Kelly Blake’s Post

Fave client Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon continue to inspire with their unique business approach. While many startups rush to scale, Speedland is taking the road less traveled: 💡 Born during COVID, resonating with ultra/trail athletes 💰 Doubled revenue yearly, already profitable 🐌 Quality-focused, not speed-obsessed 🏃♀️➡️ Athlete collaborations with ownership stakes 👟 Limited edition runs (Really!) 💵 10% of profits to athlete-chosen charities 🧵 No-compromise on materials and design #StartupInnovation #TrailRunning #QualityOverQuantity

🎾 I loved the 2024 US Open. From the early buzz of American hopefuls to the victories of Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, this year's tournament kept us (me) glued to our screens. 📺 But let's talk about the real PR MVP of the Open - the Honey Deuce cocktail! 🍹 It's still making headlines a week after the finals. The Honey Deuce isn't just a tasty courtside treat - it's a significant revenue driver for the USTA. The USTA announced that it sold 556,782 Honey Deuce signature cocktails during the 2024 U.S. Open. At $23, they made more than $12.8 million in revenue from the drink, representing a 26% increase over 2023 But the real grand slam is the lasting PR coverage. Six-time US Open champion Serena Williams tried the Honey Deuce for the first time, posting her taste test to TikTok that has racked up 155,000 views so far. “Honey, that’s not deuce,” she mused. “That’s called Honey, ad-in, or Honey ace. Let’s rename it!" #publicrelations #yum

My friends at Darby Communications released their state of the media survey which has uncovered some fascinating insights into the current state of the ever changing and noisy landscape of media. 💻 AI anxiety is skyrocketing in newsrooms. One respondent even said, "What happens when AI is ubiquitous? [That] will have unforeseen impacts beyond the obvious." ✉ Email pitches still rule supreme (but they better be sharp and relevant!) 👀 90%+ say PR is more vital than ever. We're their "eyes and ears" in this fast-paced world. 💰 Shrinking budgets are reshaping journalism, with a shift towards freelance and digital content. ☀ There's renewed optimism around long-form storytelling, with magazines like Field & Stream leading the charge. ❓ What's your biggest challenge or opportunity in this evolving media landscape? Are you seeing similar trends? #PRInsights #MediaTrends

"Public Relations is so much more than just media relations" Thank you to Forbes and Heather Kelly for highlighting the evolution of the craft and my personal philosophy that integration is the key to success. "The media landscape exploded, giving us an incredible breadth of new outlets including social media and podcasts. At the same time, the PR function itself has become more integrated with businesses, helping drive strategy and deliver measurable value." #publicrelations #pr #teamwork

Looking for someone to create a website for a client. Simple site, luxury brand, no e-commerce, SEO needed and destination/travel experience a plus. (Small budget) Who do you suggest??? #website #marketing #thankyou

I have been following Liquid Death for a while now as their marketing has been intriguing. I'm sure I am not their target audience but as a PR professional I have been fascinated with their branding, consistent messaging and how they became a $1.4 billion company without big media buys. Fearless creative leader Andy Pearson shares some of their strategy in this feature. "We’d rather make something hilarious. We want to be the best thing someone sees that day, and then you can go on about your day." Congratulations on accomplishing this mission.

Thanks Jon Eggleton for the conversation with fave client Ted Fleming & Partake Brewing. "Partake has prioritized in building a modern brand amidst transformational changes in the way people consume adult beverages, from merchandising to partnerships, to cultivating a sustainable community that can carry them into their next stage of existence." I would also add they are one of a few that are B-Corp certified, the brews are the lowest calories on the market and delicious! ***The landscape of N/A is becoming more acceptable to all who enjoy beverages, it's not just for the sober ***The global N/A beer market is predicted to reach $23.27 billion in 2025, $40 billion by 2032 ***It's a great choice for a healthy lifestyle too #publicrelations

Wow! It was 1999 when that Tornado hit Salt Lake and Outdoor Retailer. In some ways it seems like forever ago. Thank you to industry legend Drew Simmons for the reminder in this thoughtful recap that includes news coverage and memories/quotes from so many legends and friends in the industry. (Kristin Carpenter, Rich Hill, Stephen Sullivan, Kimberly (Kim) Coupounas, Peter Sachs, Barry Barr, Scott McGuire, Kenji Haroutunian, Carson Stanwood, Greg Melville, Nancy Coulter-Parker) I am honored to be included and while it brings back a memory of a strange occurrence it also reminds me of old friends, colleagues and the common thread of a supportive community. #imold #outdoorindustry (Shout out to New Heights Dana Donley Morton, Rob Haggart)

Reminder: If your PR team hesitates to pitch during a crowded news cycle, (Anything going on right now? Politics, Olympics, just to name a few) they aren't being negative. They're being honest and protective—of both the brand/client and their valuable media relationships. Consistently sending irrelevant or poorly-timed pitches risks having your emails ignored by the media, not to mention looking selfish. Please Respect the PR persons expertise. They should professionally guide the strategy and cadence of what is being pitched and when. #publicrelations #reminder #trust

⭐ "Publicity is absolutely critical. A good PR story is infinitely more effective than a front-page ad." Richard Branson ⭐ "If I was down to my last dollar, I would spend it on PR." Bill Gates ⭐ "Advertising is saying you're good. PR is getting someone else to say you're good." Jean-Louis Gassée, former Apple executive Always a good reminder from respected business executives the value of PR. However, understanding a client's goals and setting expectations should be part of the initial conversations. PR is not a sprint (quick sales), it’s a marathon (to establish a brand/companies/products identity and drive traffic for potential sales). Third-party endorsements can be a valuable marketing strategy for brands because they can help build credibility, and validate products. #publicrelations