Graham Bell Associates specialises in public relations and media advice, public affairs, speech writing, and media commentary. We have unrivalled connections in the Scottish and UK media and have the capability to draw up media strategies to promote specific campaigns, or to react swiftly to developing events.

Tell Me More

Isn’t that what communications is about then, telling people stuff?

Well, only partly.

There’s an old saying that we have two ears and one mouth because that’s the proportion in which we were meant to use them.  Listening and observing can be as vital as expressing ourselves.  As any successful business person will tell you – sales are made by understanding the clients’ needs, long before you tell them how good you are.

There are lots of ways of communicating.  They include:

Speech – Talking and listening to consumers, so that you know your business is bringing them all they need and nothing they don’t. It’s that second part that so many otherwise good businesses fall down on – assuming they know what people think of them instead of finding out for real.

Writing – Far from obsolete, effective, engaging writing is perhaps more important now than ever before. Being engaged with the media, building a brand-strengthening website, or simply writing a ‘thanks for your custom’ card can help set you apart from the crowd.

Visuals – From having a snazzy store front or advert, to a barman who’s still smiling in the wee small hours, what people see when they think about your business can be just as important as what you say about it.

Body Language – As important for the receptionist as the CEO, because behavioural experts or not, all people can read what you wouldn’t say aloud, in your movements and expressions.

Smells – Why else would supermarkets pump ‘fresh baked bread’ through the air-con system, but because it makes consumers linger longer and spend more money? And we all know how dogs prefer to say hello…

There are lots of reasons for communicating:

To express feelings, desires, threat or counter threat, sharing knowledge, influencing others and companionship would be some basic human needs.

In business we communicate all of those, but may have more specific objectives – to sell ourselves and our ideas and products, to cut a bargain, to get paid, to transmit messages of fact, to ask directions (physically and mentally) to praise or to criticise. 

And there are lots of ways to communicate. Here’s a few ways we’ve aided clients’ communications in the past:

Marketing material

Sales presentations

Media representation

Advertising

Internal communications

Public speaking

Brand & Image

But we’re always looking for new challenges, and in this multimedia age your communications possibilities are almost endless. We can help you decipher which method(s) will work for you and your business, based on your particular issues and the resources you have available.

I’ve earned my living for many years as a communicator.  If you think your business could use a helping hand in this truly vital area, get in touch using the details in the sidebar.