How AI Will Affect SEO
AI seems a bit scary but it will come with some benefits and trust us when we say it will come. People are already utilizing artificial intelligence in advertising and marketing. It’s pretty much inevitable that it will become part of our daily lives in the not so distant future. So, with that, how will it affect SEO? This is what we found.
AI seems a bit scary but it will come with some benefits and trust us when we say it will come. People are already utilizing artificial intelligence in advertising and marketing. It’s pretty much inevitable that it will become part of our daily lives in the not so distant future. So, with that, how will it affect SEO? This is what we found.
1. Better user experience: improved personalized content and quality of interactions
2. Voice search optimization: with Siri, Alexa and Google Home voice search has improved
3. Greater understanding of language: provides more accurate answers to user questions
4. Accuracy: because AI can analyze massive amounts of data at once it makes it easier for search engines to provide precise results.
As uncomfortable as it may be for some, AI isn’t going anywhere. In fact, chances are we’re just getting started. Sometimes if you can’t beat em’, join em’. AI can provide benefits for business other than a positive tool for SEO performance.
Paternity Leave at Ad Agencies
“Fathers who get longer paternity leave have been shown to have an even closer relationship with child for a lifetime,” according to an study done by Petts, Knoester and Waldfogel. When we’re talking about equality for all, it’s important to consider the fact that some fathers want to spend these first few months with their newborn. Yes, mothers need the time to recover from birth, etc. but is it not fair to offer men some leave in order to bond with their family in those formidable moments?
“Fathers who get longer paternity leave have been shown to have an even closer relationship with child for a lifetime,” according to an study done by Petts, Knoester and Waldfogel. When we’re talking about equality for all, it’s important to consider the fact that some fathers want to spend these first few months with their newborn. Yes, mothers need the time to recover from birth, etc. but is it not fair to offer men some leave in order to bond with their family in those formidable moments? In the past few years, men have been given the chance to take paternity leave for 6 months or more but still report feeling “pressure” to return sooner. Also, it should be taken into consideration that mothers need help parenting as well. It’s been a long time coming. As they have strived for equality on all fronts they have somehow ended up being left with the remains of an old paradigm that she is the one to take care of the home. Women are now expected to work, still be a mother, be a wife, and all-around superwoman. It’s exhausting. Paternity leave isn’t only for fathers to bond with their newborns, it’s a chance for equality within the home. A home where women are no longer considered to be the main stakeholder in all things that are part of a “home.” This parental leave promotes equal parenting dynamics and moves away from the one-sided dynamics of raising children. Parental leave and maternity leave should go hand-in-hand in the society that we live in today.
Successful Business Partnerships
A business partnership is like a relationship. Success depends on communication, negotiation/compromise, collaboration and mutual investment. Turns out, “65% of businesses fail due to conflict and relationship breakdown between partners,” according to Harvard Business School. Both relationships and business partnerships are complicated so it’s important to follow some guidelines in order to be successful.
A business partnership is like a relationship. Success depends on communication, negotiation/compromise, collaboration and mutual investment. Turns out, “65% of businesses fail due to conflict and relationship breakdown between partners,” according to Harvard Business School. Both relationships and business partnerships are complicated so it’s important to follow some guidelines in order to be successful.
1. Create a strong foundation: draft a co-owner agreement where all parties are clear on how things will be run. How will decisions be made? How will profits be split? Have uncomfortable conversations now to avoid turmoil later. Be upfront and honest in the beginning and keep that ball rolling throughout your time as a partner.
2. Discuss long-term goals: this is a BIG one. Knowing what each other’s goals are will be important. You will want someone with similar values and fully committed to getting there together.
3. Clear communication and act like an adult: it’s inevitable that conflict will arise. How you handle it will speak volumes about you as a leader. Listen, respect your partner(s) and take responsibility for your own mistakes.
4. Lay out strengths and weaknesses of each partner: one of the benefits to a business partnership is that they complement you with things you may lack.
