What do people think of when they think of your company or business? Do they have a clear vision of who you are? What you offer? And, most importantly, what you and/or your company can offer them … and what you bring to the table that your competitors don’t?

In today’s competitive business environment, competitive branding has become far more than just the latest set of marketing “buzz words.” Branding is truly at the core of your business – and, quite often, the key to its success. It’s your identity. Your personality. How others see you. Which is why smart companies know that one of the most important things they can do for their business is to create the right “brand identity.” And why even smarter companies turn to the branding experts at SmartMarketing Communications to help create, develop – and market – their brand.

At SmartMarketing Communications, we know how important the right branding is for a business – in fact, we’ve helped a number of businesses throughout all industries create, and build, the successful brand identities that have brought their businesses to new heights. From helping an established, multi-million dollar national fruit juice company effectively brand itself as the “better-for-you” juice company, or working to create the perfect messaging and “brand” for an entrepreneurial business just starting out, SmartMarketing Communications has the smart branding solutions that translate into successful branding programs for our clients – and which have led to some of the leading business brands in the country.

Whether you are looking to establish a new brand or revitalize an existing brand, SmartMarketing Communications has the solutions you need. Beginning with a branding analysis of your industry, we work with you to create, and build, a powerful – and consistent – brand identity for your business, including

• creation of attention-grabbling logos/taglines that truly communicate your message

• development of unique, exciting graphic materials/images that reinforce your brand positioning

• marketing/public relations support to promote your brand, and build ongoing brand recognition and support

Branding works. And smart branding works even better. Call us today to see how Smart Marketing Communications can work for you and your brand – and let the world (and your potential) clients/customers see all that you really have to offer.

A good public relations campaign does more than raise awareness of your company, your products and/or your services. A good public relations campaign builds credibility. Builds trust. Builds reputations. Public relations does what no other marketing tool can do … presenting your story to the public in a unbiased way that not only creates awareness, but creates the “buzz” that gets people talking – and interested in seeing what you’re all about.

At SmartMarketing Communications, we know how valuable a strategic public relations campaign can be in leveraging your reputation – and we’re experts in using some of today’s most creative ways to spread the word about your business to your target audiences.

How?

• Through press releases that get noticed – and get news coverage.

• Through our longstanding relationships with reporters throughout the country – who know that they can count on us for stories that have news value.

• Through our ability to create special events for our clients that not only are a great platform for positive publicity – but a great way to bring them new business.

• Through effective public relations tools that have landed our clients on the pages of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Long Island Business News … and countless other national and local media outlets.

When it comes to public relations companies, SmartMarketing Communications has decades of experience in orchestrating campaigns in a number of specialized practice areas, in addition to our general work in corporate public relations. Our healthcare public relations practice has not only helped to generate publicity surrounding a number of national public health issues, healthcare organizations and pharmaceutical products, but has helped to launch, and grow, dozens of medical practices across the country. Our expertise in fashion public relations has led to media coverage of new product lines featured on the pages of the country’s most popular fashion magazines. And our not-for-profit public relations practice area has helped a wide variety of not-for-profit groups spread the word about their organization – and raise the funds that are so vital to their mission.

In today’s world, “good PR” is probably more important than ever. Which is why you need some smart public relations tactics … and the smart thinking (and proven results) from SmartMarketing Communications. Call us to see how we can spread the word about your company … and let the buzz begin!

Offices located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Long Island, New York

Building a strong presence in the community is smart on so many levels. Not only does your involvement in orchestrating a grassroots community awareness campaign allow you to help others and contribute to worthy community causes, but it is a great way to enhance your company’s own exposure in the community.

And when it comes to community awareness programs that help you partner with the community, there is no better partner for you than SmartMarketing Communications.

From identifying and organizing the sponsorship of a key local special event in the community, to arranging for community workshops where you can reach your target market directly with your messages, there are so many ways in which you can spearhead a community awareness campaign. At SmartMarketing Communications, we are experts in helping you not only identify the best opportunities for your particular company, but in creating community awareness programs that work – and do so much good in the community.

