PR Strategy | Public Relations for Technology Companies

Mar 03

Connections Don’t Get You Coverage

By Jackson Wightman Industry Commentary, PR Strategy

"So tell me about your connections," said a prospective client recently. I have a connection to my partner. She's great. But she certainly doesn't always do what I say she should (she's wise). I also have a connection to my two oldest friends. We've known each other since we were…

Feb 27

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Top of Funnel Is Not Optional: A Series on Why Growth Starts Before Conversion

By Proper Propaganda AI & Search (GEO), Industry Commentary, PR Strategy No Comments

Over the past several months, we published a series of posts examining a persistent mistake made by companies entering or scaling in the U.S. market: They invest heavily in conversion before creating demand. Executives obsess over performance marketing efficiency, attribution dashboards, CAC optimization, and last-touch reporting while underfunding the one…

Feb 17

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A Fishing Fable About the Top of the Funnel

By Jackson Wightman AI & Search (GEO), Industry Commentary, PR Strategy No Comments

Johnny fishes in the pond near his house once a week. He catches 2 fish. They make for an amazing dinner. The fish are so tasty that he starts fishing twice a week. At this level he can pull 3 fish a week. He does this for 2 months straight.…

Feb 12

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Should You Invest in Generative Engine Optimization Before ROI Is Clear?

By Jackson Wightman AI & Search (GEO), Industry Commentary, PR Strategy No Comments

A billboard has no reliably traceable ROI.Depending on where it is, it can cost hundreds of thousands. But not one time, ever, has it driven perfectly attributable sales.Still, we’ve been buying and selling billboards for a hell of a long time. They are durable (heck, even Steve Jobs loved them).The…

Feb 11

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You’re Not Buying Cement: How to Procure Expertise Properly

By Jackson Wightman Industry Commentary, PR Strategy No Comments

I am always grateful to receive invites to pitch on new business. Proper turns 15 this year, so I’ve known downturns and have learned not to expect new opportunities. We are entitled to exactly nothing. That said, of late, I have been inundated with companies doing bad work around agency…

Feb 02

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Why Foreign Brands Fail in the US When They Reuse Their Home-Market Playbook

By Proper Propaganda AI & Search (GEO), Influencer & Performance PR, PR Strategy

Strategies that lean heavily on conversion and bottom-funnel tactics can work in many markets. In the United States, they routinely fail. The reason is not product quality or execution. It is a misunderstanding of how American consumers make decisions. The US market rewards familiarity, loyalty, and trust more than efficiency…

Feb 02

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The Hidden Cost of Underfunding PR: CAC Inflation in the US

By Proper Propaganda AI & Search (GEO), Influencer & Performance PR, PR Strategy

Customer acquisition costs rise fastest when brand familiarity is low, and the United States is unforgiving to anonymous brands. PR is not optional. It determines whether performance spend scales efficiently. When PR is underfunded, CAC inflation is not a surprise. It is a reality. Familiarity Lowers the Cost of Conversion…

Feb 02

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Why Performance Marketing Converts Better After PR Does Its Job

By Proper Propaganda AI & Search (GEO), Influencer & Performance PR, PR Strategy

Performance marketing and PR are often treated as competing priorities. In reality, one only works well after the other has done its job. PR creates familiarity. It builds memory and establishes demand. Performance marketing converts what already exists. When that sequence is reversed, performance does not suddenly become smarter. It…

Feb 02

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Trust Is the Gatekeeper of US Consumer Conversion

By Proper Propaganda AI & Search (GEO), Influencer & Performance PR, PR Strategy

In the United States, trust must exist before a transaction happens. American consumers make trust a prerequisite for purchase, not a by-product of conversion. PR is the fastest way to establish credibility at scale. Without it, brands are structurally locked into discounts, promotions, and rising acquisition costs. Trust Determines Whether…

Feb 02

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How Edward Bernays Might Attack a Foe in the LLM Era

By Jackson Wightman AI & Search (GEO), Industry Commentary, PR Strategy

I just finished the Edward Bernays episode of the Founders podcast. If you don’t know Founders, go check it out, and thank me later. Bernays, who is often cited alongside Ivy Lee as the Founder of the PR profession, was a complicated person. He did some ethically questionable things and…