Z Blog

Many, many brands have jumped on the content marketing bandwagon —from huge companies practically morphing into quasi-news organizations to mom-and-pops blogging to boost SEO. Content, to borrow a cliché, is king. But, the question is, what content? Recent research from the UK suggests eight out of ten readers are more likely to engage with brands that tell stories as a key part of their content marketing. Here are some guidelines on “storifying” your content to make it more attractive to your audience: ###Include a human element Consider the most mundane content you produce – is there a way to add a human element to it?...

A few weekends ago, my daughter competed in the Ohio Age Group Swimming State Championship Meet at my alma mater, Miami University. She swims for the Northern Kentucky Clippers, which is sanctioned as an Ohio team despite being located in Northern Kentucky. I’m proud to report that the Clippers won the state meet and beat out several teams that are over twice their size. It was an exciting event to be a part of – even as a parent. The energy, excitement and enthusiasm have stuck with me these past few weeks, and I can’t help but reflect on the things we can learn in...

Organizational change has perplexed companies for decades. It is a process that is always better in theory than practice because people and emotions are always the constant unknown. Change happens slowly. Adoption takes time. And it’s particularly difficult in organizations where people are the primary product – service industries, sales driven organizations, consulting business, etc. In these types of organizations, change relies almost entirely in shifts in mindset, behaviors and attitudes. This process is both non-linear and mostly subtle, as behavior and attitudinal change are never instant. Often this “non-tangible” change is accompanied by an extra helping of organizational frustration, simply because it is hard...

In today’s world, technology moves at an unimaginable rate. Less than a year after you buy a phone or computer, there’s a new, faster version out. The video world is no exception. Even if you don’t have the newest version, your camera doesn’t have all the features you want or you can’t afford a certain lens, don’t let that be an excuse for not accomplishing your goals. Keep making art with what you have on hand. ###You don’t need it Don’t get me wrong… you do need the basics. You obviously can’t make a video without a camera and a lens. You might be surprised...

Not unlike forming a new friendship or dating someone new, kicking off a new client relationship can have its pitfalls. Usually when you meet someone new, you are keenly aware of the first impression you are making. If you are like me, you pay close attention to the reaction you are getting, as well as the communication patterns between you and others, in order to evaluate whether a good relationship will form. Did I say something silly? How did he/she interpret my recommendation? Was I approachable, but not too friendly? In academic circles, this attempt to get to know the other person is called Uncertainty...

As we celebrate America’s upcoming birthday this weekend, there will be the usual cookouts, fireworks, outpouring of red, white and blue everything and passion and pride in being a citizen of this great country. While this is always the case every year on the Fourth of July, there is something else driving pride and passion to be at an all-time high. That something else is the U.S. women’s national soccer team. The U.S. women’s national soccer team or USWNT is currently playing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The tournament is taking place in Canada, and the USWNT has made it to the finals, which...

Public relations professionals have long provided media training as part of a comprehensive suite of services, but as the PR and media industries undergo a massive sea of change, this traditional offering is often swept aside. Yet despite this wild roller coaster ride – or perhaps because of it – media training remains a very important offering. The goal of media training is to prepare a spokesperson for a media interview, arming him or her with key messages. ###ANSWERS WAITING FOR QUESTIONS The ability to communicate your key messages – no matter what question is asked – is crucial in today’s world of short attention...

I adore my job and I love working hard, which sometimes means putting in extra hours, but one of the texts I dread sending to my husband is the “I’m working late tonight” text. And yes, text is usually the communication of choice as pausing to talk would inevitably lead to me being at work even longer. Recently, I broke a personal record: leaving work at 1 a.m. When I finally laid down that night, mind swirling, I wondered how on earth I was supposed to turn that 16-hour day off and fall blissfully to sleep. In this case, I was actually grateful that it...

Entertaining and good ole hospitality is one thing we take pride in at Intrinzic. We believe in putting our best foot forward and that’s why we put extra thought into making client experiences special. Recently, we had an opportunity to celebrate our new brand launch with clients, partners and contacts. After several months of going through the branding process ourselves, we were proud to show off what we developed, and we did just that at a delightful patio party right outside our office at Newport on the Levee. (Missed the party? Be sure to check out the highlight video here.) Speaking of workplace parties… The...

Today marks the one-month anniversary of my college graduation. Though I learned a lot in those four years, I’ve learned so much more in just this past month. Why? Ever heard of the phrase “Get thrown in the pool without your floaties?” I traded in my “floaties” on graduation day. If you’re ready to give up your floaties, take a look at the five things I’ve learned since starting my career in public relations. 1. ####You have to start somewhere After beginning the tireless job search, I realized that most entry-level jobs require at least one year of experience “in public relations or a related...