The traditional ways of conducting your communications are growing out of date. The economics of digital media have broken old monopolies on information. Scandals created suspicion about back-room decisions. Consumers expect choices.
At Westbourne, we believe that decision-makers will be influenced less by secretive lobbying and more by changing opinion about your issues.
Headlines and contacts are important but, increasingly, not enough. Nowadays it might be just as important to mobilise public supporters. Or else giving a voice to relevant specialist groups – experts, officials, professionals, locals, parents.
That’s why you need a new combination of skills. Researching opinion. Presenting your case. Adapting to feedback. Direct communications, often over the internet. Mobilising support. Rebutting opposition.
That’s where Westbourne can help. We are a small, specialist agency that offers clients a fresh approach that gives your communications the extra punch they need to win arguments.
Featured services
Third party mobilisation.
We specialise in mobilising third parties behind a client's case, one of the few game changing things a client can do. These range from grassroots campaigns to elite endorsements.Read more.
Digital communications.
We understand that the best campaigns make extensive use of the internet. We use the net to help a client make its case, and to mobilise ordinary people behind it.Read more.
Scenario planning.
Clients need to know how a campaign is going to play out. We run scenario-planning sessions - based on the war gaming model used in Government - to help clients create strategy.Read more.
Opinion research.
Westbourne always recommends clients test their messages before launching campaigns. We run our own focus groups for clients and also design questionnaires for polls.Read more.
Message Development.
Our messaging sessions focus on one thing: what works in the real world. We run "Sixty Second Sessions" which help clients create clear narratives that can be delivered in a minute or less.Read more.
Media training.
Westbourne consultants have extensive experience on both sides of the camera and in dealing with the press. We run structured sessions to prepare clients for a wide range of possible interviews. Read more.
Crisis communications.
Unlike many agencies, we offer a crisis communications service which puts clients on the front foot. Our distinctive approach includes media relations, opinion research, opposition research, and legal advice.Read more.
Leadership training.
Westbourne works with senior executives to protect and enhance their reputation, offering ad-hoc services like article and speech-writing as well as longer-term programmes. Read more.
The pressures on Lib Dem hearts and minds
James Forsyth highlights the twin pressures that the Lib Dems are facing at the moment – pressure on their hearts because the party is in a coalition which is being accused of hitting the poorest hard, and pressure on their minds because their poll ratings are low and they must fear that it is going [...]
The benefits of not speaking like a politician
Businessweek has an interesting article on NJ Governor Chris Christie, who is about to star in a film for the Republican Governors’ Association for this Autumn’s mid-terms.
