What are you most thankful for this holiday season?

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, it’s a good time to give thanks to all the wonderful people and businesses that make my career in public relations fun, rewarding and fulfilling. 

1.       My husband for being supportive of my career as a WAHM (work-at-home-mom).
2.       My clients for trusting my judgment and allowing me to be a part of your business.  It’s rewarding to see how marketing, branding, public relations and social media can positively impact your organization. 
3.       My business associates such as Creative Intuition and Newhouse Studios for being outstanding partners in web development.  We work incredibly well together and it’s a pleasure to be surrounded with creative and smart professionals. 
4.       My connections and friendships with other PR colleagues who willingly share best practices, pass referrals back and forth to each other and generally care about each others well-being. 
5.       Members of the media who help spread our messages and tell stories that matter. 
6.       Social media tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ that are changing the way PR professionals do business.  These tools play a vital role in any company or nonprofits marketing plan - allowing them to reach and engage with customers, donors, volunteers and businesses on a whole new level.
7.       Networking groups (online or in person) that help me grow professionally and keep me connected with the latest trends.
8.       New opportunities.  My job allows me to meet new people, learn about new industries and work with some amazing people. 

So, what are you thankful for this year?

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Graphic Designer and PR consultant in this Economy:

1. You need to announce or sell something, assume or persuade someone, explain a complicated system or demonstrate a process through visual communications. Skilled professionals can help guide you through the process and create marketing messages that will resonate with a particular audience.
2. Your time and resources are limited. In today’s economy, many companies have been forced to lay out staff and cut marketing budgets. Now, more than ever, companies need to maximize their marketing dollars and working with a small graphic design and PR firm can be beneficial. Most boutique firms have the ability to work within your budget and not require large monthly retainers.
3. You want better access and coverage in the media. Most small PR firms have the same access to journalists that large agencies do. They work with local, national and trade media on a regular basis and have the tools, software and programs to find reporters and editors at any media outlet in the world. Additionally, they have established relationships with members of the media and are considered a trusted source.
4. Consistency is key. Often times, companies make the mistake of having someone in-house or an intern handle small changes to marketing fliers, brochures, etc. While some companies view this as a cost savings measure, they quickly learn the smallest of changes can impact the quality of the work. The initial investment made to have the work professionally designed is squandered because the overall effectiveness of the piece is diminished.
5. Many independent graphic designers and PR professionals are connected to like-minded consultants who can offer support in the areas of public relations, graphic design, advertising, e-marketing, video production and more. In essence, companies get access to a team of principals, all of who are the best and brightest in their area of expertise at a fraction of the cost of working with a traditional bricks and mortar agency.

LDH Consulting partners with Creative Intuition to provide graphic design work to a variety of clients.