Narrative

You told the story, messaged the roll-out, and managed the media. But you’re still not gaining traction fast enough with key audiences. We offer purpose-driven clients a suite of services beyond traditional communications advice.

We believe a compelling and robust narrative arc is essential – and often overlooked in the rush to tell a story or manage a crisis. We collaborate with clients who want to measure impact not by what they do internally, but rather in terms of how effective they are in shifting behavior and thinking externally among critical stakeholders. For us narrative comes first as a way to reach intended audiences. Only then we deploy the tools needed to reach specific actors: media and messaging, web, digital, brand projection, marketing communications and so forth.

Because there is no longer a singular Jane Doe or John Q. Public, defining the sweet-spot between the “loyal and committed” and the “it ain’t gonna happen” is essential for efficient and effective communications. And that critical space is competitive, cluttered, and dynamic – rarely controlled by any one voice.

Creating the strategy to frame that space, rather than just be one of many voices within it, is the pivot point for our strategic communications work with clients. The frame around an issue, an opportunity or a controversy largely determines what messages and facts are perceived as relevant. The narrative arcs we develop with clients connects their work to the frame – enabling them to then effectively position precise messaging collateral and story-telling devices.

We deploy a wide array of techniques to support clients with their strategic communications work and development of compelling narratives, stories, and messages.

• Audience identification, segmentation, opinion analysis
• Assets inventory and assessment
• Communications audits
• Frameworks analysis
• Obstacles analysis
• Narrative ideation and message testing
• Stakeholder engagements
• Facilitated convenings, event strategy and choreography
• Collateral (video, digital, print)
• Staff training and materials
• Media and presentation coaching