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Blog  /  12.01.2023

Immersion Sessions
and Discovery:
Laying the Foundation for Stronger, More Strategic Client-Agency Partnerships

Immersion sessions and Discovery are essential first steps in crafting an enduring partnership between an agency and clients — opening a collaborative dialogue, ensuring alignment from the outset, and providing critical information to inform effective strategies.

Immersion sessions and Discovery are essential first steps in crafting an enduring partnership between an agency and clients — opening a collaborative dialogue, ensuring alignment from the outset, and providing critical information to inform effective strategies.

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Blog  /  10.26.2023

From the CEO’s Desk:
Annual Budgeting for Marketing + PR

With economic uncertainty and shifts in the communications landscape fueled by AI, many organizational leaders question how they should adjust their marketing and PR budgets for 2024. FOVNDRY’s CEO, Laura Van Eperen, shares a simple, proven rule of thumb—and why maintaining a communications budget isn’t just a recommendation, but a proven best practice.

With economic uncertainty and shifts in the communications landscape fueled by AI, many organizational leaders question how they should adjust their marketing and PR budgets for 2024.

FOVNDRY’s CEO, Laura Van Eperen, shares a simple, proven rule of thumb—and why maintaining a communications budget isn’t just a recommendation, but a proven best practice.

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Blog  /  10.17.2023

7 Essential Public Relations Tools

Each interaction with the media is an opportunity to shape or amplify your brand's voice. But knowing which PR tools to use — and how and when to use them — is crucial for navigating the media landscape.

Each interaction with the media is an opportunity to shape or amplify your brand’s voice. But knowing which PR tools to use — and how and when to use them — is crucial for navigating the media landscape. In addition to a full suite of digital tactics, our media experts employ these 7 Essential Public Relations Tools when interacting with the media.

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Blog  /  09.25.2023

Crafting Your 2024 Marketing Strategy

A lot goes into developing an effective communications strategy—and doing it right takes time and resources. From reviewing past performance and uncovering new audience insights, to refining your narrative and establishing a plan for achieving organizational goals, FOVNDRY can help set you up for success in 2024 and beyond.

A lot goes into developing an effective communications strategy—and doing it right takes time and resources. From reviewing past performance and uncovering new audience insights, to refining your narrative and establishing a plan for achieving organizational goals, FOVNDRY can help set you up for success in 2024 and beyond.

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Blog  /  08.24.2023

The Value of an Integrated Communications Agency’s Approach

Marketing. Public Relations. Branding and Creative. Often, these specialties live in silos, operating independently to achieve organizational goals. But truly connecting, engaging with, and inspiring action among audiences requires coordination and collaboration. And in the communications agency world, that approach isn’t always the norm.

Integrated agencies combine the power of individual niche agencies to build thoughtful, cohesive solutions. Breaking down barriers to achieve greater results, we believe the strongest solutions are developed together.

Marketing. Public Relations. Branding and Creative. Often, these specialties live in silos, operating independently to achieve organizational goals. But truly connecting, engaging with, and inspiring action among audiences requires coordination and collaboration. And in the communications agency world, that approach isn’t always the norm.

Integrated agencies combine the power of individual niche agencies to build thoughtful, cohesive solutions. Breaking down barriers to achieve greater results, we believe the strongest solutions are developed together.

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Blog  /  07.11.2023

The Writers’ Block: A Hyphen How-To

Like magnets, hyphens can bring things together in a lot of positive ways—especially when you’re looking to express one idea with two (or more) words. Those little dashes, however, can send a negative message, if used in the wrong way. To get all your written communications in line, follow this quick hyphenated guide for a few hyphen heavy hitters.

Had it with hyphens? Take a look at FOVNDRY’s quick hyphen how-to guide and some rules for a few hyphen heavy hitters.

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Blog  /  06.30.2023

Organic Social Media Strategies That Work

According to Hubspot’s annual State of Marketing report, social media is the top marketing and public relations channel for both B2B and B2C brands in 2023.¹ And, over 90 percent of PR and marketing leaders surveyed are confident that their social media investment in 2023 will bring in a positive ROI, especially in regard to their organic —unpaid—social strategies.² However, for organic social media strategies to be effective in connecting with and converting audiences, critical elements must be applied.

In 2023, organic social remains an essential pillar of a holistic public relations + marketing strategy, and is the leading channel for brand discovery and trust. But not all social media strategies are created equal — organic social requires a unique approach.

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Blog  /  06.09.2023

Making the Switch to GA4

Google’s longtime analytics version, Universal Analytics (UA) will soon be made obsolete by Google Analytics 4 (GA4). Organizations need to have their new GA4 property set up as soon as possible, as UA will stop collecting web analytics data on July 1st. It’s imperative that your organization have both your historic and current data integrated in one platform, GA4, for maximum insights and informed strategies.

Google’s longtime analytics version, Universal Analytics (UA) will soon be made obsolete by Google Analytics 4 (GA4). Organizations need to have their new GA4 property set up as soon as possible, as UA will stop collecting web analytics data on July 1st. It’s imperative that your organization have both your historic and current data integrated in one platform, GA4, for maximum insights and informed strategies.

