B2B PR Isn’t About Press Releases — It’s About Winning Everyone Over
B2B PR Isn’t About Press Releases — It’s About Winning Everyone Over
I’ve never labeled myself a PR professional.
Yes, I work in marketing and communications, and PR has always been in the mix. But it’s never been a separate hat I wore proudly. And yet, somehow, PR has always been quietly running the show behind the scenes.
Over the years, I’ve led PR teams, handled B2B media campaigns, supported non-B2B projects, and even formally studied the discipline. PR wasn’t a solo function — it was part of a bigger system of business and communication strategy.
Recently, I revisited B2B PR, especially media planning. Not PR in the abstract, but media as a channel within a B2B strategy.
Here’s the crucial mindset: B2B PR isn’t just about getting published. It’s about creating value for all parties involved — the brand, the media partner, and the audience.
I call it the 3WIN Approach.
WIN #1: Value for You (Brand or Expert)
Media exposure should serve actual business goals, like:
Building trust and credibility
Strengthening professional or corporate status
Shortening decision cycles for partnerships and sales
Reinforcing market positioning
Creating a long-term digital footprint
PR is not instant lead generation. It’s a long-term strategic asset, like fine wine or carefully curated LinkedIn content.
WIN #2: Value for the Partner or Media Platform
Media outlets and industry platforms aren’t charity organizations. They have their own agendas and audiences.
For a partnership to work, the platform should clearly see:
How your expertise adds value to their content
What their audience gains from featuring you
Why collaborating benefits them too
If the benefit only flows one way, don’t be surprised if your pitch disappears into the void.
WIN #3: Value for the Audience
Ultimately, media serves the audience. That means stories need relevance, insight, and practical takeaways — not a glorified ad for your company.
Too often, B2B media fails because content is written as self-promotion instead of value delivery.
What B2B PR Actually Does
PR doesn’t sell directly. It works on a higher level:
Reducing trust barriers
Strengthening perceived expertise
Increasing brand value in decision-makers’ eyes
Before deciding on a B2B purchase, people typically:
Ask for recommendations
Check media mentions
Look up brands and experts online
Media presence influences all three steps.
A Practical 3-Question Framework
Before any PR or media move, I ask:
What do I gain?
What does the partner gain?
What does the audience gain?
If any answer is unclear, the initiative probably won’t work.
From this approach comes some practical principles:
Always think from the other side’s perspective
Don’t sell yourself directly — sell value and context
Treat PR as part of the funnel, not a standalone effort
Focus on benefit over sheer reach
Combine media, partnerships, and content into one coherent system
Strong B2B PR isn’t about budgets or ego — it’s about logic.
WIN — WIN — WIN.
