Best PR Campaigns begin with a Focused Approach

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

I got an email recently from a marketing consultant who I have worked with in the past. She’s introduced me to many great “players” in the business scene and she is a friend, so I want her to succeed.

She asked if I would help her with publicity for an upcoming project. Her idea was to push press releases to her audience.

I asked who was her targeted audience and she ran off a list that pretty much included everyone.

It’s great to have a product that is for the masses, but when it comes to the media, your campaign will be more successful if you narrow down the target. The more targeted a media campaign, the better ROI it will bring to your business.

Continue reading “Best PR Campaigns begin with a Focused Approach” →

Want to Reach Millennials? PR Campaign Analysis

Posted on January 19, 2019 by Mark Macias

Millennials are now the largest consumer group in the US, with more than 75.4 million members. It’s no wonder brands and companies want to target them. They set emerging trends and with their growing economic clout, Millennials will become a more influential consumer based.

We recently secured a media placement for a dating app startup that wanted to reach millennial women. But it wasn’t just any Millennial publication. Nearly 80 million readers turn to Bustle for information and conversation around the interests and issues women deal with today.

This media placement was targeted and effective, leading to thousands of new downloads for our client. It positioned our client as more innovative than other dating apps, with a more personalized approach

So how did MACIAS PR secure this influential and targeted media placement?

Targeted PR Placements with Influential Publications

We can all relate to the struggles that come with being single and dating around. But young, single millennials – especially those who read Bustle – certainly relate to them a little more.

PR is best for business when the execution is perfectly targeted.

MACIAS PR doesn’t spray random reporters and pray for a response. We target reporters with fresh angles that position our clients in the news. This is why we specifically chose to pitch our client to Bustle – and secure them a placement.

If you’re looking for an edge in business, reach out to me. We can schedule a call and discuss your goals.

About MACIAS PR

MACIAS PR was founded in 2009 by Mark Macias – a former Executive Producer with NBC, Senior Producer with CBS in New York and author of the business book, “Beat the Press: Your Guide to Managing the Media.” He’s a contributor for CNBC and The Daily Caller, giving PR, media analysis and crisis advice on timely business and political stories.

MACIAS PR offers a wide range of services, including publicity, branding and crisis PR campaigns for tech start-ups, healthcare/health tech companies, asset management firms, politicians, financial groups, trade organizations, Internet retailers, nonprofits and service sector industries.

Finance Monthly and ACQ5 5 – an international industry award – named Macias PR the 2017 Strategic PR Firm of the Year, and PR Firm of the Year – USA. This was the third year in a row that Finance Monthly recognized our firm. The founder – Mark Macias – is a former Executive Producer with NBC and Senior Producer with CBS in New York. He is also a PR contributor with CNBC, providing media analysis, insight and crisis advice on timely business topics.

How Newsrooms and Bookstores are Similar

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Mark Macias

A bookstore and the newsroom are similar in many ways. They are both packed with stories that want to be shared. Unfortunately, many quality stories are never told because they don’t get into the right hands.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a consumer looking for a great novel, or a business trying to get your story told through the media.

Knowing how to navigate a newsroom is crucial when it comes to getting a story placed in the media. You might have a great idea on your business or tech startup, but if you don’t know how to find the right journalist, your story won’t get told. Continue reading “How Newsrooms and Bookstores are Similar” →

Online Ads Are Cheating your Budget – Infographic Analysis

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

Online advertising is typically the first approach for many tech startups and small business owners, but there is a big silent secret that is stealing a portion of your online ad budget. It involves Internet bots that are disguised as consumers and secretly clicking on your ads without you knowing.

Some exposes (like this story in Moz) have alleged the ad networks are working together with the ad agencies to essentially provide “fake” clicks on ads that generate revenue for the ad networks. Google has publicly come out against the bots, even issuing a report on what it was doing to prevent these “bots” from clicking on online ads.

Here’s a closer look at how Internet bots are stealing a portion of your online ad budget without you even realizing it.

How to Stay on Message with the Media

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

Politicians are notorious for not answering the question. Journalists ask the yes or no question, and they scramble to another topic instead of staying on the message. Here’s how it came across recently when an MSNBC reporter asked candidate Scott Walker a simple yes or no answer.

KASIE HUNT: Do you think that birthright citizenship should be ended?

SCOTT WALKER: Well, like I said, Harry Reid said it’s not right for this country — I think that’s something we should, yeah, absolutely, going forward-

HUNT: We should end birthright citizenship?

