An Australian business finds US Partner via Twitter!

Handle Your Own PR is expanding to the USA! The enterprising owners of this affordable on-line media list store for small business have decided to spread their wings and set up shop in the USA. And they found their US partner via Twitter!

Late in 2009, Jules Brooke was on Twitter researching potential people to follow. She found Jennifer Finke from the USA via @prepdpublicist and noticed Jennifer was selling DIY PR e-books and a media contact list. Similarly, Jennifer’s full service PR agency serviced entrepreneurs, start-ups, small business and Mumpreneurs. She seemed a perfect match for Handle Your Own PR.

Communication via Twitter continued between @handleyourownpr and @prepdpublicist until they decided to become partners in the US arm of the Handle Your Own PR business. The deal was sealed via Skype and email. So far they have never met in person.

Their Denver, Colorado-based partner, Jennifer Finke of Red Jeweled Media, will be running the US site at www.handleyourownpr.com. Both sites will cross-sell their media contact lists making international publicity within the reach of every small business.

Until now, Australian small businesses operating, or planning to operate in the USA have not been able to support their business with publicity without attracting a lot of expense. Jules Brooke and Simone Heydon, the founders of Handle Your Own PR, decided to take expand to the US, making media contact lists available to people whom want to run their own publicity campaigns in either or both countries.

“This is a very exciting move for us,” explains Jules Brooke, “When you think about the number of small businesses in the states that could benefit from our media lists, that’s a lot of potential sales!”

Many small business owners want to publicise their business, product or service either in Australia or overseas, but just can’t afford to pay a professional PR agency to do it for them. The Handle Your Own PR business (www.handleyourownpr.com and .com.au) was created to allow small business owners to do it themselves.

The site explains what PR is, how to go about setting up a campaign and media release writing tips. It sells a variety of media contact lists and a media release writing service.

“Twitter has opened up a whole new world of potential business associates,” explains Jules Brooke who has been able to take advantage of this. “And with Skype you can have a meeting with someone without having to get on a plane and waste valuable time, money and resources.”

The women intend to set up local chapters of Handle Your Own PR in more countries as they roll the business out globally. They are currently looking for a UK partner to launch later in 2010 and are also looking for an investor to come onboard. “We intend to continue to use modern communication technology to expand the business further”, explains Simone Heydon, “but we’re not totally opposed to a face to face meeting down the track. Maybe we’ll arrange a meeting in the Maldives at some point!”

Visit www.handleyourownpr.com.au and www.handleyourownpr.com for more information. Or follow @handleyourownpr and @DIYPR101.

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