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Sample case studies:
Kinetics Asset Management
Jump-starting a weak media relations program
Treasury Services Corporation (now a part of Oracle Corporation)
Propelling a privately-held firm toward acquisition
Stern Stewart & Co.
Building marketplace understanding through strategic use of speaking engagements and bylined articles
Our Services:
http://www.stephensongroup.com/cm/Services/Home.html
SG Differentiators:
Flexible, Need-Based Team Staffing - Stephenson Group’s unique account team staffing practices enable our account managers to put the right functional specialist on the right assignment at the right time. Like just-in-time logistics practices, our approach allows us to deploy our staff resources as needed, thereby holding down client costs while maximizing the value delivered.
Strategy - Yes, we can execute flawlessly, but that's only part of the picture. Stephenson Group adds value through strategic insights and creativity that emphatically set our clients apart from their competition.
Established Media and Industry Contacts - Our 15 years of experience means Stephenson Group knows where to find the news value in our clients' stories, and how to get those stories in front of the right audience. We don’t waste our clients' investment or the media's time on communications that hold little value for the targeted audience. We have proven success with print, broadcast and online media.
Revenue Generation Focus - There are many kinds of communications focus. Stephenson Group focuses on growing assets under management to generate increased revenue for our clients.
Vertical Industry Expertise - Our knowledge and experience in PR for vertical markets, highlighting our ability to achieve placements in vertical press and secure speaking engagements at industry events, is instrumental in increasing revenue and expanding market presence for our client firms. We have a proven track record for entering and penetrating new verticals for our clients rapidly and effectively because we understand the process of doing so.
Size - We’re large enough to offer a wealth of resources, yet small enough to deliver personalized attention, flexibility and efficiency. Our clients receive a level of attention no large agency can match.
Referral Resource - Our clients rely on us to help network and stay informed about targeted industries through our extensive relationships with industry analysts, media, associations, and other resources. Some clients say we earned our fees just based on the introductions we’ve made for them.
Powerful Competitive Intelligence - We often start by gathering powerful intelligence on each client’s behalf. Stephenson Group’s exceptional in-house research capabilities create a competitive advantage for clients by arming them with in-depth information about their own market and product positioning, as well as competitors’. Using ongoing market and competitive research, we work with clients to continually refine and target their communications strategies.
Budget Dexterity - We have a unique billing arrangement that leaves our clients continually in control of their budget and allows it to fluctuate month-to-month based on opportunities and internal needs, maximizing ROI by focusing budget where and when results are most likely.
We Understand Time - We know our clients’ time is best spent running their businesses. We identify our clients’ business goals up front and then free their time by taking responsibility for implementing PR and marketing strategy. We’re also responsive in a way the big firms aren’t able to be. Our turnaround times and ability to put an expert on a task immediately give our clients a competitive edge.
The SG/Client Relationship:
Stephenson Group manages client accounts using a hub-and-spoke team-based structure that enables us to:
- Develop expertise in specific functional areas, rather than relying on account manager generalists to conduct most account activities.
- Respond to change rapidly, ramping up or down as news and opportunities shift, creating varying demands for particular tactical responses.
- Maximize client resources, applying budget to prioritized activities and opportunities rather than to support a dedicated team at a level of equilibrium regardless of the flow of news and other shifting circumstances.
- Integrate smoothly with other teams, whether internal to our client firm, other client vendor agencies, or international PR partners.
The account lead is responsible and accountable for executing the strategies and tactics defined in our Global Interface/Stephenson Group joint planning sessions. He/she is responsible for allocating and orchestrating the efforts of the other Stephenson Group team members, the interaction of those staffers with Global Interface, and assuring that efficient time management processes are at work in all phases of the program. Account managers excel at assuring that the right resource is available at the right time, within the budget parameters.
We are adept at working with multiple entities. Our team-based operating model is the perfect structure for doing this. All of our employees are accustomed to thinking of external organization representatives as members of their team, and likewise think of themselves as members of our client’s team, operating comfortably in both roles.
As a first step in any client relationship, we identify the reporting responsibilities of all entities and the communication flow our client requires. This exercise is part of our kick-off planning meeting. We have found that the following communication procedure works best for most of our clients, enabling us to respond immediately to client needs while eliminating wasted time and missed phone calls. While we prefer this procedure because of its success with our clients, we are also flexible about adapting our communications practices to your preferences.
- Daily email/phone correspondence as needed
- Scheduled weekly conference calls to review status
- Semi-monthly budget status updates
- Monthly written status reports, with follow-up call/meeting to discuss strategies, news opportunities and priorities for the coming month
- Quarterly onsite strategy and evaluation meetings
Partial Client List:
http://www.stephensongroup.com/cm/Company/Clients.html |