Maryville, Tenn. — Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC, a public relations and reputation management firm in Maryville, Tenn., won “Best in Show” and multiple top honors at the annual awards dinner of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Volunteer Chapter on May 12 at Hunter Valley Farm.

The event also honored Kevin Painter of LeConte Wealth Management with the Community Service Award, which recognizes an individual or organization who has used public relations practices to improve the quality of life within East Tennessee communities.

The agency won “Best in Show” for the 2010 holiday media relations campaign for Dandy Lions as well as 10 “Award of Excellence” honors in the following categories:

• Public Service: Blount Education Initiative
• Media Relations: Dandy Lions 2010 Holiday Campaign
• Public Affairs/Government: Expanding Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Scientific User Community
• Marketing Consumer Products: Rainscapes
• Marketing Consumer Services (Financial): LeConte Wealth Management
• Marketing Business-to-Business: Interactive Springboard 2010 Launch Campaign
• Writing (Column): LeConte Wealth Management “Purpose-Built Portfolio”
• Collaterals (Direct Mail): Rainscapes 2010 Direct Mail Campaign
• Website (Professional Service): Rainscapes website
• Blogs: Mary Beth West Consulting “In the Profession” Blog

Joe Bogardus, Mary Beth West, Amy Schwinge, Mallorie Mendence and Tyra Haag following the V Awards ceremony.

Interactive Springboard – a collaboration between Mary Beth West Consulting and Knoxville-based Blue Media Boutique – shared top honors for the newly redesigned Avistelé website; Avistelé Lifestyle Communities is managed by Knoxville-based RenaissancePG.

 “I’m so appreciative of the clients we’ve been privileged to serve,” said agency principal Mary Beth West. “Throughout my career, I’ve held tremendous respect for the public relations profession; my team is honored with the overwhelming response by our colleagues to recognize the work we so highly value.”

Painter – a graduate of Maryville High School and co-founder of LeConte Wealth Management– was  honored with the Community Service Award.

“Kevin has been a client for three years and a dear friend for many years longer,” said West. “Of all the colleagues I have in my age cohort in the local community, I can think of no one who takes on more community service efforts to support the non-profit, social service and arts sectors than Kevin.” 

Established in 2003 and located in the Law Building in downtown Maryville, Mary Beth West Consulting works with clients to advance their communications, relationships and reputations to meet business objectives. 

The firm’s services include integrated brand marketing communications strategies and campaigns; media, community and employee relations programs; social and interactive media strategies and program management; crisis preparedness; and special events.

Knoxville, Tenn. — Websites, social media and other interactive communications can involve many similar processes to develop, but companies should beware of being sold a “cookie-cutter” approach when creating these tools for their own brands, according to Knoxville-based joint venture Interactive Springboard.

Tori Rose of interactive firm Blue Media Boutique, LLC, and Mary Beth West of public relations firm Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC, will partner with independent market researcher Rebecca Bryant of Bryant Research to present do’s and don’ts of interactive tool development at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Memphis Chapter’s 11:30 lunch meeting at Fogelman Executive Conference Center on the University of Memphis campus, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011.  

The message: template-driven approaches can be profitable for interactive agencies and firms that sell website and social media development, but they rarely produce good results for the client.  

“It’s like many industries steeped in manufacturing or process-driven business models,” West said.  “The way many interactive firms want to make the most money fast is to develop a “cookie-cutter” approach that can be packaged and sold to produce websites, mobile applications and other social media programs.  But if those tools aren’t driven by a well-researched understanding of the client’s brand, its audiences and what the user experience needs to be, then it can be a major disservice to clients – namely, a waste of money.”

“Customization is the hallmark for any interactive tool to be effective,” Rose said.  “Every company is unique, with its own set of products, services, audiences and competitive marketplaces.  The tools of social media must reflect the brand’s uniqueness in order to provide a meaningful customer experience online.  There’s just no way to easy-bake that outcome.”

Rose and West will share reasons and strategies for avoiding generic online marketing communications at the February 9 PRSA event. They will also present with Bryant Memphis-focused results of Interactive Springboard’s 2010 statewide study, focusing on how communications professionals view social media’s importance and challenges.

About Interactive Springboard
Interactive Springboard is a joint venture between women-owned firms Blue Media Boutique, LLC and Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC, providing an integrated, research-based approach to social media, supporting client communications and business objectives.

By Joe Bogardus

A New Year looms, full of anticipation and expectations . . . and there is optimism that the overall business environment will continue to improve, albeit slowly.

One trend we are seeing that supports this improving business climate is the ongoing expansion of social media tools. Interactive Springboard, the joint venture between Mary Beth West Consulting and Blue Media Boutique, completed a statewide survey this past summer that reported how social media tools are now considered key elements of the communications mix by marketing / public relations professionals statewide in Tennessee. These practitioners reported that they now regularly include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, etc., as part of their communications programs.

