KQ Communications

What KQ Communications does

KQ Communications is a privately held, founder-owned integrated communications agency founded in 2007 in Memphis, Tennessee, by Renee Malone, APR. The firm delivers four core service lines — public relations, social media, digital marketing, and design — to purpose-driven corporations, educational institutions, nonprofits, social enterprises, and government agencies, with a stated emphasis on research-based strategic communications executed through a four-step Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation methodology.

The firm operates a 20-plus person team across three offices (Memphis headquarters, Atlanta opened 2017, and Cincinnati opened 2025) and serves clients across 15 states. Notable client engagements span Atlanta Public Schools (600% increase in Twitter followers), MATA Transit (800K+ ad impressions, 700+ applicants), LeMoyne-Owen College (1,100 media mentions), T. Dallas Smith & Company (33% revenue increase), and Brown Missionary Baptist Church (7% membership increase, 6% giving increase). In 2021, KQ launched Sources of Color, a wholly-owned sub-brand platform connecting journalists with diverse sources, and in 2024 the firm published the proprietary Clean Energy Report on communication gaps in the climate sector.

KQ generates revenue through professional services arrangements — primarily project-based and retainer engagements — and the CEO has indicated annual revenue is less than 10% of the largest Southeast PR firm benchmark (~$28M), implying revenue under $2.8M. The firm carries no disclosed outside funding, is APR-credentialed at the leadership level, has won multiple PRSA, Hermes, Muse, and Marcom awards, and reports growing AI adoption for internal process automation and campaign optimization.

Name

KQ Communications

Legal name

KQ Communications

Website

https://kqcommunications.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KQ Communications is a privately held, founder-owned integrated communications agency founded in 2007 in Memphis, Tennessee, delivering PR, social media, digital marketing, and design services to government, education, nonprofit, and purpose-driven corporate clients across 15 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communications Services: Professional services revenue generated through public relations, digital marketing, social media management, design services, and research & engagement offerings. Revenue is likely project-based or retainer arrangements with clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KQ Communications is a purpose-driven strategic communications firm offering integrated public relations, social media management, digital marketing, and design services delivered through a research-based four-step process (Research, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation). The firm also operates the Sources of Color sub-brand platform that connects journalists with diverse news sources, and has developed proprietary research such as the Clean Energy Report studying communication gaps between the clean energy sector and communities of color in the Southeast.

Product overview

KQ Communications is a purpose-driven integrated communications firm offering a unified portfolio of services across four core areas: Public Relations (strategic communications, crisis communications, media relations, community engagement), Social Media (management and content development), Digital Marketing (PPC, SEO, email marketing, content marketing, lead generation), and Design (brand identity, website design/development, UX/UI). The firm also operates Sources of Color as a sub-brand platform connecting journalists with diverse sources. Services are delivered through a research-based approach with a four-step process: Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Services Strategic storytelling and communications services including strategic communications (internal/external), crisis communications, media relations, media strategy and management, campaign development, content creation, and community engagement for corporations, educational institutions, nonprofits, social enterprises, government, and emerging businesses.
• Social Media Services Social media management and content development services designed to build and expand clients' digital brands through research-based strategies and engaging content.
• Digital Marketing Services Data-driven digital marketing solutions including pay-per-click advertising, content marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization, and lead generation.
• Design Services Creative design solutions including brand strategy, corporate naming and brand identity design, brand positioning and messaging, graphic and collateral design, website design and development, custom UX and UI design, and website management.
• Sources of Color (SOC) A direct-to-consumer platform (sub-brand of KQ Communications) launched in 2021 that connects journalists with diverse sources of color for news stories, amplifying voices of color in media.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600% increase in social media followers for Atlanta Public Schools
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• REDI CincinnaticoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Regional economic development organization supporting KQ's Cincinnati expansion through business development introductions, networking opportunities, and collaborative support for minority-owned businesses.
• Cincinnati Minority Business AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Program supporting minority business growth for over 20 years, assisting KQ Communications with market entry strategy and continued growth support in the Cincinnati marketplace.
• African American Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Supporting KQ's expansion into Cincinnati through advocacy and networking for minority-owned businesses in the region.
• PRSA, SPJ, BPRScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021Professional communication associations providing support for KQ's Sources of Color initiative to amplify voices of color in media through journalist-source connections.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Weber Shandwick: A global integrated communications and PR network with multicultural and public-sector practices that overlap KQ's offerings but at far larger scale.
• Edelman: The world's largest independent PR firm offering the full spectrum of communications services KQ provides, but at global scale and across all sectors.
• FleishmanHillard: A global PR and integrated communications agency serving government, education, and corporate clients, competing broadly in KQ's core service categories.

Regional players

• Trumpet Advertising: A Memphis-based full-service advertising and PR agency operating in KQ's home market with an overlapping integrated services offering.

Direct peers

• Fenton: A social-change and purpose-driven communications agency serving nonprofits, foundations, and mission-oriented organizations, aligning with KQ's purpose-driven client base.
• Egami Group: A Black-woman-owned, multicultural creative and communications agency focused on purpose-driven brands, closely mirroring KQ's positioning, ownership profile, and integrated PR/marketing offering.
• Burrell Communications: One of the largest and longest-standing Black-owned advertising and communications agencies in the US, competing directly in multicultural marketing and PR for corporate and institutional clients.
• Walton Isaacson: A multicultural, minority-owned integrated marketing and communications agency serving diverse audiences, overlapping with KQ's purpose-driven, culturally-rooted positioning.
• Carol H. Williams Advertising: A veteran Black-owned advertising and communications firm specializing in multicultural marketing, comparable to KQ in ownership and audience focus.

Emerging players

• obsidianworks: A Black-owned creative and marketing agency focused on culturally resonant brand work, a smaller peer overlapping with KQ's multicultural creative positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KQ_Comm
• YouTubevimeo.com/kqcommunications
• Facebookfacebook.com/KQCommunications
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kingdom-quality-communications?trk=top_nav_home
• Instagraminstagram.com/kqcommunications

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KQ Communications