Whether orchestrating a large-scale grand opening celebration for a new community bank, developing and executing a free workshop series on an important public health topic, arranging and publicizing a community blood drive or securing sponsorship of the community’s biggest festival, SmartMarketing Communications has exactly what you need to make your community promotions a success. From our expertise and enthusiasm, to our contacts and commitment – you’ll be working with a group that is committed to your community, and your campaign, as you are.

SmartMarketing Communications offers smart solutions, and smart promotion campaigns, for all types of community outreach programs, including:

• event sponsorships

• community health forums

• strategic partnerships with not-for-profit groups

• community fundraising events

SmartMarketing Communications. Your partner in better serving the community … and beyond.

Getting the word out to the media about your company – what you do, how you do it … and often times, why you do it. Many times, it’s the great packaging of your story that leads to great press. And it’s what we do best.

The key to securing great press? In addition to strong relationships with reporters (which we have), a key component to generating positive media coverage lies with the core of all public relations activities: the media press kit. A media press kit is a way to get your company’s information into the hands of influential reporters – and a good media press kit will not only attract the attention of the media, but will provide them with valuable information that they will appreciate – and use – in their media coverage.

At SmartMarketing Communications, we are experts in knowing what makes a great media press kit – and have written and designed hundreds of custom press kits for clients in all industries. From attention-grabbing press kit design covers (that entice reporters to investigate the contents), to press materials that are concise, well-written and effectively get to the “meat” of the story, we have decades of experience in producing media press kits that are welcomed by reporters nationwide. Which means that our clients’ stories are often welcome news for the many reporters we deal with on a daily basis.

SmartMarketing Communications media press kits are a smart way to reach influential reporters … and a smart way to get your message out. Our custom press kits include the development of

• custom press releases …highlighting the latest news about your business and/or services

• company backgrounders and fact sheets

• bios/profiles of company leadership

• A “Suggested Story Ideas” sheet, pinpointing areas of potential interest and/or story ideas

• A targeted media pitch letter

Smart packaging … with a SmartMarketing Communications media press kit. When packaged right, you’ll be on your way to generating the type of positive publicity that can have such a beneficial impact on your business and which can differentiate you from your competition. It all starts with the right press kit … and there’s no agency that does it as right as the Smart Marketing Communications.

Situation:

In 2009, Long Island-based attorney Rick Collins of Collins, McDonald & Gann, P.C. (one of the nation's most well-known figures in the bodybuilding, health, fitness and nutrition communities) had the idea to raise money in the fight against cancer in a unique way: by creating the first-ever "Leap for Life" fundraiser -- skydiving for the very first time in his life to raise money for cancer research. He came to SmartMarketing Communications to help generate publicity for this cause and increase donations for his “Leap for Life” event. After SMG successfully publicized this first-ever skydiving fundraiser event in 2009 (helping to raise more than $15,000 for the American Cancer Society), Rick approached SmartMarketing Communications to help him take his idea to the next level … and orchestrate/publicize a "global skydiving fundraiser" to get people throughout the world “skydiving for a cause” with him in the unprecedented 2010 Global Leap for Life to raise money for LiveSTRONG/the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Smart Solution:

