Communications
done right.
The best way to find out what is or isn’t working is to pay attention to the results currently being produced. It’s important to ask: “Are we getting what we want?” Our clients know to call on us to get measurable results that are both effective and meaningful.
We provide a variety of niche services including media relations, branding and messaging, social media and interactive marketing, and strategic communications consultation with special emphasis on diversity in higher education. Our goal is to create the best image possible for each client.
Here’s how we help our clients reach their goals:
Diversity in Higher Education Communications
The demographics of our nation’s growing population are inescapable. In the coming decades, a large proportion will be people of color who are certain to face challenges to college access. Unfortunately, minority students remain the highest student population that is most likely not to attain a bachelor’s degree. The reality is these students may not be able to develop the skills demanded for a globally competitive environment.
Higher education organizations often look to us to provide insight and expertise through strategic communications and speaking engagements. Clients recognize our unique ability to provide honest leadership in an environment that requires authenticity, transparency, and sensitivity. We empower clients to approach their diversity in higher education challenges head on to reach their goals and full potential.
We help our diversity in higher education communications clients:
- + Understand core values and challenges facing communities of color
- + Discover the tactics that work best to serve the unique needs of communities of color
- + Learn to start a conversation with communities of color that thrives on honesty, transparency, and sensitivity
- + Tap into undiscovered opportunities within communities of color to bring about individual and societal changes
Media Relations
We live in a world saturated with various messages sent through the media. Each day thousands of companies relentlessly court journalists hoping that the reporters will relay their issues and ideas to the world. This process is called “media relations,” which means attempting to generate free editorial coverage in newspapers or magazines, or on radio or television. To get media coverage is more credible than paid advertisements or paid publicity.
We consider media relations to be a critical component to all communications efforts. It brings about greater exposure and awareness. Media relations is opportunistic. We have the media contacts to best promote the ideas and issues of clients. Our creative and savvy media relations approaches help clients to gain maximum exposure, sustain credibility, and develop favorable relationships.
We help our media relations clients:
-
+ Assemble the story to effectively pitch members of the media
- + Fine-tune organizational issues and ideas through communications campaigns that engage key journalists
- + Work closely with media outlets to foster the best possible company image
Branding + Messaging
The brand experience can be powerful and invaluable. Think of branding as everything that encompasses a company's image—its name, logo, Web site, etc. Branding defines a company. However, the key to branding is to be consistent and keep it simple, yet distinctive.
Our goal is to take great care in protecting the brand of each client. We consider the smallest details—such as the consistent use of a company tagline—to not compromise the brand promise of clients. We also develop messaging that is clever and spot-on. Clients look to us to bring greater awareness through creative branding and messaging.
We help our branding and messaging clients:
-
+ Increase competitive marketplace advantage through skillful and creative positioning
- + Maximize the brand value through building stronger emotional connections with key audiences
- + Develop compelling messaging to launch and sustain overall brand architecture
- + Measure the effectiveness of brand communications initiatives to ensure impact
Social Media + Interactive Marketing
In today’s world of communications, social media and interactive marketing influences the way organizations talk to their stakeholders. An example of communications in social media ranges from writing blogs and micro-blogs (think Twitter) to interacting through social networks such as Facebook and MySpace. Although some question the return on investment of social media tools, there’s no denying that if utilized appropriately with traditional media, they complement each other and support a traditional communications plan to drive organizational goals.
Our powerful social media and interactive marketing strategies build buzz around any client to increase their online presence. We couple social media outreach with traditional media—television, newspaper, radio, and magazines—to take full advantage of largely, untapped marketing channels.
We help our social media and interactive marketing clients:
- + Understand networking within a social medium
- + Tap into the power of organizational blogging
- + Manage social media events and campaign efforts
- + Redirect and repackage content into community-friendly formats
Strategic Communications Consultation
Successful companies recognize that strategy is always before tactics. Strategy brings desired results that refocuses a company's resources. Through well thought out tactics, strategy helps an organization to achieve a higher degree of awareness among supporters and influencers. Given today’s complex world and uncertain economic environment, company leaders recognize the importance of aligning their company’s core business priorities with strategic communications to make a powerful impact.
We know all about strategic communications. We do it well—very well. We strategically plan communications campaigns to achieve a long-term effect. Our approach is based on creativity while considering important factors that deliver transformative results. Clients draw on our strategic consultation to either support existing organizational communications apparatuses or look to us to function as a "virtual" communications department.
We help our strategic communications consultation clients:
-
+ Boost overall awareness of issues and ideas
- + Build credibility of an industry, identity, culture, and message
- + Stimulate business leads and interest from current and prospective stakeholders
- + Create a favorable image as an industry leader