While good communication might seem like a given in the legal industry since lawyers depend on the written word for everything from memorandums to motions, many overlook effective communication strategies to the detriment of their practice. There are also many skills that communicators can learn from law professionals when perfecting their craft. Both professions rely on strategic messaging and rhetoric so it should be no surprise that each would benefit from learning a few of the other’s practices. Lessons for Communicators Although lawyers tend to use technical legal jargon and communicators ..read more

C-suite executives have never had such a wide range of tasks to complete on a daily basis as they do today, so finding time to build their social media brand can be challenging.  This is especially true in the buttoned-up world of professional services industries, where executives often struggle to talk above the noise, offer a unique perspective, and show personality on social platforms.   But should these executives be sitting out on social media? Definitely not. Having a presence on social media is increasingly important for establishing brand authenticity and nurturing ..read more

Fourth Executive VP rounds out the Executive Leadership Team and VP ranks grow. Insights-driven marketing communications agency The Bliss Group announced that it promoted Keri Toomey, Head of Employee Experience and Co-Lead of the agency’s Professional Services practice, to Executive Vice President. JP Letourneau was promoted to Vice President in the Financial Services group. In September 2023, Meghan Powers and Adam Schwartzman were promoted to Group Vice Presidents. Ben Davis and Jean Logerfo were promoted to Vice Presidents in the Professional Services and Healthcare practices, respectively ..read more

Many of us have learned how to build a reputation for a brand or an organization the old-fashioned way. Ensure our story is powerful and inspiring. Prepare for any issues or crises far in advance. Meet regularly with our key stakeholders to share updates. You know the drill. It has worked for many years. And the principles of building a reputation in this manner are just as sound as they ever were. The only problem is technology and media are changing so rapidly, what worked yesterday is now old school. The rationale for us to shake up the model is clear when we look at how our world is ..read more

Social media is increasingly coming under fire as platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Facebook are accused of fueling a mental health crisis among younger generations. On February 6, 2024, New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams officially announced social media as a “public health hazard,” attributing dangers to its addictive features. In a 2023 CVS survey, six out of ten respondents aged 18-32 reported that social media has negatively impacted their mental health. But despite the rising concerns, the reality is that social media won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Social media remains a powerful t ..read more

A Firm Beliefs conversation with Abby Fabiaschi Abby Fabiaschi, Co-Founder and Director of Partnerships at Empower Her Network, recently joined Cortney Stapleton for an impactful conversation about her career in supporting survivors of human trafficking. Abby shared valuable insights from more than 10 years in the industry on what it means to be an effective leader and how to support people in meaningful ways throughout their individual journeys. Below are highlights from their discussion.  Abby: Empower Her Network was founded seven years ago by myself and Christine Norbert, a clinician ..read more

As public relations professionals, securing interest from the media to speak to a client is a huge win – but the job isn’t done there. Going the extra mile to ensure spokespeople enter interviews with all the tools and preparation they need to succeed is part of being a valuable partner to them and a great way to remind clients of the value you bring to the table as a PR expert. Implementing the following tips from The Bliss Group’s Media Specialist Team will set you and your clients up for success ahead of media interviews. Set Expectations and Guidelines Public perception matters and media ..read more

Integrated earned media has been a core offering of The Bliss Group since its founding in 1975. While relationships with reporters and journalists remain critical, Bliss uses the term “integrated” to refer to three core components that distinguish our approach to earned media and reflect the evolution of best practices:  Strong relationships with key reporters  An analytics informed approach   Paid, shared, and owned considerations (aligned with the full PESO model)   Bliss uses analytics across practice groups and offerings, and our approach to earned media ..read more

Successfully securing media opportunities requires delivering value to the reporter, the reporter’s audience and the outlet – which ultimately helps public relations professionals provide value to clients. Learning how to target reporters and cultivate media relationships can result in a powerful arsenal of media contacts that you can leverage for years to come. The following tips from The Bliss Group’s Media Specialist Team explain how to craft meaningful relationships with reporters. Be a Person First and a PR Professional Second Building and nurturing relationships with the media can b ..read more

A Firm Beliefs conversation with Dan Hawkins Dan Hawkins, Founder and CEO of Summit Leadership Partners, recently joined Bob Pearson for a lively discussion about his career in leadership advisory. Dan shared valuable insights from more than three decades in the industry on what qualities make an effective leader, the value of continuously reinventing yourself and why you should always be open to learning. Below are highlights from their discussion.  Bob Pearson, Chair of The Bliss Group: You’ve had a very accomplished career – you’ve founded Summit Leadership Partners and you’re the chai ..read more