Amidst all of the discouraging stories of businesses that were forced to close due to Covid-19 are a few inspiring stories of businesses that boomed during the pandemic. Otter PR is one of those businesses.

Otter PR
Otter PR Otter PR

Launched in 2019 by entrepreneurs Scott Bartnick and Dr. Jay Feldman from a small Orlando apartment, Otter has grown in just two years from a great idea to the No. 1 spot among top PR firms in the nation. And it succeeded in large part by seeing the silver lining in the dark cloud of Covid.

“One of the keys to Otter’s success has been taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves,” explains Bartnick. “During the early days of Covid, many companies were laying off or furloughing experts. We took advantage of that by hiring top talent with decades of PR experience. Our ability to hire when others were not helped Otter build a strong foundation and become one of the top PR firms in the US.”

Building on that strong foundation, Otter set itself apart from its competition by implementing a distinctive approach to PR that begins with guaranteed media coverage. The Otter team has built a strong media network and relies on its relationships with journalists, reporters, podcasters, and partner publications around the globe.

“Another key to our success has been doing something most top PR firms hate,” explains Feldman. “We do not require long-term contracts, and we guarantee success every month. By earning our clients’ trust upfront with this strategy, we then can deliver service that is even better than our legacy competition.”

This unique strategy, which Otter calls “results-driven public relations,” was a little bit of a gamble, as Bartnick explains.

“It was a big hurdle for us to figure out how we could avoid locking brands into long-term contracts, but still get them to stay with us forever,” he says.

But the gamble paid off as Otter put clients first and overdelivered on its promises.

“We’ve had clients with us for two years, which is amazing considering we are just two years old,” Bartnick says. “Most of our clients get top-tier hits, and most of our clients get massive media success. It’s just kind of expected at this point.”

Visit Otter’s website, and you will find a collection of case studies celebrating PR successes that Otter has achieved for its clients. From blockchain developers to HR experts to financial advisors to professional athletes, Otter has helped a host of clients to amplify their voices and their brands through securing placements in Forbes, Fast Company, US News and World Reports, Yahoo! News, BuzzFeed, the New York Times, and many more.

“ AXIA Coin is one example of the type of success our clients enjoy,” says Bartnick. “Their coin is currently trading at $12.61 as of February 2022. When they came on as our client, it was trading at $1.85. That is a 581 percent increase.”

Clutch, a leading ratings and reviews platform for marketing, IT, and business service providers, recognized the impressive work that Otter is doing by ranking it first among more than 5,500 US PR firms for 2022.

Bartnick and Feldman, who are both serial entrepreneurs, brought an impressive level of experience to Otter from day one. Bartnick, who holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering, founded The Five Day Startup in 2017. Feldman, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, is the founder of the Mentors Collective podcast. Still, the co-founders give a huge amount of credit for Otter’s success to the team that the company has attracted.

“As Otter has grown, the lesson that I keep learning is the value of people,” Feldman says. “Great people make for a great company. That is why we focus on building up our people and helping them grow. It's also why our culture has grown so strong.”

Today, the Otter team includes more than 50 publicists, writers, and media specialists strategically positioned across the country and around the world. Together they bring more than 300 years of combined experience in PR strategy, PR tactics, marketing, publishing, and social media. By combining that talent and experience with a proven strategy, Otter is able to guarantee success to clients and consistently deliver, something few other top PR firms can claim.

“When I see our clients earn top-tier media success, it fills me with pride in our company and in our team,” Feldman says. “It reminds me that we really are making a difference for these companies.”