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In this episode, we have Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases, who turned a creative‑writing degree and a grueling wait‑staff job into a 25‑year PR career that helps small businesses get national media coverage without the huge budgets of big brands. He learned early that raw data alone doesn’t attract journalists; stories need a hook and context. By building a Rolodex of ~10,000 journalists and partnering with PR Newswire for high‑volume, discounted distribution, he provides an affordable alternative to costly newswire services. Kennedy’s key growth hack is a “survey‑and‑trade‑association” tactic: commission niche industry surveys, get trade groups to distribute them, and issue press releases that spotlight surprising findings. The resulting resource pages earn dozens of editorial links, boost SEO, and turn thin‑content sites into recognized thought‑leaders. He stresses targeting the right journalists, avoiding generic email blasts, and using contrarian angles to stand out—plus trusting hires, avoiding micro