What Makes a Press Release Newsworthy?

By Lisa Lavora-De Beule | Oct 14, 2015

Press releases are an effective way to garner publicity for your business. Although distributing a news release doesn’t guarantee coverage for your brand, by planting the seed with journalists and bloggers, it might very well lead into a future feature opportunity. Additionally, placing your press release on your website is an effective way to communicate with […]

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Choosing the Right Social Media Platforms for Your Business

By Natalie O'Grady | Oct 6, 2015

Social media platforms have solidified their place in any business’ public relations and marketing strategy. You know you have to include social media as part of your brand’s image no matter what business sector you fall in, but it can be overwhelming when you look at all the options available. How are you supposed to […]

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Why Small Business Needs PR

By Louie Deraita | Aug 13, 2015

For many small business owners, hiring a public relations agency might be the last thing on their minds. Maybe it’s the tight budget that puts PR and marketing efforts on the back burner – but what many of these small business owners don’t realize is how PR can be one of the most effective ways […]

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Public Relations, Marketing and Advertising – How are They Different?

By Louie Deraita | Jul 21, 2015

Rolling into my senior year of college, I have been asked the same question a number of times throughout my studies as an undergraduate. It has been asked by my family, friends, acquaintances, professors and anyone I’ve struck up a conversation with. It is the question I was hesitant to answer until two years ago. […]

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The A.wordsmith Model | A Culture for Work/Life Balance

By Ann Smith | Jul 7, 2015

The A.wordsmith model is build to reflect our commitment to not only high-quality client service, but also work/life balance. In the office we are kick-ass communication professionals, with world-class public relations, branding and marketing expertise. At home we are mothers, partners and friends with those we value most. The firm’s flexible model means our team manages […]

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5 Associated Press Stylebook changes marketing pros should know

By Kelda Rericha | Jun 23, 2015

The Associated Press Stylebook isn’t just for journalists. For the best in clarity and consistency, corporations should use AP style in nearly all their written communications materials. The stylebook is updated year-round based on current usage and feedback from an annual survey. Some changes make headlines: in 2014 when AP said that “over” was an acceptable […]

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It Was Never a Dress: Let your Superhero Fly

By Ann Smith | May 21, 2015

Earlier this month a B2B software development company did something brilliant – and it has almost nothing to do with their offerings.  They launched the “It Was Never a Dress” campaign (https://itwasneveradress.com/).  If you haven’t seen this on social (or mainstream) media yet, you’re missing out. Axosoft, a Scottsdale, Arizona software company that focuses on […]

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Amazon's product visualization through press release

By Kelda Rericha | May 14, 2015

Amazon executives are typically a reclusive bunch. So its was a rare treat when Jeff Wilke, Amazon’s senior vice president of consumer business, took the stage this week at Seattle University as part of the Albers Executive Speaker Series. In an hour-long talk, Wilke laid out the core leadership principles that make up the tech […]

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The Importance of Negative Feedback

By Kris Travis | Apr 30, 2015

In case you didn’t know, today is “National Honesty Day.” (It also happens to be “Adopt a Shelter Pet Day,” “Bugs Bunny Day,” “Hairstylist Appreciation Day,” “Oatmeal Cookie Day,” “Raisin Day,” “Sarcoidosis Day,” and “Poem in Your Pocket Day,” and while a number of those are terribly important—I mean, cookies!–we’ll focus on honesty for now.) […]

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America's Favorite Sport in a PR Crisis

By Jillian Stephens | Apr 23, 2015

America loves football – everyone knows that. But it’s beginning to look like the sport itself is in crisis and does not reciprocate these feelings. A growing body of evidence is beginning to show that football players are prone to concussions and thus prone to degenerative brain disease later on in life. These diseases (CTE […]

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A tale of two cities: ACME shows how good employee relations made good business sense

By Kelda Rericha | Apr 20, 2015

In addition to being an incredible A. Wordsmith client and a brilliant business partner to some of Portland, Seattle and San Diego’s biggest and best companies, ACME Business Consulting is a really great place to work. Sara Fritsch, ACME’s marketing team lead, has worked with ACME for nine years in a variety of roles. Today […]

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6 'House of Cards' Quotes That Apply to PR

By Kelda Rericha | Feb 23, 2015

Because House of Cards debuts next week, and because I was up way too late watching my DVR’d Oscars last night, I would like to take this moment to share this incredible collection of PR best practices an ‘House of Cards’ quotes from Frank Underwood and the rest of the House of Cards crew compiled by […]

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