ACPR Resources & Articles
Read our monthly articles on topics to help you promote your business
Articles are in PDF format.
Article: Top Marketing Tips
Article: Marketing Moments - Is Networking Right for You?
Article: 12 ways to make sure your press release hits the mark
Article: Business Promotion Basics
Article: Websites for Work(2)
Article: Websites for Work(1)
Article: Convert Visitors to Sales
Article: Five Rules for Great Web Copy
Article: New Media Promotion
Article: PR mini guide
Article: Starting your own business for Mums and Dads
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Useful PR Resources
We are always looking for more resources and useful sites for small business owners. If you would like to submit a recommendation for a site you have found useful or if your business would like to feature, get in touch
Article Publication
Awareness Event Finders
Blogging
Business And Enterprise Organisations
Business Websites
Case Studies – Selling Your Own Story
Coaches
Local Listings Websites
Media Contacts
Newsletters
Online Printers
Onine Survey Tools
Press Release Distribution Sites
PR Training and Guides
Set Up Your Own Online Shop
Article publication
There are a few groups dedicated to spreading articles for publication for free on newsletters and websites. Many of these are US-based, so check which ones will reach your target audience.
Awareness event finders
- www.woodlandsjunior.kent.sch.uk
A fabulous site of awareness weeks, developed by a Kent school. - www.bbc.co.uk/health/
Health awareness events supported by BBC Health - www.expertsources.co.uk
Events list for members, membership from £30 annually.
Blogging
Business and Enterprise Organisations
For help with business planning
- Business Link, England: 0845 6009006
- Business Eye, Wales: 08457 969798
- Venture Wales: 0845 0453150
- Welsh Assembly Government
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scotland: 01463 234171
- Business Gateway, Scotland
- Scottish Enterprise: 0845 6078787 (within Scotland), 0141 228 2000 (from the UK)
- Scottish Development International: 0141 228 2828
- Invest Northern Ireland: 028 9023 9090
Business websites
General business websites
Women’s business websites
- www.everywoman.co.uk/networking
- www.motheratwork.co.uk (see Services and Information Directory)
- www.womenatwork.co.uk
- www.network.auroravoice.com
Case studies – selling your own story
Sites like this are run by agencies or journalists in search of sensational true life stories to sell for magazines.
- www.cash4yourreallifestory.com (women’s magazines)
- www.cash4yourstory.co.uk (newspapers)
- www.frontpageagency.co.uk
- www.whereonearthgroup.com/kiss-tell
- www.photo-features.co.uk
- www.talktothepress.com
- www.eanews.co.uk/stories.asp
Coaches
- www.joannemallon.com Media Life Coach Joanne Mallon
- www.mumsthebusiness.com Mums The Business
- www.thebig-leap.com Big Leap Suzy Greaves
Local listings websites
Media contacts
Directories which are updated annually:
- Media Directory: The Essential Handbook (Mediaguardian) £19.99
- Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2007 (A & C Black Publishers Ltd) £14.99
- Writer's Handbook (Macmillan) £14.99
Databases which are updated more regularly:
- ACPR: for databases for individual media sectors from £50
- List Logix: from £600 annually for ‘read only’ access to £2000 for UK contacts.
- BRAD: 13,500 contacts available in print or online. £1,200+vat for an annual subscription
- Mediadisk: Online or disk of contact information, news feed. Deliver and track press releases, record relationships with journalists from £2,400-3,600 per year
Newsletters
- Yahoo Groups: To set up your own mailing list to which users can subscribe.
- Constant Contact: US based subscription service for email newsletters.
- Just Add Content: Email newsletters without the hassle.
Online printers
You may want to check out your local printer – the advantage of being able to collect your materials will save you time and delivery charges. However, look online to get a good idea of prices. Online print stores allow you to order whenever suits you too.
Online survey tools
Try to create an online survey at:
Both have free options, and Survey Monkey lists 33 other online survey providers on their ‘pricing’ page if you want to shop around for more paid features.
Press release distribution sites
You can submit your press release to a range of organisations that are set up to distribute your release for you. Some of these are better than others. Some are totally free while others charge a small fee, and some have a US bias. It is worth trying them out to see which ones work for you.
The following mainly rely on journalists subscribing to their sites or visiting them to pick up news:
- www.pressbox.co.uk
- www.prweb.com
- www.prfree.com
- www.free-press-release.com
- www.responsesource.com (charges a small fee)
- www.emediawire.com
- www.clickpress.com
The following send releases on your behalf to local, regional and/or national print and broadcast media, charging a couple of hundred pounds a time to distribute the release you have written.
PR Training and Guides
- A Guide to Promoting Your Business: The essential workbook for entrepreneurs. Learn all about promoting your business yourself.
- CD Masterclasses: Make the most of your time when traveling and buy a CD masterclass by Tracey “Word Doctor” Dooley. Whether you want to know how to write Ads that sell, create Newsletters, Postcards or Sales Letters, there is a class for you.
- The Beginners Guide to TV Interviews: Find out how to be interviewed on TV and become a paid TV expert. e-book, by Media Life Coach Joanne Mallon.
- PR Coaching from Antonia Chitty: Get inspired and create a plan for promoting your business. Choose a telephone consultation to get started, and email support to help solve your day to day queries.
- Media Training: tailored training across the UK and internationally. Offers pre and post-training guidance support whenever and wherever you need it.
Set Up Your Own Online Shop
- Mr Site www.mrsite.co.uk
- Store2go www.store2go.net
- EKMPowerShop www.ekmpowershop.com
- Moonfruit www.moonfruit.co.uk
- Romancart www.romancart.com
- Oscommerce www.oscommerce.com
- Zencart www.zencart.com
- Actinic www.actinic.co.uk

