Archive for PR
So Where Does the Name ‘Sawmill’ Come From?
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One of the most oft-asked question of us is, “where does the name “Sawmill” come from?” I wish there was a more exotic answer than the one I am about to offer.
The “Sawmill” in our name comes from the gentle, beautiful and meandering Sawmill Creek (left) that winds its way from northern Baltimore County, including where I live, through Anne Arundel County until it flows into the Patapsco River.
Sometimes we wish we had a more interesting answer. But in the more than 17 years that Sawmill Marketing Public Relations has been in business the “where does ‘Sawmill’ come from” question is a good reminder that it’s your definition of interesting that matters.
We’re all for continuing to answer “where does the name ‘Sawmill’ come from?” for at least the next 17 years!
Sawmill Partner Invited to Speak at BBJ Social Media Event
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Sawmill Partner Jeff Davis has been invited to speak on “How to Utilize Social Media to Protect Your Reputation” during a half-day session May 18 at The Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt in Towson, Md. ($69 registration includes a one-year subscription).
The event is hosted by the Baltimore Business Journal, which says, “This morning event will leave you with the information you need to take your social media marketing to the next level. Hear some of Baltimore’s top social media experts as they give you insights on how to take full advantage of today’s social media.”
For additional information and to register, follow this link.
Helping ‘Mother Made’ Helps Us All
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Our attraction to Mother Made was instant and compelling: helping single mothers to become entrepreneurs while also protecting our environment. The organization was created and is led by smart, creative, committed entrepreneurs — accessible, caring role models for the people they serve.
Their mission is to promote the financial independence and job training of low-income mothers/women in Baltimore by creating and selling products that reduce the impact of consumers on the environment.
We are looking forward to conducting social media workshops early next month — part of the job training curriculum the organization conducts for the women.
We eagerly anticipate lending our expertise in ways we hope will help the organization to grow, which in turn will help more single mothers in Baltimore to grow as well.
In the meantime, we hope our readers will also help by donating whatever is possible to help fund critical job training activities.
Crisis Communications Tip #4: Now is Not the Time to Be Insular
Posted by: | CommentsThere is an excellent article in the current issue of The Public Relations Strategist about the Penn State child-abuse scandal an
d the role their “we are the school” attitude played in the mishandling of the crisis and the resulting price it will be paying.
In our experience this attitude is prevalent when a crisis hits — regardless of the type of entity trying to deal with it. This includes a client that, just a few months into it, believes it has successfully weathered an ugly headline-generating situation. However, we’ve counseled them that they are instead at the beginning of it. We hope our prediction is wrong, but that sound you hear are their wagons circling.
ARDMS Selects Sawmill Marketing Public Relations for Corporate Communications
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BALTIMORE, Md. – Sawmill Marketing Public Relations (SMPR), a Baltimore public relations firm, has been selected by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), Rockville, Md., to provide ongoing corporate communications for the international credentialing organization.
SMPR will develop corporate messaging and corporate communications strategies and programs targeted to current and prospective ARDMS members, the healthcare industry, as well as consumers. The ARDMS corporate communications program elements include traditional as well as social media tactics.
About ARDMS
Founded in 1975, ARDMS is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, vascular technology and physician vascular interpretation. Its credentialing programs are accredited by ANSI-ISO 17024 and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NACCA). With more than 70,000 certified individuals in the U.S., Canada and throughout the world, ARDMS is the recognized international standard in sonography credentialing. For more information, visit www.ardms.org.
About Sawmill Marketing Public Relations
Sawmill Marketing Public Relations is a Baltimore PR firm and social media marketing communications agency established in 1995 specializing in the development and execution of marketing public relations programs as business development strategies for business-to-business, business-to-consumer and professional services clients. The Maryland public relations company specializes in social media, traditional media relations, media training, and crisis communications. For additional information, visit www.sawmillmarketing.com.
Media Training Tip #8: Watch ‘Meet the Press’
Posted by: | CommentsNBC’s Sunday morning ‘Meet the Press’ is among our favorite media training tips because of its nearly unfailing showcasing of basic but key interview tips including bridging, flagging and counting. David Gregory asks questions while the guest then acknowledges them before offering information about topics/issues that s/he prefers get aired.
In our opinion, taking control of a media interview, as guests routinely do to one extent or another on such interview shows, 
should always be the goal. A media interview is your opportunity to communicate your messages using tips and techniques designed, crafted and time-tested to help you do so clearly, concisely, consistently.
On an upcoming Sunday, view “Meet the Press” or similar programs with an educated eye and ear towards the guests and their skill with taking control of the interview. You’ll see the results of media training at its best, happening right in front of you.
Crisis Plans Need to be Continually Refined
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Our client AHC, Inc., a developer of affordable housing communities in the Mid-Atlantic region, just completed a revise of its crisis communications plan that focused on streamlining the notification process in the event that a crisis situation occurs.
AHC, Inc. reviews and revises as needed its crisis communications plan on a semi-annual basis to ensure its plan is up to date, relevant and reflects best practices.
However, this review has the added benefit of keeping the plan and the important role it plays in front of its leadership on a regular basis. Is it time to take a look at your company’s plan?
‘When Handed a Lemon—Make Lemonade of It’
Posted by: | CommentsAfter dinner at Petit Louis Bistro in the Roland Park section of Baltimore on Jan. 31, two women were confronted by a robber who got away with a purse. You could almost script the media coverage and quotes from customers and neighbors, as crime is relatively rare in that neighborhood. But not in this case, as one of the victims was Sally Michel, chair of the Parks and People Foundation, who did not want the incident to harm the reputation of the restaurant or her beloved Baltimore (click the invitation to read the quote).
To “make lemonade of it,” the Parks & People Board of Directors (I am one of the members) moved quickly to organize a “Fill Sally’s Purse” fund-raiser for Feb 28 when Petit Louis has generously offered to donate 20 percent of proceeds that evening to the Foundation. It also happens to be Sally’s birthday!
Kudos to Pro Bono Client The Stoop Storytelling Series
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We’re proud of our long standing commitment to gladly providing services pro bono to a select number of nonprofit organizations that we fully believe offer the community the elusive “something special.” The Stoop Storytelling Series is one such organization.
They will be part of WOW and we urge anyone who has yet to see a Stoop show (they are almost always sold out) to see them at the Meyerhoff in early March. We bet you’ll become a devoted fan as we are.
