Orci’s Post

As we celebrate #PrideMonth, we honor the invaluable contributions of our wonderfully diverse team. 🌈 Their unique ideas and perspectives enrich our agency, making it a more vibrant and inclusive space for all. #PRAgency #PublicRelations #MediaRelations #ContentCreation #DigitalMarketing #SocialMedia #GraphicDesign #PRStrategy #ThoughtLeadership #CorporateCommunication #IntegratedMarketing #BrandBuilding #OnlineVisibility #IndustryExperts

How should you approach Juneteenth as a brand or marketing professional? Melanie Williams shares some great wisdom in this piece for ADWEEK: "Juneteenth is not just another date on the calendar; it represents a transformative opportunity for brands and marketers. Let’s use this moment to make genuine connections, show understanding, and make a lasting impact in the fight for equality and justice." https://lnkd.in/e5N3UCnT

Back with their monthly (friendly) battle⚔️, BBH London joint CSOs Will Lion and Simon Gregory take on the task🧑🔧 of defining woke creativity. They argue🥊 that at best woke creativity can move issues forward, at moderate it’s probably quite annoying hot air💨, and worst it’s damaging to laudable causes. Also, Greg tries really hard to get Will cancelled. Was he successful? 📕Read Here: https://lnkd.in/gCHNBfS4 #commercialcreativity #advertising #adagency #advertisingagency #adland #communications #media #mediaagency #mediabuying #creativity #creativeagency #marcomms #marketing

Happy Pride month! 🏳️🌈 While many news outlets seem to be spreading the word that corporate Pride activations and messaging are close to extinct, (specifically after the Bud Light and Target backlashes of 2023) this editor is seeing much to the contrary. While attending one of the nation's largest Pride parades in Washington, D.C. earlier this month, I took note (and photos) of every single brand representing at the event. For the 3.5 hours I attended (and I left the parade early), I saw over 50 brands participate, not to mention dozens of nonprofit and local entities. And the majority of companies put on quite a show. McDonald's, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Marriott International and Amazon rolled down the route with larger-than-life floats blasting music and carting dozens of celebrating employees. Traditionally more subdued brands such as Deloitte, Kaiser Permanente and SODEXHO INC showed out with swarms of staff marching in the parade. However, a few larger brands (Starbucks, Target) did choose smaller font on their banners, smaller groups and less splashy features overall, but they still showed up to represent. And there's been no shortage of Pride campaign announcements to this editor's inbox. In fact, this 2024 roundup showcases some of the more unique programs per industry including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Match Group's BLK App, and GLAAD. While more brands may be doing more showing than telling nowadays, it's important to acknowledge that they haven't completely given up on advocating for their employees and audiences. And when done authentically, that is noticed. [From today's PRNEWS Single Shot e-newsletter. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eKD9z6sP] https://lnkd.in/eN5MZKNs

At Bernstein-Rein, we use our 60 years of retail experience to craft an InsideOut Retail view of brands - uncovering consumer insights and understanding how those insights intersect with brands at every touchpoint. As we celebrate Pride Month with the LBTQIA+ community, we find it interesting how brands are participating this year - not only in the social space, but in the retail environment as well. Do you think these brands are making decisions based on consumer insights or simply reacting to the loudest voices and avoiding the noise? #PrideMonth #RetailTrends #RetailInsights #RetailExperience #ConsumerInsights #MarketingStrategy #BernsteinRein #BR #AdAgency #AdvertisingAgency

When brands get real, their support shines even brighter. Businesses can leave a lasting impact by taking the time to listen to what their audience really needs (and wants!) People respond positively to feeling genuinely appreciated, especially when they're used to being ignored by marketers. This Pride Month let’s embrace inclusivity, not just for show, but because it actually matters. #PrideMonth #CauseMarketing #Inclusivity #AdCampaign

Interesting read from The Associated Press about the "Pride pullback" many consumers are seeing this year compared to years past. There is a marked difference between performative marketing and true allyship, and how an organization responds has short- and long-term implications for its brand and reputation. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ziKmKA #marketing #communications #brandstrategy

As #BlackHistoryMonth concludes, it's essential to acknowledge the strides made by brands that have embraced the mission of supporting and amplifying our community. While it's commendable to witness some brands taking the initiative to educate themselves and their consumers, recent years have shown that there's still a gap in recognizing our presence. It's not just about being seen; it's about ensuring our stories are heard and our creativity is amplified. Moving forward, I challenge brands to go beyond surface-level engagement. Use the platform you have to grow by continuously learning, understanding, and applying these insights to resonate authentically with diverse audiences. Let's create a space where our narratives are not only acknowledged but celebrated year-round. #DiversityandInclusion #BrandResponsibility #AmplifyBlackVoices

