Public Relations
WordStart is a boutique word-of-mouth firm that connects brands and influencers to start conversations.
WordStarters, are predominantly, yet not restricted to – young Black, Coloured and Indian influencers. We reach the people who influence your customers and their buying decisons. They have the ex factor, the right stuff, and if you happen to be one of them – make contact.
WordStart, gives companies an edge through real day to day conversation. Our community of influencers are smart young and tech-savvy connectors. Their networks listen to them.
Epic Communications is South Africa’s leading independent integrated communications and public relations agency. We provide integrated PR and communication services to listed and unlisted South African companies, multinationals and organisations, including those operating in the financial and professional services, pharmaceutical, FMCG, automotive, technology, property and tourism sectors.
Our full-service strategic communications offering means we are able to conceptualise and implement long-term B2B and B2C public relations strategies across traditional media, social media and direct channels. Through our unique combination of deep industry knowledge, strong content generation abilities and broad network of media and influencer relationships, we aim to help our clients protect and grow their brand value and ultimately, enable them to reach their business objectives.
Our PR & Communications division offers:
- Corporate Communication Strategies
- Crisis Communications
- Government Lobbying
- Internal Communications
- Investor Relations
- Media Training
- Media Relations
- Speaker Opportunities
Our in-house new media division, Epic Digital, offers a range of digital marketing services that ensure a comprehensive and integrated online presence, complementing our clients’ communications and marketing strategies.
Our core competencies include conceptualising and implementing social media campaigns, content generation, online reputation management, design and video filming and editing services.
In order to determine an appropriate digital strategy for clients, we undertake sound research, which includes auditing their existing online presence, surveying their clients as well as competitor and industry analysis.
Our research enables us to suggest appropriate strategies to our clients, with the capacity and expertise to implement these effectively across a range of online and social media platforms. An intimate understanding of our client’s business enables us to generate strong and engaging content on behalf of our client, ensuring a comprehensive and consistent viral reach.
This is reflected in the growth of targeted, relevant and responsive communities.
Close co-ordination with our PR teams ensures consistent, relevant and effective messaging on behalf of our client.
Epic Communications digital marketing services include:
- Social Media Campaigns
- E-Mail Marketing
- Mobile Marketing
- Online Branding
- Online Reputation Management
- Viral Marketing
- Website Development
A brand is the foundation upon which an entire company and its PR and marketing campaigns are built. Epic Communications develops comprehensive brand strategies that are customised to our clients’ needs and goals, as well as the sectors in which they operate.
Our process involves reviewing our clients’ existing brand positioning across multiple communication channels, competitive strategies, as well as secondary online research, to conduct a strategic brand analysis of key stakeholders, segmented consumer audiences, competitors and the sector.
Epic Communications has a proven track record of rolling out successful communication campaigns that improve brand equity, making companies more valuable over the long-term.
We offer a comprehensive range of branding solutions including development of brand strategy, corporate ID, design and production of all marketing collateral.
Our Brand division includes:
In a day and age where customer loyalty is more fickle than ever before and where communication clutter bombards our everyday lives, a strong brand image and positive brand association has become critical to business success. It makes sense then that over the years, public relations has become ever-more important as a business tool to assist companies in building their brands and furthering their relationships with customers.
Squared Communications is the public relations division of Velvet Square, a small yet dynamic business entity based in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Squared Communications takes pride in providing a professional and dedicated public relations service. We are passionate and meticulous in our approach and we pride ourselves on service excellence and building solid working relationships with our clients.
Squared Communications aims to offer its clients a public relations experience that will exceed their expectations. We formulate and implement public relations and social media strategies with emphasis placed on evaluating public attitudes and interest.
Our work philosophy is to make our client’s reputation a priority and execute a program of actions to earn public interest and engagement.
With a strong focus on creating and growing our client’s media presence and credibility within their industry, we adopt a quality-oriented approach as we strive to build superior working relationships with our clients as well as key media representatives within the scope of our client’s professional realm.
Squared Communications assists its clients in delivering key messages to the right target audiences. This is achieved through specifically tailored PR campaigns that make use of the appropriate communication mediums which are highly measurable and results-driven.
Squared Communications delivers a timeous solution in a deadline-driven industry and continually ensures that our solutions are appropriate and valuable to the growing needs of our clients.
Squared Communications specialises in brand activation and corporate communications, with the purpose of enhancing our client’s public relations image and media presence. Whether on a project basis or long-term contract, each campaign is addressed with the same enthusiasm and professionalism as we diligently work towards achieving the required objectives. Each project includes regular client consultation and clearly defined milestones and deadlines.