These are just a few of many guidelines to follow when creating a business partnership. We’ve only listed a few of our top points. The advantage of a successful business partnership includes: new perspectives, extra support, possible expanded expertise, varied incomes, shared expenses, etc. The list goes on and on. However, that being said there are some typical pitfalls, such as personality conflicts but if you follow good guidelines when creating the partnership, they will be avoided.
Co-Branding
We’ve all heard of branding so what is co-branding? It’s just as it sounds really. It’s a marketing strategy in which two (or more) parties work together in order to increase visibility and profits while reducing costs. It has mutual benefits to both parties and typically between two brands that have interests that align. There is one difference here that makes it co-branding and not co-marketing and that is that the partnership is created in order to promote a new product or service. Co-marketing is a partnership between two parties where they promote existing services/products or a one off. So, why use co-branding? The benefits include those listed above as well as increasing customer base, perceived value, loyalty and creation of higher quality products/services. There are some distinct co-branding strategies.
We’ve all heard of branding so what is co-branding? It’s just as it sounds really. It’s a marketing strategy in which two (or more) parties work together in order to increase visibility and profits while reducing costs. It has mutual benefits to both parties and typically between two brands that have interests that align. There is one difference here that makes it co-branding and not co-marketing and that is that the partnership is created in order to promote a new product or service. Co-marketing is a partnership between two parties where they promote existing services/products or a one off. So, why use co-branding? The benefits include those listed above as well as increasing customer base, perceived value, loyalty and creation of higher quality products/services. There are some distinct co-branding strategies.
1. Joint venture: focuses on value addition as two or more brands create an alliance to present a product to the target audience.
2. Sponsor: this is where brands work together in tech, promotions, sales at events, such as concerts etc.
3. National to local: a local, small business links up with a national one in order to increase brand awareness.
4. Same company: this is where multiple in-house brands develop and promote a single product/service. This can improve perceptions of each part of the partnership.
5. Ingredient: this is when a brand’s product is marketed as a separate entity.
Co-branding is a low-risk, high-reward partnership. If your brand is looking to increase awareness, reach out to other like-minded brands to create a partnership. Put a list together of people your brand would benefits from working with and vice versa. Then, you can brainstorm possible ideas for the alliance.
Persuasion Tactics: The Rhetorical Triangle
At the heart of all persuasion tactics are the age-old Ethos, Lagos and Pathos. But, when we think of these tactics, we don’t necessarily think of The Rhetorical Triangle. Around 2,000 years ago, Aristotle taught these in order to improve a speaker’s ability to persuade an audience. But, in advertising, they invoke action taken by the viewer. The three of these are called the “three pillars of persuasion” in the ad world.
At the heart of all persuasion tactics are the age-old Ethos, Lagos and Pathos. But, when we think of these tactics, we don’t necessarily think of The Rhetorical Triangle. Around 2,000 years ago, Aristotle taught these in order to improve a speaker’s ability to persuade an audience. But, in advertising, they invoke action taken by the viewer. The three of these are called the “three pillars of persuasion” in the ad world. Seems that some things stand the test of time and are still very effective today. Let’s take a look at what each one entails.
Ethos: This appeals to the credibility of the speaker to persuade the audience with authority. This can be through a celebrity endorsement or even an expert in a field. This is to create a sense of trust and connection through ethics. The person used to appeal to ethos must be presented in a way that shows their credibility through professional, academic or authorial credentials.
Pathos: This appeals to the heart through emotional connection. It also uses the sympathetic imagination as well as beliefs and value systems. Think of what we do. UGC and/or Found Content creates an emotional response through the created content by real people. Others can relate to it and connect with it on a deeper level. When someone creates an ad using pathos their words are chosen wisely to invoke specific emotions.
Lagos: This appeals to logic, reason and fact of the viewer. This can rely heavily on data, statistics, tables, numbers, facts, etc. When creating an ad using Lagos it is presented in a clear and concise manner. Connections between ideas and facts are presented as well as historical analogies. There will be no holes in the argument.
