Kate Brinks Lathen

82% of small businesses attribute their revenue growth directly to digital ads, and 79% say these tools help them compete with much larger companies.

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Wonderful gathering of incredible communications leaders, getting real about what it takes to communicate with clarity. One of the common threads: thoughtful assessment and adaptability. How are stakeholders shifting? Are all the right communications elements fully dialed in? Is there a better, more high impact path to consider? It was a good reminder of why I love working in communications. We also shared insights from our latest Brands in Motion study, developed with Ipsos, which underscores the importance of staying tuned in and adaptable. The research explores how expectations are shifting—and what audiences need most right now. Spoiler: It’s not perfection. It’s honesty, action, and the courage to evolve. #WeBrandsInMotion #Communications #Leadership #Adaptability 

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It's not getting any easier folks... From today's Capitol Communicator -- Ad agency giant Omnicom’s $9 billion merger with Interpublic Group is a done deal. Now, states Business Insider, come the “synergies.” Omnicom CEO John Wren said in media interviews that the total number of acquisition-related layoffs is expected to reach 4,000, with the majority of jobs to go by the end of December. The layoff accounts for about 3% of the company’s combined head count of 128,200 as of the end of 2024, based on regulatory filings. Business Insider reports that since the deal was first announced late last year, “IPG has already shed 3,200 roles, while Omnicom has had about 3,000 job cuts. Omnicom last year set out a “$750 million cost synergy target” related to the merger.

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The most painful moment in PR. Stakeholder wants headlines. Budget is “we’ll see.” The brief is vague. The story is… not. “We need visibility.” “Top-tier media.” “Thought leadership.” What’s new? Silence. Then comes the line every PR professional knows by heart: “Just make it interesting.” 😬 PR isn’t magic. It’s strategy, timing, substance… and occasionally explaining that being alive isn’t news. Back to reframing reality.

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🚨 AI is changing search and brands need to adapt. 🚨 Learn how organic content, topical authority and engaging conversations are key to thriving in this new landscape. Read on for insights from our experts. #AISearch #SEO #GEO #DigitalMarketing

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Some suggestions for how AI can drive innovation in PR, one of the most important is ensuring human oversight and an ethical framework https://bit.ly/4eOghmU

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"AI is ‘breaking’ entry-level jobs that Gen Z workers need to launch careers, LinkedIn exec warns", Fortune writes. I completely disagree. People trust people. People purchase from people. People build community with people. AI excels in many areas. It may successfully outline an article or autocorrect your grammatical errors. However, it cannot convey human emotions or empathize like a real person. An actual human being must execute your sales funnel if you want to generate qualified leads. AI is not coming for your job. However, someone who uses AI will do your job better. Alt headline: "Gen Z Empowers AI to Transform Entry-Level Administrative Tasks into Career Launchpads" More on the fable of copywriter vs AI: https://lnkd.in/gjD2vcrR #AI #SalesFunnel #copywriting #GenZ

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Many C-suite colleagues believe that AI can replace content strategists. Part of this thinking is rooted in an ongoing lack of understanding about Content Strategy capability and its importance to successful messaging. Copywriting comprises a small percentage of overall content strategy tasks. Yes, AI can help streamline certain processes within the content life cycle. But when it comes down to connecting with users, having a human content strategist in the loop will ensure successful messaging.

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Let's talk about AI search and how it's impacting everything we do. I think it's pretty clear -- Google rank doesn't mean nearly as much anymore. Comms leaders, content managers: How are you communicating these changes internally and getting the rest of the organization on board with 'how we *should* do things today'?

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Data, AI, and technology often grab the headlines. But driving strategic objectives still comes down to something more fundamental: Storytelling. I recently got to work with the talented communications team at American Cancer Society exploring how stories help convey complex ideas in ways people actually remember. We discussed four qualities that make storytelling such an effective communication tool: • Compelling – it captures attention • Memorable – it stays with people long after the message • Relatable – audiences see themselves in the narrative • Repeatable – the story becomes easy to share with others But the most interesting part of the workshop was a simple exercise we called “story mining.” In small groups, the team reflected on moments from their everyday work — interactions, challenges, breakthroughs — that might otherwise get buried. Within minutes, powerful stories started to surface. The lesson was clear: Organizations doing meaningful work rarely lack great stories. More often, they lack the time and space to uncover them. #StrategicCommunications #Storytelling #Leadership

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