Stephanie McCarty

How do we break through all of the noise on social media to engage our audience? And why am I a fan of the 5:3:2 rule for content? Check out my advice featured recently on Multi-Housing News. And hear from other industry experts on what's working for their organizations online. #SocialMedia #MHN #GraceHill #Engagement #reputationmanagement #ORM #digitalmarketing https://lnkd.in/eSvNxAzr

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Helping "Those Who Know" communicate with "Those Who Need to Know." I've recently updated my 'personal tagline,' and I like how this captures my approach to what I love to do. "Helping": Some like to talk about the "servant mindset," and I want to frame what I can do as a service - a value-add, an improvement. "Those Who Know": I love working with intelligent people and leaders, being on the inside with decision-makers, or watching passionate experts in their environment. "Communicate": I was blessed with the ability to express and relay information, and we live in a time when there are so many creative ways to do that effectively. "Those Who Need to Know": Who is the audience? Why do they need to know? What benefit will they receive by knowing, and what benefit will you receive from them knowing? #communications #pr #service #connection #audience #communicate

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We're always looking for ways to work smarter and make the most of our teams’ time. This read highlights some of the ways we can lead ‘better’ meetings: https://lnkd.in/grw4Geys Here's the rundown: 1. Set a clear game plan: Make sure everyone knows why you're meeting, and what you want to achieve.  2. Stick to the clock: Dedicate time to each topic but stay open for discussion.  3. Stay inviting: Make sure your team knows their ideas are welcome in larger group settings.  4. Keep it ‘human’: Take time to celebrate wins, connect, and learn from each other.  5. Wrap it up right: Leave with clear next steps or a solid takeaway. #TimeManagement #TeamBuilding

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Meet stakeholders where they are. Comms teams often dive in to diagnosis a problem and identify several actions the business *should* take. But tackling everything at once might not be feasible. Business leaders are navigating a lot and facing multiple challenges, all at once. That means trade-offs are inevitable. Instead of recommending multiple work streams, focus on one or two achievable areas to make an impact. This can be challenging for some. But the best solution also needs to fit the reality of the situation—not just the theory. Progress often beats perfection.

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Comms Pros know - more than most - words matter. But sometimes, we use language that undermines our value. In-house stakeholders aren’t “clients.”  → We’re shoulder-to-shoulder partners. P&L centers shouldn't be called “The Business.”  → We're part of the business, not a subordinate function. Reinforcing an "us'" and "them" mindset is a disservice: It positions us as a less strategic function and makes us less effective. Ultimately, our job is to protect & promote brands and reputations. - Our roles are critical. - Our opinions are essential  - Our voices / expertise truly matter. We're Strategic Partners, not Service Providers.

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One of the hottest topics in comms at the moment..is your organisation ready? Learn from the experts on how to prepare in this upcoming webinar. #cybercrisis

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Hat tip to all the internal communicators who: ➡️ Stay positive even when the days are HARD ➡️ Constantly educate stakeholders about what they do ➡️ Come up with creative ways to talk about boring topics ➡️ Carve out time to experiment, innovate and try new things ➡️ Smile and nod politely when stakeholders think they know better I see you. You're doing great work.

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Remember that securing media isn’t about what you want to say - it’s about what people want to hear. You may be doing things differently (just like everyone else). But what matters is who it impacts. In order to be newsworthy, it must affect communities and populations outside of your employees, partners, customers, investors, etc. VC: corporate.bro on IG and Corporate Bro on LinkedIn.

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Here's added support for the claim that comms pros are taking their rightful seat at the "strategy" table. Why? Because brand building and reputation management are strategic pillars for businesses. Memo's new "Evolving Role of Comms" report shows: 💡 A 34% increase in comms teams reporting directly to CEOs. 💡 A 26% decrease in reporting to marketing since 2023. 💡 An expanding role for comms, beyond earned media. 50% say they now own executive comms, internal comms, and marketing campaigns. CEOs experienced the value of comms during the pandemic and other challenging events of the early 2020s. These data suggest the C-suite is taking a serious look at a range of reputational risks, including: 🚨 Misinformation and disinformation due to AI. 🚨 Cybercrime, cybersecurity, and customer privacy. 🚨 Activist investors, including those pushing back against ESG policies. 🚨 Macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical, and climate events. The report also underscores the power that comes from: ⚡ Sharing executive perspectives to promote understanding of corporate values and ethics. ⚡ Having an aligned workforce. Empowered employees are your best advocates. The most interesting tension in this report is the question of priorities. Gaining competitive share-of-voice (SOV), raising awareness, and amplifying key messages top the to-do list more frequently than, say, managing disinformation or changing perceptions. It's a tightly-knit group of priorities, however. And that speaks to the complexities of modern communications. Comms folks drive clarity about purpose and values. They also understand the importance of closing the gaps between corporate stories and actions. Shout out to the comms folks out there who are claiming more space. Check out the full report in the link below. #Comms #PR #StrategicCommunications

