Research and Planning
Research – Using primary and secondary research techniques and a proprietary “issues and threats” planning session we: analyze the current situation, identify opportunities, address existing challenges, understand targeted stakeholder needs and concerns, benchmark best practices and review primary competitors.

Communications planning – Based on research findings, we develop a strategy and create a roadmap for communication initiatives tied directly to business objectives. Our plans include:
• research summary/learnings
• key messages
• communication goals and objectives
• strategies
• tactics
• timeline and budget
• evaluation processes


Implementation
Messaging – We craft the story, identifying compelling angles and themes that will resonate with target audiences.

Communication materials – We put pen to paper and bring the story to life through a variety of communication vehicles.

Stakeholder alignment – We design community engagement platforms aligning the company’s operational objectives with its desire to benefit the communities it serves, helping clients ensure local behaviors and relationships reinforce the organization’s global reputation and overall business objectives, creating signature programs to earn awareness and recognition, selecting organizations to partner with who will bring credibility and assets, communicating initiatives to all target audiences.

Media relations – We gain visibility for clients through messages, articles and interviews pitched and placed in the media; maintain strong, professional working relationships with key editors and reporters; utilize state-of-the-art online media contact databases and clipping/tracking services.

Community relations – We design charitable giving programs design and guide implementation.  We recommend employee and leadership involvement in the community, collaboration with third parties, specialty communications, supporting special events or sponsorships.

Issues management – We identify issues and threats, creating strategies, crafting the message, developing materials and activities to communicate the message.

Reputation management/crisis communications – We provide 24-hour incident response, messaging, community influencer communication, media outreach, employee communications.  Our focus is on helping clients build a strong reputation that can withstand the storms of controversy.
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Special events – We stage special events such as donation announcements, press conferences or other media events, and grand openings.

Internal communications -- We write and design employee newsletters, videos, CEO communications and employee volunteerism programs.

Special audience communications – We support client government relations, environmental communications and stakeholder outreach initiatives.

Influencer communications/grassroots outreach – We identify key influencers and/or specialized audiences and methods of reaching them outside of media relations, developing materials or messages to communicate with them effectively.

Thought leadership – We spot trends and issues that offer opportunities to support sales and marketing efforts; researching and writing white papers, executive briefings, customer case studies, and bylined feature stories that clearly communicate a client’s successes and distinct marketplace advantages; determining effective ways to distribute these materials to prospects.

Training
Media training/messaging – We work with executives and teams to develop media interview skills using effective messaging.

Presentation training – We use one-on-one or group coaching to enhance public speaking skills for internal or community presentations.

Business training – We facilitate a wide variety of workshops to help improve teams and organizations. Topics include:
• Team effectiveness and interaction, conflict resolution
• Decision-making and leading teams through change
• Business etiquette, networking, leading effective meetings
• Developing influence and organizational savvy
• Customer service


Evaluation
We use both formal and informal means of capturing results and measuring the effectiveness of activities including:
• Administering surveys of key influencers both internally and externally
• Gaining employee feedback and measuring employee involvement
• Tracking and analyzing media coverage including both qualitative and quantitative analysis, message pick-up and placement.