• The flurry of reports starts Wednesday with the release of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book.
• Thursday brings weekly Initial Jobless Claims.
• Friday is full of reports, including Retail Sales, Consumer Sentiment Index, Empire State Index on manufacturing, and wholesale inflation readings in the Producer Price Index.

5 Strategies for PR on a Budget

A public relations company can help you get noticed, but PR expertise can be expensive. Fortunately, there are lots of inexpensive and effective ways to get your message out there. Here are five such strategies:

Keep your finger on the pulse of your industry with surveys. This allows you to understand what customers want with minimal investment (once you know Google surveys). Leverage data by sharing in a blog or with media.

Share your expertise often, easily. Write a blog. Regularly delivering smart, fresh content on your website (and then promoting it through social media) serves two purposes. First, it shows colleagues, clients and prospects you know your stuff. Second, it helps you rank higher in search engine results, sending even more online visitors your way. Write about common questions customers have, unique trends, timely news or other observations.

Work with a local college or university to provide internships for junior and senior students majoring in PR, marketing or mass communications. They can help spread your message with minimal cost (and boost their resume with practical experience at the same time).

Be the local authority in media. Newspapers, radio and television stations are constantly looking for meaningful content. And, being quoted regularly in the press can lead to even bigger things, like your own feature. If you create your own blog or conduct a survey, make the content work double duty. Reach out to local media with a pitch story that benefits the local audience. Also check out PR Newswire’s ProfNet or Help A Reporter Out, which can connect you with journalists and bloggers.

Present at local organizations. Help others better understand your local market. When you have survey data, offer to speak at your Chamber of Commerce or other professional associations. Often, organizations are looking for a lunchtime speaker at monthly meetings. And, members of these organizations are often well connected.

As always, feel free to pass these tips along to your team, clients and colleagues.

Source: Entrepreneur