Got Media Coverage. Now What? The Sequel: Advanced Tactics for PR Sabotage

So, you read my first blog on how to completely fumble your media coverage, and you’re still here—bravo! You’re clearly committed to not leveraging your hard-earned press, and I admire the dedication. But, you know, basic mistakes aren’t enough. You want to master the art of PR sabotage, don’t you?

Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. In this sequel, we’ll dive even deeper into the advanced tactics for ensuring your media coverage never reaches its potential. Grab a seat, and let’s get to work on really tanking those opportunities.

1. Make It All About You

You got featured in the media because of your expertise, but you know what’s even better? Pretending your audience only cares about you and not what you can do for them. When you do share your coverage (if you dare), make sure it’s one long humblebrag with zero value to your readers. Forget tips, insights, or actionable advice—just make it a self-serving pat on the back. That’ll keep people hitting that “unfollow” button in no time.

2. Overthink Every Little Detail

Got a media feature? Now’s the perfect time to spiral into analysis paralysis! Spend weeks debating whether to post it at 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM. Stress about whether the wording in your LinkedIn caption sounds too “salesy.” Obsess over the fact that you only got featured for one part of your expertise instead of all the amazing things you know. In the meantime, your competitors will be out there actually doing stuff. But hey, at least you’ll have agonized over the details!

3. Wait Until the Buzz Dies Down

Timing is everything in PR, so why not wait until that article is old news before you share it? Give it a few weeks—maybe even a month or two. Let your feature simmer until it’s just lukewarm enough that no one cares anymore. When you finally do post about it, people will either have forgotten about you or assume the feature was from the before times. Either way, mission accomplished.

4. Turn Your Feature Into a Sales Pitch

If there’s one way to kill the goodwill of a media appearance, it’s to turn it into a hard sell immediately. Don’t bother engaging your audience with insightful takeaways from your media piece—just shove your products or services down their throats. “Hey, I was just featured in Forbes! Now, who wants to buy my 5-step program on how to not use media effectively?” That’s sure to keep people running… in the opposite direction.

5. Never Thank the Journalist

Journalists love when their sources ghost them, right? After all, they only spent hours interviewing you, crafting your quotes, and making you look good. So why bother sending a quick thank-you email or sharing their article? They’ll appreciate your radio silence—it’ll give them time to focus on your competitors who do acknowledge their work. Let’s hope you weren’t planning on getting featured again.

6. Let Your Media Kit Collect Dust

You know that snazzy media kit you paid good money for? The one that’s supposed to help you get more media coverage? Perfect! Now, tuck it away in a folder where no one will ever see it. Don’t bother updating it with your latest media features, and definitely don’t send it to potential collaborators or journalists. Who needs more coverage when you can let your past successes quietly die?

7. Assume One Feature is Enough

Congratulations, you’ve been featured once! Your PR journey is complete. Time to kick back, relax, and wait for the business to roll in. Sure, some people get consistent media coverage to stay top-of-mind with their audience, but you? You’re good. That one feature in 2019 is still relevant today, right? Who needs to hustle for more press when you’ve already peaked?

8. Ignore Social Proof

Here’s an advanced move: people love social proof. But instead of turning that media coverage into a trust signal, you should ignore it. Don’t include media logos in your website banner. Don’t bring up your media hits during client calls. And please don’t mention them in your sales proposals. Why would you want to use your media wins to build credibility and close deals? That would just be too... smart.

9. Burn Out Your Audience

On the flip side, you should spam your audience with every single feature, every single day. Got one interview? Post about it 14 times this week. Add it to every post, every email, and every conversation. Make sure it’s the only thing you talk about, ever. That way, your audience will get bored or unfollow you in record time. The goal here is clear: overwhelm them to the point of indifference.

10. Stay Humble to the Point of Obscurity

Sure, being humble is great. But let’s take it to the next level. Downplay your media coverage so hard that people forget it ever happened. When someone asks, “Hey, weren’t you just featured in The Washington Post?” respond with, “Oh, that was no big deal. Not even worth mentioning.” This level of humility is a chef’s kiss perfect for ensuring your PR win fades into the background, just like your brand.

You’ve Now Mastered the Art of PR Sabotage

Congratulations! If you follow these advanced tactics, you’ll not only avoid leveraging your media coverage, but you’ll also sabotage future opportunities with style. Your ability to downplay your accomplishments, ignore timing, and burn out your audience will ensure your brand stays blissfully unnoticed.

And if you ever change your mind and want to, I don’t know, actually use your media coverage to grow your brand, just know it’s never too late to stop dropping the ball… unless you’re committed to keeping it rolling downhill, of course.