Public relations strategy

Sound public relations strategy accounts for relationships with ALL applicable publics.

Publics? As in plural? What does that mean?

Customers are a public. Employees are a public. Taxpayers are a public. Investors are a public, as are constituents and suppliers.

Organizations may experience negative press when they fail to balance the best interests of all stakeholders and publics. What makes sense to you may not always make sense in the press, so calibration is sometimes a necessary part of a public relations strategy. Never have any expectations that sustained, willful bad practices can simply be kept secret or “spun” indefinitely. However, good practices and the intent behind them are worthy of credit from the media and favorable public consideration.

Neither Triumph Business Communications nor any other firm can make you into something you are not. However, don’t miss an opportunity to put your best foot forward. Better yet, create the opportunity. We can help you ensure that media coverage reflects your perspective.

Triumph can conduct a thorough audit of your public relations strategy, planning, and execution. Our process of audit will provide a roadmap to optimize your organization’s public relations. A plan is developed based on the results of the audit. The detailed plan can then be implemented by in-house communications staff, or with assistance from Triumph.

This audit is conducted with an emphasis on message integrity. In other words, marketing communications and media communications should reflect one another. Your public relations and public image should agree with your brand.

If your organization does not have a strategy, or needs a new one, Triumph, in collaboration with your organization’s leadership, can develop one for you.

Then, we help you execute it.

External media

Media attention is like lightning. It can do great things for you if you can harness its power, but it can also destroy you. At times, it is relentless, since news cycles are constant. It is unpredictable, uncontrollable, and at times, biased. These realities will not change, but with our help, you can array the power of media to your advantage. Wise leaders welcome opportunities for publicity and proactively seek it. It can be used in the service of gaining investors, partners, customers, and allies.

We have used many methods of media engagement to obtain tangible results for clients. A media relations effort is an investment of time and resources. However, it buys more credibility than advertising, and can be considerably less expensive. The effects can be measured in sales, stock price, and brand equity, multiplying returns on public relations investment. Our goal is positive, accurate coverage.

Nobody is exactly the same. Your story is unlike any other, and so your media strategy should be unlike any other. We have worked with media of all types, in every size market, leading up to the world’s leading news organizations, such as CNN, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the major networks. The publicity value garnered amounted to millions of dollars, sometimes from one story alone.

Additionally, introductory press releases are available at preferred rates for customers of Triumph Business Services using the Triumph System.

Internal communication

We are experienced at writing quality newsletters, web content, and other forms of communication with internal publics, such as employees or suppliers. This is a crucial task, especially in events of organizational stress, such as mergers or downsizing.

In 1993, our founder was responsible for constituent communications in the office of the Florida State Senate President while in college. Since then, he has authored newsletters, web content, and other forms of organizational communication for Lykes Bros., Inc., Bank of America, and the U.S. Marine Corps, where he published a base newspaper. The list does not end there. Triumph brings you high standards and deep experience.

Community engagement

Triumph Business Communications can assist your organization enhance its reputation and influence where you live and do business. Through speaker’s bureaus, networking, sponsorships, community organization involvement and other forms of public involvement, your organization becomes a good neighbor. Triumph can help guide the involvement of leaders and people from all levels of your organization with influencers, policy makers, and elected officials.

Crisis management

If you have been the subject of media coverage you consider unfair, we can help. If you do not believe a recent story about you or your organization accurately reflects your version of events, we can help.

Negative coverage must be confronted. Either you define yourself, or it will be done for you, and the results can be disastrous. The media storm will eventually subside, but the damaging effects can remain for a long time in the form of low morale, stock price, lost market share, and shattered careers.

If you anticipate negative coverage or have received it, don’t waste time. Address it. Don’t duck it or avoid it with a, “no comment”. If you refuse to comment, you leave an information vacuum to be filled by someone else.

Why should information about you be on someone else’s terms? At Triumph Business Communications, we take an aggressive approach. We use strategies that were proven effective in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the onset of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Principles of public affairs in war are applicable to your crisis. Accordingly, when you need a trained and experienced specialist, Triumph is there.

We can take the lead with the press, coordinating with your management, legal team, and communications team, if you have one, helping you through this stressful and uncertain time. Once it passes, we plan and execute a recovery strategy. While there are no guarantees, it is possible to emerge from a crisis in a stronger position.

Opportunity is frequently hidden within a crisis.

Spokesperson development and training

We help prepare people within your organization for media encounters and train them in the art of spokesmanship. Additionally, we prepare detailed talking points and questions and answers, and we can manage the actual media interview. It does not matter if the spokesperson is the CEO or any employee. We can help your people showcase your organization.

Social media

Social media sites have provided new opportunities for exposure and more intimate interaction. Smaller, local businesses and organizations are able to stage events or occasions and invite fans, followers, customers, or prospects, or keep them updated with the latest news. Social media can be integrated into a total public relations strategy, and we can help.