Back in 2000, the award-winning Heron Agency opened its doors under the stewardship of Noreen Heron. Maintaining a cutting-edge in the media industry has enabled the Heron-led firm to grow into a leading lifestyle communication agency.
Leveraging the founders’ expertise, the agency has planned and executed more than 1,500 campaigns for major events like the Jeff Awards, the Randolph Street Market, the Race to Mackinac, the Taste of Chicago, the One of a Kind Show, and the Grand Chefs Gala. At the same time, it has run successful campaigns for corporate clients including Orangetheory Fitness, Smirnoff Vodka, Jet’s Pizza, Paper Source, BV Wines, and many more.
With two decades of industry expertise, the agency has outstanding services, notable accomplishments and awards, and a unique client roaster.
Key services
#1. Lifestyle & franchise service
Through an outstanding lifestyle and franchise service, Heron’s team puts brands on the map with highly tailored and fully integrated campaigns that build exposure and that improve bottom lines.
Strategies employed by the leading lifestyle communications agency include media training, video production, broadcast visual storytelling, crisis communications, influencer relations, publicity stunts and press conferences, cross-promotional partnerships, among others.
In one case, Heron’s team developed and executed a strategic and highly successful campaign covering Meghan Markel’s employment as a calligrapher at Paper Source. Within three days, Heron’s lifestyle and franchise service secured more than 189,000,000 media impressions.
At the same time, the communication pros’ efforts secured features on news outlets and publications like Good Morning America, InStyle, Travel + Leisure, Marie Claire, Refinery29, Elite Daily, and Woman’s Day.
#2. Social media & digital marketing service
Understanding that successful campaigns have a wide reach, Heron Agency employs a unique outreach strategy that incorporates social media influencers. With tailored combinations of social media platforms and apps, it has mastered the art of reaching target groups at the right time and through the right channels.
Strategies employed by Heron’s communication pros include social media competitive analysis, ad management and monitoring, community management via yelp, google my business, and more. Other strategies used include personal branding, brand story development, and social media positioning.
#3. Restaurants and hospitality service
Having spearheaded leading events in the American restaurants and hospitality space, Heron Agency has honed the art of strategizing and executing campaigns on launching restaurants.
Strategies that have been key to the agency’s outstanding performance include
grand opening events, influencer relations, chef demonstration & coordination, special event promotion, grassroots community outreach, video production, review solicitation, and crisis communication.
ROOH, Ocean Prime, and Offshore campaigns demonstrate Heron Agency’s expertise in the restaurant and hospitality space.
Notable awards and accomplishments
Key awards and accomplishments include the 2020 Ragan’s Top Women in Communication award – dynamic doer category; the 2019 National Customer Service Association award – service excellence to the community category; the 2018 Maven award; the 2017 Irish Professional Women of Chicago Awards – marketing & events professional category.
Notable clients
Heron Agency boasts of a client roster comprising brands like Andaz Savannah, Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Marriott Theatre, Mikey O Productions, O’Leary’s Fire Truck Tours, Amdur Productions, Amazing Lash, among others.