It’s nice when things come together.

Clients call on us to help them do something. Maybe they want media coverage to raise awareness, or to help position them a certain way to a certain audience. Maybe they want awards or speaking opportunities to help differentiate and elevate them in a crowded market. Maybe they want assistance navigating the waters of social media to help them manage their reputation and connect more meaningfully with customers, press and other key constituents. Some of our clients invest in PR because they need help establishing who they are to investors or to make them appealing enough to get acquired. Whatever the reason our clients enlist our services, they’re doing so because they want a partner that will work with them, counsel them and help them do something that will translate into leads, sales or other tangible business results.

In PR, it’s all too rare that the PR team gets to see or hear about those tangible results. It happens, just not as often as we all would like. So when a client is profiled in PR Week for having a creative, successful PR campaign, is quoted saying things like “the campaign was successful beyond our wildest dreams,” and then goes on to detail the web traffic and impact on sales our collective efforts have yielded, it’s incredibly gratifying. Reading the story, we have two things to celebrate: the praise for a campaign we’re proud to be a part of, and the actual results being reported in the first place. Because this is why we do what we do – to help our clients uncover leads, drive sales, grow, establish themselves, leap ahead of their competition. Our objective is not just to execute PR for PR’s sake, but to actually deliver PR support that matters to their business.

It’s nice when things come together.

Our hometown newspaper, the Newburyport Daily News, was kind enough to include information about our continued growth and success in yesterday’s edition, pointing to our recent announcement that we’ve doubled our office space in Newburyport and Providence and are looking to add more incredible PR professionals to our team.

Of course, as Matter continues to grow, our client roster has diversified quite a bit, allowing us to work with a truly remarkable and varied list of businesses and organizations. This week, we’re happy to confirm, as reported in the Gloucester Daily Times, the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce has enlisted us to help raise Gloucester’s profile as a premier tourist and business destination. The Innkeepers of Cape Ann have a nice write-up about our new relationship and, as they note, we’re just as excited as they are to get the word out about this amazing New England community.

Here’s the full text of the Daily Times piece:

Chamber hires PR firm to raise Gloucester’s profile
The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce has hired Matter Communications, a Newburyport-based award-winning North Shore public relations firm, to boost Gloucester’s profile as a premier tourist and business destination.

Gloucester residents John Mcelhenny and Ariane Doud will lead Matter’s PR campaign for Gloucester. “Gloucester is the most authentic seaport in America,” said Mcelhenny, “and those of us who live here know there is no shortage of fascinating, positive Gloucester stories to tell. There’s an untapped, nationwide market for Gloucester’s entrepreneurial businesses, scenic beauty, cultural richness and maritime identity. PR will give Gloucester a megaphone to tell its stories, attract new visitors and power the local economy.”

 ”Attracting more leisure and business travelers will strengthen all of our businesses,” said Bob Hastings, executive director of Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, “from tourist-based along the Back Shore and harbor to the city shops and restaurants.”

The PR effort was launched by Gloucester hotel owners Tracey Muller of Bass Rocks Ocean Inn, Mona Faherty of the Sea Lion Motel and Jan Bordinaro of the Atlantis Oceanfront Inn, and may expand to include other Cape Ann communities.

Whether teaming up with local, New England-based organizations or national businesses based elsewhere, we consider ourselves an extension of our clients’ internal PR and marketing teams. Their success is our success, and as we add new names to our client list and bring new team members on board, this mantra will continue to play a big part in how we all conduct business on a day-to-day basis. It’s an exhilerating time, and we’re thankful to all who have helped us get to where we are, and who will help us get to where we’re going.

And with that…cheers! Lots to celebrate. And by the way…have you visited Gloucester yet?

Let me put it out there right away. I GET why industry awards are important for those of us in the PR business.

They’re a stamp of approval from people who know a lot about PR. An honor that separates us from other agencies. Proof that somebody appreciates all those long hours and skipped lunches. A signal to prospective clients that those people at Matter know what they’re doing when it comes to PR.

I get all of that. But I’ll be honest: award submissions for Matter’s own work aren’t my favorite part of the job.

Here’s what I’d rather be doing. I’d rather be brainstorming story ideas that’ll yield coverage for a client. I’d rather be providing advice about the direction a client’s PR program should take. I’d rather be talking to a prospect about how Matter’s approach to PR could boost their business and sell more of their stuff.

My favorite “awards” aren’t given out at black-tie dinners. 

I prefer the office high-five when a great New York Times article hits for a client. The excited shout from across the hall when a colleague lands an NPR interview. The celebratory beer when an interesting company decides to trust us with their business.

I like the banter on a client update call – the talk about the Red Sox or the lighthearted back-and-forth – that comes only with a comfort level achieved when the client is really satisfied with our work for them.

No framed certificate can bring the satisfaction of being part of a PR agency that’s growing quickly because of the good work we do for clients.

Awards?

I think of the clients who served as enthusiastic references last week when I asked them to speak with a prospect.

“I’ll gladly be a reference any time. You guys are doing a great job,” said one.

“We LOVE Matter,” wrote another.

THOSE are the “awards” that make my job fun.

The Photo Marketing Association conference and trade show kicks off next Friday and, like everyone else in the industry who will be in attendance, I’m eager to see how things pan out. Much has been said about the success of the show and the future of this event since last fall, when Canon announced that it would not be exhibiting and several companies followed suit.

Their reasoning? Canon reps told PDN Gear Guide that it was a combination of the show’s timing, its move to Anaheim, and the need for a larger, broader audience. What didn’t factor into their decision, the Canon reps said, was the money.

For many companies whose pockets aren’t as deep as Canon’s, the money probably was a factor. There are a lot of events to consider and trade show budgets certainly aren’t what they used to be, regardless of who you are. And, as the Canon folks duly noted, the convergence of technologies is attracting more people to events like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Heck, in addition to the fancy gadgetry on display, half the appeal is Vegas itself. Without the roulette tables and showgirls, PMA already seems, as Alice Cooper would say, like a shadow of itself.

All joking aside, though, what will become of PMA? I’m a glass half-full gal (depending on when you catch me and who you ask) and to me, the outlook is not that bad. I received an updated press list with 300-plus names on it this week and I’ve booked meetings for my client with all the major players. Sure, I’ve heard from a few media folks who will not be attending or who are sending fewer writers, but it’s certainly not the letdown that I was expecting.

I think the exhibition hall will speak for itself – and news of the turnout will likely get more press than any gear announcement, but I also think the conference’s organizers have something up their sleeves. It’s hard to imagine that they’ve sat back and listened to all this scuttlebutt without devising some plans for 2011’s show. We look forward to hearing what they have in store for us in the years to come and, in the meantime, we plan to sit back and enjoy the show!