What would the holidays be without brands capitalizing on/exploiting seasonal cheer? I don’t remember a world without red and green Hershey’s Kisses wrappers or a December commercial without faint sleigh bells in the distance. Honestly, for some people, over-the-top holiday spirit is half the fun – I mean,…
Empathy, not to be confused with sympathy (and yes, there’s a difference between the two), is most simply defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Or in other words, being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Empathy not only plays a…
In the last few weeks, I’ve felt accosted by several “viral” campaigns that left me cocking my head and furrowing my brow. The consumer in me sighed as the PR practitioner side took a more skeptical approach. Were these campaigns were created to be intentionally bad or controversial…
It’s no secret that the holiday rush can get a little hectic and messy, which means that your business might be seeing some not-so-flattering reviews come through online. What’s a business owner to do to rectify the company’s public reputation following a bad review? Respond You always want…
This blog post was originally written by Lauren Hannford in 2013. In honor of Thanksgiving 2019, Taylor Jolley gave it new wings (RIP, turkey friends). When asked to write a blog about thankfulness six years ago, Lauren poetically laid out a case for the beauty of Thanksgiving and…
Think you have what it takes to go pro? Before you’re thrust into the spotlight, take a step back and examine what the title of “professional athlete” entails. Hint: It is so much more than athletic ability. Interviews, endorsements, speaking engagements, charity work – the job description is…
Businesses and organizations continually go through changes, sometimes minor and other times major. Some business leaders believe the minor changes are not noteworthy, and as a result, keep such details to themselves. Changes like a business’s facility renovations, personnel updates or budget cuts are often kept quiet if…
In PR, we often talk about the importance of brand advocates, i.e. the people who show unlimited support for a brand, person or organization – your “ride or die” customers. It wasn’t until recently I realized that being an advocate is more than just being a fan of…
“If I could leave no stars I would!...I’ll be sure to tell all my family and friends about his rude [expletive] customer service…” The above review (edited, of course) is real. It belongs to a family-owned restaurant that has been popular with MY family for years. And I…
As the weather cools and darkness falls, Boogiemen and monsters in the closet fill the minds of young children struggling to fall asleep. The noise you swore was a zombie? It was just a falling tree branch outside your window. Your childhood nightmares were just a figment of…