Wink Communications

Mini retirements, staycations, microdosed breaks, funflation... These are just a few buzzwords being thrown around for consumers' growing demand for creating "glimmers" in their lives—those micro-moments of joy and restoration in an increasingly uncertain world. This shift extends far beyond the hospitality and travel sectors. While these industries are naturally positioned to capitalize on our growing need for restoration, the ripple effects are transforming workplace culture itself. Major tech players like PayPal, Meta, and Adobe are leading the charge, introducing sabbaticals earlier in workers' careers to combat burnout before it takes hold. It's not just about time off—it's about fundamentally reimagining how we integrate rest and renewal into our daily lives. This evolution is reaching beyond the workplace too. In a telling move, London's mental health clinic Self Space plans to bring on-demand therapy to every UK high street, aiming to make mental health maintenance as routine as picking up your daily coffee. These changes signal a broader transformation: from viewing rest as a luxury to recognizing it as an essential part of our everyday lives. What do you think about this emerging shift in perspective?

?? Why PR specialists need to keep up with emerging trends ?? As we navigate through 2024, it's clear that the PR landscape is continually shifting. Matías Rodsevich's latest article for PR Lab highlighted some of 2024's key trends and got me thinking about just how crucial it is for us in the PR industry to stay agile and ahead of these changes. The strategies and tactics that worked a few years ago might not resonate with today's audience. By staying informed about the latest trends, we can better shape our brand's image and connect meaningfully with our audience. ?? Why keeping up is essential: - PR trends are influenced by employee expectations, technology, and consumer preferences - Adapting your strategies to these changes ensures your PR efforts remain effective ?? Top PR trends of 2024: 1?? Humanized approach: Focus on human experiences and two-way communication to create impactful PR campaigns 2?? Authenticity: Ensure your brand's voice is genuine. Authenticity is key to maintaining credibility in an era of fake news 3?? Social media growth: Platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok will continue to be vital for showcasing thought leadership and building media relationships 4?? LinkedIn thought leadership: With over 700 million users, LinkedIn is a powerful tool for establishing expertise and creating a strong online presence 5?? Influencer marketing: Partner with influencers to build social proof and drive engagement through authentic influence 6?? In-person events: Events, conferences, and interviews remain crucial for generating original, newsworthy content 7?? Personal connections: Build trust by aligning brand values with consumer expectations 8?? Simplified messaging: Keep your brand messaging concise, catchy, and authentic to stand out 9?? Gen Z focus: Tailor your PR strategies to engage the next generation of consumers ?? Flexibility: Be ready to pivot and adapt your strategies quickly in response to changing news and client expectations These trends highlight the need for PR professionals to stay adaptable and innovative. Embrace these shifts to keep your PR strategies fresh and effective in 2024! Credit to the recent #PRLab article by Matías Rodsevich. #PRTrends2024 #PublicRelations #Innovation #DigitalPR #AI #SocialMedia #Sustainability #BrandStorytelling

The classic PR funnel—Awareness, Interest, Consideration, Action—has long been a cornerstone of our strategies. But in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, is this linear model still relevant, or does it fall short in mapping the intricate, non-linear journey of the modern consumer? In other words, the traditional funnel assumes a straightforward path, but the consumer journey is often more complex these days, with most consumers turning to digital platforms. Our marketing strategies need to evolve to factor this in. 1. Awareness: While still crucial, awareness now happens across multiple touchpoints simultaneously 2. Interest: Digital platforms allow consumers to move quickly from awareness to interest, sometimes skipping the intermediary stages entirely 3. Consideration: This stage has become more dynamic, with consumers often returning to earlier stages for more information 4. Action: The line between consideration and action has blurred with features like one-click purchasing Moreover, paid social media has expanded its influence beyond just awareness, impacting Cost Per Action (CPA) throughout the funnel. This challenges our traditional understanding of where and how to allocate resources. So, how can we apply the funnel concept in this new reality? 1. Think cyclical, not linear: Recognize that consumers may enter and exit at any stage 2. Integrate digital touchpoints: Ensure consistent messaging across all platforms 3. Leverage data: Use analytics to understand how consumers actually move through your funnel 4. Be flexible: Adapt your strategy to meet consumers where they are, not where you expect them to be While the funnel's basic concepts remain valuable, our application needs to be more fluid and adaptive. We must view it as a framework for understanding consumer behavior rather than a rigid path to follow. What's your experience? How have you adapted the PR funnel for the digital age? Please share your insights. #PRStrategy #DigitalPR #ConsumerJourney

??? Understanding the three tiers of social media content ??? When it comes to social media strategy, I like to share what's possible for my clients by breaking it down into three tiers. ??Tier 1: Minimal effort and budget - Quick and easy posts like text updates, photos, and curated content - Ideal for staying active and maintaining a consistent presence - Examples: Daily quotes, behind-the-scenes snapshots, industry news shares, or reactive moments in culture ???Tier 2: Moderate effort and budget - More polished content such as branded graphics, short videos, and interactive polls - Great for increasing engagement and showcasing your brand's personality - Examples: Branded Instagram stories, tutorial videos, or user-generated content campaigns ??Tier 3: Significant budget and effort - High-quality, strategic content produced in collaboration with influencers and partnerships - Perfect for major campaigns, brand storytelling, and driving substantial engagement - Examples: Animated explainer videos, detailed infographics, or comprehensive blog posts Remember, no matter your budget or resources, there's always a way to create impactful content and optimize your social media strategy at every tier. Understanding the three tiers of social media content is the first step to getting your strategy underway. #SocialMediaStrategy #ContentCreation #DigitalMarketing #BrandEngagement #WinkCommunications

Exploring the importance of movement marketing and how to use it in your branding, marketing, and PR strategies.

