Oreo's Santa-themed social media push; Research to inform your blogging; Google Analytics tips; and more

MORNING SCOOP

Home Depot chief addresses theft (sort of), #OreoforSanta lights up Twitter, and Costco’s tepid words on its Black Friday blackout

Also: Lessons from Medtronic’s hurricane response, how CMOs think about the future, the ideal podcast length, and more.

CONTENT MARKETING

Data-fueled research to guide blogging, marketing and webinar efforts

Whether you’re calculating year-end results or planning for 2020, benchmarks show where you stand—and which direction to go. Pluck insights from recent studies to shape your strategy.

MEASUREMENT

Infographic: Tips for making the most of Google Analytics

How are you using Google’s traffic monitoring platform? Here are some steps to help you make the most of this free resource.

PR DAILY AWARDS

PR Daily’s 2020 Digital Marketing & Social Media Awards is accepting submissions

Submit your best digital communications and social media campaigns and projects from the past year. Deadline for entries is Jan. 24.

PR

Why and how to use a media kit in your 2020 PR efforts

As journalists face dwindling resources and rapidly churning news cycles, organizations must deliver comprehensive brand information in a central location. Follow these tips and tactics.

PR INDUSTRY

What lies ahead in 2020? Predictions from 20 industry experts

Were scant days away from a nascent decade, and key voices have salient insights to offer. What’s ahead for storytelling, the ‘trust gap’ and the vexing matter of ROI measurement?

HOW WE DID IT

How leading with values helped Medtronic respond to Hurricane Maria

When the mega-storm struck Puerto Rico, its devastation went far beyond the island’s citizenry, disrupting a supply chain to health care facilities worldwide. The company mission was a beacon.

WRITING & EDITING

5 writing takeaways from terrible drivers

The same sorts of annoyances you see while commuting can nettle readers. Here are examples of roadway cloggers and their linguistic equivalents—with solutions for the latter, at least.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

How Wray Ward’s Heather Tamol manages her PR career

This PR and content director is watching the changing tools and techniques that affect how PR pros do their job. Here’s what she has to say about being successful in the long term.

RAGAN AWARDS

Last chance: Don’t miss this week’s late entry deadline

Our Communicators of the Year and Rising Star Awards will showcase the best individual comms pros and teams. All entries must be submitted by this Friday, Dec. 13.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

How PayPal finds employee advocates to tell authentic stories

Story mining is labor-intensive, but the rewards can be enormous for workplace morale and promoting your brand’s vision. Here are essential tips from the team at PayPal.

RAGAN CONFERENCE ALERT

Head to sunny Florida for this can’t-miss social media conference

Join your peers and learn from experts at the social media conference of the year—at Disney World.

MORNING SCOOP

‘They’ is the word of the year, Time crowns Greta Thunberg ‘Person of the Year,’ and Glassdoor ranks HubSpot as its ‘Best Place to Work’

Also: M&C Saatchi board members resign amid crisis, Pringles teams up with ‘Rick and Morty,’ top new-job magnets, and more

PR

The PR success stories of 2019

PR pros love to mock the missteps and misfires, but what were the campaigns that deserve our admiration? Here are a few notable moves that scored in 2019.