Outreach & Engagement

Our Capabilities

We help our clients to think through the “why,” then craft and deliver messages through a comprehensive, tailored outreach program designed to reach, move and engage the right people to take action. Our clients routinely turn to us on large projects involving multiple groups of stakeholders to develop, implement and measure their strategic communication efforts. And often times, we know the needs of our client so well that we help identify where outreach should be taking place, thinking proactively about needs to help put the focus squarely on the issues. We have spent the past four decades developing close relationships that are invaluable in helping to “carry the message,” and we have an acute understanding of the forces at play in the markets in which our clients operate. In short, we know the issues and we are familiar with the players — let us help tell your story.

Our Approach

Our approach is simple — we communicate simply and effectively to foster awareness and understanding, mitigate concerns of stakeholders or the relevant publics, and facilitate a clear, transparent dialogue among our clients and their various stakeholders. We are outreach experts, capable of both guiding and executing communications efforts comprised of one or more of the following elements:

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

For large efforts or programs that involve multiple groups of stakeholders (public or private), it is imperative that outreach be structured in a way that is both proactive and interactive.

Whether it is the introduction of new public policy or the development of an infrastructure improvements program, “getting the word out” is important, but reaching the right audience is paramount.

Often times, there may be strong political and grassroots, community-based forces at work that can be overlooked in the rollout of a program, policy, or set aside for the purposes of planning.

Through our experience and expertise developed through decades of work with local, state and regional organizations — most recently serving as community outreach managers for the Green Light Plan, a $650 million infrastructure improvements program designed to increase capacity and decrease severe traffic congestion across Baton Rouge’s arterial road system — we have learned the key to success is to build and maintain those open lines of communication that are both proactive and interactive.

As issues arise, especially in the early stages of an initiative, it is imperative that all input is welcomed, opinions are solicited, and concerns are addressed. The end result of constant, interactive outreach among a project team and the stakeholders it may potentially affect is one that stakeholders may not support, but one for which they understand the basis and rationale. In addition to developing understanding, this kind of proactive outreach is also highly effective in fostering goodwill (for both the present and future). In the planning and design stages, this becomes even more imperative.

We develop easy-to-understand messages to proactively engage and educate our client’s stakeholders through a transparent, open process that fosters awareness at all levels — bringing the interests of our clients, the community and the government together into a level of consensus that becomes critical to the success of the overall effort.

FACILITATION OF PUBLIC FORUMS

Throughout the planning, design and rollout stages of any initiative, it is vital for an organization to proactively seek input, solicit opinions, and address outstanding concerns from its stakeholders through a transparent, open process. To support this, we work with our clients to design and facilitate public meetings and hearings that bring together various agendas and interests, along with the communities they each represent, to coalesce in a way that appease all involved in the decision making and public vetting process.

In our experience, the goal of a public meeting or set of public forums is simple — to help our client foster an open dialogue across political, community, and/or business channels, serving as a critical step in promoting understanding and goodwill critical to the success of any major effort or impactful initiative.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

We create and manage both websites and social media fan pages to engage audiences who turn to the web for information. We write concise, compelling copy and create engaging, graphically appealing designs to ensure our clients’ messages stand out above the rest.

SPECIAL EVENTS

We develop speakers’ agendas, manage logistics, coordinate outreach to invitees and speakers, develop speaking points, and more for various special events, including grand openings, public meetings, press conferences, summits, rallies and launch campaigns.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

We develop strategic, proactive public relations plans to enhance your image and reputation, garner support for specific issues or programs, and increase awareness about other messages of importance. And then we help you execute.

MEDIA RELATIONS

Through effective media relations, we help our clients build credibility, gain public trust and raise awareness about their issues or programs. We develop media releases, manage media inquiries, coordinate meetings with reporters and editorial boards, and develop proactive programs to secure positive coverage.