RELATE SERVICES & SOLUTIONS
Communications Strategy Planning
If you have a business challenge that needs solving, trust me, you need a communications strategy.
Even if it seems like the problem can be solved in operations or with scientific research, you also need communications…from the beginning, to map out a path to success.
Whether you are looking to ensure market acceptance for a new technology, trying to address a misperception holding back your business or looking to build your reputation as a market leader, I can help you create a plan to accomplish your goals.
When you partner with me, I help:
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Track down or commission market research
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Map your audiences
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Develop positioning and messages
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Facilitate discovery or brainstorm sessions
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Source full-service agency support as needed
We’ll also talk about measurement and selling back the results. It can be hard to demonstrate success, but we will get creative and establish a variety of short- and long-term goals to tell us whether we’ve hit the mark or need to adjust.
Let me map out a plan with you, from beginning to business outcomes, and see the difference strategic communications can make.
Thought Leadership Development
Your stakeholders expect more than ever from the organization and its leaders. They want to see you take a stand on issues that matter to them. To engage with outside perspectives to inform your POV.
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If you’re wondering where to start, the first thing is a platform. What are you going to be for? The next steps include:
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Discovery meeting to determine focus
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Outreach and engagement plan for your organization and its leaders
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Third-party strategy to leverage independent expertise and advocacy
Of course, I’m happy to help with the nuts and bolts too, but they’ll be even better when they are part of a bigger plan:
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Presentations
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Speeches
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By-lined articles
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Interview preparation
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Pitching podcasts and traditional media
Together, we can establish your expertise on a meaningful issues platform that helps accomplish business objectives.
Issues & Crisis Response Planning
Nobody wants to assume a crisis is going to happen on their watch, but time spent preparing in advance is well worth the return on investment.
Let me help you anticipate and map out the most likely and concerning scenarios in advance. From there, I develop a framework outlining:
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Team roles and responsibilities
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Key audiences and stakeholders
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Decision-making factors
Then? We practice. I will facilitate a table-top exercise where we:
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Test the framework
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Make tweaks based on lessons learned
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Roll-out the plan to additional stakeholders
You cannot plan for everything, but you can give your employees and stakeholders the confidence of knowing who does what, when in the instance of a crisis.
Make sure you're ready to relate to your audiences with confidence when the inevitable issues occur.
In-House Communications Development
I know what it’s like to serve on and lead in-house communications teams for a variety of different public and private organizations. And I would love to partner with you to evolve communications at yours.
Whether you’re building, rebuilding or redesigning an in-house function, I can help.
We will assess the business needs and expectations and then, create the structure and put the processes in place to meet them.
Not ready to expand your in-house expertise? I can also serve as your senior communications counsel or as a sounding board and partner to a small or single-person shop.
And More…
Sometimes, you just need someone to write a speech. Or, edit a document. Create a presentation or handout. Facilitate a meeting. Or, help you meet organizational requirements for vendor sourcing by running a competitive RFP process from start to finish. Just saying.
If this is you, I get it and I’ve been there done that, so don’t hesitate to reach out to see how Relate can help!