Vol. 2 No. 1
Buying Power of U.S. Gays and Lesbians to Exceed $835 Billion by 2011
Brian McNaught Teaches American Companies
Public Relations 101 - Apologies
What’s New at Witeck-Combs

Welcome to the Latest Issue of the Witeck-Combs Communications Newsletter!

In our previous issue, we shared the latest about our groundbreaking GLBT Leisure Travel Study in partnership with the Travel Industry Association and Harris Interactive, the launch of Business Inside Out, Bob Witeck and Wes Combs’ popular book on the GLBT Marketplace and helped get you up to speed on new marketing and media insights. 

Now that spring is here, it’s time for another update on Witeck-Combs Communications, including valuable research highlights, the release of The Gay and Lesbian Market Report, a few solid tips on public apologies, and Brian McNaught’s powerful new DVD on how to reconcile gay issues in corporate America.

    
 
MARKET RESEARCH INSIGHTS

February 6, 2007 — Large Majorities of Heterosexuals and Gays Likely to Consider a Corporate Brand that Provides Equal Workplace Benefits to All Employees

A recent national survey conducted online with our partners at Harris Interactive found that 7 out of 10 heterosexuals and nearly 90 percent of gay and lesbian adults polled are likely to consider a brand that is known to provide equal workplace benefits for all of its employees, including gays and lesbians. Additionally, 77 percent of gay and lesbian adults say they are likely to consider brands that support nonprofits and/or causes that are important to them as a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person.

Read More: http://www.witeckcombs.com/news/releases/20070206_brandloyalty.pdf

January 2, 2007 — Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals Lead in Social Online Networks

Understanding consumer behaviors is a priority for all marketers, and it is the kind of knowledge we are eager to share with our friends and clients.  We recently learned that online gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) individuals tend to use social networks such as Friendster and MySpace more frequently per week compared to online heterosexuals. Other well-known websites such as YouTube, Craigslist and personal blogs also were found to be more popular among GLB individuals.

Read More: http://www.witeckcombs.com/news/releases/20070102_socialnetworks.pdf

Surveying Among Gays and Lesbians
Harris Interactive’s Techniques to Achieve Representative Data

The validity and techniques of market research are key considerations for savvy marketers.  When deciding among approaches, marketers want to make sure they are comparing apples to apples.  For the past seven years, through our partnership with Harris Interactive, the world’s 12th largest and fastest-growing market researcher, we have developed a unique panel comprised of over 45,000 individuals (and growing) from all walks of life who self-identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual – or whose gender identity is as a transgendered person. 

To better understand more about the way to achieve representative GLBT data, please read on.

Read More
Buying Power of U.S. Gays and Lesbians to Exceed $835 Billion by 2011

In partnership with the highly respected market research experts at Packaged Facts, Witeck-Combs announced the latest release of The Gay and Lesbian Market in the U.S. This valuable, 204-page report estimates the buying power of gays and lesbians to exceed $835 billion and projected the gay and lesbian population to exceed 16.3 million people by 2011.

Now in its 5th edition, this one-of-a-kind report provides a critical understanding of the similarities as well as differences in the consumer behavior of gay men and lesbians when contrasted with heterosexual households.  The report also identifies opportunities in key areas, such as financial services, travel, health and wellness, as well as an understanding of changing residential patterns of GLBT consumers and how they affect consumer behavior.

Readers who wish to purchase this vital report, may also enjoy a special discount by visiting the Witeck-Combs website at http://www.witeckcombs.com/pdf/marketresearchcom.pdf
Brian McNaught Helps Corporations Address Gay/Transgender Issues

Referred to by the New York Times as “the godfather of gay diversity training,” Brian McNaught is one of the most sought after corporate diversity presenters in the world. He has recently made available a four-part DVD which has quickly become a popular educational resource in major corporations. Witeck-Combs joins with many international business leaders to proudly endorse McNaught’s extraordinary work.

Entitled “Understanding and Managing Gay and Transgender Issues in the Workplace,” McNaught’s special two-hour DVD program captures the presentation that has made him so popular with corporate audiences around the world. It provides the viewer with the necessary information and tools to respond with confidence to the issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees, and their heterosexual colleagues.

For more information on Brian McNaught, and to obtain details on purchasing his widely-used DVD program, please visit www.brian-mcnaught.com. Note that corporate licenses are available.

Public Relations 101: Apologies Accepted?

The story is familiar.  A celebrity, sports figure, political speaker or business leader makes a racial slur or hateful anti-gay remark.  It causes a seismic splash in the media.  Embarrassment and distraction for the sports team, the television cast, the university or the giant corporation.  Friends, donors, customers yell.  Talk show hosts bloviate.  Worst of all, these kinds of comments so often are captured on video and shared globally on YouTube and other online platforms.

What is the real damage?  What is the remedy to set things right when reputation is bleeding and you are worried about lost sales, support, prestige, donors or best of all, your overriding desire to do the right thing?  Are there smart rules for active communicators? 

First rule:  Words do matter.
Name calling, insensitive remarks and full-blown hate speech particularly based on racial, gender, ethnic or sexual orientation characteristics are so last century.  It is not simply a question of political correctness to be respectful and civil to one another, and to expect the same from others.  Companies and sports teams especially are accountable for those who speak in their name or wear their insignia.

Read More
WHAT’S NEW AT WITECK-COMBS

Adam Marquez Joins the Witeck-Combs Team as a Communications and Marketing Strategist

We’re very happy to announce this month that Adam Marquez has joined Witeck-Combs as a Communications and Marketing Strategist.  Prior to joining the WCC team, Marquez served as intern and account coordinator for MGA Communications where he organized outreach initiatives for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and handled public education projects about heart disease on behalf of the Colorado Prevention Center.  He also provided key support to other clients such as the Colorado-Colfax Marathon and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. 

Marquez began his career with Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals where he served as a Lynx Account Representative for oncology practices in the Mid-Atlantic region.  He was the daily contact for doctors and nurses who relied on his expertise in pharmaceutical sales and support as well as emerging automated drug ordering technology. 

Marquez holds a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from the University of Maryland, College Park and an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Colorado, Boulder. While at Boulder, Marquez also served as a Teaching Assistant and helped produce the student-run newscast.

    

About Witeck-Combs Communications

Witeck-Combs Communications provides strategic public relations and marketing communications services for corporate and nonprofit clients who believe, as we do, that protecting and enhancing their reputations is a key to their success.

Our work often is focused on social and market issues and how they impact our diverse clients: corporations, nonprofits, foundations and government agencies. Our unique specialties include the gay and lesbian consumer market; health, disability and social issues; and reaching the Washington, D.C., market. Whether you are looking to communicate with the media, customers, members of the public, or another unique audience, Witeck-Combs Communications will help you develop strategies and messages and implement marketing and communications plans to reach your goals.

 
 
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