Their survey responses also reflected how their managements and clients are stressing the need to develop and present ROI measures to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of these vehicles. As the use of these tools increases, so will the expectations to confirm their value.

Fortunately, these tools typically offer built-in analytics, which help initially in any program assessment, but more in-depth research activities – similar to those employed with mass media programs – can be brought to bear to help in the analysis of the effectiveness of social media programs.

As with any communications tactic, commitment and consistency of engagement drives long-term reward.

Social media creates and fosters valuable one-to-one customer relationships. By tracking the evolution of these relationships using ongoing research, a business can get a handle on its return on investment.

Knoxville, Tenn. — According to a recent survey of Tennessee professional communicators, 77 percent say it is “very true” that social media is an integral part of crisis communications planning, but those same professionals say a large gap exists between social media’s importance and how well their own organizations are using it for crisis communications.

Interactive Springboard – a joint venture between Tennessee-based Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC and Blue Media Boutique, LLC – conducted the study of social media attitudes and utilization by Tennessee members of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), with research provided by Bryant Research.

The survey reflected wide gaps between the important role professional communicators think social media plays in a variety of ways and how well organizations are actually using social media – from product testing to employee training and comment monitoring. 

However, no greater gap existed in importance versus actual usage than of social media in crisis communications.  Crisis communications plans are critical for companies and organizations to have in place to manage emergencies such as natural disasters, facility or site-based accidents, product failures or recalls, and sabotage and terrorist attacks, to name just some of the situations that can arise.

“We found survey respondents indicated a high degree of general uncertainty about many aspects of social media – how to use it in relation to traditional media, how to measure ROI, and whether government regulations are a consideration, for example,” said Mary Beth West, a public relations agency consultant. 

“But among all the hot issues in how to apply social media effectively, crisis communications proved to be the biggest stand-out,” West said.  “In short, Tennessee communicators know social media in crisis planning is very important, but they may not have all the experience, tools or resources at hand to apply it effectively.”

Interactive Springboard recommends three steps organizations should take to apply social media in their crisis planning:  research, integrate and update.

The research step involves taking an assessment of all the ways social media can provide faster, more effective lines of communication in a crisis scenario – from alerting team members internally about steps needed to contain a crisis to broadcasting updates to outside audiences like media or community members about necessary safety precautions. 

“You have to involve all members of your management team – from the CEO to marketing and communications, technology, human resources and operations,” said Tori Rose of interactive firm Blue Media Boutique, LLC.  “Gathering the team’s collective input and understanding about social media’s potential role is a major part of the research process, just as it’s important to understand key audiences, their concerns in the crisis and how social media can help them.”

The next step – integration – involves applying social media tools throughout every logical piece of the crisis response plan and making sure the full potential of social media is used both to contain the crisis itself and to keep all impacted audiences informed to safeguard lives and property. 

For example, developing an action plan to engage a Twitter feed to broadcast situational updates can be a key part of keeping employees and family members, communities and media reporters in-the-know and to prevent the spread of rumor and false reports.  Accurate, timely information flow is also a critical factor in preserving as much of the organization’s reputational equity as possible during the crisis and in its aftermath.

The third step – update – is an essential, ongoing process of making sure that the organization keeps the most up-to-date communications technology involved as part of its crisis plan, particularly as social media tools and applications continue to evolve so quickly.

“We recommend organizations revisit their crisis plan at least every six months for the express purpose of making sure the selected social media tools and applications for its plan are still as relevant as possible,” Rose said. 

“This review process also helps keep the other pieces of the plan – general procedures and action steps, chain of command and all of the who’s-doing-what – fresh and top-of-mind,” West said.  “The last thing you want in a crisis situation is a plan that nobody has really even looked at in several years.”

The public can access a free downloadable white paper on the Interactive Springboard study of Tennessee communicators at http://www.interactivespringboard.com/. 

About the Survey Methodology
This census survey of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) members from across the state of Tennessee was conducted online from June 16 to Aug. 6, 2010.  Members from the following chapters participated in the study:  Nashville, Knoxville/Volunteer, Chattanooga/Lookout, Memphis and the Tri-Cities.  In addition to the core questions highlighted in this release, each chapter had the option of appending proprietary questions of specific interest to the local membership.  The survey achieved an overall response rate of 24 percent and provides unique insight into the opinions of those whose day-to-day responsibilities include managing all manner of media, including social media.

