Strategic Communications

The holiday decorations went up in stores weeks ago, and you know what that means: It’s almost time for your annual viewing of the movie “Elf.”  When it came out in 2003, the movie, starring Will Ferrell as a human raised by Santa’s elves, became an instant holiday classic, perfect for family movie night at…

These days, it seems like I’m asked for a podcast recommendation every week. The good news is: I finally have an answer. Learn/Earn/Relearn, from University of Washington Continuum College Vice Provost Rovy Branon and UW Communication Leadership Co-Founder Hanson Hosein, is interesting, presents information in digestible chunks and makes me think in new ways —…

Traditional media may not be what it once was but it’s still an important channel to reach customers and key audiences. We picked the brain of one of our favorite pitch guys, Michael Lindenberger, about what organizations should keep in mind for their 2023 media engagement strategy.  Michael has seen the highs and lows of…

It’s getting hot in here. And we’re not talking about the weather. This summer, businesses and organizations are finding themselves in constant reaction mode due to quick-moving domestic and international developments. The Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v Wade. Repeated mass shootings. Inflation, supply chain and recessionary concerns. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine.  It’s tempting…

When LinkedIn started back in 2003, it was an effective networking tool for businesspeople. But lately, despite growing to include 830 million members worldwide, it’s become less useful as a tool to connect with colleagues and potential contacts.  What happened? For starters, it’s been overrun with spammy advertising. In just one 24-hour period a few…

I’ve built some super slick recruiting brochures in my career, and I’m talking exciting shapes, folds and die cuts with compelling copy on every page. But while a well-designed brochure full of powerful messaging is an attractive recruiting tool, it’s just one small tactic to make your company stand out.  When it comes to wooing…

Tia Over’s article for the Public Relations Society of America PRSay blog is a call-to-action for internal communicators to avoid assumptions in their employee comms. “Internal communications pros are duty-bound to represent the company’s interests while keeping employee delight a priority. Finding this balance can be challenging but, by introducing accountability and avoiding assumptions, employee communicators…

If you have a hand in social media, you’ve probably dreamed of going viral. But have you considered what comes next? Getting thousands of likes, clicks and shares is only a first step. To maximize the opportunity, you’ll want to keep engaging your new audience and inspire them to act.  In March of 2021, the…

Humor can be an effective engagement tactic in speechwriting, but it can also be disastrous if misused. See Jane Campion’s Critics Choice Awards acceptance speech blunder if you want a lesson in what NOT to do.   We’ve seen other famous people throughout history successfully humor us with their speeches. Comedy writer and actress Mindy Kaling…

Being interviewed for an online publication, podcast or any other type of media has a lot of similarities to public speaking; you’ve got to know your audience, prepare what you’ll say and practice, practice, practice. And like public speaking, a media interview can be just as intimidating. But there are things you can do to…