Public Relations, Advertising, & Reputation Management

little guy branding is your one-stop shop. We have experience in both traditional PR and PR-based internet marketing, advertising, and reputation management.

What is Public Relations or PR?

Public Relations is the technique of publishing content, then spreading the content, to create awareness of a product, brand, or even person.

Say your business gets featured on the evening news – this is an example of “Earned Media.” Meaning, the content is so good, a big traditional advertiser like TV shares it. Anything they share puts their rep on the line. So, if they are willing to share it, for free, you’ve “earned” it.

“Paid Media” is the same thing, but you pay for it. Sometimes you pay a social media influencer directly. Other tines, you work directly with a brand.

Public relations has changed a lot over last 10 years

The promotion of information and concepts in an effort to alter public perception is no longer solely the domain of traditional print, radio, and TV advertising.

The rise of social media challenged, and loosened, PRs’ grip on being the 800 lbs gorilla in the room.

Brands can now directly communicate with their targeted consumer in many ways that were unthought-of years ago. Direct feedback, suggestions, and creative teasers all add to compelling dialogue that is important to a brand’s growth and consumer awareness.

Social media gave customers the ability to “cut out the middleman” of a perceived third-wheeling PR agency (And NO ONE likes third-wheeling, amirite?).

Especially because using a PR firm has been historically regarded as expensive, and therefore unattainable to all brands and businesses, specifically the little guy.

But, rather than being antagonistic, PR and social really do work together – when the messaging is intentionally honed and the targets clearly defined.

From there, advertising is strategized and implemented alongside PR. Digital strategy is a critical component of any public relations campaign.

What does a public relations manager do?

A good PR manager is hustling their butt off for you!

Their primary job is outreach to media outlets and other content distributors that are in-line with your messaging and brand.

Maybe it is via cold email or phone call. Maybe they reach out to personal contacts within an industry.

In PR, you are really paying for relationships and the widest possible spread of your content that you can project.

They will also create timelines, content calendars, and help develop an overall PR strategy before you even publish a single piece of content.

In short, a great PR professional will connect you directly to your audience. Think of them like your agent. They know that if working together is profitable for you, the relationship will continue.

It is our stance that successful PR + advertising = reputation management.

Once strategy is determined and confirmed, we begin the process of implementation by creating the assets you need, broadcasting them, then monitoring the process so you can see the results and determine your ROI.

So, what kinds of PR and advertising do we specialize in?

Types of Public Relations:

Internet Marketing

Internet Marketing is all about getting found on the web. We utilize several methods for a successful internet marketing campaign that will get you found on the web. Then we use various approaches to turn those people into paying customers. Some of the tools we use are:

• Website Creation
• Blogging
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Social Media
• Online Paid Ads
• Landing Pages
• Email Marketing

Traditional Marketing

When you have a clear understanding of your brand, it is time to get your message to the public. It is more than the simple communication of who you are and what your service or product is. 

Traditional marketing encompasses everything about your contact with your customer, from the moment they are introduced to your company, to every contact they have with your employees. We help you make a great first impression. Key parts include:

• TV
• Press Releases
• Radio
• Direct Mail
• Phone

Advertising

A good marketing strategy typically involves using a variety of advertising channels, with a clear understanding of the purpose for each. At lgx, we look at advertising channels like tools in a toolbox. We want to make sure that we evaluate all the available tools and choose the best tools for the job.

• Video/Commercial Production
• Print
• Direct Marketing
• Outdoor Advertising
• Media Buying and Placement
• Graphic Design

Social Media Influencer Marketing

Social media influencer marketing is using a well-known social media personality to broadcast your message or product to their audience across multiple platforms. Social media influencers are seen as experts in their particular field or speciality. 

Rather than marketing to a large, general audience, the influencer gives you access to a very specific audience that is aligned with your brand or products. 

There are multiple possible ways to deploy content in this format:

• Influencer blog post
• Social media posts and @ mentioned of your brand/product
• E-blasts

Business Consulting

At lgx, we are invested in wanting our clients to wildly succeed in their businesses and we offer our consulting services as needed to assist in that success. In our 11 years of business, we have learned about every conceivable industry or thing people do to make money. And we can help you avoid common mistakes. And, be an objective sounding board that sees things that may have been overlooked. 

Your success is OUR success, literally. 90% of our clients come from referrals. Our consulting services include:

• Business/Organization Development
• Business Promotion Strategy
• Marketing & Business Plans
• Ongoing Strategic Counsel

As your marketing consultant we use our experience and contacts to help you choose the services that are right for your business.

Reputation Management

Reputation management is the act of monitoring, influencing, and growing the reputation of a brand or person. We want to influence what is being said about our brand, particularly online, and guide the conversation to a positive slant. 

Think about how Crisis Communication works after a major threat to the business has been publically discovered. Reputation management is the art of influencing, and avoiding, the need for crisis communication. 

Examples include:

• Monitoring and Responding to Google My Business Reviews
• Press Releases
• Paid Social Promotion
• Community Involvement
• Subject Matter Expert Appearances

Contact us today; we’d love to hear about what you’re working on.