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Video in B2B Marketing – The Key to More Sales and Conversions?

09/24/2025 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: FDS

Why Video Works in a B2B Context

Unlike B2C, B2B marketing rarely relies on quick impulse buys. Instead, it’s about long-term investments and complex decision-making. Video offers three main advantages here:

  • Simplifying complexity: A two-minute product video can explain what would otherwise take a 20-page brochure.
  • Building trust: Expert interviews, customer success stories, or behind-the-scenes content create transparency and credibility.
  • Driving conversions: Studies suggest conversion rates rise when prospects watch explainer or testimonial-based videos.

Formats That Work Best in B2B

Successful B2B video strategies combine information with trust-building formats:

  • Product and explainer videos – visualizing use cases and value.
  • Case studies – customers sharing authentic experiences.
  • Webinars & on-demand sessions – positioning as a thought leader.
  • Short clips for social media – concise, attention-grabbing content.

Challenges and Pitfalls

Video is powerful, but not a silver bullet. Common challenges include:

  • Higher production costs compared to text or graphics.
  • Longer approval cycles due to multiple stakeholders.
  • The need for a clear distribution plan – without reach, videos lose impact.
  • Measurement: KPIs must go beyond views (e.g., lead quality, pipeline influence).
“In B2B, video isn’t about showmanship – it’s a tool. Its value depends on clear goals and integration into the customer journey.”

Best Practices for Driving Sales

To truly turn video into a sales driver, companies should consider:

  • Top of funnel: Generate awareness with short teasers.
  • Mid funnel: Provide in-depth content like tutorials, demos, or explainer sessions.
  • Bottom of funnel: Build trust with testimonials and success stories.
  • CRM integration: Track video engagement to qualify leads.
Tip: Short & focused often beats long & detailed – especially for time-pressed decision-makers.

Conclusion

Video isn’t a magic bullet, but it is one of the most powerful tools in B2B marketing. It helps communicate complex messages clearly and emotionally, strengthens brand perception, and can directly boost conversion rates. Whether it’s the “key” ultimately depends on how strategically it’s used. Companies that integrate video across the customer journey significantly increase their chances of closing more deals and building lasting relationships.

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The Media Distribution List as the Most Important PR Too

09/10/2025 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: FDS

A media distribution list is one of the most essential tools in modern public relations. It forms the foundation for targeted and efficient communication with journalists, editors, and media outlets. Without a well-maintained list, even the most compelling press releases risk not reaching the right audience.

What Is a Media Distribution List?

A media distribution list is a structured database of media contacts. It includes details such as names, roles, media affiliations, contact information, and thematic focus areas. This ensures that PR professionals can deliver their content to the most relevant recipients.

Why Is the Distribution List So Important?

The media landscape is diverse and constantly evolving. An up-to-date and carefully curated list provides several key advantages:

  • Targeted outreach: Messages are sent only to journalists for whom they are relevant.
  • Efficiency: Saves time through structured and organized contact management.
  • Higher success rate: The more relevant the outreach, the greater the chance of publication.
  • Relationship management: Regular communication strengthens ties with media professionals.

Building and Maintaining a Distribution List

A professional distribution list is not created overnight—it requires continuous effort. Key steps include:

  • Researching relevant media outlets and contacts.
  • Regularly updating contact information.
  • Categorizing by topic, beat, or region.
  • Documenting past interactions (e.g., responses to press releases).

Digital Tools and PR Software

Today, many organizations rely on PR software to manage their media lists. These tools not only streamline contact management but often also include features for email distribution, open-rate tracking, and media response monitoring.

Best Practices for Using Media Lists

  • Quality over quantity: A small but relevant list is more effective than a large, unfocused one.
  • Personalization: Tailored messages significantly improve response rates.
  • Regular maintenance: Outdated contacts reduce the effectiveness of the list.
  • Data protection: Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations such as GDPR.

Conclusion

The media distribution list is the backbone of successful PR. It enables organizations to deliver their messages efficiently and directly to the right media professionals. Those who build their lists strategically, maintain them consistently, and use them for personalized outreach will maximize their chances of long-term media visibility.

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When Does PR Reporting Make Sense?

