Category: Digital & Creative
Next Generation Media Relations: Three Innovative Tactics to Modernize Your Strategy
Remi Lederman
The following list highlights the innovative ways that the PR industry is evolving. Recognizing that the tried-and-true methods (e.g., press releases, press conferences, etc.) will continue to drive tangible value for many companies, this list identifies some exciting new options that are worth exploring to better reach key consumer audiences and tell stories in more dynamic and engaging ways...
Read moreEmboldening Brands to Be Content Benefactors
Steve Salvador
Steve Salvador, Director of Video and Brand Programming at APCO explains why more brands should feel emboldened to be benefactors...
Read moreClient Spotlight: MIT Solve
Dasha Iventicheva
Dasha Iventicheva—senior associate director at APCO Worldwide and member of the Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement team sat down with Sue Kim, Head of Global Partnerships and Philanthropy for MIT Solve, an APCO client...
Read moreSuper Bowl 57 Ad Review: Brands Don’t Connect
Bill Dalbec
America is exhausted and brands offered A-list celebrities and light humor-driven Super Bowl ads. Bill Dalbec analyses Super Bowl LVII ads...
Read moreUnderstanding the Barriers to Accessibility in UX Design
Dave Burke
& Alexis Harper
While it's impossible to think of every possible scenario, UX designers must work diligently to consider as many situations as they can...
Read moreInfluyente y Resiliente: The Importance of Getting Data “Right” on U.S. Latinos
Alida Valle
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close and as companies wind down their celebration efforts, it’s an opportune time to revisit how Hispanics continue to shape the United States, as well as the challenges they face year-round. As consumers of data, companies should care about where their data comes from and how it was collected, especially when that data is being used to inform corporate strategy...
Read moreThe State of Digital Tools in Modern Education
The tools used in today’s learning environment have evolved over the past two years as the educational landscape adapts to external factors...
Read moreIntroducing a New Influencer—VTuber
Yuki Fujishima
& Shabrina Hazimi Putri
VTuber refers to a digital creator persona who streams using a virtual avatar generated by computer graphics also known as “CG.”..
Read moreKeeping It Real: Showing Up Authentically Across Social Platforms
Maggie Johnson
& Kelly McPharlin
Increasingly, people want to see real people living an unfiltered life, speaking on issues that matter and simply keeping it real...
Read moreFrom Scrolling to Spending: The Rise of the Social Media Shopper
Hanna Grimm
Gen Z finds themselves logging in to social media to discover new trends, friends and brands—and often-times find new products to buy...
Read moreWe Are Indeed Creative: We Just Need Greater Permission and Space
Howard Pulchin
There’s never been a better time for more people to be given license to think more creatively to solve problems at work...
Read more2022 Digital and Creative Trends in Brand Design
Prabhat Jena
This is 2022 and brands are making a leap toward a more creative approach to bridge the communication gap between themselves and clients...
Read moreStrengthening Employee Crisis Response With Battle-Testing
Deanna Javadi
So, what sets companies that can come back stronger from a crisis from the rest? It comes down to battle testing...
Read moreAdvocacy and Digital Media
Jordan Sarver
Incorporating social impact into a strategic digital plans is an important way to increase social awareness...
Read moreMetaverse—Are We Ready for the Next Big Shift?
Megha Puri
This has been the most highly anticipated technology revolution in a long time, and it is staring right at us...
Read moreWhat's Next in UK Politics - A Social Media Analysis
Chris Levy
& Anthony Marchese
APCO Insight analysed UK-based Twitter followers of four Tory MPs tipped to succeed Johnson according to two key criteria...
Read moreGuide for Communicators: Boost Your Business with AI
Imad Lahad
AI is an exponentially growing force across industries, with new AI products revolutionizing the market and adding ease of doing business as a core component of the workspace...
Read moreClimate Change Misinformation in the Age of COVID-19
Daniella Lebor
Published ahead of COP26, a new report by Logically and APCO Worldwide found a worrying link between climate change misinformation and COVID-19 conspiracy theories...
Read moreA Unique Opportunity: Creating Meaningful Change Through Our Work
Elizabeth Duncan-Watt
& Elle Arlook
& Tracy Mathews
As the world’s largest women-owned and independent advisory and advocacy communications consultancy, it’s our responsibility to not only celebrate the work we’ve done so far, but to continue to push ourselves to do more and to do better...
