Gracie Communications can help brainstorm new ideas, provide additional research or act as an extra brain on an important project or proposal. We offer a fresh and innovative viewpoint to your current or future communications initiatives and are just enough on the outside of your business structure that we can keep an uncluttered perspective and catch opportunities.

At Gracie Communications we focus on the long-term. Throughout our planning process we will meet with your key decision makers, explore the competition, analyze trends in your industry and city, and learn all we can about your market niche and work culture. Only when this research is complete will we develop a comprehensive plan that includes measurable goals, strategies and implementation tactics and metrics — a plan that works in tandem with your business goals. If our strategic planning process seems front-loaded, it is. We believe that thorough research and a deep understanding of your market, competition and audiences are the first steps to successful strategic communications.

At Gracie Communications we believe public relations is more than press releases and news conferences. Effective PR requires two-way communication and mutual problem solving. Gracie Communications will help you establish relationships with the public, through the media as well as directly with your audiences, by utilizing key components of public relations.

[ + ] Media Relations Gracie Communications will help you build relationships online as well as with publications and broadcast outlets. We’ll pitch story ideas, write opinion pieces, and introduce you to the reporters and editors you need to know. And if you find your company in crisis mode, Gracie Communications will work with you to help manage your interactions with the media and provide your audiences with timely and honest information about the solutions you are implementing. [ + ] Community Relations Gracie Communications will help take your programs and ideas into the community — to schools, churches, barbershops and the mall as well as boardrooms, town council chambers and the Statehouse — and find ways to build trust and work together to achieve common goals. We’ll do the legwork necessary to make introductions, develop meeting agendas and help you manage these important relationships. [ + ] Presentation and Speech Writing Conventional wisdom says you only get one chance to make a good first impression. Gracie Communications will work with you to turn your thoughts and ideas into concise, memorable presentations that help leave a strong and lasting impression on your audiences. And to take your presentation or speech to the next level, our network of creative freelancers can provide visuals, music or interactive elements to strengthen your message and heighten your audience’s experience. [ + ] Internal Communications Gracie Communications will help you identify the most effective ways to communicate with team members to ensure that your messages are reaching the most relevant audiences within your company — your staff, volunteers and board members. Utilizing such tools as company Intranet, newsletters, e-mails, voicemails, and company events, we will help you create the advocates you need within your business to be successful. [ + ] Word-of-Mouth Communications Gracie Communications will help you identify and implement cutting-edge word-of-mouth methods that best align with your business values and goals. These might include starting a blog, creating affinity groups, forming speaker bureaus, or making sure you are on the right committees, boards and lists in your community to help share your company values with your audiences.

In the same way an outside consultant might be brought in to audit financial records, Gracie Communications can periodically audit the methods you use to communicate with your audiences. We have developed a process in which we collect all your communications materials and assess the overall strengths and opportunities of your current communications systems. Depending on your budget and needs, our final audit report can include vendor analysis, revised communication timeline, recommendations on branding elements, suggestions on writing style, as well as feedback on how to avoid communication duplication across departments.

If your existing staff is working at capacity to implement annual communication tactics, Gracie Communications can supply the extra manpower needed to implement special projects. With our experience in production management, vendor negotiations and event planning, we can help you execute events such as capital campaigns, corporate anniversaries or sales incentive programs. What’s more, if you need a more robust team but don’t have the time to manage it, Gracie Communications can serve as your account manager. We can provide assistance for short- and long-term projects, from tracking the production of your shareholders reports to handling the details of your 25th anniversary celebration.