Americans are increasingly making it clear that they expect the same level of communication from government as they enjoy with brands in other industries. This is especially true when it comes to digital engagement. In a survey of more than 3,000 U.S. citizens conducted by Accenture in mid-2016, 85 percent of respondents said they expect the same or higher quality from government digital services as they do from commercial organizations, up from 73 percent in 2014. Each government agency has a unique mission and its own strategic needs for providing services to the public. Outreach activities must link back to the agency’s stated goals to be meaningful and actionable.

We’ve managed several public awareness campaigns, working at various levels of government from county to municipal. In each case, we’re brought in for our expertise in relationship building, strong communication, and our ability to mobilize. Walking the tightrope between disparate groups of constituents, citizens, and businesses take finesse and an ability to mediate and resolve conflict. In the end, we have prevailed in our efforts.

We believe in being responsible and thoughtful corporate citizens. In helping organizations that provide needed services to the community, we’re able to contribute to the greater good. A community engagement program builds loyalty not by driving sales or generating leads, but by helping residents meet their needs. Marketers must understand that robust communities are built not on brand reputation but on an understanding of residents’ lives.

We’ve helped many community organizations with various aspects of marketing, public relations, and engagement. Each entity is unique in how they operate and serve their community members. But in every case, we’ve found that these groups need help with marketing and public relations programs. They don’t have the necessary skillset in-house. They are too bust making a difference. So, we help them get the job done.

Institutions that cater to very specific audiences with special services are not like other businesses. Their mission isn’t to sell more products and services, but to offer education, certification, research, etc. to their members. Higher enrollment is often one of the major goals for marketing programs, but other goals may include brand building, public relations, event management, or reputation management. We’ve worked closely with several institutions over the years. In each case, they’ve hired us for a specific skillset that they lack or the time they don’t have. In addition, it’s our connections to the greater communities of food, beverages, travel, and lifestyle that make us a strong partner and ally.