Dan Fries
3 unforgiveable content creation sins
Steer clear of generic messaging, be mindful of keyword use, and don’t ignore spam filters.
Writing & Editing
Beki Winchel
Brand managers gird for Calif. privacy act, Blizzard backtracks after criticism, and women-led organizations earn more
Also: Michigan dumps Fisher Investments over sexist remarks, Carlsberg debuts ‘paper’ bottles, Renault fires its top boss, and more.
Beki Winchel
‘MSNBC Mom’ goes viral, Nestle goes vegan (sort of), and brand managers support #WorldMentalHealthDay
Also: NASCAR and British Airways promise sustainability, how much to spend on a social media agency, words PR pros should avoid, and more.
John Egan
Hackneyed phrases to ditch from your press releases
Is your client truly ‘pleased/excited/proud/thrilled/honored/delighted/happy to announce’ anything? Research finds those trite terms in 38% of releases. Here’s how to do better.
Beki Winchel
Toys ‘R’ Us partners with Target, Uber tests pet-friendly rides, and 25% of women have never asked for a raise
Also: Lego offers a ‘recycling’ program that benefits nonprofits, Transamerica shares insights from an award-winning social media strategy, Vodafone shutters 1,000 stores, and more.
Ted Kitterman
Infographic: How to amplify your content’s power
Is your content helping to drive the bottom line, or are your messages getting lost in the digital noise? Here are tips for making your words stick.
Beki Winchel
Barbie’s bid to close the ‘dream gap,’ the perils of commenting on Hong Kong, and viral whisky ‘Tide pod’ gets jeers
Also: Kroger and Walgreens stop selling e-cigarettes, what drives consumer purchases, McDonald’s offers a ‘McRib locator,’ and more.
Ted Kitterman
Infographic: How to bolster your SEO performance on Google
Nine in every 10 online searches is done through the platform, so you must understand its rules and how to follow them. Here are some tips.
Beki Winchel
TikTok’s ads anger influencers, Instagram tests ‘Group Story’ feature, and Houston Rockets apologize for Hong Kong tweet
Also: Brand managers can do better at monitoring reputation, Unilever vows to ditch plastic, and HSBC to lay off 10,000 employees.
Rob Reinalda
Cut it in half: 3 ways to strengthen your writing
Eliminate redundancies, substitute potent words for tepid phrasing, and pinpoint your focus as you rewrite.
Ted Kitterman
Instagram heads off privacy concerns, most employees report burnout, and Woodward’s book interview debacle
Also: The perks that employees care about, Constellation’s poor communications dings stock price, wisdom from Amazon’s Kristin Graham, how to talk about the economy, and more.
Roula Amire
Amazon comms exec extols bite-size messages
‘We absolutely have to make our content snackable,’ Kristin Graham tells a packed conference audience. Stats show the alarming level of distraction, but she offers key ways to break through.
Ted Kitterman
Digital advertisers seek transparency, Facebook fights content ruling, and PR faces a gender trust gap
Also: Twitter’s pushback on Trump’s copyright infringement, Google’s new shopping tools, when to find a partner for a PR stunt, and more.
Ted Kitterman
J&J offers to settle in Ohio, consumers question leaders’ ethics, and how TikTok fills a specific niche
Also: How artificial intelligence is changing transcription, Nike chief sidesteps doping scandal, and PR pros’ favored platforms for video.
Mary C. Buhay
3 tips to catapult your B2B content and news past the noise
Business communicators are not only competing with rivals within a particular sector but also seeking to cement trust with their audiences. Authenticity and visuals are key elements.
