News about Communications Week and A Bright Future for Events

As an active member of the PR community, Kite Hill PR has been the driving force and organizer behind the leading industry week, Communications Week, since its 2014 launch. Today, we’re announcing the acquisition of Communications Week by the distinguished communications trade publication, Ragan Communications.

Ragan Communications is a company that has demonstrated their commitment to elevating the role of the communicator for more than 50 years. Under Ragan Communications, Communications Week will continue to connect, inspire, and inform those in this vibrant and essential industry. I will now be co-chairing the new Communications Week advisory board with the Ragan Communications team.

Communications Week 2021 is slated for November 15-19, 2021, and will feature thought-provoking sessions on topics including crisis management, social media, employee engagement, media relations, diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I), environmental, social & governance (ESG), comms technology and digital marketing.

As a part of a much larger community of communicators, attendees of future events will have access to even more resources and educational sessions. Supporters, partners and sponsors of Communications Week will also benefit from the scale of the Ragan Communications community.

What’s Next For Kite Hill? 

The Kite Hill team continues to be focused on supporting our clients and partners through times of growth and expansion via strategic communications, earned media and thought leadership, with events continuing to be a core element of Kite Hill’s offerings. We are excited to continue to collaborate with clients on future events – whether virtual, in-person, or hybrid models – as a part of an integrated communications program.

We also are continuing to expand how we amplify the earned media results we generate via digital strategy services including social media management and paid media. Stay tuned here for more exciting news regarding this in the future! 

Finally, Kite Hill PR recently joined the PR Council to offer our team more access to training and resources with the ultimate goal of bringing our clients even more great ideas and delivering best-in-class work.

Thank you for your continued support of Kite Hill PR and our mission to pave the way for the future of the communications industry.

• Tiffany Guarnaccia, Founder and CEO

Women in Media Meetup (Webinar): The NewFronts and Upfronts Post-COVID

This spring, our PR agency hosted 2021’s first Women in Media event: a virtual but timely discussion leading into the NewFronts and Upfronts season – a hugely important annual moment for the advertising and media industries. The Women in Media event series is open to everyone in the media, entertainment, and ad tech industries. The panel of industry experts discussed how these events have evolved due to the impact of COVID-19, how they are faring in the wake of changing consumer habits, if they are really still relevant and everything in between. 

Moderated by Jeanna Liu, Managing Director at CDX Advisors, panelists included Amy Emmerich, Brand Advisor and Strategist, Emmy-award winning producer and former Global President at Refinery29 and Rebecca Barr, EVP of Media at GainShare.

Unable to attend the live event? Tune into the recording here.

Here are some key findings from the discussion:

COVID-19 Impact on Digital Advertising

One challenge that brands have faced in the wake of COVID-19 is a necessary pivot away from experiential or in-person marketing strategies toward advertising strategies adopting mobile digital versus traditional media. The panelists agreed TikTok has been leading the way in gaining the attention of Gen Z and thus, creating a truly unique opportunity for brands to leverage for advertising purposes. With over 689 million users, TikTok has set high standards for its fellow digital and non-digital competitors alike. However, despite the digital shift, Generation X is still more likely to turn towards TV advertising instead of social media. Platforms such as Twitch and podcasts also have yet to measure up to the success of apps like TikTok in terms of advertising efforts. 

The Shift in Consumer Behavior

COVID-19 accelerated already emerging consumer behaviors, and the impact of those shifts on advertising across all platforms continues to evolve. With advances in digital, more people spending time inside working remotely, screen time has been at an all-time high. Within the last year, video content watch time surpassed over 23,000 hours. Will this continue with normalcy on the horizon?

The Future of NewFronts & Upfronts

Pandemic or not, the world is going digital and technology is continuing to advance. Advertisers had already begun to move away from traditional presentation formats even before the pandemic. But while Barr and Emmerich agreed virtual events are more manageable from a scheduling perspective, people will begin to look for reasons to network in real life once again. Barr and Emmerich also predicted that both the NewFronts and the Upfronts will converge into one season, citing Hulu, which pulled out of the NewFronts and is teaming with Disney for its Upfronts. 

COVID-19 Impact on the Media Buying Season

Brands are constantly updating their messaging and strategy to keep their consumers engaged. Many advertisers pulled out of Upfront deals due to the pandemic over the past year, however, Barr predicts brands will secure Upfront deals, creating a competitive marketplace, despite not knowing what the future holds for viewership.

While we might still be dealing with the impact of the pandemic, it is clear that the media industry is pushing forward.

• Samantha O’Rourke

The Ten Business and Technology Podcasts You Should Be Listening To Now

Now more than ever, it’s easy to consume your daily dose of news on the move, via mobile, social media, actual newspapers, and more recently, podcasts. 

