Tag: public relations strategy

Why you need PR to have success with AI in business

Posted on by Wellons Communications

Think back and you’ll see just how rapidly communications has changed marketing…and how the changes have affected how you conduct business.

In 1996, there were approximately 45 million people using the internet. By 1999, the number reached 150 million, and more than half of them were from the United States. By the year 2000, there were 407 million users in 218 of the 246 countries in the world.

In the late ’90s, Google entered the scene. Before Google became the world’s most popular search engine, Yahoo was the leading search engine on the internet. By 2000, Google’s popularity had grown immensely and soon upended Yahoo to become the world’s most popular search engine.

Now marketing is embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI)… but it remains to be seen precisely what impact AI is going to have on business and how it is going to be used.

What impact is AI having on marketing?

AI is (and to an extent already has) transformed how people look for information. Marketers are adapting.

AI search relies on trusted, relevant sources that have a strong, authoritative reputation. Meaning? AI relies on exactly what PR delivers. It’s time for the PR industry to take center stage.

AI is transforming how people look for information and how people look for products. It’s the biggest shift since the emergence of Google…even in how people think.

Particularly affected are businesses that rely on Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The are new platforms, new algorithms, and new demands. Clicks and traffic are dying – with visibility and awareness taking their place.

What that means is that there is less reliance on being visible on Google and more of a presence everywhere.

What to expect from AI and how it will evolve

First off, the business world as a whole is getting up to speed on how AI can be best employed.

No one is a total authority on AI. How AI is being utilized now—and how it will be used in the immediate future—is evolving just like the early days of search engines.

Two things you can expect to see in relation to AI:

  • Confusing new acronyms and vocabulary. You will see acronyms like GEO, AIO, AEO and words and descriptors like AI agents, agentic marketing, hybrid cloud, and anthropomorphism.
  • Self-proclaimed authorities in AI. There will be a flood of “experts” who will emerge and anoint themselves as an authority on how to use AI and claim to know everything about how to use. Be skeptical. Nobody has all the answers because AI is still emerging.

Wellons Communications is adapting to AI…along with everyone else

We do not claim to know more than anyone else on how to harness AI.

But we’re already learning that AI offers an advantage to businesses that use PR.

That advantage? PR delivers the trusted, relevant sources that feed the AI beast.

And trusted, reliable information is what Wellons Communications delivers.

Let us give your business a hand as you adapt incorporating Artificial Intelligence into your marketing program. Call us at 407-339-0879 or email us at will@wellonscommunications.com and let’s talk about how we can harness AI to help your business move into this exciting new era.

What’s ahead for marketing and PR in 2021?

Posted on by Wellons team

The new year is almost upon us and, with the pandemic still raging full-bore, it is challenging to try and look too far ahead.

As difficult as it is to forecast the future, making preparations for what we can reasonably believe will happen in the upcoming months is a must. None among us, of course, has the ability to precisely predict, for example, how consumers will respond when COVID vaccination peaks in the springtime or how businesses will respond to a new presidency.

There are, however, certain characteristics we consider as we develop marketing and public relations approaches for the immediate future.

Recognize the increased emphasis on health and safety

A recent Consumer Index Report by Ernst & Young reports that 26% of consumers surveyed prefer brands and products they trust to be safe and minimize unnecessary risks. Fifty-seven percent say they now pay more attention to how healthy the products they buy are for them.

So how does this translate to your business?

First of all, it means that consumers will continue, at least until they feel less threatened by COVID, to deal remotely. Projected even further, that means that your business must make it as easy as possible for your customers to do business with you. Outdated software or barriers for people to reach you or conduct business with you can be a deterrent to retaining existing customers or attracting new customers.

Upgrade your ability to connect with your customers online

According to an eMarkerter report from June, the average U.S. adult will spend 23 more minutes on smartphones per day in 2020—and that was in June!

We are socializing, working, shopping, and more—online. It’s not just Gen Z and Millennials anymore; it is all of us.

