Temperatures are dropping, and we’re here with the fall PR tips!
Looking for new PR tips to work your client into current news? In the fall, public relations efforts should align with seasonal themes. Further, don’t forget to adjust the timing of your pitches to accommodate holiday planning and the busy news cycle. Try a few of these PR tips for success this autumn.
PR Tips and Trend Ideas for Fall Stories
Cozy living: Suggest stories that are related to cozy comfort and nesting for colder weather. Include home décor, recipes (especially soups and other fall comfort foods) and fashion trends like “sweater weather.”
Current Trends: During this time of year there is a lot going on. Fall is when football season begins, and new films are released in theaters and on streaming platforms. If you can link a client’s product or service to trending news items in sports or entertainment, you are more likely to achieve valuable media coverage.
New Beginnings: Utilize the concept of transition and new beginnings this season. Fall signifies a natural transition — the end of summer, the beginning of the school year and a return to routine. Position your pitches around this “fresh start” mentality.
Gift Guides: Remember to pitch products or services for holiday gift guides far in advance. Research which outlets publish gift guides and what their specific deadlines are.
Holidays:Pitch ahead for holidays, because journalists work on holiday content weeks, or even months, in advance. For Thanksgiving and Christmas gift guides, pitches must go out early to mid-fall to be considered. So now is the time!
Try Different Ways in to Build Buzz for Your Client
This season obviously presents numerous opportunities, from the start of the football season to major holidays, allowing businesses and brands to create timely and relevant stories. Linking your client to these opportunities can provide optimal seasonal storytelling for their brand and businesses.
Recently, I heard a successful business entrepreneur speak. His audience of almost 100 business owners was comprised of some who were familiar with his business and others who were not.
This business leader owns a Construction General Contractor business. He described that his company’s role as General Contractor is to project manage a construction job. From start to finish, his company project manages jobs big and small, so the owner does not have to do so.
How a Construction General Contractor Business Parallels an Ad Agency
I noticed right away that the job components included in managing projects as a Construction General Contractor mirror ours as a branding and marketing partner. In order to execute a successful project, these four components must be happen for us at Front Porch marketing:
Create and manage the timeline — Along the way, make sure all tasks are on time and timelines are updated.
Develop the budget — Estimate all costs, agency fees and out-of-pocket expenses, to ensure no surprises during the course of the project.
Hire the crew — The right crew is critical. With us, our crew is already on board. We engage them as needed and they deploy their expertise and skills for each part of “the job.”
Manage communication — Front Porch Marketing account managers are the primary liaison with the Client. They manage the team executing the work, so our Clients don’t have to do so.
The Right People for the Job
This is where the rubber meets the road for Construction General Contractors as well as Advertising Agencies. They both require the right people to do the job who are focused on results. The cost for both construction and advertising is higher sometimes, because we both want to get the right, skilled experienced experts to execute the work. We also want to be able to hold them accountable for executing at the highest level. By doing this, the results meet or exceed clients’ expectations.
As a business or nonprofit leader or owner, if you have time and team members to manage the above. rock on.
Managing Your Time Effectively as a Business Leader
Think about whether the way you’re doing it now is the right way to spend your time. Are you managing or executing your own marketing? For me, I create the annual plan for Front Porch. I review it. Our team weighs in and embraces their roles. I check in with team members along the way.
However, for me, I know my business and the team benefits when I work ON our business not IN our business. Does yours?
Manufacturers are a sweet spot for us. In addition, we love business owners and leaders who share their expertise and learnings with other. Hence, that is where the inspiration for this blog came from for me after seeing this business owner speak. Connecting the parallels of agency business and Construction General Contractor business reinforced for me that we are driven when we work with like-minded business leaders. Let me know what you think.
This fall, we are welcoming Sophie Leos, our newest intern rocker, to the team. So as we always do, we asked her a few questions to get to know her better! She’s a student at The University of Arkansas studying marketing and management. Sophie is eager to further build her skills and learn more about marketing, client relations and strategic writing on the Porch.
What is the biggest misconception about marketing today?
