Ripley PR

It’s time to make the right connections, and that begins by partnering with the right public relations agency

A lot of folks keep referring to “the new normal,” and many of us are still trying to figure out what that means. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted industries across the globe, and businesses of every size have had to adapt their processes in order to keep their company running and their employees safe. The manufacturing industry is no different.

This isn’t the first time the sector has faced turbulence, with supply chain disruptions, tariff wars and more proving problematic. While the industry has demonstrated its resiliency, some speculate the adoption of more technology is vital if companies hope to survive. Forbes contributor Willem Sundblad urges companies to incorporate nimble manufacturing. He writes:

The manufacturing industry’s ingenuity and leadership will drive a restructuring and simplification of what is a complex supply chain, ensuring a bright future for the United States. And it is technology that will provide the tools necessary to create the agile best practices needed to thrive in the future economy.

Making connections

An experienced manufacturing public relations agency can help technology companies become a part of the conversation the industry is ready to have. At Ripley PR, we’re ready to put a spotlight on your technology and how you can help.

Our experienced team can help you create a strategy that will increase brand awareness and provide visibility to the work you’re doing. Whether it’s creative content or media outreach, we’ll help you create new connections, reach your target audience and grow your business.

The manufacturing industry is facing challenges and looking at new opportunities that will help them work more efficiently and quickly, with a focus on quality and cost effectiveness. Your company could be just the answer. Call us today at 865-977-1973 or contact us online, and let us help you get connected.

This post was written by Amanda Greever on July 13, 2020

Are You Promoting Your Sustainability Initiatives to Home Service Companies?

In today’s crowded marketplace, it can be difficult for the manufacturers serving home service contractors to ensure that their products stand out amongst all the competition.

Since a lot of home service businesses are looking for more sustainable solutions these days, promoting your home service B2B company’s own initiatives might be the key to driving more sales.

However, even the most experienced manufacturer might find themselves feeling a bit lost when they enter the world of promoting their sustainability initiatives. How do you spread that message in a way that’s effective without being overly boastful?

Home service B2B public relations can help. Here’s how:

Home service B2B PR will start with your brand identity

With consistent messaging and the proper channels, a specialized home service B2B PR agency can weave your sustainability efforts into the very fabrics of your brand identity.

Every media opportunity earned and every press release distributed is just another opportunity to position your company as an industry leader when it comes to green initiatives. In turn, clients who are looking for sustainable partners will automatically begin to think of you.

Home service B2B PR can help drive marketing efforts

Is your marketing team already developing strategies for effectively promoting your company’s sustainability efforts?

Having a specialized PR agency on your side will help support and drive the messages that your marketing team is already crafting. While marketing determines the messaging and positioning for your brand, PR will make sure that messaging is spread and that positioning occurs.

Home service B2B PR will help attract the right clients

You want to attract top clients. Every B2B businessperson knows that finding a specific target audience is where the most profit is.

And when it comes to an issue as nuanced as sustainability, a specialized home service B2B public relations agency will know all the right channels to use to get your message in front of the right targets.

At Ripley PR, home service B2B is our specialty – and sustainability is our passion. We’d love to help you out! Contact us at (865) 977-1973 to learn more.

This post was written by Joel Davis, Content Supervisor on July 9, 2020

Plan ahead for the next crisis with PR

Home service companies like yours will go down as heroes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Plumbers, electricians and HVAC specialists joined the ranks of first responders, law enforcement and foodservice employees, bravely working on the frontlines each day to maintain safety, comfort and some semblance of normalcy.

Often going well beyond the call of duty, residential contractors and their employees have been delivering essential supplies like toilet paper to homebound families, picking up and dropping off food, and even crafting and donating filter inserts for facemasks.

In the midst of all this good, there have been challenges as well. From technicians finding out they’re sick after going on service calls to angry ex-employees seeking viral vengeance on social media, the pandemic has brought its fair share of crises to well-meaning home service companies across the country.

If you experienced a scary moment for your brand during the pandemic, how did you respond? Did you have a partner that helped you through the situation?

As an agency that specializes in home service public relations, we understand not only the need to act quickly and effectively when crises happen but the value in having a trusted partner to help you plan for them when things are still good.

We believe that businesses shouldn’t think of a crisis in terms of “what if,” but rather “when.” And we believe you shouldn’t try to fight through them alone or with a faceless vendor.

If you choose to set up a retainer with a public relations agency, make sure to find one that understands the nuances of the residential plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical world. Aligning with a team that speaks your language and knows what you’re going through will ensure better messaging, and you’re more likely to end up with a true partner in building and protecting your brand for the years ahead.

At Ripley PR, we can

Help you invest in your brand image with positive PR and proactive media outreach
Develop crisis communications strategies and help you distribute company-wide media policies
Respond quickly and effectively to undesirable situations, coordinating controlled responses with the media
Ensure messaging that remains on-point with your brand values

To learn more about proactive crisis management and inquire about retainer options, contact us at Ripley PR today by calling (865) 977-1973.

