- Communications Training
At the core of our expertise is the heart of a trainer. It’s what we do. Whether we’re instilling college students with foundational presentation skills or preparing executives for on-camera media interviews, we have prepared our clients for all manner of engagements. We understand that making a public presentation – whether it’s leading an internal team meeting or giving the keynote address in front of thousands of attendees – can be intimidating. Our trainings will hone and enhance your skills to help you become confident, poised, and successful. We believe sharp, practiced communications skills will serve you in every aspect of your business.
Our communications trainings are fully customizable to suit your needs, goals and whatever specific situation you face. We are skilled in on-camera mock interviews, vocal coaching, message refinement and delivery, and basic presentation skills.
- Podcasting 101
Recently added to our array of services is Podcasting 101. Jon will take you through the steps of setting up your own online radio show, including the needed equipment, how to differentiate your show from vast selection of shows available, technical training, editing skills, syndication and more. Podcasting is the content format of the future (and the present), so if you’re considering adding this to your suite of communication activities, be sure to do it right. Deft can help.
- Communications Program Audits
As your trusted outside counsel, we provide an honest, comprehensive assessment of all of your existing communications activities. Sometimes it helps to have a fresh set of eyes on your program to figure out what’s working, what needs tweaking, and what should be fully re-engineered. Whether your goals are to garner more (or better) media coverage, communicate more effectively with your employee base, or earn more market share, we can help optimize your programs to ensure their highest success.
Our goal is not to uproot your existing program wholesale, but rather to optimize those activities that provide the highest value while modifying and improving those that don’t. We’re here to make your program the best that it can be, no matter its primary focus.
- Employee Engagement
Our philosophy regarding employee engagement goes hand-in-hand with our approach to communications training. We seek to equip your team with the tools they need to help you achieve your business goals. Having a motivated, well-equipped employee base working as ambassadors for your organization (and, by extension, industry) enhances your company profile and builds affinity within your team.
We’ve built all manner of internal communications and training programs ranging from writing material for internal newsletters to full Employee Ambassador programs. Your employees are your most important stakeholders, and ensuring they’re at the heart of your communications strategy is the primary building block for long term organizational success.
- Message Development and Refinement
Clear, concise, simple messages that communicate your company’s philosophy and goals are the fuel that propels all of your communications activities. We help you distill your most important points into strong, easy-to-remember statements that function as the platform from which all communication begins. When you work with us, we help you design your messaging with the goals of simplicity and ease of use at the forefront of our thinking. Additionally, our messaging is designed to be fully modifiable, as well. We ensure that all messages can be tailored and deepened for individual project needs and unexpected bumps in the road.
- Media Relations
Are you seeking more coverage in the media? Better coverage? Are you trying to tell your company’s story in a new way? We can help. We work with today’s top journalists, bloggers and social media thought leaders locally, and from across the country. The media is a powerful tool, and can seem overwhelming. Our approach to working with media aligns your business goals with the optimal outlets to achieve them. It’s not about the number of placements you earn, it’s about the right placements that bring value to your bottom line.
- Copywriting and Content Development
You’ve got your goals set. You’ve got your strategy for how to achieve those goals. But now you’ve got no one to execute. That’s why we’re here. Generating the raw material is often the hardest part, and we’re experts at it. We write every day for our clients. We write op-eds. We write company newsletters. We write news pitches. We write content for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and whatever other social network you’re on.
We feed the content beast, and we do it while making sure every piece that we write is aligned with bringing value to your bottom line. Creating content for your communications channels is worthless if it’s not servicing your business goals. Content that does service your business goals requires a Deft touch.
- Facilitation, Panel Moderation, Emcee/Hosting Services
Being Deft means being nimble in any format. It means taking complex ideas and distilling them into easily understood concepts for a broader audience. And it means being quick on our feet. We are available to serve as moderators for conference panels, conventions and trade shows. We know how to guide a conversation, serve as traffic cop and ensure your attendees get the most out of your program.
Whether you need an engaging host, a steady hand to navigate public discussion of controversial issues from a multitude of viewpoints or someone to keep the show rolling along smoothly, we’re here for you. We stand up and speak in front of people for a living. We’re excited to do it for you.