FAQs
Questions? We’ve got the answers.
At No Strings Public Relations, clarity is a big part of how we work. We believe better PR starts with honest expectations, transparent pricing and a clear understanding of what journalist-led PR can realistically do.
We believe clients should understand what PR can do, what it cannot guarantee, how our process works, what we need from you, and what to expect before getting started.
That’s why we’ve answered the most common questions about our team, our PR services, pricing, coverage, timelines, reporting, expert commentary, thought leadership, founder visibility, consultants and coaches, medical experts, real-life story support and how we work.
If you still have questions, you can contact us directly or book a PR chat and we’ll point you in the right direction.
About No Strings Public Relations
What exactly is No Strings Public Relations?
No Strings Public Relations is a modern, journalist-led boutique PR agency for founders, experts, consultants, coaches and authority-led brands that want credibility-building earned media without traditional agency retainers.
We call ourselves The Affordable PR Agency because our model is built around clear pricing, honest advice, clear expectations and commercially sensible PR.
We specialise in credibility-building press, expert commentary, thought leadership, founder visibility, real-life stories, product and service PR where relevant, and earned editorial coverage secured through journalist-led outreach.
Our PR services help brands build credibility, visibility, authority, thought leadership and long-term media momentum through meaningful media coverage, honest advice and commercially sensible PR.
Essential PR is our focused service for building authority around one clear area of expertise. Standard PR is our broader service for brands that want support around their expertise, business and story.
Who’s the team?
No Strings Public Relations is run by experienced PR professionals, writers and former journalists, led by Founder Riley Gardiner.
Our team understands how newsrooms work, what editors actually want and how to turn expertise, thought leadership, founder stories, products, services and real-life stories into angles journalists can actually use.
We operate internationally, with team members working across the UK, North America and Europe, supporting campaigns across the UK, US and Canada.
Who have you worked with?
Over the last decade, our team has supported thousands of brands, founders, agencies and public figures across the UK, US and Canada.
Our experience includes campaigns and media coverage involving brands and organisations such as Jameson Whiskey, Anytime Fitness, Harry’s Subscription Box, The O2 Arena, the British House of Commons and Dolce & Gabbana, as well as projects involving well-known public figures including Britney Spears, Joan Collins, Lindsay Lohan, Kourtney Kardashian and Strictly Come Dancing.
You can also explore our case studies to see examples of how we have supported different brands through earned media.
Where can I read reviews of your service?
You can read recent reviews and feedback on our Trustpilot profile, where brands share their experiences working with No Strings Public Relations.
How Our PR Services Work
How is your PR different from traditional PR agencies?
Traditional PR agencies often focus on larger retainers, longer contracts, broad brand management and layered account teams. That model can work well for some organisations, but it can be expensive and difficult for growing brands to access.
Our PR services are designed as lower-commitment alternatives to traditional agency retainers, giving clients journalist-led strategy, content creation, pitching, account-managed support and clear reporting without unnecessary agency layers.
Our approach is more focused, commercially sensible and journalist-led.
We concentrate on the parts of PR that create meaningful media momentum: developing strong angles, turning expertise and thought leadership into useful commentary, shaping founder stories, building media-ready materials, pitching relevant journalists and responding quickly to live media opportunities.
Every campaign includes journalist-led strategic thinking, angle development and media positioning. We help clients understand what makes them credible, which thought leadership themes they can credibly own, what journalists are likely to care about and how earned media can build trusted influence over time.
The result is a better PR model focused on credibility, visibility, authority, thought leadership and long-term media value, not vague activity or unnecessary agency complexity.
Why are your PR services more affordable than most PR agencies?
Traditional PR agencies often charge £2,000–£10,000+ per month because they are usually built around large account teams, high overheads and long-term retainers.
Our model is different.
We focus on the parts of PR that actually create momentum: shaping strong angles, developing media positioning, writing compelling pitches, building useful media materials, responding quickly to journalist opportunities and securing earned editorial coverage.
