Why Being a Podcast Guest Should Be Your #1 Marketing Goal in 2025

9 snips

Nov 13, 2025

Gloria Chou tackles the pitfalls of PR scams, revealing how pay-to-play features lack real credibility. She emphasizes that authentic PR is about earned media, showcasing your expertise to journalists. Founders are encouraged to pitch their own stories using the CPR method. Listeners learn the long-term benefits of earned media, including SEO advantages and building lasting authority. Gloria also shares strategies for leveraging media features for ongoing exposure and highlights the importance of crafting newsworthy narratives.

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ANECDOTE

Cold-Calling Led To A Proprietary Method

Gloria recounts cold-calling newsrooms and pitching thousands of times to develop her CPR method.
That grassroots process shaped her approach to earned PR for founders.

ADVICE

Reject Pay-To-Play Features

Avoid any PR that requires you to pay for a feature; that's advertising, not earned media.
Prioritize outlets that earn audience trust rather than ones that monetize by selling placements.

INSIGHT

Audience Trust Signals Editorial Value

True editorial outlets monetize via audience trust, so they don't need to sell features.
Lack of pay-to-play is a signal of real reach and credibility in a publication.

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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.