What PR actually is, and why your business needs it, with Greg Simpson

Greg Simpson is a former business journalist who came into PR "by the side door" and now runs Press for Attention PR, helping entrepreneurs and business owners get known for what they know. He also happens to be Andrew's own PR man, so consider this a declaration of interest. In this episode of The Business Doctor Broadcast, part of The Property Doctor podcast, Andrew asks Greg what PR actually is and why it matters to a small business. They cover how Greg ended up running a Richard Branson press conference on the same day he was asked, why he asks new clients whether they are running away from something or towards it, how press coverage is helping businesses get cited by AI, the 100 tins of Spam that upset an aspiring MP, the golden sole at Halo Physio, a listener question from a sole-trader electrician, and what Greg would do if he were advising Michael Carrick. Find Greg: pressforattention.com (try "Chat with Dr Spin", an AI version of Greg trained on his work), LinkedIn (Greg Simpson) and Instagram (Press for Attention). 00:00 Marketing vs PR in one line 00:21 Welcome, Greg Simpson 01:18 From journalist to PR, by the side door 05:17 Faxes, carpet fitters and a famous murder case 07:24 Cherie Blair, Sky News and a Richard Branson press conference 10:47 What PR actually is 13:02 Running away from something, or towards it? 15:09 Instant results or a compound effect? 17:23 Building a backstory before you pitch 18:10 The unexpected benefit: getting cited by AI 21:34 AI slop, Google and personal experience 24:15 Thinking like a journalist 27:07 Public relations: the relations bit 27:52 The "bomb" and other attention grabbers 30:05 A tuk tuk for a niche accountant 31:18 Sending chocolate instead of press releases 32:49 100 tins of Spam and GDPR 34:43 What would Branson do? 35:06 The golden sole and the chicken dipper 38:14 Why PR compounds 39:39 Listener question: the sole-trader electrician 44:05 Enough with the van 45:57 Could Greg fix Michael Carrick's PR? 48:46 Find Greg, and chat with Dr Spin