News

According to AOL’s Daily Finance site, BP has lost ALL of its $20 billion in brand value as a result of the Gulf spill. It’s No. 1 on the “10 Biggest Brand Disasters”  in 2010. They examined the companies’ actual financial figures, along with any negative PR the companies may have received during the first half of 2010 to arrive at their conclusions.

Click here to read more and take note of how much reputation and bad PR play into these rankings.

Is your reputation-management up to speed? How about your rapid-response mechanism in the case of a crisis? Bad news can happen quickly and cause as much – if not more – damage to a mom-and-pop on Main Street just as easily as it can to multi-nationals on Wall Street. Some basic tips:

1. Review your crisis plans and make sure they include a communications component that addresses media relations, customer communications  and internal communications for employees.

2. Be proactive in promoting yourself and your business; a cushion of months of good news is very, very valuable in terms of public perception when the message goes negative.

3. Listen to employees and really hear what they tell you regarding customer comments or interactions. A casual conversation with a customer can provide real “ear-to-the-ground” intel that you can use to keep a minor difficulty from becoming a more damaging problem. If you hear it more than once, it might be in your best interest to investigate and determine if it’s a pattern of problems that you can resolve before it hits the front page.

4. Keep your message consistent and put your best spokesperson on the job. Everyone must sing off the same sheet during a crisis – and please, let it be the truth. Also, if your CEO doesn’t do a good job with the media or in front of large groups, that’s OK. Get him/her some training now or put a lower-level executive on-camera if an unexpected crisis hits. Try to avoid using your main PR flack though – it almost always rings hollow. People want to hear from the person in charge, not a hired gun.

5. Don’t shut down social media. The “viral” aspect of mass media today is here, and here to stay. Do not close comments on your Facebook page or get aggressive on Twitter. Keep to your message and let people vent. Correct inaccuracies but know that social media is just the personification of word-of-mouth. You wouldn’t walk into someone’s living room and demand they stop talking about your business – that’s counterproductive. The same goes with social media. Engage in the conversation and get your message out there even if you have to eat some crow and admit a mistake was made.

My final bit of advice: Simply accept that in today’s break-neck news cycle and social media vortex, most crises are beyond your control to limit in terms of your reputation. Don’t lose your temper. Ride it out the best that you can and get back to what you do and do it well, as quickly as you can. Eventually everyone will get bored and move on to something else.

Cindy Harris

KMK Media Group recently completed a web site for Prairie State Legal Services, headquartered in Rockford. The site can be viewed at www.pslegal.org.

The new web site features news, a calendar of events, links to the organization’s Facebook and Twitter pages, information on their capital campaign and information on career, pro bono and volunteer opportunities available throughout the organization. Visitors to the site can use e-commerce tools to donate to Prairie State Legal’s capital fund, and they can view the recent accomplishments and recognition of employees and partners.

In addition, the site includes an intranet for Prairie State employees and partners. The intranet site is password-protected and provides users with several tools such as an employee directory (searchable by name, specialty, location, etc.), an executive blog, internal communications, access to e-mail, and more. The entire site can be managed and updated by Prairie State staff through a content management system.

About Prairie State Legal Services

Prairie State Legal Services offers free legal services for low-income persons and those over 60 who have serious civil legal problems and need legal help to solve them. Their mission is to provide or coordinate the delivery of high-quality legal services to low-income individuals, families and groups.

KMK Media Group, Inc., a full-service advertising agency, won a gold ADDY Award in the ADDY Advertising Awards competition held by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) of Northern Illinois on Thursday, March 4, 2010.

KMK Media Group won the gold ADDY in the Collateral Material category for an Open House invitation they designed for Riverside Community Bank. The invite focused on a “We’re Growing Together” theme and was printed on wildflower-seeded paper that could be planted to grow flowers.

“There were a lot of great submissions and we’re excited to have our work recognized,” says Pam Maher, vice president of KMK Media Group. “Our creativity and commitment to our client helped make this project fun and successful.”

Locally, a three-judge panel awarded six Gold ADDY awards, eight Silver ADDYs, and nine Bronze ADDYs from a selection of 41 entries. Gold ADDY winners from Rockford advance to the AAF District 6 competition to be judged against ADDY winners from other ad clubs in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. District Gold ADDY winners move on to the National ADDY competition, June 6, in Washington D.C.

About the ADDY Awards

Sanctioned by the AAF, the ADDY Awards honor excellence in advertising and cultivate the highest creative standards in the industry. The competition begins at the local level with 210 AAF member clubs nationwide, from which local winners proceed to 14 regional competitions, and those winners proceed to the national finals. The American Advertising (ADDY) Awards competition is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence.