We are also highly organised. Our systems help us manage admin, tracking, reporting and communication efficiently, so our team can spend more time on the work that matters: thinking, writing, pitching, following up and building journalist relationships.
Because we work with a wide range of brands across multiple regions, we also benefit from experience, shared media insight and economies of scale that many traditional agencies do not have.
That allows us to keep pricing commercially sensible while still delivering thoughtful, journalist-led PR.
Our goal is simple: to make credible, commercially sensible PR accessible to growing brands, not just companies with large agency budgets.
Are your PR services templated?
No. Our PR services are more commercially sensible because the delivery model is focused and efficient, not because the work is generic.
We use clear systems to keep campaigns organised, consistent and affordable, but each campaign is shaped around the client’s business, expertise, goals, stories and media potential. That may include expert commentary, founder visibility, thought leadership, product or service PR, real-life stories, business news and wider media angles.
Clients are not paying for unnecessary agency layers, bloated retainers or vague activity. The focus is on journalist-led angle development, relevant media outreach, clear communication, honest advice and earned media coverage that helps build credibility, authority and trust over time.
Can I get PR for under £1,000/month?
Yes. Both of our PR services sit under £1,000/month. Essential PR is £297 / US$397 per month, and Standard PR is £597 / US$797 per month.
Essential PR is best for focused expertise-led visibility. Standard PR is best for broader PR support around your expertise, business and story.
What makes this different from cheap PR?
Cheap PR often means mass press release distribution, generic outreach, vague promises or coverage that does not really support the business. That is not what we are trying to do.
Our model is commercially sensible rather than cheap. We keep the structure focused and efficient, but the campaign still includes media judgement, angle development, content creation, pitching, reporting and honest guidance on what is likely to work. The aim is credibility-building PR, not activity for activity’s sake.
Do you use AI?
We use AI carefully and responsibly where it supports the process, such as editing, organising information, exploring ideas, checking angles, summarising background and improving clarity.
We do not use AI to manufacture expertise, invent quotes, create fake authority or replace expert input.
PR depends on trust, judgement, credibility and real human insight. Our team does the thinking, writing, shaping, pitching and relationship-building. AI may support the process, but it does not replace the human work that proper PR depends on.
Do you use paid placements or sponsored articles?
No.
Our focus is earned editorial coverage secured through real PR outreach and journalist relationships.
We do not operate a paid news network or sell advertorial placements disguised as PR coverage.
Do you publish the articles yourself?
No.
No Strings Public Relations is not a publisher.
Our role is to pitch stories, insights and expert commentary to journalists and editors at relevant media outlets.
All coverage is earned editorial coverage published independently by media organisations.
Who owns the content you create on my behalf?
Content created by No Strings Public Relations, including press releases, media pitches and supporting PR materials, remains the intellectual property of the agency unless agreed otherwise in writing.
Clients are welcome to share and reference published media coverage and earned press features resulting from our campaigns as part of their marketing and brand promotion.
Do you help with PR positioning?
Yes. Strong PR starts with clear positioning.
Every campaign includes journalist-led strategic thinking, angle development and media positioning. We look at what makes your brand, founder, expert or story credible, which thought leadership themes you can credibly own, what journalists are most likely to care about and how PR can support your wider visibility, trust and authority.
Where it will strengthen the campaign, this may also include a senior Founder & Authority Positioning Session before outreach begins.
What is the Founder & Authority Positioning Session?
The Founder & Authority Positioning Session is a senior PR strategy session designed to clarify what you should be known for, where your authority is strongest, which thought leadership themes you can credibly own and which media angles are most likely to build long-term credibility.
It may cover your founder or expert story, media positioning, authority angles, expert commentary opportunities, thought leadership themes, credibility signals and media-ready messaging.
The goal is to give the campaign a stronger foundation before journalist-led outreach begins.
Is the Founder & Authority Positioning Session included for everyone?