• SmartMarketing Communications helped to create, execute, market and publicize this unique event through a number of targeted activities and tactics, including:
• Identifying, securing and working closely with selected cancer charity – serving as a liaison with LiveSTRONG/the Lance Armstrong Foundation and securing publicity in LiveSTRONG materials to increase awareness of event
• Creating and designing all collateral materials to effectively brand and promote the event, including a 2010 Global Leap for Life logo, flyers, posters, t-shirts, donor logs and all other visual elements
• Creating and designing an easy-to-navigate website to secure both participants/skydivers as well as to secure donations to the cause – and driving people to the website through social media and traditional press outreach
• Generating both national/local pre-event publicity to encourage skydivers to participate in the event, with articles appearing both online (www.tonic.com, www.besteveryou.com and numerous blogs/website postings) as well as local press in cities across the country, including Newsday, The Westbury Times, WLNY-TV, ON Magazine (Dallas) and other local print outlets nationwide
• Securing celebrity participation to increase media coverage and add further excitement (and donations) to the cause – partnering with LA-based celebrity radio personality JoJo Wright to further extend the reach of the Leap for Life message in entertainment and national media (including ET online, KTLA-TV and numerous other national/entertainment-based media)
• Securing on-site publicity for day-of event, resulting in significant media coverage, including major features on FiOS 1-TV, Newsday, LI Pulse, Long Island Press , Westbury Times, Long Island Business News and other local media throughout the country.

Results

The 2010 Global Leap for Life was a tremendous success both locally and nationally – through this comprehensive campaign, we were able to secure nearly 100 skydivers from across the world and help raise $37,337.00 for LiveSTRONG during this one weekend event . In addition to raising a significant amount of money for an important cause, our publicity efforts helped to further increase awareness of the opportunity for people to get involved in the fight against cancer – and helped touch countless lives both through media messages and this important and unique fundraising initiative.

Situation:

MRS Baking Distribution is the tri-state area’s leading baked goods distributor – providing a selection of more than 400 fresh bakery products to a wide variety of foodservice establishments throughout the region. As part of a program to further increase awareness about the benefits of MRS Baking Distribution for a wide variety of foodservice establishments, the company came to SmartMarketing Communications to help in the development of company branding and a publicity effort to help attract potential new customers.

Situation:
Supreme Cuts, LLC is a premier processor and distributor of fresh, pre-cut vegetables – and has built a strong reputation in both the foodservice and retail markets for their convenient lines of high quality products. Since its founding, Supreme Cuts has grown from offering a single line of snipped green beans, to now being a leader in the fresh-cut vegetable industry -- offering a full selection of dozens of items in both their retail and foodservice lines. In 2007, the company was about to launch what would be a significant first in the industry: “Off the Cob” Fresh Kernel Corn. This product would give chefs and consumers the chance to experience the benefits and taste of fresh kernel corn all year long – previously, kernel corn was only available as frozen or canned. Supreme Cuts came to SmartMarketing Communications to help launch this innovative new product to foodservice professionals and retailers – and help create overall excitement about Supreme Cuts and their growing product lines.

Smart Solution:
To generate widespread awareness of, and interest in, Supreme Cuts Off the Cob Fresh Kernel Corn, SmartMarketing Communications created a public relations campaign to reach retailers first, and subsequently consumers, about the availability of this convenient new product. The campaign -- which included a series of press releases, media interviews and visual elements – resulted in numerous articles in key industry publications, including Today’s Grocer, Produce News, Produce Business, Yankee Foodservice and Foodservice East . Through this publicity effort, SmartMarketing Communications was able to generate heightened interest in Off the Cob, and help secure retailer interest in carrying the line. Smart Marketing Communications also generated strong consumer interest in, and purchase of, “Off the Cob” through articles in leading consumer media outlets, including articles in Newsday, The Houston Chronicle, The Chicago Tribune and Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine. In addition to the launch of “Off the Cob”, SmartMarketing Communications also worked to build awareness about the other product lines and services of Supreme Cuts in both the retail and foodservice markets – helping to publicize and create retailer/consumer excitement about a number of new product introductions. Additional program elements that had a direct impact on increasing business for Supreme Cuts included helping to increase traffic at key trade shows through booth design elements and direct mail, as well as fostering relationships and arranging for product demonstrations and publicity at key chefs organizations.