When making an ad, creatives don’t necessarily have to stick with just one of these, they can mix in a couple. These techniques work so it’s important to understand them. I mean, think about it, they have been around for like 2,000 years. If they didn’t then brands wouldn’t still be using them today.
Decision Making in Business
We’ve all had to make tough decisions in life at one time or another. Whether it be in our professional or personal lives, the process is always the same. It always involves identifying the goal, collecting all the relevant information and finally, weighing out the options to make the best choice. The benefit to making sound decisions is that they will stand the test of time, they weigh out all possible outcomes, they can eliminate conflicts of interest, it creates less second-guessing and provides somewhat of a roadmap. There are so many types of decision-making models out there. Ethical, formal, 5/6/7/8 step processes, analytical hierarchy process, rational, managerial, etc. The list goes on and on. Your goal can help determine your process. Let’s just look at the 8-step decision making process as an example.
We’ve all had to make tough decisions in life at one time or another. Whether it be in our professional or personal lives, the process is always the same. It always involves identifying the goal, collecting all the relevant information and finally, weighing out the options to make the best choice. The benefit to making sound decisions is that they will stand the test of time, they weigh out all possible outcomes, they can eliminate conflicts of interest, it creates less second-guessing and provides somewhat of a roadmap. There are so many types of decision-making models out there. Ethical, formal, 5/6/7/8 step processes, analytical hierarchy process, rational, managerial, etc. The list goes on and on. Your goal can help determine your process. Let’s just look at the 8-step decision making process as an example.
1. Identify goal
2. Gather relevant information
3. Determine criteria for critiquing alternatives
4. Brainstorm all options
5. Compare alternatives (pros/cons)
6. Make your decision
7. Execute decision
8. Evaluate decision after implementation
Being strategic when making decisions is crucial. It’s important not to overthink but to appropriately analyze. Pragmatic decisions are made from using a systematic process that will guide you along to the right outcome.
Digital Privacy
Digital privacy has been a hot button topic for a while now since third party cookies were removed from Google. Digital privacy is not only important for individuals, it’s important for brands as well. Every action that we take is tracked. We all leave a digital footprint that can identify us. It’s for this reason that it can be easily stolen. That being said, one of the most important reasons that brands must protect their data is because they collect multitudes of data on every customer they have.
Digital privacy has been a hot button topic for a while now since third party cookies have been phasing out on Google with their official start date of zero third party cookies in 2024. Digital privacy is not only important for individuals, it’s important for brands as well. Every action that we take is tracked. We all leave a digital footprint that can identify us. It’s for this reason that it can be easily stolen. That being said, one of the most important reasons that brands must protect their data is because they collect multitudes of data on every customer they have. It’s not only the brand’s data it’s their entire audience’s information as well. We’ve all heard of data breaches that have happened on a mass scale and millions of peoples private banking information was stolen. It’s this reason that businesses must have high digital privacy practices. There have been a ton of bills that people have tried to pass in D.C. but all to no avail from disagreements. That means it is up to the organizations to protect digital data. This is where data solutions companies come into play. They are outsourced and they specialize in data security, such as Threat Detection and Response that helps employees monitor possible threats. It’s also important that your staff be trained on data security. It’s crucial for your brand to understand the possible threats of data leaks in order to prevent the PR nightmare that it will be if it occurs. Not to mention the millions it could cost to reverse the damages.
What’s the Difference Between UGC and Stock Footage?
At this point we should all know what user-generated content is but for those of you that may not… UGC is any content created by consumers and brand advocates in a natural and organic way that typically has nothing to do with the brand in particular. It can be video, photos, music, art, and even blogs. The benefits of using UGC in advertising is paramount and extremely effective in creating emotional connections with brand audiences. It creates trust through transparency.