That the only goal of marketing is to sell a product or service. Marketing is so much more than that, it’s about building a personality, message and values for a company that resonate with its audience and foster real connections.
What advice would Sophie Leos give to her younger self?
I would tell her to always trust her gut. This is something I try to live by in life, making decisions that feel right for me rather than relying on the approval of others.
What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far at school?
That communication is one of the most valuable skills a person can have in every aspect of life. It is the foundation for understanding and for building meaningful connections with the people around us.
What does good brand strategy look like?
Good brand strategy focuses on differentiating your brand from competitors while creating a strong brand identity. A successful strategy ensures people recognize your brand while also connecting with its values, message and personality.
If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?
Venice, Italy. I had the opportunity to study abroad in Paderno del Grappa last summer, just an hour outside of Venice. My time in Italy was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. I loved immersing myself in a new culture, exploring beautiful cities and gaining new perspectives.
If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?
I’d choose Selena Gomez. I think she is such an inspiration for women around the world. She comes from a humble background and became incredibly successful from acting and singing to having her own beauty brand.
If you could describe Sophie Leos in three words what would they be?
I would describe myself as curious, motivated and creative.
Tell us about a major milestone in your life?
A major milestone in my life was coming to college at the University of Arkansas. Being from St. Louis, I moved five hours away from home and did not know many people at the school. It has been an incredible period of growth for me and I’ve learned so much about myself as well as the world around me!
From your perspective, how does Front Porch Marketing differentiate itself from other marketing companies?
Front Porch stands out from other marketing companies by emphasizing story-telling and building long-term relationships. Front Porch takes the time to understand their client’s specific needs and then implements marketing strategies that drive results and form meaningful connections.
Nothing defines business marketing today more than social media posts. With over 4.8 billion users worldwide, it’s no surprise that more than 80% of B2B companies rely on social platforms to research and engage with potential partners before making purchasing decisions.
So why is social media so effective for B2B brands?
It enhances online presence, drives growth, builds credibility, and fosters genuine relationships with clients and partners.
Here’s the challenge. Social media is only effective if you make it effective.
Viewers scroll through endless content every day. Repetitive posts get boring. Content variety is essential; it keeps your feed interesting, engages your audience, and keeps your brand relevant.
While every brand may differ, certain posts often outperform others on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, which are considered the top platforms for B2B brands. Don’t be limited to one platform or content type, either. Switch things up. Here are 5 types of posts B2B companies must create. Each type is guaranteed to boost engagement, build authority, and target a diverse audience.
#1: Blog Post
First, blogs demonstrate your expertise and establish your brand’s authority, building trust. They provide information in a long-form style, allowing you to go deeper than a standard post. Sharing articles on social media makes your company a go-to resource, allowing your viewers to consistently rely on you for information.
Promote your articles, because companies should take pride in their posts. Blogs can be repurposed, so turn that information into short videos, infographics, Q&As, or quotes. Blogs are strategic and not limited to a single platform. Post them everywhere.
#2: Interactive Content
Next, interactive content is a guaranteed way to boost engagement and involve your audience. Social media isn’t one-sided, so don’t make it seem that way. Inviting interaction allows you to level with your audience and demonstrate that you value their opinion. Polls, quizzes, surveys, and Q&As help others feel heard and deepen relationships with clients and partners.
#3: Visual Content
Now, much of what you see online can be overwhelming. Switching to visuals makes content easier to digest, increases shareability, and clarifies complex information. Infographics, charts, diagrams, and illustrated lists capture attention with simplicity. Sometimes less is more.
Videos are a high-performing post tactic, and they capture viewers with sound and visuals. Videos require little effort to watch, making ideas simple yet effective. This is ideal for product demos, quick tips, and event recaps. Keep videos short and post them on multiple platforms to increase views.
When used effectively, Instagram posts can be highly effective. Visual storytelling is effective in conveying a brand’s personality and expertise, but it is essential to stay on top of posting regularly. Sharing quick tips, industry facts, and events from daily work, as well as employee highlights, humanizes your company and makes others want to work with you.
