The nst blog

Every year the Super Bowl not only brings iconic football to our screens, but iconic commercials as well – and this year was no different. 2020 was largely defined by a social justice movement and the COVID-19 pandemic, which changed…

Search engine optimization (SEO) has come a long way since the old days of keyword stuffing and link purchasing. As algorithms get smarter and search engines rely more heavily on artificial intelligence, it is important to adjust your SEO strategy…

Let’s face it, the COVID-19 pandemic has put most of us in front of our computers for hours on end. In person meetings are replaced with Zoom sessions, and even networking opportunities have gone virtual. With fewer opportunities to reach…

A recent report by global PR firm Weber Shandwick quantified a belief long preached by PR practitioners around the globe – reputation is (nearly) everything. In the “State of Corporate Reputation” report, the authors noted “corporate reputation is an invaluable…

Public relations professionals often hope a local story they are pitching makes national news. On some occasions, the opposite situation presents itself and we are challenged to make a national story work locally in order to be more effective at…

Important things to remember when formulating your pitch As communications professionals, we understand the importance of a strong media pitch and outreach plan. In today’s information-heavy world, it’s important for organizations to set themselves apart by expanding their reach and…

While most of California’s local elected officials serve only as part-time mayors and councilmembers, they are responsible for representing the interests of thousands of their fellow citizens and must educate themselves on a wide-range of policy issues. The challenge of…

On behalf of NST client, the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP), our team is charged with the Herculean task of educating roughly 40 million California residents about a deadly citrus tree disease called Huanglongbing (HLB) and the pest…

At some point, companies may take a look at their current visual branding and think “this doesn’t really reflect who we are anymore.” They may have hobbled along with a just-OK logo, but realized its shortcomings over time. Or maybe the company…

It has been two years since I last wrote about the importance of defining an organizational purpose, or the end benefit to people or society at large. During that time, I’ve seen many people move from skeptics to supporters as…

Year over year, brands are spending more on influencer marketing campaigns. Even if you think you’re not familiar with an influencer campaign – you’ve likely been exposed to one. Brands partner with bloggers who create content for their blog, YouTube…

We live in a confusing time when it comes to data privacy and security. While many of us want more protection and security, surveys have shown that people are willing to give that up if they understand the end benefit…