Resource Hub for Strategic Communication Professionals
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Hiring the Best: How to Think About Comms Roles
Hiring for a communications role can be deceptively difficult. The field is vast—spanning everything from media relations to analytics to design—and organizations often expect a single person to be proficient in all of it. But the reality is that no one is an expert in everything. So, how do you hire the right person for your needs?
Protecting Your Organization After Employee Separation
Recently, a post appeared on Burger King’s Instagram page announcing that they were firing their social agency of record, Dentsu, for failure to perform. The kicker? Ad Age reports Burger King denies any such thing. We can only speculate, but it seems possible the post was created by a disgruntled employee—current or former—from either the Dentsu or Burger King social teams.
Do I Delete That Comment?
Social media can be a powerful tool for engagement, but it also comes with the challenge of managing public commentary. When an off-topic remark, a negative critique, or outright hate speech appears in the comments section, the question arises: do you delete it? The answer depends on context, and having clear guidelines in place can help you navigate these decisions with confidence.
The Critical Role of Internal Communication During a Crisis
During a crisis, communications internally has to come first, and without a crystal-clear internal communications strategy, employees can be left in the dark, anxious, and unprepared to navigate the situation. Leaders in a crisis must move quickly and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This is possible when you have a plan.
Too Many to Handle: Prioritizing the RIGHT Social Channels
When TikTok temporarily went down, communicators received a critical reminder to evaluate the social media platforms their organization is using and ensure that their strategy is sustainable.
Putting all your eggs in one basket (or platform) is a dangerous move, but equally problematic is trying to maintain a presence on every single platform. It’s overwhelming and, frankly, unsustainable.
There’s a better approach: focus on the platforms that align with your organization’s goals and audience. Here’s how to do just that.
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.
Help Me Help You: Building Communications Advocates
If you work on a small communications team—or a team of one—that means you’re wearing multiple hats and juggling competing priorities. By strategically empowering your non-communications department colleagues to contribute, you can create even better content and lighten your load. Here’s how to build a culture of collaboration that benefits everyone.
Not a Luxury, A Need: A Crisis Comms Plan
A crisis plan is often a neglected area of communications planning—until a crisis hits, leaving you scrambling. No organization–regardless of how outstanding its work–can escape reputational risk, and a poorly managed crisis can escalate quickly into a full-blown PR disaster.
Ready, Set, Refresh: Your End-of-Year To-Do List
The start of a New Year is a time for fresh beginnings—and that applies to your communications tools as well. Think of it as decluttering: clearing out the outdated, refreshing what works, and setting yourself up for success. A little time spent now reviewing and updating your materials can make a big difference in how smoothly projects run in the year ahead.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a checklist of essential areas to review and refresh.
Know Your History: Building an Origin Story
Documenting your organization’s history – your origin story – is a powerful tool for strategic planning and communications. And, just like the stories we pass down, it’s a unifier that instills pride in your team and stakeholders.
December, the season of nostalgia, is the perfect time to set aside a moment to capture some of that history
Measurement Made Easy
Ah, December. Our favorite month to talk about measurement here at The EO Report. (Don’t run away!) We’re here with an easy way to get started with capturing measurement on your team.
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.
Stay One Step Ahead with an Annual Editorial Plan
If you’ve been in the strategic communications game for any length of time, you’re guaranteed to have felt this way at some point: that feeling of being in a hamster wheel where you can’t seem to get caught up, much less ahead.
We’re here to tell you – it doesn’t have to be this way. And the first step for getting ahead is to do the work of creating your 2025 editorial plan.
Innovative Ideas for Year-End Giving Campaigns
As the New Year approaches and year-end giving ramps up, we’re diving into creative, compelling ideas to elevate your year-end giving campaigns and invite meaningful support for your organization.
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 Lozafina is Creating Affirmations of Belonging
Lozafina Marketing and Public Relations partnered with EPIC for Girls to bring their mission to life through authentic representation in their Giving Tuesday campaign.
Left, Right, and Center: How Tangle News Brings Clarity to the Chaos
Sometimes you hear a podcast so good you must share it with all your favorite communications professionals. That was what we thought when we heard a recent episode of Question Everything, as shared by This American Life.
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.
Election Eve: Using Clear Comms & Facts to De-escalate Election Disinformation
If you haven’t gotten around to voting, there’s still time left. And if you aren’t tired of election season, consider these communication-centric tidbits…