#4: Behind-the-Scenes Post
Behind-the-scenes content can often be overlooked, but it is one of the strongest ways to strengthen relationships and establish reliability. Whether you share this through videos, stories, or pictures, choosing to post your company at its most vulnerable lets users see the work you put into your business. Brands don’t just want to know what you do. They want to know the people behind the brand. Make your company relatable with spotlights, day-in-the-life posts, volunteering clips, partnerships, charity work, or celebrations. With all this hard work, you need people to see it.
#5: Industry Trends
Lastly, a similar approach to blogs, sharing knowledge on industry trends, establishes authority and attracts a professional audience. B2B buyers are seeking guidance to know what’s next and how to stay ahead. All companies must stay in tune with their industry, but some are more attuned to it than others. Being aware of emerging technologies, staying up-to-date with market shifts, and sharing regulatory updates and predictions for the future positions your company as well-prepared.
Post Now
In today’s fast-paced world, social media is a strategic place to build your company. It can be tough with all the content types, so rotate through these 5 high-performing posts. Your ideas will reach a wider audience, build trust and authority, and contribute your company growth. Experiment with these and watch your platform thrive.
I’ve told the “Books” story before, but I will tell it again quickly. As I was reading on the beach one summer, I was approached by my son’s friend who was like a son to me. And he knew me well. “Mrs. Porter are you reading Hemingway, Wilde, Austen, Shakespeare,” he asked. My response, “No, Jimmie. Thanks for that though. I am reading mindless trash.”
I mean no disrespect for the authors who are so incredibly talented. Books like Happy Wife, Broken Country, Atmosphere, OMG … just to name a few. Reading these books this summer on our annual family Gulf Shores, Alabama, trip definitely reduced my stress. But there were a lot of the other things I didn’t realize they did too.
Benefits of Reading
Happy Wife is set in Winter Park, Florida, which was my son’s — and by default my — home away from home for five years. Definitely an enjoyable read in familiar territory.
One book that kept me saying, “Yes. Oh, you go girl,” and a couple of other things because it coincidentally blurred into my work life was, Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino.
As a start up that then turned into an extraordinarily successful brand quickly with an overly participatory investor, the main character, Sunny, pivoted. She realized her brand strategy and core customers were no longer at the core of her brand.
Finding Inspiration For Life and Work From Books
Thinking about this book lead me to write this blog. Successful start-ups and their business leaders always understand the following as they build and grow their companies:
Investment — Successful business owners and leaders understand they need to invest in their brand launch AND beyond. It is not just launch and be done. It is the continued investment over time that ensures success. So, make sure to run numbers before your launch. Do you have the capital to launch AND continue marketing? What is your true number to both launch and sustain this brand? Bootstrapping can cause a few negative effects, so be aware:
Slower growth which equals struggling to scale
Increased personal financial risk if the business stagnates or fails
Intense workload leading to burnout and sometimes health issues, which we have seen first-hand recently, of the entrepreneur. Hustle smarter not harder. Which leads to number two.
Team Members — How much time can you commit to this business? Some of our start-up leaders are working full-time jobs at other companies. But their hearts are somewhere else. Ask yourself this, start-up leader: If you are keeping your day job until this business takes off, do you have the support team in place to fill in the gaps?
Branding & On-going Marketing Support — We have waxed lyrical about these subjects before. The fact is that the fictional character Sunny got it. She built a brand based on a brand vision and ultimately stayed true to its mission and values. In addition, she consistently communicated with her best target after the product launch. Are you putting on-going support in place too?
Learn a Lesson From Fictional Characters and Real Business Leaders
Books can be blessings. Even mindless trash. Reading provides personal benefits like increased vocabulary, reduction of stress and enhanced cognitive functioning. But, as you can see, reading books can also translate into business learnings and idea generation at the same time. Happy end-of-summer reading, y’all!
Social media, in terms of business marketing, has completely skyrocketed in the past 25 years. Starting as a place to connect with friends, social media has now become a primary tool for over 96% of all businesses to promote their brands, share expertise, build trust and personality, and establish themselves as a reliable source that directly engages with their audience. With so many different platforms, which is best for your business?
