A Complete Guide to Public Relations for SaaS Companies (Part 2)

With the foundation in place—messaging, goals, and planning—the next step is activating your public relations efforts in ways that build awareness, generate credibility, and create momentum. This section walks through the practical steps of executing SaaS PR at every stage of growth.

 

Building Meaningful Media Relationships

Effective PR isn’t about blasting news to hundreds of contacts. It’s about engaging the right journalists, analysts, or creators with tailored, relevant stories over time.

Identifying the Right Contacts

Start by researching who covers your industry. Look beyond the biggest outlets and focus on those that consistently feature content aligned with your message. Ideal targets might include:

  • Niche trade publications

  • Industry newsletters

  • Independent bloggers or podcasters

  • Journalists who follow B2B, tech, SaaS, or enterprise topics

Build a shortlist organized by focus area. Use tools like media databases or just plain search and social listening to identify active voices.

Earning Trust Over Time

Relationships develop gradually. Reach out only when you have something valuable. A few tactics to start or strengthen media relationships:

  • Share a thoughtful comment on a journalist’s recent story

  • Offer useful background info without expecting coverage

  • Respond quickly and helpfully to media questions

  • Avoid overhyping your news—let the story speak for itself

Consistency and professionalism go a long way. A single positive interaction may open the door for future opportunities.

 

Crafting a Compelling Media Pitch

Journalists receive hundreds of emails a week. Yours needs to stand out by being brief, focused, and useful.

A Strong Pitch Includes:

  • A short, engaging subject line

  • A one-sentence hook explaining why the story matters now

  • A brief summary of the company, announcement, or insight

  • A reason it’s relevant to their beat or audience

  • A clear call to action (e.g., “Would you be open to a quick chat?”)

Personalization matters. If your pitch reads like a template, it likely won’t be read.

Also consider offering exclusives (a story under embargo), especially if targeting higher-tier outlets. Just ensure timelines and agreements are clear from the start.

 

Launching PR Campaigns

A campaign ties a theme or message to multiple channels, partners, and outputs. In SaaS, this could be a product launch, a new market entry, or a thought leadership push.

Campaign Elements Might Include:

  • A press release or media advisory

  • A thought leadership article or guest blog

  • Interview availability with company leads

  • Visual content like demo videos, infographics, or photos

  • Social content to echo the message

  • Internal briefings for team alignment

Set a schedule and assign responsibilities early. Make sure everyone involved—internal and external—has access to key messaging and knows the communication flow.

 

Using Thought Leadership to Support PR

While traditional media outreach focuses on announcements, thought leadership builds long-term reputation. It allows SaaS companies to speak on broader topics that matter to their industry or user base.

Potential Channels:

  • Contributed articles in trade publications

  • Panel participation at virtual or in-person events

  • Q&A interviews with company experts

  • Company blog posts linked to news moments

Strong thought leadership avoids promotion. It helps readers think better, work smarter, or see a new perspective. Build trust by offering real insights—not product pitches.

 

Turning Customers into Storytellers

In SaaS, customers are the best proof of impact. PR efforts should include campaigns that highlight these stories in ways that feel authentic and meaningful.

Key Considerations:

  • Ask for permission before sharing names or quotes

  • Frame stories around challenges and outcomes—not just features used

  • Offer different formats: case studies, testimonials, short video interviews, etc.

  • Let the customer’s voice lead, rather than editing it into a brand script

Customer stories often resonate more than product claims. They bring technical tools to life by focusing on results.

 

Repurposing Content for PR Reach

PR content doesn’t live in isolation. With a little creativity, each media placement or campaign asset can fuel other channels.

Examples:

  • Turn a press mention into a LinkedIn post with key insights

  • Adapt a contributed article into a blog post with a related internal example

  • Quote a media placement in an email to partners or prospects

  • Create short social clips from event appearances or panels

This repurposing strengthens your message and increases visibility without added cost or production time.

 

Tracking PR Performance in SaaS

PR can be hard to quantify—but in SaaS, it should tie back to broader marketing and growth goals.

Trackable Metrics Include:

  • Number of media mentions or articles secured

  • Quality and relevance of the publications or journalists involved

  • Backlinks earned to your website or product pages

  • Website traffic driven by media coverage

  • Search volume for branded keywords over time

  • Social engagement on PR-related posts

  • Referral traffic from featured links or press

Beyond numbers, listen to qualitative signals: Are prospects mentioning recent press? Are partners referencing blog content in meetings? Are candidates aware of company milestones?

PR often impacts perception before it impacts performance—and perception drives decisions.

 

Adjusting Strategy by Growth Stage

PR should evolve alongside the company. What’s relevant at one stage may not matter in the next.

Early-Stage:

  • Focus on clarity and credibility

  • Emphasize founder stories, product vision, and mission

  • Target niche or local publications

Growth-Stage:

  • Use PR to support hiring, expansion, or partnerships

  • Highlight customer traction and product development

  • Pitch to industry press and vertical-specific media

Later-Stage:

  • Focus on category leadership, innovation, and long-term vision

  • Engage analysts and enterprise-level thought leaders

  • Use PR to shape public, investor, and institutional perception

A flexible roadmap ensures your PR efforts grow with your platform and audience.

 

Final Thoughts: Sustaining Momentum in SaaS PR

SaaS public relations isn’t a one-time push—it’s an ongoing commitment to transparency, value, and connection. It supports more than visibility. It builds reputation, encourages trust, and helps guide both current and future users toward action.

Strong SaaS PR:

  • Starts with messaging that reflects real impact

  • Builds consistent relationships with media and market voices

  • Delivers insight, not just announcements

  • Involves customers, partners, and internal teams

  • Grows with the company—always rooted in audience needs

It’s not always about splashy headlines. It’s about telling the right story, to the right people, at the right moment—and making sure those stories reflect what the company truly stands for.

Go back to Part 1 to learn more on the fundamentals: what makes SaaS PR unique, what goals it serves, and how to lay the groundwork for lasting media and market relationships.

 

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