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Communiqué Public Relations

Constant Contact Customer Since: 2005
List size: 450
Open rate: 47%
Favorite feature: Reporting
Website: www.communiquepr.com

Communiqué Public Relations is a Seattle-based boutique PR firm that provides strategic counsel and tactical execution to help companies achieve their business objectives. Founder Jennifer Gehrt started the firm in February of 2004. Jennifer came from a large agency that worked for clients including MasterCard International, Boeing, and Microsoft®. She recognized that smaller companies, early in their lifecycle, had a need for the same kind of top-notch PR support that the larger companies were enjoying. She set out on her own to build a firm that would fit that niche.

Jennifer started using Constant Contact in August of 2005, after her website development company told her about the service.

"We were revamping the website and wanted to do an e-newsletter. We didn't know how we could do it without spending a lot of money, and then we found Constant Contact. I loved that it was really easy to use. I didn't to need to have a background in HTML. I'm managing so many different aspects of my business and needed to find an email service that was simple."

Jennifer uses Constant Contact to stay in touch with her clients and keep her business in front of them. Her emails have had an above average open rate of 47%, showing that Jennifer is offering members of her list something of value.

"We use Constant Contact to distribute a newsletter to key clients, potential clients, and friends of our firm. We send it every six weeks, and post current and past editions on our website. We use the newsletter to announce new clients and staff, to provide tips on how to be effective in your PR activities, and to highlight work we've done for clients."

Jennifer sent her first e-newsletter out in August 2005. "The response was overwhelming. Our clients were delighted to be featured in it and we received several new business inquiries as a result, including one from a Fortune 500 company. We are working on a project for the company now and would never have been considered if it had not been for Constant Contact. Now, every time we send a newsletter, we get responses from people who are interested in learning more about our business."

Jennifer and her team of five have had great success growing their list so far, and it continues to grow every week. They started with 150 subscribers and in just eight months their list is already up to 450.

"We started small, asking the contacts I had in Microsoft® Outlook® if we could add them to the list. Also, everyone in the firm asked their friends and colleagues if they wanted to be added, and many did. Now, whenever we are traveling or at trade shows, we collect emails of friends of the firm and potential clients and ask if we can add them to the list."

Jennifer is fortunate to have a staff that also helps with the e-newsletter. Everyone plays a part in creating content and preparing campaigns.

"I created the first newsletter and now others in the office have learned how to use Constant Contact. Each of us writes an article and then one person will put it in the template and send it out."

Jennifer likes Constant Contact enough to recommend it to her colleagues and clients. "Constant Contact has an amazing product and service that is accompanied with impressive customer support. I have recommended it to other people who are now using it and loving it."

Communiqué Public Relations is experiencing an excellent growth rate. In 2005, Jennifer saw a 50% increase in the firm's revenue. She shares the credit for this success with her email marketing efforts. She says, "Our email newsletter has played a critical role in our growth." There is little doubt that the e-newsletter will continue to be an important tool for Jennifer as she brings her public relations expertise to more ambitious companies that are eager to grow.