We’re All About The Message

In this business, the message is always front and center. It needs to have the right strategy and the right vibe. It needs to be pushed out through the right mix of channels, so that it can reach the right people at the right time. It needs to be authentic. It needs to inspire action.

Messages that do all those things don’t happen by accident. It takes a disciplined, multi-step process that deals with everything the message needs to do. Because while a message should always be as clear and concise as possible, it needs to work like a fine-tuned machine.

Who are we talking to? What do they like and not like? Most importantly, how do they make decisions?
When we are trying to reach our target audiences, where are they, mentally and physically? What’s on their minds that we could connect to?
Based on the target audience’s circumstances, what’s the right mix of media?
What distinguishes the client from the competition? How does the competition present themselves?
Now it’s time to think about the results we want and to narrow down our strategic thinking — which, thanks to the first four steps, is already well along.
What’s the right tone? What’s our umbrella concept? The decision cascade that leads to creative also aims creative in the right way.
Who are we talking to? What do they like and not like? Most importantly, how do they make decisions?
Where are they, mentally and physically, when we are reaching them? What’s on their minds that we could connect to?
Based on the target audience’s circumstances, what’s the right mix of media?
What distinguishes the client from the competition? How does the competition present themselves?
Now it’s time to think about the results we want and to narrow down our strategic thinking — which, thanks to the first four steps, is already well along.
What’s the right tone? What’s our umbrella concept? The decision cascade that leads to creative also aims creative in the right way.
Who are we talking to? What do they like and not like? Most importantly, how do they make decisions?
Where are they, mentally and physically, when we are reaching them? What’s on their minds that we could connect to?
Based on the target audience’s circumstances, what’s the right mix of media?
What distinguishes the client from the competition? How does the competition present themselves?
Now it’s time to think about the results we want and to narrow down our strategic thinking — which, thanks to the first four steps, is already well along.
What’s the right tone? What’s our umbrella concept? The decision cascade that leads to creative also aims creative in the right way.

Smart. Professional. Versatile.
And Very Into Helping Our Clients.

Have a look at the process above. Have a look at the capabilities below. Then call us. We’ll listen, we’ll ask questions, and we’ll tell you how we can help you get from where you are to where you want to be.

Smart. Professional. Versatile.

And Very Into Helping Our Clients.

Have a look at the process above. Have a look at the capabilities below. Then call us. We’ll listen, we’ll ask questions, and we’ll tell you how we can help you get from where you are to where you want to be.

Planning and Messaging

You can’t get the other parts right if you don’t get this part right. That’s why we always look at the bigger picture and follow a process that lets all the many facts of the situation lead us to the kind of solid, powerful thinking great communications are built on.
• Research
• Brand positioning and messaging
• Integrated marketing communications planning
• Content strategy
• Demand generation strategy
• Analytics and metrics

Planning And Messaging
Planning And Messaging

Planning and Messaging

You can’t get the other parts right if you don’t get this part right. That’s why we always look at the bigger picture and follow a process that lets all the many facts of the situation lead us to the kind of solid, powerful thinking great communications are built on.
• Research
• Brand positioning and messaging
• Integrated marketing communications planning
• Content strategy
• Demand generation strategy
• Analytics and metrics

Web Services

Web Services

A website is a tool, but for most companies it’s also the hub for all other marcom activities. We make sites that are visible, offer great user environments and achieve high ROI by compelling visitors to engage all the way through to action.
• Responsive Website Design and Development
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Conversion Rate Optimization
• Custom Landing Pages
• E-Commerce
• Event Registrations
• Analytics

Storytelling and Content Creation

We’ve all heard how important storytelling is. But all stories are not created equal. The best ones are authentic, engaging, and positively beg to be shared. And the more coordinated your messaging across media, the bigger the bang.
• Videography (loops, YouTube videos, corporate videos)
• Photography
• Illustration and Animation
• Blog Writing
• White Paper Development

Storytelling And Content Creation
Storytelling And Content Creation

Storytelling and Content Creation

We’ve all heard how important storytelling is. But all stories are not created equal. The best ones are authentic, engaging, and positively beg to be shared. And the more coordinated your messaging across media, the bigger the bang.
• Videography (loops, YouTube videos, corporate videos)
• Photography
• Illustration and Animation
• Blog Writing
• White Paper Development

Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing

Digital lets you see in real time what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s next. We’re big advocates for keeping everything tweaked and tuned so that it’s always working its best.
• Search Engine Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• Programmatic Media
• Email Marketing

Public Relations and Social Media

Influencers, gatekeepers and communities of interest need to know more about you. But it needs to be “the right more.” We’re good at weaving narratives that can help shape brand perceptions among all kinds of targeted and micro-targeted audiences.
• Media Releases and Pitches
• Contributed Articles
• Social Media Content Creation
• Ongoing Community Management
• Review/Reputation Management

Public Relations And Social Media
Public Relations And Social Media

Public Relations and Social Media

Influencers, gatekeepers and communities of interest need to know more about you. But it needs to be “the right more.” We’re good at weaving narratives that can help shape brand perceptions among all kinds of targeted and micro-targeted audiences.
• Media Releases and Pitches
• Contributed Articles
• Social Media Content Creation
• Ongoing Community Management
• Review/Reputation Management

Creative Services

Creative Services

Good creative is creative that is aimed before it’s fired. And of course, it’s also creative that’s truly creative. It’s all about creating memorable impressions and getting prospective buyers to say “yes.”
• Branding and Identity
• Messaging
• Advertising (digital, print, out-of-home, broadcast)
• Marketing and Sales Collateral (digital, print, video, podcast)
• Copywriting
• Videography
• Photography

Our Leadership

The people on our team have worked for — and even owned — marcom companies of all sizes: big, medium, small. We all vastly prefer small. There’s more honesty, collegiality, opportunities, fun. We’re more productive and more creative. We own what we do. There’s a direct connection between the quality of our thinking and the results our clients see. Our core team is supported by a network of independent professionals who have longtime relationships with us. So your projects get all the talent they need and your bill includes nothing for the talent you didn’t need.

MICHAEL DONOVAN

CHIEF STRATEGIST. CREATIVE DIRECTOR.
Michael brings more than 30 years of agency and consulting experience to the job, including a strong background in branding, strategy, creative development, online marketing, and public relations. Michael founded Donovan Group and grew it from a small local agency to a Boston-based firm with over 65 employees — a firm recognized by Adweek as one of New England’s top-10 agencies and twice by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest-growing companies. Michael is also a former managing partner of Overdrive, one of Boston’s top interactive agencies and an MITX Interactive Agency of the Year.

ERIC RACKLIFF

CREATIVE, INTERACTIVE AND DATABASE SERVICES
Few creative professionals are equally strong across all forms of today’s media. Eric has a rare intuitive understanding of the extent to which successful branding is about consistency at every touchpoint, including website design and development, advertising (digital, video, print and out-of-home), sales collateral and email marketing communications backed by a strong focus on CRM systems.

More Conversations, Fewer Dogs And Ponies

We believe in the power of collaboration. We believe in teamwork. All our experience shows that working together gets you much farther, much faster than any other way. We like problem-solving. We like sharp thinking. We even like dog-and-pony shows. They have their place, and we do them well. But the real magic in marcom happens when people talk with each other, not at each other.

 

That’s a little about us. We’d like to hear a bit about you. Call Michael Donovan at 617.797.1937, email him at [email protected], or submit the form below.