Situation:
Throughout the past few years, plastic/reconstructive surgery has grown tremendously on Long Island – with more and more plastic surgery practices entering the market and trying to differentiate themselves from their competitors. SmartMarketing Communications, was given the opportunity to work with one of Long Island’s leaders in the field of plastic/reconstructive surgery, Pamela Gallagher, M.D., in the development, marketing and branding of a practice designed to offer patients the most innovative treatments and procedure options. In addition to generating widespread publicity about the outstanding medical services and expertise at Island Plastic Surgery, SmartMarketing Communicationswas charged with creating the “look” for Island Plastic Surgery in terms of logo design and all creative elements – and was given the opportunity to help develop and launch a state-of-the-art new office of Island Plastic Surgery which offers a number of skin care services that further differentiated this practice from others in the region.

Smart Solution:
SmartMarketing Communications was instrumental in helping to “brand” Island Plastic Surgery through the development of all creative elements, including logo design and unique graphic elements. In addition, SmartMarketing Communications also developed a full-scale print advertising campaign to highlight the availability of the state-of-the-art services offered at Island Plastic Surgery, placing ads in key consumer publications that created widespread awareness of the practice and drew in a significant new client base. To prepare for the launch of Island Plastic Surgery’s third office opening (and the kick-off of its unique medi-spa facility offering comprehensive non-surgical skin care services), SmartMarketing Communications also embarked on a publicity campaign to generate consumer awareness of and interest in this exciting new location.

Situation:
The Huntington Arts Council (HAC) is one of Long Island’s premier cultural arts organizations – offering artistic programs and services to more than 250 member cultural organizations and individual artist members, and advancing Huntington’s position as the cultural center of Long Island. To help the HAC gain additional exposure for their programs and services, and to help generate excitement surrounding the 40th Anniversary of the HAC’s Huntington Summer Arts Festival, SmartMarketing Communications worked closely with HAC on a publicity campaign that resulted in unprecedented media coverage and increased attendance at HAC events and programs.

Smart Solution:
As part of a multi-faceted public relations campaign, SmartMarketing Communications created anticipation, excitement and awareness about HAC’s many specific programs throughout the year – and ensured that reporters throughout the region were kept abreast of the many events through regular media contact and updates. In particular, SmartMarketing Communications developed and executed a strong media relations campaign to support the 40th Anniversary celebration of the HAC’s Huntington Summer Arts Festival. In addition to creating and distributing weekly (sometimes daily) press releases and festival updates for key reporters to ensure listings and pre-publicity for each particular event, SmartMarketing Communications, also succeeded in securing on-site media coverage of targeted programs and artists/performers. SmartMarketing Communications also worked to help publicize and increase attendance at the Huntington Arts Council’s Second Annual Laff-Off in 2005. The event, which featured 15 of Long Island’s most talented up-and-coming comedians, attracted more than 600 people and raised more than $20,000 for the HAC.

Situation:

J. Kings Food Service Professionals is a cutting-edge food service distribution company that not only provides outstanding food service distribution to their customers, but helps customers build their businesses through innovative new programs and “fresh ideas.” Therefore, not only was it our charge at SmartMarketing Communications to publicize and market J. Kings foodservice programs to target audiences, but through the years SmartMarketing Communications has worked closely with J. Kings on the creation, execution and publicity of a number of programs that added significant value to their customers and highlighted J. Kings as a leader in the foodservice distribution industry.

Smart Solution:

Throughout this multi-year, multi-faceted campaign, SmartMarketing Communications created and orchestrated a number of marketing and publicity tactics to both highlight J. Kings leadership in the foodservice arena, as well as directly reach J. Kings customers/potential customers with value-added programs. Tactics included:

• Targeted publicity campaign reaching both trade and consumer press, including feature articles in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Business News, LI Magazine, Restaurant Business, Produce News, Modern Foodservice and Nation’s Restaurant News, among others.
• Development and publicity of a major consumer campaign to reach target customers and consumers -- the J. Kings “Great Meals - Great Cause- Great Neighbors” initiative. Through this award-winning campaign, we worked with J. Kings to secure the participation of more than 100 restaurants to help raise funds for three local breast cancer organizations – while also helping these participating restaurants to increase their own businesses, and securing widespread publicity about this unique program.
• Raised awareness of J. Kings groundbreaking work in helping local hospitals enhance their foodservice programs/on-site restaurants, with major articles in The New York Times and other consumer and foodservice press.

