Marketing

Ragan Insider | Ted Kitterman

Report: 2020 leaves its mark on the PR industry

For USC’s Annenberg School 2021 Relevance Report, respondents share new priorities and attitudes when looking to a post-COVID future.

Beki Winchel

NHL’s Coyotes criticized for drafting bully, Charles Schwab and Boeing announce layoffs, and TikTok partners with Shopify on e-commerce tools

Also: Coca-Cola to remove iconic San Francisco billboard, 31% of content marketing awards finalists use ‘tangential’ topics, Jack in the Box offers chicken-scented face masks, and more.

Beki Winchel

Snapchat and Twitter prepare for Election Day, Kazakhstan takes after ‘Borat’, and Macy’s Santa goes virtual

Also: McDonald’s social media manager gets real, Yandy drops controversial Halloween costumes, 28% of consumers will buy less holiday gifts, and more.

Beki Winchel

Lowe’s launches e-commerce holiday campaign, Target highlights inclusive Halloween costumes, and takeaways from Merriam-Websters’ Twitter savvy

Also: Tarte Cosmetics gets real with GIFs, TV ads have increased in 2020’s last quarter (viewer numbers are still down), ideas to inspire you and your colleagues, and more.

Ted Kitterman

During COVID-19, the pivot must serve customers’ needs

While e-commerce strategies are helping legacy brands stay afloat, here’s how communicators can take advantage of the crisis to offer unique value.

Jonathan Bernstein

Why you must prepare for crises beyond COVID-19

Things can always get worse, right? It’s unpleasant to consider, but comms pros must be vigilant to mitigate the damage done by unforeseen events.

Beki Winchel

Gap to shut 350 stores by 2024, Burger King tests resuable packaging, and Girl Scouts chapter launches ‘anti-racism’ patch

Also: Twitter conversations about mental wellness and wellbeing are rising, UK resort looks to save the hedgehogs, KFC UK and Ireland makes royal puns, and more.

Ted Kitterman

How GreenRoom’s Emily Bertioli has adapted during COVID-19

After a jump across the Atlantic Ocean, this PR had to quickly adjust to the realities of the global pandemic while finding her feet.

Beki Winchel

Quibi calls it quits, Hotels.com offers ‘Friendsgiving’ retreat, and Innocent Drinks tweets its DE&I accountability

Also: The Hershey Co. offers Reeses Halloween treat machine, Bark Box live-tweets during ‘The Bachelorette,’ Facebook provides the most content engagement, and more.

Beki Winchel

AOC nabs third-largest Twitch stream ever, Amazon allows employees to WFH until June 2021, and Cathay Pacific cuts 8,500 jobs

Also: Podcast ads increase purchase intent, Snapchat adds 11 million users during Q3, Orkin crowns Chicago ‘rattiest city,’ and more.

Ted Kitterman

Smile Train’s Nijha Diggs shares the lessons of COVID-19

What are the takeaways from WFH and the crises of 2020 that should be carried into the future? One PR pro weighs in.

Margery Kraus

How storytelling builds trusted relationships

Margery Kraus, founder and CEO for APCO Worldwide, shares how telling her personal story of leadership inspired by motherhood opened new doors—and offered “authentic vulnerability.”

Beki Winchel

New Yorker suspends reporter for exposing himself on Zoom, CVS to hire 15,000 employees and 64% of consumers to holiday shop online during COVID-19

Also: HBO donates to Connecticut organizations after humorous ‘feud’ is settled, Disney+ adds content warning for racist depictions, Skittles offers socially distant costume, and more.

Beki Winchel

Deloitte closes UK offices in remote work shift, AMC Theaters highlight safety, and 31% of PR agencies see social media as top revenue driver

Also: Spotify shares a chart of top-streamed songs, Domino’s Pizza India emphasizes safety with physician’s YouTube video, Disney embraces virtual content, and more.