Most founders delay PR because they assume it’s something you only do after you raise money, hit milestones, or “become big enough.” In reality, the companies that win attention are not the ones with the best tech. They are the ones that understand timing, narrative, and credibility early.
Starting PR with zero experience is completely normal. Most Web3, fintech, and tech founders only think about PR during fundraising or a crisis. At BlockPR, the majority of clients who come to us have never done PR before. This means the problem is not lack of experience. It is lack of structure.
If you treat PR like growth. measurable. sequential. consistent. it becomes one of the highest-leverage tools to build investor trust and differentiate your product from the noise.
Below is the clearest starting roadmap you can follow.
1. Shift your mindset. PR is not exposure. PR is proof.
When founders say “I need PR,” they often mean “I need people to hear about me.”
That’s not PR. That’s advertising.
Real PR is about credibility, not volume.
You earn trust by showing proof. not by broadcasting claims.
This distinction matters because it determines how you plan your entire communications strategy.
Exposure creates awareness.
Credibility creates momentum.
Investors, users, and partners act based on credibility.
That’s why Tier-1 media still matters.
It signals that your story has been validated by an independent third party with standards.
This is the foundation. Everything else builds on it.
2. Get clear on why you are doing PR before you do anything else
There are only four legitimate reasons for a startup to start PR early.
You want investor trust before fundraising.
Investors search your name on Google. If they see inconsistency, outdated information, or no presence at all, your pitch loses power immediately.You want to stand out in a competitive market.
Every founder in Web3 and tech claims innovation. Few have proof. A credible media footprint differentiates you on sight.You want to control the narrative before the market defines it for you.
If you don’t shape your first impression, someone else will.You want to build long-term authority.
Authority compounds. The earlier you start, the stronger your foundation becomes.
If your reason doesn’t fall into one of these categories, PR efforts will feel random and inefficient. This is why many startups “try PR” and see no results. They didn’t clarify what outcome PR is supposed to create.
3. Start with proof. Not storytelling.
Most founders start PR by writing a press release or trying to pitch journalists.
This is backward.
Journalists don’t care about your features or your roadmap.
They care about evidence that your company is doing something real.
Proof includes:
• measurable traction
• investors backing you
• strategic partnerships
• product launches that solve a defined problem
• compliance milestones
• technical breakthroughs
• founder credibility
• roadmap execution
If your proof is weak, your story won’t land.
If your proof is strong, the story almost writes itself.
This applies across Web3, fintech, SaaS, or any tech category.
Credibility is universal.
4. Build your narrative using the Founder’s Triangle
A useful mental model: The Founder’s Triangle
Three elements anchor every credible PR story.
What problem you’re solving
Not the features. The economic or behavioral pain you’re eliminating.Why your solution is structurally different
Not “better” or “faster,” but meaningfully differentiated.
For Web3, this could be architecture. security assumptions. actual utility.
For fintech, it could be compliance. partnerships. licenses.Why you are the right people to build it
The founder’s credibility is often more persuasive than the product’s.
This triangle helps you avoid vague marketing language and focus on the angles investors and journalists care about.
5. Pick a format. You only need one type of PR asset to begin
When you have never done PR, keep it simple.
Start with exactly one of these:
Option 1: A Press Release
Best for announcing something concrete. launch. partnership. funding. expansion.
It creates an immediate footprint and improves your “Google test” with Tier-1 or Tier-2 coverage.
Option 2: A Founder Feature
Best when your product is complex or early-stage.
The story becomes about vision, values, and trajectory.
This works extremely well for Web3 and deep-tech founders.
Option 3: An Investor Credibility Pack
A curated set of placements specifically designed to strengthen your fundraising narrative.
This is one of BlockPR’s most requested formats. It builds investor confidence quickly.
You don’t need a multi-month retainer.
You just need one sharp, proof-driven asset that anchors your public image.
6. Avoid the rookie mistakes that kill 90 percent of early PR
Most first-time founders repeat the same preventable mistakes.
Mistake 1: Thinking PR is a one-time announcement
PR is not a single moment. It is a sequence.
A new founder should aim for one visible proof point every 30 to 60 days.
Mistake 2: Over-focusing on hype
Buzzwords destroy credibility.
Media values clarity. not exaggeration.
Mistake 3: Hiring agencies that don’t understand your market
A generalist agency cannot execute crypto or fintech PR.
They don’t know the narratives.
They don’t know the compliance sensitivities.
They don’t know the investors.
They don’t know the media.
The result is noise. not proof.
BlockPR is built specifically for Web3, fintech, and tech founders.
Our workflows are optimized for markets where trust is everything.
7. Build your PR system using the “3-Layer Credibility Stack”
This is the simplest framework for early-stage founders.
Layer 1: Owned Credibility
Your website. Twitter. LinkedIn. Documentation.
Clean. consistent. factual.
Layer 2: Earned Credibility
Media coverage. founder interviews. analyst commentary.
Independent validation.
Layer 3: Search Credibility
What appears when people Google your brand.
This is where most founders fail.
A mismatch between brand quality and search results instantly weakens investor trust.
A well-executed PR start should strengthen all three layers in sequence.
8. Start with a 30-day PR sprint. Not a long-term retainer.
Founders don’t need a six-month contract. They need one cycle of clarity.
A clean 30-day sprint gives you:
• one narrative
• one piece of proof-driven media
• one asset investors respect
• one meaningful improvement in your search footprint
• one foundation you can build on
This is how BlockPR structures early-stage engagements.
Sharp. fast. credibility-first.
A precise sprint gives you momentum.
Momentum lets you raise. hire. sell. build.
9. When to bring in a PR partner
You bring in a specialist when:
• the stakes involve investors
• you need Tier-1 or finance media
• you need a controlled message
• you are entering a new market
• you need clarity. not complexity
• you need fast turnaround that your team cannot execute internally
The right PR partner should reduce noise. not increase it.
They should deliver proof. not promises.
This is the core philosophy behind BlockPR’s work.
Sharp stories. investor-trust coverage. global distribution.
No fluff. no retainer bloat.
10. The simplest way to start if you’ve never done PR
Here is your starting sequence:
Clarify your goal. fundraising. authority. market entry.
Identify your strongest proof today.
Build your Founder’s Triangle narrative.
Create one PR asset. press release. founder feature. investor-focused placement.
Strengthen your search results.
Plan your next 30-day credibility cycle.
PR becomes simple when you view it as a system. not a gamble.
Final Note
If you are a Web3, fintech, or tech founder who has never done PR before and want to start cleanly. without guesswork. BlockPR specializes in credibility-first campaigns that investors trust.
Tier-1 coverage.
Proof-driven storytelling.
Search-ready authority.
You can reach out anytime. We’ll help you build your first PR foundation the right way.
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