Top-notch PR for Smaller Companies

Communiqué Public Relations is a Seattle-based boutique PR firm that provides strategic counsel and tactical execution to help companies achieve their business objectives. Founder Jennifer Gehrt started the firm in February 2004 after working in a large agency with clients such as MasterCard International, Boeing, and Microsoft®. She recognized that smaller companies, early in their lifecycle, needed the same kind of expert PR support that larger companies enjoyed. Jennifer set out on her own to fit that niche.

Challenge: Promoting Yourself, Not Just Your Clients

As a PR expert, Jennifer knew that in order to grow her agency's client base she had to publicize her expertise and accomplishments. "I knew that it was critically important that I provide smart, sophisticated, and professional-looking communications to potential clients in order to establish my credibility," she says.

Jennifer knew that sending an e-newsletter could help fit the bill, but she wasn't sure how to proceed without becoming a technical expert or incurring a lot of cost. Then she discovered Constant Contact. "I loved that it was really easy to use and I didn't need a background in HTML. I was managing so many different aspects of my business and needed to find an email service that was simple," Jennifer says.

Solution: Providing Tasteful Publicity with Email Marketing

Jennifer sent out her first e-newsletter in August 2005, and now uses the service to stay in touch with her clients and keep her business in front of them. "We use Constant Contact to distribute a newsletter to current and prospective clients and friends of our firm. Every time we send a newsletter, we get responses from people who are interested in learning more about our business.We send it every six weeks, and post current and past editions on our website. We announce new clients and staff, provide tips on how to be effective in PR, and highlight work we've done," she says. Her e-newsletters have an above average open rate of 40%, which illustrates that she is offering content her audience values.

Communiqué Public Relations is reaching more and more people with its newsletters. The firm's list, which started with 150 subscribers, is now up to 700. "We started small, asking the contacts I had in Microsoft® Outlook® if we could add them to the list. Everyone in the firm also asked friends and colleagues if they wanted to be added, and many did. Now, whenever we are traveling or at trade shows, we collect emails of friends of the firm and potential clients and ask if we can add them to the list," she says.

Results: Spurring Immediate Growth with Email Marketing

Jennifer sees Communiqué Public Relations' e-newsletter as one of the reasons her company is experiencing excellent growth. She says that client response to the newsletter has been overwhelming and it has helped to bring in new business. "Our clients were delighted to be featured in our e-newsletter, and we received several new business inquiries as a result, including one from a Fortune 500 company. We are working for that company now and would never have been considered if it had not been for Constant Contact. Every time we send a newsletter, we get responses from people who are interested in learning more about our business," she says.

Jennifer thinks so highly of Constant Contact's tasteful, unobtrusive marketing approach that she frequently recommends it to clients. "Constant Contact has an amazing product accompanied by impressive customer support. I have recommended it to other people who are now using it and loving it."