Though digital fatigue is real, there are certain digital experiences to which consumers are growing increasingly accustomed, like buying online and picking up in a store, curbside pickup or home delivery. Your website and social channels are now the front door to your brand or business. Looking ahead into 2021, this may translate to tactics like brief virtual events, online channels and creating video content to tell your story more effectively.

Keep you staff’s tech skills equal to those of your customers

The COVID threat has accelerated behaviors with a speed that no one could have forecast. Business professionals routinely conduct Zoom meetings, and youngsters attend classes without showing up in a classroom. People attend exercise classes online and talk to their doctors in virtual visits. The scale and magnitude of these changes is absolutely staggering.

This huge shift in behavior means your employees, particularly those who are in frequent contact with your customers, need to clearly understand how to work the levers of tech interaction.

So how to upgrade your staff’s tech skills?

Some people are resistant to new technology because they don’t see how it’s any better than the current system. Your employees may be thinking, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The problem with that attitude is that they may not realize how broken the current system is.

If you want your workforce to be more tech savvy, you have to make them want to be more tech savvy. It’s never easy to get people to do things they don’t want to do.

Start by showing them how your technology will make their jobs easier. Just saying it will benefit them may not be enough.

Have them work side-by-side with someone who has embraced the technology. Your tech-savvy employees can demonstrate how easy it is to use and how it will simplify their job.

And, finally, look to the future with confidence

All of us want to return to “normal,” but, realistically, we must recognize that “normal,” will never be the same at it was before COVID.

Even after suffering through the ravages of a pandemic that none of us ever could have anticipated, Americans still possess a tough, resilient spirit that is seeing us through a period of uncertainty.

Given the exceptional abilities that have made our nation the leader of the free world, we find a way to create and prosper in a new normal.

No one, of course, can accurately predict what a new normal will look like, but by examining and responding to trends that are manifesting themselves in the marketing world, we can be better prepared for what is coming and how to adjust to it.

Happy holidays to all and a safe and prosperous 2021

We wish all of you a happy – and safe – holiday season. And we join each of you in hoping that we turn the corner toward an even more positive life as we will know it once the pandemic is behind us.

Use visual storytelling to make your message stand out

Posted on by Wellons team

The competition for your attention has never been so fierce.

From the time your alarm goes off and you check the news to the moment you check tomorrow’s weather and click the television remote before going to sleep, you are deluged with messaging. And by messaging, we mean all kinds of information—advertising, news and anything else designed to capture your attention.

The fact is we are receiving more information than any other time in recorded history, primarily due to the onset of the internet and the sheer volume of information that can be generated and distributed through digital and mobile communications.

The end result: we begin to ignore or tune out messaging and information.

And that neatly presents the challenge we face as professional communicators: how to make your message stand out and distinguish who you are, what you do, and how well you do it.

Pictures are, indeed, worth a thousand words.

Let’s take a quick glance at some pictures to make our point. This is an instantly recognizable visual cue. It needs no words to clearly explain its meaning.

Here’s another example: it illustrates our point about the exponential growth of messaging that bombards us daily:

The meaning is pretty clear. The number of advertising messages to which we are exposed every day has doubled in the past 13 years.

This example is a little more complex:

This example uses words, in combination with a powerful graphic, to convey the notion that “thoughts” can result in a “change.”

The overwhelming importance of using graphics to project your message

The majority of your potential clients get to know you by your graphics. Your logo. Your letterhead. The sign on your door. The graphic on your website. Even the graphic design on the cup of coffee you may be sampling while you read this.

For those who are already doing business with you, the relationship is far greater than graphics, of course. But, for those whom you want to serve, graphics are often the first step in making an acquaintance.

The things you interact with every day were all created by a graphic designer. These elements communicate an idea or concept—that’s the purpose of graphic design. It’s the graphic designer’s job to marry creativity and strategy in order to effectively communicate with the world around them.

Our Orlando marketing agency relies on graphics to make your customers relate to you

Our digital marketing agency practioners are huge believers in blending your ideas with visual elements that make your ideas come to life.

