What if getting press didn’t require a huge budget—just the right strategy and the right story? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Nicole Pearl , award-winning PR coach, journalist, and TV personality. With 25 years in media, Nicole reveals what actually makes a pitch land, how founders can stand out without overwhelm, and the right way to use AI so you sound human, not automated. We get into the mindset behind great pitching, how small business owners can stand out even without huge budgets, and the right way to use AI so you sound polished—not robotic. If you’ve ever wondered why your pitches fall flat, how to position your personal brand, or whether AI can actually help you get visible, this conversation is full of real talk and real strategy from someone who has seen it all. Today you’ll hear: 02:55 – What “life-first business” looks like for Nicole as a mom of three and long-time media professional 03:16 – Why she blends journalism + PR coaching—and the moment she realized small business owners were getting left behind 03:43 – The real reason most founders struggle to get featured (and it has nothing to do with talent) 04:39 – What a journalist-first approach actually means—and why your “cool story” may not be the story that lands 05:10 – The phrases journalists instantly recognize as AI-generated (and why they’re such a turnoff) 05:33 – How media outlets now flag and blacklist AI-written pitches 06:23 – The biggest AI mistakes people make when pitching—and how to use it the right way 06:59 – How Nicole built her Media Matchmaker tool and why most founders don’t know where they actually belong in the press 07:54 – Using AI to find gift guides and niche placement opportunities 09:13 – How Nicole integrates AI into her workflow—including finding contacts (and the limitations you need to know) 10:56 – Why journalists never rely on AI for fact-checking (and neither should you) 11:31 – The most common red flags in pitches—and why founders get the “why me?” part totally wrong 12:42 – Why your personal brand is the key to standing out in the modern media landscape 13:36 – How to use AI to identify patterns in your own story so you can pitch more effectively 15:02 – The AI tools Nicole uses daily (including her own TV Pitch Writer bot) 17:19 – A super simple but powerful AI prompt for researching relevant outlets 19:05 – The biggest myth about being on TV—and why your goal should NOT be sales 20:52 – Why TV is a visibility play, not an advertising strategy 21:21 – The trend Nicole is loving in marketing right now: private podcasts CONNECT WITH NICOLE: Website: Nicolepearl.com Instagram: @nicolepearlbeautygirl Free Resource: AI Media Matchmaker https://nicolepearl.com/op/media-matchmaker/ 🔗 LINKS MENTIONED: 👉 Learn more about the Collective Co-Op → www.holllymariehaynes.com/coop 🌎 Website → www.hollymariehaynes.com 📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes 🗨️ Chat with Holly → https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/chat 🔗 FREE RESOURCES: https://www.hollymariehaynes.com/workwithme