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What's possible when a strong purpose intersects with a powerful story? In my recent Presidio Graduate School talk, I spoke about how storytelling can turn missions into movements. Which begs another question: why are you still investing in brand comms and content with no shelf life? Contact me to find out how our LOUPE impact storytelling process can engage audiences and drive growth for your impact-driven brands, products, or programs: [email protected] #sustainability #storytelling #sdgs #esg #brandstorytelling #upcycled #purposedriven #changemakers #documentary #filmmaking #storytelling #sustainablepackaging #climatesolutions #sustinablebusiness #sustainablebrands #businessforgood #triplebottomline #purpose

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MLs Monday Morning Musings: Reaching the Unreachable It’s fun to drop pearls of wisdom to emerging communications leaders. In fact, doing so is one of the most fulfilling things I enjoy in my work. LinkedIn offers opportunities to contribute expertise on hundreds of topics. This one recently caught my attention. ➡ The challenge: Internal messages are failing to reach all employees. Are you missing out on crucial information? Communicators often struggle to reach employees in a way that helps them understand what’s happening and move them to action. I know. I have been down that road. Here’s what I’ve learned and some tips that can help. ☑ Effective communication is as much (if not more) about listening 👂 than it is about telling. ✔ Engage in ongoing conversations with leaders and employees. Get to know your diverse audiences to learn what communications methods work best for them. ✔ Use technology to help assess message reach, understanding, and activation and to stay closely connected to what messages are landing and how. ✔ Build trusted relationships with leaders. ☑ Consistency in messaging coupled with creativity in delivery and intentional ongoing engagement is a winning communications strategy.  Would love to hear your thoughts and learn what has worked for you. To your prosperity! #connection #engage #involve #change

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From internal agency structures in corporate settings to the agency mindset and agency hires … In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor podcast we’re addressing “The agency impact in corporate communications.” Just one more episode in season one. Listen in on your favorite podcast player, then tell me which episode resonated most, or which one helped you learn something new. Oh, and I’m sourcing topics for season two now. Got something to share? Send a DM. #communications #corporatecommunications #publicrelations #internalcommunications

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You may groan when you read this, buuuuut trust: You need to write your holiday blogs now, not in November. If you have (or work for) a company that sells anything, especially more things around the holidays, get those blogs done now + pinned on Pinterest. You’ll thank me when that search volume ratchets up in Q3-4. It’s also exactly what I did when I wrote + pinned this blog: https://lnkd.in/gpmSRCGA. #contentwriting #holidaycontent #companyblog #holidayblog #organicsearch

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What is one skill that differentiates Chief Comms Officers from their C-suite peers? We are dot connectors. 🔗 We can connect the dots between seemingly disparate initiatives and messages. ↔️ We tend to have a wide-ranging remit that enables us to see across the organization. 🧩 Because storytelling is core to what we do, we can fit all the pieces of the puzzle together to tell one larger story. 💡We love digging into audience insights, which means we can tailor that story to different audiences. That’s true even with employee communications. 🎯We can channel what employees want to speak to their direct needs. We can also help build bridges to connect internal efforts while breaking down silos. ⁉️What do you think? Does this ring true for those of you who are communications professionals?

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Question: Can Comms pros jump across different industries, MarComms disciplines and geographies? Or are they more effective when choosing one focus area and sticking with it? To me, Comms foundations are broadly transferable, if you apply strategically and have the right overarching experience/training. Some hiring managers and prospective clients think differently. Editor's note: I've intentionally diversified my career path - in-house/agency/consultancy, international placements, multiple industries, most Comms disciplines. But interested in your views. Thoughts?

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Reputation is tied to performance and business leaders are seeing the value in comms to drive results. This is why more CCOs now report to the CEO rather than marketing – a structure that recognizes the wider role comms plays in shaping the organization’s market perception, beyond just selling products. By building trust and shaping perceptions, communications leaders ensure a company’s reputation isn’t just managed, but is leveraged as an asset. #ThoughtLeadership #Communications #CorporateStrategy #BusinessGrowth

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#FathersDay this weekend feels a bit bittersweet in our household. While we're celebrating the incredible father my husband is to our son, recent news of a #layoff has thrown a curveball. However, this unexpected turn has only highlighted the amazing qualities I want our son to inherit from him. Here are just a few: ⭐ Empathy: Dan has a natural ability to connect with people on an emotional level. He teaches our son to act with kindness, and I truly appreciate his approach to gentle, respectful parenting to show our son that it is okay to express himself. ⭐ Dedication: He's incredibly dedicated to everything he does, from his work to being a husband, to being a great dad to both our son - and of course, our pups. ⭐ Resilience: This recent setback hasn't dampened his spirits. He's already jumped headfirst into his job search with a positive and determined attitude - and winning people over along the way. ⭐ Adaptability: He's always open to learning new things and adjusting to changing circumstances, a critical skill in today's ever-evolving world. ⭐ Sense of Humor: No matter the situation, he can find a way to make us laugh. Laughter truly is the best medicine - and he's the greatest 'doctor' that we are so lucky to have. To my husband, Dan Sikora: You're an inspiration, and we'll get through this together as our next chapter unfolds. Brighter days are ahead, I already know it. Flagging again here that he is #OpenToWork for new and exciting opportunities - reach out to him if you are looking for your next great leader.

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