Our key services include:
- Formulation and implementation of communications strategy
- Management and implementation of social media plans
- Writing services – press releases, blogs, promotional material, websites, full-length articles and features
- Media relations and publicity – building relationships with key media representatives, distribution of press releases, media monitoring
- Internal communications – newsletters, training material
- Development of corporate responsibility programmes
- Event planning and management
Prolog Consulting is a South African strategic communications consultancy.
We provide counsel based on our experience and our understanding of the commercial, political and socio-economic landscape in which our clients operate.
We help our clients shape perceptions and influence outcomes by developing communications strategies and campaigns based on our expertise in media relations, advocacy, litigation support and political and regulatory consulting.
Prolog Consulting was started by Sandra Sowray and Dani Cohen in July 2013.
We have offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Prolog Consulting is a strategic communications and risk advisory firm with a specific focus on:
- Reputation management;
- Crisis communication and issues management;
- Regulatory affairs campaign development and implementation;
- Stakeholder mapping and management;
- Advocacy and coalition building;
- Litigation support; and
- Corporate communications strategy.
We have a unique skill set that effectively addresses numerous niches, including science, education, lifestyle and public engagement.
We pride ourselves on innovative and imaginative communications solutions, and we deliver on our promises.
We believe in teamwork.
We are well known for the results that we achieve, and we know that our strength is built on finely-tuned co-operation between our team our clients and the media we interact with.
HIPPO Communications provides training and workshops at your premises or in our own dedicated training room in the following:
- Social media
- Messaging
- Media liaison
- Presentation skills
- How to speak to the media
HIPPO Communications is also in the process of establishing a college of Public Relations and Communications.
Soapbox offers the following key services:
- Specialised writing and copy writing services (including speech writing, script writing and content management)
- Media Management
- Strategic communication planning
- Reputation Management and Crisis Communication
- Stakeholder Relationship Management
- Sponsorship and Brand Management
- Promotions and Event Management
- Media monitoring, evaluations and return on investment reports
- Product merchandising
- Organisation of competitions/giveaways
We use a range of media tools and tactics to meet your objectives, including:
Media releases – media releases tell your stories and ensure that our messages are in order. They should always be clever, newsworthy and have a very specific goal – to help position BSG and its goals and initiatives, to change perceptions and to open specific doors.
Interviews – media interviews should only be arranged when the speaker has something noteworthy to say. These are generally arranged for a spokesperson that is quoted in a press release right after the story has been sent to the media, or through planned interviews arranged on specific subjects.
Photo-captions – A picture speaks a thousand words. Sometimes we will be using picture captions to deliver a message or feeling amongst the target audiences. CSI projects are often best represented by a picture rather than a lengthy story.
Media round tables / briefing – these are valuable meetings with media to discuss issues, trends or developments within the organisation and within the environment in which you operate. The media contact enhances editorial credibility.
Media hospitality – The organisations and companies that place value on hosting and treating media to special occasions are the ones that have the closest relationships with journalists.
Media meets – these are valuable one-on-one meetings between the organisation and the press corps. Sometimes these will involve your communications team only, other times it will involve one or two of your spokespersons. The aim of these meets is to ask media what they are working on, to suggest a media agenda and to ensure that the client is part of the conversation.
Speaker opportunities – There are a number of speaking platforms that are reputable and significant in South Africa. Organisational leaders and experts use these opportunities to position their company amongst its peers.
Thought leadership – Thought leadership media initiatives help to quickly establish the organisation as owner of a specific theme being discussed. This is an important element of the communication plan as it allows you to lead the industry by shaping debate and conversation around issues. Thought leadership can be driven through media interviews, round tables or press releases and opinion pieces.
Opinion pieces –Opinion pieces serve as a delivery mechanism to talk about thought leadership and to comment on analysis or current affairs. The communications team crafts the opinion piece based on the spokesperson’s thoughts, and ensures that the media place it.
Media inductions – The induction sessions are aimed at giving media an independent view of the “state of the nation”, its challenges and trends. This is a perfect opportunity to teach young rookie journalists the ropes, to help seasoned journalists understand complex issues in the industry and gives BSG the opportunity to confirm its position amongst the media.
Advertorials, supplements and features – Advertorials are paid for articles. Most publications, whether mainstream newspapers or magazines, carry supplements and features. The main aim for the newspaper or magazine is to elicit advertising but we always contact the journalist to see if we are able to offer an insightful article that helps create credibility for the supplement. Sometimes these will be accepted, other times not.
