Walker Sands

It’s harder than ever to get reporters’ attention. A strong product, clear message or unique value proposition isn’t enough — it takes an authentic, bold, relevant story to set your brand apart. Annie Gudorf shares how we partner with clients to craft stories that resonate with media and target audiences???

Did you know it takes around 23 minutes to regain focus after an interruption? Multiple studies show it’s not just distractions themselves that eat up our time, there’s also the time it takes to get back on track. Meetings are of course an essential tool to keep teams aligned. But we’ve all had days completely usurped by call after call, with little room to get into a groove in between. In a digital world already packed with distractions, meeting-free Friday afternoons is one way we boost our #WorkplaceProductivity, giving our teams more time for thoughtful work, uninterrupted brainstorms and company culture.

There’s been a dramatic and timely shift in views on #ContentMarketing, with content now recognized as a critical driver of business success. We launched The Future of B2B Content 2024 report to dig into the details ?? Go beyond the numbers: https://bit.ly/47VaQ21

Tag yourself in a #CreativeBrainstorm ????

As our attention spans shrink, can long-form #B2BMarketing content still offer value? The answer: Yes, if done well. With a storm of things to read, watch and engage with at our fingertips, it's no wonder most of us have lost our patience. But white papers that answer key questions, share valuable insights and offer real solutions draw readers in — and boost your #LeadGeneration. Learn how: https://bit.ly/3CEmIJW

How can we shape the next generation of agency leaders? This week #WSChicago hosted Loyola University Chicago PRSSA for an office visit and panel discussion that explored our team’s career journeys, offered advice to navigate the transition to full-time work and highlighted the skills most valuable at an agency. We loved hearing what drives these up-and-coming leaders' passion for the industry. Their fresh perspectives are part of why we’re excited to be hiring for a handful of entry-level positions. Check out the opportunities: https://bit.ly/2UrUBFV

How does #AI help your team work smarter? We use it to check off repetitive tasks while our team focuses on big picture thinking and fresh ideas. Speed and creativity are the most important parts of the #PitchProcess — but it also requires a bit of admin, which can take our brains away from exploration. Agencies like ours can pass new business tasks like research aggregation and free-up humans to design interesting, thoughtful strategies and recommendations, Ad Age writes. Hannah Diaz , SVP and head of growth at Walker Sands, agreed. “AI helps us get to know our future clients faster. It empowers us with the insights and time to devise unique solutions to their challenges.” https://bit.ly/40Ug38R

We believe voting is an essential part of being a good citizen and member of our communities. This year we set a goal for 100% of our teams to exercise this important civic duty — just as we have in past elections. As part of our commitment to provide our teams with education, support and time away from work in order to cast their ballots, our Walker Sands Votes Committee shares resources, reminders and encouragement to everyone on our team to get out and vote. We also joined Civic Alliance — a nonpartisan coalition of businesses that believe in fair and transparent elections — as their mission aligns with our values ?? Check out Civic Alliance's #CorporateCivicPlaybook for guidance to support your team this election season: https://bit.ly/3YQOUSz

Bad actors devise new ways to put data, organizations, individuals and communities at risk every day. No matter what industry you’re in, changes to the cybersecurity landscape impact all of us — and #CybersecurityAwarnessMonth offers an important opportunity to tune into what’s happening now. Three #CyberThreats top of mind for companies, influencers and marketers today: 1. Misinformation and disinformation 2. Insecure cloud strategies 3. Vulnerable critical infrastructure Dive into each risk with Katie Butler: https://bit.ly/48uN5hs

Given the vast number of resources on effective B2B blogging, you’d think most orgs can boast successful blogs. ?? Spoiler: Many can’t. The truth is there’s a difference between a good blog and great #ContentStrategy. Too often, teams jump to blog creation before they define an outcome-based program that can honor their business objectives and strengthen their reputation as a thought leader. In our own blog, Timothy Morral, SVP of Content at Walker Sands, explores how to set your blog up for success. Here’s a preview: ?? Clarify your purpose: Define how your blog can best serve your business objectives. Keep up with your audience: Use data-driven insights like page views, click-through rates and social shares to understand what readers want. Balance #SEO and thought leadership: Prioritize #BlogOptimization but never at the expense of high-quality, thought-provoking content. Get more answers to your blog questions: https://bit.ly/4hbLroN