The Top 5 Mistakes Founders Make When Going Public With News

“You only get one shot at a first impression—so why wing it?”

Fundraise closed. Product launched. Expansion secured. These are big moments.

But here’s the problem: most founders treat PR like a mic drop instead of a message strategy.

They throw together a press release, blast it out, tag some media, maybe post on LinkedIn. Then silence.

No press pickup. No interviews. Just a few polite claps.

Here’s why that happens—and how to fix it.

1. No Real Message. Just Updates.

Saying “we raised money” is not a message. It’s an event. What’s the story? What does this mean to your customers, your market, your investors?

If your headline is “We Did a Thing,” don’t be surprised when nobody clicks.

2. Too Many Messages, No Focus

Trying to say five things in one press release? Congrats—you’ve now said nothing.

Founders often fall into the “let’s squeeze it all in” trap. Investors, traction, product launch, hiring goals, future plans, vision, backstory…

Pick one message. Own it.

As we like to say: If it doesn’t fit inside one Venn diagram, it won’t land.

(Yes, I actually use a venn diagram.)

3. They Forget the “Why Now”

Journalists aren’t here to do your brand marketing. They’re asking:

• Why now?

• Why is this relevant to their readers today?

• What broader trend does this tap into?

If you can’t connect your story to a market trend, policy shift, macro theme, or competitor move, you’re just adding noise to a loud room.

4. The Quote Is a Snooze

“We’re thrilled to announce…” No one talks like this. So why does every quote read like a robot in a suit?

Great comms comes from voice. Your founder doesn’t need to be poetic—but they do need to sound human.

A good quote is a mini-message. A great one becomes a headline.

5. They Confuse Channels with Strategy

Posting your press release on LinkedIn isn’t distribution. Sending it to 100 journalists with zero context isn’t outreach.

You need a proper media brief:

• Who’s the one outlet you’re targeting first?

• What’s your dream headline?

• Who are you really trying to reach—founders, regulators, future hires, customers?

PR is a campaign. Not a send button.

💡 Use this Framework: Dissecting the Message Venn Diagram

I've built a Venn diagram that guides every announcement. Jackpot is where three circles overlap:

1. What matters to you (why this moment is important to your company)

2. What matters to your audience (what tension, opportunity, or benefit they care about)

3. What’s relevant right now (timing, macro trends, external context)

If your story doesn’t sit in that overlap, it won’t travel.

🧠 Before You Launch Your Next PR Campaign, Ask:

• Is this newsworthy—or just new to us?

• Can I explain the message in one line—without conjunctions?

• What bigger story does this fit into?

• Would I read this if it wasn’t my company?

• What’s our non-negotiable outcome from this campaign?

If you can’t answer these with brutal clarity, it’s not ready yet.

🎯 Final Thought

PR isn’t about shouting. It’s about striking the right chord.

It’s about finding your message within the market’s noise—then delivering it in a way that sticks.

So next time you're ready to go loud, pause. Pull out my venn diagram. Tighten the message. Choose one outlet. Then hit send.

And this time, it’ll land.

🚀 The Algorithm Doesn’t Care, But I Do

So—what’s your take?

I want to hear the messy, the smart, the contrarian. Drop a thought. Challenge an idea. Share a story.

Let’s make the comments section more interesting than the post.

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