Speak Up: Seven Simple Tips That Speak To Your Business

Saxum began advising clients on communications strategies beginning in the third quarter and the Speak Up campaign took form in early October as the market crashed. Renzi Stone, Saxum|PR President and CEO, sent this memo to all clients on 10/22/08. We always think proactive communications is an ideal strategy.

Speak Up from Saxum Public Relations on Vimeo.

Build customer and client relationships.
Panic and uncertainty often cause a change in behavior. Do not let current clients and customers find a new home with the competition. Call them. E-mail them. Invite them to your office. Go to their office. Take them to lunch. Secure their loyalty for the long term.

Educate your employees about what this means for your industry.
Grow an army of advocates, internally. Make yourself visible and available to share valuable information with all internal audiences.

Invest in media relationships.
Media will closely cover the economy for at least the next year. There is no more cost effective, credible or better marketing than to reach new audiences by obtaining meaningful media coverage at this time.

Establish your company’s benefit to the community.
We all have less money, but we have a corporate social responsibility to continue to give. Do more than write a check. Get involved. Get your people involved. Instead of sending out holiday cards, give to a non-profit in a client’s or customer’s name. We did.

Keep advertising.
Now is not the time to pull back. Advertising is affordable and (when targeted) effective. Saxum believes the printed newspaper is still the best way to reach opinion leaders.

Be transparent. Gain trust.
Trust has never been at a higher premium. Trying to hide bad news or just hope it will go away is not a good strategy. With economic woes around every corner, your stakeholders will forgive you, but you must disclose any issues clearly and promptly.




Saxum began advising clients on communications strategies beginning in the third quarter and the Speak Up campaign took form in early October as the market crashed. Renzi Stone, Saxum\|PR President and CEO, sent this memo to all clients on 10/22/08. We always think proactive communications is an ideal strategy. Speak Up from Saxum Public Relations on Vimeo. SEVEN SIMPLE TIPS THAT SPEAK TO YOUR BUSINESS DURING THE NATIONAL RECESSION Build customer and client relationships. Panic and uncertainty often cause a change in behavior. Do not let current clients and customers find a new home with the competition. Call them. E-mail them. Invite them to your office. Go to their office. Take them to lunch. Secure their loyalty for the long term. Educate your employees about what this means for your industry. Grow an army of advocates, internally. Make yourself visible and available to share valuable information with all internal audiences. Invest in media relationships. Media will closely cover the economy for at least the next year. There is no more cost effective, credible or better marketing than to reach new audiences by obtaining meaningful media coverage at this time. Establish your company’s benefit to the community. We all have less money, but we have a corporate social responsibility to continue to give. Do more than write a check. Get involved. Get your people involved. Instead of sending out holiday cards, give to a non-profit in a client’s or customer’s name. We did. Keep advertising. Now is not the time to pull back. Advertising is affordable and (when targeted) effective. Saxum believes the printed newspaper is still the best way to reach opinion leaders. Be transparent. Gain trust. Trust has never been at a higher premium. Trying to hide bad news or just hope it will go away is not a good strategy. With economic woes around every corner, your stakeholders will forgive you, but you must disclose any issues clearly and promptly. Smile. The market will recover. Your 401(k) will grow again. Remember, nothing is lost if assets are held. Employees and customers are looking for leadership. A positive outlook goes a long way.
	SPEAK UP IN THE NEWS Q&A with Renzi Stone on NewsOK.com Video: Q&A with Renzi Stone on NewsOK.tv "Speak Up, Oklahoma" in the Journal Record SPREAD SPEAK UP Place this button on your Web site or social network (i.e. myspace, facebook) page. HTML Code: <a href="http://www.saxumpr.com/speakup"><img src="http://www.saxumpr.com/speakup/button/speak-up-button.jpg" width="262" height="76" border="0" /></a> Articles of Interest Optimism is the cure for the downturn - BBC News In a study of U.S. recessions, McGraw-Hill Research analyzed 600 companies from 1980-1985. The results showed that business-to-business firms that maintained or increased their advertising expenditures during the 1981-1982 recession averaged significantly higher sales growth, both during the recession and for the following three years, than those that eliminated or decreased advertising. By 1985, sales of companies that were aggressive recession advertisers *had risen 256%* over those that didn't keep up their advertising. In addition, a series of six studies conducted by the research firm of Meldrum & Fewsmith showed conclusively that advertising aggressively during recessions not only increases sales *but increases profits*. This fact has held true for all post-World War II recessions studied by The American Business Press starting in 1949.