Result:

This multi-year marketing and publicity campaign succeeded in helping J. Kings saturate both the foodservice industry market and local consumer press with key messages about J. Kings leadership in foodservice distribution and commitment to the community through the company’s unsurpassed community outreach programs. In the 6 years of this comprehensive campaign, J. Kings exhibited major company growth and successfully moved into new markets, as well as gaining “top-of-mind” status in the foodservice distribution arena.

Situation:

As one of the largest independently owned juice companies in the country, Long Island-based Apple & Eve came to SmartMarketing Communications in 2000 at a time when the beverage market was not only becoming increasingly competitive with many new products entering the marketplace, but at a time when fruit juices were coming under more scrutiny. Our goal was to highlight to consumers the benefits of Apple & Eve as a healthy, pure 100% juice as opposed to other juice drink competitors, while also further branding Apple & Eve as a company that is committed to families, nutrition and wholesome, “good-for-you” products.

Smart Solution:

Since 2000, SmartMarketing Communications has conducted a myriad of marketing, promotional and public relations activities to help Apple & Eve not only stand out from the competition, but increase market share in the highly competitive beverage market. In addition to securing national trade and consumer publicity highlighting Apple & Eve and their growing product lines, SmartMarketing Communications has also created and orchestrated innovative tactics that have helped to further brand Apple & Eve as a company committed to family health.

Since 2000, SmartMarketing Communications has conducted a myriad of marketing, promotional and public relations activities to help Apple & Eve not only stand out from the competition, but increase market share in the highly competitive beverage market. In addition to securing national trade and consumer publicity highlighting Apple & Eve and their growing product lines, SmartMarketing Communications has also created and orchestrated innovative tactics that have helped to further brand Apple & Eve as a company committed to family health, including:

• Securing dozens of major national consumer and trade articles, including major business/consumer stories in The New York Times, CHILD magazine, Newsday, KIWI magazine, Long Island Parents and Children, Long Island Business News, Beverage Industry (cover story), Beverage World, Beverage Spectrum, Supermarket News, Convenience Store News and Modern Grocer
• Local market publicity reaching hundreds of thousands of consumers via targeted media activities and story placement, including development/placement of timely local community newspaper mat stories focusing on family nutrition, child health that was placed in hundreds of newspapers across the country
• Marketing and national/local publicity surrounding major Apple & Eve campaigns and sponsorships, including The Apple & Eve Newport Folk Festival (2002, 2003, 2004) and the creation of a National Talent Search to find the next big folk singer -- resulting in national and local market publicity, as well as widespread coverage in entertainment, sporting and beverage trade publications
• Launching and publicizing numerous new products on a national basis, including the successful launch of Apple & Eve Organics, WaterFruits, Apple & Eve Light & Fruitful, Apple & Eve single-serve bottles, PowerPouch juice pouches and a wide variety of new flavor/new packaging introductions
• Writing of Apple & Eve label copy, web site copy development, newsletter copy development
• Successfully announcing/publicizing Apple & Eve’s acquisition of Northland in 2005, securing national publicity in both consumer and trade outlets
• Orchestrating a major deal with national television show “The View” resulting in millions of consumer impressions per month for Apple & Eve products

Result:

Today, Apple & Eve has grown into the largest independently-owned juice company in the United States. Through our longstanding publicity efforts to generate major media coverage in both beverage trade publications and consumer/parenting/business publications, and the execution of a number of key unique programs that served as a platform to raise awareness about the benefits of Apple & Eve juices over the competition, Apple & Eve has gained a solid reputation and continues to stand out in the beverage industry as being a healthy, pure 100% fruit juice with a strong heritage. In addition, the company has gained an even stronger following among health-savvy consumers, as well as distribution channels and retail outlets, seeking out the company’s growing line of products.