5WPR vs M Booth: Which PR Style Works Best for Tech Startups?
If you’re running a tech startup, picking between 5WPR and M Booth is like choosing between a race car and a reliable sedan. Both agencies know how to handle tech companies, but they go about it in totally different ways. 5WPR is all about making noise. They want your startup to be the talk of the town tomorrow. M Booth takes the slow and steady route. They’re thinking about where your company will be in two years, not two weeks. Here’s the thing though. Most founders I talk to aren’t sure which approach works better. And honestly? It depends on what you need right now. 5WPR’s Style: Go Big or Go Home for Tech Companies 5WPR doesn’t do subtle things. When they take on a client, they’re looking for ways to shake things up. Their whole thing is getting people to notice you fast. For startups, this means: Going after the biggest media outlets first Creating stories that get people talking Moving quickly when something works Not being afraid to stir the pot a little I’ve seen this agency work with companies that needed to make a splash. Sometimes it’s incredible. A startup goes from nobody knowing about them to being featured in major publications within weeks. But here’s the catch. Their approach can blow up in your face if you’re not careful. The same tactics that get startups noticed can also create headaches. 5WPR knows this. They’re pretty upfront about it. If you’re a startup that needs to play it safe, they’ll probably tell you to look somewhere else. Also read: APCO Worldwide vs FGS Global: Who Gets Digital Storytelling? M Booth’s Method: Building Your Tech Brand Step by Step M Booth is the opposite of 5WPR. Where 5WPR wants to make headlines tomorrow, M Booth is thinking about building something that lasts. Their approach with clients looks like this: Lots of research before they do anything Careful planning that connects PR with your other marketing Testing messages before they go public Building relationships with journalists over time For startups, working with M Booth means being patient. You’re not going to wake up to a viral story about your company next week. But the coverage you do get tends to stick around longer. M Booth is really good at helping companies become the go-to experts in their space. This works great for B2B tech startups that need to prove they know what they’re talking about. The downside? M Booth can feel slow. Especially if you’re a tech entrepreneur who needs quick wins to keep investors interested. What Does Your Tech Startup Need? Before you choose between two agencies, you need to figure out what your tech startup is trying to accomplish with PR. Some of these companies need to get noticed fast to attract investors. Others need to slowly build trust with big corporate customers. Some need to be really careful about what they say because they’re in regulated industries. This agency usually works better for startups that: Have something clearly different about them Can handle some controversy or pushback Need people to know about them quickly Have enough money to fund aggressive campaigns M Booth tends to work better for tech companies that: Are in industries with lots of regulations Need to sell to big companies that take forever to make decisions Have complicated products that need explaining Want to be seen as the smart choice over time The Money Question: What Tech Startups Should Expect to Pay Let’s talk about cost, because that’s usually what decides things for startups. Both agencies work with startups, but they charge differently. 5WPR often works on specific campaigns, while M Booth usually wants you to commit to working together for months. 5WPR’s campaigns can get results fast, but you also need to budget for media spending to make the most of their work. M Booth’s approach requires paying them consistently over time. For startups without much money, this creates a tough choice. Do you spend big on a short campaign with 5WPR, or commit to paying M Booth for months? It depends on your funding situation. Tech companies getting ready to raise money might benefit from 5WPR’s ability to create buzz quickly. More established tech startups might prefer M Booth’s steady approach. Founders’ Personal Branding: Two Different Approaches Here’s something interesting that most people don’t think about. These two agencies handle founders’ personal branding in completely different ways. 5WPR loves to make founders into personalities. They want your CEO to be the face of the company, getting quoted in articles, appearing on podcasts, and maybe even starting some friendly industry feuds. For startups, this can work incredibly well. Think about how Elon Musk’s personal brand helped Tesla, or how Gary Vaynerchuk built his wine business through personal branding. M Booth takes a more measured approach to founder branding. They focus on building thought leadership slowly. Instead of making your founder a celebrity, they want to make them a trusted expert. This means writing detailed industry reports, speaking at conferences, and building a reputation over time. Both approaches have their place. 5WPR’s approach can get your founder noticed quickly, but it also puts them at risk if they say something controversial. M Booth’s approach builds more sustainable personal brands, but it takes longer to see results. The choice often depends on your founder’s personality. Some people are natural self-promoters who can handle the spotlight. Others prefer to let their work speak for itself. Global vs Local Reach: Where Do You Want to Be Known? Another big difference between these two agencies is how they think about geographic reach. 5WPR tends to focus on making a big splash in major markets. They want to get you covered in national publications, major blogs, and influential podcasts. For startups, this often means targeting places like Silicon Valley, New York, and other major tech hubs. M Booth takes a more strategic approach to geographic expansion. They think about where your customers actually are and build
5WPR vs M Booth: Which PR Style Works Best for Tech Startups? Read More »