Blog
Join us in conversation on the topics we believe matter...to our industry, our city and our society.
Since the 90’s consumers have been pushing back on advertising. We’re highly critical of traditional advertising — TV, print and radio — and highly skeptical of other forms of advertising. And for good reason. Coca-Cola sponsoring school events feels eerily similar to the way tobacco companies targeted members of the military during World War II. Free cigarettes! And […]
Read MoreOver the weekend, I got to check out the newly remodeled SFMOMA. The remodel is beautiful, as are the numerous exhibits (too many to take in on one visit!). I was really excited to check out the “Typeface Interface” graphic design collection, and it got me thinking about other ways a company can share its brand […]
Read More2016 has already been a great year for A.wordsmith. We’ve started work with some amazing new clients and have exciting plans for the second half of the year. We’ve also brought on some new team members who are helping the firm grow with their talents and passion. In April, Marta Betts joined us as a […]
Read MoreIf you are reading this you likely already understand the value of thought leadership products. A thought leadership product is anything – written, video, multi-media – produced to help inform an audience on something you do really well. These products are especially critical for service organizations that rely on the smarts and unique capabilities of […]
Read MoreUnless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past week you’ve most likely know the full story, or at least rumblings, of the Kelly Ripa vs. Michael Strahan vs. Disney-ABC drama. On Tuesday Kelly returned to the show after taking some time off to digest and deal with the news that not only is […]
Read MoreI had the opportunity to check out a number of cool events during last week’s 2016 Design Week Portland, and especially enjoyed hearing Dana Tanamachi’s talk, “Perfectly Imperfect” on Wednesday night at PNCA. It was inspiring to get a glimpse of her background in design, her unexpected successes, and to hear her thoughtful reflections on her evolving work and […]
Read MoreThough marketing, advertising, and public relations all play in the same “sandbox,” traditionalists in the world of PR will tell you that the industry doesn’t have much to do with paid placements or marketing pieces. And for the most part, they’re still correct – public relations by definition is about earned media and public perception […]
Read MoreIt’s comin’ up quick! Design Week Portland is “a week-long, city-wide series of programs exploring the process, craft, and practice of design across all disciplines.” April 15-21, all four corners of Portland will see a flurry of design-related talks, events, workshops, studio tours, and shows. This is a huge week for designers, but also offers […]
Read MoreSteve Jobs once said: “Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.” Throughout your PR and writing career, you have heard more than once to tighten up your pitches, your white papers or your press releases. While it takes practice, the result is worth […]
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