Every campaign includes journalist-led strategic thinking, angle development and media positioning.
The dedicated Founder & Authority Positioning Session is used where it will strengthen the campaign, particularly for founders, experts and authority-led brands that would benefit from clearer positioning before outreach begins.
This is available within Standard PR Service where it will strengthen the campaign.
Who leads the Founder & Authority Positioning Session?
The session is led or supported by senior PR strategy expertise within the No Strings process, including experienced London-based PR strategist Lucy Dartford where relevant.
Lucy helps founders, experts and growing brands refine their media positioning, founder story, commentary angles and visibility opportunities before journalist-led outreach begins.
This gives the campaign a stronger strategic foundation while keeping the work part of the wider No Strings PR process.
Do you help with thought leadership?
Yes. For founders, experts, consultants, coaches and professional service providers, thought leadership can be a key part of the PR strategy.
We help identify the topics, opinions and areas of expertise you can credibly speak about, then shape them into journalist-friendly expert commentary, media angles and expert responses.
The goal is not to force opinions for the sake of it. It is to help you become clearer about what you know, what you stand for and where your expertise can add value to relevant media conversations.
Do you help with real-life stories?
Yes, where there is genuine media potential.
If a founder, customer or real-life story could work for the press, we can help identify the strongest journalist-friendly angle, shape the emotional and factual detail, prepare a media-ready press release and pitch it to relevant journalists.
Where appropriate, this story development is overseen by a senior current or former journalist, so the angle, interview and press materials are shaped with real editorial judgement.
Where a real-life, founder or customer story has genuine press potential within Standard PR, senior journalist input may be used. This may include support from Emma Elms, a freelance journalist who has written for titles including The Telegraph and Daily Mail, where her editorial experience is a strong fit for the story.
Do you interview clients for stories?
Yes, where needed.
For founder stories, customer stories or real-life features, a senior current or former journalist may interview the client or story subject to understand the strongest angle, emotional hook, useful detail and media relevance.
This helps us prepare a stronger press release or pitch before approaching journalists.
Is real-life story support included for every client?
Real-life story support is available where there is genuine media potential and the story is suitable for press outreach.
Not every campaign needs a real-life story. Some campaigns are stronger through expert commentary, founder visibility, product PR, service-led angles or business news. If a real-life story is relevant, we can help shape it properly before pitching.
Is PR just media outreach?
No. Media outreach is an important part of PR, but good PR starts before the first pitch is sent.
Our work includes angle development, media positioning, expert commentary, story shaping, press release development, journalist outreach, follow-up, press monitoring and reporting.
The goal is not just to send pitches. The goal is to build credibility, visibility and trusted influence through earned media.
Our PR Services
What are our PR services?
No Strings Public Relations offers one affordable, journalist-led boutique PR service: Standard PR.
Standard PR Service is our account-managed PR service for founders, experts, consultants, coaches, small businesses and growing brands that want support around expertise, business and story. It can include expert commentary, thought leadership, founder visibility, product PR, service PR, real-life stories, customer stories, business news, reporting and regular calls.
Standard PR costs £597 / US$797 per month.
Our service starts with a 3-month initial commitment.
Should I choose a freelance PR consultant or No Strings?
A freelance PR consultant can be a good option if you want one person, a very light scope, or highly specific support in one niche. Some freelancers are excellent, especially when the brief is narrow and the client already has strong positioning.
No Strings is designed for clients who want more structured, account-managed PR support with journalist-led angle development, content creation, pitching, monitoring, reporting and regular communication. It sits between DIY or freelance PR and a traditional agency retainer: more support and structure than doing it alone, without the cost or commitment of a larger agency model.
What makes this different from traditional PR retainers?
Traditional PR retainers often involve longer contracts, higher monthly fees and larger agency structures. That can be right for bigger brands, complex corporate communications or major launch campaigns, but it is not always the right fit for founders, experts and growing businesses.