Mephisto Media & Entertainment was founded in 2008 by radio personality and musician Nelisa Kala.
The company’s services are four – fold, the sectors being:
Mephisto Media
The sector which offers through- the- line communication services as well as corporate and personal publicity services.
Mephisto Entertainment
Focused on supplying entertainment for events ranging from vernacular and multi-lingual comperes, comedians and poets. Having hosted live music events showcasing the best of local talent in the Arts ranging from Fashion Design, Visual Arts, Music and Poetry, they have organised events which have drawn crowds exceeding 400 people.
Mephisto Management
The core of the business which boasts musical talent in the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal, a Fine Artist in Durban and experienced Voice Actors from the ages 14 – 65 and fluent in Xhosa, Sesotho, Siswati, Zulu, English, Afrikaans and Arabic.
The diversity of the brands who work with Mephisto Media & Entertainment shows the fluidity and progressive desires the company has for the South African -and ultimately global- commercial arts industry.
The House of Mephisto
The fourth and final division of the company. The fashion label THoM comprises the stylishly earthy marriage of Shweshwe and Hemp material with distinctly afrocentric patterns intertwined with designs bearing the European verbosity of the Italians.
Goethe’s tale of Dr Faust and the “devil” Mephistopheles is one which is often misinterpreted thereby altering the meaning of the tale. In the tale, Dr Faust enters into an agreement with the devil: his soul in return for wealth and popularity. Mephistopheles is usually falsely recognised as the devil in the narrative, when he is, in fact, a minion of the devil and the collector of souls. The pain of the servitude which plagues Mephisto is so great that he tries to warn Dr Faust of the dangers of entering into a pact with the devil in an attempt to rescue Faust from experiencing a prison of his own creation as Mephisto does.
As a small media house, we are able to represent our clients’ portfolios, ensuring that they receive maximum benefit off their product and allowing them to develop a brand and business as forerunners in their various industries without compromise.
We handle our performers’ bookings, tours, gigs, voice – overs, exhibitions and publicity thereby allowing our artists to do what they do best: create, without the necessity of compromising their art in return for ‘fame and fortune’. This also means our clients receive the best service at the best rates.
We bridge the gap between the artistic and corporate world, offering professional media; communication and entertainment services.
Irvine Bartlett is one of the most sought after, full service, Public Relations companies in South Africa. The driving principle behind this PR agency is to ensure clients grow their business as a direct result of our efforts to increase brand credibility and profile. The names Irvine and Bartlett are above our door because we believe in accountability.
We don’t sell senior resources and then palm clients off to juniors for delivery. While we have talented executives working at Irvine Bartlett, we ensure that our clients have access to the managing director at all times and across every project and campaign. Simply put, with Irvine Bartlett you get what you pay for.
Creative talent, communications expertise, proactive reputation administration and specialist teams lie at the heart of the work we do for some of the biggest brands in the country.
As one of the leading Public Relations Companies in South Africa we offer a broad spectrum of service from traditional Public Relations and publicity to effective digital and social media engagement and Online Reputation Management.
Irvine Bartlett Public Relations is headquartered in Cape Town and having merged with PR Powerhouse in Johannesburg during 2014 now also enjoys on the ground capability and resource in all major commercial centres in South Africa.
Our core practices are:
- Consumer Communications
- Financial Communications
- Corporate Communications
- Public Relations
- Real Estate and Asset Management Marketing
- Technology PR and Digital Communications
- Advocacy
- Brand Building
- Reputation Management
- Media Relations
- Corporate Social Investment Expertise
- Investor RelationsIssue Management and Crisis Communications
- Internal Communications
- Government Relations
- Media Training
- Presentation Training
- Online Reputation Management
Our primary focus is on quality, not quantity. We don’t create content to fill space, we create relevant, impactful, quality content that’s in line with our clients’ objectives.
Inside|Line is an evolved media company that operates in Southern Africa, specialising in the business of PR and media creation and dissemination.
- Our team of experienced former sports journalists and world-class action sports photographers will package your message with the poise and precision required for modern media publication.
- We’ll target your message to the right media and key market players that will give your product/service the appropriate impact and penetration – at the right time.
- We don’t waste time or space with ‘waffle content’. We get straight to the point with concise, relevant copy and appropriate, quality images, which allows us to charge a more affordable rate.
- All our work offers directly measurable ROI, which we include in our rate.
