General Archives - Trade Press Services

The Importance of Well-Being for Business Professionals and How to Manage It

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

In today’s “always on” business world, professionals are under mounting stress that can lead to burnout and other stress-related conditions. A recent study by Deloitte reveals that 77 percent of respondents have experienced burnout at their current job—and more than half of them say it’s not an isolated incident. Stress doesn’t just affect the employee. Nine out of 10 respondents said that unmanageable stress had a negative impact on the quality of their work, and eight out of 10 said it negatively affects their personal relationships. Moreover, chronic stress can take a toll on health, contributing to poor sleep, muscle tension, headaches, weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even stroke.

The Importance of Communicating “Why” to Your Audiences (and How to Do It Effectively)

Posted on June 24, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

When communicating with customers, successful brands understand that focusing only on the features of their products and services isn’t enough to foster meaningful relationships. Buyers, especially B2B buyers, expect their purchase decisions to result in lasting partnerships that can sustain ongoing results. In a marketplace where competition is high and brand communications are frequent, it takes more than describing your services to entice clients. Rather, buyers want to know more about the purpose, values, and mission behind your organization.

The Power of Leading with Kindness: Its Transformative Effects on the Workplace

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

In today’s fast-paced business world, kindness isn’t a strategic priority for most organizations. In fact, it is often considered a weakness. After all, nice guys finish last. Or do they? International leaders such as Mother Theresa, Princess Diana, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela are recognized for using kindness to inspire millions and change the world. When business leaders recognize that kindness is not only a virtue but also a strategic advantage, they can elevate their employees and organizations to new heights.

Mastering Productivity: How to Harness the Power of Tiny Habits to Achieve Remarkable Results

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

If you could improve yourself by just one percent each day, at the end of one year, you will be 37 times better than you are right now. This concept of how tiny (or atomic) and incremental change can yield huge results is the first lesson in James Clear’s best-selling book Atomic Habits. By challenging our beliefs about how we value goals over systems, Clear provides a clear path to help break bad habits and create new ones.

Closer Than You Think: How to Build a Team of B2B Brand Ambassadors

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

A brand’s success depends on its reputation, visibility, credibility and even popularity. But simply promoting a brand is not enough. To stand out from the competition, potential buyers are looking for credible and authentic input from real people who have worked with your company. That’s where a brand ambassador strategy can make a big difference. Brand ambassadors are individuals who serve as the face of the brand and share less biased perspectives that are often more trusted by target audiences.

Lessons Learned in 2023 and How to Use Them in 2024

Posted on January 2, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

Moving into 2024, many marketing teams are reviewing, revising and optimizing their marketing plans for the new year. The challenges we encountered can shape those plans and provide a solid foundation for seizing the opportunities that lie ahead. Based on the topics that have been addressed in our own blog and newsletter over the course of 2023, there are some key lessons learned that can be leveraged for success in 2024.

25 Acts of Kindness to Bring the Holiday Spirit to the Workplace

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

With the holidays upon us and the new year around the corner, the spirit of giving is in the air. While holiday traditions may not permeate the workplace the same way they do at home, there are many opportunities to bring a spirit of giving into your organization. Small acts of kindness tell your colleagues

How to Foster Empathy to Drive Powerful Marketing Campaigns

Posted on November 26, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

Empathy-based or empathetic marketing is a topic often discussed in the B2C space. Evoking empathy in B2B buyers, however, isn’t always easy. In an environment marked by “professional” and less “emotional” communication, it can be more challenging to connect with buyers on a deeper level. The solution to this challenge starts from building an empathetic culture within the organization.

Nine Essential Soft Skills That Empower Marketing Teams

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

Marketing teams are made up of individuals who wear many hats and possess a wide variety of skills. While it’s common to focus on the hard skills that align with specific marketing tactics such as search engine optimization, copywriting, graphic design or email marketing, there are many soft skills that are essential to building a strong marketing team. Also called people skills or emotional intelligence, these traits distinguish top-of-class marketing professionals from the pack.

Confidence: The Key to Personal, Professional and Business Success

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

When asked about what makes them successful, nearly every professional athlete, author, actor and entrepreneur has one trait in common: confidence. Regardless of the profession, experts often discuss how confidence is an essential quality that empowers them to take risks, challenge the status quo, push past adversity, or get up and try again

Five Ways to Boost Creativity and Drive Innovation, Productivity and Growth

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

While creativity is important for individuals who work in the arts, it is just as necessary in business. Without it, businesses will become stagnant and unable to compete in an evolving marketplace.

B2B Marketing Is a Chess Game: Mastering Strategies for Success

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

In the B2B marketplace, purchase decisions can be complex. They often involve multiple decision-makers, complicated budgets and long-term commitments. As such, strategic thinking and calculated moves are the keys to winning marketing efforts that drive business success. Much like a game of chess, B2B marketing requires careful planning, foresight, and adaptability to outmaneuver competitors.

