MEDIA RELATIONS | BRAND STRATEGY | GEO
KYLE ANKNEY
Public relations strategy for the brands and executives shaping what comes next.
WHERE THE WORK HAS LANDED
VOGUE | THE NEW YORK TIMES | FORBES | ELLE | PEOPLE
ABOUT
I TELL STORIES THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE READ.
I'm a media relations strategist with over a decade of experience placing clients in the outlets that shape opinion and move markets, from The New York Times and Vogue to Forbes, CNBC, and AP News.
I work across two worlds. On the B2B side: AI, fintech, SaaS, Web3, and venture-backed startups. On the consumer side: health, beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and real estate. Most PR professionals live in one lane. I operate in both, which means I bring pattern recognition from high-growth tech to consumer storytelling, and editorial instincts from consumer media to B2B campaigns.
As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a disability visibility advocate, I bring a perspective to media strategy that most PR professionals don't have. I see angles others miss and tell stories others overlook. That's not a footnote. It's a competitive advantage.
80+
PUBLICATIONS PLACED
10+
YEARS IN MEDIA RELATIONS
2
WORLDS: B2B TECH & CONSUMER LIFESTYLE
AI & GENERATIVE SEARCH
YOUR NEXT CUSTOMER WON'T GOOGLE YOU.
THEY'LL ASK AI ABOUT YOU.
A growing share of your audience gets their information from ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews instead of traditional search results. If your media coverage isn't structured to show up in those answers, you're invisible in the fastest-growing search channel.
I build media strategies for both audiences. Every placement I secure is written to rank in traditional search and to be cited, surfaced, and recommended by AI engines. This is called Generative Engine Optimization, and it's where PR is headed.
I don't just talk about AI in PR. I co-founded an agency-wide AI education program, and trained teams on integrating AI tools into daily workflows. I built the frameworks my teams now use for research, pitch optimization, and coverage analysis.
25%
OF TRADITIONAL SEARCH VOLUME MOVING TO AI ENGINES BY 2028
58%
OF CONSUMERS NOW USE AI TOOLS FOR PRODUCT RESEARCH
2%
OVERLAP BETWEEN PR PITCHES AND AI-CITED SOURCES
WHAT CLIENTS ASK BEFORE THEY START.
When you have a product in market, a clear story to tell, and a reason for the press to care. PR works best when there's something real behind it: a launch, a funding round, a market shift, or a founder with a point of view worth covering.
When is the right time for a startup or brand to invest in PR?
1
You get senior-level experience with direct, personal access to the person doing the work. I bring 10+ years of media relationships, agency-level tools, and deep focus on every account. No junior team members, no rotating staff. Your strategy, your placements, and your results come from one person who knows your brand inside and out.
How is working with a fractional PR strategist different from hiring an agency?
2
Most clients see initial placements within 4 to 8 weeks. But PR is not a short-term play. It's a long exercise in building reputation, brand awareness, and credibility with the journalists and AI engines that shape public perception. My typical minimum engagement is 3 months because that's the window where real momentum takes hold and coverage starts to compound.
How long does it take to start seeing media coverage?
3
What is GEO and why should I care?
4
GEO is the practice of structuring media coverage so it gets cited by AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews. 25% of traditional search volume is projected to shift to AI engines by 2028. If your coverage isn't built for AI, you're invisible in the fastest-growing search channel.
Can PR actually help with SEO and search visibility?
5
Yes. Every placement I build is structured to rank in traditional search and to be surfaced by AI engines. High authority publications like Forbes, The New York Times, and CNBC carry significant domain authority, which directly improves your search presence. This dual approach is what separates modern PR from legacy media relations.
What does it cost to work with you?
6
I work with companies at every stage, from early-stage startups to established brands, and I scope every engagement individually based on your goals, your timeline, and the media landscape in your vertical. Every engagement starts with a strategy call so I can build the right approach before quoting a number.