Capelin Communications

In this article in the April 2011 SMPS Marketer Joan again voices her concern that – marketed the way it is now – sustainable design and construction are becoming both commoditized and boring. Clients and users alike need to remember what’s at stake and whose claims and repuation to trust. “Green Marketing 2.0” encourages thoughtful research and careful decisions, and provides lessons to be learned from people who communicate and lead effectively.

Boston, July 2010 – The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) honored Capelin Communications with a First Place Marketing Communications Award for social media for the popular “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin” podcast series. This was the first time the category was recognized, signaling that use of all the new tools that use the internet for business marketing can be useful to professional service firms.

The SMPS National Marketing Awards program is the longest-standing awards competition to recognize excellence in marketing communications by professional services firms in the design and building industry. 

“Sound Advice with Joan Capelin” focuses on the specific question of what to do in a recession.  Interviews feature a cross-section of well-known design and construction professionals and consultants.  “Their advice is priceless, not to mention very useful,” Joan noted.  “Best as we can tell, between listeners on the website and iTunes, discussion via various social media, and coverage by print media, the 20 ‘Sound Advice’ podcasts have reached a quarter-million people.”

Delighted to be recognized for this new public relations specialty, Joan stated that “We didn’t create the podcast series to market Capelin Communications, but rather to use our experience and authority to help our injured industry and reach as many people afflicted by the recession as possible with excellent information.”

Founder and president of a public relations firm that concentrates on the design, building, and real estate industries, Joan previously was the recipient of the Marketing Achievement Award, the highest award SMPS gives to an individual.  One of the organization’s founding generation, she is also an SMPS Fellow.

To listen to any “Sound Advice” with Joan Capelin podcasts, and to see the names and bios of the guests interviewed, please visit http://capelin.com/sound-advice-podcast/.  To receive the full-page description about the award submission, please contact capstone@capelin.com. 

Joan Capelin holds an inscribed crystal shaft that denotes First Place for Social Media after the awards gala at the Build Business national conference of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. Celebrating with her is Ronald Worth, SMPS’ chief executive officer. Photograph taken by Frank Monkiewicz

Capelin Communications – pioneers in public relations for professional service firms and still the leader after nearly 30 years – has moved to new offices in the DeVinne Press Building at 23 East 4th Street [at Lafayette Street].

The company specializes in strategies and public relations for the design, construction, and real estate industries. Joan Capelin, president of the 29-year-old firm, is a much-honored consultant, author, lecturer, and coach. She points out that “Everything else is changing – in our clients’ work, in our field, in the economy, and, very pertinently, in New York real estate. This downtown move suits our creative side and our upbeat approach.”

Letter writing is an essential business skill, but not everyone understands the basics of writing reference letters, such as those that introduce a job candidate or nominate someone for a specific honor.  In her February 2010 column for the SMPS Marketer, “Please, Mr. Postman…,”  Joan Capelin provides hints for both letter writers and seekers.  “You will need the right people to write for you,” she insists, “but they must also advise how they know you.”

Joan discusses how to set the context and tone for a letter of reference as well as basic formatting rules that many people tend to forget.  She suggests including personal anecdotes that strengthen the message of the letter but warns about regurgitating the candidate’s resume.  

Joan recommends that letter seekers follow up with their writers to stay on target for the due date. “There is no harm in moving it up a week or two,” she remarks.