Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so of course I’ve been scouring the internet for the latest and greatest gifts to get Mom. During my research I found some great purchasing stats from Internet Retailer. According to a survey by PriceGrabber, a unit of Experian, 43 percent of respondents stated that they’ll stick to the [...]
I am very excited to announce that Walker Sands started “One Step Forward”, our official philanthropy initiative. The goal of this program is to help the people and causes that matter to us. Caring about the community is important to so many of us, so having an opportunity where we can all give back together [...]
Securing a coveted spot in a major publication’s editorial and op-ed section is tough. On Wednesday, the Publicity Club of Chicago invited three influential editorial board members and opinion editors to share the ins-and-outs of pitching op-eds and editorial boards. Here are some things to remember for pitching an editorial department: Headlines Matter Tom McNamee, [...]
Lollapalooza turned 20 this year, and partied all weekend long to celebrate.
It’s no secret that marketing budgets continue to be tight and marketers are continually charged with doing more with less. It’s also no secret that one of the first items to be evaluated in almost every marketer’s budget is trade show participation. What was once one of the most important elements of a marketing campaign has taken a backseat to less expensive programs like social media campaigns and targeted blogger outreach. So is the trade show on its way to being extinct? I don’t think so, but they’re definitely changing from the trade show model of the past.
This week I attended Bricks + Mobile 2011, which was held at the Spertus Institute here in Chicago. The day offered insight from retail and brand managers, mobile strategists and commerce thought leaders on the current state of mobile and where it’s heading.
As I’m wrapping up my SXSW trip I can’t help but think of the major irony of it all. Here we are, soaking in all this new technology and innovation that ultimately is meant to simplify the process of keeping us connected, building relationships, conducting business, communicating, and so on. From a business angle, it’s [...]
Social media has become a staple in the PR professional’s tool kit; journalists, industry leaders, and influencers have become very accessible. However, the myriad uses of social media goes well beyond public relations. According to a new study conducted by Harris Interactive, social media will be taken over by the ultimate holiday for college basketball fans: [...]
So, I’m poppin’ my SXSW cherry this year as I head off to the Interactive part of the festival tomorrow. Since it’s my first time, I chose sessions based on what sounded the most entertaining and refreshing. There are SO many that I know I won’t be able to make it to them all, but [...]
New Chicago Mayor, New PR Strategies? Now that Rahm Emanuel is slated to take office in a few months, replacing Mayor Daley, how will he change Chicago as a vacation destination and as a place to live? How will the city revamp its PR efforts?