Read moreEssential Bytes, Ep. 4 – Deconstructing Disinformation
Dan Smith
& Nicole Monge
Disinformation isn’t new, but in today’s digital world, it's as omnipresent as it is nebulous. How can we combat such a pervasive threat without finding ourselves playing an endless game of whack-a-mole? What role do individuals, platforms, and companies play in turning the tide against bad actors and towards a renewed emphasis on fact-based reporting and messages grounded in truth?..
Read moreLooking Ahead: 2021 Digital Trends
Rachael Mierzwa
The core digital principles of knowing your audience, listening, having a clear message, building trust with your audiences in credible ways, and being authentic and transparent still matter...
Read moreGermany’s EU Council Presidency is Coming to an End, but the Financial Sector’s Digital Transformation is Here to Stay
Olga Natalia Pawlica
& Karen Anciaux
Even with Germany’s EU Council Presidency coming to an end, it is expected that digital transformation in the financial sector will still be a widely discussed topic in 2021, in particular, as it intertwines with other legislative plans at the European level...
Read moreEssential Bytes: The Role of Social Impact
Elizabeth Duncan-Watt
& Nicole Monge
& Dan Smith
A rising social consciousness fueled by the rapid evolution of digital communications has compelled companies to make social impact a core tenet of strategic program development. Corporate social responsibility has evolved from sidecar activities to bolster reputation to strategic investments in concrete action connected to larger purpose and impact strategies for the business, more and more often with C-Suite buy-in...
Read moreWhat to Expect from China’s “Dual Circulation” Strategy
Freda Zhang
& Anthony Marchese
The Chinese Communist Party leadership recently came together at the Fifth Plenum to review and formulate the country’s next Five-Year Plan (FYP). This context provides insight into the role “dual circulation” will play in future reforms...
Read more“Conventional” Lessons in Virtual Event Programming
Steve Salvador
Like America’s major political parties, companies all over the world are grappling with how to re-engineer a live event, especially one that has strategic importance to their business. There are some useful lessons emerging from the Democratic and Republican National Conventions about what’s working, and what’s not, in virtual event programming...
Read morePSG v. Bayern Final: Who Scored Big With Fans Online
Olga Natalia Pawlica
APCO's digital team in Europe used a qualitative approach, that focused on the cultural contexts surrounding online conversations, to gained interesting insights into how various audiences interacted online to create a unique fan experience that was more virtual and unlike any other Champions League final ever before...
Read moreEssential Bytes: Grassroots Advocacy with Phone2Action
Dan Smith
& Nicole Monge
While person-to-person interaction is at an all-time low as we struggle to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases, grassroots advocacy and social media engagement is at an all-time high. Phone2Action’s Stephanie Stouffer, an APCO alumna, joins our hosts on the latest episode of Essential Bytes to discuss the unique opportunities presented by the unified collectives emerging online in the wake of COVID-19 and renewed calls for social justice...
Read moreIntroducing Essential Bytes: Episode 1
Dan Smith
& Nicole Monge
Welcome to Essential Bytes, where APCO’s team of digital strategists discuss their perspectives on the latest digital news, reveal challenges they’re facing and highlight the opportunities that lie ahead for brands online...
Read moreCommunicating in a Post-COVID-19 Landscape
Nicole Monge
& Bedoor Khalil
COVID-19 has had a profound impact around the world. The use of digital technology to facilitate effective communication has intensified and cutting-edge tech is booming...
Read moreHow Can CEOs Generate Media and Social Media Attention During a Crisis?
Media relations and social media communications are more important than ever during this time of fast-paced news cycles and endless Twitter debates, driven by the global COVID-19 pandemic...
Read moreHow to Make Your Advertising Stand Out in the Crowded COVID-19 Pandemic Landscape
Mac Struthers
Research demonstrates that it is critical for brands to use their advertising to amplify their COVID-19 efforts and solidify their role in the community. As you develop advertising messaging here are three things to focus on as you build the right message...
Read moreThe Future of Travel: Mapping Predictive Trends in the Tourism Industry
One of the most jarring consequences of a pandemic in our interconnected world has been the restriction of individual movement. The freedom to travel, locally or abroad, has been limited. Beyond canceled vacations, the travel, tourism and hospitality industries have been crippled and only recently, experts began imagining the future of travel in a post-COVID-19 world...
Read moreWe’re Spending More Time Online: What Does That Mean for Digital Advocacy?
Rachael Mierzwa
The world has changed and while you need to be aware and evolve, you can’t go quiet until you need your advocates again. A campaign that is nimble in managing against the evolving landscape and demonstrates an understanding of who its advocates are and what information they need to be able to take meaningful action is always going to be impactful. ..
