FAQs about AMM Communications

1. Why do I need public relations? Public relations are methods for companies and professionals to further their expertise and be perceived by potential customers and clients as valued resources. “Earned Media”, such as placements and quotes in traditional media, are actively crawled by the major search engines, thus the more placements and positive mentions, the higher up in organic search rankings you will appear.
2. Can I do this myself? Sure you can, but it takes time. We created the LinkedIn group “St. Louis Public Relations for Small- to Mid-Sized Businesses” for the specific purpose of sharing knowledge about public relations with its members.  Effective PR takes time, however, and many entrepreneurs feel that their time would be better spent on the strategic management of their company or brand.
3. Why should I hire AMM Communications? Ann Marie and Ed Mayuga have extensive experience in the areas of integrated communications, crisis communications, marketing, business development training, and social media consulting.  The value that they provide is in strategic counsel and hands-on coaching to their clients.  Both principals of the company are frequently invited as published authors, guest speakers, and instructors for Enterprise University, to share their knowledge as authorities in their field.
4. How is AMM Communications different from its competitors? We do not begin the public relations process without thinking about how “earned media” will result in sales and actual return on investment for our clients.  Because of our extensive sales and business development backgrounds, we realize the importance of public relations in the marketing, and customize our media plans for the benefit of the overall sales process.
5. What can a small firm do for me that I cannot receive from a larger PR agency? At AMM Communications, we are very focused on a specific niche – financial institutions, professional service firms, and manufacturing/distribution firms.  When you engage with us, you are working directly with the principals of the company, not a junior associate, and you have access to Ann Marie and Ed’s extensive business acumen. We also have a nationwide network of pre-qualified professionals and freelancers ranging from graphic designers and internet marketing specialists to strategic planning consultants and audio/visual technicians.
6. How do you charge for your services? We bill at an hourly rate or we create a proposal based on a specific project.  For ongoing consulting, it is often cost effective for you to put us on retainer.  We send out billing statements monthly along with activity updates.  There are no additional charges for mileage, subscriptions, copies etc. that other firms charge.  Media clips are provided by an outside service at an additional cost.
7. Who is the ideal customer for AMM Communications? We usually deal with business owners, CEOs, and senior management of the companies that we represent. We target small- to mid-sized businesses nationwide.  We are the perfect partner for this type of client because we understand the intricacies of today’s business world, and we act as connectors and advocates for our clients between the media and other interested parties.
8. How do I know what services I need? We have an initial meeting with prospective clients and discuss their goals, strategies, sales process and target audiences.  After setting priorities, a plan is created with the client’s input that provides consistency, accountability and clearly-defined goals.
9. What are the key services that you provide?

• Public relations – pitching, writing, and connecting clients with reporters nationwide to increase the positive perception of the company’s brand.
• Crisis communications – developing a strategy and key talking points to minimize negative impact.
• Marketing – we work with web designers and internet content marketers to enhance the client’s brand through a mix of tradition and new media.
• Business development – utilizing Ed’s extensive sales and sales management experience to develop sales processes, compensation plans, and CRM reporting. Whether a business has an established sales function or just starting from scratch.
• Social Media Consulting – hands-on consulting for all social media platforms. Developing engaging content to expand the network. Creating a company and personal brand.

10. Why do I need social media for my company? You and your company are a brand and marketing is the ability to produce content so that potential clients know, like and trust your brand. Social media is the great equalizer that allows all companies to compete on a level playing field.