At this point we should all know what user-generated content is but for those of you that may not… UGC is any content created by consumers and brand advocates in a natural and organic way that typically has nothing to do with the brand in particular. It can be video, photos, music, art, and even blogs. The benefits of using UGC in advertising is paramount and extremely effective in creating emotional connections with brand audiences. It creates trust through transparency. So, what is the difference between UGC and stock footage. Stock footage is produced content that was created for the sole purpose of reuse in advertising, marketing, film, etc. UGC is organically created and unproduced. Stock footage is produced and people can see the differences between the two if you set them side by side. There are tons of stock footage libraries online and we work with some of them on particular briefs for our partners. However, since the audience can tell an obvious difference, we only pursue stock footage for briefs that call for it... There is a place for stock footage, but we prefer organically sourced user-generated content in order to create strengthened trust from audience to brand.
Digital Brand Protection
We’ve written articles on brand reputation in the past and how important it is to success. That being said, the digital space can ruin it in mere seconds. So, how do brands go about protecting their name on the internet? Well, there are so many variables to be considered, such as reviews, cyberattack, etc. but the short answer is digital brand protection. It is simply defined as the efforts of a brand to protect its intellectual properties, such as name, logo and any content related to the brand online, although it is much more complicated than it sounds. Here are some things that a brand will have to look out for when protecting their IP’s online:
We’ve written articles on brand reputation in the past and how important it is to success. That being said, the digital space can ruin it in mere seconds. So, how do brands go about protecting their name on the internet? Well, there are so many variables to be considered, such as reviews, cyberattack, etc. but the short answer is digital brand protection. It is simply defined as the efforts of a brand to protect its intellectual properties, such as name, logo and any content related to the brand online, although it is much more complicated than it sounds. Here are some things that a brand will have to look out for when protecting their IP’s online:
1. Fake website
2. Counterfeit products/services
3. Trademark abuse
4. Copyright infringement
5. Social media impersonation or impersonation on any level digitally
Here are some best practices to ensure that your brand is doing all it can to protect the brand online.
1. Register copyright, trademarks and patents
2. Establish monitoring
3. Secure your social media handles
4. Have NDA’s in place
If you don’t feel that you have the man power to keep up with digital protection then that’s ok. There are plenty of companies to outsource protection from. They will cover everything from keyword monitoring to pattern recognition to find counterfeit listings. Not only do they monitor they will remove them and report them in order to keep your brand name intact. Aside, from this it’s your job to keep your online brand reputation upheld through reviews and social media engagements. In the digital era that we live in today, all of these are crucial to a brand’s success.
Economic Trends
Yesterday we wrote an article on the economic cycles, so what is the difference between that and an economic trend? A trend is the direction that the market is moving over time. The cycle, as we learned yesterday, is the different periods that the economy goes through. Economic trends show you what part of the economic cycle we are moving towards. Trends can go up, down or sideways. Upward is how it sounds, and wages are rising. Downward means that the economy is shrinking and unemployment is rising. Sideways just means it’s a steady economy. There are some indicators to look at in the market to see what trend may be occurring, such as gross domestic product, unemployment and consumer confidence. Others include:
Yesterday we wrote an article on the economic cycles, so what is the difference between that and an economic trend? A trend is the direction that the market is moving over time. The cycle, as we learned yesterday, is the different periods that the economy goes through. Economic trends show you what part of the economic cycle we are moving towards. Trends can go up, down or sideways. Upward is how it sounds, and wages are rising. Downward means that the economy is shrinking and unemployment is rising. Sideways just means it’s a steady economy. There are some indicators to look at in the market to see what trend may be occurring, such as gross domestic product, unemployment and consumer confidence. Others include:
· Stock market trends
· Interest rates
· News
It’s important to track trends in the market if you’re in business. It can help you make better decisions, plan and identify opportunities. That being said, it’s important not to focus too heavily and get tunnel vision on the market. This can lead to missed opportunities and making the wrong assumptions. A happy medium needs to be achieved to be successful at tracking economic trends.
Economic Cycles
“Change is the only thing that is constant”
-Heraclitus
Economies cycle between expansions and contractions naturally. These changes are due to employment levels, interest rates, supply and demand, etc. There are four stages in the cyclic pattern: expansion, peak, contraction and trough. Expansion is when GPD is increasing and unemployment is decreasing. The peak is a turning point in which output begins to decrease. Contraction or recession is defined as output decreasing and unemployment increasing. The trough is where recession ends and output begins increasing again. We can dive a little deeper into the characteristics each of these.