Photos. Videos. Charts. Illustrations. Cartoons. Website graphics. Postcards. Signage. There is no graphic expression that is off the table.

If a graphic can tell your story without a thousand words, so much the better. We are firm believers in infographics to capture attention. And we utilize creatively talented resources to help make your messages come to life and convey ideas that will attract attention and make your product or service pop.

Picture this: Call on Wellons Communications to convey your message

We describe what we do as marketing public relations. We specialize in public relations aimed at selling a product, service or idea. After all, isn’t that why you are in business?

If you are seeking a new, fresh way to cut through the white noise of the informational messages that hammer away at us every single minute, then consider calling Wellons Communications, an Orlando marketing agency, for solutions.

You talk. We’ll listen. And after we’ve listened, we’ll respond with recommendations and ideas that will be tailored specifically to the wants and needs of your potential customers…and aimed at helping your business grow and succeed.

Now, how’s that for a picture?

Contact me at 407-339-0879 or email me at will@wellonscommunications.com and find out more about how we can serve you.

Why you need to think about crisis communications now (and how to start)

Posted on by Wellons team

With everything 2020 has thrown at businesses, it’s probably not too hard to imagine why your business might need a crisis communications plan.

There have been countless lessons over the past few months of businesses tackling crisis head on, and many cautionary tales of businesses falling on their faces.

Even so, it’s easy to see why it doesn’t get checked off your to-do list. In the day-to-day hubbub, while you’re just trying to stay afloat, devoting the time to developing a crisis plan might not seem like a priority. Maybe you think you can’t fully craft a plan until you know what you’re facing. Or maybe you don’t even know where to start at all.

But whatever the reason, there are so many more that you should take the time to walk through your crisis communications plan…NOW.

If you don’t have a plan, you’re just reacting. Imagine driving down a dark, curvy road at night. With your headlights on, you can only see a few feet in front of you. You don’t know what’s lurking up ahead. Now turn on the brights. Suddenly, you can see a lot more.

Crisis happens fast. Having a plan means you can see further up the road. Without one, you’re just reacting to whatever pops up.

Social media means crisis is even faster. With so many different platforms, social media can mean you feel a crisis even more. You have a more direct platform to communicate with your guests or customers, and they have a more direct platform to communicate with you. If you don’t have a plan, the chatter on social media can be deafening…and devastating.

Having a plan forces you to define your brand. As you craft a crisis communications plan, you’re going to have to further evaluate who you are as a company. What do you value? What is your brand voice, and what do you say with it? Any time you look internally—to determine your best-selling products, to identify sales opportunities, to find new verticals, to form new positions—you strengthen your company because you can more clearly articulate these things.

You show employees you care. Just like when you put new HR policies in place, having a crisis communications plan helps your employees. It shows that you take your company seriously and value what you’re building together. It shows that you care about concerns and are the kind of company that works proactively to protect staff.

You show your customers you care. No one likes to deal with a crisis, but when you do—and when you’re prepared—you show your customers how seriously you take your brand. You show you are taking action, and you show you value their trust in you.

Have we convinced you?

Getting started doesn’t have to be intimidating. First, take some time to brainstorm a variety of situations your company might face. Think about how you might handle those situations. What might you say (or not say) and what platforms might you use to spread (or monitor) that message?

Next, designate a crisis team with a point person or spokesperson. This might also be a great time to engage an agency (hi!). Together, come up with an action plan. You might even start to draft some communications that can be quickly and easily customized and deployed.

Still need a little help? Wellons Communications has helped clients weather all kinds of storms. We’ve been helping clients prepare for more than a decade, and we’d be happy to lend a third-party perspective to your business.

Give us a call at (407) 462-2718 or email will@wellonscommunications.com for a free consultation.

Reopening communication tips for businesses after coronavirus

Posted on by Wellons team

As the COVID-19 pandemic was making headlines earlier this year and businesses began to close, there were many questions as to how businesses should communicate to customers. Now, as states across the country slowly begin to open up again, there will be many more.