Three Core Pillars of a Corporate Growth Culture

Posted on June 26, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

When most leaders think about growing their businesses, revenue and profits are typically top of mind. In a traditional “performance” culture, company and individual success is measured by accomplishments and financial impact. But research shows that this performance-based culture may not be the most sustainable way to drive results.

Writing for Quality and Clarity: Common Writing Mistakes Every Professional Should Avoid

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

Whether an important email, sales proposal, bylined article or video script, developing content is a universal need. Even with tools such as spell check, Thesaurus or supportive artificial intelligence (AI), quality writing can be difficult to produce. The way a brand communicates with the written word can have a significant impact on brand reputation, the success of marketing goals and professional interactions.

Four Questions to Ask that Will Help You Find and Define Your Brand’s Tone

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

Communication is at the heart of any business relationship. Whether it’s with a new prospect or a longstanding business partner, the manner in which a brand communicates can make or break a sale. More than a color scheme or logo, a brand’s identity conveys who they are, what they stand for and what they do for their customers. This includes multiple factors such as brand tone and voice.

Event Marketing in 2021: In-Person, Hybrid and Virtual Events

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Gerri Knilans

In 2020, we faced significant challenges in the way we communicated, engaged and conducted business. From a marketing perspective, trade shows, conferences and other events were among the traditional initiatives that suffered the greatest losses. Cancelations due to the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected revenue and profits for hotels, convention centers, restaurants, transportation, travel and others that sell at these venues or support events on a global scale. To compensate, event marketers needed to adapt quickly. And one of the solutions that evolved was the shift from in-person to virtual events.

What Not to Do in 2021

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Gerri Knilans

The end of the year is rapidly approaching. Planning for the new year might feel like a daunting task, one steeped in uncertainty. Even so, now is the time to start. Statistics show that documenting your strategies gives you a 538 percent greater chance of achieving success. Tapping into lessons learned from 2020, recognize that the flexibility, adaptability and agility practiced this year will continue in 2021. With that new mindset, we encourage you to review your 2020 strategy.

Using Authentic Conversations to Find the New Normal

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Gerri Knilans

For much of the United States, the stay-at-home order is expected to be lifted next week. While the re-opening will look different depending on individual states, governments and the private sector, companies and individuals are still trying to understand exactly what this change will mean. But, one thing we can agree on is there will be confusion, challenges and conversations.

5 Localization Strategies to Enrich Marketing

Posted on July 29, 2019 by Gerri Knilans

When General Motors released the Chevy Nova in the 1970s, it performed poorly in South American countries. One reason was due to the name, which loosely translates to “no va” or “doesn’t go” in Spanish. Although since proven to be an urban legend, the story gained popularity as a cautionary tale about understanding foreign markets and cultures before entering them. With the proliferation of digital communication, today’s global marketplace is even bigger, but selling globally still requires time, research and consideration of cultures, languages and buyer personas. This process is known as localization, and if your company works internationally, it needs to be a well-thought-out part of your marketing strategy.

How to Avoid the 7 Deadly Marketing Sins

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Gerri Knilans

Yes, marketing has changed, but so has virtually every other aspect of conducting business. So what’s new? Putting marketing into a different perspective. There are no absolutes, but what is essential is a commitment to agility, innovation and serving the vastly different needs of every customer. That’s a tall order, but it can be accomplished by avoiding these seven sins.

How To Acclimate Millennials Into The Workforce

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Gerri Knilans

As has been true in previous generations, today a college degree is practically a must, even for an entry-level hire. As more and more college graduates are flooding the job market with education under their belt, some wonder how well prepared they are in terms of skills and experiences to adjust to the realities of corporate America. Those born between 1980 and 2000 are often referred to as the “entitled” or “me” generation. Yet that perception is not completely accurate. Rather, millennials have a lot to offer the workplace. They just need to be effectively channeled, supported and motivated.

It’s Time to Focus on the Positive

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Gerri Knilans

There’s no question about it. The daily news provides a heavy dose of economic, societal and political woes. In the face of all that negativity, it’s a good time to focus on the positive and remember the value of gratitude. If you’re having trouble visualizing or verbalizing what to be happy about, here are some ideas to consider.

So, You Think You Want To Be A Writer?

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Gerri Knilans

There are three essentials for being a good writer. They are talent and skill, perseverance and determination, and realistic expectations minus the ego. While many individuals who author books, newsletters, articles, white papers and other forms of communication have the subject-matter expertise to produce content, they may not have the other attributes. As a result, the end product doesn’t result in the quality the author seeks.