LS Public Relations & Communications, owned by Laurie Simmons, is a consulting firm serving local businesses and organizations looking to establish a stellar public presence and create a strong brand reputation among audiences in the growing Central Texas region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did you start this public relations consulting business?
I saw a tremendous need for strategic communications and public relations services in Bell County, Coryell County, McLennan County and the surrounding Central Texas area, made even more urgent with the COVID-19 crisis. Now I am in a prime position to help businesses throughout Temple, Killeen, Waco, Belton, Harker Heights, Salado, Hewitt, Copperas Cove & Gatesville tell their stories and educate their audiences about how they will re-open and recover from this pandemic. I offer a full range of services based on my areas of expertise, including media relations, strategic planning, crisis communications, reputation management, community engagement as well as content creation. Depending on client needs, I can create a sound strategy across several disciplines to include different tactics and tools in order to achieve their overall public relations & communications goals.
why should businesses invest in public relations services when they are hurting in this economy?
Effective communication is so vital to the success of any organization during a crisis. Information is power, and consumers are craving it, especially in these times of uncertainty. I can help clients communicate to their customers through traditional news media, but also through improved content on their website and social media channels. People are going online for most of their information right now, and it’s so important to keep your customer base engaged with relevant news and updates, so they keep you top of mind when normal business resumes.
Even when the shelter in place orders are lifted, “normal business” won’t look the same. COVID-19 will be something that continues to affect operations for months and maybe even years to come. Companies are going to have to communicate changes to their customers and employ different outreach strategies to engage their audiences. There will also be more crisis situations that pop up as we move into a post-pandemic world. I am ready to help clients deal with sensitive media inquiries and create strategic communications plans that protect their brand reputations over the long-term.
What are the benefits of hiring a consultant to handle strategic communications and public relations efforts?
In this economic environment, it’s imperative that businesses migrate to a more flexible, streamlined model of operations with as little overhead costs as possible. That’s the beauty of hiring a consultant. You only pay for the services you need, without having to hire permanent staff and pay salaries and benefits.
I do want to help area businesses navigate through and recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Any organization in Bell County in need of public relations and communications services will receive 25% off standard rates through the end of 2020.
how can you help businesses capture more media coverage?
I am an award-winning storyteller. As a former investigative reporter, I know how to craft a compelling story and create engaging content across any medium. My press releases are written in news-style formats so media outlets can easily add the content to their websites without any additional work. Being a former reporter, I also know what journalists are looking for, which helps me pitch interesting client news in creative ways that connect to larger stories of interest in the media. During my time as the City of Temple spokesperson, I cultivated important relationships with news directors, editors and reporters in the Temple/Killeen/Waco media market, which enables me to provide more exposure for my clients and drive attendance for press events.
I am also a trusted spokesperson. I teach my clients how to create better relationships with the media and communicate key messages to the public in interviews. I offer media training services for leaders who want to speak on behalf of their organizations, in order to get them more comfortable going on the record with reporters. For smaller companies that don’t have in-house public relations staff, I can serve as the point of contact for all media inquiries, freeing up their time to focus on their core business competencies.
how can you help organizations improve communications with their key audiences?
I am an engagement and outreach specialist. With years of experience creating and executing award-winning community relations programs, I know how to educate and inform target audiences about major projects and important services that will impact their lives. By providing engaging presentations to community groups, organizing informative open-house meetings, building relationships with important stakeholder groups and participating in public outreach events, I help my clients create an outstanding brand reputation that people connect with.
how do you help clients decide what services are best for their business?
Everything I do for my clients is based on the creation of sound communications plan that guides decisions on which tactics and tools are best to accomplish their public relations goals and objectives. Whether we focus on media relations or community engagement really depends on their desired outcomes and what audiences they are trying to target.
For those clients that come to me in the midst of a crisis that threatens their business, I can help them immediately implement media and community outreach strategies that mitigate damage and rebuild trust. It’s never too late to get in front of the cameras or engage directly with customers to get your side of the story across to the public.