HEAR Conversations and Find Common Ground: How to Break Down Barriers in a Polarized World Last month, I had the honor and privilege to participate in “Democracy in the Age of Distrust & Disinformation”—an immersion experience by the University of Chicago's Leadership & Society Initiative. The event was brilliantly led and curated by Eric Schurenberg, a long-time business journalist and media executive. While there were no easy answers provided as cures to our current state of disillusionment, one key theme stood out for me—those who trade in distrust and disinformation are unreliable narrators for most of us trying to make the world a better place. If we strip away tribalism and relate to each other as fellow sojourners in life, most of us want to find common ground and relate to each other. Last week, Angela Duckworth and Mike Maughan in their “No Stupid Questions” podcast asked “Can We Disagree Better?” In their discussion, Duckworth introduces the acronym HEAR—hedge, emphasize agreement, acknowledge opposing perspectives, reframe to the positive—as essential components for effective communication. And Maughan adds an extra element: voice. Instead of hiding behind screens and text messages, he suggests having real conversations. What would that be like? The 2017 The HEINEKEN Company "Worlds Apart" commercial sought to bridge the divide between people with opposing views. The ad features six strangers, each with vastly different beliefs and backgrounds, who are unknowingly brought together to participate in an experiment. Through projects and conversations, they learn about each other's differences and similarities, eventually revealing their polarizing opinions on topics such as feminism, climate change, and transgender rights. The ad challenges the notion that people with opposing views cannot coexist or find common ground. It promotes open-mindedness, empathy, and understanding as key factors in fostering meaningful connections and breaking down barriers between individuals. The commercial also highlights the importance of listening and communication in building relationships and overcoming societal divisions. Ultimately, the message of the ad is one of unity and acceptance, emphasizing that despite our differences, we can still come together and find shared humanity. If you haven’t seen "Worlds Apart" lately, watch it in this link, HEAR and be heard, and talk civilly with each other whether you agree with them or not. #HEARandBeHeard #RealConversations #UnityThroughCommunication #DareToListen #StopTheSpreadOfDistrust #StopTheSpreadOfDisinformation #DontTrustTheWrongPeople #DitchTheScreens #ConnectInPerson #FindSharedHumanity #NoMoreDivide #ATestForOurTime #CrisisLeadership #NextNormal https://lnkd.in/e_mcYqQa

It’s been an epic week at MAD//FEST LONDON 2024! From insightful sessions to laughs with the team, we had the best time. Here are some of the team’s highlights… Consistency was a theme that stood out to Kerry. “Lots of brands were talking about how their consistent messaging creates fame. Specsavers’ 20-year-old campaign 'Should've' is so well-known that people use it for their own humour, as their audience knows it so well. This shows that the need to constantly change campaigns or branding isn't always the winning idea.” Tom Ollerton and Rachel Kerrone’s session from Starling Bank was a favourite for Joanna. “They spoke on the importance of focusing on building a quality customer base when building a brand and that it's not the scale at the beginning but the quality of the customer that matters most. This is what builds trusted brands & loyal customer bases. Paige loved the Barbie session. “Despite the backlash they have faced over the years, they never lost their core objective - that Barbie is a role model for young girls to inspire them to dream big and achieve anything. If Barbie can do it, so can you!” Cheryl’s highlight was listening to the 10 learnings from Who Gives A Crap about how they have built a successful brand. The first one resonated the most; “Everyone loves puppies!" Ben Farren from SPOKE delivered a session on building long-term brand awareness through TV advertising, which was a standout for Fiona. “His quote ‘out of fear of what I might feel if I didn’t try’ resonated with me so much, as this is how I feel with my business. It’s a powerful reminder to take risks and innovate." A statement from Eddie Izzard’s talk stood out to Loren - “Be bold, be brave and never doubt yourself!” Molly’s key takeaway from the event was the sheer variety of speakers and CEOs. “It was great to see a variety of ages throughout the sessions, not to mention all the inspiring female leaders on the Female Leaders' Club stage.” Bring on MAD//FEST 2025! What was your highlight from the event? Let us know in the comments… #BrandChampions #MadFestLondon #FemaleLeadersClub