Melissa A Vitale PR
  • Home
  • Services
    • Become A Client
    • Consulting
  • Case Studies
    • Luxury SexTech
    • Luxe Cannabis
    • LGBTQ lifestyle
    • Accessible PleasureTech
  • About
    • Our Process >
      • Our Difference
    • For Press
    • SHOP
  • Blog

oh! For F*CK's sake 

​A [MOSTLY-GRAMMATICALLY-CORRECT]
PUBLICIST'S BLOG


So you’d like to pay your publicist with Equity?

4/20/2019

0 Comments

 
​Will my publicist accept equity? 
By Melissa A Vitale 

​
I have been running my public relations agency for a little more than two years, and for a few years before that I worked at a public relations firm led by my mentor, Jim Dowd, a veteran of more than 20 years in media. Like Jim’s agency, mine specializes in helping startups garner top- tier media coverage. Also like Jim’s, my firm offers lower prices than most major public relations firms because I have lower overhead. I learned how to run my business from Jim and, in turn, I have built a successful agency that has received accolades from journalists, editors, clients, and colleagues.
 
Also, like Jim’s agency, I do not accept equity in place of monthly retainers, the answer to a question that entrepreneurs often ask me. I still write proposals for those people, wanting to treat everyone equitably, but I know they likely cannot afford my services. I see the request for what it is: startups seeking a free campaign in the hope that their company will succeed and eventually make more than enough money to repay me for my hard work.
 
A proper PR campaign can often launch in less than three weeks, but it could take years for a startup to match that momentum. I could only accept equity if I knew I could depend on near-immediate Return of Investment, but, as I’ve seen, most startups can take years to reach that point. I have a proven track record, which is why many startups want to work with me, but if I were to accept equity, rather than cash, basically I would be paying vendors and my employees with promises. I could work four to five months without pay, and a startup would have free access to a New York agency. If the startup were to fail, how would I recoup that lost revenue? If I could afford to work gratis, I would gladly volunteer at a charitable nonprofit.
 
Many of these same founders would never accept such a lopsided business proposal:  professional services in exchange for an IOU. Since starting my business, I have had about 20 startups ask if I would take equity instead of cash. Of those, I thought of accepting the offer from only one, and only after receiving regular monthly retainers for nearly two years, after which I knew it was a viable startup, making an equity swap a safe option.

Many business owners and independent contractors have heard the story of the washed-up Shark Tank competitor who couldn't get an investment in his new company, because when he was back in law school, he was offered equity on a company to which he turned down. The company went on to become Under Armor. I've been given this example from startups to encourage me to accept equity. The first thing I point out: The project that Under Armor offered equity for was short term, not a full-scale involvement that would last 5-12 months and over 100 hours of sweat equity. 

If there's a short term project of under 6 weeks--not committing my company to investing months of unpaid labor-- and  if you can show me the documentation that your brand will be the next Under Armor, maybe we can talk. But most PR services that I provide are a minimum of 5 months time. 
 
Unfortunately for those startups hoping that I take nothing but equity, I cannot work for free. If you can show me a good return within 18 months, then maybe we can discuss that alternative, but if not, my business, like most every other business, runs on capital.
 
If you are looking for a publicist who accepts equity, I suggest hiring a university student who does not yet have business vendors with monthly fees or contractors to pay. If you need a successful sniper publicist, please peruse our site and schedule a consultation.

If you'd like to have MAVPR work for equity, investor proposals can be sent to info@melissaavitale.com. We can only maintain one equity a client per year so these spots are hyper limited and submissions will be considered as a potential investment. 
To learn more about what we do, visit: ​https://www.melissaavitale.com/about.html
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Melissa A Vitale Public Relations

    A public relations agency specializing in brands and startups in artificial intelligence, sexual wellness and legal cannabis. 

    Archives

    August 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018

    Categories

    All
    About MAVPR
    Crypto + Fintech PR
    Entrepreneurship
    Executive PR
    For Journalists + Editors
    Legal Cannabis PR
    MAVPR Guides
    MAVPR Reading List
    PR FAQs
    Public Relations
    Resources For Business Owners
    Sexual Wellness PR
    Vice Industry

Home

About

Blog

  • Home
  • Services
    • Become A Client
    • Consulting
  • Case Studies
    • Luxury SexTech
    • Luxe Cannabis
    • LGBTQ lifestyle
    • Accessible PleasureTech
  • About
    • Our Process >
      • Our Difference
    • For Press
    • SHOP
  • Blog