public relations Indianapolis

Public Relations Consultant–It’s a bad phrase to describe a real pro

Rae Hostetler · Nov 1, 2013 ·

Although some professionals may call me one, I am not a fan of the phrase public relations consultant. The word consultant means to impart advice. I, along with many other public relations and communications consultants with whom I work, do so much more for clients. And often the clients are pleasantly surprised by the scope of connections and skills that turn their business outreach goals a reality.

Over the past 14 years working as a public relations professional, my style has evolved to become a professional who works as an extension of a client company’s staff. We’re a trusted partner. Clients confide in us, and yes we provide counsel. The best part is really what happens after the counsel concludes and the work begins. That’s when we become the tacticians. This is the list of everything we do and have done for clients.

Message Development–Ever try to write your company’s story? It’s hard! Is it real? Is it what your client and partners would say? That’s why we don’t just counsel a client to make a message. We make it for them. We interview employees, their clients, vendor partners and anyone else close them. We ask questions about what they think of the company, how they describe the people and more. That’s where the story becomes true and the brand becomes authentic. Then we write the message and present it to the client. We also help them integrate it into their communications systems via planning.

Planning–We don’t just tell clients what to do, we use the messages, identify their audiences, research the marketing communications options, write them down on paper (not just tell them), find out how much it costs and create a timeline. Maybe a client has someone on staff who can do the work. Great! We bring that professional into the process to create along with us. Maybe they don’t have someone to do the work. We have partners who do graphic design, photography, videos, internal communications and all of those other communications tactics that complement our integrated marketing and public relations expertise. I also co-own a company that helps client to find professionals at affordable rates.

The tactical work…

Writing–and a lot of it! Letters, news releases, websites, social media, blogs, byline articles, employee memos, company descriptions for websites/online and the list goes on and on.
Community Relations–We’re actually working with a client right now to craft a new community relations program. This project means consulting and meetings, yes, but it also means events, connections and ideas.
Working with reporters–There are a lot of them in Indianapolis and I am fortunate to have built great relationships with many journalists. If you want to have an article written and published, it’s not as easy as you’d think. It takes many phone calls, conversations and connections.
Trade Shows–A client recently decided it was time to get involved in trade shows. We created the trade show graphics, planned the communications, prepared their speaker for his presentation via editing PowerPoint slides and updating brochures (writing/graphics/printing).
Email newsletters–Writing and keeping up with the graphics to make the content readable and consistent with message is part of our weekly work flow.
Websites–Build it and they will come. So not true. We write the content and have partners who design and tech it out to our specs. Then we optimize it for Google and other search engines. Adding those blogs noted above keeps the content fresh and Google happy because you keep feeding content.
Meeting prep and planning-I’ve work with clients to prepare small business meeting forums–AKA Roadshows.
Photos–Some clients don’t have big budgets. I have a camera. I take a few photos and then they own the photos instead of buying them from a stock photo company or having a photographer come in to do staged shots. The latter, I’ve also coordinated for clients with bigger budgets.

This list could go on and on. So if your truly wondering what a public relations consultant in Indianapolis can do for your business… just ask them. Chances are they’ll do a whole lot more than you’d ever expect to help you achieve your communication’s goals.

Are you DIY’ing public relations in your Indianapolis company? Why?

Rae Hostetler · Oct 17, 2013 ·

2014 is coming! Yep, it’s true we’re 60-plus a few days until the New Year. It’s that magical date when business starts new in Indianapolis–with new budgets, goals and ROI measurements. Are you prepared?

In our work with mid-market business leaders and non-profit leaders, many are thinking about what they need to continue business growth in 2014. The New Year is a time when they put plans and ideas on paper. They get excited thinking they can DIY their communications in the New Year. About 30 to 60 days in, the plan starts to fall apart. Business is brisk and communications initiatives fall to the bottom of the “to do” list by February.

It happens to all of us. Heck, it happens to me! I have prospects that confessed these truths and then turned client. It’s ok to throw up that white flag and call for marketing/communications reinforcements. It’s easy to say I can find time to do this, but often hard to admit that someone else can do it better, stronger and faster.

I recently compared this notion to home fixes with a new client. Yes, my husband and I know how to paint a wall, but we have a great painter who does it so much better than we can. This is a guy who doesn’t even need to tape his lines at the baseboards and trim. His hand is so steady the line is perfectly straight and beautiful. No way I could do it that well!

Convinced and ready to talk to a professional? I encourage you to ask yourself the following questions–think hard about them. Then call me. If we’re not a good fit, I’ve got a lot of great connections around town and would be happy to find the best fit for your business.

How do I want to grow my business in the New Year?
Who’s my target market? Name companies and people!
Where will I find these business leaders or consumers? Where do these people hang out? (PR practitioners can help with this question.)
How far out do I need to plan my prospecting on the calendar to generate business leads and phone calls?
What’s my story? Can everyone in my company share the same story, well?
What tools am I going to use to attract these people so they know who I am, what I stand for and to call me!?

The best first conversations I have with new clients happen when the business leader can solidly answer these questions. They know their business initiatives and see their future clearly. Why is this important to me and fellow public relations professionals? With a firm business directive, we recommend public relations strategies to communicate your image and work alongside your staff to drive business where you want it to be–together.

Days like this make me wonder…

Rae Hostetler · Feb 1, 2011 ·

In public relations we recommend our clients have a crisis plan in place. Often they wonder why?

Days like this in the Midwest should be the obvious reason why. Just in case you’re reading this from a sunny and warm part of the country–today Indianapolis is the center of an ice-tastrophy. We already have about an inch of ice on the ground and we’re now hearing the tap-tap-tapping of more hitting our windows. If that’s not enough–when the ice is done about 4 a.m. this morning, we’re expecting snow to land softly atop the largest skating rink created in decades.

So how are companies communicating with their employees and clients if they are closing, have deliveries, installs and client expectations? Some don’t know. As a result they probably sound pretty heavy handed. Others have a plan in place and they are simply activating it. A great example, my husband works for one of the largest banks in the country. He came home last night with laptop in hand and said he’d received an email stating: which areas of the country were anticipated to be impacted, make sure you know your “phone tree” communication system and be safe–basically work from home please. Meanwhile my niece, who also works for a very large company here in Indianapolis, got an email stating the company doesn’t close for weather-related emergencies, so use your judgment about whether to come to the office.She’s young, just out of college. That left her saying–what am I supposed to do?

Bottom line… we know they’ll be days like this. Is your organization prepared to effectively communicate? It doesn’t take long to outline a plan of action–especially on a warm sunny day! Write it down, share it with employees and hopefully you won’t have to activate it for another few years!