“Change is the only thing that is constant”
-Heraclitus
Economies cycle between expansions and contractions naturally. These changes are due to employment levels, interest rates, supply and demand, etc. There are four stages in the cyclic pattern: expansion, peak, contraction and trough. Expansion is when GPD is increasing and unemployment is decreasing. The peak is a turning point in which output begins to decrease. Contraction or recession is defined as output decreasing and unemployment increasing. The trough is where recession ends and output begins increasing again. We can dive a little deeper into the characteristics each of these.
Expansion:
Rapid growth
Low interest rates
Increased production
Steady flow of money through economy
Cost of money cheap
Peak:
Growth hits max rate
GPD spending at highest level
Contraction
Employment falls
Prices stagnate
Surplus supply
Lowering prices
Trough/recession:
Stagnated spending
Stagnated income
Credit hard to attain
Low business sales
Caused by:
Shock or unexpected event or time
Government intervention
Time
These cyclical patterns are part of the economy. It’s important to understand them if you’re in any type of business. The economy will directly affect your brand.
Carbon Accounting
Carbon accounting has become an important aspect of businesses attempting to reduce their carbon footprint and have more ethical values. Consumers want greener brands that they can support while still being able to sleep at night. A lot of people have refused to back brands that aren’t nowadays. We completely support this and realize that carbon accounting is crucial for brands. And no, not just so your audience will like you, so corporations are helping do their part to make the planet a better place. So, how does carbon accounting work?
Carbon accounting has become an important aspect of businesses attempting to reduce their carbon footprint and have more ethical values. Consumers want greener brands that they can support while still being able to sleep at night. A lot of people have refused to back brands that aren’t nowadays. We completely support this and realize that carbon accounting is crucial for brands. And no, not just so your audience will like you, so corporations are helping do their part to make the planet a better place. So, how does carbon accounting work?
GHG Emissions Data Measurement: will require a tool to do calculations through translating business activities and brand characteristics into emissions outputs.
Scope 1 (Direct Emissions): things that your brand burns. Fuel to heat & power buildings, vehicles, etc. These are direct emissions from combustible fuels.
Stationary sources: buildings that burn fuel
Mobile: vehicles that burn fuel or other types of powered tools
Fugitive (refrigeration): chemicals released from equipment, such as AC and refrigeration
Fugitive (fire suppression): chemicals released from fire suppression
Scope 2 (Indirect): come from purchased electricity, steam, heating or cooling.
Electricity: look at utility bill for usage in kWh.
Steam, heat and cooling: know how it’s produced from providers.
Scope 3: largest share of carbon emissions. Everything it takes to create your product. They’re indirectly generated by brands. Business travel, commutes, waste disposal, transportation, distribution, etc.
Upstream: things that it takes to make your product
Downstream: everything to consume your product
We know, this was a lot to take in. Seems like a whole lot of hoopla in order to help climate change. Good news. There are so many companies out there that are made just for this. Your brand can outsource everything in terms of carbon accounting. They use software and help you understand what it is so that you can start to make little changes that will make a BIG difference.
Developing Mental Toughness
Grit, perseverance, resilience… What is mental toughness and why is it important at work? We know it when we see it but it’s very hard to define. We typically think of athletes who just refuse to give up but the same kind of mental toughness can be seen in CEO’s and those in high position roles. If you think you’re lacking in the mental fortitude don’t stress, studies say that it’s a trait that can be learned. Mental toughness includes keeping cool under pressure, staying strong in your self-belief, motivating yourself and maintaining focus on what matters. According to Paul Lyons, founder of Mental Toughness Partners, the 4 C’s are key to having mental toughness.
