The year 2020 will be marked as a period when the world is pushed towards a more insulated environment. From the inception of COVID-19, through political unrest and division, the whole experience has been overwhelming for brands, policies and consumers alike. We have seen some of the most jolting transformations in industries from all over the world – and in daily lifestyles right at home. The world has shifted towards digitalization to adopt the norms of remote working and social distancing.
No one has been spared in the change and upheaval, which has also lent to more connection points and common ground. This has evolved the PR landscape, addressing the change, Matt Kovacs, President of Blaze PR asserts, “I would say we increased our ‘empathy’ focus and checked in more with media to see how they were doing.” The industry as a whole has become more vigilant to ensure the relationships are maintained on a more personal level in a “we’re in this together” approach. Founded in 1990, Blaze PR is a leading PR firm that offers public relations services to various leading brands.
Building Trust In the Market
Based in Santa Monica, the company is a trusting partner for brands that are in the quest to stand out in the market. With more than 30 years of experience, Blaze BR has been managing national and regional PR. In 2004, the agency was acquired by Davies Public Affairs and expanded to Santa Barbara and Washington DC.
Over the years, the company has excelled in providing meaty, creative, and on-point strategies to its clients. Blaze PR is proud of its unique and creative strategies because their ideas are developed with a thoughtful process keeping the client’s best interests in minds.
A Unique Habitat
The company has a unique habitat where veterans and the millennials work together to bring out the best from every project. The sheer credit goes to veteran practitioners who have developed numerous practices to stay ahead of the trends. Utilizing the vast experience and success of the past projects, the company understands what works in the market as they have done it all before, failed, prevailed, and understand the difference.
Blaze also understands the evolving needs of the market and customers. In the chaotic news cycle of 2020, Blaze has evolved into conceptualizing more weighty campaigns that tap strategic brand partnerships and help clients harness the power of cross-promotion for awareness.
Reinventing With New Practices
While providing its unique services to the clients, Blaze PR faced several challenges along the way. With the constant energy and support of dedicated employees and reinventing itself with new practices, the company has gradually overcome those challenges. It has also apdapted a time management technique amongst the employees to make certain that they can balance their work/life scenarios. To maintain the connections between the employees, the company has made it a point to conduct zoom calls twice a week to check in personally with colleagues.
Since the pandemic, Blaze PR has stayed on a trajectory of growth. It has worked on a personal level due to the pandemic on influencing and creating more awareness in the public. It has also created new opportunities for the teammates to engage via zoom calls, texts, virtual social events. Even during the hard times, the team made sure that they are available for clients’ needs.
Vigilantly Leading
The President of Blaze PR, Matt has worked in PR and marketing in his entire career from big brands to start-ups to agencies. His primary focus is client strategy, team management, and business development. Matt leads by example, earns respect (vs. demands) and has no ego. He is willing to gut it out in the “pitching trenches” for the sake of the client and celebrates staff members who can take charge and better and approach.
Matt has an irreplaceable quality setting him aside from other leaders—he stays on lead with his clients and deals with them with utmost patience and respect. His humble nature helps in understanding the clients’ demands. “We all stay scrappy to get the job done to win,” says Matt.
Welcoming Newer Platforms
This year has set an entirely new standard for he PR industry. Blaze PR engages new consumers by exploring localized activations, cross-promoting opportunities, and driving content awareness objectives which are more than brand plugs.
The company understands that there is the need for the new platforms beyond the traditional and the media influencer realms which will help in realigning the clients’ expectations. “There is no longer that ‘magic bullet’ hit. Now is the time to generate mass awareness by a ‘thousand cuts’ approach,” adds Matt.
Blaze is embracing the new normal and seeking emerging opportunities for the sake of the client.
