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No One’s Talking About Your Brand? 5 PR Truths Indian Founders Need to Hear

The Silence is Deafening: Why Your Brand’s Not Making Noise

As of July 15, 2025, India’s startup ecosystem boasts over 120,000 startups and 125 unicorns, creating 1.4 million jobs (Statista, 2024). Yet, for many founders, the reality is grim: 70% of media pitches go unanswered (Pesti.io, 2023). In a $2.68 trillion media and entertainment (M&E) sector growing at 7.2% (EY, 2024), standing out is tougher than ever. Atom Communication, a digital marketing observer, notes, “Indian founders often chase media without strategy, wasting time and money.” This blog busts five PR myths around media, founder profiles, and content, offering hard-hitting truths and solutions to get your brand noticed in 2025. Book a Visibility Breakthrough Session to amplify your story.

The Problem: A Bengaluru Startup’s PR Flop

A hypothetical Bengaluru-based SaaS startup, launched in 2024, faced a PR dead-end despite a $1M seed round:

  • Generic Pitches: Press releases were ignored, lost in 10,000+ stories published by outlets like Inc42.
  • Founder Invisibility: The CEO avoided media, fearing exposure, missing 80% of coverage tied to founder stories (Leapfrog, 2023).
  • Content Missteps: Blog posts lacked data, failing to engage 67% of journalists who demand metrics (Pesti.io, 2023).
  • No Relationships: Cold emails to journalists yielded zero responses.

With 79% of Indian marketers prioritizing brand awareness (Cognism, 2025), this startup needed to rethink its PR approach.

5 PR Truths Indian Founders Need to Hear

Truth 1: Media Doesn’t Care About Your Product—They Want a Story

Myth: “My product’s features will get me coverage.”
Reality: Journalists prioritize narratives over specs. 67% prefer founder journeys or customer impact.
Solution: Craft a human-centric story. Example: Zomato’s coverage soared by highlighting Deepinder Goyal’s hustle, not just food delivery (YourStory, 2024). Pitch how your startup solves real problems, e.g., “Our SaaS cut costs for 1,000 SMBs by 20%” (hypothetical).
Tip: Use emotional hooks—stories with empathy boost engagement by 30% (EY, 2024).

Truth 2: Founder Profiles Are Your Secret Weapon

Myth: “I’ll stay behind the scenes; my product speaks for itself.”
Reality: 80% of media coverage hinges on founder credibility. Indian journalists love authentic founder stories, especially in a market where 60% of consumers trust brands with relatable leaders (Statista, 2024).
Solution: Share your journey. Example: Ola’s Bhavish Aggarwal’s personal outreach landed 50+ media mentions during its launch. Build a LinkedIn presence with thought leadership posts—80% of decision-makers engage with such content.
 Tip: Highlight challenges overcome, e.g., “From a small town to a $1M startup” (hypothetical).

Truth 3: Content Without Data Is Invisible

Myth: “Generic blogs or press releases will get attention.”
Reality: 80% of journalists require data-backed claims. Without metrics, your content blends into India’s 900M internet user noise.
Solution: Pack content with stats. Example: Byju’s early pitches included user growth metrics, securing TechCrunch features (YourStory, 2024). Share numbers like “Our app boosted retention by 25% for 5,000 users” (hypothetical). Use tools like Google Analytics for insights—75% of PR pros rely on analytics.
 Tip: Include visuals like infographics for 40% higher engagement.

Truth 4: Relationships Trump Cold Pitches

Myth: “I can just email journalists and get coverage.”
Reality: 80% of journalists favor pitches from known contacts. Cold emails drown in India’s crowded media landscape, where 15,000+ stories compete monthly (Inc42, 2024).
Solution: Build ties early. Engage journalists on LinkedIn or at events like TechSparks—Ola Cabs’ relationship-building led to 40% more coverage. Use platforms like HARO to connect with reporters (ScoreIndia, 2025).
 Tip: Personalize pitches with journalist names and recent article references for 50% higher response rates (Pesti.io, 2023).

Truth 5: PR Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Myth: “One press release will make my brand famous.”
Reality: Consistency drives 60% more brand recall. One-off efforts fade, but 10-15 pieces of coverage over months build trust (Blue Buzz, 2025).
 Solution: Plan a six-month PR strategy. Example: Airbnb’s consistent media outreach in India, highlighting host stories, fueled 30% user growth (MediagraphicsPR, 2025). Mix earned media (press), owned media (blogs), and shared media (social posts) for impact.
 Tip: Use tools like Brandwatch to track mentions—75% of PR pros say monitoring is key.

Case Study: Turning Silence Into Buzz

The Bengaluru SaaS startup pivoted its PR approach:

  • Story Focus: Pitched “How our SaaS saved 1,000 SMBs from bankruptcy” (hypothetical), landing.
  • Founder Visibility: The CEO shared their journey on LinkedIn, gaining 10,000 followers and a YourStory feature (hypothetical).
  • Data-Driven Content: Blogs with metrics like “20% cost savings for users” boosted 50% engagement (hypothetical).
  • Media Relationships: Connected with journalists at Nasscom events, securing five media mentions in three months (hypothetical).
  • Consistent Effort: Monthly pitches and blogs led to 100,000 website visits and 5,000 new leads (hypothetical).

Result: 30% brand awareness growth in six months, proving strategic PR works.

Why It Matters in 2025

India’s 850 million internet users and 30% M&E revenue from digital media (EY, 2024) make PR critical for startups. 92% of C-suite leaders value PR for business outcomes. Busting myths—focusing on stories, leveraging founder profiles, using data, building relationships, and staying consistent—turns silence into buzz. Atom Communication Visibility Breakthrough Session helps founders craft a winning PR plan—book it to get your brand heard.