Changes over the years In the winter of 1998, most of the world was buzzing about the ongoing Winter Olympic Games being held in Nagano, Japan. But the Vandiver Group was buzzing with a different sort of news—the first community newsletter, Updates, had been written and printed for distribution. At the Olympics, the U.S. took Read More
All posts by Heather James
Sales: The Forgotten PR Skill
By Laura Vandiver, TVG Senior Research Strategist There are many skills required to be a fantastic PR practitioner. Great communication skills, of course, top the list. But it also helps to have social media savvy, be a crisis navigation expert, understand the media and how to deal with them, be a fantastic writer, and also Read More
THE VIDEO INTERVIEW: PART 2 – YOU, THE INTERVIEWEE
The Video Interview Part Two: Being Interviewed by Rich McEwen, TVG Media Specialist There are techniques you can use as the subject of a video interview to make sure you communicate your message in a way that is concise and easy to edit. Know your story. Know in advance what your key message points are Read More
The Interview: Part 1 – You, the Interviewer
The Video Interview Part One: You, the Interviewer by Rich McEwen, TVG Media Specialist Whether you’re interviewing a Fortune 500 CEO or a local spelling bee champion, good interviewing skills are vital. A clear and concise story is the goal for both the interviewer and interviewee. In part one I will share some of my Read More
The Power of Public Speaking
By Andy Likes, Senior Vice President, The Vandiver Group It’s one of those things that’s typically not on someone’s bucket list; get up in front of an audience and “say a few words.” There mere thought of public speaking creates anxiety and strikes fear into the hearts of most people. In fact, it’s one of Read More
How to Write a Press Release
Crafting a Press Release: Six Steps to Keep in Mind By Andrew Woodcock, TVG Account Executive The backbone to being a good PR pro is being a good writer. I’ve heard it countless times: if you don’t know how to write, you won’t be hired by a PR firm. And it makes sense: writing is Read More
Viewing Tips for the Total Solar Eclipse
Viewing Tips for the Total Solar Eclipse By Andy Likes, TVG Senior Vice President Short of living under a rock, everyone should know about this Monday’s eclipse. The St. Louis region will have a front row seat for the event, if the meteorologists are right. Here’s hoping for a mostly cloud-free view of the totality, Read More
Millennials in the Digital Space
“How Do I Reach These Kids?”: Millennials in the Digital Space By Nathan Shryock, TVG Manager of Digital Strategy The Millennial generation has adopted a very unique habit of forming digital communities. These communities are made up of online social groups of people that share a common interest and are often tied to a person’s identity. Read More
Best Practices for New Interns (Besides Keeping the Coffee Pot Full)
Six Best Practices for New Interns By Andrew Woodcock, TVG Account Executive Congratulations! You just landed an internship at the PR agency of your dreams! What’s next? Besides scheduling a trip to the store for new clothes, office supplies and cubicle decorations, you’re going to want to prepare for the culture and environment of working Read More
Messaging: A New Era of Business Communications, Part 2
Best Practices for Businesses Using Facebook Messenger By Nate Shryock, TVG Manager of Digital Strategy In Part 1 of this blog series, we outlined how messaging apps can be useful business tools. Today, we’ll explore some best practices for businesses who want to use Facebook Messenger to communicate with their customers. Respond promptly Facebook publicly displays Read More
Messaging Applications: A New Era of Business Communications (Part 1)
Messaging Applications: A New Era of Business Communications (Part 1) By Nate Shryock, TVG Manager of Digital Strategy We’ve all had experiences with people who spend too much time on their phone. Family dinners, dates, Friday night outings… it is no secret that people are often preoccupied with their digital lives. As individuals, this is Read More
Think Typos Don’t Matter? Think Again.
Think Typos Don’t Matter? Think Again. By Laura Vandiver, TVG Vice President of Research and Strategic Insight I overheard a conversation the other day while working out at the gym. A woman I had seen there before—let’s call her Cindy—was telling someone about how she works in PR. Cindy was annoyed that her client called Read More