?? Ever wonder how data can transform PR? ?? Last month, we worked on the grand opening of a gorgeous new hotel. Using data, we turned this launch into a buzzworthy event. Here’s how: ?? What? We gathered data from social media, website visits, and media coverage to get a complete picture of our audience ?? Why? - Smart Strategies: Data revealed that travelers were excited about eco-friendly amenities. We tailored our campaign to highlight the hotel's sustainable features, making it a hit - Prove Success: By analyzing engagement, we showed the client the tangible buzz we generated, proving the impact of our efforts - Crisis Control: Early social listening flagged a concern about room availability. We addressed it swiftly, turning potential issues into opportunities ?? How? - Track Trends: We used analytics tools to monitor travel trends and tapped into the growing interest in eco-tourism - Personal Touch: Our data showed a significant number of family travelers, so we crafted stories around family-friendly amenities, resonating deeply with our target audience - Measure and Improve: Clear metrics helped us adjust our strategy in real-time, maximizing engagement and media coverage Data turned this hotel opening from a typical event into a memorable launch. Are you ready to elevate your PR game? Get in touch. ??? #PR #DataDriven #PublicRelations #DataInPR #Analytics

?? Don’t wait until launch! ?? There’s enormous value in developing a marketing and comms strategy while in stealth mode. ?? Read why. ??????????????????????????????

I'm a pretty laid-back and open-minded consultant. Still, I do have one non-negotiable: initiating any new client engagement with a deep-dive discovery session. I like this collaborative approach because (a) it unites you and the client as a team, and (b) it lays a solid foundation that everyone's aligned with for what's to come. Why do I prioritize this? Building a solid, cohesive brand architecture from the ground up makes it easy for clients to present their brand confidently because they know it's built on a foundation of authenticity and trust. Take, for example, my recent work with a couple's new restaurant launch. When the owners approached me, they already had a great concept, but they were struggling to agree on a single, simple statement that defined and articulated their core message. So, during our workshop, we addressed the pivotal question: What were they trying to embody? The couple spitballed ideas and words around, until we eventually defined their brand promise: "bringing the warmth of home-cooked meals to a contemporary dining experience." From that point, the rest flowed easily. 1. Uncovering the Brand Promise: We defined the unique value this couple's restaurant brought to its customers and distilled it into a clear, compelling brand promise that set them apart in the market. Their commitment to offering a home-like atmosphere in a modern setting was at the heart of their identity. 2. Establishing Reasons to Believe (RTBs): We identified the proof points to their promise, such as customer testimonials, the chef's culinary awards, their use of family recipes (complete with anecdotes), and their commitment to sourcing local ingredients. These RTBs built the necessary trust and credibility to back up their brand promise and form the basis of their vignettes. 3. Defining Experience Codes: We mapped out key interactions and touchpoints, from the dining area's ambiance to the staff's friendliness, ensuring every experience consistently echoed their brand promise to create memorable, unique impressions. For me, seeing a client's vision articulated and brought to life and then watching their success unfold is incredibly rewarding. A strong brand architecture isn't just a strategy—it's the heart and soul of a business. #Branding #BrandStrategy #ClientSuccess #Marketing #CustomerExperience

In today's hyperconnected world, a social media presence?isn't enough.?To truly stand out, you need a clear social ambition. But what exactly is?that,?and why is it crucial for your business? ?? Why it's essential for success ?? Provides clear direction: A defined ambition is a compass for your social media activities ?? Enhances resource allocation: Knowing your goals helps you invest time and money wisely ?? Improves measurability: Clear ambitions lead to concrete KPIs and metrics ?? Increases team alignment: Everyone understands and works towards common objectives ?? Facilitates better decision-making: Helps prioritize content and engagement strategies ?? How to define your ambition ?? Assess your overall business goals: Align social media with broader company objectives ?? Identify your target audience: Understand who you want to reach and influence ?? Analyze your current social media performance: Determine strengths and areas for improvement ?? Research competitors: Learn from their successes and failures ?? Consider your unique value proposition: What sets you apart on social platforms? ?? Set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound ?? Steps to align your social efforts with your goals ?? Create a content strategy: Develop themes and topics that support your ambition ?? Choose the right platforms: Focus on channels where your target audience is most active ?? Establish a consistent brand voice: Ensure all content reflects your ambition and values ?? Implement a content calendar: Plan posts that consistently work towards your goals ?? Engage authentically: Interact with your audience in ways that support your ambition ?? Monitor and analyze: Regularly review metrics to ensure you're on track ?? Adapt and refine: Be willing to adjust your strategy based on results and feedback #marketing?#communications?#PR?#publicrelations?#socialstrategy?#socialambition?#socialmedia