In episode 27 of Teaming Up, Paulyn Ocampo teams up with Lilie Malaeb to explore the intriguing world of cookies, both edible and digital. While munching on a variety of cookies from Crumbl, they delve into how digital cookies play a crucial role in advertising and the implications of upcoming changes in digital privacy. Episode Highlights: Understanding Digital Cookies: They discuss the function of first-party cookies in enhancing user experience and the extensive use of third-party cookies in tracking and advertising across the web. Impact…
Read MoreHodges recently welcomed Erin Bagnell to its lineup. Erin brings extensive PR experience in the travel, tourism and hospitality space where she’s told the stories of destinations for nearly two decades. It’s no wonder that Erin has had so much success in public relations; she’s easy to talk with, curious, smart and genuine. Her cheerful personality is palpable when she’s talking about something she enjoys. To say we’re thrilled to have her would be an understatement. Prior to transitioning to the agency world, Erin spent…
Read MoreIn my first year as a Hodger, I lived and breathed virginiaspirits.org. In fact, my very first project was to conduct a full website audit and make a plan to redesign the site, which we inherited from the Virginia Distillers Association after The Hodges Partnership was awarded the Virginia Spirits Board Marketing Office (VSBMO) contract in March 2023. In just 12 months, the website redesign has already yielded strong results, with a 31.77% surge in web traffic and an 11% increase in engagement rate. Here’s…
Read MoreNonprofits frequently face limitations in budget and resources when it comes to producing essential creative assets for communicating and garnering support for their mission. With that challenge in mind, this blog post will provide an overview of three platforms we recommend for nonprofits to create these assets without breaking the bank. From websites to videos and graphics, these tools can help nonprofits make a big impact on a small budget. Squarespace If you don’t have $20K to invest in a new website, Squarespace can help…
Read MoreIn episode 26 of Teaming Up, Anna Friesen engages with current Hodges interns—Jackson Amirshahi, Rachel Spiller and Peggy Stansberry—to answer the question, “What is PR,” while dissecting common misconceptions surrounding PR and the broad spectrum that the term covers. Each intern shares their unique journey, detailing personal misconceptions and how their experiences at Hodges has reshaped their understanding of agency life. Episode Highlights Common Misconceptions in PR: Jackson and Rachel delve into their initial misunderstandings of the PR world, discussing how their internships at Hodges…
Read MoreBefore embarking on my internship with Hodges this semester, my understanding of public relations was mostly confined to the pages of textbooks and lecture halls. And while the knowledge I’ve gained in the classroom has laid sturdy groundwork, it lacked the crucial element of real-world application. From The Robertson School to The Hodges Partnership, each step of the journey has taught me valuable lessons about blending education with hands-on experience. My journey at the Robertson School began with a deep dive into the theories and…
Read MoreCommunications professionals spend a lot of time behind the computer. Between writing articles and blogs, pitching stories and curating social ed calendars, screen time can consume a large part of the day. However, despite the predominantly digital nature of their work, there comes a time when PR practitioners must step outside the virtual world. Thanks to smartphones, capturing top-notch visuals is easier than ever. Yet, with so many content opportunities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But fear not! After a recent content-gathering day for a…
Read MoreEverywhere you scroll nowadays, you will inevitably encounter a large chunk of advertisements all over your social media feeds. These ads, often carefully curated by hard-working marketing teams across the world, know you intimately and focus on your wants, needs, interests and everything in between. Amid this sea of ads lies a distinct category – social, political and election ads. These ads serve not only as marketing tools but also as vehicles for advocacy and public discourse. As you might expect, behind these ads…
Read MoreIn 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:…
Read MoreHere 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…
Read MoreWe’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…
Read MoreIn 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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