Helping our clients achieve their organization's objectives through enhanced communications with target audiences.

That sure sounds good.

But, what it means is that we offer a comprehensive array of communications programs to enhance public relations and public affairs programs.  Included on this menu are such programs as:

• Quantitative and Qualitative Research
• Strategic Planning
• Media Relations (including statewide editorial boards, press conferences, etc.)
• Media Training
• Community Relations
• Internal Communications
• Advertising, Design and Media Negotiation (working with one of many partner firms)
• Government Relations (working with one of our partner firms to provide direct advocacy)
• Federal Government Representation (working with Manning Selvage & Lee's Washington office)
• Grassroots Campaign Development
• Coalition Management and Development

Crisis Communications 

We pride ourselves on our ability to prepare clients and provide them with communications counsel during times of crisis.  Combining a proactive approach with media, community and political savvy has earned Pierce Communications a reputation as the firm to call when attention is being focused on an organization.

Our approach to crisis communication management is rooted in several key principles:

Be Prepared

We work with clients to prepare them for the eventualities of a crisis through the development of a crisis plan, media training, scenario testing and a program of regular updates.  This process gives clients the ability to feel in-control during a crisis situation, able to communicate effectively and confidently during difficult situations.  The bottom line is that crisis communications begins well before the actual crisis takes place.

Know Your Audience

Before a crisis breaks, we work with clients to identify key audiences and begin outreach efforts.  As the old saying goes, “When you really need friends, it’s too late to start making them.”  Utilizing our media and community relations expertise, clients build stronger relationships with their community leaders, opinion-makers and politicians in advance of and during a crisis.  Utilizing this approach, our clients are able to mitigate negative perceptions generated during a crisis and, in fact, create a positive “spin” on the situation.

Control Communications

One of the most important techniques during a crisis is to ensure that external and internal communications are controlled and planned.  Too often crisis situations spin out of control when communications are disjointed, inconsistent or unauthorized.  Pierce Communications works with clients to identify communications responsibilities (hopefully, in advance of the crisis) and very carefully control outreach, especially to external audiences such as the media.

Be Proactive

Often, organizations in crisis wait until the issues of the day have defined them instead of striving to set the communications agenda.  We believe that during a crisis, proactive communication is even more important than ever.  Our crisis response team works with clients to quickly communicate with key audiences, enabling better control of the communications agenda and increasing the likelihood of finding a positive outcome from the situation.