PR Case Study: Turning a Startup Dating App into a Fast-Growing Brand

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Mark Macias

Client: Weepo (mobile app startup)
Industry: Tech / Mobile Apps / Nightlife & Dating

The Challenge

Weepo entered the highly saturated dating app space with no clear brand messaging or publicity strategy. At the time, the app was virtually unknown and competing against dozens of established players like Tinder, Bumble, and niche platforms. With no press coverage, no differentiated positioning, and limited downloads, Weepo needed a PR strategy that could:

Distinguish it from other dating apps in a cluttered market.
Attract young singles (21–34) looking for nightlife and social connections.
Drive app downloads in major metro areas.
Capture investor attention for early fundraising rounds.

Our Approach

MACIAS PR developed a multi-layered media strategy that combined storytelling, data insights, and event-driven publicity to build buzz around Weepo.

Narrative Development – Crafted unique angles that positioned Weepo as more than just another dating app. We framed it as a nightlife and social discovery tool backed by international investors.
Founder Positioning – Elevated Weepo’s founder as a thought-leader in nightlife and dating trends, creating a face and voice for the brand.
Targeted Media Outreach – Focused on outlets that spoke directly to Weepo’s target demographic while also appealing to tech investors. This included lifestyle publications, entertainment outlets, radio, and international press.
Event Publicity – Leveraged Weepo-sponsored singles events and parties to generate local excitement and organic media opportunities.

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🎯 Why the Best PR Stories Aren’t Pitched Where You Think They Belong

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Mark Macias

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

When I wrote the book, Tao of PR, I wanted to strip away the mythology around the media and show how real stories are born—and sold—inside the newsroom.

The insider truth? One size does not fit all when it comes to getting a journalist’s attention. If you want to win the PR war, you have to typically stop thinking like a publicist—and start thinking like an editor.

The Danger of the Obvious Pitch

Too many publicists take the safe, predictable path. They pitch the fashion section for a clothing designer, or the sports desk for a high school football coach. And when their emails are ignored, they frequently blame the media.

But the real problem is the pitch. Safe pitches are forgettable pitches.

The most successful campaigns I’ve led didn’t land in the section you’d expect. They broke the pattern. They forced the reporter to stop and say, “I’ve never heard this story told this way before.”

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How Much Does PR Really Cost? A Free Tool for Business Owners

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Mark Macias

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

One of the most common questions every business owner asks: “How much should PR cost for my business?”

PR isn’t a one-size-fits-all service. Campaigns vary depending on whether you’re targeting local consumers, national media, or specialized industries. Until now, getting a clear answer often required multiple phone calls, long discussions, and waiting for proposals.

It’s time to change the industry.

MACIAS PR has created a free PR Quote Calculator that gives you a personalized estimate in less than 30 seconds. No waiting. No guessing. Just straightforward pricing guidance based on your needs.

👉 Click here to try the PR Quote Calculator

Why This Matters for Business Owners

Business owners deserve transparency when it comes to PR costs. Many firms hide behind vague pricing or force prospective clients into long sales calls before revealing numbers. Our PR Quote Calculator changes that by giving you an upfront, customized estimate that reflects the true scope of your campaign.

Within 48 hours, you’ll receive a tailored PR proposal that outlines strategies and costs — so you know exactly what to expect.

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Andy Warhol Wasn’t Just an Artist—He Was a PR Genius. Here’s How to Copy His Tactics.

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Mark Macias

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

Andy Warhol might be remembered as a great artist, but at his core, he was also a brilliant publicist. Long before Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), Warhol knew how to sell concepts, create buzz, and make himself part of the cultural conversation. He mastered publicity without the digital tools we take for granted today.

The good news? Much of Warhol’s creative publicity approach can be copied and applied to your PR campaigns. I broke down four of his biggest tactics in a Forbes article (you can read it here), but if you’re short on time, here are some highlights.

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Newsroom Layoffs – How it Continues to Reshape PR Strategy

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Mark Macias

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

The summer of 2025 was unlike any other when it came to working with reporters, producers and journalists. Normally, when I get an unsolicited call from a reporter, it’s a good thing. But a few of these unexpected calls came with bad news.

Many former colleagues wanted to pick my brain on what to do next after they were let go. It was a sobering reminder that the shrinking newsroom isn’t an abstract trend; it’s affecting talented journalists we’ve pitched for years. Even more personal, it’s impacting former colleagues and friends.

This shrinking newsroom is a major reason why it will get harder to secure media coverage. If you don’t have a strategy and understand the media narrative, you are at a sharp disadvantage.

How Newsroom Layoffs are Impacting PR

I wrote a blog in November 2024 that predicted how newsroom layoffs would impact publicity and PR in the coming year. I expected to see more layoffs in 2025, and knew first-hand how it would impact news coverage.

At NBC, I had to lay off several producers and production assistants from my Special Projects unit after our budget was cut.