Your answer can depend on many things. What is your approach or goals as a business? Who is your audience? What is the type of content you’re willing or able to create? All these components matter to create the best possible version of your company with a transformed marketing strategy. So, which are worth considering?
Platform #1: LinkedIn
With more than 67 million companies and over 1 billion members, LinkedIn is the largest professional networking platform. LinkedIn is known for business connections, professional brand building, enterprise growth, and more. This platform works great for B2B companies specifically, meaning it is great for sales pitches, strong for sharing blog posts, and allows space for many articles and paid ads that target based on your industry and profession.
LinkedIn is more than just sales pitches; it creates a space for sharing helpful tips and humane marketing strategies through those blogs and articles, which helps build trust and credibility for users.
Your company’s first post matters. Encourage all members of your team to contribute to the company by using their personal profiles as well, building even more trust. Commenting on others’ posts makes your company more visible and builds relationships with other companies, so stay on the grid.
Although LinkedIn provides a stable platform for networking, like any other social media platform, companies need to consistently post to stay noticed. Therefore, it is not ideal for casual brands, and engagement may be slower. Post to stay popular!
Platform #2: Instagram
If your company’s specialty is brand aesthetic and building culture, and you’re strong in visual appeal, Instagram is the way to go. This site allows users to experience a brand’s personality and culture, not just its products. Instagram lets followers ask, Do I like what I see? Knowing this, creating a solid brand presence is key. Your feed should reflect your brand; it will be the first thing someone sees, a first impression of your company. Making your feed reflect your brand’s aesthetic and values makes a visual appeal to your products like no other, shaping perspective! Instagram provides opportunities for reels, stories, collabs, and brand-building, which can highlight your company to connect emotionally with customers.
This platform is a go-to for all company sizes! Don’t be afraid to share behind-the-scenes, transformations, tips, and tap into trends. Instagram lets you make time-sensitive stories and promos as well, which makes people feel more inclined to interact when given limited time.
Each post must be eye-catching, which requires constant posting and creates competitiveness, so stay on top of it.
Platform #3: TikTok
TikTok is the most rapidly expanding social media platform today, gaining 1.5 billion monthly users who are generally a younger audience. This platform is best for digital marketing, being known for its short video clips, which keep the attention of viewers, making it extremely engaging. People rely on TikTok for entertainment, discovering products, and watching new creators, so don’t make your post boring. Interesting intros and visual hooks are ideal for a viral post.
TikTok gives brands high potential to introduce their products to a new audience, and with short videos, companies seem less professional and form a relatability that’s unique to other sites. TikTok lets you socialize and comment on others’ posts, and as a brand, it makes you more visible.
Don’t be afraid to participate in popular trends! That is what keeps your business well known, but make sure it fits what your brand wants to sell. Share tutorials, fun facts, transformations, influencer reviews, and more to make sure you’re sharing the back side of your company as well.
A last tip: make use of TikTok Shop. Creators can promote their products and provide direct links for users to buy efficiently and affordably, boosting sales.
Trends are not permanent. Small videos can keep users’ attention, but it is easy to scroll past, so make sure your company stands out and stays relevant.
Find The Perfect Match
Choosing the right platform comes down to knowing your audience, your brand’s strengths, and your content capabilities. Determining between a professional, visual, or trendy look, each social media platform provides a unique approach to connect, so know your business.
I used to think that hashtags were merely used for decoration. I thought that they were just there to make a post look pretty or act as a hook for users. To me, using them didn’t seem as important as the actual post, but then I realized how wrong I was. Throughout my internship at Front Porch Marketing, I have learned three important facts about hashtags and their proper uses in marketing:
Hashtags are more about discovery than decoration
While hashtags may add character to a post, they are meant for more than just decoration. They are there so that users like you and me can search for posts through specific categories and tags. It is important to make use of this when tagging posts so that you can market your content to the right audience.
Make a Cheat Sheet
There is no need to make things harder for yourself. Therefore, keep a list of the ones that have the most reach in relation to your company or brand. This will certainly help you keep track of the hashtags that work best in spreading out your content to the people you want to see it. When you write down your favorite ones, make sure to put the follower count or number of posts. Doing this helps you see what kind of reach each hashtag has before you add it to your post.
