Resource Hub for Strategic Communication Professionals
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Short Takes: A Boat and a Brand Collab
If you’ve spent any length of time on the internet in the past few weeks, it’s likely you heard about the mega-viral video series about the 29-year-old man who quit his job, liquidated his 401k, bought a sailboat, and planned to sail from Oregon to Hawaii with his rescue cat and minimal experience sailing.
One savvy marketer from E.L.F., the cosmetics company, saw a brilliant opportunity to make a splash (pun totally intended).
Lessons From the Reputation Re-Record That Never Dropped
Good communicators know how to seize a cultural moment to capture attention for their brand. Great communicators sense those moments coming, prepare in advance, and are first to jump into the conversation. Amazing communicators know how to make the most of it when things don’t go according to plan — a lesson illustrated by a couple of brands when Taylor Swift made a move we weren’t expecting.
The Maverick We Needed: Communications Lessons from Chancellor Emeritus John E. Christensen
Even if you’ve never set foot in Omaha or heard of Dr. John E. Christensen, his story offers something essential about how authentic leadership and strategic communication can move institutions and people forward.
Broadway Backlash: Lessons from the Dolly Drama
Back in December, Dolly Parton fans got a surprise: an open casting call for a new musical based on the country music legend’s life. The show’s team encouraged anyone to submit and post a video of themselves singing a Dolly hit. The best submissions, they said, would have a chance to participate in the show’s formal auditions. What went wrong?
The Streisand Effect in Action: How Belichick’s Interview Dodge Became the Whole Story
There’s nothing like a bad interview to get public relations pros buzzing, and last week, the industry was aflutter after former Patriots Head Coach Bill Belicheck granted an interview to CBS Sunday Morning to promote his new book.
While there were several moments that would spike your average PR person’s blood pressure, one question stole the spotlight from the entire interview. When asked how he and his 24 year-old girlfriend Jordan Hudson met, the camera pans to her shutting down the question with a terse, “We’re not talking about that.
The coverage on the moment exploded. Memes were created. That single moment, paired with a little bit of commentary about Belichek’s tattered sweatshirt, dominated stories and public discourse.
Public relations professionals call this spinout the Streisand effect.
Short Takes: The Ordinary’s Un-Ordinary Marketing
The Ordinary-branded cartons of eggs started popping up in two New York City locations, selling for $3.97 in a city where eggs currently are selling for over $5 a dozen. Was the PR stunt a good move or a flop?
The High Cost of Low Empathy: What Brands Can Learn from the Happiest Baby Controversy
A single social media post can make or break a brand, and how companies handle customer interactions matters more than ever —especially in moments of grief.
How Poppi is Fizzing Back Up After Influencer Campaign Falls Flat
Poppi, a soda alternative, launched its first Super Bowl ad campaign this year. To generate buzz in advance of the game, they sent Poppi-filled vending machines to the homes of TikTok influencers.
Consumers hated it and were immediately fired up about the campaign’s direction, criticizing Poppi’s spending on an expensive brand activation that benefitted already wealthy influencers.
The Risks & Rewards of Co-Branding with The White Lotus (AKA Murder Marketing)
Co-branding can be a powerful tool—when done right, it elevates both partners, creating a PR boost that neither could achieve alone.
Take, for example, the unexpected yet wildly successful partnership between HBO’s The White Lotus and the Four Seasons.
How a Trash Can Helped Bring a Team to Victory
Yep. In a tradition that very quickly became a national sensation this year, the UNO Mavericks have turned a locker room celebration into a major communications and public relations opportunity, while also building fan culture.
From American Riviera to As Ever: Lessons on Launching a Brand (The Hard Way)
Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand is now on launch #2. What can we learn from these high-profile repeat brand introductions?
The Power of Storytelling: Lessons from an Anglerfish
Have you ever cried over a fish? Well, a whole lot of people have over the past couple of weeks when the story of a little anglerfish swam into the imaginations of the collective internet.
Public Relations Lessons from Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton once said, “Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.”
This philosophy has led her to do what few can claim: she’s created a universal appeal that has stretched decades and spans generations, socioeconomic classes, and political divides. This beloved icon, who infuses authenticity, humor, and joy into every project she touches, is a public relations genius that every strategic communicator should study.
Our Nation’s Comms Origin Story
In strategic communications we talk about knowing where you came from and telling your story consistently. On this inauguration day, here are links to our nation’s founding documents that define our democracy story.
Six Books for Comms Leaders
Looking for a gift for the communicator in your life? Or are you looking for your next read? Here are some of our favorites.
Gratitude for Great Storytelling
In the spirit of gratitude this week, we’re taking a moment to reflect on some of the best examples of storytelling and strategic communications work we’ve come across this year - stories we’re grateful to have read and learn from. And, we’ve invited some of our favorite communications professionals to share theirs, as well.
How Calm Kept Us Calm During Election Broadcasts
In the strategic communications world, we focus a lot on the right thing to say and how to say it. An equally important tool, however, is knowing when to say nothing at all.
What Does Waffle House have to do with Hurricanes?
Even as unofficial channels, brands and influencers can play an important role in helping with disaster preparedness.
What Do You Meme? Three Filters for Social Trends
Deciding when and if to jump on social trends and memes can be tough - this column gives you three filters to run your content choices through.
Interview with a Pro: Jeffrey Blount, Veteran NBC News Director & Author
With over three decades of experience at NBC News as a television news director, Jeffrey Blount has directed major broadcasts, including Meet The Press, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show in DC and NY, The Chris Matthews Show, and The Sunday Today Show.