I am thinking of cold emailing reporters with press release about a free tool that I’ve created. The tool will help people with food allergies dine out safely over holidays. I am wondering if it’s too late for outreach and I should just focus on SEM or forum posts. I am thinking of using Brandpush (alternative suggestions are welcome :) for press release. If I do outreach, I am thinking of including key facts that can help in article creation. Any other tips that can help increase possibility of coverage? Thank you in advance.

Here's how you should handle negative headlines from a PR perspective. 1. Assess the situation. Understand the issue. Gather facts. Evaluate impact 2. Respond quickly and strategically. Delayed responses can appear evasive or negligent. Acknowledge the issue promptly, even if you need more time to provide full details. Customize your response based on the medium (e.g., press release, social media, or interview) and audience. 3. Own the narrative. Acknowledge mistakes: If your organization is at fault, admit it sincerely. Avoid deflecting blame! 4. Show empathy. Address the feelings of those affected (customers, employees, stakeholders, etc.).A heartfelt apology can diffuse anger and demonstrate accountability. 5. Outreach. Reach out to journalists or outlets reporting the story to provide your side.Keep employees, investors, and other key stakeholders informed to prevent internal misinformation.Monitor and respond to social media conversations to control the narrative and address concerns. 6. Implement corrective actions. Announce and implement specific steps to prevent similar issues in the future.Share progress updates to show commitment to change or improvement. 7. Monitor and learn. Track coverage: Monitor media and social platforms to gauge public reaction and ensure the issue de-escalates. Assess the success of your PR efforts and refine your strategy for future incidents. Hope this helps if you have to deal with crisis management or apology situations. If you disagree, feel free to reply with your take.

Hey @Alex MacGregor got a quick question. I've been thinking about a shift from traditional PR to a more direct PR strategy. 2 key pain points: 1st. The pitching process is a real grind - it's time-consuming, uncertain, and honestly, the cost of media contacts is getting ridiculous. 2nd. and maybe more importantly, the content we typically pitch. It's all about trending topics that grab media attention, but rarely showcase our clients' brand stories, services, and products. Which is a key to building a brand narrative. Curious to get your take on that and whether you see a market demand for this model. Your advice means a lot. 🙌

Does anyone know how one can get brand mentions on TV series? Is it a matter of cold-emailing writers with offers, or is there a secret marketplace where brands can bid for mentions? I’ve noticed that in TV series, movies, and late-night shows, brand names on products are often hidden, but sometimes they’re mentioned outright in the dialogue or context. For example, I’ve seen mentions of brands like Airbnb, Cheetos, and Pornhub.