FED NEWS RADIO: How to promote your business to federal agencies, prime contractors and more...

Abbe Buck, principal of HighViz Consulting Group/ Abbe Buck Public Affairs, discusses how businesses can better market themselves to federal buyers via trade associations and publications.

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"....and now for something completely different." --MPython

From Business Week:

Securing Government Contracts

One of the biggest challenges for small businesses interested in working with the government is a lack of information on how to get started! Prior to jumping into the government contracting arena, the first thing your small business needs to do is register with the Small Business Administration office serving your local customer base:

• It is critical to register using the right North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes based on the products and/or services that you have to offer to the government.

• You should also apply to become a GSA (General Services Administration) Schedule contractor via the GSA Web site.

Once these primary steps have been completed, your small business should then register with the following premier federal contracting research organizations:

• INPUT is an authority on government business and "provides market intelligence, analysis, consulting, events, and training to help companies develop government business." The ability to use INPUT effectively can be a critical success factor for a small business.

• FedBizOpps.gov can be used to search, monitor, and retrieve "opportunities solicited by the entire federal contracting community." Again, the success of a small business is directly related to using the right keywords while looking for opportunities.

Success for your small business within the government cannot be achieved without strategic teaming partners:

• A key strategy in winning contracts is to register as a small business with larger government contractors.

• Another approach is partnering with other government contractors in areas where your small business lacks expertise but can offer complementary products and/or services.

Finally, physical presence is very important in this business, and a successful small business must set up shop in the backyard of the federal government. An "in your face" strategy will help in the federal contracting race.

Jack Nargundkar, Director of Marketing
Government Solutions Group, Annapolis, Md.

You can also find this information on the Abbe Buck Public Affairs blog

Special Thanks to Bonneville Radio and FedNewsRadio 1500 AM.

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Abbe Buck's HighViz PR Portfolio - and the HighViz PR - Promo Challenge

Q: Who is HighViz Consulting Group? What is High-Viz- Ability?

A: Why, that is my company!

HighViz Consulting Group is a project company. We are a boutique firm, working with select copywriters, media specialists, seasoned marketers and communications strategists. We have a unique way of combining tactical business development along with reults-oriented public relations programs created for our clients, using all types of promotional strategies.

fyi* We have a FREE PR Promo challenge - give us an idea you have - and we will come up with a response and starting "plan of action" within 24 hours! Click here for story.

HighViz = High-Viz - Ability .... yours!

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Reputation Management & Damage Control: a primer that remains relevent

Reputation Management & Damage Control: a primer that remains relevent

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Reputation Management & Damage Control
by Abbe Buck, HighVizpr.com

Most people use the internet and the broadcast media in our daily lives. Whether we get our morning news on Yahoo! or not, millions of people watch news, entertainment and other programming 24/7. Many of these same people among us are participating in online public discussion groups and starting their own web logs. This has made the Internet the people's forum - everyone contributes and every opinion counts. It has lead to more of a poltical “vox populi” (Latin for “voice of the people”) than we have seen in decades. This is what the daily newspaper used to do. But now, the news - good or bad, rumor or fact - travels faster on the Internet than any other medium.

Here is a leading example of this trend, which seems here to stay: As you may have noted in politics, the internet has quelled Dan Rather’s career as CBS News anchor (with the Bush National Guard ‘letter’ that was certainly mis-reported. This was not brought to the forefront by national “network” news, or on cable news networks, or on talk radio, but by “bloggers” (web-loggers, who have developed their own private “VOICE OF THE PEOPLE” websites. If you can read e-mail you can receive their opinion in your in-box, and it can topple an entire news organization when many band together as a United Front. One of the best examples is on americablog.com - anything you read is posted there!

It could happen to you!

Now think of this: a single unhappy customer, misinformed consumer, or disgruntled employee can spark an online and offline reputation disaster for your company. Having a Public Relations firm planning ahead to avert a potential PR disaster for your company before they become "breaking news" is a market savvy approach.

Putting an organizational PR “Battle Plan” in place:

When damaging news, derogatory rumors, or misinformation “catch fire” on the Internet. We advise that you have a communications person on your management team who is well-versed in a range of verticals. It will be this person’s job #1 to find out where the negative mention started, and to be able to counter as a spokesperson any negative statement or written word that has been picked up by media or on the internet. This person must quickly and effectively find every negative mention of your company online and offline, and immediately strike back with a (counter) strategy to safeguard your company or organization.

Damage Control – What should we do?

When a PR crisis erupts, it is important to execute a timely response to derogatory or misleading information about your company. Working closely with top management and communication staff to disseminate the corporate messages, personnel should quickly present your side of the story and direct audiences to favorable sources of information - dampening the flames and exposing the biases of your detractors.

In addition, to an assembled rapid-response team a PR crisis management website that explained a company’s position to the public and presents all favorable evidence, argument, and media coverage is a must have. The address of this website should be distributed to concerned audiences online through news, search engines, and other channels. Your selected PR firm’s job is to make sure that the public also had the opportunity to hear your company's side of the story before negative sentiments can take hold. This can also done with broadcast reporters and talk-show hosts, who “glom” onto any negotiable sentiment because it becomes top news. To respond is a must!

