In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria dives into why so many small business owners struggle to connect online—and how authentic branding is the secret to attracting your “Hell yes!” clients. She sits down with branding strategist Sarah Ashman, who has worked with Nike, Estee Lauder, and Madonna, to unpack what it really means to show up in alignment, radiate your values, and let your audience feel your energy.

Sarah and Gloria break down the subtle cues your audience senses, why “proving energy” can push people away, and practical ways to check in with yourself so your messaging and offerings land authentically—whether you sell a product or a service.

What Branding Isn’t — And Why It Matters

Branding is not:

🙅‍♀️ Just a logo, website, or Instagram feed

🙅‍♀️ Relying solely on credentials or authority to impress

🙅‍♀️ Following templates or “shoulds” that don’t reflect who you are

That’s surface-level branding. Real branding is about alignment, energy, and authenticity—so your audience knows who you are and why they should care.

What Branding Actually Is

💡 Being congruent: your words, energy, and actions all match

💡 Showing up relaxed and confident, not trying to prove yourself

💡 Grounded in your values and the story behind your work

💡 A daily practice of checking in with yourself first, then letting that guide your external messaging

Gloria and Sarah explain why audiences have “digital Spidey senses” for inauthenticity—and how showing up from your inner truth builds trust, loyalty, and connection.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• How to notice when your energy and messaging aren’t aligned
• Why relaxed, genuine presence lands better than polished authority
• The mindset shift that turns your work into a story people feel, not just hear
• How authenticity applies to both service- and product-based businesses
• Ways to use AI to clarify your messaging without losing your personal “heartbeat”
  
  
  

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to attract your “Hell yes!” clients and build a brand that feels authentic to you, this episode gives you the tools and mindset shifts to check in with your inner truth, align your messaging, and radiate confidence. It’s never been a better time to stop following old templates and start showing up fully as yourself.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria dives deep into one of the biggest traps small business owners face today — PR scams and pay-to-play “features.” You know the ones: “Get featured in *40 Under 40 Innovative Entrepreneurs—fees apply.” Gloria pulls back the curtain on how to spot these fake “PR opportunities” and why they don’t give you the long-term authority, SEO, or credibility that earned media does.

After years of helping thousands of founders get featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Allure, and The New York Times — without paying a dime for placement — Gloria reveals the red flags to watch for and what real PR looks like.

What PR Isn’t — And Why It Matters

PR is not:
 🚫 Paying to get featured in an “exclusive” list or award you’ve never heard of
 🚫 Sending dozens of free samples just to get a mention
 🚫 Paying contributors or influencers to write about you

That’s not earned media — that’s advertising. Real PR is when a journalist or editor chooses to feature you because your story, expertise, or brand serves their audience.

What PR Actually Is

 ✅ Earned editorial content — the kind that builds SEO, authority, and trust
 ✅ Relationship-driven, not transactional
 ✅ Long-term visibility, not one-and-done posts

Gloria breaks down why journalists want to hear from founders directly (not agencies), and how to craft your pitch using her CPR Method — Credibility, Point of View, Relevance — to stand out in their inbox.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• How to tell the difference between earned media and pay-to-play “PR” scams
• Why paying for “exclusive” features can hurt your brand credibility
• The exact mindset shift that turns your marketing message into a newsworthy story
• How earned PR compounds over time, bringing more features, backlinks, and authority
  
  

Final Thoughts

If you’re tired of wasting money on ads or “guaranteed” features that don’t move the needle, this episode will teach you how to take control of your PR — and do it the right way.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria shares the three essential mindsets every founder needs to get featured in top media outlets—without spending thousands on a PR agency or ads.

After helping thousands of small business owners successfully pitch themselves to outlets like Forbes, The New York Times, and Marie Claire, Gloria reveals that PR isn’t just about press—it’s about mindset, communication, and consistency.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1️⃣ Why PR Is Cumulative (And Why Every Pitch Counts)

Getting featured isn’t a one-time event—it’s a skill that compounds over time. Gloria explains how every pitch, follow-up, and journalist connection builds momentum, even if you don’t get a “yes” right away.

