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For thought leaders

PR for thought leaders who serve others.

The best PR for a thought leader is the kind that shows up when someone searches your name. Ace Branding exists to serve those who serve others, amplifying impact-driven coaches, authors, speakers, and founders through guaranteed press features, podcast tours, and regional TV, with you approving every article.

Published by Ace BrandingLast updated November 2026

The main question

Is digital PR worth it for thought leaders?

For most thought leaders it is, because your audience checks you out before they commit. Ace Branding cites Ad Week: 81% of consumers conduct online research before making buying decisions. Published features give that research a confident answer.

It depends on your goal. Guaranteed press features win when you need credibility you can link to, social verification, or a cleaner search result page. A podcast tour fits better if you build trust through long conversation. A traditional retainer firm can fit if you mainly need breaking news pitched to staff reporters.

Founder story

Built by a thought leader, for thought leaders

Origin

Luke Hessler is a product of the product

Ace Branding founder and CEO Luke Hessler started his first online business at 19 with a $600 loan. After learning to brand himself on social media, he was making six figures by 20, and by 23 his business was doing over $10 million a year with a sales team of almost 10,000 people.

His story has since been featured in Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and IBTimes. He has spoken to audiences as large as 10,000 people and shared the stage with Gary Vee, Robert Kiyosaki, and Grant Cardone.

Why the model exists

A bad PR experience, then a better model

In 2018, Luke had a bad PR experience and committed to being the change he wanted to see in the industry. Between 2020 and 2023, Ace Branding established a publishing network of hundreds of publications and relationships with thousands of podcast hosts and dozens of TV producers.

The result is a model built around what thought leaders actually want from PR: guaranteed results, no retainer, and approval over every word written about them.

Procedure

How a thought leader gets started

Four steps take you from first conversation to first published feature.

  1. Step 1: Book a free PR consultation

    A 15 minute, no obligation discovery call to talk through your goals and audience.

  2. Step 2: Define your core message

    Clarify who you are, who you serve, and what you want to be known for. Ace Branding calls this the Blueprint.

  3. Step 3: Share your story

    Complete the six minute press questionnaire and sit for a live interview with the editorial team.

  4. Step 4: Approve, publish, and use it

    Edit the draft until you approve it, then put the live link to work on your site, bio, and speaker sheet.

See every step of how guaranteed press features work

Case studies

Which thought leaders and brands has Ace Branding featured?

Ace Branding's published case studies report full press features ranging from 19 to 30 major media outlets per client. The figures below are as reported by Ace Branding in its own case studies.

  • 27

    Full features

    Rabu Gary

    Featured in 27 major media outlets including Forbes, USA Today, LA Times, and Success Magazine. The coverage qualified him for social media verification and helped him grow his business by over 200%.

  • 30

    Full features

    UIGISC

    Featured in 30 major media outlets including Forbes, USA Today, Nasdaq, and Maxim. The group grew from 100,000 members to over 300,000 members globally.

  • 19

    Full features

    Good Ranchers

    Featured in 19 major media outlets including Forbes, USA Today, Men's Journal, and Success Magazine. A growing brand placed in major national outlets through full features.

FAQ

PR for thought leaders: common questions

Is digital PR worth it for thought leaders?

For many it is, because buyers research before they decide. Ace Branding cites Ad Week: 81% of consumers conduct online research before making buying decisions. In one published Ace Branding case study, Rabu Gary was featured in 27 major outlets, qualified for social media verification, and grew his business by over 200%, as reported by Ace Branding.

How do press features help a thought leader?

Ace Branding gives three reasons. Brand awareness helps more people know you, which brings more leads and sales. Brand credibility positions you as an industry authority, which can shorten the sales cycle and set you apart. Improved SEO helps you control the narrative when people search your name online.

Do I need to be famous to get press coverage?

No. Guaranteed press features are built from your story and expertise, not from existing celebrity. Your onboarding starts with an interview with Ace Branding's editorial staff, who shape your experience into an article that gives readers value. What matters most is a clear message, which is why Ace Branding begins with defining your core message.

Who founded Ace Branding?

Luke Hessler founded Ace Branding and serves as its CEO. He started his first online business at 19 with a $600 loan, and his story has been featured in Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and IBTimes. After a bad PR experience in 2018, he committed to being the change he wanted to see in the industry.

Should I start with press features or a podcast tour?

Start with press features if your first goal is credibility and what people find when they search your name, since articles are permanent, linkable pages. Start with a podcast tour if you explain ideas best in conversation and want long-form time with a niche audience. Many thought leaders use both, and Ace Branding offers each.

How do I get started with Ace Branding?

Book a free PR consultation through the Ace Branding contact page. Ace Branding describes its discovery call as a 15 minute, no obligation conversation. On that call you discuss your goals, audience, and which channels fit, and you get a quote for a package built around them.

Read all 49 answers in the guaranteed press and digital PR FAQ

Your expertise deserves a byline.

Book a free PR consultation with Ace Branding. Talk through your goals, your audience, and which mix of press features, podcast tours, and TV fits, then get a quote built around you.

Book a free consultation

Published by Ace Branding