This post was written by Grayson Shockley on July 7, 2020

During COVID-19, Open Communication with Plumbing Franchise Clients and Employees is Crucial

Even during a worldwide pandemic certain businesses are considered essential and have been continuing to provide services to the public and other businesses. If you own a plumbing franchise business, you know this already. Your technicians are entering businesses and people’s homes during very stressful times, so communicating with both your customers and your employees is crucial.

The plumbing industry is also going through ups and downs, with some plumbing contractors reporting an increase in business and others seeing a slow-down in calls. No matter how your business is faring, the most important thing is keeping your employees and clients informed about how your business is meeting the challenges posed during the coronavirus.

How are you communicating with your customers?

Plumbing franchises may receive some support from the home office in regards to messaging and calming the fears of both clients and employees, but it is up to you to carry out a communications plan. The experts at Ripley PR, a franchise public relations agency, who have developed crisis communications plans for many plumbing franchises, knows that being open, honest and deliberate with communications during a crisis is crucial. Place a banner on your website with critical information about your hours, emergency situations and how you are protecting your employees and clients with PPE. Send emails, newsletters, and post on your social media channels. Silence is deadly in a crisis, so your job is to assure the public that you are taking the correct measures to keep everyone safe.

How are you communicating with your employees?

Messaging from the top is a good form of communication to ease the fears of your employees. As a franchise location owner, you could record a video message to them and distribute through your internal communications system, or send an email message to all employees. Or, try small meetings in person, while practicing social distancing, to explain what steps you are taking to provide them with all the safety equipment they need to feel comfortable. Be very clear and answer questions honestly. Your employees will appreciate it.

When faced with a crisis, you need a communication expert experienced in plumbing franchise public relations like Ripley PR. We will work to create a communication plan tailored to you. Contact us at (865) 977-1973 or visit our website online.

This post was written by Ripley PR on July 3, 2020

Promoting Construction Tech in Challenging Times

Sometimes challenging times mean new opportunities. Tech companies are in a position to capitalize on the accelerating adoption of technology by the construction industry.

Although the industry as a whole had already begun shedding its traditional reluctance to adopt new technologies in recent years, the coronavirus pandemic is fueling the drive to adopt the tech tools needed to survive in the current environment.

In Construction Dive, Zachary Phillips writes that industry analysts believe there will be ongoing investment in new tech, including the use of digitization and other innovations:

The pandemic has helped contractors to realize how efficient and fast online platforms can be, especially with the ongoing shortage of skilled labor and fewer workers being able to be on a jobsite at any given time.

The pandemic has essentially thrown contractors into the contech deep end and proven the effectiveness of digital workflow management software, progress tracking in real time and advanced schedule optimization, all of which McKinsey anticipates will increase in usage and investments.

It’s time for your tech company to increase its visibility by partnering with a PR agency that specializes in construction tech public relations. Our experts can help set your brand apart from competitors by creating an effective construction public relations strategy built on the unique strengths and value proposition it offers.

We’re ready to help your company gain the attention of construction decisionmakers and potential investors. Contact Ripley PR today or call us at (865) 977-1973.

This post was written by Joel Davis, Content Supervisor on July 1, 2020

Highlight Your Construction Projects on Social Media to Attract New Business

Construction businesses already have an effective way to promote their projects through their own social media, but they don’t make it a priority. As a successful construction public relations agency, we know how effective social media can be as a top lead-generation tool, so we wanted to offer some tips anyone in the industry can use to create their own brand awareness.

What social media platforms should my construction company use?

Think about what platforms you know you’ll use consistently and start there. If you have competitors, look at their social media channels and see where they post most of the time. Check out the top businesses in your industry too. They may be doing something different to get more business leads through their social media. Posting images and stories of your projects works well on Facebook and Instagram, but Twitter, YouTube, and emerging channels might have potential too. Decide on just two or three and stick to those.

What should my construction company post?

Once you have an idea what others are posting, create a plan for your own business to follow. Construction firms often post images, videos and GIFs of their projects to get more attention. Before and after images, and short videos during construction are popular. You can use your smartphone to take great videos and post them to YouTube too. Short tutorial videos are a great way to draw new customers. If you give people valuable information, your video will be a hit. Always add hashtags and descriptions so your images and videos show up in searches.

How often should my construction business post?

There is no hard and fast rule, and even experts don’t always agree. So, find your own comfort zone and keep doing it. You may want to post something once a day or three times a week, but don’t post something just to fill space. Make it count by looking at your social channels’ analytics and keep posting during the highest traffic times. Note which posts get the most views, and try posting more that are similar.

Hiring a construction public relations agency like Ripley PR can help you get even more out of your social media channels. If you would like to know more, call us at (865) 977-1973 or contact Ripley PR online today.

