Public relations firm offers diverse services for telling an organization’s story
Katlin Smith helps nonprofits and businesses get the word out. As a principal with UrbanWords Group, Smith is dedicated to improving businesses’ visibility.
She breaks up her services into three categories: public relations, writing and editing and public involvement for government projects.
Her roster of clients includes Vancouver-based Home Ownership Center and Innovative Services Northwest.
UrbanWords offers media and communications training to more than 40 nonprofits. Workshops include the eight-month media and communications workshop series, "Spreading Your News."
In the areas of writing and editing, UrbanWords crafts everything from newsletters and brochures to reports, manuals and Web content.
"We’ve created a new service called visible business to help businesses become more visible in their communities through press coverage or communicating with their customers," said Smith. "We also do communication audits, where we review existing materials."
In the area of public involvement, UrbanWords provides a link between municipalities and their public. "It gives the citizens a chance to share their views, and gives the government entities the opportunity to hear from their citizens," she said. UrbanWords helped, for example, facilitate public meetings during the city of Vancouver’s Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway project. Her firm coordinated public meetings, made newsletters and "created opportunities for public involvement," she said.
UrbanWords was founded five-and-a-half years ago and was originally called Katlin Smith Communications. Smith renamed and re-branded the firm in January of this year, giving more focus to working with businesses.
She relocated to downtown Vancouver, at 101 E. Eighth St. The business environment in Vancouver, she said, looks bright.
"When I go to chamber meetings or Vancouver Downtown Association meetings, I sense a lot of optimism," she said. "I’m thrilled to be in downtown Vancouver. I think there’s lots of untapped opportunities for businesses to become more visible in the community."
Beginning in June, UrbanWords will offer monthly, three-hour workshops called "Publicity 101 for Small Business."
Smith will moderate on May 31 a Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce presentation, "Power Breakfast with the Business Editors," at the Vancouver Hilton Hotel and Convention Center, 301 W. Sixth St. For more information, go to www.urbanwordsgroup.com.
UrbanWords
101 E. Eighth St., Suite 325E, Vancouver
www.urbanwordsgroup.com