WALKER: Yeah, to me it’s about enforcing the laws in this country. And I’ve been very clear, I think you enforce the laws, and I think it’s important to send a message that we’re going to enforce the laws, no matter how people come here we’re going to enforce the laws in this country.

HUNT: And you should deport the children of people who are illegal immigrants?

WALKER: I didn’t say that — I said you have to enforce the law, which to me is focusing on E-Verify.

The Importance of Staying on Message

I work with many tech startup entrepreneurs who are typically less media savvy. Their delivery frequently works to their advantage because they are authentic, but this isn’t politics. If you’re trying to promote your business or service through the media and you have a reporter listening to you, it’s important to stay on message and to continually sell your services.

Don’t learn the hard way. A video client recently told me that she was interviewed by NPR, which is a national news organization that reaches influential and educated listeners. She told me a reporter spent two different days on the phone with her but she wasn’t mentioned in the story. She asked me what she could have done differently.

I wasn’t listening to that interview, but if a reporter calls you twice – he or she is rooting for you. They want you to give them the context or sound that they need for their story. Journalists are inherently self-interested, which isn’t a negative stereotype in this situation. When it comes to writing their story, they need to be self-interested or every other person will influence the direction of their message.

Media Advice for Interviews

This is why it’s so important to stay on message during an interview with the media. You have little time to persuade this journalist that you belong in his story, so measure that time well. Don’t spend 15-minutes giving background on facts if the reporter didn’t ask for that. Facts don’t sell the story. Context sells your story. Perspective brings commentary and color to any story. Reporters want color and context because color brings a story alive and context makes it relevant.

Remember that the next time you get a chance to sell your tech or business story to the media. Stay on message, the clock is ticking.

Macias PR was named the 2015 “PR Consultant Firm of the Year – USA” by Finance Monthly. The firm was founded by Mark Macias – a former Executive Producer with NBC and Senior Producer with CBS in New York. Macias is a weekly contributor with CNBC.com and author of the communications book, Beat the Press: Your Guide to Managing the Media, which has been featured in the NY Times, Fox Business, NY Post and others. Macias PR has run media campaigns for tech startups, financial groups, service providers, nonprofits and politicians.

Case Study on Mobile App PR

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

It’s difficult for all mobile app developers to stand out – unless you have the media behind you.

Our passionate team is proud to say our new mobile app, Blush No More, is the fastest growing communications app on the app stores, according to statistics from Mobincube.

And that growth came without any advertisements. Our entire user acquisition campaign was driven by organic news coverage with the tech, national and international media led by Macias PR.

The Daily Mail in the UK called Blush No More the “ultimate dinner party app – able to feed you a conversation starter at just the right time.”

Yahoo News said the “App ‘Blush No More’ Helps Keep the Conversation Rolling.’”

Channel 11 in New York City aired a 4-minute story on the mobile app, saying it suggests “perfect ice breakers to keep the conversation going.”

Channel 11 also tracked down a Blush No More user and asked him what he thought of theapp. Here’s what Iwan Lubberts from Holland told their reporter on TV:

“It really makes you feel like a local. If you look up the lines, they are pretty American. It’s helping me out to understand American people and how to deal with American people in language,” Lubberts said.

That Channel 11 video on Blush No More went viral within hours and was picked up by AOL, spreading the word around the world. Since then, other news publications have run stories on how this is a genius idea that everyone can use.

Yahoo China, AOL News, Yahoo News, GQ Italy and Metro Global newspapers all wrote glowing, positive stories about Blush No More and how it can help consumers.

LovethatMag – a popular US online publication that covers the latest trends, wrote this review: “If you’re someone that tends to find yourself not knowing what to say amidst an awkward silence, then new app ‘Blush No More’ could be your one stop shop for ice breakers, and a whole lot more.”

That is publicity and endorsements that no ad can buy.

How the Media Drives App Downloads

Blush No More has seen exponential growth in downloads following this international and online media exposure. The percentage of downloads has grown more than 1300 percent following just 3 days of media exposure. It maintained that momentum throughout July and August 2015, becoming the fastest growing mobile communications app, according to its publisher, Mobincube.

So the next time you’re looking at your app analytics, wrinkling your forehead, wondering what can you do to make your tech startup stand out – take the initiative and reach out to Macias PR. If the green box at the bottom of your screen shows we are online, ask for Mark and I’ll give you a media strategy after learning more about your app.

Changing your Media Image – Case Study

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

It’s never good to mix politics and business, but CNBC recently asked me what kind of advice I would give Hillary Clinton now that her trust numbers are plummeting in the polls.