The AAF Northern Illinois is the Rockford chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), “The Unifying Voice for Advertising.” Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AAF is the oldest advertising trade association representing over 50,000 professionals in the advertising industry across the country. www.niadfed.org

Professionals from KMK Media Group presented “Shake It Up with Social Media” to the Belvidere Board of Realtors on Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

This training provided members of the Belvidere Board of Realtors with information and tactics on how they can utilize social media channels to identify and connect with new, current and past clients as well as other realtors and lenders through social media. The presentation included fun trivia and a Mardi Gras theme intertwined with information on how to implement and maintain an effective social media marketing campaign.

KMK Media Group has produced social media marketing solutions for many clients, including Physicians Immediate Care, Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato, the City of Rockford and Young at Heart Festival. KMK Media offers a variety of social media services including strategic planning, implementation, monitoring, and measurement to help build and manage their clients’ brands and reputations through social networks.

KMK Media Group produced an introductory video for WilliamsMcCarthy, LLP, depicting the past, present and future of the company that was shown during the Rockford Chamber of Commerce annual dinner on January 20, 2010.

In the video, attorneys from WilliamsMcCarthy, LLP, explain how the firm and the practice of law may change over the next five to10 years and how they will adapt and succeed throughout that change. The video’s theme marked that of the Chamber’s dinner, which featured a keynote address by a futurist.

KMK Media Group has produced video projects and television commercials for several clients, including the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, Rock River Water Reclamation, Janet Wattles Center, Winnebago County Health Department, Stenstrom Construction and Stanley Steemer. KMK Media offers a variety of multimedia services including television and radio commercials, educational and promotional videos and voiceover work. For more samples of KMK Media’s work, please visit our portfolio at http://www.kmkmedia.com/videos.aspx.

Mary Grimborg, Communication Specialist at KMK Media Group since 2009, was recently appointed to serve on a local community board for Kantorei, the Singing Boys of Rockford.

Kantorei, The Singing Boys of Rockford, is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization, which serves boys ages 6-18 in the Northern Illinois area. Kantorei’s mission is to represent the finest tradition of boy-choirs by offering an outstanding musical and cultural education while providing opportunities for personal growth.

Mary Grimborg

Professionals from KMK Media Group presented “Fans, Friends & Followers: Marketing Your Organization Effectively Through Social Media” to the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence in cooperation with the Freeport Chamber of Commerce and the Freeport Public Library on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

This session provided those who work at non-profits and government agencies in the Freeport area with information and tactics on how they can utilize social media channels to identify and connect with new and current volunteers, donors and community members through social media. This presentation demonstrated how to implement and maintain an effective social media campaign.

KMK Media Group has produced social media marketing solutions for many clients, including Physicians Immediate Care, Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato, the City of Rockford and Young at Heart Festival. KMK Media offers a variety of social media services including strategic planning, implementation, monitoring, and measurement to help build and manage their clients’ brands and reputations through social networks.

KMK Media Group recently completed a web site for New Vision Laser Center and Brightbill/Ericson Eye Associates, located in Rockford. The site can be viewed at www.6542020.com.

The new web site features a slideshow of their location, doctor bios, information and resources for patients on LASIK, glaucoma, cataract, and other eye-care services as well as video testimonials. The site can be managed and updated by New Vision Laser Center staff through a content management system.

New Vision Laser Center in Rockford, Ill., proudly serves the eye-care needs of patients in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. New Vision specializes in LASIK, corneal and cataract surgery, glaucoma, contact lens services, and cosmetic eye care.

For the third consecutive year, Physicians Immediate Care has selected KMK Media Group as its advertising agency of record for its 13 locations throughout Illinois for 2010.

As the agency of record, KMK Media provides Physicians Immediate Care with integrated marketing communications solutions including media placement, media consultation, graphic design and ad production services.  Media placement will cover markets in Chicago, Joliet, Elgin, Orland Park, Bolingbrook, Niles, Rockford and Belvidere.

Physicians Immediate Care opened in 1987. The clinics are open evenings and weekends for non-urgent care for sprains, fractures, cuts, colds, flu and other mild to moderate injuries or illnesses. No appointment ever needed. Visit www.physiciansimmediatecare.com for more details.

Pearson (formerly known as Pearson Plumbing, Heating and Pest Control) has selected KMK Media Group as its advertising agency of record.

As the agency of record, KMK Media provides Pearson with integrated marketing communications solutions including media placement, media consultation, graphic design, brand development and ad production services.  Media placement will cover northwest Illinois, including Winnebago, Boone, DeKalb and Ogle counties.

Pearson is a leading plumbing and heating contractor in Northern Illinois that provides a variety of services including plumbing, heating, pest control, duct cleaning, sewer and drain services, and complete kitchen and bath remodeling, as well as installation and repair of air conditioning systems, filtration systems, water heaters and water softeners.

KMK Media Group recently completed a web site for Butitta Brothers Automotive Services, a local business that has been providing high-quality automotive repair services for more than 40 years. The site can be viewed at www.butitta.com.

