3 Overlooked Ways to Get More from Your PR Team

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR | Former NBC Executive Producer

If you want to get the most out of your publicist or PR agency, here’s a candid truth: take care of them, and they’ll take care of you.

I’ve been in PR for years—on both sides of the media aisle as a journalist and a publicist. And here’s something I’ve learned from experience: the best publicists are driven not just by results but by relationships. When clients treat us with respect, transparency, and trust, it sparks better ideas, faster execution, and ultimately, stronger media coverage.

Here are 3 underrated ways to inspire your PR team or publicist to work even harder for you.

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How Much Should Startups and Small Businesses Budget for PR?

Posted on July 25, 2025 by Mark Macias

Public Relations (PR) isn’t just for big brands. For startups and small businesses, PR is one of the most powerful ways to build awareness, shape public perception, and drive real business growth.

In fact, when done strategically, PR can do more than just generate buzz—it can help you attract customers, gain credibility, and support your sales pipeline.

So how much should you budget for PR? Let’s break it down.

🚀 Why PR is Critical for Startups and Small Businesses

In today’s digital world, where social proof and credibility matter more than ever, PR helps your business:

Get featured in media outlets your customers trust
Build brand awareness faster than organic word-of-mouth alone
Shape how your company is viewed by investors, partners, and the public
Scale your message through the power of third-party validation

Whether you’re launching a new product or scaling an existing service, PR gives your business a louder voice in a crowded market.

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East Coast vs. West Coast PR Firms: Does Location Still Matter?

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR | Former NBC Executive Producer

If you’re deciding between hiring a PR firm in San Francisco or New York, you might be wondering—does geography still matter in today’s remote-first world?

The short answer is: yes, time zone matters more than ever—especially if you’re targeting national media outlets. While great PR firms can pitch from anywhere, there are strategic advantages to working with a publicist on East Coast time.

📍 Why NYC-Based PR Firms Have a Time Zone Advantage

Let’s break it down. Most major national media outlets—NBC, CBS, CNN, Forbes, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and ABC—are headquartered on the East Coast. And their editorial schedules follow East Coast hours. Even though CNN is in Atlanta and Forbes is in New Jersey, reporters all still work under EST deadlines.

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What is Public Relations—and Does Your Business Really Need It?

Posted on July 23, 2025 by Mark Macias

If you’re a business owner asking, “What exactly is PR?”—you’re not alone. At MACIAS PR, we hear this question all the time. The short answer: Public Relations helps you earn media attention and build credibility without paying for ads.

PR is about storytelling through trusted third parties—primarily the media. Unlike advertising, where you pay for exposure, PR gets your story published organically in news outlets, TV segments, podcasts, and online platforms.

PR vs. Advertising: What’s the Difference?

Understanding how PR differs from advertising is key:

Credibility: People fast-forward through ads because they know they’re being sold to. But when your business is featured on the news or in a respected outlet, that coverage carries more weight—because it’s earned, not paid for.
Longevity: Ads disappear as soon as your budget runs out. PR stories, however, can live online for years and continue to drive visibility and SEO.
Trust & Awareness: PR builds brand awareness and trust through media coverage, which is more persuasive than traditional marketing.

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📈 How to Measure the ROI of PR: 5 Metrics That Matter

Posted on July 22, 2025 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR | Former NBC Executive Producer

One of the most common questions I hear from business owners and startup founders is:
“How do I measure the ROI of PR?”

It’s a fair question — and one I recently explored in depth in a thought leadership article for Forbes. (You can read the full Forbes piece here, but I’ve summarized the five core takeaways below.)

Contrary to popular belief, you can measure PR ROI — you just need to know what to look for beyond vanity metrics.

1️⃣ Not All Media Placements Are Equal — Focus on Quality Over Quantity

It’s easy to count clips and headlines, but that doesn’t mean your PR is working.

A mention in TechCrunch, Forbes, or CNBC can have 10x more value than 10 articles on lesser-known blogs. And relevance matters: being featured in the right publication for your audience is what drives credibility, not just volume.

🧠 Key metric: Track strategic, high-authority media hits that align with your target customers.

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8 Questions Smart Businesses Ask Before Hiring a PR Firm

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias
Founder of MACIAS PR & Former Executive Producer at NBC

Your PR budget is finally approved. RFPs are out. Now comes the hard part: choosing the right PR firm to elevate your brand.

As a former Executive Producer with NBC in New York, I was pitched stories daily — some compelling, most forgettable. Today, as the founder of a national PR firm, I’m on the other side of that equation. And I’ve learned: most businesses ask the wrong questions when vetting PR partners.

If I were hiring a PR firm today, here are the exact questions I’d ask — and why they matter.

1️⃣ What’s your media strategy — not just your media contacts?

This is the most important question. Too often, potential clients ask: “Who do you know?” But knowing reporters isn’t a strategy — it’s a Rolodex. Without a strong narrative and positioning, even the best connections won’t get you media coverage.

✅ Ask for the strategy behind their placements, not just name-dropping.

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