2️⃣ The $10,000-an-Hour Skill Every Founder Must Master

Outsourcing design or admin is easy—but you can’t outsource your voice. Learn why mastering your message is the most valuable asset in your business and how to use Gloria’s CPR Method (Credibility, Point of View, Relevance) to stand out to editors and producers.

3️⃣ How to Build Relationships That Create Endless Press Opportunities

PR isn’t just about features—it’s about relationships. Gloria reveals how to cultivate authentic connections with journalists, become a trusted expert source, and turn one feature into an ongoing media snowball effect.

Real Founder Stories

Hear how members of the PR Starter Pack community—like Dr. Ross Radusky and Dr. Greta—used Gloria’s system to consistently land press coverage year-round by pitching with clarity and confidence.

Key Takeaways

 ✅ PR success is built through mindset and momentum
 ✅ Your story is your most powerful marketing asset
 ✅ Consistency > perfection when it comes to pitching
 ✅ Everything you want is on the other side of the send button

If you’re ready to stop relying on social media algorithms and start getting free, organic press that builds your credibility and SEO, this episode is your roadmap.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria breaks down the biggest untapped opportunity for small business owners right now: using AI tools like Perplexity to get featured in media—and dominate AI search results—without hiring a PR agency.

With traditional PR agencies charging thousands per month, Gloria shows founders a faster, more affordable path to visibility. She reveals how Perplexity is reshaping how product-based businesses land press, monitor trends, and pitch journalists with strategy and precision.

The Golden Window for Small Business PR

Right now, small businesses are in a once-in-a-decade window to leverage AI-powered search visibility. Gloria explains how AI-driven search recommendations are becoming the new SEO—and why being cited in media makes you 300% more likely to be found in AI search.

By combining seasonal gift guide pitching with AI tools, founders can get featured faster than ever before.

How to Use Perplexity to Get Featured

Perplexity.ai isn’t just a search engine—it’s your new PR researcher. Gloria walks through her five-step system to use it effectively:

1. Find Timely Angles – Plug in your brand name and URL to uncover trending topics and customer insights you can tie your story to.
2. Research Competitors – See where similar brands are getting featured and adapt those media angles.
3. Discover Gift Guide Opportunities – Identify seasonal and evergreen gift guides that are actively being written.
4. Draft the Perfect Pitch – Use Gloria’s CPR Method (Credibility, Point of View, Relevance) to write compelling, journalist-ready emails.
5. Monitor Industry Conversations – Stay on top of real-time trends journalists are talking about—so you can be first to pitch.
   
   
   

The AI-Powered PR Workflow

Gloria also shares her favorite pairing: Perplexity for research + ChatGPT for writing.
 Perplexity gives you real-time insights and citations; ChatGPT turns those into polished, engaging pitches. This combo removes 90% of the time and stress founders usually spend on PR.

Why the Time Is Now

Gift guide season, the rise of AI search, and the accessibility of free tools have created the perfect storm for small businesses. Gloria calls this the “Golden Triangle of Opportunity.”

In her words:

“It’s like blogging in the early 2000s or joining TikTok before it exploded. This kind of advantage for small businesses has never happened before—and probably won’t again for another decade.”

Final Takeaway

You don’t need a publicist, samples, or paid ads to get national press.
 What you do need is:
 ✅ Relevance
 ✅ Consistency
 ✅ Strategy

If you’re ready to get your products featured in media and show up at the top of AI search, now’s the time to start.

In this solo episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria breaks down the three biggest myths about using AI—especially for small business owners, women of color, and entrepreneurs who don’t consider themselves “techie.”

After being bombarded by “AI bro-marketers” and overcomplicated advice, Gloria reveals how she uses tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Canva, and Fathom.ai to save 15 hours a week, triple her profits, and build a deeper connection with her audience—without losing her authentic voice.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by AI or unsure where to start, this episode is your permission slip to start using it, not overthinking it.

3 AI Rules You Need to Break

Forget the gatekeepers and gurus—Gloria exposes the biggest lies about AI that keep small business owners stuck:

1. “You need to learn AI the right way before using it.”
    Nope. Just start asking questions conversationally. Treat AI like your intern, not your boss.
2. “You need to buy expensive AI courses to unlock the secrets.”
    Wrong again. Most of the “secrets” are already free—you just need to start exploring and asking smarter questions.
3. “You need to stay on top of every AI update.”
    Totally false. You don’t need 10 newsletters and 5 new tools. Stick to what works and keep it simple.
   