About Interactive Springboard
Interactive Springboard is a joint venture between women-owned firms Blue Media Boutique, LLC and Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC, providing an integrated, research-based approach to social media, supporting client communications and business objectives.  http://www.interactivespringboard.com/

About Blue Media Boutique, LLC
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Blue Media Boutique provides creative, technology and marketing services, including design, development, animation, video, illustration, branding, print, e-commerce, database, CMS, search optimization, copywriting, promotions, events and campaigns. http://www.bluemediaboutique.com/

About Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC
Based in Maryville, Tenn., Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC advances clients’ communications, relationships and reputations to meet business and organizational objectives.  The firm’s services include research strategy, integrated marketing communications campaigns; media, community and employee relations programs; interactive media strategy and program management; crisis preparedness; and special events.  http://www.marybethwest.com/

About Bryant Research
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Bryant Research managed the Interactive Springboard study.  The company provides custom, proprietary research to clients across a number of industries. Bryant Research has produced award-winning market research counsel, employing a custom blend of quantitative and qualitative methods to inform clients’ marketing communications programs and to facilitate the best business decisions.  http://www.bryant-research.com/

The event also honored Mallorie Mendence – senior account service coordinator at Mary Beth West Consulting and a Maryville native – with the PRSA Rising Young Professional Award, which recognizes an outstanding public relations professional in East Tennessee who has worked for six years or less in the field.

The agency won public relations campaign “Award of Excellence” honors in the public service category for its Blount Education Initiative Public Awareness Campaign and in the marketing consumer services—financial category for its LeConte Wealth Management Marketing Campaign.

The firm’s work producing strategic communications tools also received “Award of Excellence” honors in five areas:  non-profit media relations for the Blount Education Initiative; consumer services media relations for LeConte Wealth Management; media kit development in the service category for Todd Richesin Interiors; press conference implementation for the Blount Education Initiative; and external web site development for Blount Education Initiative.

The web site award was shared by the agency with Knoxville-based interactive firm Blue Media Boutique, which together with Mary Beth West Consulting launched Interactive Springboard in early 2010 to formalize the firms’ collaboration in online and social media strategy research, reputation management and measurement. 

In addition, Mary Beth West Consulting won four “Award of Quality” honors for several news releases and media relations campaigns.

“For me, one of the most rewarding parts of managing this firm has been building a team of professionals who share high values for producing great work that meets clients’ business objectives and also serving the public in meaningful ways,” said agency principal Mary Beth West.  “I’m proud of my team, and I’m also appreciative of the clients we’ve been privileged to serve.”

Mendence – a graduate of Maryville High School – joined Mary Beth West Consulting in December 2007, following her graduation with honors from Berry College in Rome, Ga., with a degree in public relations, as well as completion of a summer internship with Mary Beth West and other practicum experience. 

In her position with the firm, Mendence works with the account team to coordinate campaigns for agency clients.  She serves on the board of directors of Maryville City Schools Foundation and is a past board member of the Community Food Connection. 

Established in 2003 and located in the Law Building in downtown Maryville, Mary Beth West Consulting works with clients to advance their communications, relationships and reputations to meet business objectives. 

The firm’s services include integrated brand marketing communications strategies and campaigns; media, community and employee relations programs; social and interactive media strategies and program management; crisis preparedness; and special events.

Knoxville and Maryville, Tenn. — Blue Media Boutique, a web development and interactive agency, and Mary Beth West Consulting, a public relations and reputation management consulting firm, announced today the launch of Interactive Springboard, a joint venture that provides an integrated, research-based approach to social media that supports client marketing communications.

The firms, led by Tori Rose of Blue Media Boutique and Mary Beth West, have partnered successfully on several diverse client projects since 2008 involving web strategy and social media and are now formalizing their collaboration under the Interactive Springboard name.

“Our work model is unique to this market in both its collaborative approach between two highly specialized firms and its focus on utilizing market research,” West said.  “Many current social media programs suffer two missing links: the effective use of audience research and a content-development process that drives dynamic relationship-building.  Our team is prepared to meet those client needs for better online engagement.”

According to West and Rose, the best web development and social media strategies demand client-specific audience research as the foundation.  Without that research, companies risk taking a “shotgun” approach and failing to realize the benefits of social and online community-building to their true potential. 

In some cases, companies get in over their heads and launch social media applications that they are unable to support with consistent and relevant content for their online audiences, resulting in a loss of credibility with customers and the public alike, Rose said.

“Great social media execution is the ultimate moving target today,” Rose said.  “With the constant changes taking place in social media technology development and use by consumers and businesses worldwide, it’s critical for clients to know their own customer base first-hand and how their media-use behaviors are trending.” 

Both firms comprising Interactive Springboard offer diverse team backgrounds and have their own histories of extensive work partnering with other third-party agencies and teams, both in the Knoxville market and beyond.

Blue Media Boutique’s design, programming and animation professionals are based across the continent and include a collective 50-plus years of interactive and web development experience.   

