Forge Communications

Time-tested experience, expertise and energy you can trust to solve problems, strengthen reputations and build value.

What We Do 

We offer a full suite of services, including:

• Reputation and Brand Management
• Crisis Communications, Planning and Training
• Messaging Development and Deployment
• Marketing Communication/Branding
• Inbound Content Management and Strategy
• Issues Management
• Research Design and Analysis (Qualitative and Quantitative)
• Focus Group Facilitation
• Thought Leader Research and Engagement
• Public Affairs and Grassroots/Grasstops Communication
• Spokesperson and Presentation Coaching
• Change Management
• Digital/Social Strategy and Engagement
• Media Relations
• Internal Communications
• Community Relations
• Presentation Development

And through a network of trusted regional and national partners we’ve built over the past 35 years, we offer a host of allied services, including design, advertising, interactive services, investor relations, mobile marketing, political consulting, SEO and video production.

We know we can’t—and shouldn’t try—to be all things to all people. So, we make this promise: if we don’t believe we’re qualified to do what’s needed, we’ll tell you. And then we’ll help find the right person or firm for that task.

That’s how long-term trust is built. And that’s what we’re all about.

Sectors and Representative Clients

Through the years, our leadership team has gained experience with just about every vertical out there. While we’ve included a list of past clients here, outlined below are some of the key industry sectors in which we’ve worked along with a sampling of representative clients.

Yeah, we know – it’s a pretty exhaustive list. But that’s what happens when you hang around for a while and do really good work.

• Agribusiness: N.C. Pork Council, N.C. Farm Bureau
• Automotive: Anderson Automotive
• Industrial Biotechnology: Novozymes
• And more! View our full client list here.

Approach

Extraordinary clients, extraordinary service

Our business model is built on doing compelling, challenging and meaningful work for a handful of organizations that recognize for them the value of our approach and team. We’re not in business to build an empire. We’re in business to solve problems and help smart people make smart decisions about how to do better at what they do. We believe today’s economic realities and client needs call for consultants who are nimble, flexible and responsive.

There’s no bait-and-switch at Forge. When you buy us, you get us, the owners and principals. Without fail, our clients receive one-on-one attention from experienced, senior professionals.

But extraordinary service by itself isn’t enough. It must lead to measurable results. That’s why we use metrics developed by the Institute for Public Relations at the University of Florida that measure outputs, outtakes and outcomes.

• Outputs: The short-term or immediate results of a communications program or activity, with a focus on how well an organization presents itself to others and the amount of exposure it receives. Outputs comprise the final stage of the communications production process: the development and dissemination of messages and materials.
• Outtakes: A measure of the effectiveness of a particular initiative that focuses on whether targeted stakeholders received, understood and responded to the messages or materials.
• Outcomes: A longer-term measure of the effectiveness of a particular communications activity that focuses on whether stakeholders changed their opinions, attitudes and behavior.

Do nothing without purpose

This is our mantra: “Do nothing without purpose.” That means for us there must be a compelling reason to do – or not do – something. We’ve learned that clients value that approach because it: (a) is rational, purposeful and smart; and (b) can save a bunch of time and money. We focus on designing a strategy to answer these questions: why are we communicating, to whom are we communicating, what are we communicating about, and, most important, what comes next?

The bottom line? Combining the analytical and the creative, Forge Communications is the right partner for organizations that value one-on-one attention from time-tested, industry-leading professionals who craft research and communication programs that solve problems and strengthen reputations.