After more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions in the U.S., consumer shopping habits have changed dramatically. New research from CPG-focused sales and marketing firm Acosta breaks down changes in shopping behaviors—and identifies four distinct consumer groups that...
The importance of maintaining social marketing in times of crisis
Before the turn of the year, Group M, the world’s largest advertising media company, produced a report predicting UK advertising sector growth of 6.7 percent in 2020 equating to an industry value of £24bn by the end of the year. Fast forward five months and, as we all...
A look at communications ethics in times of crisis
“Coronavirus” has quickly become the most frequently googled term by a long shot as news outlets are dripping in information regarding the spread of COVID-19. The number of confirmed cases worldwide passed three million, with hundreds of thousands more looming in the...
How to Prepare For, Respond to and Resolve a Crisis in 2021
After the year we all had, it should come as no surprise that crisis communications has become more important to PR. In fact, 73 percent of respondents to a survey Agility PR Solutions ran in December said so. There’s a lot that can be said, and has been said, about...
Social media best practices to consider during times of crisis
Behind every @ symbol following your brand, there’s a person who bestowed a measure of confidence in your company. Followers share their time reading, commenting and liking. That engagement is priceless. While finding the “right” words during this time may prove...
Books, publishing and PR: publicist Helena Brantley speaks out on the challenges facing the industry thanks to COVID—and how she’s doing things differently
It takes something special to get Helena Brantley, founder of Red Pencil Publicity + Marketing, on a plane. “I hate to fly, and I will fly for PubWest,” she says in a recent Zoom interview. As with many other events in 2020 and so far in 2021, PubWest’s annual...
Most shoppers will stick to some of their new habits post-COVID
While the pandemic concern level is finally on the decline, shoppers acknowledge it will be a long time before things return to normal. Shopping and eating behaviors dramatically changed last year, and many shoppers plan to continue those new habits post-COVID-19,...
Companies aren’t prepared to support customer engagement in the COVID era and beyond
With massive digital disruption in full swing, and now a year into the global pandemic, only 50 percent of business leaders say they are well prepared to support customer engagement priorities moving forward, and 82 percent say the challenges of managing customer...
As comms pros navigate a new era in customer engagement, how can practices be improved?
What does successful customer engagement look like in the COVID age—and how can brands to improve their strategies? New research from customer engagement platform Braze breaks down tactics that drive business goals—and revenue—across industries such as financial...
As COVID rages, women seek positive messaging from brands
The pandemic will have a lasting effect on the outlook, behavior and psychology of women across the country, with more than half (56 percent) of women reporting that the pandemic has made them realize what is really important, namely family relationships and...
COVID consumer study reveals interest in brand discovery, small business
With the COVID crisis lingering and intensifying, new research from marketing solutions firm Vericast explores evolving consumer behaviors and media consumption in 2021. Based on responses from 1,000 U.S. adults, consumers are doing their part to support small...
Surviving the retail apocalypse: 2021 trends, expectations, and new opportunities
As retailers and brand marketers battle through COVID’s impact on consumer behavior, new research from customer journey orchestration and analytics firm Kitewheel explores key trends in the retail industry, providing recommendations on how brands can make the most of...