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TRANSLATING CAMPAIGN SAVVY INTO PUBLIC AFFAIRS SUCCESS

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TRANSLATING CAMPAIGN SAVVY INTO PUBLIC AFFAIRS SUCCESS

Alex�Conant

Firehouse Strategies

@AlexConant

Doug�Thornell

SKDK

@dthornell

Stephan Miller

CreoStrat

Molly

Douglas

DDC

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Alex Conant

Alex Conant

FirehouseStrategiesFirehouse Strategies

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Growing a Public Affairs Firm:

What is Firehouse Strategies

  • Public affairs and public relations firm
  • Team of recent campaign operatives
  • One of the fastest-growing firms in the country
  • Named to PR NEWS’ Agency Elite Top 100 List in 2023 & 2024

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Growing a Public Affairs Firm:

9 Things to Know Before Starting a Firm

  1. Partnerships are hard.
  2. Your network is crucial.
  3. Your friends won’t send you business.
  4. Business development never stops.
  5. Keep an open mind on what you’re actually selling.

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Growing a Public Affairs Firm:

9 Things to Know Before Starting a Firm

  1. Focus on doing good work.
  2. Like the work you’re doing; and work with people you like.
  3. Clients are better than candidates.
  4. Ask people for advice.

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TRANSLATING CAMPAIGN SAVVY INTO PUBLIC AFFAIRS SUCCESS

Alex�Conant

Firehouse Strategies

@AlexConant

Doug�Thornell

SKDK

@dthornell

Stephan Miller

CreoStrat

Molly

Douglas

DDC

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Alex Conant

Molly Douglas

DDCFirehouse Strategies

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START WITH YOUR AUDIENCES

Understanding your clients’ audiences is the single-most important capability for public affairs professionals today.

All organizations today must navigate the intersection of business and politics

Audiences determine outcomes

Separations between the personal, professional, and political are evaporating

All politics is “local”—but local means something different than it used to

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UNDERSTANDING AUDIENCES HOLISTICALLY

Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

Information/Misinformation

Media Consumption

Online and Offline Communities

Voting Behavior

Demographics and Psychographics

Relationship to the Client

Connection to the Issue

Influencers

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STRATEGIES THAT SUCCEED

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  1. Keep it simple. 
  2. Do your research.
  3. Know your audience.
  4. The message is key.
  5. Tell a story.
  6. Connect and communicate.

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POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ⇠⇢ PUBLIC AFFAIRS CAMPAIGN

Stakeholder & Landscape

Audit

Bylines &

Speaking Opps

Lay The Foundation

Planning & Execution

Activating Voices & Stories

Event Development

Reporter

Relationships

Monitoring & Rapid

Response

Media

Training

Advertising & Digital

Engagement

YOUR

MESSAGE

Opinion

Research

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CASE STUDY --- ACME Merger*

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  • Self and Oppo Research

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  • Quan and Qual research

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  • Message/Narrative Development 

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  • Stakeholder Mapping

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  • Collateral Development

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*not actual name of company.

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CASE STUDY --- ACME Merger*

Delivering More For YOU!

Internal Comms

Earned Media

Paid Media

Grassroots

Grasstops

Government Relations

✨ Message North Star ✨

  • Consumers in affected areas
  • Regulators
  • Elected officials
  • Employees

APPROVAL!