Client Lists, And Why You Won’t Find One On Our Website
If you visit the website of any marketing, branding, public relations or communications firm, one of the pages invariably includes a list of clients or, in some instances, links to detailed case studies. This is true of large agencies and solo practitioners, and it is something you won’t find on our website. When talking to prospective clients, I introduce them to the Mass Ave Public Relations model: up-front, honest pricing designed for small and midsized businesses and non-profits. No...
Read MoreSigns Of The Times: 3 Quick Tips To Improve Your Biz Visibility
The “Now Leasing” sign in this photo is not attractive. It’s not artistic. It’s not clever. It’s just a huge sign plastered to the side of a big, Brutalist-style apartment building near Downtown Indianapolis. So, why do I think it’s great? Because it’s simple. It’s obvious. And it didn’t used to be there. (The building, an affordable housing project a few blocks from the Mass Ave PR office, never bothered to let passers-by know they could...
Read MoreTrusted Mentors’ “Bags2Riches” Gala Showcases Style, Community Outreach
A special thanks to Trusted Mentors for inviting us to be involved in this year’s Bags2Riches Gala last night. If you’re not familiar with the organization or event, please check out the great work they’re doing in our community to prevent homelessness. We also want to thank FOX59 morning show anchor Ray Cortopassi for emceeing the event and making sure everyone had a great...
Read MoreAnnouncing the 2012 Indiana Kids’ Election
We were delighted to help out the Indiana State Bar Association with a new website for the 2012 Indiana Kids’ Election, an excellent educational program that engages Hoosier youth in the voting process during presidential election years. Voting is occasionally done by inspiration but is more often done by habit. Some students acquire this ability from their parents, but many do not. The Indiana State Bar Association is proud to once again partner with the Indiana Secretary of State and...
Read MoreSocial Media: Separate Your Personal Opinions, Professional Brand
I was watching Twitter and Facebook updates roll in from the Republican National Convention last night when I noticed something strange: a local home builder tweeting and retweeting partisan material from the company account. At first, I thought it might be a mistake — an employee who thought he or she was signed in with a personal account but was using the business account instead. When the updates rolled in for more than an hour, I figured it was no accident. This often happens when...
Read MoreFriday Fun: Honest Pricing In Public Relations? So Easy Even A Baby Can Understand!
Three months after launching the only honestly priced PR and publicity menu of services in the market, we still have clients who ask us whether there’s a “catch” to the model. There isn’t. In fact, our up-front fee schedule is designed because far too many agencies tack on hidden costs or set their prices based on how much they think you can pay, not their actual investment of time. We want our clients to know our rates before they walk in the door so we can focus on...
Read MoreYou Practice Public Relations And Publicity: What’s The Difference?
Clients and prospective clients often ask us about our tagline, “Honest Pricing in PR and Publicity.” After I explain our popular no-haggle fee model, they tend to ask: “So, why is publicity cheaper on your menu of services than public relations?” Aren’t they really the same thing? Give me two minutes of your time, and I’ll explain. A prospective client recently came to us to find out if we could promote an upcoming series of events. Branding and messaging...
Read MoreBusiness Insider: “Dear Jobseeker: Here’s Why I Can’t Hire You”
Business Insider posted an excellent piece last week about the trend away from permanent, full-time employees toward contract employment. It’s a must-read for small business owners considering the risk and costs of growing, especially in our sluggish economy. As a founding principal of a public relations “micro-agency” — with an honest pricing model specifically designed to help small and mid-sized businesses and non-profits — here are the two paragraphs that...
Read MoreSalon: “Every city needs a brand”
Whether you’re from Indianapolis or not, you won’t want to miss this Salon story on branding a city. When you think of Indianapolis, what springs to mind? Besides the annual Indianapolis 500 race. Take a minute to sum up the essence, the unique identity, of the Midwest’s second-largest city. It’s hard to do — not because Indianapolis doesn’t have a unique identity, but because if you don’t live in or around it, you probably have no idea what it is. There are lots of cities...
Read MoreYou’re Probably Paying Too Much To Get Your Message Out
Our new collateral pieces arrived today, and we’ll be hitting the street this week to make sure Indianapolis businesses and non-profits know there’s an honest pricing alternative to the traditional agency fee game. See, not only do we recommend neighborhood marketing services for our clients, but we practice what we preach. Check it...
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