This post was written by Heather Ripley, Founder/CEO on June 29, 2020

Three Tips for Hiring a B2B PR Agency

You’ve worked hard to make your business a success. While your company is doing OK, you’ve always felt it could be doing a little better if only it had higher visibility. You’ve seen other B2B companies like yours in the news, featured at business events and being interviewed by trade journals in your industry and wonder how they do it.

Those businesses have probably engaged a public relations firm that specializes in B2B communications and promotion. If your business wants more brand awareness to help increase sales and draw new customers, hiring the right B2B public relations agency can give your business the boost it needs. Finding the right agency for you doesn’t have to be hard if you follow the tips below: B2B executives partner with a specialist public relations agency

Do an internet search for B2B PR agencies

You’ll find pages of information with a variety of organic results along with paid ads. Research the PR companies that seem to align with your business, and view their websites, blogs, social media and reviews. Beware of agencies that promise anything though, that’s a big red flag. Follow up with the ones that seem promising.

Ask other business owners for recommendations

This is always a good way to get information about a potential PR agency. Sometimes your colleagues will be very helpful, but you might want to keep your search under wraps and talk privately with just a few trusted business contacts. This will prevent competitors from hearing about your plans before you want them known.

Request a conversation with the PR agency’s current clients

Everyone knows that when you talk to a business’ clients for a reference, they are going have a lot of nice things to say. But use the opportunity to ask about the culture, how the agency treats people, if the client’s business has improved and how the PR firm helped make that happen.

If you’d like to learn more about what a B2B public relations agency like Ripley PR can do for you, just call us at (865) 977-1973 or contact Ripley PR online.

This post was written by Heather Ripley, Founder/CEO on June 25, 2020

Use Social Media to Recruit the Best Construction Tech Workers

Many industries are feeling the pain of the last few months’ COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders, especially the construction business and its affiliated industries. Speculation about how the future looks for these industries is widespread, but most are encouraging.

What does that mean for construction tech recruitment? More than ever before, potential workers will be using online platforms to look for their next employer. Ripley PR, an experienced construction tech public relations agency, has created successful social media recruitment tactics for construction businesses. Here are some of our tips to help you capitalize on recruiting online:

Use your social media to calm back-to-work fears

According to a study by ConstructionDive in March, 70% of construction bosses surveyed said worker anxiety was their number one issue, with only 23% concerned about material shortages and 10% worrying about fewer clients. Use social media to show how your business is creating a safe environment, and let potential workers know you care about their health during and after the worst of COVID-19 has passed. List the new processes you are putting into place to protect them on the job.

Post positive images and messaging about future jobs

Construction workers are not only concerned about their health, they are also concerned about job stability. While your business may be able to re-hire some laid off or furloughed workers, you will need to replace staffing gaps. To encourage potential workers to apply to your construction business, post about upcoming construction jobs and your company’s strong position in the community. Let them know your plans are to come back on top.

Use social media to make applying easy

Social media is a great way to post about position openings, so don’t just post on recruiting platforms. Use your own social channels to offer easy, one-click links to apply. Create a landing page on your website just for new applicants, put an “apply now” button on your home page, and post it to all your social platforms.

If you’d like to learn about social media recruiting, Ripley PR, a construction tech public relations agency, can help you obtain the best skilled workers in the industry. Contact us today at 865-977-1973.

This post was written by Heather Ripley, Founder/CEO on June 23, 2020

Your Knoxville Business Can Stay in Touch with Social Media

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven customers away from brick-and-mortar stores and into their homes. While Knoxville has experienced a relatively short stay-at-home order, people are still staying away from crowded places and using caution when going out.

That has made it difficult for businesses across all market spaces to stay in touch with their clientele. Those who already have a robust online presence have made this transition seamlessly, but others may be struggling to catch up.

As Mark Nevins recently wrote in Forbes:

Hiding, hoping and waiting, or doubling down on business as usual is not going to work. Whatever your industry, you need to have meaningful and open conversations with your customers. This crisis gives you license to have conversations you may never have had before: asking what your customers are worried about, how and when they see things returning to “normal,” and what they really need, including maybe from you.

If you need to reconnect during this time, consider partnering with a Knoxville public relations agency to help you get a new social media strategy off the ground.

Cohesive Messaging

A robust social media strategy needs to take into account the personalities and expectations across multiple platforms. The tone for Instagram is vastly different than the tone for LinkedIn. But with that in mind, your messaging needs to be consistent no matter where you post it. A great public relations agency can help you maintain a cohesive brand message while tailoring the tone to each social media platform.

Reaching Your Customers

A professional public relations agency can also help you target the platforms and hashtags that will reach your audience most effectively. The age, gender, location and profession of your target audience matters on social media. An agency can help you decide where, when and how to post for best efficiency and return on investment.

If you are exploring new ways to stay in touch with your customers and clients in these challenging times, Ripley PR can help. We have the social media expertise to make and implement the best possible strategy for you. To find out more, just call us at (865) 977-1973 or contact Ripley PR online today.

This post was written by Heather Ripley, Founder/CEO on June 19, 2020