SKC Insights

Influence the influencers! This has become the new motto for the modern marketer. Indeed, for brands looking to connect with their audiences in meaningful ways, influencer partnerships have become an indispensable strategy in the marketing toolbox. Whether the goal is to boost awareness, drive sales, or build trust, a well-executed influencer campaign can deliver impressive results. From selecting the right collaborators to fostering authentic and lasting relationships, here are five actionable tips to help maximize the impact of your influencer strategy:

Social media is no longer just a platform for building a brand presence—it’s a fast-paced, dynamic environment where businesses connect directly with their target audiences. Behind every viral hit or standout social campaign is a carefully crafted strategy built around business objectives. Effective social media requires a fresh, customized approach that helps brands stand out. In this blog, we examine five components for a successful social media strategy and explore how brands can navigate each to achieve meaningful outcomes.

Welcome to the whirlwind digital age! Amidst the endless stream of TikTok videos and Instagram Reels, it’s no longer enough for brands to pump out social content. Today’s audiences demand valuable, compelling, and consistent messages that grab attention and build lasting loyalty—a strategy also known as “content marketing.” From driving sales to growing your follower base and encouraging newsletter sign-ups, content marketing is all about fostering meaningful interactions with your brand. Let's explore 6 actionable tips to help you master this essential tool:

In an ever-changing marketplace, cultivating a unique brand identity is vital for achieving lasting success. A brand isn’t just a logo or a product; it’s the heart of what a company believes in and how people see it. Building a powerful brand means telling a story that connects with customers, stands out from rivals, and adapts to shifts in the market. Let's dive into the essential strategies that help create a lasting brand legacy. 

While many Americans escape to sunny vacation destinations during the summer months, a quiet period settles over the business world. This notorious “summer slump” can leave even the strongest businesses feeling the heat as prospective customers hit the beach and declining sales hit the books. For creative companies, however, this seasonal slowdown provides an opportunity to shine with unforgettable and uplifting launches. These initiatives not only defy the expected lull but also infuse the sunny season with bursts of innovation and joy. Here’s a glimpse into eight of the most memorable and inspiring summer promotions to inspire your company’s next captivating campaign:

In today's interconnected world, celebrating diversity isn't just a moral imperative – it's also a smart business strategy. Companies that embrace and promote inclusive marketing can broaden their prospective customer base to consumers from all walks of life. As AAPI Month comes to a close, let’s reflect on six standout campaigns that exemplify cultural diversity in PR and marketing: 

Gaining media traction as a startup can be difficult. You approach a reporter at a trade show, but he gives you a blank stare and mutters, “Who are you again?” You write email after email, but they seemed to have fallen into an abyss of no return. This anonymity can be especially frightening against the fact that 90%of startups don’t make it. How can people buy your product or service if they don’t know you exist?!

If journalists are ignoring you now, here are 5 reasons why this might be happening.

1. Your Pitch Needs Work

Not getting any responses? It’s time to tweak your pitch. It may not have enough information, or too much. Or it may not be punchy enough. Even trying a new subject line could help stoke media interest. An email with the subject “Interview Offer: ‘Ending Cyber Attacks’” is much more intriguing than “Unknown Company X Requests Meeting.”

Press coverage of your event amplifies your message and reaches many more people than just event attendees. Media coverage also builds positive brand visibility, credibility, and leads to increased revenues. But with shrinking newsrooms and journalists flooded with press invites every week, how do you ensure your event gets on their to-do list?

Besides genuine uniqueness and proximity to venue, here are ways to sweeten the pot (as they say) with catchy news angles:

1. Hype Up Superlatives

Is your event the biggest, first, or fanciest around? Play up the uniqueness of your event and pitch it as a hard news angle. When a new indie bookstore opened in 2016, they knew they needed a media boost to make a grand opening in the age of Amazon. By billing themselves as North America's only romance-focused bookstore, The Ripped Bodice celebrated their launch with stories in L.A. Weekly, Huffington Post, and Hollywood Reporter.

"Sorry, that's not news." Have you ever stumbled when a journalist tells you what you have to offer isn't newsworthy enough? You gulp. Here you are, with an exciting piece of news or scintillating insight, ready to strut your stuff, but they decide "it's not newsworthy" and don't give you a clue on what makes them tick. 

Well, we can't generalize for all media, but in our many years of working with hundreds, if not thousands of them, we have developed a good sense of the types of news and information that companies can create and package to pique the media's interest, earn their trust, and get written up in their news stories.

Here are 8 tips for creating newsworthy content:

1. Dazzle with Facts & Figures

Journalists love hard data. And that's a fact! Shining the spotlight on facts and figures, preferably with announcements about reports that shed light on industry trends, can entice a reporter to write about your organization as part of a larger trend story or even lead them to creating news just on your content. Survey data works great. When ACUHO-I's Annual State of ResNet Report was published earlier this year, media outlets picked up the story based on the strength of the numbers and infographic provided. One outlet, Campus Technology, even used the report in not one, but two articles, drawing from various newsy aspects of the report to cover multiple angles.