Grit, perseverance, resilience… What is mental toughness and why is it important at work? We know it when we see it but it’s very hard to define. We typically think of athletes who just refuse to give up but the same kind of mental toughness can be seen in CEO’s and those in high position roles. If you think you’re lacking in the mental fortitude don’t stress, studies say that it’s a trait that can be learned. Mental toughness includes keeping cool under pressure, staying strong in your self-belief, motivating yourself and maintaining focus on what matters. According to Paul Lyons, founder of Mental Toughness Partners, the 4 C’s are key to having mental toughness.
1. Control: this is rooted in self-esteem and stems from keeping control over your emotions
2. Commitment: effectively set goals and achieve them consistently
3. Challenge: adaptability and seeing challenges as opportunities to learn something
4. Confidence: how much do you believe in yourself?
So, if you find yourself having trouble with some of these how can you improve in those areas? Here are some ways to improve on your mental toughness at work and in life.
1. Focus on the long term
2. Seek constructive feedback
3. Find meaning in challenges in your work life
4. Consistency
Mental grit can be built through small actions every day. It can mean just delivering work early for 4 weeks in a row. It can be adapting to professional challenges while remaining cool under the pressure of a pressing deadline. Remember, motivation is fickle. Determination is where it’s at and this is how you will create consistency in your professional life. It’s by sticking to that routine despite how you may feel. It’s through jumping right back on the wagon if you fall off. It’s not that those who are mentally tough are that way because they choose the easy route. Chances are they’ve taken the harder road in order to grow exponentially.
Creating Your Management Philosophy
We’ve written an article on the different types of leadership styles so how does one go about creating a management philosophy? It will first depend on who you are and your goals as a leader. It’s important to have a managing philosophy in order to stay grounded. It’s your compass and you will feel more confident as a leader. Here are some other things to consider when creating your management philosophy.
We’ve written an article on the different types of leadership styles so how does one go about creating a management philosophy? It will first depend on who you are and your goals as a leader. It’s important to have a managing philosophy in order to stay grounded. It’s your compass and you will feel more confident as a leader. Here are some other things to consider when creating your management philosophy.
1. Think about leaders who inspire you and why
2. Consider your values and behaviors that are important to you
3. How can you inspire a productive work environment?
4. How do you want to be seen as a leader?
5. Do you know which leadership style you embody?
6. Focus on positive experiences you may have had leading
7. Keep growth in mind when creating
Now it’s time to sit down and ask yourself these questions. Write your answers down and come up with a list of things that you want to include in your management philosophy. Brainstorm these ideas and expand on them. It doesn’t all have to be done in one day and your list can change over time as your leadership goals do.
Types of Bonds That Drive Brand Loyalty
Brand loyalty is crucial to success. Not to mention, it’s the best type of advertising through WOM. Brands that have a solid community through brand loyalty understand their customers on a deep level. They seek out this information in order to know what makes their audience tick. Loyalists can be either hard core, split, shifting, or switchers. You want hard core but that won’t always be the case.
Brand loyalty is crucial to success. Not to mention, it’s the best type of advertising through WOM. Brands that have a solid community through brand loyalty understand their customers on a deep level. They seek out this information in order to know what makes their audience tick. Loyalists can be either hard core, split, shifting, or switchers. You want hard core but that won’t always be the case.
1. Hard core: just as it sounds. They only buy from your brand
2. Split: people who use a few brands
3. Shifting: people who move from one to another
4. Switchers: people with no sense of loyalty to any brand
There are a few types of bonds that drive brand loyalty.
1. Convenience: how convenient is your product or service for people to obtain?
2. Promotional: your brand can outspend its competitors and drown out other brands to somewhat monopolize the industry.
3. Superiority: how much quality does your brand provide? Think to Apple and how those who love Apple will only buy Apple. They will never consider a PC as an option. They feel it is far superior to PC. Side Note: we are some of those people…
4. Trail Blazers: is your brand the first to do something? If so, the relationships that your brand forms with its audience will be strong.
5. Ethical: this is especially important in today’s society. People want to support brand that are transparent about their values and it builds trust.
With brand loyalty repeat purchases drive business. Champions of brand loyalty will always succeed.