Truly, what you do as a business and how you treat people during a crisis will be remembered. If you do it right, you can win and grow market share. If you do it wrong, the reverse is also true. It is imperative that businesses—regardless of industry—have a reopening plan for communications as well as operations.

The first step to reopening should always be following official guidance and doing your absolute best to ensure your staff and your customers or guests are safe. When you have that plan in place, consider the steps below to optimize your reopening communications.

Update your info. If your guests don’t know what your hours are or even if you are open, they definitely can’t visit, whether for takeout or in-person. Check Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google and your own website. Search your business, and check the results. Does everything have your current hours and operations correctly listed? If not, fix it.

Communicate to your customers. You might be scared about blowback, or nervous that with new operations, you’ll be totally overwhelmed by customer demand when you reopen. But your customers still need to know what’s going on. Tell them! Update your website to reflect your new procedures, post on social with regular updates, or send an eblast. Again, if your guests don’t know how you’re operating, they can’t visit.

Be extra responsive. People are going to have questions, and they are going to have opinions. Now is the time to spend more time on call to answer those queries. Monitor your social media inboxes, your email inboxes and your phone line. It might help to brainstorm a few frequently asked questions and create a set response so everyone who is replying stays on message.

Monitor the situation. This is a crisis, and there will be a harsher spotlight on your business now than ever. People might not agree with your operating procedures, or they might not feel they are getting the same experience because of them. Now is the time to deploy your best social media listening tools. Monitor conversations you are tagged in or that mention your business and be prepared to respond in a way that diffuses the situation.

Stay top of mind. It’s not business as usual, but find ways you can continue to communicate with your guests. Post on social media. Send an email. There are a lot of messages flying around out there, and you need to ensure you are staying top of mind.

Learn from this. Did you do anything during the crisis that worked well? Perhaps you started a weekly virtual series, or deployed an awesome family meal deal. What can you continue to do even in reopening that would help move the needle?

We know you’ve heard this many times over, but these are unprecedented times. It can be tough to walk the line of communication during reopening. We hope these tips help, but if you have questions or are feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out.

We, too, are a small business navigating this crisis. We can be your Orlando public relations partner, whether you are a restaurant, attraction or B2B company. Email Will at will@wellonscommunications.com or call 407-462-2718 and let’s start the conversation.

The power of storytelling in businesses

Posted on by Wellons team

One of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal is also one of the simplest to develop and put to work for you.

It’s storytelling—the art of sharing your story and explaining how your business or service helps customers.

It works in just about every situation, and despite the fear you may have of writer’s block or your notion that “I can’t write,” it’s actually surprisingly easy.

That said, not everyone has the inclination or ability to write their story. Most often, the challenge for business owners is simply finding the time necessary to sit down in front of a screen and keyboard (or a sheet of paper for old-school writers) and compose their story.

That’s where folks like us—Wellons Communications—enter the scene.

Who cares about your story?

Actually, nobody. That is, until you give them a reason to care about your story.

At Wellons Communications, we craft narratives that connect your story to the needs of those who can use your services.

We start with your customer. What is it they need? Your customer comes first because your story is really all about them.

Once the needs of your customer are identified, your story ends with explaining how your service fulfills that need or solves their problem. Your service provides a means to their end.

So how does Wellons Communications construct stories?

Every story has three basic elements: a beginning, a middle, and an end.

The need of your customer is the beginning. It is essential that you are able to explain the problem your customer is facing and why it even matters in the first place.

We build the story by sharing how you recognize your customer’s need or want and how you went about addressing your customer’s challenge. 

And, in the end, we provide a happy ending…confirming that your customer’s need was solved.

But, unlike a fairy tale, we also remind readers that some problems need to be addressed all the time (like competitive pressures, introduction of competitive services, changes in technology). In short, your service can solve customer’s problem or, better yet, can stand by the customer’s side to continue fulfilling their need.

