The New Rules of Pet PR and AI Visibility
This week on The Whisker Report, hosts Mary Tan and producer Mark Winter welcome Sara Blood of BrandPoint for an eye-opening conversation about modern PR, sponsored content, AI visibility, and how pet brands can break through in today’s crowded media landscape. From the changing face of trade shows like Global Pet Expo to the difference between earned media, marketing, and paid placements, Sara shares insider strategies for startups, pet businesses, and nonprofits looking to build awareness and credibility. If you want practical ways to turn content into gold, grow your brand, and stay ahead in the fast-changing world of media, this episode is a must-listen.
Listen to Episode #39 Now:
BIO:
I’m a creative, tenacious communications professional with deep experience in media relations, account management, event planning, and marketing communications. I’m known for developing smart, actionable communication strategies—and seeing them through with equal parts determination and adaptability. I quickly assess needs, build effective approaches, and deliver results. I’m also passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented voices to be heard.
Today, I’m a Business Development Manager at Brandpoint, helping brands drive awareness and engagement through AI-optimized content creation, distribution to major news outlets, and amplification across premium platforms.
Outside of work, I’m a tour guide for the Minnesota Twins, where I love sharing my passion for baseball and welcoming visitors from around the world to Target Field, the greenest ballpark in America.
Before joining Brandpoint in 2022, I ran my own communications consultancy, serving as an executive director for a nonprofit and leading media relations for B2B, consumer, and nonprofit clients.
Prior to launching my consultancy in 2017, I led internal and external PR at Gage, a marketing technology agency that joined operations with LaBreche in 2013. Before that, I spent 12 years as a founding member of the media relations team at Carmichael Lynch Spong (now Carmichael Lynch Relate), where I supported and later led national earned media campaigns for brands including Harley-Davidson, Petco, life'sDHA, SUPERVALU, American Humane Association, Fair Trade USA, and Jennie-O Turkey Store.
I began my career as a news reporter and photojournalist at newspapers across Minnesota, including roles as a city reporter for the International Falls Daily Journal and as news editor for the Eagan Thisweek/Dakota County Tribune. I’m a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism.
Specialties: media relations, strategic communications, message development, press releases, blogging, media coaching, influencer/print/broadcast outreach, media list development, news writing, event planning, and more.
Transcript: