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Media Relations: COVID-19

Project Overview

In April 2020, Ditto was hired by over 10 companies to navigate communications during the global health crisis. Companies in Fintech, Education, Consumer/Consumer Tech, and Nonprofit sectors turned to Ditto to provide strategic counsel and elevate media presence amid a 24-hour COVID-19 newscycle.

Messaging Strategic Planning Media Relations

Our Approach

In a volatile newscycle dominated by public health, economic, and election stories, there were a handful of practical, smart ways companies could generate media coverage. Ditto’s challenge was presenting client value while navigating the sometimes daily, ever-changing needs of reporters. 

Ditto delved into these avenues to build timely and engaging content for the media.

Part 1

Genuine Value Proposition

Was the product/service actually helping people at that moment? At Ditto, we were seeing a lot of this in the edtech space. Additionally, many fintech companies had been providing customers financial relief and advice for years.

Part 2

Industry Point of View

Reporters wanted to know what this time meant for the industries they cover, so it was paramount to provide deep industry insight to help guide them into ‘future of’ stories.

Part 3

Company Data

Many clients reported seeing an uptick in new customers. Companies needed to leverage their data, not just to show that they were profitable, but to show value. Customers were finding their products useful during the chaotic times.

Part 4

Tips & Listicles

One company alone may not have been important enough to get coverage. How could they be a part of a larger story or listicle? A simple three point value proposition: “Three things you can do at home to save money.”

Part 5

Survey

Whether companies surveyed their own customers or did a quick survey on Survey Monkey, the media still wanted hard data and information. Ditto advised clients on media appropriate results-to ensure they weren’t self-serving by thinking about the pain points of potential customers first.

Part 6

Customer Stories

Reporters were still looking for human interest angles. Some of them could be directly about products/services: Ditto developed pitches from customer stories like “How this teacher has adapted to online education.” Another angle could be more holistic: “How this teacher organizes her day to teach class and stay in touch with peers.”

115

Client Mentions

50%

Tier 1 Media

74

Secured Media Opportunities

Results

Examples of mainstream coverage Ditto’s clients received during the COVID-19 pandemic: 

Zovio 

Associated Press: While other colleges struggle, for-profits hope for revival

TechCrunch: Using tech for good during COVID-19 

Fox Business: Online education companies surging currently: Zovio Inc. CEO

Forbes: Fraud, Survival, And Innovation: The Era Of Financial Crisis And COVID-19

Additional Interviews: Wall Street Journal, Inside Higher Ed, TechCrunch

Kensie

The Wall Street Journal: Startups Pitch Tech Hubs Far From Silicon Valley

Interviews: Business Insider and TechCrunch

Labster 

Business Insider: Higher ed system is turning to video game-esque lab simulators

TechCrunch: Labster’s latest partnership and the future of remote learning

Forbes: This Week In XR: Within Scores At The Buzzer

Op-Eds and Bylines

Argo Group in Digital Insurance: How Argo Group planned for COVID-19

Binance in Entrepreneur: 5 Ways to Grow Your Customer Base Organically

Celo in CoinDesk: Why This Global Crisis Is a Defining Moment for Stablecoins

Domio in Inc.com: Cleanliness is Key to the Future of Travel 

Zcoin in NASDAQ: Privacy in a Pandemic - Individual Rights versus the Greater Good

Open Road Alliance 

Chronicle of Philanthropy: What nonprofits need and how they should respond

Interviews: Philanthropy News Digest 

Springboard 

TechCrunch: How tech has been good during COVID-19 

TechRepublic: COVID-19: What to do if you're considering a job change

Interviews: Fortune, Financial Times, Fast Company, TechRepublic, Yahoo! Finance 

TraceSafe 

Fox News: The Story with Martha MacCallum - Interview about reopening America

Interviews: Bloomberg 

Net Result

Ditto’s clients have had over 115 mentions for 9 of our clients. Out of the 115 mentions, 56 of them were with tier 1 media and 41 of them were tier 2 media. Ditto has organized over 74 interviews for 14 of our clients. Out of the 74 interviews, 46 of them were with Tier 1 media.

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