Rose’s background is extensive and diverse, spanning several marketing disciplines over a period of 16 years at companies in the United States and Canada. Most recently, as vice president, creative director of RIVR Media Interactive (RMI), Rose was responsible for RMI’s creative vision, design, and interactive projects for a wide variety of clients, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Shell, Gibbes Museum of Art, and Duke University. In addition to launching RMI’s first property, Needled.com, Rose developed three award-winning pieces for the Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) and won a PRSA and IABC award for two Morrison Management Specialists projects.

Prior to RIVR, Rose served as creative director of Edison Schools in New York, Chris Whittle’s entrepreneurial initiative to change public education in America. Rose was a key player in the design and development of Edison’s distance learning initiative—using live video, animation and Internet resources to deliver a K-12 curriculum program and professional development training to the classroom. She holds a master’s degree in media from The New School University and a bachelor of arts degree from Wake Forest University.

The team at Mary Beth West Consulting includes a collective 75-plus years of marketing communications and public relations experience working in-house with such companies as General Motors, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, Eastman Kodak, Corrections Corporation of America and Champion Products.

Accredited in public relations, Mary Beth West’s own 16-year career has included award-winning work producing national media relations campaigns, employee communications programs and crisis preparedness systems in the energy, financial services and corporate sectors.

West has served two appointments on the national board of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the world’s largest organization of public relations professionals, and is a past president of the Knoxville-based PRSA Volunteer Chapter.  She serves on the UT College of Communication and Information Board of Visitors.

Interactive Springboard can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

About Blue Media Boutique
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Blue Media Boutique provides creative, technology and marketing services, including design, development, animation, video, illustration, branding, print, e-commerce, database, CMS, search optimization, copywriting, promotions, events and campaigns.

About Mary Beth West Consulting, LLC
Based in Maryville, Tenn., Mary Beth West Consulting advances clients’ communications, relationships and reputations to meet business and organizational objectives.  The firm’s services include research strategy, integrated marketing communications campaigns; media, community and employee relations programs; interactive media strategy and program management; crisis preparedness; and special events.

If you have spent much of 2009 worrying about how to create a Facebook page for your company or when to open up the Twitter floodgates, you’ve probably put too much emphasis on the tools and not enough emphasis on the strategy behind those tools.

In any other business initiative, you’d begin by first looking at what you want to accomplish. The same type of planning needs to be applied to social media. They’re not just tools to launch because “everyone else is doing it.” They’re tools that can effectively work for you once you have a plan in place to guide your way.

Step 1: Research your audience. Who are they? Where are they online? Understand how your target audience (as defined by gender, age, and geography) uses social media. If your audience skews younger, consider Facebook and contests or sweepstakes. If your audience skews older – business executives, for example – consider ratings and reviews instead.

While secondary research may help inform what general direction you should go in, there is no substitute for primary research. Surveys, focus groups and other services will give you an analysis of what your current audience is doing online. Direct observation is also imperative. Are there already Facebook fan pages and/or groups talking about your industry or brand? Who are the key bloggers writing about your topic area? Listening to what is already going on is an essential first step in developing a social media strategy.

Step 2: What type of relationship, if any, do you already have with your audience? Are they aware of your brand? Are they loyal customers and brand enthusiasts or have they really only made a transaction or two with you? Pick one side of the scale and stick with it. Social media is not about reaching a mass audience. Instead, it is about reaching the influencers, developing relationships, having a conversation, and getting insights.

Step 3: What is your objective? Are you launching a tool to communicate with your customers? Are you trying to incite them to talk about your company with others? Is this an awareness initiative where you’re increasing your visibility and are actively interacting on many different levels? Are you trying to get your audience to generate content that you can then use in product development? Is this an effort to improve your reputation and manage communications? It is very important to decide on the objective before you decide on the technology to be used.

Step 4: Content, content, content. Start with your pitch. What is it? Describe what your company does in 120 characters or less. Better yet, define it in one word. Volvo = Safety, for example. Develop an editorial calendar and allocate resources to implement it. Do you have the capacity internally to handle the workload or do you need to hire an external resource to do the work? And keep in mind, social media that exists and is generated in a silo is never a good idea. It needs to be owned by the entire organization. The person/people put in charge of the content should be comfortable with the tools and be passionate about your organization.

Step 5: How are you going to humanize your company? Social media is about people and conversations. It’s not about logos and corporate-speak. How will you get down to that level online? Transparency and honesty are key. Will you allow employees to engage in the social media efforts? How will you deal with negative comments to turn them into positive situations? All of these items need to be considered before launching a program.

Step 6: How will you measure success? Determine your key metrics before you get started. Pick the right metrics that will help you track your objectives. Look at trend movements and changes over time, not just numbers. It is also important not to look at a single metric, but rather to evaluate your strategy performance from multiple dimensions.

Once all of these factors are carefully considered, you’ll be able to pick the right tools and social media tactics. Start small. Be willing to make mistakes and learn from them. Modify, evaluate, and grow.