   

Gloria’s Go-To AI Stack for Small Business Owners

Here’s what Gloria uses every day to automate, create, and stay connected—without getting lost in tech overwhelm:

• ChatGPT: For brainstorming, writing pitches, and content creation
• Perplexity: As her new “Google” for real-time insights and trend research
• Canva: For clean, shareable visuals
• Fathom.ai: For auto-recording and transcribing meetings to train AI faster
• Claude: Her personal writing and marketing CMO (replaces a $3K/month hire!)
  
  

The Real ROI of Using AI Authentically

AI isn’t replacing Gloria’s human touch—it’s amplifying it.
 By using AI to create more spaciousness and presence, Gloria connects more deeply with her audience and leads with energy, not exhaustion.

She reminds listeners that knowledge isn’t the most valuable asset anymore—time is.

Final Takeaway

You don’t need to be tech-savvy to make AI work for your business.
 You just need:
 ✅ Curiosity
 ✅ Simplicity
 ✅ The courage to start before you’re ready

When used right, AI doesn’t replace your voice—it amplifies it. Let this episode show you how.

AI shopping is here. Learn how PR and media mentions decide which brands ChatGPT recommends—and why earned media is the new SEO.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria breaks down one of the biggest shifts happening in real time — AI-powered shopping inside ChatGPT — and what it means for small business founders.

For years, we’ve heard that “AI is coming.” But now, it’s here. Consumers can shop directly in ChatGPT, and other platforms like Gemini and Perplexity are quickly following suit. This is the dawn of a new era — and Gloria shares why PR is no longer optional if you want to be found, trusted, and recommended by AI.

If you’re a product-based founder or small business owner, this episode will show you why earned media (not ads or followers) is the key to showing up in AI search results — and why the next few months represent a golden window of opportunity to claim your spot.

Why You Can’t Wait to Do PR

The AI revolution is moving fast — faster than anyone expected. ChatGPT already integrates in-app shopping with 800+ million users globally.
 That means:
 🧠 AI is already deciding which brands to surface and recommend.
 📈 If you’re not featured in credible media right now, your competitors will take those trust signals — and it’ll be much harder to dislodge them later.

Gloria explains that PR is how you feed the AI machine — by giving algorithms structured, credible data from trusted media sources that signal your brand’s authority.

The Power of Trust Signals in the Age of AI

AI platforms like ChatGPT, Google, and Amazon are now pulling data from third-party media — not ads.
 That’s great news for small business founders, because:
 ✅ You can’t buy your way into AI recommendations right now.
 ✅ Media features level the playing field between small brands and big corporations.
 ✅ Every earned feature becomes part of your brand’s digital DNA — the “trust layer” that AI reads when deciding who to recommend.

PR doesn’t disappear after 24 hours like a social post or ad campaign — it compounds. Each media mention reinforces your credibility and ripples across search engines, social platforms, and now, AI ecosystems.

How PR Fuels Every Algorithm

When you earn press coverage — a podcast, a blog, a gift guide — you’re not just building awareness. You’re creating structured, verifiable data that fuels AI and search algorithms across:

• ChatGPT
• Google Search
• Meta
• Amazon

Every credible feature increases your visibility everywhere else.

Why Now Is the Golden Window for Small Businesses

Gloria calls this moment a once-in-a-generation opportunity for founders. Before paid placements and large brands flood the space, you can still win with credibility — not budget.

Media mentions today will help AI “learn” who to trust and recommend tomorrow. Once those trust signals are embedded, they’re nearly impossible to replace.

PR Is the New SEO

Gloria predicts that PR will soon replace traditional SEO as the main driver of visibility.
She’s living proof: without spending on SEO or ads, her 100+ podcast features and media appearances have made her the #1 small business PR expert according to AI — all thanks to the power of earned trust signals.

