How to Communicate about COVID-19
All companies are now working to communicate with clients and customers about COVID-19. Here is an infographic prepared by the Public Relations Society of America.
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Why Are Millennials So Angry?
Millennials are the 71 million people born between 1981 and 1996. They are entering the workforce, becoming parents, and experiencing life differently than generations past. And they are angry. At least that is what pollsters are telling us. But why? For most, it appears to stem from financial, environmental and personal challenges. Many feel that baby…
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Why Are Baby Boomers So Angry?
Regularly, the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) publication Strategies & Tactics reports trends in the industry. The Jan. 2020 issue suggests that people are growing angrier. They cite a 2018 Gallup Poll of more than 150,000 in 140 countries reporting feeling more stressed out, worried, and angry than ever. For business, this trend is…
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How to Stand Out in Your First Year on the Job
Starting a new job can be challenging. There is usually a learning curve as you adapt to the different factors of a new workplace. In addition to your work requirements, you will need to learn how to interact with your coworkers as well as your boss. You will need to understand office rules — like…
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Achieve Your 2020 Goals by Creating a Ulysses Pact
By Mary Louise VanNatta, APR, CAE Everyone struggles to reach goals and meet deadlines. It’s easy to fall victim to procrastination or to let the draw of a doughnut or a bag of chips cause you to stray from your diet. The new year is a great time to set expectations and resolve to…
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VPR Ranked in Oregon Business Magazine Powerbook 2020
Salem, Oregon (Feb. 13, 2020) – VanNatta Public Relations, Inc. (VPR) has been ranked by January 2020 Oregon Business Magazine’s Power Book for Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations firms. This is the eighth time VPR has been included in the Power Book. Compared with other Northwest companies, VanNatta was ranked 21st (based on size) as one of the…
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VanNatta Public Relations Wins DJC Award for Best Public Relations Firm
VanNatta Public Relations, a PR, event planning, and consulting firm in Salem, Oregon was honored by the Daily Journal of Commerce as the Best PR & Marketing Firm. The award was announced during a private event held at the Jupiter Hotel’s rooftop bar in Portland, Oregon. The DJC awards celebrate and recognize the best the…
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Local PR Firm Recognized for Excellence in Public Relations
VanNatta PR wins again at Spotlight Award Ceremony VanNatta Public Relations (VPR), a PR, consulting, and event planning firm in Salem, Oregon, was honored by the Public Relations Society of America Oregon Chapter (PRSA) during their Spotlight Award ceremony for the work with the Salem Police Foundation to fundraise for a mobile command center. This…
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SOCIAL MEDIA ENVY: Living a Photoshopped Life
I admit it – I love social media. I enjoy seeing people’s pictures, jokes, and life updates. I also like to post and interact frequently. I usually opt for pictures of my Dachshunds Apple and Otto, the children or me and my husband when we dress up. I avoid posting pictures of my unfortunate cooking…
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The Ostrich Effect
You may have been told not to be an ostrich and “put your head in the sand.” You may even have heard of the Ostrich Effect. The term derives from the (false) narrative that ostriches stick their head in the ground to avoid danger. The ostrich (incorrectly) reasons that not seeing danger makes it go…
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What to Know as a Young Pro
So, you are a new college graduate, an established young pro, or on the hunt for your first “big” job. For most, you are transitioning from an organized, structured school program to an unpredictable, chaotic world outside of academics. This change can be shocking. The job search is difficult and often results in repeated rejection…
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Public Relations Vs. Marketing: Who’s the Boss?
Even among professionals, the difference between public relations (PR) and marketing is confusing. There is an ongoing “discussion” between the two disciplines as to which is a branch of which (is marketing a tool of public relations or vice versa?). Each is vying for the penthouse corner office. How do we answer the question, which one is…
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Word-of-mouth is Not a Marketing Strategy
I don’t need advertising, marketing or public relations, I get plenty of business leads from “word-of-mouth (WOM).” WOM advertising is an organic way that individual consumers share their experiences with a company. The plethora of online options for reviews magnifies this exponentially. Yet the greatest influence is on those in the customer’s immediate vicinity: friends…
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Rise of the Robots? Understanding Technological Unemployment
No one works as a bowling pinsetter nor delivers ice anymore. You can even order fast food from a kiosk or check into your hotel room and never talk to a person. There is no doubt that technology has eliminated jobs. Technological unemployment, as it is called, is seemingly inevitable. In some careers, human workers…
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Where is My Mailing List? … And Other Stories from Excel Hell
No offense to Microsoft, but if you’re still keeping your business mailing and prospect list in Excel, you are certainly in a special place called “Excel Hell.” This is a horrible place filled with lists and worksheets and workbooks and mysterious missing or misaligned columns that will slowly drive you insane. Worst case scenario, your…
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How to Manage Your Boss
There are millions of scholarly articles offering a barrage of advice and how-to’s for managing employees. We test personalities, have team building activities, performance appraisals and one-on-one meetings. However, there is another, often overlooked dynamic that can be beneficial to the success of an organization: How do employees manage their boss? “Boss management” is a…
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Decision Fatigue
Have you ever been to a potluck or buffet where you start out with a strong resolve to “eat healthily”? Over the course of the afternoon, facing a table full of dishes, your willpower starts to wane, and you eventually dig into Aunt Melissa’s chocolate pie. You also probably will “give in” after being offered…
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The Career Burnout Crisis
Recently, the American College of Surgeons determined that identifying and managing “surgeon burnout” is one of its top concerns. Recent surveys of their members show that a majority demonstrate signs of “burnout” that are linked to excessive working hours, increasing paperwork, and bureaucracy that takes them away from patient interaction. This is on top of…
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Imposter Syndrome in the Workplace
Do you ever worry that someday someone will realize you don’t know what you’re doing? Are you sure you will be exposed and your clients and colleagues will discover you have been pretending all this time? You might have “Imposter Syndrome.” Imposter Syndrome, a common issue experienced by many professionals, occurs when an individual has…
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VPR Sponsors American Roots Music Festival
We’re proud sponsors of the American Roots Music Festival. Plan to attend Nov. 2. www.americanrootsmusicfestival.com (Salem, OR) Oct. 3, 2019 – In a generation with access to every type of music, traditional American styles like blues and jazz are often overlooked and underappreciated. The nonprofit, Keeping the Arts, is passionate about introducing youth to musical…