Our PR services are designed to be more focused. They give clients access to journalist-led PR, strategy, content creation, pitching and account-managed support without the same level of cost, commitment or agency layers.
Is there any eligibility criteria?
Yes. Your brand needs to be PR-ready.
This usually means having a credible website or online presence, a clear expert, founder, product, service, thought leadership, real-life story or announcement angle, openness to different media angles, and enough time to provide sign-off, feedback and collaboration when needed.
Most clients should be able to give us around 10 minutes a day when needed, especially when journalist opportunities are live or when we need quick approvals, comments or extra detail.
We do not take on every brand that enquires. If we do not think we are the right fit, we would rather tell you honestly.
Before you book a call, we ask three quick fit-check questions around your industry, timing and budget. This helps us avoid wasting your time if we are clearly not the right fit.
Are there any brands you don’t work with?
Yes. To protect our credibility with journalists and the publications we work with, there are certain industries we do not support.
These include smoking, vaping, CBD or cannabis brands; politics, gambling or adult content; brands selling or promoting weapons; religious organisations; MLMs; wealth coaching or property coaching programmes; media outlets or publishing platforms; artists, musicians and entertainment projects; jewellery brands; and crypto, investment opportunities or financial institutions.
If you are unsure whether your brand is a fit, answer the quick fit-check questions and, if it looks like we may be able to help, you’ll be able to book a PR chat.
How do I sign up?
The first step is to book a PR chat.
Before choosing a time, you’ll answer three quick questions so we can check whether your industry, timing and budget are likely to be a good fit for our PR services.
If it looks like we may be able to help, you’ll go straight through to choose a time for a short Google Meet with Jordan, Co-Founder of No Strings Public Relations.
On the call, we’ll talk through your brand, goals, current visibility, potential media angles and whether Essential PR, Standard PR or another route is likely to be the best fit.
If it makes sense to move forward, we’ll follow up with the right next step.
Why do I need to answer questions before booking a call?
We ask three quick questions before you book so we can check whether your industry, timing and budget are likely to be a good fit for our PR services.
This keeps the process honest and useful. If it looks like we may be able to help, you’ll go straight through to book a short PR chat. If we are clearly not the right fit, we would rather be honest early than waste your time.
How long does it take to get set up?
Once you sign up, onboarding usually happens within a few days.
During onboarding, we collect your brand information, founder or expert details, assets, areas of expertise and PR goals.
From there, our team begins developing story angles, thought leadership themes, preparing media materials and identifying pitching opportunities.
What kind of support will I get?
You will have a dedicated account manager overseeing your PR activity and keeping momentum moving.
You will also receive a client portal for tracking progress, fortnightly updates on pitching activity, monthly account calls, press monitoring so you never miss coverage, and clear reporting as coverage lands.
Every campaign includes journalist-led strategic thinking, angle development and media positioning.
Depending on the campaign, this may also include founder story development, expert commentary angles, thought leadership themes, real-life story support, product or service PR, business news angles and a senior Founder & Authority Positioning Session where it will strengthen the campaign.
Who actually works on my campaign?
Your campaign is supported by a dedicated account manager as your main point of contact, alongside our wider team of PR professionals, writers and former journalists.
The team helps shape angles, prepare media materials, pitch journalists, respond to suitable opportunities, monitor coverage and keep you updated. Where it strengthens the campaign, senior support may also be brought in for authority positioning or story development.
How does the collaboration work day-to-day?
Most clients spend around 10 minutes a day when needed responding to quick questions, approving angles or sharing insight.
Our team handles the writing, pitching, follow-ups and media outreach.
Your role is to stay responsive so we can move quickly when journalists request comment, when timely opportunities come up or when we need extra detail to strengthen an angle.
Do I need any prior PR experience or writing skills?
Not at all.
Our team handles the writing, pitching, media outreach and follow-up.
All we need from you is occasional collaboration — usually answering quick questions, approving angles, sharing useful background or providing insight when journalists request comment.
Can I approve PR materials before they go out?
