Episode 364: From Wall Street Analytics to AI Visibility - How Jon Mest is Democratizing PR with AI (Part 3)

In this episode, we explore the crucial balance between AI automation and human relationships in PR, revealing why the most successful campaigns combine technological efficiency with authentic human connection.

Keywords

AI vs Human PR, Relationship Building, Journalist Outreach, PR Automation, Human Touch Marketing, Content Creation Strategy, Digital Platform Authority, MLB Stadium Quest, Just Reach Out Philosophy, Authentic PR

Key Takeaways

The AI Spam Problem

• Everyone can immediately spot AI-generated outreach in LinkedIn and email
• Journalists receive 10x more obvious AI spam than regular users
• AI-written pitches get caught in spam filters and deleted instantly
• Human oversight prevents embarrassing automated mistakes

AI as Assistant, Not Replacement

• AI excels at finding relevant journalists and building media lists
• AI provides narrative feedback and pitch structure guidance
• AI catches spam filter words and optimizes email length
• Humans must still craft, edit, and send personalized messages

The Relationship Dividend

• "I can't tell you how often this happens" - journalists respond months later
• Initial "not writing this story right now" becomes "actually writing about this topic"
• Connecting journalists with other experts builds long-term relationship capital
• Being top-of-mind matters more than immediate coverage

Platform Authority Building Strategy

• LinkedIn posts: Write authoritative content, expect zero likes initially but put it out there
• Reddit: Find relevant subreddits, contribute authentically to conversations
• Medium: Start writing, even with one reader - consistency builds authority
• AI models scrape YouTube comments, Yelp reviews, TripAdvisor, G2 reviews

The "Just Do It" Philosophy

• Most people get overwhelmed and never start creating content
• Customer example: Had perfect pitch drafted but needed Zoom call to click "send"
• One strong blog post can increase visibility from 0% to 70% overnight
• Start with one post, then two, then three - build momentum gradually

Human Verification Future

• Next 2-3 years: Distinguishing human vs AI content becomes critical
• People getting "duped" by AI artists on Spotify without realizing it
• AI models detect and penalize AI-generated content clusters
• Earned media from humans will always carry more weight

ROI Measurement Tactics

• Add "AI models" option to "How did you hear about us?" forms
• Track UTM codes from ChatGPT and other AI platforms
• Focus on revenue maintenance/growth, not just traffic metrics
• Offer consulting projects to prove LEO effectiveness to skeptical executives

The 10 vs 1000 Email Rule

• 10 highly personalized, researched pitches outperform 1000 automated blasts
• Human research and customization beats mass automation every time
• AI reduces time investment from 20 hours to 1-2 hours weekly
• Quality targeting with AI assistance delivers better results than quantity spam

Baseball Stadium Achievement

• Jon visited all 30 MLB stadiums (record now incomplete due to new Atlanta/Texas stadiums)
• Cross-country road trip knocked out 14 stadiums in one month
• Data science background fueled love of baseball statistics
• Personal goals matter alongside professional achievements

The Reality CheckTraditional PR agencies have relationship access that tools can't replicate, but you can build those relationships yourself through consistent value delivery and authentic human connection over time.

Key InsightThe future belongs to those who use AI to become more efficient humans, not to replace human judgment. The most successful PR combines AI research and optimization with genuine relationship building and authentic storytelling.

This episode demonstrates that while AI can dramatically improve PR efficiency, the core of successful public relations remains fundamentally human: building trust, providing value, and maintaining authentic relationships with journalists and audiences.

Links

https://justreachout.io/

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