The public relations landscape has never held more promise, with 2023’s technological advances introducing new ways to connect and communicate. Even amidst widespread economic and global challenges, Goodwin Consulting persisted—and succeeded!—in alleviating the pressures our clients face and driving their growth.
Beyond securing media placements, we cultivated deep partnerships and enabled our clients to capitalize on the complexities of their industries to achieve incredible results for their companies, customers, and communities.
Here are just a handful of the lessons 2023 taught us, the clients who changed us, and the opportunities we anticipate for the coming year.
The Biggest Public Relations Trend of 2023: Artificial Intelligence
AI emerged as the major disruptor of 2023, and Goodwin Consulting explored ChatGPT’s potential for public relations. Our findings? Though ChatGPT cannot replace the nuanced expertise of PR professionals in areas like client engagement and brand strategy, we foresee AI playing a powerful role in enhancing public relations strategies for our clients. To leverage AI’s efficiency and creativity-boosting capabilities, we utilize and recommend these practices:
- Responsible and ethical AI application
- Clear internal policies for AI-generated content
- Human oversight to maintain brand integrity
The Demand for Crisis Keynotes, Training, and Workshops Increases
There has been an increase in demand for Crisis Workshops. This year alone, we’ve trained more than 500 executives; we’ve traveled to Ontario and Quebec, Nashville, Chicago, Madison, and Manchester, and we’ll end the year with three engagements in Kansas City! Recently, The Boston Globe interviewed us for our take on the rise of TikTok crisis influencer Molly McPherson and why everyone is so fascinated by celebrities in crisis.
The Most Meaningful PR Engagements of 2023: Changing Children’s Lives
Nothing moved us quite as much as the events we developed alongside two impactful nonprofits that help make dreams come true for our youngest community members.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester
In a heartfelt community effort propelled by Goodwin Consulting, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester experienced a dream come true when a local hero, NBA champion Bruce Brown, returned to his roots to inspire and engage with the youth of Dorchester.
Our campaign harnessed the power of local connections, social media, and persistent public relations to arrange for Brown’s visit despite initial setbacks related to his NBA trophy availability.
The successful event was a huge win for the 100+ children who enjoyed a memorable day playing basketball and receiving words of encouragement from Brown. It was also a shining example of our agency’s ability to mobilize a community and generate meaningful publicity from local and regional media. A few months later, we attracted the attention of WBZ-TV’s Levan Reid, who came out to do a story on why many kids club members are choosing to build their careers at Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester. Worth checking this one out!
Doc Wayne Youth Services
Goodwin Consulting orchestrated a widely attended event for Doc Wayne Youth Services, a nonprofit that uses sports as a medium for mental health support. In collaboration with the New England Patriots, our firm arranged for players and cheerleaders to engage with children in various athletic activities and discussions about handling stress and anxiety.
Held during Mental Health Awareness Week, the event was a resounding success, featuring interactive games, personal stories from Patriots players, and a visit from the team’s mascot, Pat the Patriot. The event highlighted Doc Wayne’s innovative approach to mental health, where sports facilitate open conversation and therapy in a comfortable setting. The Patriots were so impressed by Doc Wayne and its unique approach to therapy through sport that they invited Doc Wayne to exhibit at their September event—Active Minds Send Silence Packing—to raise awareness of suicide prevention resources.
The Major Media Relations Wins of 2023: Awards, Bylines, and More
Procuring prestigious bylines for our clients is a point of pride for the Goodwin Consulting team, and this year, we delivered an exciting range of media relations results for businesses throughout the Boston area and beyond.
Acorn International
For client Acorn International, we secured a full-length feature article on MINING.com that showcased the Houston-headquartered consulting firm’s proactive stance on significant global mining issues and illuminated its role in addressing critical environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns within the mining sector:
- “Mining’s changing ESG landscape” – MINING.com
Spotlighting the thought leadership of founder Dean Slocum and strategic partner Chris Anderson, the article revealed Acorn International’s influence at the forefront of a changing industry, enhancing the firm’s visibility and influence in public discourse.
Catania Oils
Catania Oils experienced a noteworthy year marked by significant achievements and strategic public relations successes facilitated by Goodwin Consulting.