Yes.
Our PR services are collaborative, so we involve you in key angles and content before outreach begins.
This helps make sure the messaging is accurate while still allowing us to move quickly when journalist opportunities come up.
Are there any extra costs?
No.
The monthly fee covers your PR strategy, content creation, media outreach, pitching, reporting and account management.
Because we focus on earned editorial coverage, not paid placements, there are no media placement fees or hidden costs.
You may choose to send product samples, provide photography, or create additional assets if they would strengthen the campaign, but those are not fees paid to us.
Is there a minimum term?
Yes. Both Essential PR and Standard PR start with a 3-month initial commitment. Standard PR then continues month to month with one full billing cycle’s notice.
Do you use Qwoted, HARO, ResponseSource or journalist request platforms?
No. We do not rely on Qwoted, HARO, ResponseSource, Editorielle or journalist request platforms to deliver PR. We pitch directly to journalists, editors, writers and media contacts.
Those platforms can be useful for DIY PR, but our model is different. We shape the angle, prepare the media material and approach relevant contacts ourselves.
Founders, Small Businesses, Consultants, Coaches and Experts
Is No Strings suitable for founders?
Yes. Founders can be strong PR candidates when they have a clear story, credible expertise, useful opinions or a business journey that journalists may find interesting.
Founder PR can work through expert commentary, thought leadership, founder visibility, business stories, personal experience, lessons learned, industry insight or commentary linked to current media conversations.
The strongest founder campaigns usually have a clear point of view. We help shape what makes the founder credible, what they should be known for and which angles are most likely to feel relevant to journalists.
Is No Strings suitable for small businesses?
Yes. No Strings was built to make proper journalist-led PR more accessible to credible small businesses and growing brands that may not have the budget for traditional agency retainers.
PR can help small businesses build trust, visibility and credibility, especially when there is useful expertise, a strong product or service, a founder story, customer insight, a local or national angle, or a clear reason for the media to care.
We are honest about fit. Not every small business is ready for PR, but when there is a credible angle, we can help shape it into something journalists are more likely to use.
Is No Strings suitable for consultants, executive coaches, life coaches and business coaches?
Yes, where there is clear expertise, a credible point of view and a willingness to contribute insight. Consultants, executive coaches, life coaches and business coaches are often well suited to PR because journalists regularly need expert commentary, practical advice, thought leadership and professional perspectives.
The strongest campaigns usually have a clear niche. A broad consultant or coach can be harder to pitch, but someone with a defined audience, area of expertise or strong viewpoint is much easier to shape into media-friendly opportunities.
Is No Strings suitable for doctors and medical experts?
Yes, in many cases. Doctors, clinicians and medical experts can be strong PR candidates because the media often needs credible voices to explain health, wellness, lifestyle, medical and patient-facing topics.
The right approach depends on the specialist area, the audience and the level of regulation or sensitivity involved. We are careful with medical PR and only pursue angles that can be handled responsibly, accurately and in a way that supports trust rather than hype.
Is No Strings suitable for property, home and interior design experts?
Yes. Property experts, home specialists, interior designers, architects and interiors professionals can be strong PR candidates when they have useful advice, trend commentary or expert insight to share. This may work through expert commentary, seasonal advice, home and lifestyle media, interiors trends, property insight or founder visibility.
Is No Strings suitable for finance experts?
Yes, where the work can be handled responsibly. Finance experts, accountants, mortgage advisers, financial educators and money specialists can be strong PR candidates when they have credible insight to share. We avoid hype, investment promises and regulated product promotion, and focus on useful, responsible expert commentary.
Products and Services
Will you promote my products and services?
Sometimes.
Our PR services are strongest when there is a credible angle journalists can use. For some brands, that may mean expert commentary or founder visibility. For others, product and service promotion can form part of the PR strategy where there is a genuine editorial angle.
For consumer product brands, this may include product roundups, recommendations, gift guides, seasonal features, shopping coverage and reviews where suitable.
