Plexus Consulting Group...
helps clients get their messages across to the right constituents, including government decision-makers, the news media, and the public at large.
As the Internet flourishes there will be new ways to shape public opinion. Opportunities abound for trade and professional associations, other nonprofit organizations, corporations, and governments to inform and educate their members, customers, and the world at large. The seasoned professionals of the Communications practice of the Plexus Consulting Group are ready to roll up their sleeves and lend a hand. Specifically:

• We design and implement public policy campaigns that help clients get their messages across to key external audiences—most frequently federal policy-makers and national reporters. These campaigns are usually aimed at influencing specific government actions.

• We also help clients fine-tune their communications programs to ensure that these efforts are effective, cost-efficient, and attractive. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of Internet sites and tools with traditional public relations techniques.

• We help clients communicate to key internal and allied audiences, including members, customers, vendors, etc.

Public Policy Campaign Services
Most clients retain us to help them influence government decisions. To do so they communicate directly with decision-makers and indirectly through media and grassroots channels. In this area, we help design and implement winning campaigns. Campaign design/implementation projects generally include these elements:

• First, we identify key decision-makers.

• Next, we determine how and when messages will be delivered to these key individuals.

• Third, we prepare a family of products to increase the client's "brand visibility" while delivering specific messages.

• Finally, we collect data from targets about the style, substance, and delivery of products and utilize this data to refine the campaign to increase effectiveness.
We also provide ongoing layout/design, writing, and editorial assistance as requested.

Communications Management Services
Clients also ask us to help them audit and tune-up their public policy communications programs. Such consulting assignments are different from campaigns in that the focus is on improving the client's overall communications effort rather than influencing a specific government action.

The first step in this process is a comprehensive communications audit. We examine all communications products and delivery methods, including the client's website and their use of the Internet. These audits are aimed at getting answers to two questions:

• How can the communications program be more effective?

• How can it be more cost-efficient?

When the audit is complete we provide advice and (if necessary) hands-on assistance on specific improvements to the client's communications program. Such improvements may include:

• Specialized Internet tools that tightly integrate grassroots and government relations programs.

• Greater emphasis on public policy news to drive customers, vendors, employees, etc. to the client's website.

• Changes to Congressional/media message products to increase readability and message retention.

• Creation of feedback mechanisms to gauge how messages are received and acted upon.

Other Communications Services
The consultants of Plexus Consulting Group also perform a variety of communications services on an as needed basis. These services include design and production of:

• membership materials (i.e. benefits of membership, value of membership) and

• brochures, newsletters, magazine articles, op-ed pieces, website content.

Whether it is helping you create a winning public policy communications campaign or fine-tuning your communications program, or take on other projects large or small, Plexus Consulting Group is ready to help you reach your goals.

Whatever your communications needs, give us a call. We'd be delighted to lend a helping hand.