PRACTICES

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

A major public project can have a serious impact upon citizens. We help make a project a net positive for a community by involving and educating those impacted in the early stages of the project so their opinions are heard and addressed.

The Public Matters
Project teams cannot afford to wait to get the public involved. Neighborhood groups, homeowner's associations and concerned citizens are more involved than ever in the process. We keep the public at the forefront through:

• Public relations - Public relations is about delivering information so that it relates to a specific public. Our outstanding staff will produce clear, concise materials for the public to learn about the project.
• Public education - Public education is about disseminating information to a specific audience in the public about a project. We do this through using traditional and technology based techniques.
• Public involvement - Public involvement is a collaboration with the public to facilitate their involvement in the decision making process.

Each of these three activities is distinctincly different and has a different impact and unique role in the community outreach process. They should not be confused and neither should they be minimized. The Cunningham Group will work with you to determine what techniques should be used to best fulfill your needs.

When we partner with you, we identify needs, concerns and issues. We engage the public and provide accountability during the process. We present solutions and ensure effective involvement for the life of the project.

Technology is essential

One tool we use to gauge public opinion is interactive media. Our professional staff is experienced in writing and conducting surveys. Through using technology, we save money for the client, achieve greater participation from the public and deliver outstanding results.
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STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

Strategic communication does not happen by accident. It's a carefully crafted message that considers what you're saying, how you're saying it and to whom you're saying it. We help you create a clear communication map.

Once that roadmap is created, we help you devise the tactics to get your message out effectively. What are the touch points for the audience? Is it better to use traditional media or the web? What about earned media and magazines articles? The Cunningham Group will help you make these decisions and then execute the plan.

The Cunningham Group delivers on the big picture and the smallest details. Whether it's producing collateral material, press releases or producing articles for publication in magazines, we are able to deliver. We don't have our plans sitting on the shelf. All of our communications strategies are custom designed for you and are distinctly yours.

Message Development

In developing your message, you have to ask yourself a couple of questions. First, what do you want people to know about you? Second, what do you want people to think and feel about you? We believe that the second question is more important that the first because what you feel can overpower what you know. When these questions are answered, we know how to create your message. It will be simple, clear and memorable.

Delivery

If a message isn't received and understood, it really isn't much of a message. Tourists, teenagers, moms, and commuters will all require different communications methods and modes. Each group needs to receive the message and understand it and believe it. The Cunningham Group will make sure that it happens. We help you adapt and keep current on the latest communications techniques. If you need other services to help you reach your goal, the Cunningham Group is ready to help. Maybe your logo needs updating and maybe your brand needs polishing. Whatever you need, we will provide.
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SOCIAL CRM

If a person were protesting outside of your business about poor customer service, hopefully, you would do everything possible to solve that customer’s problem. But, suppose 100 people on Facebook or Twitter are talking about your lack of customer service. Do you know what to do about it?

Do you even know if the conversation is happening? Your customers or stakeholders are having digital conversations about everything--business, social trends and politics. Most Americans trust “people like me” more than they trust government or companies. They find like minded people on social networking sites. This is where they make recommendations and decisions. What are they saying about you and what are you doing to shape that conversation? Social CRM or Customer Relationship Management is an innovative business strategy designed to engage the customer in a collaborative conversation using online platforms to provide mutually beneficial value in a trusted and transparent business environment.

In short, it’s your company’s response to the customer’s ownership of that conversation. We are experts at implementing social CRM strategies to help private firms, public sector organizations and community-based agencies shape and control that conversation.
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MARKETING

Effective marketing can take your company from an unknown to a major player in its market segment. When you partner with us, we help you determine the right mix of marketing techniques and tools to get your business noticed. Our professional staff has lead marketing efforts for some of the largest public institutions in Florida. We have also developed programs for small businesses while respecting their limited resources.

The Cunningham Group is also skilled at providing expert legal marketing to law firms in Florida. It's an art and unlike many other businesses, law firms walk a fine line between aggressively promoting their services and maintaining a professional image while being in compliance with Bar rules.

At the Cunningham Group, we do this by creating customized marketing and PR programs that integrate branding, public relations, advertising, web site optimization and other online strategies. We develop the kinds of materials and programs that will enhance the business building efforts of our law firm clients.

Our firm's principal is a lawyer and our staff has provided legal marketing services to some of the top firms in Florida. Whether you are a public agency, private sector corporation or law firm, the Cunningham Group can help you market your message. Let's start a conversation about your marketing needs today.
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ISSUES MANAGEMENT

At the Cunningham Group, we understand that government decisions and policies can have a major impact upon your profitability, business and opportunities. We make sure that decision makers inside and outside of government, understand your perspective and consider your views in the decision making process.

In addition to government communications, we help you inform and educate the public on the worthiness of your project. An ill-informed public can become the biggest obstacle to the successful conclusion of your endeavors. We work with you, the public, the media and stakeholders to make sure that the benefits of your project are understood.

We are experts at using targeted strategies to manage issues relevant to our client’s objectives. We help our clients positively influence decision makers and the public about their message.

Whether it be crafting communications in a crisis or planning public meetings to educate the public, we serve as advocates for our clients and champion their issues and projects.
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PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 2.0™

We are experts in Public Involvement 2.0™, the process of managing, analyzing and evaluating public participation and comment-gathering on transportation and infrastructure projects using RSS, social networking, video, blogs, web-enabled applications and social media. The Web has empowered citizens to create and engage in conversations about projects -- whether it be costs, alternatives, or alignment -- independently of the agency or the public involvement team.

Citizens aren't waiting for the public meeting. They are having the conversations in real time. The Cunningham Group provides expert advice on social media and engaging stakeholders. We know how to maximize your web presence and engage stakeholders in the conversation. We know how to start the conversation and keep it going through Public Involvement 2.0™.

The Miami Herald news has called one of our principals a "pioneering web entrepreneur". Pioneers lead the way and Public Involvement 2.0™ is the next step in stakeholder engagement. Let us show you how!
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