Be Smart About Which Hashtags You Use
Hashtags have a tendency to include a multitude of subcategories. So it is important to be mindful of which tags you include in your posts and how they relate to your company. It is also important to check the amount of posts a hashtag has, or the number of people that follow it. This way, you can make sure that your posts are reaching a widespread audience that is interested in what you are offering.
Final Thoughts About Hashtags
I used to not think hashtags were very important. But by working with Front Porch Marketing I realized their importance and how to properly use them to reach the right audience. This internship completely changed the way I look at hashtags. Overall it has taught me important lessons when it comes to using them for social media content.
This summer, we’re once again welcoming high school interns from Ursuline: Emma Gomar and Sophie Stewart. We love paying it forward every summer by sharing the wonderful world of marketing with the next generation. As we usually do, we asked Emma and Sophie a few questions so our readers could get to know them a little better.
Emma Gomar:
What makes you want to have a career in marketing?
I consider myself a creative person and I am very interested in studying business in college, marketing seems like a perfect combination of the two!
What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned so far in your life?
One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to never give up, even when things get tough.
If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?
I would describe myself as musical, friendly, and hard-working.
What are your goals for your time at Front Porch Marketing?
I am hoping to learn about and explore the world of marketing as well as develop useful life skills. I am also Excited to be working on projects and learn more about working with clients!
If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be?
I would go to dinner with William Shakespeare. I would ask him about his plays and his thoughts on how they impacted current plays.
What is a fun fact about you?
I play piano and sometimes I like to compose my own music!
Sophie Stewart:
What makes you want to have a career in marketing?
I am a very creative and an extroverted person who loves social media. I find it extremely interesting the different ways to engage others to make content and products more valuable, and I want to learn more about understanding customer behavior.
What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned so far in your life?
One of the biggest lessons I have learned in life is the extent to which your attitude can impact not only yourself, but also your circumstances and the people around you. Keeping a positive attitude and an open mind can allow you to get way farther in life in terms of overcoming problems and will improve your life in all aspects!
If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?
In three words, I would describe myself as outgoing, positive, and diligent.
What are your goals for your time at Front Porch Marketing?
I am looking forward to exploring my interests and getting a hands-on experience in the marketing field. I have always been fascinated by business, so I am excited to leave this fun experience with a stronger foundation in marketing and a better idea of my strengths!
If you could go to dinner with one person living or dead, who would it be?
I would go to dinner with Suni Lee because I have always loved watching gymnastics, especially in the Olympics, and I find it so inspirational how she not only bounced back from a serious injury, but then went to the Olympics after she was told she wouldn’t be able to.
What is a fun fact about you?
I lived abroad in Asia for almost 6 years growing up, living in China and Singapore, which gave me an opportunity to travel to so many new places and be immersed into different cultures!
We hope Emma and Sophie learn a little more about their future professions at Front Porch Marketing. We’ve certainly enjoyed working with them!
Over the last few weeks, business owners and leaders have contacted us to assist with search engine optimization (SEO) initiatives. Two companies were working with agencies and noticed their results month over month were decreasing. They asked us to do an audit of activities and give a recommendation.
Two businesses were looking for a SEO partner. The leaders of these companies were brilliant business leaders running successful companies. However, upon further discovery, their budgets didn’t meet their expected outcomes.
Success Can Be Realized With SEO and Paid Digital
Be aware that there is a minimum threshold for advertising spend as well as agency management of campaigns, campaign creative and content development. We found that there was little understanding of this by business leaders. Education is needed.
A quote from a recent prospect that floored us for many reasons, “We were blindsided by our agency shutting down. We have had the last five companies end up like this agency, a 3–6 month ramp up and either the company evaporates or the person that was with the company quits.”
And the last bit that was most alarming, “The agency said if they ever closed their doors their plan and progress will be easy to transfer.” If this is ever in any contract with an agency partner, y’all, please don’t sign. Walk away. Walk away fast.