The Small Business Advantage: Simplicity and Speed

Inside the Get Featured Accelerator, Gloria gives founders:
 💡 Copy-and-paste ChatGPT prompts that do the brainstorming and pitch writing for you
 💡 Daily curated PR opportunities
 💡 A media database of journalists you can contact right away

Even if you don’t make your own products (like subscription box founders), you can still get featured — repeatedly — in year-round gift guides and trend roundups.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria dives into one of the biggest shifts happening right now in online visibility—the rise of AI-powered search and shopping—and what it means for small business owners.

Forget algorithms and paid ads. Gloria breaks down how organic earned media—like podcast features, gift guides, and backlinks from top outlets—is now more powerful than ever in helping AI recommend your brand.

If you want to future-proof your business in the age of ChatGPT and Perplexity, this episode is your roadmap.

Why AI Visibility Is the New PR Metric

Gloria explains why being discoverable inside AI is now the ultimate growth lever. If your brand isn’t showing up in AI search results, you’re invisible to millions of potential customers.

She shares how she herself became the top result for “#1 small business PR coach” on AI platforms—without spending a dime on SEO—just by using strategic PR visibility and consistent pitching.

How to Use AI Tools to Get Featured Faster

Gloria reveals her go-to workflow for writing and researching the perfect pitch using Perplexity and ChatGPT—and how founders can land press features in under five minutes.

Tools and tactics she covers:

• Perplexity: for real-time journalist research and trend insights
• ChatGPT or Claude: for refining your final pitch copy
• The CPR Method: Gloria’s proven formula for pitching with Credibility, Point of View, and Relevance

The Evergreen PR System That Feeds Your SEO

PR isn’t one-and-done. Gloria shares how one feature can be turned into dozens of content pieces—newsletters, reels, blog posts, and backlinks that strengthen your SEO and AI ranking.

She breaks down how founders can create an interconnected web of links through:
 ✅ Media pages showcasing features
 ✅ Repurposed podcast interviews
 ✅ Press releases indexed on Google

Final Takeaway

PR is no longer just about getting featured—it’s about being found.

To win in the age of AI search, you need:
 ✅ Consistent, earned visibility
 ✅ Updated content across all platforms
 ✅ A clear, unified brand story

When AI knows who you are, your customers will too.

In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria makes her biggest announcement yet: after five years, the PR Starter Pack has officially transformed into the Get Featured Accelerator—a bold, unapologetic, AI-powered program designed for product makers who want free press without agencies, ads, or burnout.

This isn’t just a name change. It’s a complete upgrade in messaging, strategy, and support—rooted in Gloria’s journey of shedding “marketing shoulds” and embracing authenticity, community, and values-based PR.

Why Gloria Retired the PR Starter Pack

After helping hundreds of small business owners land millions of views, Gloria realized the old model no longer aligned. The new Get Featured Accelerator gives founders the access, clarity, and psychological safety they need to confidently pitch—and get featured—on outlets like Forbes, Marie Claire, and The New York Times.

The Role of AI in PR (and Why Time-Strapped Founders Need It)

PR doesn’t have to take hours. With AI integrations, founders can now generate data-backed angles and send relevant pitches in under 15 minutes a day. That’s less time than doomscrolling Instagram—and it works. One founder landed 6 features in just 30 days.

Why Authentic Messaging Matters More Than Ever

Gloria shares how she stopped assimilating into old-school marketing tactics—like fake urgency, “spray-and-pray” pitches, and neutral messaging—and began boldly stating her values (and what she rejects). The result? A community built on belonging, trust, and real human connection.

What Founders Will Get Inside the Get Featured Accelerator

• Daily curated PR opportunities delivered straight to your inbox
• AI-powered tools to help you pitch with confidence
• Direct coaching and unlimited support from Gloria herself (no faceless team of coaches)
• A safe, diverse, values-first community of product-based founders
• Proven systems to land year-round press in gift guides, podcasts, and national outlets
  
  

Final Takeaway

You don’t need to overspend on ads, agencies, or samples to get featured. What you need is:
 ✅ A bold, clear message
 ✅ Tools that save you time
 ✅ A repeatable, human-first system

The PR Starter Pack era is over. Welcome to the Get Featured Accelerator—where unapologetic founders get press on their own terms.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, I share why right now is the golden window of opportunity for small businesses to land press, boost SEO, and get discovered on AI search before the competition.