No Mow May
What is “No Mow May?” This new monthly trend for the month of May this year is for the planet health. Although it started in 2019 in the UK, we’ve really only been hearing the term thrown around a lot this year. The idea is that people are allowing their lawns to grow without mowing, watering or fertilizing. Yes, your lawn may look a mess but it’s for a good cause. It helps bees get an early boost with flower growth. It’s estimated that roughly 80% of lawns taking part support about 400 bees per day.
What is “No Mow May?” This new monthly trend for the month of May this year is for the planet health. Although it started in 2019 in the UK, we’ve really only been hearing the term thrown around a lot this year. The idea is that people are allowing their lawns to grow without mowing, watering or fertilizing. Yes, your lawn may look a mess but it’s for a good cause. It helps bees get an early boost with flower growth. It’s estimated that roughly 80% of lawns taking part support about 400 bees per day. It will also decrease pollution from lawn mowers and why would you even want to use chemicals on your lawn to begin with honestly? We know that this doesn’t have much to do with advertising or user-generated content but businesses can take part in this as well. Brands can also promote this through advertising and WOM marketing in order to increase the number of people participating to do good for the planet. We got to this article a little late this year but hey, better late than never. Next year we’ll be shouting to the rooftops about “No Mow May” earlier. And who knows, maybe you will decide to go with less lawn to support sustainability causes.
Neurodiversity in the Workplace
Did you know that 15-20% of people are estimated to be neurodivergent? We know, it sounds like something from the movies, but it is a real term. It describes, “the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one ‘right’ way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits,” according to Harvard Health. This includes conditions, such as ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger syndrome, dyspraxia and autism.
Did you know that 15-20% of people are estimated to be neurodivergent? We know, it sounds like something from the movies, but it is a real term. It describes, “the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one ‘right’ way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits,” according to Harvard Health. This includes conditions, such as ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger syndrome, dyspraxia and autism. When most of think of DEI we think of POC, women and multi-cultural workplaces. However, this should extend to neurodiversity as well and most businesses have done so in the past decade. There are many advantages that come with hiring individuals from diverse backgrounds and neurodiverse people can bring many new and different perspectives. Although individuals on the spectrum may have social quirks different from most people, they tend to be highly productive and their IQ’s are insane. According to a report done by JPMorgan Chase, professionals with autism made fewer errors and were 90-140% more productive than neurotypical employees,” in an article by Forbes. So, if you’re an employer looking to diversify your team it’s important to understand how to make your business more neurodiverse-friendly. Here are some ways to help with communication for you and your team.
Use clear communication:
Concise verbal and written communications
Avoid sarcasm and euphemisms
Try to give plenty of notice if things are changing around the office and reasons for it
This one should be done anyway…
Be kind and patient
Allow for sound sensitivity breaks:
Provide head phones or quiet spaces
Allow for fidget toys and movement breaks
Never make assumptions
Again, this is something that shouldn’t be done in general in the workplace with neurodiverse or neurotypical people. Clear communication is key
Neurodiversity is somewhat of a new concept and was coined during the 90’s social justice movement by Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist. Neurodiversity advocates for inclusive language that is nonjudgmental. Most people that are on the spectrum prefer to be identified as first person, such as “an autistic person” and not a person with autism. That being said, one should always ask. It’s time to start expanding the notion of DEI to include neurodiversity that is crucial for innovation within business.
Ways to Support AAPI Heritage Month 2023
Every May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Bet you didn’t know that it was originally a week and President Jimmy Carter was the one who designated it into law in 1978. In 1990 George Bush extended it to an entire month and in 2009 Obama changed the name to its current one. AAPI are the fastest growing group in the United States according to the Pew Research Center. Here are some ways to support the AAPI communities not just this month but all year long.
Every May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Bet you didn’t know that it was originally a week and President Jimmy Carter was the one who designated it into law in 1978. In 1990 George Bush extended it to an entire month and in 2009 Obama changed the name to its current one. AAPI are the fastest growing group in the United States according to the Pew Research Center. Here are some ways to support the AAPI communities not just this month but all year long.