Read moreIt Sure Doesn’t Feel Like an Election Year Anymore
Dan Smith
COVID-19 has forced the 2020 campaigns—much less our connections with friends and family—into virtual mode for the foreseeable future...
Read moreTips for How to Shoot Video on Mobile
Steve Salvador
As more of the world works remotely, video allows us to remain seen and heard. But when the situation calls for recording video with a mobile phone, how can you ensure you look and sound your best?..
Read moreSeven Pointers for Turning an In-Person Event Virtual
Dave Burke
While in-person events may be the preferred method for many gatherings, virtual events can—with proper planning—be an effective way to educate, engage and inspire your audience...
Read moreAre Brands Meeting Consumer Expectations During the Crisis?
Darren Bosik
Intelligence from APCO Worldwide’s proprietary COVID-19 Response Index (CRI) show that brands such as Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Pepsi are underperforming in consumer online conversations despite having pushed out messages of reassurance, hope, and health...
Read moreHow Social Media Can Help and Hurt During COVID-19
Nicole Monge
As industry professionals, we have a responsibility to seek the truth and only share information from credible sources. As people and a community, we must always strive for an univocal relationship with the truth in everything we share...
Read moreThe Last 2020 Digital Trends Post You Need to Read
There have been countless 2020 trends posts written as we enter the new decade. APCO's European digital team takes a closer look at which of the many-predicted trends will matter most to our industry in 2020 and beyond...
Read moreDesigning for the Good of our Planet in 2020
David Sánchez Carmona
As we look ahead to 2020, at least in an ideal world, every designer should be aware of the implications and effects of the tools we use, and the products, services, campaigns and brands we research, plan and enable across societies...
Read moreDigital Trends in 2020
Rachael Mierzwa
In the coming year, we will see brands investing more in analytics and finding new ways to leverage data sets to create customized, transparent and credible experiences that continue to inform and achieve quality (over quantity) results...
Read moreWhy the Digital World Makes a Happy Home for Fake News
Daniella Lebor
For people working in public relations and political communications, the notion of alternative facts presents many challenges. As an industry, we need to become more discerning about fact-checking to recognise exploitation for what it is, and more importantly to have an unambiguous relationship with the truth, whatever the channel or form of communication...
Read moreThe Spooky Life of a Creative
Tracy Mathews
While watching Evil Dead 2 recently for the 20th time, I suddenly realized horror tropes are metaphors for what it’s like to be a career creative sometimes. Here's how:..
Read morePolitical Advertising: Twitter Makes a Change
Nicole Monge
Twitter is stepping back from political ads; what does that mean for issue and advocacy campaigns?..
Read moreStepping Up and Standing for Something
Nicole Monge
We’re operating in a divisive digital environment where people are actively advocating for issues, only engaging with brands that align with their values and being openly vocal about brands they think are doing it wrong. The pressure is on for companies to continually push towards and build authentic connections with their key audiences...
Read moreEvolved, Involved Creative
Howard Pulchin
& Julie Jack
For a long time, communicators have said that we need to reach, target and engage our consumers with great creative. Instead, we need to be expanding how we talk about creative to reach the consumers of the future...
Read moreAre We on the Same Page?
Flor Marenco-Adelberg
APCO's Flor Marenco-Adelberg shares key lessons and takeaways from the Design Matters 19 conference in Copenhagen...
Read moreHow to Engage at an Event When You’re Not Invited
Dan Smith
In today's world, how can organizations engage with important events that they weren't invited to? APCO's Dan Smith shares a few digital tips and tricks to make your presence felt at events, even if you don't have any boots on the ground...
Read moreWhat to Know About Targeting Individuals on Social
Julie Orsini
For organizations looking to use digital targeting to support their public affairs efforts, it’s important to understand what is and isn’t possible when it comes to individual or small group targeting using paid social, as well as best practices for reaching the right individuals and achieving the best result possible...
Read moreMeta-influence: How do you Influence an Influencer?
Alexandre Marie Saint Germain
Understanding who and what influence decision makers online allows communicators to make more informed decisions about indirect influence strategies..
Read moreThe Tantalizing Promise of Machine Learning in Medicine
Stig Albinus
There are reasons to be optimistic and excited about the promise of machine learning in medicine, but the path and speed towards wider implementation is hard to predict...
Read moreCan AI be Truly Unbiased and Inclusive?
David Sánchez Carmona
The expertise and frameworks to ensure that the mathematical foundation of AI and machine learning algorithms are ethical and fair has not kept up...
Read moreAgainst the Odds
Tracy Mathews
When I was a child, I knew when I grew up, I wanted to be a horse. Yes. A horse...
