Case Studies
Lauren Winans is the Founder, CEO, and Principal HR Consultant
Lauren Winans is the Founder, CEO, and Principal HR Consultant for Next Level Benefits, an HR consulting practice offering clients access to HR professionals for both short-term and long-term projects. With 20 years of experience focusing on HR and employee benefits, Winans possesses a deep expertise in HR best practices and what resonates with employees. Through her work with Next Level Benefits, Winans offers HR teams at companies of all sizes on-demand access to former corporate HR professionals whenever and however they need.
Project Overview:
Lauren worked in the corporate world for 20 years. She knew that there was a better way to leverage her skills and experience to help more organizations with their employee issues and projects. In 2019, she founded Next Level Benefits to serve as an additional HR team who have sat in the same seat as their clients and target audiences. As a result, Winans and her team are able to assist companies with tackling these issues quickly, effectively, and in a variety of ways.
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When Lauren and Allie began working together, Lauren had no previous experience in media, but wanted to use PR to further build her brand and list of clientele. Prior to her approaching Allison McLaughlin PR and Marketing, she discovered that her previous marketing efforts — including spending on print ads and sponsorships — were a waste of both her time and money.
The Strategy:
Given Lauren’s sentiment regarding her previous marketing spending efforts, we knew that our strategy would need to be extremely narrow and hyper-focused. Thankfully, her comprehensive knowledge of (and experience in) her industry granted her the ability to comment as a subject matter expert on current events in employment and human resources, making her an extremely appealing client to key professionals within our media network.
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Our team opted to lean on Winans’s credibility and expertise in her field when formulating and sending pitches to fit topics relating to her field. Through this, we are able to consistently connect her with journalists and top-tier media outlets in the sectors of HR, business consulting, and workplace health & wellness, and other niche topics.
Results:
As a result of our comprehensive media strategy, Lauren has received tremendous repeated successes in media coverage and plans to continue with PR going forward. The PR exposure we generated for her has also helped to elevate the content of her company’s social media posts, increasing their overall engagement rate by 3 percent.
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After her first three months with Allison McLaughlin PR and Marketing, Lauren expressed that her monthly PR expenses have paid for themselves in regards to new client revenue for Next Level Benefits, with a total ROI of 100%.
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Lauren has been featured in US News and World Report, Newsweek, Forbes, USA Today, and on countless podcasts.
Lauren Winans said: Allie is absolutely fantastic - focused on my success as much as I am. She relentlessly pitches me for relevant media outlets and interview opportunities, always keeping her finger on the pulse of what and who is trending. There is no way I would have been featured in outlets like BBC, NBC News, and USA Today without Allie
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Testimonials
Leah Darrow,
Former Contestant on America’s Next Top Model
If you're seeking someone who embodies professionalism and enthusiasm, look no further than Allie McLaughlin. Allie excels in client management and communication, ensuring that all interactions are both engaging and efficient. Her expertise in research is evident in the comprehensive and impactful Canva presentations she crafted for me and my coaching business, which not only communicate complex ideas effectively but also engage and captivate my audience.
Allie also demonstrates exceptional skills in managing online communities, particularly in monitoring and uplifting the discourse within my multiple Facebook groups. Her empowering positivity is infectious, making her an invaluable asset to any team.
For those in need of a reliable, communicative, and positive force, Allie is the clear choice. I wholeheartedly recommend her for any endeavor she chooses to pursue.
Father Brian Quinn
Pastor of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish
Since bringing Allie and her team on board to manage our social media presence, we've experienced improvements in engagement. In just a few short months, Allie has revitalized our social media content, shining a spotlight on posts that were previously overlooked.
The uptick in engagement speaks volumes about Allie’s expertise and dedication. If you're looking to elevate your social media and unlock hidden potential, I can't recommend Allie enough.