Artisan Marketing Communications, not “media communications”
I am not too precious about my brand – about being a brand guardian.
If someone says Artisan Media Communications I am usually fine with that.
At first I wanted Artisan PR but that had been taken by an Edinburgh PR agency some time ago.
(To be completely accurate I wanted something like Orange PR (I can’t remember the colour, it could have been a purple or blue derivative). I put this to Simon Wharton who quickly admonished me and informed me this was a crap name and I should think again – and I did).
After choosing Artisan Marketing Communications I thought maybe media communications was more appropriate, better. Sometimes interested parties would believe that I offered marketing and I would have to correct them and say PR!
But now marketing communications is the more appropriate term in some ways because it is more than using the media. It is about using contacts, advising on presentation, finding introductions through networking, looking out for opportunities: awards / pointers on who can offer help be it a grant, further contacts and referrals.
It is about, when possible, being another set of eyes and ears for clients.
The media is still at the core of what I do, but a lot of the value add is bringing my knowledge of organisations, people’s businesses and the Manchester / North West business landscape (as much as I know) to the attention and benefit of clients.
It is a never ending, often time-consuming process while I work in PR, but a necessary and productive one.
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
what’s in a name anyway, Rob. Would an alien visiting earth for the first time know what Microsoft or Orange actually do just by their names?
When presenting to prospective customers/clients I suppose it is important for them to quickly understand what you or your business actually does – often the name is a clue but how often do companies miss out on extra “sales” to existing customers because they did not “know you did that too.”
Overcoming this comes through relationship-building, getting to know your clients better and what other services they use or require – and eventually your name or brand is irrelevant.
July 28th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Ben,
I agree that a name doesn’t matter too much. If your branding is brilliant but your service doesn’t match up you are not going to do well.
But I wanted to point out that PR encompasses more than an interview or press release for me, it is about all communications, marketing and more.
Rob
July 29th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Rob – Take no notice of him. Orange PR would have been a great name
August 6th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Nigel,
I was going to call it Vodaphone PR, buit there were ceertain legal complications
Rob
October 5th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Ben,
I agree that a name doesn’t matter too much. If your branding is brilliant but your service doesn’t match up you are not going to do well.
But I wanted to point out that PR encompasses more than an interview or press release for me, it is about all communications, marketing and more.
Rob