Rick Magennis is the owner of Spark, an affiliate management agency focused on Performance PR and creating high-performing affiliate marketing campaigns for their clients. Rick reveals how to make every PR mention count — by linking it directly to sales. From getting featured in gift guides to scaling affiliate-driven campaigns, this episode is packed with ideas you can put into action right away. Dive in: [03:58] "Performance PR Agency Acquisition" [07:50] Affiliate Marketing for Product Reviews [11:50] Affiliate-Driven PR Boosts Revenue [14:24] "Building Trust Through Numbers" [17:34] Editorial Pitching: Surprises and Strategies [20:59] Agency Benefits for Brand Growth [25:02] Insider Tips from Rick! Make Your PR Work Harder with Performance PR Traditional PR builds awareness but rarely proves ROI. Performance PR changes that by tying media placements to affiliate links, so you only pay when sales happen. It blends PR visibility with affiliate measurability, giving eCommerce brands clear data on what drives conversions. This means every placement can be tracked, optimized, and scaled. For brands tired of “vanity metrics,” Performance PR is a smarter way to turn exposure into profit. Relationships Are the Real Currency Success in Performance PR depends on strong relationships with editors and media outlets. Journalists get hundreds of pitches daily, so connection and trust matter more than clever outreach. Agencies with existing relationships can fast-track your brand into top-tier features and gift guides. It’s not about sending mass emails—it’s about consistent, personal communication. eCommerce brands that invest in relationship-driven PR partners will see better placements and faster traction. Think Long-Term—This Strategy Takes Time Performance PR isn’t a quick win. It can take six to twelve months before results start showing, because journalists work on long lead times and organic placements build gradually. But once it clicks, the benefits compound—those articles keep driving sales and SEO value long after they’re published. eCommerce owners should start early, especially if they want strong visibility by the next holiday season. Treat it like a slow-build channel with big long-term payoff, not an overnight campaign. Takeaways: Performance PR is changing the game—it's all about building real relationships with editors, not just cold emails and AI shortcuts. Value the human touch if you want your brand to stand out and succeed. There’s power in patience: successful affiliate-PR mashups take 6-12 months to really pay off. True cultural shifts in marketing happen when you invest long-term, not just chase quick wins! The secret sauce for customer acquisition today? Combine affiliate tech with good old-fashioned trust. Brands and editors win when you foster genuine collaborations, not just transactions. Traditional PR isn’t dead—it’s just evolved. Affiliate links now mean you can actually see ROI, turning every feature, gift guide, or listicle into measurable impact. Culture meets commerce. Ready to test new ideas? Start performance PR now, but plan to play the long game. Change comes to those who nurture relationships, keep showing up, and bring fresh stories to the table. Find the notes here: https://keepopt.com/284 Take the Launch Growth Diagnostic here: https://keepopt.com/launch **** Get all the links and resources we mention & join our email list at https://keepopt.com Love the show? Chloe would love your feedback - leave a review here: https://keepopt.com/review or reply to the episode Q&A on Spotify. Interested in being a Sponsor? go here: https://keepopt.com/sponsor Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
