Tag: top pr agencies

Can you sell a story in 30 Seconds?

Posted on by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

Before I launched this PR firm in 2009, I lived inside morning news meetings at both the local and national level. It’s the place where stories are killed or made – in a matter of minutes.

At the Arizona Republic and the local TV station, Channel 3, we had to pitch story ideas in front of editors, producers and other reporters. In New York, I pitched stories for a nationally syndicated TV program, American Journal. I also approved story ideas as the Executive Producer for Special Projects with NBC.

I don’t want to bore you with my journalism background. (You can read more of my background on LinkedIn).

Here’s why that experience inside the newsroom matters: you only have seconds to pitch a story and that background is the center-point of MACIAS PR.

As the above video demonstrates, if you can’t identify the narrative, communicate the story and angle within 30 seconds, your PR firms in tech and healthcare won’t succeed.

Before anyone on our team pitches a reporter, we practice and perfect our pitch. To outsiders, that might seem a bit childish or even less productive. It’s not.

Continue reading “Can you sell a story in 30 Seconds?” →

What is Public Relations? FAQ on how PR Works

Posted on by Mark Macias

What is public relations? It’s one of the most popular questions we continually hear from business owners when we talk shop.

Public relations is one of the most efficient and strategic ways to get your story in front of customers. It introduces your story, product and service directly to potential clients via the media. It’s also more affordable than advertising.

How is PR different from Advertising?

Public relations is not advertising. You can’t buy a news story with the media. Yes, you can buy “sponsored” posts with the media, but that’s really just a commercial put in words. More important, when your advertising budget is over, say goodbye to your “sponsored” post. However, with PR, your story stays on the media website long after your PR budget is over.

PR can also help improve your brand in the media. PR specialists are frequently the front line of defense against crises linked to legal problems, technical difficulties and perhaps even natural disasters. Public relations involves a wide selection of tactics and strategies. So how is MACIAS PR better than other PR firms?

Continue reading “What is Public Relations? FAQ on how PR Works” →

MACIAS PR Celebrates 10 Years of Business

Posted on by Mark Macias

                

NEW YORK, June 3, 2019 (Newswire.com) – MACIAS PR is celebrating 10 years of business in June, growing from a boot-strapped agency into an award-winning full-service public relations firm.

Over the last ten years, MACIAS PR has led media and branding campaigns for clients in technology, healthcare/digital health, finance, politics and the nonprofit sectors. Their clients have ranged from boot-strapped startups with no messaging in place to established companies with international brand recognition.

MACIAS PR won its first industry award when Finance Monthly named it the PR Consultant Firm of the Year in 2015. The following year, Finance Monthly named MACIAS PR the Financial PR Firm of the Year. In 2017 and 2018, marketing peers named MACIAS PR the Strategic PR Firm of the Year.

The founder, Mark Macias, started the firm after an extensive career with NBC, CBS, American Journal, KTVK and The Arizona Republic. He was Executive Producer with NBC, Senior Producer with CBS in New York, and Investigative Producer with the nationally syndicated TV program, American Journal. Macias started his journalism career with the Arizona Republic and KTVK-TV 3 in Phoenix. He’s also the author of the business book, Beat the Press: Your Guide to Managing the Media, and a contributor with CNBC.

“Potential clients and competitors always try to figure out how we succeed on such a large scale,” said Macias. “Journalism is at the root of our strategy. Our firm continues to dig deeper, searching for the best angles to position our clients in the news. We won’t promote fluff or engage in hyperbole. Instead, we look at the timely news cycle and find ways to position our clients in it.”

Macias credits that editorial approach with helping his firm secure prominent media placements with the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, New York Times, Bloomberg and others.

Continue reading “MACIAS PR Celebrates 10 Years of Business” →

5 PR Tips for Networking Events – Art of Small Talk

Posted on by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

A few years ago, I wrote an article for Entrepreneur Magazine that detailed how you can apply PR to networking events. (You can read article here).

Public relations is a skill that applies not only to the media; it also applies to social situations, especially networking events where your image is everything.

Here’s a quick rundown on how to apply PR skills to any networking event, making the art of small talk easier for business.

