We dove into Smart PR for Artists & Entrepreneurs expecting another generic PR course, but what we found was Ryan Holiday, the marketing maverick behind American Apparel's controversial campaigns and founder of creative agency Brass Check, teaching his unfiltered approach to earning media coverage.
The course packs 12 video lessons into roughly 4 hours, covering everything from defining your message to handling negative press. What caught our attention? Holiday brings real students on camera for live "hot seat" sessions, where he dissects their PR strategies in real time (we found these segments particularly valuable for seeing theory applied to actual businesses).
Here's what makes this different: instead of teaching you to spam journalists with press releases, Holiday focuses on creating newsworthy moments and understanding what makes media professionals tick. The curriculum includes tactical lessons like building media lists, perfecting your pitch, and even writing op-eds, but it's grounded in Holiday's philosophy from books like "Trust Me, I'm Lying" and "Perennial Seller."
We noticed the course targets artists, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who can't afford PR agencies but need to understand how media attention actually works. The material feels especially relevant for anyone launching a creative project, book, or startup where traditional advertising isn't an option (or affordable).
The platform experience on CreativeLive is straightforward, though we should mention the course originally aired around 2015. While some specific platform references might feel dated, the core PR principles, media psychology, and pitching strategies remain surprisingly evergreen.
Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)
light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)
Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)
Learn A New Skill
Users consistently praise the course's practical approach and Holiday's candid teaching style. The feedback centers on how the course demystifies PR for beginners while providing actionable strategies they can implement immediately.
"Absolutely brilliant course. Very informative and Ryan's words and concepts are highly motivational."
"Ryan's insights and experience give a wealth of information here. The advice to audience members is superb."
"This class is a fantastic addition to any marketer's toolkit."
"This course totally demystified PR for me."
"Actionable advice that I could implement right away."
Reddit discussions acknowledge Holiday as a legitimate PR expert, with r/marketing users specifically recommending this CreativeLive course for PR fundamentals. Some users debate Holiday's "media manipulation" philosophy from his earlier work, though this course focuses on constructive PR tactics rather than controversial strategies.
Students find genuine value in Holiday's straightforward PR teachings, particularly those new to media outreach who need practical, budget-friendly strategies.
The promise to teach "How To Get Press & Media Coverage" is educational rather than outcome-based. We verified the course delivers PR fundamentals and strategies as advertised.
Currently free (limited time), standard price ranges from $29-$49
CreativeLive offers optional Creator Pass subscription, no aggressive upselling within the course
Multiple verified reviews confirm students learned practical PR skills, though individual media placement results vary based on implementation
Honest positioning as an educational resource with realistic expectations for a free/low-ticket course
CreativeLive, established platform with 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating from 4,900+ reviews
Lifetime streaming access, downloadable PDF resources, offline viewing via mobile apps
Dedicated iOS/Android apps with responsive web design
Standard internet connection, compatible with all modern browsers
Professional platform with reliable streaming, excellent mobile support, and straightforward navigation. The only limitation is the lack of interactive features typical in newer courses.
We found no significant complaints about content quality or misrepresentation. The main critique revolves around content depth for advanced users.
CreativeLive offers a standard 30-day satisfaction guarantee with no reported issues specific to this course.
Transparent presentation with no exaggerated income claims or pressure tactics. The course promises to teach PR skills, not guaranteed media placements.
Generally positive reception with no controversy around the course content or delivery.
Clean reputation with transparent marketing and realistic expectations set for students.
At the current free price (or even the standard $29-$49), this course delivers exceptional value. We're talking about learning from someone who's orchestrated major media campaigns and written bestsellers on the topic, all for less than the cost of a PR consultation hour.
After spending hours analyzing Smart PR for Artists & Entrepreneurs, we can confidently say this is one of the most honest PR courses in the low-ticket category. Ryan Holiday doesn't promise overnight viral fame or guaranteed media placements, instead, he teaches the fundamental skills and mindset needed to earn media attention organically.
What impressed us most? The live hot seat sessions where Holiday critiques real businesses' PR strategies. These segments alone provide more practical value than many courses charging 10x the price. Yes, some examples reference 2015's media landscape, but the core principles of newsworthiness, journalist psychology, and pitch crafting remain rock-solid.
For artists, entrepreneurs, or anyone trying to get press coverage without a PR budget, this course offers legitimate, actionable strategies from a proven practitioner. The fact that it's currently free makes it a no-brainer for anyone curious about PR. Even at full price, it's a steal compared to hiring even the most junior PR consultant.
At the current free price (or even the standard $29-$49), this course delivers exceptional value. We're talking about learning from someone who's orchestrated major media campaigns and written bestsellers on the topic, all for less than the cost of a PR consultation hour.
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