Our storytelling formula borrows from the best

At Wellons Communications, we don’t claim to have invented storytelling. But we do pay attention and learn from those who share their stories in the most effective and compelling fashion.

One of the most powerful storytellers in today’s culture is Pixar, whose cinematic storytelling achievements have earned them considerable earnings, as well as worldwide recognition and respect.

Pixar’s storytelling technique follows a very simple formula. It goes:

Once upon a time there was [blank]. Every day, [blank]. One day [blank]. Because of that, [blank]. Until finally, [blank].

Here’s an example of how our storytelling works

Once upon a time, there was a small group of coffee sellers.

Every day, they sold their coffee to customers who really liked their coffee.

One day, they noticed their customers not only liked their coffee, they wanted more ways to buy their coffee.  

Because of that, the coffee sellers decided to make their coffee more available by expanding their store locations and selling coffee by the pound to their customers.

Until finally, their sales grew to the point where the coffee sellers could become a profitable and regional coffee brand.

Let us tell your story—and help your sales and earnings grow

Everyone has a story to tell.  Our job is to help our customers clearly identify the story they have to tell, craft that story on their behalf, and figure out the most effective means of sharing that story with current and potential customers.

Our storytelling technique is not quite as easy as the Pixar illustration cited above, but it borrows heavily from successful techniques in totally unrelated industries and puts them to work for our clients.

We can apply same storytelling techniques to your product or service.

Find out more about how we can make your story come to life for your customers. Call or email Will Wellons at 407-462-2718 or will@wellonscommunications.com and find out more about how your story can be told.

Facing coronavirus: How to craft business communications during crisis

Posted on by Wellons team

Like many of you, we at Wellons Communications have been closely following the developments related to COVID-19, or coronavirus, over the last week. We have been in constant contact with our clients through this time, helping them craft communications to employees and customers and take the right steps for them to share their messages.

Truly, none of us have faced such a widespread, global challenge before. Even so, as businesses craft essential communications during this time, general crisis communications cornerstones still hold true. If you’re a business that knows it needs to communicate but doesn’t know what, exactly, to say during this time, follow these guidelines that can be used in many crisis situations.

Be honest and direct with your customers and employees. Honesty is definitely the best policy when crisis hits. You have thought long and hard about what to do at your business to keep your customers safe, and you have put procedures into place. Telling your customers and employees about those plans in a clear way is the best thing you can do to reassure them when times get tough.

Show your support. It’s pretty simple—do the right thing. You care about your customers and your employees. Show them that you’re standing with them and doing everything you can to meet their needs and keep them safe.

Don’t be afraid to overcommunicate. At times like these, you really can’t overcommunicate. COVID-19, particularly, is a fluid situation. Where we are today with this crisis is worlds away from where we were a week ago, and a week from now might be even more different. Provide updates as things change with your business, and be timely about those communications.

Be consistent. When you have drafted a message that conveys the above points, don’t forget to carry it across all platforms. If you’ve drafted a letter or eblast, create a social media response plan that picks up the main points. If you have a social post, think about a suggested reply for employees answering phone calls or emails, as well. Make sure your messaging is aligned.

Be careful about making light of the situation. When we’ve reached a crisis level, the situation is serious. Look at your communications through a different lens, ensuring all your messaging conveys the gravity of the situation. You should also be wary about any messaging that comes off as trying to sell something. You don’t want to appear to be taking advantage of a serious situation.

Few of us were likely prepared for a situation like what we now face with COVID-19, but all businesses should have a crisis communications plan for situations like this. Whether you and your business are facing a natural disaster like a hurricane, an accident or tragedy or a global health crisis, the steps are generally the same—and you should have a plan.

If you need help getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out. We have extensive experience in crisis communications and messaging, and we’re here to help.

Beyond the elevator speech: Five questions you need to answer for your business

Posted on by Wellons team

We’ve all heard the importance of having an “elevator speech” that tells your audience what you do and how important your product or service is to them.

