Stories by Mike Fung, Bob Pearson, Colin Foster and Ayaz Malik

When we build a company without brand standards, the result can sound like a person speaking a language we can’t understand.  Unfortunately, neither can customers.  Building standards is akin to creating a language that explains our brand. Unfortunately, sometimes we make this relatively simple process too difficult. A quartet of veteran communicators and marketers break down branding into small segments.

More than a few PR pros theorized that consumers would remember brands’ performance during the pandemic. The newest edition of the Axios-Harris Poll 100 confirms that theory. Grocery chains and pharmacies, among others, earned plaudits from consumers for being able to deliver on their brand promises during the first months of the pandemic.

[Editor’s Note: We spoke with Crystal Cooper Mathis, director of marketing and communications, SignatureFD, and Toni Harrison, CEO of Etched Communication, about launching DE&I communication in the midst

With all the changes the pandemic has imposed on consumers and businesses, it’s not a surprise that brand communicators have had to adapt their goals and strategies. Fortunately, the basics continue to work: monitoring the news and social media, crafting relevant messages and employing thought leadership, among other things. Being nimble and flexible also are key components.

Working from home may be with us long after the pandemic is gone. But how do you create a sense of culture and connection when staff is working from remote locations? Our author, who’s run a virtual PR firm for years, offers tips on how to build and maintain a corporate and team culture when employees are virtual.

The long-simmering battle between PRSA and gadfly and former board member Mary Beth West reached a new level this morning. A group of PR pros has formed to support some of West’s latest allegations against the PR association. PRNEWS obtained a copy of the letter the group sent to PRSA.

Is your content marketing hitting the mark? Our author offers a how-to guide that includes research, problem-solving and blogging. She also suggests that knowing your audience better will help you decide how much to rely on influencers and industry analysts’ reports. Though she uses the example of targeting Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), the tips provided apply to nearly all industries.

In the latest article in our collaborative series with the Institute for PR about lessons earned , Barbara Bates, global CEO of Hotwire, discusses a lesson she learned years ago. While many PR pros consider rival agencies the competition, there’s value in industrywide collaboration. Bates writes that knowledge sharing has helped her many times over the years.

PRNEWS welcomes Lou Dubois, Director of Editorial Content for Hilton to talk about brand responsibility during COVID and delivering that sentiment in messaging.

It’s a constant struggle for digital strategists. Do you present shiny but ultimately useless vanity metrics? Or do you explain to those in charge that engagement rarely happens overnight, but is a long-term process? Our authors argue that there are ethical ways to demonstrate short-term value.