Founded by Zoon Cronje and Sean Badenhorst, who have more than 30 years of sports media and PR experience between them. Our intimate understanding of Southern African endurance, outdoor and adventure sports is unmatched and our work for various small, medium and large clients has earned us a high level of credibility.
Our primary focus is on quality, not quantity. We don’t create content to fill space, we create relevant, impactful, quality content that’s in line with our clients’ objectives.
We also deliver our content at the right time with modern dissemination methods to our extensive local and international databases; and we ensure that all our images are of the highest standard, relevant and engaging.
Max Cluer Sports Marketing is an Event Management and Sports Marketing consultancy specialising in event and athlete sponsorship portfolio’s, branding and brand storage and activation, product launches, event commentating and in adding value both above and below the line to its clients and sponsors.
The highly competent team of MCSMcc is known for its personal touch, attention to detail and professional delivery on their clients brief and expectations on projects.
With over 10 years of hands on experience in event marketing and management, Max Cluer Branding & Logistics(MCBL) offers our clients a seamless branding and logistics solution customised to suit their needs.
With our hands on experience in looking after various brands and their diverse eventing needs, MCBL are able to advise and assist you and your team in making the right decisions to MAXimise your brand.
By having close relationships with our core suppliers that deliver on time, every time and at the right price we simplify the process of sourcing and producing quality branding. These close relationships allow us to maintain your branding with original parts ensuring that your branding solution is always complete and in mint condition for your next event activation.
With our expert maintenance and field staff, warehousing facilities and systems, we pride ourselves in making branding and brand activation at events an effortless part of your business. This solution is designed not only to MAXimise your brand and brand exposure but also to look after your investment and the lifespan of your branding.
Team Jeep SA is owned and managed by Max Cluer and Clint Morck; two highly driven individuals who have developed the team since it’s inception in 2002.
Team Jeep South Africa is a tight knit squad of highly talented multisport and endurance athletes who excel in their sporting codes of choice. Having been an elite athlete and competed on the world stage, Max understands the unique dynamic that exists between media, events and athletes. His years in adventure racing gave him the grounding to understand both the sponsors and the athletes’ needs. With a unique flair for building lasting relationships, Max is responsible for securing sponsors and suppliers who support the team.Highly regarded as one of the top “gear heads” in South Africa, Max has an intimate knowledge of all the latest technical and functional sporting equipment and gear available. He applies and updates his knowledge through working closely with sponsors, suppliers and manufacturers in the research and development of their products. Max is also one of the driving forces behind multisport in South Africa.
The creator, the designer…Clint has a special care for every member of the team; they are his family and his inspiration. He is a passionate connector whose main desire is to give opportunities to emerging talent in cinderalla sports. His years in triathlon, canoeing and multisport have given him a thorough understanding of every aspect of these sports. While his demanding career in the field of civil engineering consumes his day time hours, he willingly spends precious after hours dealing with the affairs of the team to ensure the demands of his athletes are met.
Aside from working with the athletes in Team Jeep SA, Max is in a unique position to assist athlete’sin connecting them with the right sponsors and personalities to allow them to build their own identity in the competitive world of endurance racing.
Max has established himself as one of the leading multisport, mountain biking and BMX commentator’s in South Africa. Max’s ability to think on his feet and work in the dynamic “live” environment of live broadcasts, commentating and webcasting allows for the smooth flow and dynamic energy which is brought across through the events that he works on. Event participants revel in the energy and personal touch that Max bring’s to the finish line; his ability to welcome the last athlete home with as much enthusiasm as the winners is what sets him apart as a commentator who knows not only the athletes, but also the sport with a unique depth of knowledge.
Max’s positive working relationship with and understanding of media, sponsors, clients and various sporting personalities has led to him regularly doing both live and studio commentating for the likes of Supersport, SABC and DHL Africa. In addition, Max’s strong social media background and commentating skills have taken him abroad to work on various projects both as consultant, commentator and as a media personality. He also has strong Web and Podcasting skills and understanding. These skills have also lead to him featuring on High Profile Events such as Red Bull X-Fighters and moving deeper into the production side on the World BMX and Supercross series.
Commentating projects include: UCI BMX Super Cross World Cup 2009-2014, UCI BMX World Championships 2010-2014, UCI MTB World Cup 2009-2014, UCI BMX Super Cross World Cup Series (Commentator, MC and Entertainment Co-ordinator), Comrades Marathon, Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill2Hill MTB Marathon, DueSouthXterra, Totalsports Challenge, sani2c MTB 3 stage race (Biggest MTB Stage Race in the world)