SEO Initiatives Are More Complex Now For Several Reasons
SEO is constantly changing, so approaches need to pivot too. Here are some of the more recent developments in SEO:
AI-driven search:
Google’s AI Overview (AIO) and other AI-powered answer engines provide direct answers and summaries. This means users do not have to click through to websites. And click-through rates (CTR) have declined. Expertise and Quality: Expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) are now king. AI-driven search engines prioritize high-quality, authoritative content that demonstrates.
Voice search: This is increasing as well as visual search means new strategies and skills that some agency teams are lacking.
Saturation of content: There is no lack of content on the internet. Unique content that aligns with user intent is critical.
Established brands: These companies have massive advertising budgets. They dominate search.
At Front Porch, we start with your brand architecture. A brand is shaped by three primary factors: who you are, who you aspire to be, and how your audience perceives you.
We Believe in These Pillars For Successful SEO Marketing
Consistency: Consistency and clarity across every touchpoint strengthen brand equity.
Collaboration: Collaboration with our clients is paramount. We are at our best when we work alongside you in your business and understand what is happening in the day-to-day business.
Communication: Timely communication and turnaround will be important to make our partnership successful.
We Recommend Fewer, Deeper Strategic Tactics
You have limited resources — time, money, etc. We understand that. That is why less is more. Deeper focus on fewer marketing initiatives results in business success. This is a proven, tried and true methodology that ensures success in the long term. But with limited budgets and fewer initiatives, the momentum could take longer.
However, if you provide us with a budget and that budget won’t result in success in the initiative you are proposing, we will tell you. We won’t invest your money knowing there will not be the return expected.
Be Prepared for SEO of the Future, Now
The SEO industry is experiencing significant transformation. Find a partner who is embracing AI. Also, make sure they provide the highest quality and unique UX experiences and content. Last but not least, don’t invest in this strategy if you don’t have the budget to compete.
The words around us constantly influence our decisions. For example, seeing a bold “SALE” sign in a store window might pull you inside. A coffee shop promoting a seasonal drink as “limited time only” could tempt you to try it over your usual order.
In crowded, competitive markets, how you communicate your message matters more than ever. Clear, compelling copy is a powerful tool for standing out—whether it’s through humor, surprise or helpful information. But it’s equally important to know how to adapt your message to the platform you’re using and the audience you’re speaking to.
Social Media Messaging
Social media is one of the most powerful branding tools available. While these platforms offer freedom and reach, they also come with challenges. Without understanding how users engage—keeping in mind their attention spans, trends and algorithms—your posts may miss the mark.
Instagram: As one of the most visual platforms, Instagram prioritizes imagery. Keep tile copy minimal and visually cohesive. Captions should be concise and easy to skim—emojis, line breaks and short sentences go a long way. Avoid long paragraphs that cause viewers to scroll past.
LinkedIn: LinkedIn calls for a more professional and educational tone. Long-form posts are encouraged, but you still need to grab attention in the first two lines due to the “See more” cutoff. Think of your copy as a mini article: lead with value, avoid being too casual and support your credibility with relevance.
Website Copy
Website copy often requires more depth, but that doesn’t mean more words. Online attention spans are short, and walls of text can overwhelm visitors. Prioritize clarity, hierarchy and usability.
Your website should:
Guide users toward a clear call to action.
Speak in plain, compelling language.
Use SEO strategically—integrate relevant keywords naturally without sacrificing tone or flow.
The goal is to help visitors understand who you are and what they should do next, quickly and confidently.
Print Communication
While digital media dominates, print still plays a key role in branding. Unlike online content, print doesn’t allow for clickable CTAs—so your message must make a strong impact.
Focus on:
A strong, clear headline.
Supporting copy that’s scannable and organized.
Thoughtful layouts and information hierarchy.
Remember that your flyer, brochure or postcard might end up pinned to a bulletin board, sitting on someone’s desk or even hung up on a fridge. Make every word count—it might stick around longer than a digital post.
Before writing your next piece of copy, consider two things: who you’re talking to and where they’re seeing it. The more you tailor your message to the platform and the audience, the more effective it is. Start with a clear core message, reinforce it across formats and make your call to action easy to find—and even easier to follow.
