The Lettuce Outbreak Wasn’t About Lettuce. It Was About Trust.
Salad has never been my jam, but, like everyone else, I’ve been watching the national cyclospora outbreak closely and using it to justify not eating healthy (after all, truffle fries never hurt anyone, right?)
But, in addition to personal fascination, the whole incident was for me a timely reminder of a fundamental truth about crisis communications: stakeholders pay far more attention to what people or companies do than to what they say.
As Publishers Walk Away from Google, the PR Landscape Is Shifting Dramatically
For years, public relations has followed a similar playbook: You get the story. You land it in the right outlet. And then you let Google do what Google does, namely surface it, amplify it, keep it working long after the ink is dry. (Well, when we used to use ink, at least.)
That’s been the deal, but now that deal may be breaking.
When It Matters Most, a Brand Shows Its Heart
There are moments when the conversation around brand purpose stops being theoretical and becomes deeply, unmistakably real.
The devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela in late June did exactly that. Two powerful shocks rocked the northern part of the country, leaving widespread devastation, thousands dead or missing, and communities scrambling for safety and support.
When Companies Like SpaceX Stop Spreading the News
SpaceX recently said it will release financial results and other material news only through its own website and its account on X, bypassing traditional wire services altogether. That’s a tactical decision, signaling that the infrastructure behind how news starts is changing in a very big way.
Why All Communications Strategies Need to Start with a Brand Exploration
Firms rarely come to a communications advisor asking for less. They want more visibility, more press, more growth. They want to move faster and have a clearer, louder voice in a crowded market.
What they often lack is something more fundamental: clarity about who they are. Without that, a lot of activity rarely produces meaningful results. It produces motion but doesn’t really deliver anything in the way of progress.
At Vocatus, that is why we begin in a different place. Not with outreach or campaigns, but with brand.
AI in the Marketing & Communications Industry: Everything in its Place
With AI, like so much else in life, a good thing can quickly turn into too much of a good thing. Where people run into trouble is thinking that AI can seamlessly replace human creativity and thought.
Financial Advisor Magazine: The IPO Cycle Is Back. Here’s What History Teaches Us
A fun fact: Back in the go-go days of the IPO tech boom and bust, our CEO Ray Hennessey had a front-row seat. In a guest piece in Financial Advisor Magazine, Ray discussed what advisors can learn from history, as they guide clients through megadeals like OpenAI and SpaceX.
Short answer: IPO investing requires discipline precisely when the market is least conducive to it. That’s where financial advisors can shine.
AI Is Becoming the New Gatekeeper, and That’s Good News for Smart Crisis PR
For years, public relations professionals have warned clients that “the internet is forever.” One bad headline, one viral clip, one poorly worded statement, and Google would freeze that moment in amber. But something important has changed. As AI‑driven decision‑making and AI‑powered search increasingly shape how information is discovered, summarized, and acted upon, the playing field has quietly tilted in favor of companies that communicate clearly, consistently, and credibly.
This is good news for companies in general. And it’s very good news for crisis clients who use public relations as a strategic marketing tool rather than a last‑ditch defense.
Why Reputation Management Is Vital to Business Success
Reputation is not a “soft” issue. It is a hard business asset, one that is earned over time, tested in moments of pressure, and lost far faster than most leaders expect. In today’s hyper‑connected environment, reputation management is no longer a defensive exercise reserved for crises. It is a core driver of trust and long‑term success.
Every organization tells a story, whether it intends to or not. Customers, employees, investors, regulators, and the media are constantly interpreting signals: how a company behaves under stress, how it treats people when things go wrong, and whether its actions align with its stated values. When reputation is actively managed, that story reflects consistency and credibility. When it isn’t, others fill the gaps, often unfairly and always permanently.
Our Chief Barketing Officer Rolex Featured on WPLG Channel 10 for Working with Memory Care Patients
Vocatus Chief Barketing Officer Rolex took time out of his busy schedule to volunteer his time to help the residents of Your Life Memory Care in Coconut Creek, Florida, interact with dogs to help with their therapy.