07/02/2025 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: PatrickFischer

PR reporting is the structured analysis and presentation of results from press and communications activities. It provides decision-making support, makes impact visible, and enables optimization. But when is the effort worthwhile? The short answer: As soon as goals, activities, and stakeholders exist that require reliable insights – and at the latest when budgets, complexity, or reputation risks increase.

Why PR Reporting?

PR reporting serves three key functions: Steering (what works, what doesn’t?), Accountability (toward management, clients, budget holders), and Learning (testing hypotheses, improving measures). Without reporting, PR remains a black box – with reporting, it becomes measurable, comparable, and scalable.

When It Becomes Valuable: Practical Thresholds

In practice, regular PR reporting makes sense once certain conditions are met:

  • Defined goals & campaigns: As soon as specific communication goals or a campaign is launched (e.g., product launch, CEO positioning).
  • Activity volume: From around 3–5 press activities per month (releases, pitches, events) or 5+ media mentions per week.
  • Budget threshold: From ~€5,000/month in PR/agency or tool spending, systematic success tracking pays off.
  • Multi-channel activity: When Earned, Owned, and Social are being used in parallel (e.g., press outreach + blog + LinkedIn/X).
  • Stakeholder pressure: When management, sales, or investors expect proof of effectiveness.
  • Risk environment: In industries with high reputational or regulatory sensitivity (health, finance, energy).

Reporting Maturity: From “Light” to “Strategic”

Not every team needs a fully-fledged dashboard right away. A staged approach works best:

  • Level 1 – Basic (monthly): Press clippings, number of mentions, general tone, top outlets, key topics, short summary.
  • Level 2 – Operational (bi-weekly/monthly): Categorization by topic/product, backlinks/traffic, social echo, journalist engagement, lessons learned.
  • Level 3 – Strategic (monthly/quarterly): Goal achievement vs. KPIs, share of voice, message penetration, audience resonance, contribution to business outcomes (leads, applications, inquiries), recommendations.

Which KPIs to Track?

Use a balanced mix along the communication impact chain:

  • Output: Number of releases, clippings, reach/impressions, media tier (Tier-1 vs. niche).
  • Outtakes: Sentiment, message alignment, share of voice, spokesperson visibility/quotes.
  • Outcomes: Website traffic from earned media, dwell time, newsletter sign-ups, social engagement.
  • Impact: Contribution to leads/pipeline, job applications, reputation drivers, cost efficiency (cost per earned reach).

Cadence: How Often to Report?

The reporting frequency depends on activity rhythm and risk level:

  • Weekly: During launches, crises, or active campaigns.
  • Monthly: Standard cadence for ongoing press work and resource steering.
  • Quarterly: Strategic reporting for management/board with trends & recommendations.

Data Sources & Tools

A lean setup can start with: media monitoring (mentions, sentiment), web analytics (referrals, SEO), social analytics (engagement, mentions), and a contact/CRM log (pitches, responses, briefings). Later additions: competitor benchmarks, backlink quality, topic heatmaps, analyst/reputation scores.

Best Practices to Get Started

Avoid unnecessary overhead by focusing on quick value:

  • Start with goals: Define 3–5 clear communication goals and 1–2 KPIs per goal.
  • Standardize: Consistent UTM tags, message sets, media tier logic, sentiment rules.
  • Visualize & tell a story: Dashboard + executive summary with 5 key insights and 3 recommendations per cycle.
  • Add qualitative context: Showcase 2–3 clippings with explanations instead of only metrics.
  • Scale iteratively: Add new metrics only when unanswered questions arise.

When (Not) to Report?

If there are no defined goals or running activities yet, a light setup is sufficient: a one-time baseline check (topics, media, competitors) – and move to regular reporting once campaigns start.

Example: Minimal Viable Monthly Report

1) Goals & highlights (1 page) · 2) KPIs (output/outtakes/outcomes, 1 page) · 3) Top clippings & learnings (1 page) · 4) Next steps (1 page). Effort: 2–4 hours/month – Value: clarity, steering, and legitimacy.

Conclusion

PR reporting makes sense as soon as you communicate with specific goals, use multiple channels, or need to demonstrate results. Start lean, measure what truly supports decision-making, and scale as needed. That way, reporting becomes not just a duty but a powerful management tool.

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What is a PR Pitch?

