Local marketer pitches 90-day plan to restore city's social-media control

BRANDON, Miss. — Robert Graham, owner of Healy Marketing and founder of Brandon42, asked the City of Brandon board on March 2 to consolidate the city's digital presence under a single, city-controlled account for each platform.

Graham said his 14-year company has built more than 200 websites and manages social-media accounts for local clients, and offered a short-term, transitional contract designed to restore city ownership and provide documented reporting and continuity. "Our proposal is structured as a 90 day engagement with a 30 day termination option, so that you have the flexibility and ability to evaluate performance before making any long term decisions," Graham said.

He outlined three principles: clarity and transparency about what the city is paying for and what results to expect; city ownership of digital assets so accounts and websites remain under municipal control; and organization and consistency to give residents a single, professional place to find information. Graham said he would prefer the city eventually take the work in-house, but that his firm can help unify accounts and manage the transition.

Board members asked how quickly the consolidation could be done. Graham replied it was feasible in "a couple of weeks, maybe 3 at the most," noting the time-consuming nature of working with platforms such as Meta but saying his firm has completed similar recoveries for local clients. No contract vote or formal procurement action followed at the meeting; board members accepted the presentation and asked for follow-up.