Internal Messaging: An Important Part of Your Communications “Toolbelt”

Jeffrey Gallagher - January 19, 2021

Be Thoughtful with Your Messaging

Jeffrey Gallagher - July 30, 2020

Steps to Consider When Facing a Crisis

Jeffrey Gallagher - May 26, 2020

public affairs

Smart business leaders know that a sound, properly-executed communications strategy is central to long-term success. A comprehensive communications plan may include strategic communications; crisis or issue management; media relations; litigation strategies; and internal/external stakeholder messaging.

Educating and motivating key stakeholders, projecting a simple yet compelling message, implementing the right tactics, and using different communication channels to convey messages are critical steps to achieving strategic outcomes.

The Communications team at Michael Best Strategies has decades of experience and a proven track record in developing and delivering cogent and winning narratives that can help lay the groundwork for realizing business growth and successful public policy outcomes.

Contact Andrew Hitt, Evan Zeppos or Jeffrey Remsik to start a conversation.

Offerings

Branding

Enhance awareness of your company, promote positive attitudes about your brand, educate key stakeholders about the benefits your people, products, and services provide, and prompt those stakeholders to support your business objectives.

The success of most business decisions today is directly related to effective strategic communications, both internal and external. It ensures everyone understands the “why” of the strategy decision and “how” their daily work contributes to the overall big picture. In today’s fast-paced, technology driven society, a simple memo or news release can’t adequately explain or motivate change

Branding

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Competitive Intelligence

Michael Best Strategies (Strategies) provides you with third-party insights into the marketplace, your competitors, employees, customers, and other key stakeholders. Our work drives persuasive message strategies that resonate with the right people at the right time. We make a difference by setting achievable and measurable objectives based on your business goals.

Competitive Intelligence

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Crisis Communications

Whether it’s having a communications strategy in place or dealing with an unexpected situation, our team develops crisis communications plans and messaging for service companies, manufacturers, and a wide assortment of businesses and nonprofit organizations. Members of our team have provided on site assistance and support during various crisis situations, and we often advise on dealing with the media, social media, and stakeholder outreach during a crisis.

Crisis Communications

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Issue Management

Not everything is a crisis, and savvy executives know “being the rider rather than the horse” is usually the better position to be in when dealing with controversial topics. Issues like utility rate increases, regulatory enforcement actions, legislative initiatives, and similar topics can become a crisis if not properly handled. By developing credible messages, planning for likely media reaction, and anticipating external feedback, Strategies aids clients in preparing for the worst and hoping for the best when dealing with difficult issues in the public sphere.

Issue Management

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Litigation Support

While saying little or offering no comment on major litigation is often a wise approach, the court of public opinion can sometimes be as important as the court of law. Strategies partners with lawyers and legal teams on high profile litigation, working hand in hand to develop and implement the best communications strategy to protect an organization. Our team has assisted businesses that have initiated litigation and helped prepare them for the inevitable attention from both internal and external stakeholders.

Litigation Support

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Media Relations

Our team has significant experience in dealing with the media on a wide variety of controversial issues. We provide considerable skill in anticipating media reaction, predicting the focus of a media inquiry, and developing strategies for getting ahead of the media, especially in dealing with difficult issues. We also offer crisis media training sessions for our clients on how to respond to the media. Our experienced team includes former media professionals, and we take a practical and hands-on approach to make these sessions relevant and successful.

Media Relations

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Strategic Communications

Gone are the days when a simple press release or internal memo could be used to explain a change or event affecting an organization and its staff. Strategies develops communications plans for companies and businesses dealing with data breaches, inappropriate executive level conduct, labor contract negotiations, and other controversial issues. We have extensive experience with multi-stakeholder communication plans and often work with in-house teams to develop and implement these strategies.

Strategic Communications

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Strategic Planning

Craft a winning approach to sustainable, profitable growth, driven by a clear vision, defined mission, strong value set, and connected to a larger purpose.

Strategic Planning

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Meet Our Communications Team

Andrew Hitt
Partner
Andrew’s Bio

Jeffrey Remsik
Principal and Senior Public Affairs Advisor
Jeffrey’s Bio

Evan Zeppos
Principal and Senior Public Affairs Advisor
Evan’s Bio

Margaret Fritsch
Senior Public Affairs Associate
Margaret’s Bio

Ron Irwin
Senior Public Affairs Associate
Ron’s Bio

Jeffrey Gallagher
Senior Public Affairs Associate
Jeffrey’s Bio

Client Testimonials

“The team at Michael Best Strategies has been a great partner to me and my leadership team, helping our company understand and get to know key decision-makers and stakeholders inside and outside of government. They have worked with us to build support for the Hoffman Construction brand and find strategic opportunities to position our business favorably and help the government make good policy and regulatory decisions.”

James Hoffman

CEO, Hoffman Construction

“We appreciate our partnership with Michael Best Strategies. Our businesses operate within heavily regulated industries. We rely on Michael Best Strategies to help us understand the regulatory and policy environment and the key players and to help us get the facts communicated to the right people at the right time so we can achieve good results.”

Jim Wysocki

CEO, Wysocki Produce Co.

“Michael Best Strategies has been a strategic partner of The Water Council almost since day one. We have worked closely with them at the state and national levels as we have grown and cemented our leadership as a World Water Hub for water research and industry. The Strategies team has a deep understanding of water policy and the ways that state and federal policies can help our water technology researchers, manufacturers and entrepreneurs solve the world’s water issues.”

Dean Amhaus

President & CEO, The Water Council

“Our experience working with the Michael Best Strategies team was both successful and enjoyable. From the outset, they demonstrated an uncanny ability to listen and truly understand the value of our project to the state. Their familiarity with the government and personal relationships with key players proved invaluable as they told our story. In short, they know what to do and how to do it!”

Doug Hastad

President, Carroll University

"The team at Michael Best Strategies serves as WARF's strategic adviser on government relations matters, and they have been instrumental in helping WARF develop and strengthen relationships with key public-sector decision makers. Strategies' network of contacts and proactive approach to public policy engagement has been a valuable complement to WARF's efforts to enhance the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and support life-saving research, discovery and commercialization at UW-Madison."