Why I shut down PPR, and what comes next.
After five years I’ve decided to close PPR and relaunch under my own name.
It’s been a real rollercoaster, and in truth, a mixed success.
I am proud of the PR coverage PPR delivered for the 40+ startup, scaleup and marketing services clients who chose us over the last few years.
Hundreds of opinion articles, news stories and profile interview pieces, quotes in news features, were written and placed. Dozens more pieces of reactive news analysis coverage - where clients were guests on TV, radio and podcasts.
I got to work with a lot of talented people - advisors, clients, partners, freelancers and staff - far too many to thank here, but you know who you are. I have learnt loads along the way.
But I had to accept that the business wasn’t profitable enough.
The business model didn’t scale as I’d planned. We struggled for freelance and staff talent at times which sometimes left us short. We found we had to over-service to get some clients PR-ready, in order to earn the results we were actually paid for. And I often met incredible founders, who I really wanted to help, but had to turn them down as they weren’t quite PR-ready. Plus, I wanted to get back to doing the work.
And so here we are.
The new service remains much the same.
💡 We will still offer strategic consultancy, to help businesses develop their positioning and grow their networks and influence.
🖊 We will still help clients develop compelling content that can be used in sales, marketing and PR.
📣 We will still do media relations - identifying stories that will work for journalists, and pitching those journalists, to earn media coverage.
And we’re still focused on tech startups, in and around late-seed/ early Series A stage who need an experienced advisor, an extra pair of hands... or a bit of both.
Genevieve Anderton also remains on my team, and we will work with other freelancers on an ad-hoc project basis when we need them, rather than make them integral to our model.
I feel our new model is simpler, leaner, and a far-more rounded sales/ marketing/ PR offer that’s more accessible for the early-stage firms I set out to support in the first place.
But I could use some feedback, and help in spreading the word. So if you’d like to help me (or some of my help) please do drop me a line.