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