Orchan Consulting | Asia Sdn Bhd

Most PR today is noise pretending to be strategy. Endless press releases, “viral” bets, and scattershot campaigns -- you’ve seen it. Audiences ignore it, algorithms punish it, and budgets disappear faster than a LinkedIn trend. In 2026, being louder won’t get you anywhere. Winning brands are smarter. They focus on the people who actually care, the stories worth telling, and the channels that actually move the needle. That’s where niche media and Slow PR come in. Not fluffy ideas, but tools for building trust, engagement, and measurable impact --  whether you run a 10-person startup in KL or manage a regional marketing team in Singapore. Niche Media: Stop Wasting Attention Context Beats Reach Asia is messy: languages, cultures, subcultures everywhere. A campaign trying to reach “everyone” usually reaches no one. Niche creators and vertical media reach audiences already interested in your message. That alignment builds trust, and trust drives decisions. Reality check: payi...

Walk through any Malaysian city and the shift is unmistakable. One toothbrush in the holder. One meal packed neatly for one. One person signing the lease on a studio apartment. What used to feel temporary or unusual is now quietly becoming the norm -- the rise of the Solo Economy . Across Malaysia, the traditional family household is no longer the sole driver of consumption. Household sizes have been shrinking, from 4.3 in 2010 to 3.8 in 2020, and today, nearly 45% of Malaysians are single. That’s almost half the population redefining what independence, convenience, and value look like in everyday life. However, most brands still see this through a narrow lens; assuming “solo” means young, urban, and financially carefree. The fact of the matter is that it’s far more complex, and far more interesting. The Many Faces of the Solo Economy The Solo Economy isn’t a KL-only phenomenon, nor is it made up solely of high-spending professionals chasing experiences. It’s a diverse mix of peop...

  The New Frontier of Marketing Complexity By 2026, AI won’t just support marketing -- it will shape it. From content engines and bid optimisers to virtual service agents, specialised AI tools now automate every imaginable task. But here’s the problem: without coordination, this expanding ecosystem can spiral into noise. We’re seeing it now -- brands running multiple AI pilots in parallel, each showing short-term gains but collectively creating fragmented experiences that confuse customers and stretch teams thin. Disconnected bots chasing their own KPIs often create disjointed messaging that erodes brand coherence. The next competitive edge lies in orchestration i.e.,  building a system where every AI agent plays in tune with the brand, the business, and the customer. The Core Challenge: Too Many Agents, Not Enough Alignment Today’s marketing stacks resemble crowded control rooms. Each AI agent optimising for clicks, reach, or sentiment, but rarely speaking the same lan...

This article continues Orchan Consulting Asia’s Franchise PR Series, exploring how smart storytelling turns visibility into measurable franchise growth. Visibility is great. But visibility that converts? That’s PR done right. In Southeast Asia’s competitive franchise landscape, brand awareness alone won’t fill your inbox with franchisee inquiries.  What you need is a PR funnel:  a deliberate sequence of storytelling, media engagement, and credibility-building that guides prospects from curiosity to commitment. The Problem With Vanity PR Too many franchise brands treat PR like a trophy cabinet -- glossy features, influencer shoutouts, and event photos that look good but go nowhere. The result? High impressions, low conversions. PR should not end at exposure; it should drive engagement, trust, and ultimately, sign-ups. The Franchise PR Funnel: What Actually Converts A strategic PR funnel mirrors your customer journey, but focuses on future franchisees. Each phase build...