Media contacts and online Monitoring

While marketers and communicators specialists are in contact with the top media outlets, broadcast and print, your PR firm should also has an Online Monitoring team sweeping the Internet constantly, looking for any and all mentions of your company or organization. Concerned management must stay informed about the perceptions of their brand and the opinions of their customers, employees, and professional analysts online and in print.


» Abbe Buck, Publicist, abbe@highviz.net


HighViz Consulting Group


T 1-800-380-2825
Description: A PR specialist in the fields of promotion


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HighViz Consulting introduces 24/7 PR - PROMO Challenge (SM) - boutique firm challenges new clients offer of new promo concept within one business day

HighViz Consulting introduces 24/7 PR - PROMO Challenge (SM) - boutique firm challenges new clients offer of new promo concept within one business day

HighViz Consulting Group introduces 24/7 “PR PROMO CHALLENGE”(SM), unique offer of new business concept for companies who need text with on-demand exposure

HighViz establishes “PR On-Demand” Program - Boutique firm challenges new clients to allow HighVizPR team work on innovative concepts within 24 hour period

Haymarket, VA, January 14, 2009: HighViz Consulting Group, (HighViz), www.highviz.net , a project company serving Information Technology, legal, non-profit and associations and organizations working within federal agencies, is announcing its “PR PROMO CHALLENGE”. This unique offer provides the opportunity for promising on-demand companies and organizations to kick off a value-based trial PR campaign with a senior-level Public Relations Practitioner. This includes working out the beginning concept phase to a starting campaign for each potential client.

In addition, HighViz is offering to consult with those who are interested in taking the “Challenge”, taking the customer step by step through case studies of public relations concepts. “This is how to put high visibility to a business entity’s greatest advantage” Abbe Buck, HighViz’s Principal Consultant and Lead Publicist explains, “By learning what has worked for others who have successfully used public relations promotion techniques, the business who must promote to grow will have a running start in future, innivative, viral PR planning.”

HOW THE 24/7 PR-PROMO CHALLENGE WORKS

What is the HighViz PR Promo Challenge?

HighViz asks to have those who would like to consider hiring us to put them to the test by asking the team to come up with ideas for their businesses within a business day's time. Abbe Buck also notes, "If HighViz can come up with a starter road map toward a promotional campaign and a strategy for marketing traction, we will do all that we can to earn [our] customer's business. As WWII and adopted HVPR mascot Rosie the Riveter says "WE CAN DO IT!" --and we already have."

Past Performance: Buck cites work that has been done for clients in this fashion for the ASSYST, USO of Metropolitian Washington, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Information Experts, Molen Enterprises IT, Lani Silver, (author), David Aaker Motivational Speaker, BoardBoost, Sarbanes Oxley Seminars, and more.

HighVizPR’s 24/7 PR – PROMO Challenge works with an on-demand concept used within Fortune 500 companies such as IBM. HVPR asks that a form is completed on their website. Once the form is completed, HighViz will contact the marketing management who made the PR Challenge request. At this point, HighViz will do an assessment of the PR campaign needs of the organization, (normally a $1500 value). After the evaluation is completed, it will be presented to the organization, with suggestions, and a suggested “BRAND” or “CONCEPT” to put to use WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY (24 HOURS)

“In starting out with our current clients, the 24/7 "PR PROMO CHALLENGE” has worked well because as we thrive on deadlines, we can also share in the customer’s sense of urgency to bring their ideas to fruition and their services “to market” , HighViz's Buck says. "We want to be ‘challenged’ by our customers to go the extra mile. We need these challenges! In an information-packed society, every business, from a 'mom and pop' to a major corporation, must have the opportunity to show who they are, what they provide, why they are in business. It is our job to help them showcase their best attributes.”

To take the 24/7 PR PROMO CHALLENGE, visit the HighViz site www.highviz.net and fill in the ________blank form, or e-mail highviz@highviz.net 

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About HighViz Consulting Group
Short for "High Visibility", boutique PR and marketing firm HighViz Consulting Group, specializes in raising awareness for companies and organizations. The firm's services include media relations, communications, crisis management, business development, and related marketing services. The company specializes in serving information technology companies and government agencies.

HighViz is a communications and public relations firm dedicated to generating creative and effective communications programs for associations, federal agencies, technology, business and consumer companies nationwide. Since 1999, Since HighViz has provided exclusively senior-level strategic counsel and execution of public relations programs that clearly and consistently deliver return on investment. Our selective client roster has included government agencies, associations, and private, entrepreneurial companies such as Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Connection Concepts, Inc., BoardBoost, Aaker and Associates, Information Experts, Stellent, Starbase, DSA, Kerrigan Media, EZ Certify, Inc., IBM, and the United Services Organization. Our expertise varies from enterprise software including online collaboration to entertainment and association communications.

Media Contact: Abbe Buck, Principal Consultant, 1-800-380-2825

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