This is a situation that could apply to any business – not just in politics. Once the public starts to distrust a product or service, it gets much harder to influence consumers via the media. So what should you do if your business starts to receive more negative complaints from clients? Get in front of the negative news and focus on improving that situation before it gets worse. Here’s some advice I gave CNBC involving Hillary Clinton and her dropping poll numbers.

The DNA of a Top Publicist

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

Every great athlete has a DNA that gives him an edge regardless of sport. Basketball needs a tall genetic code, football prefers weight and bulk, etc.

It’s no different with publicity. During my time with NBC and CBS, I saw a certain kind of DNA excel in journalism. He was driven, adaptable, curious, secular and even gregarious. While public relations is a different industry, the genetic code is similar.

Just like the above Facebook post demonstrates, if you’re looking for the best publicist, you want to find a person who is agile, fast and impulsive like the grasshopper. News moves quickly and a great publicist understands how to adapt to that changing environment.

But at the same time, a great PR firm also must show perseverance and strength because great media placements don’t happen overnight. A successful media campaign takes time and a lot of lobbying. It also takes a specific kind of creative intelligence to frame a story in a way that the media will find intriguing.

Keep those traits in mind as you look for the “Best PR Firm”. Bigger is not always better. The elephant alone is weak if he relies solely on his powerful weight. The grasshopper is an easy kill unless he keeps moving. But when combined, the two make for a powerful force especially in the world of public relations. And that’s advice that applies to publicity for every industry – tech, financial, service sector – you name it.

Macias PR was named the 2015 top “PR Consultant Firm of the Year – USA” by Finance Monthly. The firm was founded by Mark Macias – a former Executive Producer with NBC and Senior Producer with CBS in New York. Macias is a weekly contributor with CNBC.com and author of the communications book, Beat the Press: Your Guide to Managing the Media, which has been featured in the NY Times, Fox Business, NY Post and others. Macias PR has run media campaigns for tech startups, financial groups, service providers, nonprofits and politicians.

How to Sell Your Story to the Media

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

Identifying a great narrative is the most important element behind any successful media campaign, but selling your story to the media can’t be overlooked.

You can have the best idea, but if you sell it the wrong way, your story will never be pitched in any morning news meeting. More relevant, you typically only get one chance to make a first impression in business, and in journalism, it lasts only a few seconds.

During my time as an Executive Producer with NBC and Senior Producer with CBS in New York, tech startups, business owners and publicists pitched me all kinds of stories on topics ranging from consumer tech to medical, health to features.

At the same time, I had to pitch stories on a daily basis to a room full of jaded, experienced journalists who had heard every news idea possible. It’s very hard to reinvent the wheel or spin a square idea with that group.

So how do you sell a story idea to journalists?

Don’t try to tell any reporter that this is a great story, or revolutionary or why everyone loves your product or service. They will read right through it. Instead, take an objective approach and back it up with words that aren’t opinionated.

For example, take a look at that truck in the photo above. It has a story just like you and I have a story to tell. What has that truck seen, or why is it still running years after others have failed? How did it accumulate that rust? What are the stories that took place inside of that truck? Any scandalous cross-country ventures that took place inside the cabin?

That is how you sell a story to the media. And please, don’t use those words or phrases that are on the left box. Every journalist hears those phrases several times a day, so that is the quickest way to get your story rejected before it is even pitched.

Formula for Media Placements

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

Many people assume there is a secret formula to getting stories on TV or in the newspapers. If that were the case, the formula would have been hacked and posted on the Internet by now.

It’s also not about who you know, which many outsiders assume. Yes – a friend in the media can help you by guiding or framing the story, but if you don’t have a solid idea, they won’t run it on the news – no matter how close you are.

A more successful media strategy is identifying the strongest narrative with an angle that is creative and unique. As an Executive Producer with WNBC in New York, I approved the story ideas from reporters, producers and publicists. I also approved the scripts that came out of our consumer, health and medical units. When I was reviewing these scripts, or trying to identify whether this was a story of interest, I would use these traits to help me guide me.

1) Is it timely?

2) How does this benefit our readers?

3) What is the controversy and does it have a solution?

4) Is there an interactive element we can add?

5) Who else has done this story?

Generally speaking, if you can craft a media campaign around those questions, you will have more success with your media placements. You can also get some guidance by looking closely at the media formula photo we posted above this article.

Mark Macias is a former Executive Producer with NBC and Senior Producer with CBS in New York. He’s also the author of the communications book, Beat the Press: Your Guide to Managing the Media, which has been featured in the NY Times, Fox Business, NY Post and others. Macias consults small and large businesses on how to get publicity. You can read more on his firm at MaciasPR.