earned media, backlinks, and branded mentions signal authority to Google.</p> <p><b>02:40 – High-Value Links, Brand Mentions &amp; E-E-A-T</b></p> <p> Discussion of link quality, topic relevance, and how PR contributes to Expertise, Experience, Authority, and Trust.</p> <p><b>03:10 – Building Brand Authority Through Thought Leadership</b></p> <p> How small businesses can position themselves as go-to experts in their niche.</p> <p><b>04:20 – Tactics: How to Earn Links &amp; Media Coverage</b></p> <p> Story mining, sourcing platforms, journalist relationships, pitch structure, and leveraging unique data.</p> <p><b>06:30 – The Role of Storytelling in Digital PR</b></p> <p> How compelling angles increase journalist response rates.</p> <p><b>08:45 – Social Proof &amp; Reputation Signals</b></p> <p> Using PR wins to improve conversions, trust, and brand perception.</p> <p><b>10:00 – AI and the Future of Digital PR</b></p> <p> How AI tools can help build media lists, tailor pitches, and analyze journalist interests.</p> <p><b>12:00 – Common PR Mistakes Small Businesses Make</b></p> <p> And how to fix them fast.</p> <p><b>14:30 – How to Measure PR Success</b></p> <p> KPIs including link quality, DR/DA, referral traffic, brand search lift, and media pickup.</p> <p><b>16:00 – Final Takeaways &amp; Action Steps</b></p> <p> Where small businesses should start with digital PR today.</p> <p>🎧 <b>Perfect for You If…</b></p> <ul><li>You want <b>higher Google rankings</b> without pumping money into paid ads</li><li>You need <b>credible backlinks</b> that actually move the SEO needle</li><li>You want to build <b>brand authority</b> and be seen as the expert in your local market</li><li>You’ve heard of PR… but never knew how to make it <b>work for small businesses</b></li></ul> <p><b>🌐 Connect With Your Marketing Guides</b></p> <ul><li>Ian Cantle — Outsourced Marketing &amp; Dental Marketing Heroes</li><li><a href="https://outsourcedmarketing.ca/" target="_blank">https://outsourcedmarketing.ca</a></li><li><a href="https://dentalmarketingheroes.com/" target="_blank">https://dentalmarketingheroes.com</a></li><li>Ken Tucker &amp; Paul Barthel — Changescape Web</li><li><a href="https://changescapeweb.com/" target="_blank">https://changescapeweb.com</a></li><li>Jeff Stec — Tylerica Marketing Systems</li><li><a href="https://tylericasystems.com/" target="_blank">https://tylericasystems.com/</a></li></ul> <p><br /></p>