06/25/2025 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: FDS

A PR pitch is a key instrument in public relations. It refers to the targeted approach to journalists, editors, or influencers in order to get a story, product, or topic placed in the media. The pitch serves as the bridge between organizations and media outlets and often determines whether a story will be published or not.

Goals of a PR Pitch

The purpose of a PR pitch is to generate attention and convince media professionals of the relevance of a story. It is not pure advertising, but must meet journalistic standards. Typical goals include:

  • Securing media coverage for company or product news
  • Building trust and credibility through editorial reporting
  • Strengthening brand visibility via thought leadership and expert commentary
  • Supporting campaigns or product launches

Key Elements of a Successful PR Pitch

A professional pitch is defined by clarity, relevance, and brevity. The most important components include:

  • Relevant story: The pitch must have news value and be interesting for the outlet’s audience.
  • Personalization: Tailoring the pitch to the individual journalist or media outlet is crucial.
  • Conciseness: Journalists receive dozens of pitches daily – the message must convince quickly.
  • Added value: Exclusive information, data, studies, or expert insights increase the chance of publication.

Channels for PR Pitches

Traditionally, a PR pitch is sent via email, often as a short and personalized message. Depending on the context, other channels can also be effective:

  • Follow-up phone calls
  • Direct messages on social media (e.g., LinkedIn or Twitter/X)
  • Personal meetings at industry events or trade shows

Best Practices

To increase the success rate of PR pitches, organizations should keep a few rules in mind:

  • Do your research: Contact only those outlets relevant to the topic.
  • Timing matters: Consider editorial deadlines and industry cycles.
  • Be concise and professional: Avoid lengthy sales language and focus on facts.
  • Maintain relationships: Long-term connections with journalists are more valuable than one-off pitches.

Conclusion

A PR pitch is more than just an email to a journalist – it is a strategic tool for securing media coverage. The relevance of the story, personalized outreach, and adherence to journalistic standards are the decisive factors. When done right, a PR pitch not only increases the likelihood of coverage but also helps build long-term media relationships.

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Visible Through PR – How Companies and Service Providers Get Into the Media

05/28/2025 | by Patrick Fischer, M.Sc., Founder & Data Scientist: FDS

In today’s digital and information-saturated world, it has become increasingly difficult for companies and service providers to remain visible. One of the most effective ways to build reach and credibility is through professional public relations (PR). Strategic PR ensures that relevant messages are placed in the media and reach the right target audiences.

Why PR Matters

PR creates visibility, strengthens brand awareness, and builds trust. While traditional advertising is often perceived as one-sided, editorial media coverage carries significantly more credibility. Companies featured in trade, local, or national media benefit from the authority and reach of these platforms.

Strategies for Successful Media Presence

Getting into the media requires more than simply sending out a press release. Success depends on strategy, relevance, and consistency. The following steps are crucial:

  • Clear messaging: Define the core messages you want to communicate.
  • Audience orientation: Align PR activities with the interests of journalists and their readers.
  • Relevance & timeliness: Only newsworthy topics have a real chance of publication.
  • Professional media list: Strong relationships with relevant journalists and editors are key.

PR Tools to Increase Visibility

Companies and service providers have a range of PR tools at their disposal to boost their media presence:

  • Press releases: Concise, fact-based updates about company news or innovations.
  • Bylined articles & guest contributions: Expert knowledge that offers added value to readers.
  • Interviews & statements: Thought leadership through personal positioning of executives or specialists.
  • Events & press briefings: Direct engagement with media representatives.

Best Practices

To increase the chances of media coverage, companies should follow a few best practices:

  • Authenticity: Only genuine and credible messages resonate long-term.
  • Consistency: Ongoing PR is more effective than one-off actions.
  • Exclusivity: Exclusive content, data, or insights raise the likelihood of publication.
  • Relationship building: Strong, trust-based connections with journalists are invaluable.

Conclusion

PR is a cornerstone of business visibility. It not only increases reach but also strengthens credibility and builds trust among customers, investors, and the general public. Companies and service providers that approach PR strategically and offer genuine value to the media have the best chance of achieving lasting visibility across relevant channels.

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The Media & PR-Database 2025

Media & PR Database 2025

The media and PR database with 2025 with information on more than 20,000 newspaper, magazine and radio editorial offices and much more.

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