1. Frequent AAPI owned businesses
2. Learn the difference between Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
3. Read books written by AAPI authors
4. Visit an AAPI History Museum
5. Learn how to pronounce common Asian names
6. Help stop violence against AAPI
7. Fight for salary gaps in the work place
8. Support AAPI curriculums in schools
9. Teach children about racism and diversity
During the pandemic Asian hate grew around the world. It’s especially important to help these communities feel safer through our actions. This year’s theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity” to help elevate AAPI careers. On social media use some AAPI hashtags when promoting their heritage this month.
Content Intelligence
This is a new term being thrown around in the digital space but what is it exactly? It’s a technique that uses AI and software to measure the impact of content in order to give insights on what content should be used the most according to effectiveness. I mean, we do it all the time when we check the insights on Instagram from our posts. This is a human example of creating content intelligence. The beauty of using software & AI is that it streamlines the process for you. Typically, software includes metrics/reporting, analysis, automation and management tools for your brand content. Some benefits include:
This is a new term being thrown around in the digital space but what is it exactly? It’s a technique that uses AI and software to measure the impact of content in order to give insights on what content should be used the most according to effectiveness. I mean, we do it all the time when we check the insights on Instagram from our posts. This is a human example of creating content intelligence. The beauty of using software & AI is that it streamlines the process for you. Typically, software includes metrics/reporting, analysis, automation and management tools for your brand content. Some benefits include:
1. Understanding what type of content your audience enjoys
2. Reduces guess work and takes less man power
3. It makes your content user centric
4. Predicting how content will perform
5. Increases visitors and engagement
We know that a lot of people are sneering at the idea of artificial intelligence but for some purposes it can help businesses be more efficient. This is one of those times. So, how do brands go about finding the right content intelligence programs? Here are some things to look for when searching for software.
1. Real time data collection
2. Management tools
3. Content creation assistance
4. Automated repetitive processes
5. Audience and competitor insights
6. Third party integrations
There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing which one to go with. Some of them include Semrush, Contently, and even IBM has one now. Content is king in the digital space now and content intelligence will help you navigate this space more efficiently. Happy hunting.
Adaptive Leadership
Think about the two words here. Adaptive: the ability to make suitable requirements or conditions; adjust or modify fittingly. Leadership: person who guides or directs a group. Put these two together. Someone who guides others through their ability to adjust or modify fittingly to the situations. Why is this important? Businesses are constantly changing with their respective fields so it’s vital to have leaders that can do the same. They should also be able to somewhat predict challenges that may arise, what risks are worth taking and they are open to constructive feedback. Adaptive leaders embody the 4 A’s:
Think about the two words here. Adaptive: the ability to make suitable requirements or conditions; adjust or modify fittingly. Leadership: person who guides or directs a group. Put these two together. Someone who guides others through their ability to adjust or modify fittingly to the situations. Why is this important? Businesses are constantly changing with their respective fields so it’s vital to have leaders that can do the same. They should also be able to somewhat predict challenges that may arise, what risks are worth taking and they are open to constructive feedback. Adaptive leaders embody the 4 A’s:
1. Anticipation of future needs and trends
2. Articulation of needs to get support and action from business
3. Adaptation for constant learning and adjust when needed
4. Accountability of their actions and willingness to take on challenges
COVID 19 really brought out the adaptive leaders in the world. Those that were able to take on this massive change that went worldwide and still keep their businesses thriving understand how to be an adaptive leader on a deeper level. They embody certain unique traits.
1. Emotional intelligence
2. Organizational justice
3. Development
4. Character
As with any style of leadership there are some pros and cons. Some pros are that change is anticipated, welcomed, all opinions are considered and the team’s strengths are effectively applied. Some cons are that there is a heavy emphasis on rules or structure and decisions can be made more hastily. With this style of leadership solutions to challenges within the company may take more time than a single decision. That being said, we really like the concept of adaptive leadership.