Podcasts are increasingly a favored way for busy executives to take in the day’s major business highlights. In 30 minutes or less, most podcasts break down the latest news into digestible audio ‘snacks,’ and can be a great way to stay up to speed on general news and vertical categories like entertainment, marketing, media, advertising, FinTech, blockchain, retail, cybersecurity, or enterprise tech, en route to work. 

Even if that work commute might only be from the bedroom to the living room couch in today’s work-from-anywhere environment, the business world going remote has not slowed audio consumption. New options for podcasts are popping up every day and they have become a key platform for Kite Hill PR clients. Here are ten podcasts our PR agency recommends you keep in your podcast rotation.

• The New York Times’ The Daily

Host Michael Barbaro goes behind the day’s biggest news story with the New York Times’s reporting team Monday through Friday.   

• Ad Age Marketer’s Brief

Marketer’s Brief is hosted by Ad Age’s EJ Schultz, who analyzes some of the biggest marketing stories and trends with the publication’s reporters and major players in the industry. This weekly podcast covers marketing news across various industries. 

• Business Casual 

Morning Brew’s Swan Sit interviews the most intriguing up-and-coming executives and goes deep into the latest business trends – from NFTs to AI and meme stocks. 

• Adweek Yeah That’s Probably An Ad

Yeah That’s Probably An Ad dissects the latest news in marketing, media, technology, and pop culture. Hosts David Griner and Ko Im along with other Adweek reporters break down the impact of advertising around major events and moments of the year, such as the 2020 Election and the Holiday Season, and how the industry continues to evolve. 

• Recode Media

Recode’s highly respected media editor Peter Kafka brings deep industry knowledge, sharp wit and sometimes hard-hitting style in discussions with top figures running the worlds of entertainment, sports, advertising and technology to this popular weekly podcast.

• Digiday Podcast

The Digiday Podcast is a weekly show that discusses the biggest stories and issues that matter to brands, agencies, and publishers as they transition to the digital age. Hosted by Kayleigh Barber, the Digiday Podcast has featured executives from well-known brands, such as BuzzFeed, Google, and Vox Media. 

• AdExchanger Talks

AdExchanger Talks discusses the major advancements in digital advertising and marketing with the industry leaders at the forefront of this evolution. Host Zach Rodgers explores the latest news and trends in adtech, publishing, media, tech, and more. 

• Marketing Over Coffee

Marketing Over Coffee is a weekly podcast that focuses on both new and classic marketing. Hosts John Wall and Christopher Penn discuss industry trends, product releases, tech developments, new book launches, and more. Episodes have covered the GameStop/Wall Street takeover, Elon Musk joining Clubhouse, and the importance of customer data platforms. 

• Sway

New York Times’ opinion columnist and legendary tech reporter Kara Swisher holds the tech world’s captains of industry accountable with her take-no-prisoners interview style.

• Through Your Looking Glass

Through Your Looking Glass is hosted by Patrick Comer, Founder and CEO of the leading programmatic research technology company Lucid. This podcast explores the landscape of Research Technology (ResTech) with experts from the industry and beyond. 

The great thing about podcasts is also the most daunting thing about them: there are hundreds of thousands of options to choose from. As brands and companies launch their own podcasts, listeners can curate their own collection with their podcast app of choice. The conversational style employed by most podcasts draws listeners in by making them feel a part of the discussion and keeping them engaged in the series. 

Podcasts will continue to grow in popularity, whether the workforce remains in a work-from-anywhere environment or starts to commute back to the office. So no matter if you’re listening for work or for entertainment, we think it’s time to jump on the podcast train: it’s full steam ahead!

• Krystal Parker, Account Executive

Are your 2021 goals shining bright? Might be time for some Spring cleaning.

If you are like most, you are probably in disbelief that we are already in Q2 2021. While April is when we start seriously tidying up on the home front, it’s also an excellent time to apply a Spring cleaning mindset to your public relations program.

Maybe you started the year with big business and PR goals but have lost steam. Perhaps you exceeded what you wished to accomplish at the start of 2021. Either way—spring is an excellent time to analyze your PR objectives and refresh accordingly so that you are set up for success for the rest of the year. 

Let’s talk about goals

Let’s start with goal setting overall. At Kite Hill PR, we live by agility. Our team implements The PR Sprint™ Workflow to measure and track goals for our clients. Part of the process is identifying “S.M.A.R.T.” goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Based. Business leaders should also be associating S.M.A.R.T. goals with larger business objectives. 

When setting goals, ask yourself these three questions:

Are my goals trackable?

Can data help measure progress and track success? If you are not moving the needle, or making any demonstrable progress, it might suggest that the strategy is not working and should be changed to allow for measurement. For example, if you are looking to raise brand awareness but want measurable results, you might want to consider pairing your campaign with paid advertising options like social or native advertising in order to track cost-per-actions. 

