Public relations is a powerful marketing tool that can help businesses and organizations reach their goals. Every month, Priority Marketing spotlights clients’ earned media coverage, which includes spotlights and interviews in newspapers, magazines, television, radio, blogs and social media.
Each month, Priority Marketing breaks down some of its PR successes. In February 2022, we’re offering an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at recent initiatives for three clients: Norman Love Confections, Shoeless Joe’s Sports Café and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
Norman Love Confections
Norman Love Confections has chocolate salons in Fort Myers, Estero, Naples and Sarasota, as well as a pastry shop and café at Whole Foods Market in Fort Myers. Award-winning chocolatier Norman Love and his team create and distribute handcrafted artisanal chocolates that are frequently lauded by national publications like USA Today, Forbes and Huffington Post.
The ultra-premium chocolates are suitable for any occasion, but have become the chocolate of choice for Valentine’s Day in Southwest Florida and beyond. Priority Marketing has partnered with Norman Love Confections for nearly two decades, providing an array of marketing services to help the Fort Myers-based company grow its brand. Prior to Valentine’s Day in 2022, the firm’s Public Relations Department issued news releases announcing the Valentine’s Day Collection and Date Nights in Sarasota. The team also pitched stories to print, online, TV and radio stations, achieving success across multiple media platforms.
Media Stories
ABC7: Norman Love shows off chocolatey creations on More in the Morning
Gulfshore Life: Norman Love and the Chocolate Factory
Candy Industry: Norman Love unveils 2022 Valentine’s Day Collection
USA Love List: Our favorite hand-dipped chocolates by state
Sarasota Magazine: Say ‘I love you’ on Valentine’s Day with a box of specialty chocolates
WUSF: Valentine’s Day chocolate advice from Norman Love
Charlotte Observer: 22 Valentine’s ideas for your sweetheart in 2022
PopCulture: 6 of the best chocolate boxes for Valentine’s Day
Shoeless Joe’s Sports Café
Southwest Florida is home to many sports bars and sports-focused chain restaurants with big-screen TVs. However, there is only one Shoeless Joe’s Sports Café. Named after the famous White Sox slugger, Shoeless Joe’s has a long history of entertaining sports and food fans of all ages. The restaurant features 40 TVs, a pool table, arcade games and live music on the weekends.
Sports fans traditionally flock to bars and restaurants on Super Bowl Sunday. With so much competition, though, Priority Marketing stepped in to help Shoeless Joe’s draw a good crowd on Feb. 13. To promote this year’s Super Bowl specials, the firm implemented several strategies:
Media Pitch
Priority Marketing approached ABC7 for a potential “Foodie Friday” segment exploring the restaurant’s gameday specials – tater tots, nachos, chicken fingers, fish fingers and sliders, as well as beer and mixed drinks. Four separate segments totaling 12 minutes, 59 seconds aired on Feb. 11. Additionally, ABC7 posted a Facebook Live video totaling 3 minutes, 48 seconds that was available to its 200,000 followers.
ABC7: More Explores: The big game at Shoeless Joe’s in Fort Myers
ABC7 Facebook Live: Foodie Friday, Gameday Edition
Calendar Listings
Media outlets often feature community calendars on their websites. In many cases, these calendars integrate with national event listing platforms, further expanding potential reach. Unlike traditional advertisements, calendar listings typically are free to use, which helps control event marketing costs.
Florida Weekly: Super Bowl LVI Watch Party at Shoeless Joe’s
The News-Press: Super Bowl LVI Watch Party at Shoeless Joe’s
Social Media
In addition to public relations services, Priority Marketing also helps manage social media accounts for Shoeless Joe’s. The firm created social media posts to encourage sports fans to visit Shoeless Joe’s for the big game as well as participate in the restaurant’s charity fundraiser.
This BEER is my number one draft pick!
Join us for SQUARES THAT CARE this Super Bowl Sunday!
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
Southwest Florida’s baseball history stretches back nearly a century. It’s been the spring training home for six Major League Baseball teams: Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals. Since 1992, Fort Myers has continuously hosted a Minor League Baseball franchise. For much of that time, the team was known as the Fort Myers Miracle and played games at Hammond Stadium. After a rebranding two years ago, the team became the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
During the offseason, the Mighty Mussels gained a new majority partner in John Martin and reengaged Priority Marketing for the 2022 season. To make a preseason splash, the firm contacted more than a dozen media outlets and community partners to build a one-day itinerary featuring multiple interviews and public appearances for Martin and mascot, Mussel Man, across Southwest Florida. Below are some of those media stories:
Media Stories
ABC7: Mighty Mussels bringing back Miracle moniker at Thursday games
ABC7: Carole Baskin to throw out first pitch at Mighty Mussels game
NBC2: Mighty Mussels under new ownership ahead of 2022 season
The News-Press: Under new ownership, Mighty Mussels unveil promotions including Miracle throwbacks, Carole Baskin
Do you need media relations services to enhance your brand? Please give us a call today at 239-267-2638 or send an email to letstalk@prioritymarketing.com.