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Big Media Experience for Startups at Friendly Rates

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Mark Macias

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

Startups run lean. Every dollar is scrutinized. I understand that as both the founder of a startup and by working with boot-strapped entrepreneurs. You can’t afford to gamble on a junior PR associate learning on the job when your business is at stake.

Before I launched MACIAS PR in 2009, I spent years making editorial decisions inside the newsroom. As Executive Producer with NBC and Senior Producer with CBS, I approved the stories that were broadcast — and which were cut. This insider media experience shapes the DNA of MACIAS PR.

It’s also a driving differentiator for our startup clients. You get senior-level media expertise without the big agency price tag.

Why That Matters for Startups

Most large PR agencies will pitch you with their senior team. It’s a great sell with all of those publicists behind you and a beautiful 20-page deck that lures you in. But the reality – you will be passed off to junior account executives once the contract is signed.

With MACIAS PR, you will always work with an experienced media strategist. You won’t be passed off to a junior publicist and your team will remain consistent. As long as MACIAS PR is in business, your team won’t change.

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What Mick Jagger’s Letter to Andy Warhol Can Teach CEOs About Managing Creativity

Posted on August 18, 2025 by Mark Macias

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

When Mick Jagger hired Andy Warhol to design an album cover, he sent him a now-famous letter. Jagger didn’t dictate the design or micromanage the process. Instead, he gave Warhol full creative freedom.

That simple letter offers a powerful lesson for CEOs, CMOs, and entrepreneurs: if you want bold, breakthrough results from creative talent, you must give them space to create.

Most people know Andy Warhol was eccentric and unpredictable. He wasn’t “easy” to work with—but he was brilliant. He elevated his art through both vision and publicity, turning each project into a masterpiece. That freedom was the foundation of his success.

What This Means for PR Strategy

Over the years at MACIAS PR, I’ve worked with CEOs, CMOs, entrepreneurs, and marketing teams of all sizes. The companies that achieved the best media results were the ones that trusted our expertise and let our creative strategies unfold.

The opposite was also true. Clients who micromanaged, second-guessed, or assumed they knew the media landscape better than us rarely saw the same results. In PR, as in art, creativity thrives when leaders create the conditions for it—not when they restrict it.

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Why Waiting Kills PR Momentum: PT Barnum’s Timeless Lesson for Publicity

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Mark Macias

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

In the 19th century, PT Barnum built the “Greatest Show on Earth” and became one of history’s most successful publicity masterminds. His book The Art of Money Getting isn’t just about wealth—it’s filled with practical lessons on business, values, and the art of public relations.

One quote in particular resonates deeply for any business leader thinking about PR:

“If you hesitate, some bolder hand will stretch out before you and get the prize.
Remember the proverb of Solomon: ‘He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.’”

This advice is as true today as it was in Barnum’s era—especially in PR, where first-mover advantage can make or break a campaign. In today’s world of fast-moving AI and tech innovations, this is even more pressing and advantageous.

The Cost of Waiting to Launch Your PR Campaign

Recently, I spoke with a CEO whose board wanted to see his company featured on CNN. I outlined a detailed media strategy, explaining exactly how we could position his business for top-tier coverage.

He was engaged, took notes—and then told me he planned to “revisit PR in the fall.”

He ignored Barnum’s principle. In PR, waiting gives your competitors an open lane. By the time you’re ready, the media conversation may have shifted, the angle may no longer be fresh, and your uniqueness may have faded.

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Why Seconds Matter when Pitching Reporters

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Mark Macias

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

Why Newsroom Experience Gives MACIAS PR a Competitive Edge

In the newsroom, you have seconds to sell a story. If you can’t identify the narrative, deliver a strong angle, and communicate it clearly in under 30 seconds, your pitch typically fails. That’s the reality — and why MACIAS PR has an advantage.

Before I launched MACIAS PR in 2009, I spent years inside morning news meetings at both the local and national levels. These fast-paced newsrooms are where stories are decided — and often killed — in minutes, or even seconds.

Morning news meetings are tough. Producers question every angle, trying to find weaknesses before a story is even fleshed out. In the more competitive environments, journalists try to find holes in the angle to one-up you.

I pitched story ideas at The Arizona Republic and Channel 3 in Phoenix. In New York, it was the same approach for the nationally syndicated American Journal. Later in my career, I approved stories from publicists, reporters and producers as the Executive Producer with NBC, and Senior Producer at CBS.

This insider experience still drives how we pitch stories to reporters today. I leverage my time as an Executive Producer to identify the unique enterprise angle that will get your brand into the conversation.

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Does Personality Matter in Healthcare PR? Why Expertise Outperforms Charisma with Medical Coverage

Posted on August 13, 2025 by Mark Macias

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

In life, personality opens doors. In healthcare PR and health tech PR, it might open a meeting—but it won’t close the deal with a medical journalist.

When it comes to securing meaningful healthcare media coverage – expertise, strategy, and credibility matter far more than a bubbly personality.

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