The new website features the ability to schedule an appointment online, information and maps for all of their eight area locations and a customer club area where customers can sign up to receive coupons and special offers. The site also features a section where you can “Ask the Tech,” which connects customers with an experienced Butitta Brothers mechanic. The site assists Butitta Brothers Automotive in enhancing the customer experience online.

Joe and Jim Butitta opened their first six-bay shop in 1969 to repair radiators. In 1971, the company moved to 605 18th Street and expanded operations to full-service automotive repair. Since then, they have opened seven additional locations in Northern Illinois to better serve their customers. The company is currently owned by Jon Thompson.

KMK Media Group recently completed a new website for Northern Illinois Service Company, a local company with more than 40 years of experience that provides demolition, earthwork, underground, commercial and industrial site work, design-build, and recycling services. The site can be viewed at http://www.northernillinoisservice.com.

The new website features an extensive portfolio of the company’s work displayed by category, as well as their services, quarry and recycling information. The site also allows Northern Illinois Service Company staff to manage their project portfolio through a Content Management System.

Wayne Klinger founded Northern Illinois Service Company in 1970, as a demolition and site work contract company. In the 40 years since, it has grown to include four quarries, 45 employees and a service area that includes Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Northern Illinois Service Company offers everything from emergency demolition to building site development and existing facility expansions.

KMK Media Group recently completed a redesigned web site for Wilson Electric Co., a local company providing electrical services since 1919, for multi-family, commercial, industrial, governmental, and institutional buildings. The site can be viewed at http://www.wilsonelectricco.com.

The new website features an extensive portfolio of the company’s work displayed by category, as well as their capabilities, service lines, clients and more. The site also allows Wilson Electric Co. staff to manage their web content through a Content Management System (CMS).

Paul H. Wilson founded Wilson Electric Co. in 1919. Since then, Wilson Electric has made a significant impact in the Rockford and Northern Illinois areas by participating in numerous commercial, institutional, industrial, church, hospital, and school construction projects. Much of Wilson’s recent growth has occurred in the service sector, energy-improvement projects, and HVAC control and equipment wiring. Their specialties include lighting improvements, unique health care work, grounding and power problems and data cabling.

KMK Media Group recently completed a website for James & Associates, LLC, a local law firm that specializes in integrated estate planning. The site can be viewed at http://www.integratedestateplanning.com.

The new website features an online library of educational, estate planning videos, an archive of articles on estate planning, and a schedule of upcoming speaking engagements, seminars and events. Integrated estate planning is an important part of protective planning that should happen during the life of a person or entity. This website helps people understand what they should be preparing and offers advice on how to do so.

Thomas H. James of James & Associates, LLC, has been practicing law since 1986, and began James & Associates, LLC, in 1995. James & Associates now practices law from three locations in Northwest Illinois: Forreston, Oak Brook and Chicago.

KMK Media Group, a full-service advertising agency, recently completed a custom-built web-application that will allow the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) to track influenza-related absences in local schools and daycare centers. With the recent focus on the H1N1 (Swine) flu, WCHD was looking for a way to protect the community from an outbreak, and tracking absences in which influenza may be the cause will be a huge help in their efforts.

“This tool will assist our epidemiology department in their efforts to track influenza in our area,” said Sue Fuller, WCHD Community Relations Manager. “This is a tremendous stride in terms of public health and we hope to utilize this tool to provide better medical and preventative care now and into the future.”

Schools and public daycare facilities will be sent notification of the system along with a username and password that will allow them to visit www.wchd.org, click on the Daily School Absenteeism button, log into the system, and report any absences where flu-like symptoms are a known factor. Once information is entered, the system will display what percentage of the staff and students are affected. An outbreak occurs when the percentage is greater than 10%, and this must be reported immediately, by phone, to the WCHD.

Information gathered through this mechanism will assist the WCHD’s epidemiologist in completing the influenza activity surveillance report for Winnebago County which is uploaded weekly to the website.

KMK Media Group recently completed a custom-built web-application that will allow the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) to track influenza-related absences in local schools and daycare centers. With the recent focus on the H1N1 (Swine) flu, WCHD was looking for a way to protect the community from an outbreak, and tracking absences in which influenza may be the cause will be a huge help in their efforts.

“This tool will assist our epidemiology department in their efforts to track influenza in our area,” said Sue Fuller, WCHD Community Relations Manager. “This is a tremendous stride in terms of public health and we hope to utilize this tool to provide better medical and preventative care now and into the future.”

Schools and public daycare facilities will be sent notification of the system along with a username and password that will allow them to visit www.wchd.org, click on the Daily School Absenteeism button, log into the system, and report any absences where flu-like symptoms are a known factor. Once information is entered, the system will display what percentage of the staff and students are affected. An outbreak occurs when the percentage is greater than 10%, and this must be reported immediately, by phone, to the WCHD.

Information gathered through this mechanism will assist the WCHD’s epidemiologist in completing the influenza activity surveillance report for Winnebago County which is uploaded weekly to the website.