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Blog  /  09.19.2022

What Is Google’s Helpful Content Update? (And How To Recover From It.)

Why should you be concerned about the Helpful Content Update? Because Google’s algorithms will try to find low-quality information, potentially leading to the demotion of an entire site. There are some things you should do to prevent this from happening or to restore your site if you have already been impacted. If you know your site contains all quality information, you can relax—but be sure to keep an eye on your traffic.

Social media has had a serious evolution over the past 20+ years. From its early days as a simple way to see what our friends were up to, to the powerhouse it’s now become: A powerful education, entertainment, news, and marketing tool—all rolled into one. 

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Blog  /  06.30.2022

World Social Media Day:
Shifting How We Share, One Post At A Time

What do you think of when you hear the words “social media?” For many, paid ads and content creation—crucial strategies for effective marketing—come to mind.

Social media has had a serious evolution over the past 20+ years. From its early days as a simple way to see what our friends were up to, to the powerhouse it’s now become: A powerful education, entertainment, news, and marketing tool—all rolled into one. 

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Blog  /  05.23.2022

Being Part of the Mental Health Conversation: Sharing is (Self) Caring

The pandemic upended our world and lives, and with it brought challenges we have not experienced in our lifetimes. It also brought many of us together (while six feet apart) with empathy and a willingness to share our struggles. And even though Mental Health Month officially ends on May 31, our openness about mental health issues shouldn’t.

In recognition of Mental Health Month, FOVNDRY team members felt it was important to share what they do to support their own mental and emotional wellbeing in hopes of helping others and lessening the stigma.

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Blog  /  04.14.2022

The State of the Local TV Newsroom (Plus, Tips for Pitching to Local TV!)

Is pitching your story idea to the local news media getting you in front of your target audience? As the local media landscape continues to change and consumption habits shift to digital among core audience segments, FOVNDRY PR experts share first-hand insight into the current state of the local broadcast newsroom—and how to break through.

As an established communications consulting firm with full-time, in-house media relations personnel and expertise, we’re tapping into several former TV news journalists turned FOVNDRY PR staff members for valuable insights into the State of the Local TV Newsroom—offering you current tips for garnering local media news coverage.

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Blog  /  04.05.2022

Striving for a Healthier Tomorrow for “Our Planet, Our Health”

On this World Health Day, FOVNDRY is proud to serve several mission-oriented health and science organizations in their dedication to provide accurate, timely information—and pledges to further that commitment in our personal and professional lives in pursuit of a healthier tomorrow.

It’s no secret that throughout this pandemic, healthcare providers, scientists, frontline workers, and others have sacrificed each and every day for the greater good. Yet […]

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Blog  /  03.02.2022

7 Takeaways From A Creative Agency Newbie 

As a budding creative, only beginning what she hopes will become a long and robust career, a junior copywriter condensed some critical knowledge and observations from her first 90 days of agency life.

(Despite the title, these tips are worthwhile for anyone starting a new job—agency or elsewhere.)

Picture this: You’re a bright-eyed, recent college graduate, equipped with a journalism degree and some real-world copywriting experience in hand. You’ve never worked for an […]

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Blog  /  02.03.2022

Thinking Of Rebranding? Here Are Five Good Reasons To Rebrand—The Right Way.

Whether it’s Old Spice repositioning to reach younger audiences with “Not your grandpa’s deodorant”; Dunkin dropping “Donuts” to remind consumers they offer more than just round deep-fried goodness; or the Washington Redskins leaving behind a derogatory term and moving forward with a new unifying Washington Commanders name; there are several major factors that fuel the need for a rebrand.

Whether it’s Old Spice repositioning to reach younger audiences with “Not your grandpa’s deodorant”; Dunkin dropping “Donuts” to remind consumers they offer more than just round deep-fried goodness; or the Washington Redskins leaving behind a derogatory term and moving forward with a new unifying Washington Commanders name; there are several major factors that fuel the need for a rebrand.

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Blog  /  01.28.2022

Five Ways To Increase Your Brand’s Perceived Value. And Why That’s So Important For Your Business. 

When it comes to what your brand has to offer, first impressions are everything. They can be deal-makers—or deal-breakers. So, how does your target audience ultimately make its decision? A lot has to do with a thing called “Perceived Value.”

In marketing and PR, there are many types of “value”: monetary, functional, psychological, and social, just to name just a few. When you take elements […]

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Blog  /  01.21.2022

The Writers’ Block: How to properly use hyphens, en-dashes, and em-dashes

With the language of business becoming more and more conversational, there are a lot of ways to express your point of view. While some punctuation marks have strict rules, others offer more flexibility. FOVNDRY’s content crew shares a few insights when it comes to “making a dash.”

With the language of business becoming more and more conversational, there are a lot of ways to express your point of view. While some punctuation marks have strict rules, others offer more flexibility. FOVNDRY’s content crew shares a few insights when it comes to “making a dash.”

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Blog  /  11.09.2021

Is your PIO ready to go?

