The Gong Blog

Episode 25: Igniting Innovation with Kelly O’Keefe

In episode 25 of Teaming Up, Jon Newman engages with Kelly O’Keefe, CEO of Brand Federation, in a thought-provoking conversation about sparking innovation within organizations. They explore both macro and micro aspects of workplace innovation, emphasizing the importance of observation and understanding human behavior to meet unmet needs. Episode Highlights: The Essence of Innovation: Kelly O’Keefe discusses innovation as a response to human behavior and needs, stressing the value of simple yet impactful ideas like the DoubleTree Hotel’s warm chocolate chip cookie welcome. Fostering Creativity:…

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The bottle on the shelf: How great design complements EOP strategy

Here at The Hodges Partnership, we’re big believers in the EOP model – short for earned, owned and paid media. We’ve got folks on staff who eat, sleep and breath earned media. They have Today show reporters on speed dial. Other Hodgers live in the owned media world, churning out quippy social media content in their sleep. And a third paid media crew can tell you all about Meta’s average cost-per-click and why A/B testing is the way to go. My team? We span all…

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How PR can support your legislative affairs work

We’re not a public affairs firm, but we work with enough state agencies and nonprofits to know that our public relations work goes hand-in-hand with public and legislative affairs. This year, our Creative Services and media relations teams stretched their muscles to support our clients across the board with a variety of legislative and advocacy-related work. Here are three big takeaways from the last couple of months. Develop Key Messages and Sing in Harmony When it comes to legislative work, you’re likely not the sole…

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Podcast host Hannah Robinson seated next to the episode's guest, Ron Carey.

Episode 24: Uncovering Stories in Our Back Yard with Ron Carey

In the latest installment of "Teaming Up," Hannah Robinson sits down with Ron Carey, master storyteller and CEO of the Richmond-based creative and production company, Tilt. This episode dives into the art of storytelling through a local lens, circling around the significant yet often overlooked stories nestled within our communities. Episode Highlights The Birth of a Planet: Carey delves into Tilt’s groundbreaking documentary, which brings to light the compelling story of John Mitchell Jr. and the Richmond Planet. Premiering at the Richmond International Film Festival…

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3 emerging trends in media relations for 2024

In the past five—scratch that, two—years, media relations practices have changed drastically. Once-reliable tactics, now outdated, are in dire need of reevaluation to ensure they remain relevant in today’s evolving landscape. For media relations practitioners, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage, but a requirement when it comes to keeping your clients happy and future clients interested. As newsrooms continue to shrink and technology evolves faster than you can say “dystopian”, the strategies for engaging with reporters are adapting just as quickly….

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Third Part in the EOP trilogy: paid social

I’m not sure we’ve saved the best for last when it comes to our three-part discussion of the Earned-Owned-Paid public relations paradigm – and if you missed our first two installments on Earned and Owned you can find them here – but the Paid leg of the stool is to my mind where the most magic happens. Let’s explain how to wave the magic wand. A long time ago – I dunno, maybe back in the 2010s – social media had an exciting, inbred element…

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What makes a successful digital marketing campaign? Hint: It starts with consumers.

It’d be naïve of us to say we can control success, but in truth, results can’t always be guaranteed. The fact is, after gathering research and insights and on the other side of painstaking planning, as soon as you launch a digital marketing campaign and roll out a media relations strategy to support it, the results are largely out of your hands. You may have an idea where it’s going to go, but you never really know. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen…

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Why Your Company Needs a PR Agency

In a world where a business’s image and reputation can make or break its success, the role of public relations has never been more vital. Whether you’re a small startup or a well-established corporation, PR can help you navigate the complex landscape of public perception. But why should you consider hiring a PR agency? Strength in Numbers When you hire a PR agency, you’re gaining access to a whole team of experts. While your account might have PR pros dedicated specifically to your business, behind…

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The Story of “O” (part two of a three-part series)

When last we met, I was musing about the three-part paradigm that has come to dominate the public relations landscape. I’m talking about EOP – earned/owned/paid – a winning PR trifecta if there ever was one. My last installment focused on the “E” of the acronym, “earned media,” which no doubt is the progenitor of our profession. Placing stories in the news media is where public relations first took root, and it continues to be an effective strategy for raising clients’ visibility while amplifying it all with…

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Master the algorithm and optimize your social media marketing strategy

In the age of social media dominance, businesses must answer one critical question: Why is your audience on social media in the first place? The answer to this question is what guides their digital journey. Whether the goal is community engagement, driving website traffic, boosting brand awareness, showcasing subject matter expertise or increasing sales, your approach to social media should match your marketing objectives. It’s not just about being on social media; it’s about making it work for you. Organic vs. paid social media: When…

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Episode 23: Peaks and Valleys of 2023

Episode Notes: In this year-end episode of "Teaming Up," Tony Scida and Casey Prentice step out from behind the scenes of the podcast and discuss the peaks and valleys of marketing and communications in 2023. They each came to the table with one marketing high point and one low, plus a few bonus picks. Then the pair looked ahead to 2024 briefly and highlighted what challenges and opportunities may face marketing and communications professionals in the coming year.   Key topics covered in this episode…

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What to Expect When Starting to Work with a PR Firm

So you’re thinking of working with a PR firm. Whether you’ve worked with a PR firm before, or it’s the first time, it can be a big decision. How much is it going to cost? How much time is it going to take to manage? How to choose between firms? Why are we doing this? Here are a handful of things to consider if you’re looking to work with a PR firm. Set a Budget It’s not quite like Jerry Maguire’s escalating “Show me the…

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