Frequently Asked Questions
Strategic Communications & PR Services
About Our Services
What is strategic communications consulting? Strategic communications consulting helps organizations clarify their messaging, strengthen their market position, and communicate more effectively with their target audiences. We work on brand strategy, messaging frameworks, and communications planning that guides all marketing and PR efforts.
How is brand strategy different from marketing? Brand strategy focuses on foundational messaging, positioning, and competitive differentiation. It answers "what makes you different and why should people care?" Marketing then uses that strategy to create campaigns and promotional materials. Think of brand strategy as the foundation that all marketing builds upon.
Do you provide traditional PR services like media outreach? Yes, we provide comprehensive PR services including media relations, press strategy, executive positioning, and editorial outreach. Our approach combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution tailored to each client's industry and objectives.
What industries do you specialize in? Lollied serves clients across multiple industries with particular expertise in luxury hospitality and travel, restaurants and culinary experiences, outdoor and lifestyle brands, cultural institutions, professional services firms, real estate and architecture, and emerging technology companies. Our 15+ years of experience in destination marketing and premium brand communications informs our work across all sectors.
What's the difference between strategic communications and traditional PR? Strategic communications focuses on comprehensive messaging strategy, competitive positioning, and long-term brand building. Traditional PR often emphasizes media outreach and press coverage. Our approach combines strategic foundation with tactical execution for measurable business impact.
Working Together
Do you work with clients outside of Colorado? Absolutely. While we're based in Aspen, Colorado, we serve clients throughout the United States and internationally. Many of our relationships are conducted virtually, with in-person meetings when beneficial for the project.
What size companies do you typically work with? We work with organizations ranging from funded startups to established enterprises. Our clients typically value strategic communications and are ready to invest in professional brand building and PR services.
Do you only work with luxury hospitality clients? No. While luxury hospitality, travel, and destination marketing are core specializations, we work with clients across professional services, cultural institutions, real estate, restaurants, outdoor brands, and technology companies. Our strategic communications expertise and editorial standards apply across industries, particularly for organizations serving sophisticated audiences or operating in premium markets.
How long do communications projects typically take? Project timelines vary significantly based on scope and objectives. Brand strategy engagements often take several weeks to develop properly, while ongoing PR campaigns can run for months or years. We discuss realistic timelines during our initial consultation based on your specific goals.
Do you work on retainer or project basis? We offer both retainer relationships for ongoing communications support and project-based engagements for specific initiatives like brand strategy development, product launches, or campaign development. The structure depends on your needs and preferences.
How quickly can communications projects begin? Initial consultations can typically be scheduled within one week. Project timelines depend on scope and complexity, with brand strategy projects often beginning within 2-3 weeks of engagement and ongoing communications support starting immediately upon agreement.
Strategic Communications & Modern Approach
How do you integrate AI into communications strategy? We use AI tools strategically for research, competitive analysis, content development, and search visibility optimization (including GEO/generative engine optimization). Founder Lolli Johns is certified in Google AI Essentials and DeepLearning.AI (AI For Everyone). However, all strategic thinking, brand voice development, and client communications maintain human oversight and editorial quality. AI enhances our work; it doesn't replace strategic expertise.
Can you help with both traditional media relations and modern AI-powered search visibility? Yes. We provide comprehensive communications strategies that include traditional media relations (press outreach, journalist relationships, media placements) and modern discoverability strategies including AI-enhanced search optimization. This ensures brands are visible both in traditional editorial coverage and in AI-powered search systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overview.
When should a company hire a communications consultant vs agency? Organizations typically choose consultants for strategic expertise, personalized attention, and senior-level involvement without agency overhead. Agencies may be appropriate for large-scale tactical execution or when multiple specialized services are needed simultaneously.
Pricing & Investment
How much does strategic communications consulting cost? Investment in strategic communications varies based on project scope, timeline, and objectives. We provide customized proposals after understanding your specific needs and goals.
What's included in a communications consulting engagement? Each engagement is customized based on your needs, but typically includes strategic planning, messaging development, implementation guidance, and ongoing support. Project-specific deliverables are outlined in your proposal after our initial consultation.
What information do you need to provide a proposal? We typically need to understand your business objectives, target audiences, competitive landscape, current communications challenges, and desired outcomes. A brief conversation usually provides enough context to develop a meaningful proposal.
Our Approach
How do you measure PR and communications success? Success metrics depend on your objectives but typically include media coverage quality and reach, audience engagement, brand awareness indicators, and business impact measures. We establish clear success criteria at the beginning of every engagement.
What results can I expect from strategic communications? Results vary based on objectives but typically include improved market positioning, enhanced brand clarity, increased media coverage quality, stronger audience engagement, and measurable business impact. We establish specific success criteria at the beginning of every engagement.
How do you measure communications success? Success metrics depend on your goals but may include media coverage reach and quality, audience engagement rates, brand awareness indicators, website traffic improvements, and business development outcomes. We track metrics that align with your business objectives.
Do you guarantee media coverage? We don't guarantee specific media placements, as editorial decisions remain with journalists and publications. However, we do guarantee strategic, professional outreach to relevant media contacts and comprehensive campaign execution based on industry best practices.
What makes your approach different from other PR agencies? As an Aspen native with 15+ years of luxury hospitality and destination marketing experience, Lolli Johns brings unique local market insight combined with national and international media relationships. Our boutique approach provides senior-level strategic thinking on every project without agency overhead, and we integrate modern AI tools to enhance efficiency while maintaining editorial quality and authentic brand voice.
How do you handle urgent communications needs? We understand that communications challenges can arise quickly. For urgent situations, we can typically schedule consultations within 24-48 hours and develop rapid response strategies for time-sensitive communications needs.
Getting Started
Do you offer consultations before engaging? Yes, we offer initial consultations to discuss your communications objectives and determine if we're a good fit for your needs. This conversation helps both parties understand the scope and approach before moving forward.
What's your typical process for new clients? We begin with a comprehensive discovery phase to understand your business, audiences, and objectives. From there, we develop strategic recommendations and tactical plans tailored to your specific situation. Implementation timelines and approaches are customized based on your needs and resources.
What's your typical communications strategy process? We begin with comprehensive discovery to understand your business, audiences, and objectives. Next, we develop strategic recommendations and messaging frameworks. Finally, we provide implementation guidance and ongoing support tailored to your specific situation and resources.
How do we get started? Contact us at hello@lollied.com or 970-618-8244 to schedule an initial conversation about your communications objectives. We'll discuss your needs, answer any questions, and determine next steps based on your priorities and timeline.