Are my goals up-to-date?

You don’t need a PR team to tell you this past year has been full of communication minefields. Undoubtedly, most businesses had to adjust 2020 goals, and limitations caused by current circumstances may have impacted 2021 goal planning. For example, as strictly virtual events adopt hybrid models allowing in-person attendance to return as soon as this summer, leaders may want to assess events as they are known to be great for networking, brand awareness, and speaking opportunities. If taking on the annual industry trade show seems like too much, consider starting smaller with roundtables or internal corporate events (and be sure to build in plenty of contingency plans). While things are slowly returning to normalcy, brands should still ensure agility in all business goals. 

Am I leading the way? 

The need for more flexibility in the workplace has been heightened by the pandemic allowing employees to have more control in their daily schedule. Business leaders need to listen to their employees and the market needs. As our Founder and CEO, Tiffany Guarnaccia pointed out in a recent interview with PRWeek, “We’re adjusting our headquarters to meet the demands of tomorrow, which we refer to as the ‘three C’s of the modern office': concentration, collaboration and celebration.” Not only will this create stronger employee retention but it will also open the door to thought leadership opportunities as a leader paving the way for others. 

It is never too late to set your business up for success. Having trackable goals allows you to easily increase budgets when strategies are proving to be successful. Staying on top of the latest developments impacting the industry will help you ensure your goals are achievable. Be a true thought leader in all things impacting businesses in the coming years. Use this spring to ensure your 2021 goals have all the light they need to blossom throughout the rest of the year. 

• Kyle Murray, Account Manager

The 2021 April Fools Day Winners and Losers From A PR Perspective

April Fools Day 2021 was a welcome relief in a tough year. While many sat out the annual April 1 jokester fest during pandemic lockdown, this year saw brands coming out for some badly needed cheer. As we took in the flurry of fake announcements and funny social moves, our team at Kite Hill PR observed some hits and misses, but here are a few that really stood out to us. 

For starters, we applaud Cartoon Network for their “Cattoon Network” re-brand and loved their thoughtful and fully cat-themed schedule. Are you ready for Keeping up with the Katdashians or Game of Paws? Note to the network: we would totally tune in!

Volkswagen experienced backlash with their sudden name change “Voltswagen” stunt. While we give them props for using a rather detailed press release to underscore their more climate friendly tech, their decision to go out with the stunt early -- several days before April 1, confused the public and ticked off journalists. The deception also didn’t help given the brand is still climbing back from an earlier scandal.  

On the other hand, TaskRabbit leaned into their brand ethos with the enlightened the mood of their joke introducing Task Bunnies to keep clients company while taskers do their thing. What made this move all the more meaningful was that the company also pledged to donate up to $4,000 to nonprofit rabbit rescues to give back as part of their April Fools bunny move. April Fools Day is also a great time for a brand or individual to apply some self-deprecating humor to their known quirks, and on that note, Lego gets kudos from us. The world knows that stepping on Legos is everyone’s worst nightmare. We loved how Lego announced the arrival of Lego Smartbricks, which detect your walking path and automatically slide away from you while you were walking. (A few of the parents on our team were a bit bummed to learn that it wasn’t real though!)

Velveeta embraced its guilty goodness with a prank ad touting its new expansion into skin care: “V for Velveeta.” The ad encourages you to "indulge your indulgences" and "immerse yourself in the serenity of smoothness." While we are all for adding more cheese to our day, we were more thinking about consuming it, not wearing it. Speaking of food and body care, Jack Ink’s Jerky promoted a giveaway of a cologne for men that has the scent of their jerky.  

As a tech PR firm, we LOL’d pretty hard on Stack Overflow’s introduction of The Key to make “copy+paste” easier to execute in a strain-free way. While on the topic of tech, we also noted Satechi’s cybermouse prank, which hopped onto the surge in electric battery interest among investors. The EV-powered cybermouse was purportedly made out of bulletproof “super-tough” aluminum with LED lights. Although the product was fake, we like that Satechi offered a real consumer coupon.

In the category of pranks that could one day become a real thing, we salute Bentley Motors for touting a coffee machine integrated on its dashboard for an on-demand espresso. Many of us car aficionados would truly appreciate this kind of feature, as long as it was accessible on the passenger side, naturally.

What April Fools 2021 demonstrated is that the marketplace is ready to laugh again. The brands whose pranks were in line with their existing brand personalities, or ones that featured a mission-driven or consumer-oriented initiative like donations or discounts were the winners. But humor is hard. Those whose timing or message were a bit off were cautionary tales for the PR fallout that sometimes accompany a prank gone wrong. 

• Julian Cannon, Account Associate