Dara A. Busch

PRWeek's great 2024 Business Report highlights the key challenge facing our industry. Communications is more important than ever. Comms and policy leaders are being asked to play far larger roles as business partners supporting ever more stakeholders. So why did the industry suffer so much in 2023 after many years of growth? As an sector, we are not adapting fast enough to the needs. Organizations are desperate for help but also under tremendous financial strain. They now need both senior level counsel and advisory support as well as deep domain expertise to actually produce. By and large, our industry is still split by this chasm - between strategic and tactical. Clients cannot afford to separate these, either in time or money. At Bully Pulpit International our goal is to bridge this divide, building a team that can both 'think and do' at the highest levels. It's not always easy. Last year was a challenge. But if you share this vision for the future, please check out some of our open roles: https://lnkd.in/dGQwJUSG

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Have you seen Martha Stewart’s new HBO Max doc? It’s *very* good. (Especially if you’re in MarComms.) The series follows the “Many Lives of Martha Stewart”. It showcases her ups/downs - and (very cleverly) leaves the ‘punchline’ up to the viewer. Is she:  - A fake, or a victim? - A product of capitalism?  - A shrewd business person?  - An American success story? Or… Some combination of the above? I've always known/thought: Brands aren’t one dimensional. Several things can be true at the same time. Even though people like absolutes, the answer is often somewhere in the middle. But, no matter how you slice it: Ms. Stewart's a *powerhouse* Most interestingly, the show is a case study on American/corporate culture and brand management. There’s this unmissable narrative thread: America LOVES a comeback story. It’s sort of baked in our DNA.  → The determination, the peak, the fall, the repentance, the come back. Think about the many brands that follow this trajectory — and continue to endure in American culture/society. A good reminder: Brand lessons are happening all around us… (if you’re paying attention). So, my vote: It's certainly worth watching. And... I’d love your take.

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Peter Adams of Marketing Dive: Disney deepens CTV strategy with new shoppable formats, ‘advergaming.' Disney is trying to level up its connected TV (CTV) strategy with new ad formats that integrate games and shoppable features. The gamified offerings, or “advergaming” formats, are coming exclusively to Hulu and ESPN as part of a partnership with BrightLine. A trivia game and beat-the-clock challenge are available at launch, with Topgolf acting as charter advertiser of the latter. Disney also worked with artificial intelligence firm Kerv on three formats, called Sync, L-Bar and Impulse, that use a mix of QR codes, graphics and product carousels to drive transactions via CTV. Target and Nespresso tested Impulse for campaigns running earlier in the spring. https://buff.ly/3VkiDQW via @marketingdive

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An important insight here. A lot of planning goes into the big events like Money20/20 with my fintech clients, and we've had to have these types of conversations with them to make sure the announcement clears the bar to be meaningful, or if they should announcement something before to build some momentum (or announce after on your own terms).

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I love a hot take on what many consider a broken pitch process, and even better that this one includes tangible tips. My reactions: 1️⃣ “Make pitches shorter.” No question that prolonged searches have gotten out of hand. But IMO, the suggested 2-3 weeks isn’t enough time to get to know each other and for clients to avoid making a snap decision. Anyone can be on their best behavior for 2 weeks. 2️⃣ “Act like you’re already working together.” This one fix alone - providing more access to the clients and opportunities to build chemistry - will address most of the common problems with reviews. That said, agencies need to avoid the temptation to turn each touch point into a pitch. 3️⃣ “Treat each other like partners, not prospects.” Nobody likes agency reviews. Except search consultants like myself—what can I say, we’re a unique breed. But the process is a whole lot better if both sides approach it with the same qualities they expect from their client-agency partnerships: Transparency. Empathy. Respect. TLDR: My favorite part of this piece is that it acknowledges that agencies have a role in fixing what’s broken. As I posted just last week: “While I agree that many agency searches leave lots of room for improvement, at least part of the onus lies with the agencies.”

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Worth reading from TimelyCare VP Katie Neal: 13 Leadership Lessons for PR Pros (Taylor’s Version). Let’s face it. Taylor Swift’s much-anticipated album, The Tortured Poets Department (out April 19), sounds like it should be about a corporate communications team. While most PR professionals will never win any Grammys, we share more in common with the megastar than you might think. We are creators, storytellers and writers. We find inspiration in life, work and relationships. And we are influential to our teams, across our organizations and in our communities — demonstrating daily how smart, strategic communications can advance your brand, even in times of crisis. In addition to Swift’s mastery of public relations, have you noticed that her catalog of leadership lessons is almost as extensive as her collection of songs? I curated 13 key Tay-keaways for comms pros — each paired with an album or song — to inspire your leadership style as well as your playlist. Are you ready for it?