Continue reading “5 PR Tips for Networking Events – Art of Small Talk” →

PR Question – Who are the best Media Contacts for PR

Posted on by Mark Macias

                                    

By Mark Macias

There is a general belief among publicists that a solid media Rolodex will get your client in the news. Even business owners are buying into this theory. Potential clients frequently ask me which reporters I know in “tech” or “political” or “fashion” — you name it.

They seem to believe that a friend or “contact” at the right paper or TV station will get their business in the news, but is it true?

Continue reading “PR Question – Who are the best Media Contacts for PR” →

Getting Media Traction – Adapting the PR Strategy

Posted on by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

What happens when you can’t get traction for a story, no matter how hard you pitch it? Or worse, when journalists tell you, “that’s not a story.”

When this happens, it is time to redefine the narrative. In journalism and PR, the story narrative is crucial to success. Without a strong narrative, there will never be a media placement.

During my years as a news producer with NBC and CBS, there were many times when I pursued a story only to discover that the story I thought I was pursuing was actually a different story. When this happened, we had two options – kill the story or salvage it.

As Executive Producer with WNBC, I oversaw a very large production budget that funded the Special Projects unit. At the time, GE owned NBC, so as every shareholder knows, GE was very big that you come under budget or you get fired.

There were many times when I approved a story idea and we invested money into the story, only to discover half-way through the story that it wasn’t there. This was when we had to put on our creative hats and think of a way to salvage the story.

Continue reading “Getting Media Traction – Adapting the PR Strategy” →

The Power of Local TV – Driving Targeted Leads and Exposure

Posted on by Mark Macias

Local TV is still by far one of the most targeted ways to get your story in front of consumers. It is especially effective when you want to sell a product or service to a community.

A recent report from Nielsen found consumers spend an average 4.3 billion minutes watching content on their laptop, tablet, phones and TV. And when it comes to consuming information on the community, those viewers turn to their local news.

MACIAS PR recently ran a campaign in Baltimore for a nonprofit that needed to raise awareness for their community programs. The nonprofit wanted people in the community to learn about their free tech work training programs that could help them launch a career in tech.

This TV segment, which you can see above, was far more effective than any 30-second commercial. The segment told the story through an actual student, which was much more persuasive and emotional than any canned commercial message.

Continue reading “The Power of Local TV – Driving Targeted Leads and Exposure” →

When are the best times to pitch TV reporters and producers

Posted on by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

TV and newspaper reporters face different deadlines, which means one size does not fit all when it comes to pitching. The best PR firms understand the best times to approach journalists. And it’s not as obvious as you think. This is one of the many insider tactics MACIAS PR applies when getting our story ideas in front of reporters.

A journalist’s deadline varies by beat and city but generally speaking, every TV reporter — that files a daily story —  is under deadline three hours before the newscast.

Many publicists know the unwritten rule is to never pitch a story during a newscast, but that’s not always the case. There are times when it is not only appropriate but strategic to pitch during a newscast.

Continue reading “When are the best times to pitch TV reporters and producers” →

PR Newswire – Worth the Money?

Posted on by Mark Macias

By Mark Macias

Clients are always asking me what I think of press releases posted on the PR newswires.

“Why can’t we just write a press release and post it on PRWeb or PRNewsWires? It gets picked up by everyone.” They say.

It seems simple enough on the surface.

PRWeb writes on their home page, “Generate Buzz Online… Forever. Your news lives on the web forever, earning you new business time and time again.”

PRNewswire makes an even bolder claim on their website: “PR Newswire is the authoritative source of news and information for leading global media organizations…. We distribute to more than 200,000 media points and 8,000 websites, offering the most ways to reach your audience online and off.”

So will paid press releases on these PR newswire distribution outlets generate buzz for your business? It depends on what kind of buzz you are looking for and what the announcement is you will be posting.

Continue reading “PR Newswire – Worth the Money?” →

How to Choose a PR Agency for Series A Tech Startup

Posted on by Mark Macias

      

A PR firm is one of the most influential decisions you can make for Series A funding. The media exposure and brand awareness generated from your PR campaign will introduce your product and service to investors and consumers. Or, if your PR firm fails to generate exposure, your chances for funding dramatically decrease, especially if you fumble the message.

So what should you look for when trying to decide the best PR agency for your Series A Tech Startup?

Continue reading “How to Choose a PR Agency for Series A Tech Startup” →