How can municipalities best respond and communicate transparently across digital platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor? As local governments implement plans in their communities, supported by Coronavirus recovery funds as part of the American Rescue Plan, now is also the time to evaluate an often-overlooked area of risk in your public information function. FOVNDRY's PIO experts share key considerations for refining your public information plan.

How can municipalities best respond and communicate transparently across digital platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor? As local governments implement plans in their communities, supported by Coronavirus recovery funds as part of the American Rescue Plan, now is also the time to evaluate an often-overlooked area of risk in your public information function. FOVNDRY’s PIO experts share key considerations for refining your public information plan.

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Blog  /  10.25.2021

Communicating Science Through Words and Song

FOVNDRY CEO, Laura Van Eperen, reflects on the dedication and significant contributions of Dr. Francis Collins, director of the NIH. Throughout his career, Dr. Collins has been a trusted voice (whether singing or spoken) in science; we celebrate and thank him for his unwavering commitment to our nation’s health.

FOVNDRY CEO, Laura Van Eperen, reflects on the dedication and significant contributions of Dr. Francis Collins, director of the NIH. Throughout his career, Dr. Collins has been a trusted voice in science; we celebrate and thank him for his unwavering commitment to our nation’s health.

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Blog  /  03.08.2021

International Women’s Day

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we asked a few people around the office for their personal opinions on gender equality and more, including our […]

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Blog  /  02.10.2021

Top 5 Reasons To Partner With Fovndry—A Mid-Atlantic Pr, Marketing, And Creative Agency

We get you. And we’ve got this. For 16 years, FOVNDRY (formerly Van Eperen) has served as a trusted communications advisor across the public and private […]

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Blog  /  02.05.2021

2021 Marketing Communication Trends

With a new year underway, we’re reflecting on 2020. If the year taught us one thing, it was how to manage and adapt to the […]

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Blog  /  01.11.2021

Ready, Set… Wait, Not So Fast. Answer These Questions Before Launching Your Next Communications Campaign

Let’s start with “what is a campaign?” A campaign is defined as an organized course of action to achieve a goal. Whether it’s developing and […]

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Blog  /  12.07.2020

Be Color Brave: Hold Your Organization To Racial Equity Standards

We are beyond our time to move the needle on increasing Black and brown representation in the workplace, specifically in the C-suite and corporate boards. […]

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Blog  /  11.12.2020

Digital Series – Part 3: You’ve Built It; Will They Come?

Now that you have assessed your current business landscape and decided to build or enhance your digital marketing strategy, it’s time to effectively implement channels and tactics, measure your success, and learn how to make informed decisions based on consumer behavior and data analysis.

In Part Three of our “Changing Your Business Model to Survive” series, we will discuss the best digital marketing practices for the optimizing reach and […]

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Blog  /  10.21.2020

Digital Series – Part 2: Building Your Online Business, Behind The Scenes

Now that you have decided to build your digital strategy, what’s next? In Part Two of our “Changing Your Business Model to Survive” series, we’ll […]

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Blog  /  10.09.2020

Just Like The Scouts—Be Prepared

In the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook, the motto of “be prepared” was explained this way: “A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she […]

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Blog  /  09.29.2020

Shifting Into Social Responsibility

It’s one thing to be nimble; it’s another to be authentic.

How many times have you heard or used the words “pivot” and “shift” over the past six months? Probably too many to count. In March, campaigns that […]

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Blog  /  09.28.2020

For The Record: Six Tips Every Spokesperson Needs To Know Before Their Next Media Interview

A reporter’s request for an interview just came in. You have the topic and the deadline. Is your spokesperson ready?

For more than 15 years, FOVNDRY (formerly Van Eperen) has helped clients navigate their way through it all—whether it was their first or fortieth media […]

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Blog  /  08.24.2020

Digital Series – Part 1: Less Knocking. More Clicking.

Adapting your digital doorstep for a better customer experience.

It’s impossible to deny that the pandemic has changed business as we know it. And it may be a while before things ever return to […]

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Blog  /  07.13.2020

Change Begins Within

Here are five internal ways to strengthen commitments to the Black community.

We recently shared our first of four blog posts in honor and celebration of Juneteenth. The first post gave four immediate actions to jumpstart your journey toward […]

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Blog  /  06.19.2020

How Agencies Can Authentically Market and Communicate with Black Audiences

Protests stemming from the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many other Black Americans have allowed a space for us all to review how […]

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Blog  /  06.18.2020

Clear and Credible Content: Communicating During COVID-19

We recently “virtually” attended the Society for Health Communication 4th annual National Summit for Health Communication. Each year’s Summit provides new insights and an exchange of ideas; here are three to consider as communicating health information about COVID-19 continues to evolve.

1. It’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon. When a communications crisis hits, it can feel more like a sprint. Heightened intensity for a few […]

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Blog  /  05.20.2020

Using Crisis Levels To Prepare For The Unknown

There was the gruesome death by snowplow at the ski resort parking lot. Accusations of mismanagement at a Washington, D.C. attraction. An executive’s insider trading. […]

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Blog  /  05.13.2020

The (Re)Rise Of The Influencer

As we’re confined to our homes and eyes shift to screens around the clock (have you checked your screen time lately?) it’s natural that consumers […]

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