Read moreA Look at the Future of Health with Views from APCO’s Team
Caroline Starke
& Nicole Monge
& Stephanie Tan
& Seiko Indo
To better understand the future of health care, members of APCO’s global team took a closer look at the industry and shared analysis on the issues that will define the sector moving forward...
Read moreThe Future of Health
James Tyrrell
Health is always undergoing change – what is new today, will certainly be old by tomorrow. Actors in the industry need to understand how patient preferences are evolving and driving innovation...
Read moreWhat 'Settlers' Teaches us About Global Trade
APCO Forum
Settlers of Catan is an apt metaphor for the geopolitical developments that accompany China’s rise to the world stage...
Read moreSuper Bowl LIII Ad Review
Bill Dalbec
Bill Dalbec, managing director of APCO Insight, takes a closer look at the Super Bowl LIII ads and what they mean for the brands behind them...
Read moreHelping Brands Take a (Meaningful) Stand
Lauren Pellek
Given the fraught political and social times we’re living in today, brands are stepping up to take a stand on issues seemingly more than ever. This is primarily due to consumers becoming more informed, louder and organized to put pressure on brands – all through the ubiquity of engagement on social media platforms...
Read moreDisrupting the Grassroots and Advocacy Industry
Dan Meyers
APCO Partners with Crowdskout and the Grassroots Professional Network on New e-Book, “The Intersection of Innovation and Advocacy” ..
Read moreA Digital Look at French Elections
This year’s final round of the presidential election on May 7th will force voters to choose between two non-traditional political parties. Cody LeBlanc takes a look at the conversations surrounding it...
Read moreIf President-elect Trump Calls (or Tweets)
Jim Moorhead
If President-elect Donald J. Trump calls – or tweets – are you ready? ..
Read moreDigital Trends Seen at Seattle's Digital Summit
The future of digital in Seattle is rooted in the optimization of SEO, the implementation of niche influencer programs and the individualization of content...
Read moreNew Research on the Role of Social Media
Katie Sprehe
A new survey from APCO Insight reveals some interesting trends on the U.S. public’s perceptions of the power of social media...
Read more100 Days Recap: A New Creative Community Blooms
Howard Pulchin
A strong resistance has given birth to a newfound explosion of creativity since Trump's inauguration: Individually, collectively and organizationally...
Read moreHow PRs Need to be Looking Further Ahead
Jolyon Kimble
Jo Kimble responds to The Times' "Big Brands Fund Terror" story...
Read moreSuper Bowl LI Ad Roundup
Bill Dalbec
To say that Super Bowl advertisers were operating in a new era this year is a bit of an understatement. ..
Read morePerceptions & Expectations of the Tech Industry
Bill Dalbec
Bay Area technology professionals think their industry can solve major domestic and global problems. D.C. policy elites are less confident, but agree that tech should take the lead in trying...
Read moreManaging Social Media in the Legal System
Kent Jarrell
The sanctity of the courtroom has been invaded by the Internet and the use of social media. Courtroom justice is played out across the globe in the nanoseconds it takes to put information online for use and abuse by interested and committed parties...
Read moreThe Importance in Standing for Something
Dale Vieregge
Across categories—from apparel to automotive, food and beverage to personal care—global competition, new domestic entrants, and digital transformation are making it more difficult for brands to stand out, to differentiate, to win new customers, to maintain loyalty, and to achieve word of mouth buzz. ..
Read moreFlipping the Funnel
Travis Bullard
To grow your audience and spread your message in today’s noisy digital landscape, you need to change the way you communicate. This means working backwards from the traditional model and starting small...
Read moreIs AI the Future of PR?
Imad Lahad
On the surface, it can be difficult to understand how artificial intelligence has anything to do with communications because communicators are most likely to understand their consumers, right?..
Read moreMaking a Positive Contribution in a Digital World
Daniella Lebor
Second only to “blue sky thinking,” “thought leadership” may be the most irritating and overused corporate phrase. What does thought leadership mean? Is it more than just jargon? Can it ever make a positive contribution? These were some of the questions our Dani Lebor was interested in exploring at the European Digital Advocacy Summit in Brussels. ..
Read moreHow to do Justice to Community Management
Nicole Monge
Through my time as a community manager, I have learned these six key elements to successfully advocate for an entity’s brand on social media:..
Read moreThe Benefits of Internal Social Media
Bill Dalbec
As internal social media (ISM) becomes more prevalent in the workplace, how is this impacting employee engagement? wwwwwww..
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APCO Forum blog posts represent the voice of the author and not necessarily the corporate position or policy of APCO Worldwide.