For consumer service brands, this may include service-led stories, useful advice, customer insight, lifestyle features, seasonal commentary and local or national media opportunities.
For B2B brands, PR is usually more effective when led through expertise, thought leadership, commentary, founder insight and wider storytelling rather than direct service promotion.
For professional service businesses, PR is usually strongest when it builds trust through expertise, commentary, thought leadership, founder insight and credibility-building media coverage.
We shape the strategy around the angles most likely to interest journalists and generate meaningful coverage.
Coverage, Results and Expectations
Do you guarantee press coverage?
No.
Our PR services do not guarantee coverage because they are collaborative, ongoing PR services built around earning the right media opportunities over time.
No reputable PR agency can guarantee editorial coverage in specific publications because journalists ultimately decide what they publish.
What we can guarantee is consistent pitching, strong story angles, clear communication and experienced PR professionals who understand how newsrooms work.
How long does PR take to work, and how many articles should I expect?
PR takes time to build momentum.
Some campaigns secure early coverage within the first few weeks, but PR is not instant advertising.
Many suitable campaigns deliver around 2–4 pieces of coverage per month once momentum has started to build, but this is not guaranteed and varies by brand, angle, sector, media fit, journalist interest and responsiveness.
For many brands, PR becomes more consistent and valuable over months 3–6.
What success metrics do you use to measure PR impact?
We track the PR activity and media outcomes we are directly responsible for, including coverage secured, publication names, article links, journalist responses, expert comments submitted, pitching activity, brand mentions and backlinks where they naturally appear.
We also look at campaign momentum, such as which angles journalists are responding to, which topics are gaining traction and how your media footprint is building over time.
Wider commercial impact, such as enquiries, sales conversations, conversions, partnerships, referral traffic or revenue, is usually tracked by the client because it sits inside your own website analytics, CRM, sales process and customer journey.
PR works best when both sides look at the full picture: we report on earned media activity and coverage, while you monitor how that visibility supports trust, enquiries, sales and wider business goals.
How do I know when I’ve been featured in the press?
You will receive press monitoring notifications as coverage goes live.
All media coverage is also tracked inside your client portal, where you can view articles, links, pitching activity and campaign updates.
What kind of media contacts do you have?
Our team includes former journalists and experienced PR professionals who pitch media across the UK, US and Canada.
We regularly secure coverage in national news publications, major online magazines, consumer media outlets, industry and trade publications, and trusted niche titles.
Because we work across multiple sectors and regions, we are constantly pitching stories, responding to journalist opportunities and building relationships with relevant media contacts.
Will every article include a backlink?
No.
Many pieces of coverage include backlinks, but journalists and publications decide whether to include a link.
Our PR services are designed to build wider credibility, visibility and media momentum. Backlinks can be a valuable benefit of earned coverage, but they are not guaranteed and they are not the only measure of PR value.
Can PR help with search visibility?
Yes, but it is important to understand the difference between PR and SEO. PR is primarily about credibility, visibility, media authority and trusted third-party validation.
Online editorial coverage can support search visibility by creating credible brand mentions and, where publications naturally include links, referral traffic and authority signals. However, we cannot guarantee rankings, backlinks, traffic or inclusion in AI search results. Those outcomes depend on many factors outside PR alone.
Working With Us
Do you work internationally?
Yes.
We primarily support brands targeting media coverage in the UK, US and Canada, with campaigns managed across multiple regions and industries.
Some campaigns may also secure wider international coverage depending on the story and media relevance.
Can small businesses benefit from PR?
Yes.
PR is often most effective for growing brands, founders and experts looking to build credibility, visibility and trust.
Our PR services are designed to make journalist-led PR more accessible to businesses and credible spokespeople who may not have the budget for traditional agency retainers, but still want strategy, content creation, pitching, reporting and account-managed support.
Still have questions?
If you're wondering whether PR could work for your brand, the quickest way to find out is to book in a PR chat.