Real PR

Real PR

Companies are continually struggling with decisions about their place in the market, ability to sustain themselves and capability to grow. Some businesses think that "PR", such as publicity or collateral materials, may be the answer.

While Hart Public Relations provides such services, I prefer to work with clients to determine the cause of their problems, and from there, ascertain whether or not public relations may be part of the solution. In fact, Gini Dietrich, a colleague from Chicago, wrote a good explanatory post on public relations that should be read before anyone makes a decision on whether or not such services might be useful.

Once the determination is made that professional public relations services are needed, Hart Public Relations facilitates a proprietary process called Real PR℠. Academically speaking, Real PR is a planned communications approach to affect human behavior, the ultimate function of public relations.

Practically speaking, Real PR is a comprehensive and intensive discovery process to help clients determine who they truly are, what they stand for, what makes them different, what needs they meet and for whom. The process combines the best of public relations, branding and marketing skills sets, a rarely found combination. The final deliverable specifies the steps, timeframe and cost to help resolve their problems.

Other benefits for clients include:

• providing clarity of mission, purpose and vision
• producing a strategic public relations and marketing plan to capitalize on the discovery process
• helping them figure out what they want to be when they grow up (their words, not ours)

Recent client projects include:

Collaborative Site Solutions

A unique scenario in the commercial real estate industry, three separate and successful entities wanted a cohesive branding package without a formal merger and with the option to operate independently. These entities included a commercial real estate company (Kabat Real Estate Solutions), a commercial developer (Browning Development Solutions) and a commercial contractor (new name - Pace Building Solutions). Our brand development program, which served dual purposes of creating a new identity and strengthening the internal team, resulted in the collective entities branding themselves as Collaborative Site Solutions to appropriately reflect their business model and strategic goals.

Bedroc - Formerly ICV Solutions

A fast-growing technology consultancy, ICV Solutions wanted to distinguish itself from a crowded field of competitors and distance itself from the image of being “just another value-added retailer” or VAR.  Our customized methodology helped them discover their authentic traits, unique client offerings and differentiation from other product sellers. Results included a new name, new message platform and new graphic styles that more appropriately reflected the company's strengths of experience, knowledge and relationships. The company now operates as Bedroc, Building a Strong Technology Foundation, Within a year of launch its rebranding, the company quadrupled in revenue and doubled in personnel.

Beacon Center of Tennessee - Fomerly the Tennessee Center for Policy Research

Best known as the state's free market think tank, this independent organization's original name presented challenges because it was perceived to be a government or government-funded entity. Plus, its mission was unclear among its key audiences of lawmakers and the general public. The privately funded group wanted a new brand and image that would accurately reflect its purpose and services. The result of the rebranding process included the new and timeless name of the Beacon Center of Tennessee, with an updated tag line of "Lighting the Way for Freedom and Prosperity". A new and timeless message platform also was developed from which all other marketing and communications tactics continue to originate.