Honored as a Bronze finalist for Massachusetts’ Team Economic Impact Awards, Catania Oils also received recognition from the Boston Business Journal as one of the top food and beverage companies in the state. Our social media campaign supported the company’s golf tournament fundraiser, helping to secure numerous donations, and we emphasized the thought leadership of Catania Oils president Joseph Basile with an impactful byline:
- “The Profitable Differentiator: Maintaining and Sustaining Authenticity and Transparency in Customer Communications” – Food Industry Executive
Beyond promoting media visibility, Goodwin Consulting curated a touching tribute in the company’s new facility, dedicating a conference room to a long-standing employee who passed away. We are honored by our client’s deep trust and confidence in our agency’s ability to deliver meaningful, heartfelt results.
Reading Cooperative Bank
The unveiling of Reading Cooperative Bank’s latest branch in Lawrence, Massachusetts, marked a triumph not just for the bank but also for Goodwin Consulting’s strategic media relations efforts.
This event captured community attention, garnered local acclaim, and earned a suite of articles across local and regional publications, including Banker & Tradesman, and a prestigious spotlight in the Boston Business Journal. Another major highlight was a joint op-ed written for Mayor Brian DePena and Julianne Thurlow that ran in Lawrence’s Eagle Tribune (apologies if this is behind a paywall).
- ”Reading Cooperative Bank to open first full branch in Lawrence” – Boston Business Journal
- ”Reading Cooperative Bank is coming to Lawrence!” – Lawrence Community Works
- ”Banking at the intersection of mission and opportunity” – American Bankers Association Banking Journal
Antenna Research Associates
Goodwin Consulting celebrated a major public relations success with defense contractor Antenna Research Associates (ARA) following ARA’s acquisition of two other companies.
We were challenged to unify these separate entities under the ARA brand. The Goodwin team collaborated closely with ARA’s web designers to create a website with compelling visuals and intuitive navigation, delivering a seamless user experience that honors ARA’s high-quality product array.
In addition to media relations featuring new leadership hires and trade magazine opportunities, we redesigned their marketing slick sheets, updated their logo, planned and executed two 60th anniversary parties (one in MA, one in MD), revived their company newsletter, instituted open “office hours” for the CEO to increase his availability to staff and designed new employee recognition certificates and company challenge coins.
Health Imperatives
Health Imperatives, a Massachusetts nonprofit whose mission is to improve the lives of low-income or vulnerable families and individuals, amplified its mission with the help of the Goodwin Consulting team.
CEO Julia Kehoe is a dream client for a PR firm. She is extremely proactive, and with our skills and her ideas, we achieved a significant amount of media coverage on many facets of Health Imperatives’ services.
From domestic violence to closing the wealth gap to understanding sex trafficking, we were able to bring her ideas to fruition in articles, radio interviews, and through Boston Globe Letters to the Editor.
At the end of last year, Health Imperatives received funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to enable them to offer medication abortion services in their seven clinics starting this July. Knowing this would be a volatile issue, we developed tight messaging and a crisis plan for the clinics. When the news launched, we invited and secured Governor Maura Healey to visit and tour their Martha’s Vineyard location.
Boston Seafood Festival
Goodwin Consulting adeptly navigated the challenges of promoting the Boston Seafood Festival, hosted by the Boston Fisheries Foundation, despite inclement weather. With a PR strategy that included securing a significant radio segment on WGBH, providing media training for industry experts, and ensuring widespread event listings, the Goodwin team’s multifaceted approach not only commemorated the festival’s 10-year anniversary but also brought to the forefront the critical issues facing the fishing community.
Debi Benoit, Luxury Properties Specialist
Debi Benoit, renowned for her expertise in luxury real estate with William Raveis, clinched a prominent feature on one of her exceptional properties in both the Boston Business Journal and Boston Common Magazine:
- “An 8,000-square-foot home in Wellesley with its own indoor basketball court just hit the market” – Boston Business Journal
Through Goodwin Consulting’s efforts, the Wellesley property gained significant exposure to an audience that appreciates the pinnacle of luxury living.
Another Year of Good Wins Is Ahead!
2023 set the stage for an incredible 2024, and Goodwin Consulting is poised to embrace the new narratives, celebrate the new successes, and amplify the new stories that will define the businesses and brands we champion. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and profitable New Year!
