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Shark Tank publicity for contestant

Client: Mark Sullivan, Shark Tank contestant

Project: Write/promote local press release about San Antonio inventor's appearance on world-famous TV show

ABC TV’s “Shark Tank” show is a worldwide phenomenon making investing “cool” for everyone. The Sharks — tough, self-made, multi-millionaire and billionaire tycoons — give budding entrepreneurs the chance to make their dreams come true and potentially secure business deals that could make them millionaires. They were at this time: billionaire Mark Cuban, owner and chairman of AXS TV and outspoken owner of the 2011 NBA championship Dallas Mavericks; real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran; “Queen of QVC” Lori Greiner; technology innovator Robert Herjavec; fashion and branding expert Daymond John; and venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary.

TASKS

San Antonio genius/inventor Mark Sullivan, of Mark Sullivan Research, has brought to life over 1,000 inventions and holds numerous patents. In 2012 he was chosen to appear as a “Shark Tank” contestant. While the show’s publicity people promised national/global PR support, they requested that Mark hire his own PR services firm to secure local media coverage.

Although Bastian Public Relations was hired just a few short weeks prior to the episode featuring Mark, Lisa Bastian was still able to secure high-profile radio and online media coverage of the event on 1200 News Radio WOAI in San Antonio, and a website story on the website of ABC affiliate KSAT-TV.

This effort reached hundreds of thousands of people living in the populous South Texas region. Bastian also connected Mark with an agency partner, DataVizion, to help him create a new Mark Sullivan Research website TV viewers could visit after the “Shark Tank” episode. This website was so popular in the days and weeks following Mark’s televised appearance that it crashed the server hosting the website due to the onslaught of site visitors.

SKILLS

Media relations, writing, interviewing, research, website development assistance.

Launch pdf of press release
Launch YouTube video of Mark’s "Generator" pitch on Shark Tank
Launch Mark Sullivan Research website, learn about Generator
Launch page about Sullivan Generator