We get this question all the time from clients and prospects: “How do we get national media attention?”
The hope makes sense; you have an exciting new product, over a million new followers, you’re doing life-changing work, and you want more people to know about it. The reality is: there’s a path to national visibility, and it starts closer to home.
At McKeeman, we help passionate restaurants, businesses, and organizations earn credibility and recognition by building their media strategy in layers, from local wins to national conversations. Here’s how we think about that journey and why rushing it rarely delivers long-term results.
Start Small, But Smart
We believe national recognition begins with local credibility. When you’re rooted in your own community’s trust, you’re far more likely to resonate with a broader audience.
That’s why we start where the story already matters like local newspapers, TV segments, community newsletters and podcasts, bloggers and influencers.
These early wins do more than feel good, they build authority, momentum, and a paper trail of earned trust. That’s what national outlets want to see before they take a story seriously.
Lead With Strategy, Not Hype
We’ve seen it too many times: a brand gets one feature and immediately tries to leap to the national stage, with no strategy, no storytelling, and no roadmap.
That’s why our first step with any new client is strategy. We spend the first 30–60 days:
- Understanding your business goals
- Aligning on the right audiences
- Identifying what’s newsworthy and where you fit in the media landscape
- Educating you on how PR works, especially the difference between earned media and paid media
This foundation ensures that every pitch and placement build toward something bigger.
Play the Long Game, Get Real Results
The best national stories? They don’t show up out of nowhere. They’re built over months of storytelling, relationship-building, and consistency.
When you approach PR as a long game, you position your brand to:
- Earn trust with reporters and audiences
- Create a buzz of visibility you can share across your own channels
- Grow from a best-kept secret to a recognized voice in your industry
That’s the kind of visibility that actually moves the needle.
Need help mapping your media strategy from local to national? We’d love to help you build the kind of visibility that supports your vision and doesn’t distract from it.