Proposal “Core-Public-Relations-0518“ (Closed)Back

Title:Core Team Public Relations (May)
Owner:glennaustin
One-time payment: 69 DASH (2694 USD)
Completed payments: 1 totaling in 69 DASH (0 month remaining)
Payment start/end: 2018-04-18 / 2018-05-18 (added on 2018-04-14)
Votes: 800 Yes / 26 No / 9 Abstain

Proposal description

This proposal is cross-posted from https://www.dash.org/forum/threads/proposal-core-team-public-relations-may.36365/

Proposal background
This proposal seeks funding for continuing our current public relations contract with Wachsman. The current contract restarted at the beginning of April and runs through the end of June.  Although we have sufficient funds to cover April and May, we need additional funds to pay for June and to maintain a small buffer for risk associated with currency fluctuation.  This proposal seeks $25,0000 of which $10,000 is required to cover the remainder of the contract period while $15,000 is for the buffer.  Dash Core Group plans to submit its next proposal in June for any public relations contracts for services starting in July.     

The last time we requested funding for public relations was in January 2017.  

Since we initially engaged Wachsman, the scope of coverage has increased.  Geographically, Dash is now supported in both the US and Europe.  The number of press mentions has increased dramatically as well. Due to the expansion in geographic coverage and increased activity the current rate is $15,000 a month.

This is a link to their website: http://wachsman.com/

What are some of the services Dash Core Group receives from the public relations firm?

Developing and implementing a coherent public relations strategy requires a coordinated effort between Wachsman and Dash Core Group team members.  Specifically, we collaborate on:

Strategy and messaging - The firm assists in formulating our messaging so it can be easily digested by the outside world. Their input is valuable since they have experience working with media and have specific expertise in brand positioning and messaging.

Media relations and content creation - The agency frequently forwards media opportunities to Dash Core Group. Certain opportunities are generated by their team through proactive topic suggestions, while others are directly initiated by journalists that reach out for comment. The Dash Core Group determines if potential media opportunities are promising and develops responses with the help of Wachsman.

Training - Wachsman trains all Dash Core Group employees that have contact with the media to ensure consistent messaging.

Crisis management -  Wachsman provides valuable advice on how to manage negative media situations by bringing an outside, objective perspective to crisis situations.

We have retained Wachsman since the fall of 2016. They have been a valuable partner to Dash Core Group. We have worked with other agencies prior to August, 2016 but found many of them lacking for a host of reasons. With Wachsman we collaborate in a manner that is fluid and efficient because we know each other well, and Wachsman explicitly focuses on the blockchain industry. As such, we believe appropriate media opportunities are more frequently offered to Wachsman than other agencies. Eight people from Wachsman are assigned to the Dash account, with locations in both New York and Dublin. Our interaction model includes frequent communication through many functions within our team along with monthly evaluation meetings.

Wachsman also works with us on conference preparation and attendance, though that service is billed separately and is provided on a case-by-case basis. Regardless of whether Dash Core Group retains them for conference support, Wachsman does support us in aligning potential media opportunities associated with each event.

How frequently is the Wachsman contract renegotiated?
Despite having an excellent relationship with Wachsman, all of our contracts with them are short-term (typically a 3-month period). We prefer to re-evaluate our relationship on a periodic basis to determine whether they are the right fit for Dash at each stage of our evolution. Our current contract ends on June 30th. We are paying a fixed fee of 15,000 USD/month, which is in line with other firms we have talked with regarding the provision of similar scope and level of services.

If you have additional questions, please direct them to @fernando in the Dash forum post.

Requested funding is as follows for the May 3rd budget cycle:
  • 68.90 Dash ($25,000 USD @ $362.85 per Dash)
Total: 68.90 Dash

Note: Any unused budget will be applied toward future public relations expenses

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Discussion: Should we fund this proposal?

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0 points,6 years ago
voting YES. Thanks for the link to the website.
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0 points,6 years ago
Wachsman have been doing good work.

Voting YES
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1 point,6 years ago
Professional PR is a valuable service to the Dash Network, and I hope masternodes vote yes on this.

I am linking the latest Wachsman PR Project Update from February 2018 for those who want statistics and additional details.
https://www.dash.org/forum/threads/wachsman-pr-february-2018-project-update.31532/

@glennaustin it would be great if you could include some of the measurable accomplishments each time the PR proposal is up for renewal. We need to see that the service is helping Dash gain traction over time.
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0 points,6 years ago
How about an obvious link to their page to those unfamiliar with what Wachsman is or does?
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0 points,6 years ago
Great idea - done.
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