We’re in what I call the holy trifecta—gift guide season, the rise of AI-driven product recommendations, and the explosion of free, easy-to-use AI tools that make PR faster than ever.

If you’re a product-based founder who wants to ride this wave and finally get featured without expensive agencies or endless hours of pitching, this episode breaks it all down.

The Holy Trifecta: Why This Window Won’t Last

Gift guides are evergreen. AI search is exploding. And AI tools have lowered the barrier to entry for small businesses. Put these three forces together, and you have the most powerful PR opportunity in years.

The 3 AI Tools I Use Every Day for PR

Forget shiny-object overload. I go deep with just three:

• Perplexity → my go-to research brain for real-time insights, competitor analysis, and gift guide discovery
• Claude → my authentic marketing brain for writing compelling emails, captions, and sales pages in my own voice
• ChatGPT → my Swiss army knife for synthesis, quick pitches, charts, and repurposing

Why Perplexity Is a PR Game-Changer

Instead of staring at a blank screen, Perplexity gives you instant angles journalists actually care about—pop culture, trends, and consumer insights. It even shows you where your competitors have been featured so you can pitch smarter.

Claude: Your Marketing Brain That Writes Like You

Claude helps me write polarizing, authentic emails that spark real conversation—something my old $3,000/month CMO couldn’t do. With “project knowledge,” you can train it to sound exactly like you and even use it as a personal assistant for email and calendar management.

ChatGPT: The Swiss Army Knife Every Founder Needs

From reworking pitches into journalist-friendly copy to summarizing books and podcasts into action steps, ChatGPT saves hours every week. It’s not fancy—it’s functional.

The Final Takeaway

AI is no longer optional for small business PR—it’s your ticket to getting featured, building SEO, and staying ahead of the curve.

What you need is:

✅ A simple, streamlined AI tech stack

✅ The right angles that tie into trends and gift guides

✅ Consistency before the golden window closes

If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start pitching, this is it.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, I reveal why right now is the golden opportunity for small businesses to land major press—without hiring an expensive PR agency.

We’re talking about gift guides, AI search visibility, and free PR tools that make pitching faster and easier than ever. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to start PR, this is it.

Whether you’re a product-based founder, a one-person shop, or a busy parent building a brand, this episode shows you how to get featured in national media with zero ad spend.

Why Gift Guides Are the #1 Way to Get Featured in Q4

Gift guides aren’t just for Christmas. Editors are actively building guides for every season—Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Graduation, Back-to-School, and beyond.

By getting your product into these articles, you’re meeting customers where they’re already primed to buy. Even better? Gift guides give you lasting SEO that outlives paid ads and Instagram posts.

How AI Search Is Creating a PR Gold Rush

More consumers are turning to ChatGPT and AI search tools for product recommendations. That means if your brand shows up in credible media, you’re signaling to AI that you’re trustworthy and relevant.

This window won’t last forever—founders who act now can dominate search before the market gets saturated.

Free and Accessible PR Tools Every Founder Should Use

You don’t need a $5K/month PR agency to get results. In this episode, I share how small business owners are using tools like:

• Perplexity.ai → to uncover real-time trends and angles journalists care about
• ChatGPT → to fine-tune pitches into clear, concise stories
• Email + LinkedIn → to reach editors directly, no insider contacts required
  
  

Avoid These Costly PR Mistakes

You don’t need to:

• Send out tons of free samples
• Write vague, one-size-fits-all pitches
• Wait for the “perfect” time to start

Instead, focus on clarity, relationships, and consistency.

The CPR Method: Your PR Roadmap

I walk you through my signature CPR Method, a framework that helps founders land not only media coverage but also wholesale opportunities.

CPR =
C: Credibility → your story and why you’re legit
P: Point of View → your unique angle
R: Relevance → why now, why this outlet

Final Takeaway

This is the most powerful moment in the last 10 years to start pitching your business. You don’t need ads, agencies, or huge budgets.

What you do need is:
 ✅ A clear message
 ✅ A relationship-first approach
 ✅ A repeatable system

If other small businesses can land BuzzFeed, Refinery29, and Vogue, you can too.