5 ways North Strategic is doing PR differently
5 ways North Strategic is doing PR differently https://northstrategic.com/wp-content/uploads/pexels-fauxels-3184291-1024x682.jpg 1024 682 Jonathan Forani https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0224c5ae9357da0ca0dcbe96be87c430?s=96&d=mm&r=gBy Jackie Dunham, Editorial and Media Strategist, and Jonathan Forani, Senior Editorial and Media Strategist
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From media relations to public affairs to crisis management, public relations agencies provide a wide range of services to generate awareness and positive sentiment for their clients’ brands, products and services.
But not all PR firms are created equal. Here’s what sets North Strategic apart from the competition.
1) We nurture long-term relationships – across clients and media
With dozens of consumer brands in our portfolio, we take pride in our client partnerships. We avoid an “us” and “them” mentality and instead focus on being great partners, fostering relationships on a foundation of trust above all. This approach is why we’ve become known in the industry for our long-standing client partnerships.
For example, we’re incredibly fortunate to enjoy a long relationship with American Express Canada. Together, we have launched a variety of bold campaigns that generate millions of impressions in Canadian media, including the barrier-breaking “Blueprint” mentorship and grant program for BIPOC businesses.
And over the last few years, we have forged new partnerships with clients small and large, from the family-run, homegrown small business variety like Cherry Lane, to long-established industry leaders like PlayStation.
In addition to our clients, North Strategic has cultivated long-lasting relationships with Canadian media to drive earned coverage and impact for our clients. From The Globe and Mail and The Star to CTV News and Toronto Life, you’ll see our clients’ brands in these outlets time and time again because we understand what makes headlines and a great story for consumers.
2) A PR agency with unique in-house services
Unlike many of our competitors, North Strategic offers several in-house services, which save our clients time and money.
Our in-house, full-service production agency Notch Video produces award-winning, scalable and cost-effective social media and PR video content on demand for our clients. As a collaborative, producer-led team, Notch is ready to help clients connect to consumers with an always-on, creative approach to content production.
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Additionally, we’re one of the only PR agencies in Canada with a dedicated editorial team consisting of former journalists from outlets including The Financial Post, The Canadian Press, and CTV News. They give us valuable behind-the-scenes insights into the narratives and pitches that will grab a busy reporter’s attention. They also support in writing compelling media assets and counsel the team on creating the best media relations strategies.
Finally, our latest Multicultural Communications offering is comprised of professionals from various lived experiences and backgrounds who bring a wealth of diverse perspectives to the table. The team focuses on integrating diverse voices, cultural insights and strategic perspectives into North’s communication and PR strategies. Committed to promoting inclusivity and understanding, MCM aims to bridge cultural gaps and foster effective communication in an increasingly diverse world.
3) We think differently
At North Strategic, we’re always thinking about our clients’ overarching brand narrative and opportunities to ignite positive attention. We are agile, creative storytellers who drive influence and create impact.
To do this, we rely on our proprietary methodologies, which include research and insights, data intelligence, management and integration, and strategic and channel planning. For example, we use our in-house, AI-driven tool Fluency, which allows us to make influencer marketing more powerful—from the vetting to amplification.
We understand how these insights fuel unique client opportunities, which is why we’re always growing our capabilities by embracing technology and out-of-the-box thinking.
With these tools in our back pockets, we’re well-equipped to provide our clients with innovative concepts that are impactful and cost-effective. This is possible thanks to our entrepreneurial spirit and unsiloed approach to PR. As a flat organization, we empower everyone at every level to be connected and invested in shared goals, which includes nurturing a culture of collaboration, respect and growth.
4) We’re committed to diversity
We believe that diversity of thought not only strengthens our culture and enriches our workplace but contributes to the creativity and innovation that we provide for our clients. At North Strategic and across our sister agencies within the Publicis Groupe network, we’re proud to have support an inclusive culture with a diversity of language and lived experiences in-house.
With these varied experiences to pull from, we place multicultural consumer insights at the core of our work, deepening the reach and impact of the brands we support. The Canadian market is not homogenous, which is why we apply our understanding of the diverse interests and needs of Canadians to every account.
5) We build brand trust
Over the years, we have established our agency as trusted builders of positive brand reputation with deep experience in issues management, risk mitigation and crisis communications.
As specialists in thought leadership narratives, we have lifted the profiles of professionals from a wide range of industries into respected and reliable sources of industry knowledge through our specialized service called NGAGE. This personal branding offering includes in-depth audits, 1:1 workshops, brainstorms and strategy sessions with our in-house branding experts, including former journalists and experienced corporate strategists.
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Another unique component of our work elevating brand reputations is our media and presentation training. These tailored sessions shun the cookie-cutter approach to build confidence in session participants and help them uncover the most relevant, compelling narrative moments whether for news media, an industry conference or an internal meeting.
Choosing the right PR agency in Canada
PR agencies will often have varying degrees of industry knowledge, expertise, connections, tools and capabilities that are important to consider when selecting one for a campaign or an ongoing partnership. Beyond these, there are also less obvious characteristics that will determine an agency’s effectiveness, including their strategic approach, collaboration with clients, and creativity in their work.
With so many factors to consider, choosing the right PR agency can seem like a daunting task, but with the differentiators laid out above, a partnership with North Strategic is worth considering. Contact us today: