When you need a sounding board or an objective, confidential
opinion, outside input often brings perspective to a situation,
identifies the real challenges and helps form a successful
strategy.
We do this for many of our clients, helping them around a
block in the road and helping set a course for the future.
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We have a strong understanding of and good contacts with
a number of local, regional and national print and electronic
media and are proactive in developing new relationships with
other media when a client's strategies identify clear opportunities
and direction. We utilize online sources and media directories
in identifying target analysts and media for your needs, building
lists and approaching contacts with relevant story ideas.
While having the right contacts at the right media outlets
can be important, more critical is the development of strong
story angles and ideas that will appeal to a reporter or editor,
as well as their readers and viewers and differentiate your
product or service from that of the competition. We spend
considerable time keeping up to speed on what the writers
and analysts important to your industry and specific product
are writing, so that we develop an understanding of their
focus and interests that can be put to work in your behalf.
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Being prepared is a good part of handling a crisis well.
Knowing what your message is, what others - the media, your
employees, your customers and others - expect from you is
critical. Are you ready for the unexpected? Have you the systems
in place to communicate in a crisis?
Long before anything happens, we can help you develop a plan
and communication procedures that we hope you never have to
use. We are always on call 24 hours a day to help if a crisis
erupts.
We have handled a wide variety of crisis situations, from
discrimination charges and labor issues to accidents and violence
in the work place, as well as mergers, layoffs and management
changes.
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Being a good corporate citizen has never been more important.
In San Antonio, particularly, many years in this community
make us good 'eyes and ears' for you, especially if you are
new to the city. We understand thoroughly the political, economic
and cultural trends of this diverse, lively city that is now
the 9th largest in the country.
In other cities, it is equally important and we will partner
with an established firm to ensure that you don't misstep.
As we have done for many other clients, we can help you make
an impact by recommending good community partnerships for
your company.
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We have been involved in employee communications ourselves
from both the inside and the outside. It's important to make
sure your staff isn't the last to know.
We work with our clients to develop timely internal communications
that track well with your external announcements.
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Communicating in a timely way is critical in the financial
arena. Knowing when a disclosure is material, distributing
news in a timely way to the right regional, national and international
publications, wire services, broadcast and Internet important,
as is media coverage of important events.
We have worked with clients to develop their media strategy
for listing on the Nasdaq or on the New York Stock Exchange,
as they plan to take their company public and help them with
key communication pieces, annual and quarterly reports, shareholder
and investor letters and presentations for these events.
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Over the years, we have worked with several clients on regional
issues affecting the community, building support for their
position. These include regional water issues and various
economic development issues.
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Our background in print production is extensive and we have
produced a range of materials from annual reports and corporate
brochures to complete corporate identification packages, direct
mail, invitations, signage and media kits, working with a
variety of graphic designers and aligning different design
styles with individual projects or clients and the budget
involved.
While we normally handle the writing aspects of these projects,
we outsource graphic design according to your budget. We have
strong working relationships with a number of outstanding
designers and can match your needs with one best suited for
you.
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Special events take a variety of forms - from a simple news
conference, a major gala event to a new product launch. We've
done a great variety and have the contacts and the checklists
to make sure that they are completed in a professional and
memorable way, while making sure they generate positive publicity
for you.
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Taking the time to prepare for media interviews and presentations
can make the difference between getting your message out clearly
or being buried in ambiguity. Rehearsal is the key and helps
develop your message for that all-important interview, helps
outline the right points for a speech, helps you answer questions
succinctly.
Through media training, we help our clients respond to last-minute
opportunities to talk to the media or another important audience.
By training in advance and using videotape in the process
you'll be able to review your performance before an interview
actually happens. The training will give you the confidence
in these pressure situations. You'll learn how to 'bridge'
back to a key point, how to respond to negative questioning
and assert some measure of control in an interview.
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As with graphic design, It has been a deliberate choice
to outsource this function. We believe this ensures that your
video communications - video news releases and news conferences
- use the most advanced technology and are produced in a way
that assures best pickup by local television, cable and the
networks.
We also use video to communicate with employees, customers
and other audiences to convey information about changes, new
products or acquisitions, using a "Nightly News"
or video magazine format.
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With the staggering momentum of the Internet, being able
to be responsive when a client needs an Internet presence
is critical.
We work with designers, systems integrators and database developers
to make sure our clients' Web sites fit strategically into
their overall communication plan, whether it is a simple informational
tool or a highly sophisticated e-commerce endeavor.
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