We at Wellons Communications agree with the idea of a short, punchy message. However, we also believe that you need to work on and perfect a more robust message than a 15-second elevator speech to truly explain the value you bring to your clientele.

With that in mind, at Wellons Communications, we ask our clients five important questions that help define the messages they want to project … and the impressions they want to create.

The Big Five are:

  • What do you do?
  • How does your product or service help your client?
  • What do your competitors say about themselves?
  • What distinguishes your product or service from your competitors?
  • Who and where are your potential customers?

Build from the basics

Surprisingly, many business leaders have a difficult time answering these five questions.

They have successfully grown their businesses to the point where they need to expand their marketing program — including public relations — to continue growth. However, when it comes to more precisely defining themselves and what they do for the audiences they serve, they run into challenges.

They know they need to continue reaching out, but struggle to find the ways and means to reach new and different audiences in order to continue expanding sales and growth.

PR is part of your overall marketing package

We view public relations as one of the four primary components of our client’s marketing programs: paid advertising, public relations, sales and research.

Our job centers around publicity management — attracting attention or, in some cases, clarifying and shaping the attention that is defining our clients. That requires us to interact, for the most part, with editorial media, whose independence means their viewpoints and opinions cannot be purchased but can certainly be shaped and influenced with proper messaging.

That means we have to know about you, your business category, your audience, your competitors and what you want to accomplish.

And that means that we need to know the answers to The Big Five questions listed above.

Sometimes, less is better

When we first meet with potential clients, we always ask the Big Five questions.

Often, these potential clients struggle to concisely and clearly answer the Big Five. And, while we listen closely to what we are told, we often learn that the longer a potential client takes to answer these questions, the more difficult it is to concisely and clearly answer the question.

Our first priority is to clearly understand what you do and what you want to do. That means asking tough questions and boiling the answers down to strategic approaches that will result in messaging that your audience can understand and act upon.

The end result may appear to be a very simple solution. But reaching a simple solution requires some complex planning and hard work to achieve.

We think like marketers. We act like PR professionals

If a client were to ask us The Big Five, our answers are:

What do you do?

We provide publicity and related communications services that augment our clients’ overall marketing.

How does your product or service help your client?

We help our clients increase sales by reaching their target audiences with clear, concise messaging that amplifies their reach beyond advertising.

What do your competitors say about themselves?

Our competitors most often claim they are bigger, more experienced, have a larger client base and have greater depth in resources.

What distinguishes your product or service from your competitors?

We are smaller and, because we are smaller, we provide more personalized, hands-on services that are more creative, more nimble and more effective than our larger competitors.

Who and where are your potential customers?

The vast majority of our potential customers are based, or have significant operations, in the Central Florida region. Some of them are in tourism, hospitality and food and beverage and others are in real estate, development, legal and related business categories.

How would you answer The Big Five?

Ask yourself how you would answer the five questions listed above. If you find you have difficulty clearly and concisely answering them, it may be a signal that you have grown to the point that you need some help to augment your marketing program, particularly in the public relations area.

If you’d like to share your answers with us, we’d be eager to hear them. And we would be eager to learn if your business — and ours — would be a good fit.

Want to learn more?

Call or email me (407-339-0879 or will@wellonscommunications.com) and let’s talk.

Or, better yet, you talk… and I’ll listen.

Why you need to say “Thank You” to your clients

Posted on by Wellons team

There is no better time to express your gratitude for the business of your clients than to simply wish them well for the holidays.

Yet, surprisingly, sending a simple and direct message to your clients to let them know that you value the confidence they invest in you is an opportunity that is often overlooked.

Personal messages can cost virtually nothing. They take only a few moments. And the benefits can be immeasurable.

Here are a few ways to let your clients know you are grateful for their business.

The power of a personal note

When was the last time you received an actual hand-written note from someone?

Take five minutes to compose a short message that lets your client know you appreciate the business they have afforded you over the past year. The written word, in your own hand, is enormously powerful.

