A message for PR/marketing people: Can "history" work for your clients?
Dear Colleagues,
The answer to the question is a resounding Yes!, and here’s a quick example.
Several months ago, I was retained by a leading accounting firm in Boston to help plan their 100th anniversary. They contacted me because I happen to be a historian and PR/marketing professional.
I dug in to the historical research, and sure enough just last week we identified almost twenty solid PR/marketing opportunities that were ALL new ideas and ALL drawn from their history.
Now that they know their history, we will get them in front of the right people through events, story placements, and other outreach methods. We will populate their existing communications vehicles with engaging information. What’s more, because of their prominence in Boston, they will “infiltrate” the historical community for the first time in ways that will boost their reputation and visibility – again, in front of the right people.
Can this process work for your clients? Absolutely! A milestone anniversary provides a wonderful excuse to “do” a business’s history but, really, it’s helpful to know the stories, angles, and opportunities at any time.
I also suspect that some of your clients claim to be the “oldest” or the “first” in their region or industry without backing it up. I see this all the time, and I am stunned when businesses waste the chance to stand out in the crowd because of their history! People love this stuff.
And if your clients are located in historical communities (and who isn’t in New England?) are they taking advantage of their local history? Do they know that getting involved in their historical community in strategic ways can attract customers, boost their reputation, and earn customer loyalty?
This is what we do at History Smiths. We show businesses how they can use history to achieve important business goals.
And it works!
I invite you to visit our Web site where I have published dozens of articles , a free report on how “business” can benefit from “history,” and an ebook on how businesses can build momentum during their anniversary (cover image below). It might be useful for your files!
As you think about new PR and marketing ideas for your clients in 2011, please think of me as your historian colleague and give me a call!
I would love to talk further.
Bonnie Hurd Smith
978-741-1244
Categories: event planning, banks and marketing, public relations, businesses in historical communities, restaurant marketing, historic preservation, Bonnie Hurd Smith's historical work, civic projects, health business marketing, real estate marketing, community outreach, women's history, historical communities, customer loyalty, town pride, marketing in historical communities, leverage with history, attorneys and marketing, public history, customer relationships, corporate citizenship, community events, historical societies, human resources, financial services marketing, hotels in historical communities, credit union marketing, employer pride, family owned businesses, business history, your business's reputation, historical anniversaries, strategic partnerships, inspiring stories from history, businesses in historical buildings, beauty business marketing, staff motivation, family history, business anniversaries, getting new customers, bank pr, business milestones, local history, insurance agency marketing
Tags: business anniversarynew pr ideasnew marketing ideas
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