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Consumers who once demanded convenience now require consistent, multi-channel experiences that cater to them at every point. Brands must have a clear, audience-appropriate, and channel-specific voice across all platforms -- Dara A. Busch, 5WPR https://odwpr.us/4aLW8uP

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One of the hottest topics in comms at the moment..is your organisation ready? Learn from the experts on how to prepare in this upcoming webinar. #cybercrisis

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The essence of genuine engagement in today's public sphere is not merely about being heard, but about remaining authentic amidst a sea of loud and conflicting voices. At Moxie Strategies, we uphold a quant-first approach because we believe that authenticity isn't just about the message, but how you substantiate it. Check out my ROI-NJ piece where I delve into how quantitative analysis empowers organizations to stay true to their core values while effectively engaging with their audiences. This method helps us navigate through the noise and focus on what really matters—authentic connections and tangible outcomes. Read on to see how a data-driven strategy can make a real difference.

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Election turbulence is a threat to marketers during these perilous and polarized times. Here are nine ways brand managers and communicators can protect budgets, avoid scams and reach customers in a noisy and cluttered market.

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An evolving digital landscape has led to some new stategies for how communicators can most successfully manage the reputation of the brands they represent -- Ronn Torossian, 5WPR Chairman and Founder, 5WPR https://odwpr.us/44DT29H

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O’Dwyer's recently covered the latest PR agency industry research by PR M&A consultancy Gould + Partners. The link to the story is included in the comment. If you are in the industry, you have either witnessed or experienced the wave of layoffs in 2023. Many agencies conducted multiple rounds of layoffs, including letting go of longtime, loyal individuals. Employee burnout also emerged as a silent epidemic. Against this backdrop, some of the findings from this year’s report are particularly interesting:  • On average, PR firms of all sizes saw much lower net revenue growth in 2023 (3.1%) vs. 2022 (9.4%).  • While revenues were down last year, agency profitability stood at nearly 19% in 2023, on par with 2022.  • Operating profits were especially high at agencies with more than $25M in revenues.  • Net revenues per PR professional increased by almost 6% from 2022, suggesting agencies increased fees in 2023 without a significantly growing their staff.  What are your thoughts and reactions? Do we have our priorities straight? What are you doing to achieve meaningful or purposeful growth? #PR #publicrelations #agency

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👀 Fun truths from Usher Lieberman to start your Monday (💻 + ☕) PR is PR is PR in some ways. Tune in to Coffee with Communicators for some wonderful insights from his 25+ year career in comms. Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gBPt76UR #CWC #communications #PR #newsletter

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Inevitably, all comms leaders and pr agencies will need to help their clients or the CEO break bad news. This can be anything from a quarterly earnings performance that was below expectations to layoffs to a merger that fell through to a product launch that's delayed and a customer issue that impacted thousands of people. The audiences for each of these can be broad given that you will be communicating both internally and externally. Based on human nature, some ceos/execs will want to "spin" the messaging to soften the reaction and position themselves in a more positive light depending on what transpired. However, true PR pros will not "spin" the story or messaging. I'm not sure why clients and individuals assume this is what we do as comms/pr leaders, but it does seem to come up in public sentiment and in some conversations. Instead of "spinning", we should always include the clear truth in our messaging, acknowledge ownership of the issue, share key details on what happened, apologize (when necessary) and include the plans for going forward from a a position of strength. I'd love to hear from my network on best practices for sharing bad news. Here's a good article from the Forbes Communications Council on best practices for communicating bad news. https://lnkd.in/gFyyC-Qj #communications #pr #messaging #ownership #leadership #marketing #consumers #customers #teammembers #internalcommunications #externalcommunication

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Advocacy, Ballot, and Candidate Elections 2024: *Voter consumption of digital ads and information is rapidly evolving. While trends still lag 3-4 years behind consumer advertising - that gap is closing. *Voter “modeling” is only as good as the math behind it. It’s like buying a car, always check the engine. *Never let tactics drive strategy. Good quantitative data will save you tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions depending on the scale of your campaign.

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From early adoption to ethical applications, three of WE’s leaders - Nitin Mantri, Laura Gillen and Tiffany Cook – unpack our latest #WEBrandsinMotion research, on how brands must bridge the AI expectation gap, with PRWeek.

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Purpose builds trust, but knowing who you are and what you care about BEFORE a crisis hits will give you a clear North Star for how you respond. #PRWeekCrisisComms #crisiscomms #brandpurpose

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Navigating the complexities of technology markets can feel like wandering through a maze. Without the right guide, it’s easy to get lost. Many PR agencies might lead you in circles, trying to learn your industry as they go. You need a partner who knows the way, with a deep understanding of your sector and established media relationships. This knowledge can turn a daunting maze into a clear path forward. Seek out the experts who can guide you straight to your goals. Looking for direction? See what that might look like: https://lnkd.in/ejvu8yQE #PRStrategy #B2B #IndustryExpertise #RankinPR #TechPR

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