In an age when tweets, texts, and emails dominate communication, notes stand out. And all they cost is a few moments of your time and postage.

A phone call personalizes your gratitude

Just as simple as a personal note is a personal call to your client.

The act of simply picking up the phone and wishing your client a happy holiday is thoughtful and will stand out simply because you have thought of them.

Better yet, personalize the call by letting your client know you are generally familiar with their family or loved ones. Simply by extending the good wishes to one’s spouse or children in your call can let your client know you have their interests at heart.

What if you want to symbolize your thanks with a gift?

Everyone enjoys receiving gifts. But be careful. Gift-giving needs to be carefully thought through.

Who should you gift? Many companies forbid any corporate gift giving, or only allow employees to accept gifts valued at less than $25.

What should you give? The decision of what to give should comply with your client’s standards and directives on gift-giving and gift-receiving. Sending a gift to a client who’s unable to keep it is awkward for both parties.

The best solution? If you feel a gift is necessary, employ common sense and send a gift that is useful, not overly extravagant, and reflective of both your values and those of your client.

How do other organizations express their thanks during the holidays?

Want to explore more about addressing your client during the holidays, from contact to gift-giving?

You might want to glance at Do’s and Don’ts for Client Gifts Over the Holidays, authored by James Harris that first appeared in Entrepreneur Magazine in December 2017.

Harris’s article is loaded with tips and examples of approaching gift-giving and using gifts—and enhancing connections—with clients. 

And thanks to you for taking an interest in Wellons Communications

As we approach the holiday season, those of us at Wellons Communications are grateful for your interest in us.

We value the responsibility and business our clients invest in us to address their public relations needs. We remind ourselves daily that if our clients succeed, we succeed, and without our clients, we do not exist. Best wishes to all for a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful 2019 holiday season.

Bring your story to life with visuals

Posted on by Wellons team

People often think of public relations and journalism in terms of the written word.

Mention “public relations” and people immediately think of “press releases.” Say “journalism” and people connect it with “stories.”

Both perceptions are only the tip of the iceberg. Public relations firms and print journalists are, indeed, centered around the written word. We certainly value the importance of what you say, but in today’s contemporary Big Data environment, at Wellons Communications, we place equal emphasis on using visuals to project your story.

Here’s an example, as illustrated by London-based NeoMam Studios, a leading graphics design communications firm based in the UK:

The picture, indeed, is worth a thousand words.

Your brain craves visuals

Written communications are designed to conjure up a picture or image. With that in mind, let’s cut to the chase and examine just how important visuals are in telling people about your business:

• The human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text.

• Ninety percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual.

• We can get the sense of a visual scene in less than one-tenth of a second.

• Color visuals increase the willingness to read by 80%.

• People following directions with text and illustrations do 323% better than people following directions without illustrations.

Visuals make your information more engaging

Organizations that specialize in visual communications have a name for communicating visually: infographics.

Infographics are particularly effective at communicating complex ideas. Non-experts better comprehend and understand information that requires long, complex explanation when graphics present the idea. Statistical information, e.g. trends in your industry or key points about why your product or service is superior, are more easily understood by laymen when presented visually.

An example of the power of infographics is the popularity of the informational graphics published regularly by USA Today. Not only is your eye attracted to the graphics, the ideas they project are quickly and easily understood. Even if you have little interest in the subject or know nothing about it, once you look, you come away with an image and information that you cannot easily forget.

Put Wellons to work on making your story easy to see … and understand

Our team at Wellons Communications firmly believes in making your message as easy to understand as possible. Simplicity in understanding is augmented by visuals. And that’s why we look for the best way to visualize your story and get people to notice you and your organization’s key attributes.

If you want to make your story come to life and possess qualities that will make people look at you a first—and second—time, keep Wellons Communications in mind. Contact us (407-339-0879 or will@wellonscommunications.com) and let us show you how we can blend words and pictures into memorable stories aimed at increasing your bottom line.

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