Brand Development / Enhancement
- How is your company or organization perceived by those who matter to you most: prospective customers, investors, regulators, employees, community leaders and others who impact your organization's operations and growth prospects? What traits do you want your organization to be known for: quality, reliability, integrity?
Building or enhancing a brand doesn't happen by accident. It requires a thoughtful, planned approach to influencing a range of stakeholders. E.M. Connolly Communications has helped organizations establish and improve their brand images. From a non-profit looking to improve community understanding of its mission and expand its base of supporters to a multinational corporation seeking to establish name recognition in the U.S., we have the experience to help you build and burnish your brand.
Communications Strategy Development
- Organizations of all sizes that use communications successfully have one thing in common: a communications strategy tied to their business objectives. Effective communications can drive better business results.
- What should you communicate?
- To whom?
- How frequently?
- Through what channels?
Starting with your objectives in mind, we can help you determine:
Whether you need to communicate change, get the word out about new products or services, enhance your image or enter new markets, E.M. Connolly's associates have the experience to help you. We have built and executed communications plans for clients of all sizes, tailored to help them meet their objectives.
We will work with you to assess your current plan or develop a new plan to meet your business needs and achieve your goals. We can also help execute your plan so you get the results you're looking for.
No matter your objectives or the size of your organization, a sound communications strategy, executed well, will help you achieve them.
Marketing Communications
- Effective marketing communications helps you reach your target customers and stimulate sales. A crisp message, delivered clearly and at the right time, breaks through the noise and drives results.
For businesses already engaged in advertising and marketing efforts, we can assist your current team to complement your existing materials and programs.. For organizations that have never undertaken a comprehensive marketing campaign, we can provide advice, develop new materials for you and assist with execution.
Based on your needs and in keeping with your budget, our marketing specialists can help you plan a marketing campaign, create that eye-catching brochure, write a bylined article, or create and issue a press release about a new product. E.M. Connolly Communications also has access to a broad network of specialists who can assist with video production, website creation, presentations and more.
Media and Analyst Relations
- How do you feel when a positive story about your company or organization appears in the newspaper? Terrific, of course. But those stories rarely happen on their own. Behind the scenes public relations experts are working to educate reporters and shape those stories.
But it's about much more than feeling good – it's about reaching the right audience with the right messages to help achieve your organization's goals. Reporters and industry analysts shape opinions and influence the decision makers you're trying to reach, and with much more impact and credibility than paid-for advertising.
Through our network of contacts in the media and analyst communities, we can help get your messages out to the right constituents. We have placed stories in media outlets ranging from national broadcast television to local community newspapers, and everything in between (trade publications, national and regional daily newspapers, business magazines, radio, etc.). And our work with industry analysts has increased their understanding of our clients, leading to more knowledgeable and positive advice and reports that influence decision-makers.
Bottom line: we know the media and we get results. And we will monitor, track and analyze your media coverage to demonstrate concrete, measurable results.
Financial Communications
- For a publicly-traded company, a single SEC filing can generate more news coverage than a dozen press releases. We can help you think through and prepare for the impact your financial disclosures will have in the news media and on the markets, whether positive or negative. With more than 20 years of financial communications experience for some of the world's largest publicly-traded companies, you can trust us to handle your most sensitive financial communications appropriately and in compliance with federal disclosure regulations.
Employee Communications
- Employees don't want to be talked at: they want to be part of the conversation. Do it right, and they will be your most effective spokespeople and ambassadors. Keeping them informed and engaged, especially during times of change, is critical to your organization's success.
Our team can help you engage effectively with your employees to gain their confidence, buy-in and support.
We can help you plan and implement an employee engagement program that uses the most effective and appropriate channels depending on your needs, including face-to-face, electronic, print, audio and video. Whether you have 10 or 10,000 employees, let us help you engage and energize them so they represent your organization with pride and enthusiasm.
Speechwriting
- Careers have been launched and fortunes built on a single effective speech to the right audience. Need to give an important speech but don't have a speechwriter on staff, or the skill or time to handle it yourself? Let one of our professional writers help you. We've developed engaging speeches on a wide range of topics for executives at all levels. Some of the venues we've assisted speakers prepare for include:
- Nationally recognized executive clubs
- Trade shows
- Analyst conferences
- News conferences
- Awards ceremonies
- Employee sessions
Media Training
- You don't get "do overs" when communicating with the news media. You need to get it right the first time. Being aware of what reporters are looking for and how they work helps you become comfortable and effective in dealing with the media.
We can provide the training and coaching you and your team need to work effectively with the news media and get your messages across. We're also here to help you prepare for an upcoming media event – we'll help you shape and deliver your important messages.
We've trained and coached CEOs, CFOs, business owners, technologists and others to become more effective media spokespeople. Let us help you become a more effective spokesperson for your organization.
Crisis Communications
- Crises come in many forms: natural disasters, workplace incidents, product or service failures, criminal activity such as a security breaches, labor issues – the list goes on and on. And in today's 24/7 news environment, a crisis can become major news in minutes.
Dealing effectively with a crisis can strengthen your brand and the public's trust in your integrity. Mishandling one can destroy goodwill that you have built over many years.
While no organization can be prepared for every potential crisis, every organization should have a philosophy, plan and process for how to communicate with the public and important stakeholders when one occurs.
Whether you're facing an impending crisis, in the midst of one, or wisely looking to be prepared, we can help. E.M. Connolly Communications has crisis communications experts who understand that the right support and counsel can save your reputation and your business. Our senior associates have developed corporate crisis communications plans, managed crises as corporate spokespeople, and counseled business leaders on public response to potentially brand-damaging situations.
Shareowner Communications
- Shareholders invest in your company for many reasons, but they have one thing in common: they all want to know how you are managing the business in their interest.
Whether you have 300 or three million shareowners, regular, open communication with them will help you manage their expectations while gaining their confidence. We can help you communicate in a way that keeps them engaged – and ultimately, invested. Let one of our experienced team members help you determine how best to communicate, what to communicate and when. From shareowner newsletters to quarterly updates and annual reports, we can help you get your messages out to this critical audience.
Annual Report Writing and Production
- Your company's annual report provides an opportunity to communicate directly and meaningfully with shareowners and other constituents. It is one of the most closely read and frequently referenced documents a company produces. Use it as an opportunity to showcase your strengths, strategy and vision.
Let our award-winning staff help you make the most of this once-a-year opportunity. We have experience in every aspect of writing and producing annual reports for some of the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S.
Forum Planning / Executive Board Placement
- We can help you establish and enhance relationships with customers and constituents critical to your business success. We can create and implement a broad range of programs, all of which are strategically focused on key audiences you identify.
- Positioning opportunities at industry forums that offer speaking platforms as well as branding exposure
- Strategic placement of executives on committees and boards of directors of non-profit and industry associations
- Strategic philanthropy and associated customer hosting opportunities and events
For example:
We have successfully placed executives at prestigious forums around the country and on the boards of organizations where they have extended their network of contacts and benefitted their business. Ask us what we can do for you.
Social Media
- Social networking now accounts for 22% of all time spent online in the US. As such, social media is now one of the core ways organizations communicate with their constituents. It is an essential part of any communication program to stay connected with new and existing clients, establish and maintain a positive brand image and engage quickly and directly with target audiences.
We can help you increase your visibility and reach through blogs, Twitter and Facebook and help you keep close to your audience. Whether at home, in the office or on the run, social media allows you to keep your clients and potential clients engaged, informed and current.